Johnny Gargano Wants The NXT Championship
Johnny Gargano kicked off this week’s episode of NXT. Candice Lerae joined Gargano as he made his way to the ring. The NXT crowd chanted “Johnny Wrestling!” as Gargano jogged around the ring with a big smile on his face. The chants transitioned to “welcome back!” as Gargano grabbed a microphone.
Gargano said that he dreamt of this moment before NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. He added that it is really good to be home and for too long he was defined by two words, Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa was his best friend and he betrayed him and cost him his career. However, after 37 minutes of the most intense minutes in the ring, he is proud to say that he has his life back and is back where he belongs.
"I have my life back; I am BACK where I belong!" – @JohnnyGargano #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/WkvlmlDYiD
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2018
Johnny stated that these past few months have been the toughest of his career, but thanked the crowd for shoving signs in Ciampa’s face and chanting his name. Gargano thanked the crowd for always having his back. He then thanked his wife and told her he loved her.
Gargano said that Johnny Wrestling and Candice Wrestling have one last piece of unfinished business. Candice grabbed the microphone and announced that she will be facing Zelina Vega tonight. Gargano warned Almas that if he got involved, he was going to drop him like his name was Tommaso Ciampa. Johnny noted that Aleister Black is the new NXT Champion and that he wants to be the first to challenge for the title.
NEW #WWENXT Champion @WWEAleister…@JohnnyGargano is looking at YOU! pic.twitter.com/TIGPCPir4x
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 19, 2018
Ricochet Defeated Fabian Aichner
Ricochet faced Fabian Aichner tonight on NXT. Aichner started off the match in control and planted Ricochet with a Gutbuster. Fabian stomped on Ricochet in the corner and stopped to taunt the crowd. Aichner connected with a tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker for a two count.
Aichner hit Ricochet with an uppercut in the corner, but Ricochet responded with a Dropkick and both Superstars fell to the canvas. Ricochet and Aichner got up and traded shots in the middle of the ring. Ricochet got the better of the exchange and connected with a springboard uppercut. Ricochet followed it up with a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count.
Ricochet climbed to the top, but Aichner got back up and crotched Ricochet on turnbuckle. Ricochet blasted Fabian with a right hand and Aichner crashed to the mat. Ricochet then connected with a ridiculous 630 Senton for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Ricochet said it feels great to pick up a win at Full Sail. He brought up Bayley, Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins and stated that he watched them make a name for themselves in NXT. Ricochet added that it was his turn now to make a name for himself and to prove to the NXT Universe that there is one and only Ricochet.
"It feels great to make my @FullSail debut…I came here to @WWENXT to take things up a notch and make a name for myself!" – @KingRicochet #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gjx4p2b1Vh
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 19, 2018
War Raiders Dominated In Their In-Ring Debut
War Raiders made their in-ring debut in NXT tonight. Hanson and Rowe faced off against JC and Chris (jobbers). Rowe started off by connected with a running knee to the face to one of the jobbers. The other jobber tagged in and got launched across the ring via a Hip Toss. Hanson tagged in and dropped a knee on the jobbers midsection. A fan shouted “somebody stop the damn match!” as War Raiders connected with the Fallout for the easy victory.
Brace yourselves, NXT… @RAYMONDxROWE and @WarBeardHanson are here! #WarRaiders #WORLDDOMINATION pic.twitter.com/2idkh2VTlG
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 19, 2018
Shayna Baszler Bossed Around The Women’s Locker Room
Shayna Baszler was shown in the women’s locker room. She claimed that the locker room was hers now and ripped Ember Moon’s name tag off. Dakota Kai got up to get some water and Baszler got in her face and started shouting at her. Kai exited the room and Baszler told the rest of the locker room to get in line behind her or they will get run over.
"Get in line behind me, or you're going to get run over."#WWENXT #WomensChampion @QoSBaszler is setting some new ground rules for the @WWENXT Women's locker room… pic.twitter.com/XXvdIXiTL4
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 19, 2018
Careful, @DakotaKai_WWE! ? pic.twitter.com/myyQFgaDdC
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 19, 2018
Lars Sullivan Defeated Killian Dain In A No DQ Match
Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain battled in a No DQ match tonight on NXT. Sullivan drove Dain to the corner, Dain battled out and Clotheslined Lars out of the ring. Sullivan dragged Dain to the outside and started trading shots with him. Dain whipped Lars into the steel steps and then made his way back into the ring. Killian bounced off the ropes and went for a Suicide Dive but Sullivan caught him and bashed him into the ring post.
