NXT results, live blog (July 17, 2019): Adam Cole’s first title defense

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Enjoy the show!

- Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness and Beth Phoenix welcome us to Full Sail, and run down the champ’s return and Kushida’s next challenge. Then it’s time for BRO!

- Matt Riddle def. Arturo Ruas via TKO (referee stoppage on strikes)

The two MMA practitioners start with some stand-up, but Riddle gets Ruas back and takes him down. Striking forces the Brazilian into the corner, where Riddle tries to get an arm, but Ruas lifts him and slams him in the middle of the ring. They trade arm bar attempts, then back up to applause from the Florida crowd. The Bro gets the bottom rope to force a break when Ruas sweeps his legs and grabs a knee bar. They trade big kicks, and Riddle lands one to the head, follows up with a knee and then ground and pound.

- Shortly after the bell, Riddle is attacked by a large man in a hoodie. It’s Killian Dain! He’s throws the Bro into the ringpost, then turns him inside out with a lariat on the floor. More punches and kicks while we hear boos from the crowd, then a big senton at the base of the ramp. The Irishman throws him up to the stage, then delivers another running senton which sends both men THROUGH the stage. Dain climbs out and finally leaves as officials check on Riddle.

- Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins bring us a special edition of Street Talk. The NXT Tag champs run down their accomplishments, addressing how they can be serious. They encourage potential rivals to come find them if they want the smoke, and after they do, the Street Profits will still be champs. Dawkins says that is Undisputed, and Tez makes a shocked face.

- We see “fan shot” footage of Mia Yim attacking Marina Shafir in the parking lot of a live event. This is part of Yim’s quest to get a title shot from Shayna Baszler.

- Bronson Reed def. Dexter Lumis via pinfall following a super splash, advances to face Cameron Grimes in the second round of the Breakout Tournament

Lumis is stll working his serial killer gimmick from TNA. He comes in slowly to what sounds like a Halloween/Stranger Things mash-up theme, and we don’t get an interview with him. Reed’s in-set promo talks about how he’s bringing Australian Strong Style to WWE.

The former Sam Shaw starts the match with a creepy stare, which gives him an early advantage. Reed heads outside, where Lumis tries a flipping dive, but the former Jonah Rock sidesteps. Dexter lands on his feet, and Reed hits him with a big clothesline. He throws him in and follows to break the ten count, but is met with a jab to the throat and then a drop toe hold that sends Bronson throat first into the bottom rope. Rest holds, which include a quick bite and a smile, but Reed recovers on the break and hits a scoop slam to get into the driver’s seat. Phoenix talks about how Lumis feeds on pain as he takes offense from the big Aussie. Dexter slides out of a back body drop and hits one of his own before hitting a leg drop. He heads to the top rope, looking for a senton, but Reed rolls away. Powerslam, then Bronson heads up to himself, and that’s all Lumis can take.

- Cathy Kelley catches up with Tyler Breeze at a photo shoot. He says he’s learned one of the things that’s changed since he left is that everybody has a team. So he has a choice... Before he can reveal that choice, Forgotten Sons roll up. They call him a blast from the past, and say he’s out of place now. Breeze gets in a crack about how much things have changed, asking if Jaxson Ryker is Buddy Murphy. Wesley Blake says there you go being funny, but Ryker is something Prince Pretty’s never seen before. Tyler leaves, saying he’s seen everything.

- After a recap of Io Shirai’s promo from last week, we learn Shirai will face Kacy Catanzaro next week.

- Kushida def. Apollo Crews via submission with a Kimura

Full Sail very excited to see Apollo back. We start with a handshake, and Crews gets an early takedown with a waistlock, but Kushida takes the back and spins on it, trying for a kick and taunting the bigger man that he just missed with it. Apollo with numerous acrobatic evasions on the following sequence, and ends it with a big drop kick and a taunt of his own. Kushida heads outside and Crews chases, running into a handspring back elbow when he tries to get back in the ring. Another series ends with a nifty gutbuster from Apollo, and a then a big delayed vertical suplex keeps Crews in control. Kushida fights out of a rest hold, but power keeps Apollo in control. He gets two off a release belly-to-back suplex. Punches from Crews takes thing to the corner, but Kushida pops Apollo up for a kick to the arm. Handspring back elbow wobbles Crews, and a tornado DDT earns a nearfall. Kushida targets the left arm for his submission finisher, but Apollo powers him onto his shoulders. The smaller man slips free, but runs into a big boot. A flurry ends with the standing SSP, but Kushida kicks out! Back and forth, Kushida gets another cover after STOing Crews into the bottom turnbuckle. They trade enziguris that leave both men down, Apollo is the first man up and heads to the top rope. Kushida crawls over and lands a clubbing blow to Crews’ head. He ends up being punched to the mat, but returns with a double heel strike. The fight at the top again, and Kushida with a flying/rolling armbar! Crews makes for the rope and Kushida releases, but it’s only a few moments before he grabs the hold that ends it.

- Kelley catches up with Keith Lee and asks about his tenure at NXT. That makes him think about his starts and stops, and how he was promised opportunities when he came here. He mentions how there was no Breakout Tournament when he started. Now there’s a newcomer getting more shots in Damien Priest, so maybe it’s on him to change the narrative? He thanks Cathy for the talk and we learn it will be Priest vs. Lee next week.

- NXT champ Adam Cole is here! He grabs a mic to talk about the BAY BAY Championship tour, and how he’s used it to show us morons in the NXT Universe what a real champ looks like. And while he was gone, his boys were taking care of business here at Full Sail. There is a definite change happening here, and that means he’ll be a fighting champ. He’s going to defend his title tonight, and he’ll do it against... Cole points to the ‘tron, and a video with Johnny Gargano starts. It’s Johnny at ACW’s wrestling school, and it’s set-up for the champ to introduce Twan Tucker, who interacted with Johnny and Cole during the vignettes at the school over the last couple months.

Cole says he’s giving Tucker a huge opportunity. He’s all alone, there’s no Undisputed ERA, so Twan can try to knock the taste out of his mouth if he wants. Tucker has a mic, and says he didn’t come alone... here’s Gargano!

Johnny Wrestling charges the ring, and a brawl ends with a superkick. Cole tries to flee into the stands, but Gargano follows. They fight up and down the stairs, and Cole tries to escape with a cheapshot, but Johnny throws him into the production area. Officals separate them and it looks like it’s over, but Gargano dives off the stage onto the champ. They head back to the ring where another exchange ends with a Johnny kick and his half of meeting in the middle. Then he locks on Garga-No Escape until Cole taps. Refs finally get him off, and Johnny puts up three fingers as he backs up the ramp, signalling he wants the trilogy.