SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT PRIMER
JANUARY 24, 2018
TAPED IN ATLANTA, GA. AT CENTER STAGE
AIRED ON WWE NETWORK
REPORT BY JOEY GALIZIA, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
ANNOUNCED BY WWE:
- Johnny Gargano puts his shot for the NXT Championship on the line against the Velveteen Dream.
- No Way Jose returns to bring the Fiesta back to the developmental brand in a match against Cezar Bononi
- Will there be any fireworks or matches added before Takeover Philadelphia?
“DON’T LET THE DREAM TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE”
Johnny Gargano is the ultimate underdog story. Since he brought his incredible talents to NXT he has easily been one of the brand’s top performers, and even captured the tag-team gold with his former best friend Tomasso Ciampa, who betrayed Johnny Wrestling and beat him within an inch of his life in Chicago. Gargano had a rough go of it for a little while since then, losing marquee matches including a United Kindgom title bout against Pete Dunne, unable to build up any momentum because his spirit as a man was broken. Little did he know, he would soon be at the edge of glory.
Johnny G. replaced an injured Velveteen Dream in General Manager William Regal’s elimination tournament to determine the new #1 contender for the NXT Championship. In the qualifier Johnny scored a shocking win over Kassius Ohno and thanks to an unasked assist from the Undisputed, was able to triumph in the final Fatal-Four Way. Johnny Wrestling earned himself an NXT Championship match against Andrade Cien Almas. However, the story doesn’t end there. The Velveteen Dream would remerge and claim that the only reason Johnny even had an opportunity was because he went down to injury. Almas’s valet Zelina Vega pointed this out as well, and insisted to Regal that Johnny have a pre-Takeover match this week to see if he was worthy of facing Cien for a third-time. Johnny took it one step further…
He put his title shot on the line.
Cut to this evening, where Gargano will be looking to prove all the doubters wrong once again. Dream hasn’t been seen in-ring since his impressive outing against Aleister Black in Houston. This…should…be…excellent.
“AS FOR THE REST”
-The Undisputed’s Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly learned that they will be putting their NXT Tag Team Titles on the line against a VERY pissed off Akam and Rezar. Will the reDRagon be able to conquer the Authors of Pain?
-Speaking of pissed off. No one is angrier than Aleister Black. It was Adam Cole (BayBay) who cost him a shot at the NXT Championship in the Fatal-Four Way and he doesn’t appear to have anything getting in his way. Regal went as far as to make this fight an extreme rules match. Cole may have survived the hell that was WarGames, but will he be able to survive the Black Mass?
-No Way Jose returns and looks to bring a little dance back into the hearts of the NXT universe. He will face the very popular Cezar Bononi in singles-action.
-Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain look to be on a Philadelphia collision course. I’d hate to be the referee in that matchup.
-In the women’s division NXT Champion Ember Moon finally had enough. She’s sick and tired of watching Shayna Baszler bully around the locker-room. It’s time that Moon stood up not only as a respectable competitior, but also as the leader of the division. As a champion. But that’s on Saturday, what will tonight bring for these two?
The go-home show for Takeover Philly. Hold on to your butts.
NOW READ LAST WEEK’S TV REPORT: 1/17 NXT TV REPORT: Gargano’s landmark promo, AOP vs. Profits, Heavy Machinery vs. Moss & Sabatelli, Strong vs. Aichner
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