Sullivan then planted Dain with a massive Suplex to the floor outside the ring. Lars brought Dain back into the ring and started clubbing him across the face. Sullivan showed off his power and planted Dain with a German Suplex. Killian rolled out of the ring as Lars climbed to the top rope. Sullivan hit a Flying Clothesline and landed hard on the entrance ramp on his way down.
The #NoDQ collision is ON between #SAnitY's @KillianDain and @LarsSWWE on #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/IcdQ3MkT8g
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2018
Back in the ring, Lars connected with a diving headbutt off the second rope for a two count. Lars threw three chairs into the ring and then bashed him in the ribs with one of them. Dain exploded out of the corner with a Dropkick and both giants fell to the canvas. The crowd chanted “Killian” as Dain connected with an forearm to the face.
Dain and Sullivan traded shots for a moment, but Dain slammed Sullivan to the canvas and followed it up with a Senton. Killian then hit the Vader Bomb for a two count. Dain brought a table into the ring and set it up in the corner. Killian smashed Sullivan in the back with a chair and tried to throw Lars towards the table but Sullivan blocked it.
Lars slammed Dain to the mat and placed a chair across his chest. Sullivan scaled the ropes and went for a headbutt, but Dain got out of the way and Lars landed on the chair. Dain charged at Lars but Sullivan caught him with a Powerslam for a one count. Dain then connected with the Divide through the table in the corner as the crowd chanted “NXT!”.
Furthest thing from a ? by @LarsSWWE…
Can @KillianDain take advantage?! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/QdpLLKIS4m
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 19, 2018
GET THE TABLES! pic.twitter.com/Fp1fFYLUjG
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 19, 2018
Dain put a chair on Sullivan and stomped on him in the corner. Blood dripped from Dain’s mouth as he made his way up the turnbuckle. Sullivan got up with the chair and Dain punched it into his face. Dain leaped off the top, but Sullivan was ready and blasted him with the chair in the ribs. Sullivan followed it up with the Freak Accident onto the steel chair for the pinfall victory.
The FREAK ACCIDENT on a pile of chairs spells the end as @LarsSWWE picks up the victory! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/VBuVceZiJv
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2018
LeRae Submitted Vega & Black Accepted Gargano’s Challenge
Candice LeRae faced Zelina Vega in the main event of this week’s episode of NXT. Vega started trash-talking and Candice quickly shoved her to the mat. LeRae connected with a Gutbuster and climbed to the top rope. Andrade “Cien” Almas hopped on the ring apron and Vega capitalized on the distraction and threw Lerae to the mat.
Johnny Gargano then showed up at ringside as Vega applied a Chin Lock in the middle of the ring. LeRae broke the hold, but Vega connected with a kick to the face in the corner. Zelina followed it up with the Meteora for a two count. LeRae started screaming in anger and beat the hell out of Vega in the corner.
Candice climbed to the top rope and hit a Dropkick for a two count. LeRae locked in the Gargano Escape on Vega in the middle of the ring. Almas jumped into the ring and Johnny locked in the Gargano Escape on him as well. Vega tapped out and LeRae won the match.
After the match, Gargano said that was awesome and that Almas & Vega are in the past. Gargano then challenged Black for the NXT Championship and Aleister’s music hit. Black came down to the entrance ramp as the crowd chanted his name. Black said “you want it, then next week, you shall have it”.
The family that slays together stays together. pic.twitter.com/ddKFoQWXgi
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 19, 2018
"You want it? Then, next week, you shall HAVE it!"#WWENXT Champion @WWEAleister appears to have just ACCEPTED @JohnnyGargano's challenge! pic.twitter.com/OCtyk3O0Fj
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2018
Also announced during the show:
Adam Cole will defend the North American Championship against Oney Lorcan next week.
ALSO NEXT WEEK: @AdamColePro defends the #WWENXT #NorthAmericanChampionship against @_StarDESTROYER! pic.twitter.com/SUS2ZQKLtM
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 19, 2018
All four members of Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong) will be on next week’s episode.
NEXT WEEK: All FOUR members of the newly-expanded #UndisputedERA will be on #WWENXT!@AdamColePro @KORcombat @TheBobbyFish @roderickstrong pic.twitter.com/LpcQ73N7dI
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 19, 2018
Kona Reeves will return to NXT in two weeks.
