North American Championship Match: Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Kushida
As The Way is making their way to the stage, Dexter Lumis snatches Austin Theory while everyone else is distracted. Gargano tells LeRae and Hartwell to go find Theory. As soon as the bell rings Kushida almost locks in the Hoverboard Lock. Gargano avoids it. Kushida drives Gargano down to the mat. Kushida works multiple submission holds, attempting to set Gargano up for the Hoverboard Lock. Kushida and Gargano trade pin and submission attempts. Gargano tries to lock in the Gargano Escape but Kushida counters and locks Gargano in his own hold. Gargano gets to the ropes. After another series of reversals Gargano lands a superkick on the apron. Gargano sends Kushida into the ringsteps head first. Kushida suplexes Gargano out on the floor into an armbar. Kushida only breaks the hold to break the referee’s count. Kushida sends Gargano flying with a butterfly suplex outside the ring.
Gargano rolls back in the ring. Kushida dropkicks Gargano injured arm. Kushida twists Gargano’s wrist before slamming it into the mat. Kushida flips to the apron. Gargano grabs Kushida’s head and hits a rope-assisted neck breaker. Kushida kicks out. Gargano works over Kushida. Kushida reverses Gargano’s submission attempt into an octopus hold. Kushida and Gargano trade pin attempts again. Kushida and Gargano floor each other with a double clothesline. Kushida and Gargano trade strikes. Hip toss into a cartwheel dropkick by Kushida. Kushida decks Gargano. Kushida stomps the back of Gargano’s head. Kushida locks in an ankle lock. Gargano gets to his feet. Kushida German suplexes Gargano. Kushida kicks Gargano in the back of the head. Gargano somehow kicks out.
Gargano avoids Kushida’s handspring attack. Gargano tries his slingshot spear but Kushida counters into a rolling hammerlock suplex. Gargano kicks out. Kushida blocks Gargano’s springboard with a devastating right hand. Kushida arm wringers Gargano and slams his arm into the ring post. Gargano pushes Kushida off the top rope. Kushida explodes into the corner with a handspring attack. Kushida tries to set up a superplex. Gargano reverses it midair into a spinning brainbuster. Gargano holds on and immediately hits a tornado DDT off the second rope. Kushida kicks out. Kushida and Gargano trade armbar attempts. Neither can lock in the hold. Gargano rolls into a pin, Kushida kicks out. Kushida tries a springboard elbow but Gargano catches Kushida in the air and hits a Russian leg sweep. Gargano rolls Kushida into the Gargano Escape. Kushida reverses it into the Hoverboard Lock.
Gargano gets to the ropes. Kushida tries head-scissors but Gargano lawn darts him into the middle turnbuckle. Kushida manages to hit a chicken wing suplex into the corner. Kushida lands a flying armbar off the top rope. Gargano somehow manages to get his foot on the bottom rope. Gargano rolls out of the ring but Kushida will not let go of Gargano’s arm. Gargano slams Kushida into the ring apron. Kushida won’t let go. Gargano drives Kushida into the barricade. Kushida finally let’s go. Gargano tries to crawl up the ramp. Kushida cuts him off and runs the full length of the ramp and PKs Gargano’s arm. Gargano’s arm is in bad shape. Kushida puts Gargano in a double wrist lock. Gargano slingshots Kushida’s neck into the top rope. Gargano hits One Final Beat on the ramp! Gargano pushes Kushida back into the ring and hits another One Final Beat for the win!
Winner and STILL North American Champion, Johnny Gargano!
THIS is why he's #JohnnyTakeOver! Beautiful counter by @JohnnyGargano! #NXTTakeOver @KUSHIDA_0904 pic.twitter.com/S1HCblfqtY
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2021
?️KU-SHI-DA! KU-SHI-DA! KU-SHI-DA! #NXTTakeOver @KUSHIDA_0904 @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/RSSy4EEVIt
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1361116825585651712?s=20
If @JohnnyGargano's arm wasn't injured before…#NXTTakeOver @KUSHIDA_0904 pic.twitter.com/BNB0nMhigf
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2021
