Given the task of following a red hot tag team opener at TakeOver: New York, Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream started grabbing the Brooklyn crowd’s attention with their entrances. The King of Bros was rocking Yankee pinstripes, while the North American champion did... this:
This is normally where I'd say something like "We're all living in @VelveteenWWE's world," but let's be honest... none of us are interesting enough to be in the DREAM's world.
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_wrestling) April 5, 2019
➡️ https://t.co/E0MswUzX3G pic.twitter.com/tVr8gX4j4N
What followed was a showcase for Riddle. Velveteen’s usual showmanship and mind games didn’t seem to phase the former UFC fighter, whose athleticism and technical skills were on display early and often:
Nice! @SuperKingofBros #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/kfvNjFPp2k
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) April 5, 2019
Dream refused to stay down, and managed to reach the ropes on each of Riddle’s many & varied submission attempts. But any offense Velveteen was able to get in was short-lived, time and time again.
The champ wasn’t ready to give up the belt he only recently won from Johnny Gargano without a fight, though. Dream hulked up just like the man who will induct Brutus Beefcake into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the flurry that followed he hit two Dream Valley Drivers, but his Purple Rainmaker was turned right into a submission.
A floating Bro got an amazing nearfall, and this happened:
The power of @SuperKingofBros!
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_wrestling) April 6, 2019
➡️ https://t.co/E0MswUzX3G pic.twitter.com/Mg0TKMjacf
Then the BROmission really looked like it would give us a new champ. But Velveteen was able to roll through for three, and the North American championship is still part of the Dream Experience.
Afterwards, an upset Riddle offered the his opponent a well-earned fist bump. After feigning he would big time the Bro, Dream accepted.
Bro. #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/RepRHJkHXh
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) April 6, 2019
For a complete rundown of everything that happened at Barclays Center tonight, head to our live blog here.