WWE NXT Results
January 24, 2018
Atlanta, GA (Center Stage)
Commentary: Mauro Renallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Report by Alex Kahrs of Wrestleview.com
“WWE: Then. Now. Forever.”
We open with a promo from Velveteen Dream, who says we all dream of being NXT Champion one day…life just allows us to experience different paths. Johnny Gargano, you dream of one day becoming NXT Champion…and I don’t doubt that you’re the Superstar to do that, but not yet. Not when the choices are you and me, the Velveteen Dream. While we all know your rise was tainted in doubt, the Dream’s experience was pure…so the way I see it, no matter how the pieces fall Johnny, a dream will be over.
He chuckles as the NXT intro takes us to a packed crowd at Center Stage as No Way Jose makes his way to the ring for his return to NXT in the opening match of the night!
Cezar Bononi is out next, and the bell rings to get this match underway!
No Way Jose vs. Cezar Bononi
Chants for Jose as both men lock up, Cezar with a side headlock and a shoulder block on Jose. Leapfrog by Jose and a shoulder block of his own to turn the momentum in his favor as Jose locks in an armbar. Cezar back to his feet, gets a front headlock on Jose and a dropkick to send Jose in the corner. Cezar with some hard punches in the corner now, really laying into Jose as he sets up a pump handle powerslam for a nearfall. Cezar drives his knee into the back of Jose before locking in a sleeper hold, but Jose gets to his feet before hitting a swinging neckbreaker, slow to get back to his feet before hitting a set of punches and a powerslam on Cezar. Jose in the corner, winding up to hit a Pop-Up Punch for the win!
Winner via pinfall: No Way Jose
Good little match to kick things off this week! I for one am glad to see No Way Jose back in action. #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
Jose celebrates in the ring as we get a replay from the match. Commentary hypes a face to face interview featuring Shayna Baszler and Ember Moon set for later tonight, and the Extreme Rules match between Aleister Black and Adam Cole at Takeover: Philadelphia!
– VIDEO PACKAGE: The feud between Aleister Black and Adam Cole leading into their Extreme Rules match at Takeover –
Really nice video package to hype up Black/Cole in Extreme Rules. I think the match stip suits what this feud has come to pretty nicely, as well as the obvious tie to the city they'll be in. #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
We thank Asking Alexandra for “Into The Fire,” one of the official theme songs for Takeover: Philadelphia! Back at ringside, Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring for the next match as we see her opponent already in the ring.
The bell rings, and this match is underway!
Bianca Belair vs. LaToya Allsop
LaToya goes to lock up with Bianca, who takes her down with a waist lock takedown. They lock up and Bianca takes LaToya to the corner, blocking a rollup attempt by LaToya before hitting a hard shoulder tackle. Back in the corner now as Bianca lays into LaToya with some hard right hands and a shoulder right in the midsection before grabbing LaToya by the hair. LaToya blocks and goes for a head scissors takedown, but Bianca counters into a backbreaker. Bianca taunts LaToya as she hits a hard clubbing strike on her back. LaToya gets a couple kicks in but Bianca hits a hard forearm, before locking her arms. She sets up LaToya up for a modified version of her elevated chickenwing face buster, before charging at LaToya…who dodges before climbing up to the second rope. She jumps off right into a hair whip by Bianca, who hits a reverse powerbomb for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Bianca Belair
Good showcase for Bianca Belair, showing she is capable of being a contender for the NXT Women's Championship in the near future! #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
We get a replay of the match as Bianca celebrates in the ring.
Commentary hypes the NXT Women’s Championship match at Takeover as Ember Moon defends against Shayna Baszler, and we go into a face to face interview between the champ and challenger with Percy Watson as a mediator of sorts. Percy says we’re just days away from Takeover, before introducing the champion and challenger. He congratulates Ember on winning the title, but asks why she called out Shayna. Ember says that Shayna is nothing more than a bully. She thinks she can come into our division, take shortcuts, attack people from behind, try to injure Dakota Kai. What are you, overcompensating for something? You realize you just can’t cut it in the NXT women’s division? Percy brings up those whom Shayna’s attacked, noting that she looked like she was trying to injure Dakota. Shayna says it’s never been about Dakota or Aliyah or even Kairi. You have to stir the waters to catch fish, and Ember Moon is the big fish in this pond. Ember retorts that she is the big fish for a reason…you think that you’re gonna come into my NXT women’s division, and take shortcuts where everyone else rises to the challenge. We have a code, and being the champion means you have responsibilities to yourself and the division. If you ever become the NXT Women’s Champion and set aside your selfishness, you might get a small glimpse of what that means…but I promise you, that will NOT happen at Takeover. Percy asks Shayna what her expectations of such a huge match, and how it will go. Shayna says Ember is right, she overcame the odds and achieved her dreams…but the difference between them is Shayna doesn’t care that everyone knows the path she took to get there, because she worked just as hard as Ember. At Takeover, when you wake up and sees me walking away with that title, you will know that’s me walking away with your dreams. Percy asks Shayna if there was one thing she’d want the NXT Universe to know about her, what would it be? Shayna says she doesn’t care what they think about her or how she got there…they’re just gonna have to get used to it.
She walks off, leaving an angry champion behind as commentary hypes the #1 Contender Match between Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream later tonight. Up next, we’ll continue with our look at Who Are TM61?
I enjoyed the intensity shown between Shayna and Ember in that segment, and Ember taking her place as a locker room leader against Shayna's bully tactics is a nice juxtaposition for this feud. #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
– AD: Royal Rumble 2018 –
Back from break, we continue our look at the returning TM61!
