Tonight is the last episode of NXT before TakeOver: Orlando, which kicks off WrestleMania weekend. To hype the biggest NXT event of the year, we have a Triple Threat match between one member of each team involved in the Tag Team Championship match this Saturday, as well as a contract signing between Ember Moon and Asuka. The main event of the show features Kassius Ohno taking on Elias Samson in a “Loser Leaves NXT” match.
Johnny Gargano (w/Tommaso Ciampa) vs. Dash Wilder (w/Scott Dawson) vs. Akam (w/Rezar & Paul Ellering)
This Saturday, The Authors of Pain will defend their NXT Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat Elimination Match against #DIY and The Revival. Akam and Rezar have steamrolled their way to the championships, defeating #DIY for the titles at TakeOver: San Antonio. The Revival have made it their purpose to annoy the current champions, which led to William Regal inserting them into what is essentially #DIY’s rematch. We get a preview of Saturday’s title match with a standard Triple Threat match, with one member of each team being represented.
Dash Wilder has had enough and decides to walk back to the locker room where he lives to fight another day. This turns the match into a singles match between the Cruiserweight Johnny Gargano, and the Super Heavyweight Akam. Tommaso Ciampa and Rezar are free to get involved since Triple Threat matches are under No Disqualification rules.
Akam slams Johnny Gargano with a vicious powerbomb, and Scott Dawson sneaks back to ringside, preventing Akam from getting the pinfall. While Akam is tied up with Dawson at the ropes, Dash Wilder slides back into the ring to get the win. Winner: Dash Wilder
Heavy Machinery vs. Unnamed Tag Team
For a couple weeks we have seen advertisements for the eventual debut of Heavy Machinery, and here we are. The team made up of Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic competed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but have only been competing at house shows since their first round loss. Their combined weight is 650 pounds, and they have an impressive combination of strength, quickness, and mat wrestling technique.
After squishing one of their opponents, Heavy Machinery finishes the match when Otis Dozovic scoop slams Tucker Knight, his partner, onto the downed opponent for the win. Winners: Heavy Machinery
Contract Signing (NXT Women’s Championship)
This contract signing is not taking place in the ring, but instead backstage at a table (where most regular people contract signings take place). Asuka laughs at the fact that Ember Moon is her challenger, and refuses to take Moon seriously. Moon says that she has been ready for this for a long time and that she plans on dethroning the Women’s Champion. If Asuka retains the championship at TakeOver: Orlando, she will be about a dozen wins away from breaking Goldberg’s 173-0 undefeated streak.
Match Preview (NXT Championship)
Since Bobby Roode won the NXT Championship from Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: San Antonio, fans have been waiting for the King of Strong Style to get his championship rematch. The video package tonight shows the journey of Bobby Roode from his debut to champion, and Shinsuke Nakamura says that the “fate” of NXT will decide who walks out this Saturday with gold.
Announcement
Another match is added to the TakeOver: Orlando card, which pits SAnitY against Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, No Way Jose, and Ruby Riot in mixed 8-man tag team action. This will be the first time Ruby Riot competes in a match inside a WWE ring.
Kassius Ohno vs. Elias Samson – Loser Leaves NXT
Following his loss to Bobby Roode a couple weeks ago, Kassius Ohno ran into Elias Samson backstage. Samson said that he doesn’t think that Ohno belongs in NXT, and Ohno challenged The Drifter to this Loser Leaves NXT match so Samson can back up his claim. The results of this match are fairly self-explanatory, and the loser could potentially be shifting to the main roster.
Kassius Ohno counters a neckbreaker into the rolling elbow and sends Elias Samson drifting away from NXT. Samson refuses to leave until he gets his guitar, but Ohno destroys it. The show ends with Samson getting dragged away by security (the security team includes Kenneth Johnson, who competed in the Cruiserweight Classic). Winner: Kassius Ohno
