Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano Was Made Official For NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
NXT opened up with Tommaso Ciampa arriving at the venue as fans booed him. Reporters asked Tommaso a couple of questions, but he ignored him. Ciampa approached NXT GM William Regal and blamed Regal for Gargano’s actions. Ciampa asked what he has to do get rid of him for good. Regal said that Ciampa will face Johnny Gargano in an unsanctioned match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
Regal added that Gargano will get his job back if he wins, but will be banished from NXT forever if he loses. Regal stated that if Ciampa wants Gargano gone forever, he is going to have to do it himself this time.
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) March 29, 2018
IT'S OFFICIAL!@RealKingRegal has announced that, at #NXTTakeOver: New Orleans, it'll be @ProjectCiampa vs. @JohnnyGargano in an #UnsanctionedMatch!
And if Ciampa wins… #JohnnyWrestling will be BANNED from #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/b6l4MyfMLh
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 29, 2018
EC3 Interrupted William Regal’s Announcement For The North American Championship
NXT GM William Regal made his way down to the ring for a special announcement. Regal welcomed the crowd to NXT and said that NXT is a brand that brings you the best competitors from around the world every week.
Regal announced that at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans they will be introducing the NXT North American Championship. EC3 interrupted and swaggered his way down the entrance ramp to join the NXT GM in the ring.
Ladies and gentlemen… @therealec3. pic.twitter.com/sk6eqJ4OoR
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) March 29, 2018
The crowd chanted “EC3!” and EC3 said that he was going to enjoy this moment because he deserves it and instructed the crowd to keep chanting. EC3 bragged about his theme song and the lucrative contract that Regal gave him to come to NXT. EC3 assumed that Regal was going to award him the new championship and said that he was the only man capable of representing North America.
Regal shook EC3’s hand and said that he was incredibly happy that EC3 was finally in NXT as a competitor. Regal noted that nobody gets handed anything in NXT. Regal then announced that EC3 will compete against five other competitors in a Ladder match. EC3 wasn’t too pleased with that decision as the crowd chanted “thank you Regal!”.
EC3 changed his tune and said that he could line up the entire locker room against him and it wouldn’t matter. EC3 vowed to show Regal and the NXT Universe why he is in the top 1% of this industry at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
Did NXT just become N-X-3?! @therealec3 has his eyes on the brand new North American Championship! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/MY4m6YGmYH
— WWE (@WWE) March 29, 2018
Later on the show, Cathy Kelley interviewed NXT GM William Regal backstage. Regal stated that Adam Cole will be the second competitor in the match. Velveteen Dream interrupted and said that if he was in that match, it will make it a memorable experience. Regal agreed and announced that he was the third competitor in the match.
The North American Championship Ladder Match at #NXTTakeOver: New Orleans will be a true EXPERIENCE… now, with @VelveteenWWE! @RealKingRegal #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/VXgELp6iwD
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 29, 2018
The Authors Of Pain Advanced To The Finals Of The Dusty Rhodes Classic
Street Profits faced Authors of Pain in the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Ford and Rezar started shouting at each other before the match. Montez heard enough and decided to tag Angelo Dawkins in. Rezar immediately beatdown Dawkins and then tagged in Akam. Dawkins battled back with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Spinebuster.
Montez Ford celebrated the news with his solo cup outside the ring. He danced around and bumped into Paul Ellering. Ford offered Ellering a drink and Paul slowly lifted his hand towards the cup. Ellering slapped the cup out of Ford’s hand and Montez started walking towards him. Back in the ring, the Authors of Pain connected with the Last Champter on Angelo Dawkins for the victory. The Authors of Pain are now in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.
They've done it! #AOP @Akam_WWE & @Rezar_WWE are one step closer to winning the #DustyClassic Cup… AGAIN! @PaulElleringWWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/HXdYKe7OWy
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 29, 2018
Lars Sullivan Dominated In His Return
Lars Sullivan walked down to the entrance ramp and his massive silhouette was shown in the ring.
The unmistakable silhouette of @LarsSWWE…
…yup. He's BACK! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/es6eMU4LPW
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 29, 2018
Sullivan faced John Silver and immediately beat the crap out of him. Lars launched him into the turnbuckle and then launched him into the turnbuckle into the opposite corner. Sullivan connected with a Splash and followed it up with a Powerslam. Sullivan climbed up to the top rope and hit a diving Headbutt. Lars picked Silver up and planted him with the Freak Accident for the easy pinfall victory.