– VIDEO PACKAGE: We look at the injury Shane Thorne sustained during the Dusty Classic, and being taken out of the equation by The Revival some time after. The road to recovery has been a long one, but The Mighty Don’t Kneel…and TM61 is ready to come after the tag titles! –
Good to see TM61 making their return next week! It's been a rough road for them, but the future remains bright as ever. #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
Commentary hypes the in-ring return of TM61 next week, and back at ringside the Authors of Pain make their way to the ring for the next match. They get into the ring and charge right at their opponents, laying waste to them before the match can get underway.
The Authors have a microphone, telling Undisputed Era this is what they can expect before hitting the Super Collider on the two men in the ring.
Commentary hypes the #1 Contender Match as Johnny Gargano puts his title shot on the line against Velveteen Dream, coming up next!
Interesting segment here. I dig the destruction AOP put in, but I still gotta get used to the idea of them cutting a promo… #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
We thank Asking Alexandra for “When The Lights Come On,” one of the official theme songs of Takeover: Philadelphia! Commentary hypes Nikki Cross taking on Lacey Evans next week, and we go back to ringside as Johnny Gargano makes his way to the ring for the main event of the night! Velveteen Dream is out next, and the bell rings to get this match underway!
Main Event: No. 1 Contender Match
Johnny Gargano vs. The Velveteen Dream
Both men lock up to dueling chants as Dream wrenches the arm of Gargano, who reverses and gets Dream to the canvas. Front face lock by Gargano as Dream struggles to get out of the hold. They engage in some chain wrestling before Dream finally gets to his feet and hits a snapmare on Gargano. He taunts Johnny, saying he’s not ready for Takeover…but Gargano locks in the Gargano Escape! Dream gets to the ropes to break the hold, leaving the ring to catch a breather as we go to break.
– AD: WWE 24: Goldberg –
Back from break, Dream escapes a hammerlock with an elbow to the face of Gargano, who whips Dream to the ropes…only for Dream to flip over and land on the apron. Gargano responds with a dropkick that sends Dream flying into the announce table…and then leaps off the apron with a senton onto Dream! Dream rolls back into the ring, and blocks a slingshot spear into a swinging neckbreaker! Dream keeps taunting Johnny as he continues to lay into him, getting a nearfall before going right back on the attack. Dream sets Johnny up, but Gargano gets a backslide for a nearfall. Dream throws Gargano out of the ring, and climbs up top as the ref starts to count…but drops down, going out to ringside to hit a double ax handle from the apron. He drops Gargano on the barricade, climbing the steel steps to hit another double ax handle and rolls in and back out of the ring to reset the count. Dream drops Gargano onto the ring apron, firmly in control as we go to break.
– AD: 205 Live –
Back from break, Gargano is getting a head of steam as he hits a series of lefts and rights ending in an enziguri. Dream backs up to the corner, where Gargano hits a forearm and whips him into the turnbuckle, hitting a rolling kick and a leaping flatliner from the turnbuckle for a nearfall. Dream holds onto the ropes to stall Johnny, but Dream blocks a sunset flip to cover Johnny for a nearfall that is quickly reversed into one for Gargano! Both men to the their feet, Dream hits a super kick but Gargano responds with a lariat! Gargano gets a slow over, but only a two count. Both men exchange blows as Dream goes for a rolling Death Valley Driver, only for Gargano to block and go for a Gargano Escape…Dream reverses with a modified DDT for a close nearfall! Dream goes to the turnbuckle, climbing up top only for Gargano to knock off him off the rope and out of the ring. Gargano takes a dive onto Dream before bringing him back in the ring, climbing up to the top only to be knocked off by Dream, who looks for a Death Valley Driver off the top rope…Johnny fights it, but Dream hits it after all! Cover by Dream…and Johnny kicks out! Dream can’t believe it as he climbs up top, pausing to adjust as he goes for the Purple Rainmaker…but Johnny gets the knees up! With Dream down, Gargano hits the Gargano Escape and Dream immediately taps out!
Winner via submission: Johnny Gargano
AMAZING main event between Dream and Gargano. I'd argue that's a Takeover match we just watched, great back and forth action between both guys. #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
We get replays of the match as Johnny celebrates in the ring. Suddenly, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega come out to the stage, pointing and laughing at Gargano as they make their way to the ring. Almas raises the title up with a smirk on his face…and goes for a sneak attack, but Gargano fights right back until Almas clocks him with a right hand. He yells about being the champ as he throws Gargano out of the ring, before lifting the title back up high as Johnny gets back on the apron. Almas tries to hit him with the title, but takes a slingshot DDT from Gargano! Gargano looks at the title, holding it up high over the champ as the show comes to a close.
Great post-match showdown between the champ and challenger to end the show. You can't help but get the feeling Johnny Wrestling could really pull off the upset, but Almas has been on fire as of late as well! #WWENXT
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
Overall, this was a good edition of #WWENXT and a fun go-home show for #TakeOverPhiladelphia! I can't wait to see what happens on Saturday!
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
Sound off, Wrestleviewniverse! What did you think of #WWENXT this week?
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 25, 2018
Quick Results:
* No Way Jose def. Cezar Bononi
* Bianca Belair def. LaToya Allsop
* Johnny Gargano def. Velveteen Dream
That’s it for NXT this week, Wrestleviewniverse! What did you think of the show?
Are you excited for Takeover: Philadelphia? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @Power2TheSmarks where you can also engage in my continued pleas to get noticed by wrestlers and celebrities!
Till next time, thanks for reading!