WWE NXT Recap (5/25): Big Matches Made For TakeOver, New Tag Team Debuts, Nakamura Speaks
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- William Regal announces that Bayley isn't cleared to compete at NXT TakeOver, so Nia Jax, Carmella and Alexa bliss will compete in a #1 contender's match tonight.
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. TM61
Miller outwrestles Ciampa, and both men tag their partners. Thorne flips out of a Gargano arm ringer and dropkicks Johnny right in the grill. TM61 wisbone Gargano, before setting him up to eat a shoulder block. Ciampa is tagged in, which results in him getting chopped down. TM61 hit a fistdrop/moonsault, then tease a dive on Gargano.
We come back to see Gargano blast Shane with a dropkick of his own, before a legsweep and a modified full nelson. Ciampa comes in and destroys Shane Thorne with a chop. Thorne manages to dropkick Ciampa, but both men are down. TM61 hit a neckbreaker combination on Ciampa that Gargano breaks up, before he does a crazy dive to the outside. Ciampa lands a big knee in the corner, followed by the knee/superkick combo for the win.
Winners: Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa via pinfall (knee/superkick)
- We see a promo for the Finn Balor/Samoa Joe cage match.
- Baymella are being interviewed when Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss both interrupt. Nia Jax says that Alexa isn't even worth the trouble.
- We see a vignette for Andrade "Cien" Almas, formerly known as La Sombra.
- Austin Aries comes out and says you're only the best until someone better comes along. He wonders what makes you the best, and says he's done everything, but timing is everything, and when he walked in to NXT other people got the attention. Shinsuke Nakamura comes out to a huge ovation. He speaks broken English and says he's coming after the NXT Championship. William Regal comes out and announces Aries vs. Nakamura for Takeover, and the two shake hands.
- American Alpha are in the back and say they beat The Revival in Dallas, and will at Full Sail.
No Way Jose vs. Local Wrestler
Jose dances his way to a shoulder block, a flying mare and an airplane spin before a rolling senton and leg drop. His opponent tries to fight back and eats strikes and a big facebuster. Jose connects with an overhand punch and a cobra clutch slam for the win.
Winner: No Way Jose via pinfall (cobra clutch slam)
- Asuka is in the back and says no matter who wins tonight's main event, she'll defeat them.
Number One Contender's Match
Alexa Bliss vs. Carmella vs. Nia Jax
Alexa Bliss rolls out of the ring, and Carmella goes to work on Nia, but keeps getting tossed around. Nia catches Alexa on the top rope and scares her down. Carmella huracanranas Nia into the post and Alexa capitalizes by going after Carmella. Bliss boots Nia Jax and almost gets rolled up, but knees Carmella in the bread box. Alexa does her choke STO and moonsault knees before punching and kneeing Nia as well. Alexa hits the Sparkle Splash on Nia, but Carmella breaks it up.
Nia Jax eats turnbuckle, but suplexes both Carmella and Alexa. She charges both of them, but gets dumped to the outside of the ring. Carmella gets caught on a suidice dive, but Bliss kicks Jax! This time Carmella succeeds on the suicide dive and gets attacked from behind by Bliss. Carmella gets a wheelbarrow headlock takeover and a Bronco Buster that sets up the STO and Inverted Triangle. Nia rips Alexa away, but gets caught in a rear naked choke by Carmella. Carmella is sat on the second rope and gets a Thesz press, but Jax slams her and leg drops her for the win.
Winner: Nia Jax via pinfall (leg drop)
Asuka comes out after the match and smiles before getting in Nia Jax's face.