NXT Recap for 4/17/19

After two weeks in New York for NXT Takeover and last week’s episode, NXT returns home to Full Sail. There is a new NXT theme song and opening package that kicks off the show. The song is called All Out Life. It is performed by Slipknot. It’s gonna take some getting used to that’s for sure. It sounds like something Triple H would choose. He’s a big heavy metal fan. Now let’s get into the recap.

We kick things off with an NXT North American title match. The Velveteen Dream puts his title on the line against Buddy Murphy. Murphy is making his return to NXT. He is a former NXT tag team champion with his former partner Wesley Blake. I really enjoyed this match. Murphy hit a couple of vicious knee strikes to the Dream that almost knocked me out of my seat. These two worked well together. Exchanging offense back and forth. It was Dream who came out on top. He hit the Famouser on the ropes. Followed up with the rolling Dream Valley Driver. The Dream goes to the top rope for the Purple Rain Maker elbow drop to seal the victory.

Murphy has come a long way since his time in NXT. He held his own on the 205 Live show. He’s a former cruiserweight champion. He is now headed over to the Smackdown brand. I’m curious to see what he does on that show.

Next up, we get a backstage segment with the Street Profits. They head to General Manager Willam Regal’s off because they are looking for an opportunity. Montez Ford knocks on the door and out come the NXT Tag Team Champions The War Raiders. They mention that things have been taken care of. It was announced that next week the two teams will meet. With the War Raiders moving up to the Raw brand as The Viking Experience, I wonder will this match turn into a tag team title match. We’ll have to see how this match plays out.

Our new NXT champion Johnny Gargano makes his way to the ring. He gets a nice ovation. Mauro Ranallo makes a nice reference on commentary about Johnny’s title win. He says Charlie Brown finally kicked the football. Well said, Mauro. The crowd chants Johnny Champion as well as you deserve it. Johnny talks about how this moment has been a long time coming. 4 years to the day of his first tryout with WWE, he now stands there as champion. 

Gargano is soon interrupted by Adam Cole (Bay Bay), Bobby Fish and Kyle O’ Reilly. Cole has had enough of this feel-good moment. He feels he should be champion. Cole claims to be the uncrowned champion and calls Gargano a punk. Johnny says he beat Cole two straight falls and made him tap out during their 2 out of 3 falls match at NXT Takeover New York. If he had lost he wouldn’t come out and cry like a Bay Bay. Great way to throw Cole’s catchphrase back at him. Johnny also references Cole’s group not being in sync. Cole and Johnny were about to square off when out of nowhere Roderick Strong attacks Johnny from behind. Gargano is beaten down by the Undisputed Era. Cole hits Johnny with a superkick. It looks like this feud is far from over with these two.

Some of the latest NXT call ups were mentioned after the superstar shake up this week. As well as the latest signing from Japan Kushida. I don’t know a lot about him, but I look forward to seeing what he brings to the NXT roster. With the call ups, there is the opportunity for both the men and woman to step up. I wish them all well.

Dominik Dijakovic had a squash match against a guy by the name of Aaron Frye. The match was over within seconds after a big boot by Dijakovic. He grabs the mic after his win and expressed his desire to go after the North American Title. This pretty much confirms his next feud will be with the Velveteen Dream. That will be one to keep an eye on.

Cathy Kelley is backstage and she interviews The Undisputed Era. They talk about how Johnny fell for their trap earlier in the night. William Regal approaches them and says that next week Roderick Strong will go one on one with Johnny Gargano. Adam Cole did not seem happy. He was hoping to get another shot at the title. It seems like they are planting the seeds for an Undisputed Era break up. Or maybe Roderick Strong breaking away from the group to go solo again. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

Vanessa Borne and Aliyah appear in a recorded video talking about last week that they were not ready for Candice LeRae when Aliyah faced her in a match. They were too busy shopping, wining and dining, living the life, etc. Next week they will be ready. Borne and Aliyah challenge LeRae to a tag team match. I wonder who her partner will be. Choose wisely they told her. I say it will be either Bianca Belair or Mia Yim.

It’s time for the main event. Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler. NXT Woman’s Title match. The stipulation is if Sane loses, she doesn’t get another title match. These two know each other well. Their feud goes back to the Mae Young Classic Tournament. You can tell they know each other well during this match. This was the night of knee strikes. Shayna hit a good one on Sane. Sane hit her arm on the outside of the ring. Shayna was like a shark who smelled blood and continue to be on the attack.

Sane sold the whole thing really well. We got some outside interference from Sane’s friend Io Shairi. She couldn’t see her friend continue to be beaten down and potentially be injured by Baszler. The match ends in a disqualification. Shayna’s horsewoman friends Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir who were ringside get involved as well. They force Shirai to watch as Shayna stomps on the injured arm of Sane.

I wasn’t crazy about that ending. I would have liked to see Sane go out a little better than that since this was her last NXT match. At the same time, I get why they did it. This sets up a feud between Shirai and Baszler. That will be a good one for the fans. Overall, I enjoyed this week’s show. I look forward to seeing what happens next with the NXT brand. They always keep you on the edge of your seat.