Johnny Gargano retained the NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, and he didn’t have The Way’s help this time.
Before the match, Dexter Lumis abducted Austin Theory, and Gargano sent his stablemates to look for Theory backstage. After a remarkably hard-fought match, Gargano pinned KUSHIDA to retain the title.
KUSHIDA took control after the match was initially a stalemate. He targeted the champion’s injured arm, but a neckbreaker in the ropes gave Gargano some breathing room.
Gargano gained the upper hand and wrenched KUSHIDA’s neck in the ropes. But KUSHIDA rallied, and both men took each other down with a clothesline. A flurry of offense had Gargano on the ropes, and KUSHIDA floored the champion with a kick to the head.
Will it be another #JohnnyTakeOver night or is it @KUSHIDA_0904's time?
The #WWENXT North American Title is on the line in a hard-hitting collision at #NXTTakeOver: Vengeance Day! pic.twitter.com/f1igETreY3
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2021
The challenger countered a springboard Spear into a bridging suplex for a two count. But Gargano fired back with a twisting Superplex, and he hit a rope-assisted DDT for a two count.
CAUGHT HIM! #NXTTakeOver @KUSHIDA_0904 @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/OYE8GWHsov
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 15, 2021
Both men exchanged submission attempts, and Gargano locked in his signature hold. The champion escaped the Hoverboard Lock, and he threw KUSHIDA into the turnbuckle. In the end, KUSHIDA threw Gargano off the top rope and locked in an Arm-Bar, but Gargano escaped by reaching the ropes.
KUSHIDA locked in another Arm-bar, but he got out of it by whipping KUSHIDA’s neck off the ropes. He hit One Final Beat on the ramp. He hit the move again back in the ring to get the pin and the win.
