Tonight, we're getting a Steel Cage match between Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black. Thankfully, it's not a Parking Lot Brawl. Aleister Black wouldn't stand a chance in that one.
NXT Thoughts (As It Aired Thoughts)\
- Io Shirai starts off the show as she comes to the ring to team with Dakota Kai. They face off against Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir (The Horsewomen) who are making their NXT in-ring debut. Duke and Shafir still seem a little green in terms of not really doing anything above basics, but that stuff comes with experience and time. This was fine for whte it was. Shirai hits a couple impressive moves. Shockingly, Shirai and Kai get the win over the Horsewomen. I thought they would give an ultra-push to the Horsewomen for a few months, but telling by the performance in the ring, management probably felt that having them win wasn't the right call. Again, this is far from a judgment on Shafir or Duke. On the contrary, this is just a step in hopefully the right direction. More reps and more experience will pay off for them in the long run.
- NXT replays the attack on Matt Riddle by Kassius Ohno. Matt Riddle was interviewed earlier. Riddle doesn't blame him after he punked out Ohno at Takeover. But he's willing to do it again to him.
- Next match sees Aaron Mackey taking on Dijakovic (Donovan Dijak with a new ring name). Enhancement match here as Dijakovic just throws Mackey around and smashes him with a bunch of clobbering blows. A Torture Rack into a Go To Sleep finishes off Mackey. They are calling it "Feast Your Eyes." Good repackaging here, but it'll be interesting to see what path they take with him. Is he going to get a push similar to what Baron Corbin had at one point on NXT or will he get the Lars Sullivan treatment: beaten often, yet still intimidating?
- William Regal puts Io Shirai in the #1 Contenders Fatal Four Way Match for the NXT Women's Championship spot at NXT TakeOver Phoenix. Once again, they just throw someone in the match via tweet. That just does SO much for my anticipation of the match. By the way, can we mention the fact that Dakota Kai was in that match earlier tonight too? Was the only qualification pinning someone in that match to get the spot? Again, I'm not a fan of the way this has been set up.
- Heavy Machinery is in action next as they prepare for their Tag Team Championship match against The Undisputed Era (and their eventual arrival on the main roster). They are facing some nameless jobbers and just destroy them. The Undisputed Era comes out and bears witness to the slaughter from the stage.
- The main event sees Aleister Black face Johnny Gargano in a Steel Cage Match. Aleister Black has one of the best theme songs in all of WWE. Johnny Gargano attacks Black during his entrance into the cage and starts assaulting him around the cage. Both men brawl around the ringside area. Black and Gargano finally get in the cage, and the door is padlocked. Gargano and Black tell a good story of Gargano trying to escape the cage several times while Black is focused mostly on beating down Gargano. But a mistake by Black turns the favor for Gargano who pounces on the opportunity to throw Black into the cage and throw some mounted punches. Black hits a nice moonsault off the top rope onto a standing Gargano moments later.
And now, Gargano is rammed into the steel cage a few times. Black proves why he is the best striker in all of NXT (and WWE) with some nice knees and kicks. Black had a moment to possibly escape the cage and win, but he decides to come back into the cage to continue the attack. Gargano takes advantage of a running attack by Black to have Black meet the cage. Gargano and Black then start going at it on the top rope, and Gargano executes a Powerbomb on Black off the top rope!!! 2 count only though.
More strikes and kicks by both men, with Black getting a big running knee on Gargano against the cage wall. Gargano tries to escape multiple times through the cage door, but Black stops him and pulls him back into the cage. A Russian Leg Sweep off the middle rope (2nd Time I've seen that this week) and a Gargano Escape bring the pain to Black. Black tries to get out, but Gargano is resilient. Gargano is put into the cage by Black while in the hold, but Gargano uses the advantage to climb up the cage. Both men fight on top of the cage. Black hits a Meteora off the top rope on Gargano and a German Suplex Bridge gets a 2. Gargano long darts Black into the turnbuckle and into the steel cage. Gargano absolves Black of his sins, but Black answers with a Black Mass. Gargano beats Black to his feet and starts climbing the cage. Black is crawling towards the door. CIAMPA RAMS THE DOOR INTO THE HEAD OF BLACK!
Gargano climbs back into the cage. He sees Ciampa. They are on opposite sides of the ring with Black in the middle. "DIY" chants. They signal for the double kick! Gargano and Ciampa lock eyes. Gargano covers. 1-2-3! Ciampa locks eyes with Gargano again. Before leaving the cage, Gargano does Black's sitting pose right next to his unconscious body.
Ciampa seems to be playing mind games with Gargano and trying to woo him to his side. This didn't come off as an offical reformation of DIY more as Ciampa and Gargano taking out their common enemy and teasing the reformation. However, if they decide to put DIY back together as a heel group, it would justify keeping Aleister Black on the NXT roster for another few months at least.
Overall, the main event is the only significant thing to watch on this show, but this was a good overall episode of NXT. While the main event was great itself, the undercard did have a couple matches that built towards the future. And that's why NXT works period: You get something that pays off on this episode and a few things that build towards future episodes. It also helps when you don't have long promos during the show every week too.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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