Last week on NXT, Ember Moon, Nikki Cross, and Ruby Riot became the challengers for Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. Since then, however, Ember Moon revealed that she suffered a shoulder injury that will keep her out of the match. Tonight, we might learn how that plays out in the title match. Along with that, we have Aleister Black returning to action, as well as Hideo Itami taking on Roderick Strong to determine the #1 Contender for Bobby Roode’s NXT Championship.
Cezar Bononi vs. Aleister Black
Aleister Black has competed in three NXT matches thus far and he has won all of them in impressive fashion. It started with his debut at TakeOver: Orlando against Andrade “Cien” Almas, then he has defeated [insert irrelevant wrestler’s name here] and Kona Reeves in the subsequent weeks. Now, he takes on a competitor new to NXT in Cezar Bononi.
Bononi has the size advantage on Black, but that is no problem for Black. After knocking Bononi to his knees, Black nails him in the side of the face with the Black Mass spinning heel kick for another short, yet impressive, victory. Winner: Aleister Black
Video Packages
Earlier this week, it was announced that at TakeOver: Chicago, Pete Dunne will challenge Tyler Bate for the WWE United Kingdom Championship. Bate has held the championship since the United Kingdom Championship Tournament in January when he defeated Dunne in the finals, and he has successfully defended it against Trent Seven and Jack Gallagher since. Dunne earned this opportunity last week in WWE’s European Tour, and some of those shows will be coming to the WWE Network later this month.
We shift gears to a highlight package focusing on Ruby Riot. Even though she has only been part of the NXT Women’s Division for a couple months, Riot will have an opportunity to capture the NXT Women’s Championship when she takes on Asuka and Nikki Cross at TakeOver: Chicago next Saturday.
One of the weirder video packages we get is for the “Velveteen Dream,” Patrick Clark. Clark first appeared on the reboot of the WWE Tough Enough reality show and he shifted to NXT, where he has constantly tried to reinvent himself.
Interview… kind of
For some strange reason, NXT officials thought it was a good idea to try and interview Nikki Cross of SAnitY. Cross almost attacks the crew trying to set things up, and instead of a regular interview, she is there by herself and entertains herself with her ramblings.
In-ring Segment
#DIY come down to the ring to make their case for having a championship match against The Authors of Pain at TakeOver: Chicago. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have yet to get their one-on-one rematch and they rightfully believe that they should get it before any other team is given a championship opportunity. Before they can get an answer from the champions or General Manager William Regal, Riddick Moss and Tino Sabatelli interrupt them. They say it is all about them, and #DIY want to prove them wrong by having a match.
#DIY vs. Riddick Moss & Tino Sabatelli
Moss and Sabatelli have yet to find huge success in the Tag Team Division, but a win over the former NXT Tag Team Champions would skyrocket their momentum. Gargano and Ciampa, on the other hand, need this win of they want to back up their championship pursuits.
After taking care of Tino Sabatelli, #DIY take care of Riddick Moss in the middle of the ring with their signature superkick/running knee combination. Winners: #DIY
William Regal shows up on the stage to grant #DIY the championship match they have been waiting for. However, it isn’t a regular tag match. Instead, The Authors of Pain will be defending the Tag Team Championships in a ladder match.
Announcement
After interrupting Kassius Ohno’s interview tonight, Andrade “Cien” Almas will face Ohno next week.
Hideo Itami vs. Roderick Strong – #1 Contender’s Match (NXT Championship)
Both Hideo Itami and Roderick Strong are very talented competitors, but both men have yet to find that big moment in their WWE careers. Whoever wins this match will get an NXT Championship opportunity against Bobby Roode at TakeOver: Chicago, and it will be either man’s first chance to capture a title. Itami returned just a few weeks ago when he attacked Roode, and he won his returning match against Kona Reeves last week. Strong hasn’t competed in quite some time, but he has been featured over the last few weeks in the form of character building video packages.
The match as back-and-forth as it gets, but one ducked punch leads to Hideo Itami nailing Roderick Strong with the Go to Sleep to advance to Chicago. After the match, Strong shakes Itami’s hand out of respect. Winner, and NEW #1 Contender: Hideo Itami