After the match, Lars Sullivan spoke with NXT GM William Regal backstage. Regal announced that Lars Sullivan will compete in the North American Championship Ladder match at NXT TakeOVer: New Orleans. Sullivan vowed to bring destruction to NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Lars demanded to to face Killian Dain and Regal announced that Sullivan will face Dain next week. Regal also noted that Dain will is in the Ladder match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans as well.
Not only will @LarsSWWE compete in the Ladder Match for the North American Championship at #NXTTakeOver: New Orleans… he'll also face @KillianDain NEXT WEEK on #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/ulGLleVRPV
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 29, 2018
Andrade “Cien” Almas Attacked Aleister Black
During Dakota Kai’s entrance, Andrade “Cien” Almas was shown attacking Aleister Black in the parking lot. Almas beat the hell out of Black and dunked his face in a cooler fool of ice water. Almas slammed Black into the door as the beatdown continued back into the arena. Andrade brought Black all the way down to the ring while Zelina Vega shouted “that is what you get!” at Black.
Almas grabbed a steel chair and bashed Black across the back with it. Andrade set up the chair over Aleister and taunted him. Almas connected with a couple of kicks and then raised the NXT Championship over his head as the crowd booed. Almas and Vega exited the ring as NXT officials checked on Aleister Black.
It appears that #NXTChampion @AndradeCienWWE has launched a savage attack against his #NXTTakeOver challenger, @WWEAleister! #WWENXT @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/7A9gQ5bE8G
— WWE (@WWE) March 29, 2018
Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong Advanced To The Finals Of The Dusty Rhodes Classic
Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe of SAnity faced Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne in the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Strong and Wolfe started off the match. Strong applied a Headlock but Wolfe quickly broke free. Wolfe connected with a Body Slam and Pete Dunne and Eric Young got into the ring. The referee backed them both up and told them to get back on the apron.
Young and Dunne tagged in and Pete wrestled him to the corner. Dunne went for a roll-up but Young kicked out at one. Dunne connected with a kick to Young’s left arm and then Strong and Wolfe got into the ring. Once again, the referee told them to get back onto the ring apron. Dunne connected with a shoulder tackle to Young for a two count. Young responded with a Clothesline and tagged in Wolfe.
Young held up Dunne in an Abdominal Stretch and Wolfe booted him in the midsection as NXT went to a break. When NXT returned, Dunne had taken control and Eric Young was back in the ring. Strong tagged in and connected with a chop that echoed in the arena. Dunne tagged in and delivered another loud chop. Strong held up Young in a Backbreaker and Dunne leaped off the second rope with a knee for a two count.
Dunne launched Young back to the corner and connected with another chop to the chest. Young tried to crawl for a tag but Dunne stomped on his arm again. Pete Dunne applied a Wrist Lock but Eric Young countered into a Suplex and both Superstars crashed to the canvas.
Strong and Wolfe tagged in and traded punches in the middle of the ring to the delight of the crowd. Wolfe connected with an uppercut and lifted Strong up onto his shoulders. Strong broke free and connected with a knee to the ribs. Wolfe responded with a German Suplex and followed it up with a Death Valley Driver for a two count.
Wolfe tagged Young back in and Eric planted Roderick with a Neckbreaker. Young went for the cover but Dunne broke it up. Wolfe climbed to the top rope and jumped into a punch from Dunne. Young connected with a running Neckbreaker to Dunne and quickly climbed up to the top rope.
Roderick met him up there and greeted him with a chop to the chest. Strong went for a Superplex, but Young blocked it and threw Strong to the mat. Eric Young connected with an awesome Elbow Drop and went for the cover but Strong somehow kicked out at two. Strong battled back and planted Young with a Backbreaker. Strong went for the cover but Wolfe broke it up.
Dunne booted Wolfe in the back of the head and Strong planted Alexander with the End of Heartache.Pete Dunne tagged in and teamed up with Strong to slam Eric Young to the canvas. Dunne then pinned Eric Young for the victory. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong will face the Authors of Pain next week in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Ricochet Will Battle For The North American Championship At NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
Cathy Kelley once again interviewed NXT GM William Regal backstage at the end of the show. Cathy asked if Regal had any updates on who the 6th competitor will be in the North American Championship Ladder match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
Regal said that he did had an update on who the final competitor in the match is and that he was going to go get him now. Regal shut the door of his office and the door opened up a few seconds later. Ricochet appeared and said “I will see you at TakeOver” as NXT went off the air.
You RISE when the King appears! @KingRicochet wants that North American Championship! pic.twitter.com/2wSUPfGM6u
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) March 29, 2018
Ricochet, EC3, Killian Dain, Adam Cole, Lars Sullivan and Velveteen Dream are the six Superstars in the Ladder match for the North American Championship at NXT TakeOver:New Orleans.
