While the Road to WrestleMania is in full swing, that also means that we’re on the road to the next NXT TakeOver special in Orlando. We get some non-title action involving the Authors of Pain, the in-ring return of Nikki Cross, and a ton of video packages. The most important part of the night is the main event, where Bobby Roode will defend the NXT Championship against the returning Kassius Ohno.
The Ealy Brothers vs. The Authors of Pain
Last week, The Ealy Brothers looked to make a name for themselves by facing The Revival. Instead of competing in the match, they were attacked from behind by The Authors of Pain during their entrance. They hope to get retribution for that sneak attack by facing the NXT Tag Team Champions tonight. The Ealy Brothers are the only team to not have a size disadvantage against The Authors of Pain, which could help them.
The size doesn’t help, because Akam and Rezar make quick work of the twin tag team. Following the Super Collider, they finish the Ealy Brothers off with the Last Chapter. Winners: The Authors of Pain
After the victory, Paul Ellering grabs a microphone and addresses The Revival. Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are next in Ellering’s “book of destruction,” and Ellering says that he has created the algorithm for tag team greatness. The Authors of Pain, according to Ellering, are on the path to becoming a “dynasty.”
#DIY immediately interrupts and says that they deserve a fair championship rematch after being screwed out of the belts by The Revival. Dawson and Wilder join the conversation, and call themselves the greatest tag team of all time. Of course, General Manager William Regal uses this opportunity to make a match for NXT TakeOver: Orlando. The Authors of Pain will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against #DIY and The Revival in a Triple Threat Elimination Match.
Video Packages
The tag team division needs some variety aside from the three teams in the last segment, and we get a video package to hype the in-ring return of Heavy Machinery. They competed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but lost in the first round.
We get another promo package hyping Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship title defense against Ember Moon. Asuka says that there is no Women’s Revolution, just Asuka. Because of this, they should name the division and the championship after her.
The final video package of the episode gets us ready for the debut of Aleister Black, formerly known in the UK wrestling scene as Tommy End. WWE fans might have seen Tommy End for the first time when he took on Neville in a special exhibition match during the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament.
Macey Estrella vs. Nikki Cross (w/SAnitY)
The only female member of SAnitY returns to the ring for the first time since TakeOver: San Antonio, where she lost in the Women’s Championship Fatal Four-Way match to Asuka, along with Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Cross takes on Estrella, who is fairly new to the NXT roster and has experience in the United States Marine Corps.
Estrella’s military training isn’t enough to take on the unpredictability of Cross, who hits the former Sergeant with five swinging fisherman neckbreakers. Winner: Nikki Cross
Before SAnitY can get in the ring and join cross, they are attacked from behind by No Way Jose and Tye Dillinger after SAnitY attacked Roderick Strong last week. As expected, the numbers game got the best of them, with Eric Young and company leaving Jose and Dillinger laid out in the middle of the ring.
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Kassius Ohno – NXT Championship
Kassius Ohno made his long-awaited return to NXT a few weeks ago when he stopped Roode from assaulting No Way Jose. He gets a great returning match, by getting a shot at Bobby Roode’s NXT Championship. Whoever wins tonight will defend the championship against Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: Orlando.
Roode ducks a rolling elbow attempt, and puts Kassius Ohno away with the Glorious DDT to retain the NXT Championship and to take it to TakeOver: Orlando. Winner, and STILL NXT Champion: Bobby Roode
