Tonight was supposed to feature a match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship between KUSHIDA & Roderick Strong. However, that will have to wait as KUSHIDA was not cleared to compete tonight. Roderick Strong is still ready to go however, and tonight will hold an open challenge for someone to step up to test Diamond Mine.
Ilja Dragunov Answers The Open Challenge
After working away at the Diamond Mine training camp, Strong was looking better than ever and was ready to go. Bivens would kick things off with a promo and called KUSHIDA a coward and a liar. He gets it though, as he wouldn’t want to take on someone as good as Strong in the ring. But Strong wants to go, so it’s open challenge season.
Looking to get some reps in before his clash with WALTER, Ilja Dragunov from NXT UK would make his way to the ring. Last week, he failed to beat Pete Dunne due to WALTER distracting him, but tonight Dragunov looks to stand tall. They’d quickly lock up in the middle of the ring, with Strong taking Dragunov down to the mat.
Dragunov would fight to his feet and get taken right back down. Strong would maintain some wrist control, before being kicked off to finally get Dragunov some space. He’d soon find himself taking one of Strong’s signature chops, but Dragunov would come back just as hard before Strong threw him into the ropes.
Dragunov slipped out of a backbreaker attempt, nailing a spinning chop and a senton splash for a one count. Taking control, he’d apply a headlock to control Strong, but that failed to work for long. Instead, he’d come off the top rope with a dropkick, before laying in some heavy kneelifts. Strong would counter the Constantine Special, and dropkick Dragunov through the ropes to the floor.
A War Was Fought In The Ring
On the outside, Strong & Dragunov would continue to trade blows. They’d get near the steps, and a distraction Hachiman gave Strong a chance to slam the face of Dragunov into the steel steps. Throughout the picture-in-picture break, Strong would continue to work over Dragunov in the ring, with Dragunov desperate to kick his way free. As we came back to the action, Dragunov would kick out of a pinfall at two.
He’d roll onto Strong and hit some hard elbow strikes, able to gain waist control and nail a German Suplex. A second would come soon after, but Strong would fight free. Dragunov was gushing out blood, but would dodge a knee strike from Strong and nail an Enzuguri & Pumphandle Suplex for the two count. He’d nail the Torpedo Moscow, and get a big win ahead of Takeover 36.
An excellent and hard hitting main event level match from two of the best that NXT has to offer. Strong & Dragunov were able to put together a great match on short notice, which is damn impressive. Match Rating: 4/5 (****)
After the match, Dragunov would call WALTER out, but there was no answer from the back. Could he end the reign on Sunday? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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