This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE NXT. Tonight we have a great show as in our main event one man will be leaving NXT for good when Andrade Almas defends his NXT Championship against Johnny Gargano and the loser will be forced to leave NXT! Who will win? Will Gargano finally become NXT champion or have to leave for good? Be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST to find out!
Velveteen Dream vs No Way Jose
Dream attacks Jose and beats him down in the corner before playing to the crowd, then Jose hits a tope over the top rope and onto Dream onto the floor as we go to commercial.
Jose is in control as we come back from commercial until Dream drops him across the top rope, then Jose gets his feet up when Dream comes off of the top rope. Jose then tosses Dream into the corner before Dream counters a lariat into a DVD and hits the Purple Rainmaker elbow drop for the pin and the win.
Winner: Velveteen Dream defeats No Way Jose via pinfall with the Purple Rainmaker elbow drop.
-Velveteen cuts a promo after the match before leaving, then we have Almas getting ready for his match later tonight.We have an announcement of the Dusty Classic Tag Team Tournament in two weeks as we go to commercial.
Vanessa Borne vs Nikki Cross
Nikki attacks Vanessa before beating her in the corner, then Vanessa comes back and stomps Nikki in the corner before Nikki comes back and slams Vanessa into the mat repeatedly. Nikki then hits a fisherman's neckbreaker for the pin and the win.
Winner: Nikki Cross defeats Vanessa Borne via pinfall with a fisherman's neckbreaker.
WWE NXT Championship Loser Leaves NXT Match
Andrade Almas (c) vs Johnny Gargano
Almas immediately rolls Johnny up for a quick two count before sending Johnny out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Almas drops Johnny with a back elbow before Johnny comes back and clotheslines Almas over the top rope and onto the floor. Johnny goes for a tope to the outside, but Zelina gets in the way, Candace hitting a tope onto Zelina before Johnny hits one on Almas. They get back in the ring and exchange strikes until Almas locks in an armbar in the ropes before sending Johnny shoulder first into the top turnbuckle. Almas keeps focused on the injured left arm of Gargano before hitting a reverse backbreaker into a reverse DDT for a near fall as we go to commercial.
Almas is in control as we come back from commercial, still focusing on the arm of Johnny before Johnny comes back with a huricanrrana that sends Almas out of the ring, then hits a slingshot spear through the ropes after Almas is quick to get back in the ring for a near fall. They exchange forearms until Almas hits a buckle bomb into a running meteora in the corner for a very close near fall. Johnny counters an attempted hammer lock DDT only for Almas to send Johnny shoulder first into the ring post, the two exchanging forearms from the apron before Almas counters a slingshot spear through the ropes into a Fujiwara armbar. Almas transitions into the Gargano Escape, but Almas lets go when Johnny tries to roll him up, then Almas counters Johnny going for the Hammerlock DDT, before hitting a reverse meteora. Johnny hits a tornado DDT to the outside before rolling Almas back into the ring and hitting an implant DDT for a very close near fall.
They exchange strikes until Almas murders the referee with a back elbow, then Johnny locks in the Gargano Escape, but the referee is incapacitated before Tommaso Ciampa comes out and attacks Johnny with his crutch to break it up. Almas then hits the hammerlock DDT for the pin and the win.
Winner: Andrade Almas defends his NXT Championship against Johnny Gargano via pinfall with a hammerlock DDT thereby forcing Johnny to leave NXT.
-After the match Johnny gets a standing ovation from the NXT universe before Candace comes in the ring and sits beside Johnny and consoles him; Johnny visibly upset and crying as the NXT universe chants his name before she helps him to his feet. They then hug before facing the crowd and leaving as we see Tommaso Ciampa waving bye to them as we go off the air.
