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Johnny Gargano didn’t need Austin Theory to retain the North American title at TakeOver: Vengeance Day. That’s good because he may need to get used to being without Theory, and The Way’s other mentee Indi Hartwell. At least as long as Gargano is feuding with Dexter Lumis.
Lumis is the reason Theory wasn’t ringside for Johnny’s match with Kushida at TakeOver. But turns out Austin had a blast staying at Dexter’s house. He got to watch cartoons, and eat cereal. It was like a vacation!
So when Gargano & Candice LeRae tried to get Theory to interfere in Johnny’s match with the psycho sketch artist tonight (Feb. 23) on NXT, Austin couldn’t pull the trigger on his pal.
Maybe it’s the s or the flashback from that "vacation," but@austintheory1 couldn't bring himself to strike @DexterLumis. #WWENXT @JohnnyGargano @CandiceLeRae @indi_hartwell pic.twitter.com/mTSeDkdHq8
— WWE (@WWE) February 25, 2021
To make matters worse, Hartwell seems to have a crush on Lumis!
Get it, girl.@indi_hartwell @DexterLumis #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/BNpbiClU2z
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 25, 2021
Without his charges help, Lumis was able to fight off a rana from LeRae, and eventually lock Johnny in his Silence submission.
Luckily, this match was non-title. Next time Gargano might not be so lucky. Can he get Theory & Hartwell following his Way again by then? Or has a psycho swayed them to his way?
Keep up with everyone on tonight’s NXT in our live blog here.