We see a black SUV pull up backstage and out steps two unknown ladies, followed by The Dream!
Next Saturday on the WWE Network we get the first-ever World’s Collide Tournament, which sees NXT, 205 Live, and NXT UK Superstars compete to see who is the king…of the ring.
NXT North American Championship
(C) Ricochet Vs. Johnny Gargano
The match gets underway and the crowd is split down the middle. Gargano and Ricochet lock-up and it’s the former who controls the holds and executes some pin attempts before taunting Ricochet to bring it.
They lock-up again and Gargano takes the Champion down with a side headlock. Ricochet gets to his feet and shoots Johnny to the ropes. Gargano knocks Ricochet down with a shoulder tackle but the Champion kips right back up. Gargano, unimpressed, just slams him right back down, harder this time. They exchange unique reversals until Gargano locks-in a crucifix pin but Ricochet stands up with him on his back, however Johnny slides down the back or a roll-up. Both men back on their feet and exchange more reversals until Gargano tries to land a hurricanrana but Ricochet lands on his feet. The crowd chant “NXT” as the Champion offers to help Gargano to his feet.
Ricochet asks Johnny which Gargano are we gonna get tonight, babyface or heel, but Johnny punches him in the face to answer the question. Gargano gets caught with a headscissors takeover and a dropkick and rolls from the ring. Ricochet hits the ropes and leaps over onto the apron. Gargano tries to swipe him off the apron but Ricochet jumps that and springboards off the ring post for a moonsault to Gargano on the floor.
Both men get back in the ring and Ricochet connects with a open-palm uppercut to Gargano on the top rope. Ricochet meets him up there for a hurricanrana but Gargano slips out from underneath and drops the Champion face-first on turnbuckle! Gargano takes full mount and unloads some right hands. He hits Ricochet with a snapmare, followed by a dropkick to the back of the head. Gargano ties Ricochet up with a unique submission but the Champ escapes with elbows. Ricochet sweeps the leg of Gargano and looks for a standing moonsault but Gargano kicks him in mid-air!
Gargano slams Ricochet down by the head for a two count. Gargano ties Ricochet up again on the mat, and digs his elbow into his ribs. Gargano releases the hold and hits Ricochet with a knife edge chop. He places Ricochet against the ropes and lands more chops to the chest. More reversals, followed by Gargano looking for his slingshot spear, but Ricochet dodges and hits an immediate standing moonsault to the back of Johnny.
Champion and challenger trade shots in the centre of the ring, until Ricochet takes him down with a lariat, followed by a headscissors. Ricochet hits a back elbow in the corner, followed by a springboard European uppercut. Northern Lights Suplex, roll through, and Brainbuster from Ricochet for a near-fall. Ricochet springboards but no-one is home, he then rolls forward, looks for a dropkick, but Gargano catches him in mid-air with a powerbomb. Gargano looks for his DDT from the apron to the ring, but Ricochet holds firm and doesn’t fall. He tosses Gargano over the ropes and he hits the apron hard on the way down. Ricochet follows-up with a huge twisting moonsault over the ropes and onto Gargano!
Back inside the ring, Ricochet hits a standing shooting star press, immediately followed by a springboard moonsault for a near-fall. Ricochet takes to the top rope, looking for his finish, but Gargano grabs his leg. Johnny climbs the ropes and looks for a hurricanrana but Ricochet lands on his feet! Gargano can’t believe it. They trade reversals and random shots in a nice sequence, including a superkick from Gargano and a backflip kick from Ricochet. The Champion springboarded off the ropes but got caught in mid-air with the Gargano Escape! Ricochet stands to his feet, holding Johnny in his arms and hits a fallaway slam of sorts into the turnbuckles. Both men are down.
Ricochet takes to the top rope and looks for the 630, but Johnny rolls out of the way, across the ring, and right out. Ricochet pauses for a minute before leaping over the ringpost, from the ring, and onto Gargano! “Holy $hit” from the fans. Ricochet gets him back inside the ring and hits a springboard 450 but Gargano kicks out! Ricochet takes to the top rope and leaps with a shooting star press but Gargano got the knees up and reversed into a small package to no avail.
Gargano hits Ricochet with the DIY superkick and the Champion falls from the ring. Gargano looks for a suicide dive but Ricochet caught him on his shoulders, however Gargano leaps up and hits a reverse frankensteiner on the floor! Gargano tosses him back inside and hits the slingshot DDT but the Champion kicks out! Incredible!
Every fan is on their feet chanting “NXT”. Gargano rolls Ricochet to the apron, then slides out, and begins pulling up the floor padding. He looks like he’s lost it. He drags Ricochet out of the ring, looking to DDT him on the concrete, but Gargano stops himself and shoves Ricochet back inside. Ricochet grabs him for a small package but only gets a two count. Ricochet then catches Johnny’s foot and spins him around for a huge lariat. Ricochet takes to the top rope and looks for a Phoenix splash but nobody’s home. Gargano hits a superkick and looks for the tilt-a-whirl into the Gargano Escape but Ricochet tosses him off and applies it himself! The challenger gets to the bottom rope and Johnny rolls onto the apron.
Ricochet climbs out of the ring and onto the apron with Johnny. Gargano shoves him into the ring post, then looks back down at the exposed concrete floor. He grabs Ricochet and hits a suplex onto it! Gargano rolls him back into the ring, then looks for the slingshot DDT again, and he lands it for the win!
Winner and New North American Champion: Johnny Gargano
He did it! Johnny finally won the big one! And he did so in a serious contender for 2019 match of the year. Yes already.
