8/8/18 WWE NXT Recap: Nikki Cross, Kassius Ohno in Action; Keith Lee Debuts; Black/Gargano Main Event

NXT opens with footage of Tommaso Ciampa winning the NXT Championship two weeks ago. We then see the confrontation between Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Aleister Black from last week’s show. The opening credits roll, and then Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson welcome us to the show.

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Match #1 – Singles Match: Amber Nova vs. Nikki Cross
They lock up and Cross backs Nova into the corner. Nova comes back with a slap, but Cross takes her down with an arm-drag. Nova comes back with a forearm shot, but Cross delivers a belly-to-back suplex. Cross goes for the cover, but Nova kicks out at two. Cross sends Nova into the corner, but Nova counters and slams Cross face-first into the turnbuckle. Nova delivers right hands down on the mat and goes for the cover, but Cross kicks out at two. Nova applies the straitjacket submission, but Cross eventually backs her into the corner. Cross delivers an elbow shot and then drops her with a few short-arm clotheslines. Cross delivers right hands on the mat and then delivers a cross-body from the top. Cross delivers The Purge and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Nikki Cross.

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We see that tonight’s main event will be Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano. We also see that we will see EC3 “experiencing The Dream” later tonight. Also, Ricochet will be in action after the break.

We see a video hype package for Keith Lee, who will make his NXT in-ring debut tonight. He invites the NXT Universe to bask in his glory.

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Ricochet’s music hits, but he is dragged to the stage by all four members of The Undisputed ERA. Adam Cole says he is not a coward and doesn’t hide behind anybody. Cole says Ricochet lies here battered and beaten while he stands tall. Cole says after he destroys Ricochet in Brooklyn, that will still be undisputed.

We see Vanessa Borne backstage getting ready for her match against Taynara Conti. Borne says her game plan is simple: it’s to win. She says she doesn’t want to deprive the world of her involvement in the Mae Young Classic, so she is going to get what she deserves tonight, and so will the world.

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Match #2 – Singles Match: Adrian Jaoude vs. Kassius Ohno
Jaoude goes behind and goes for a suplex, but then settles for a waist-lock take down. Ohno comes back and backs Jaoude into the ropes and then delivers a kick to the face. Ohno delivers a running senton splash and then kicks him in the face in the corner. Ohno kicks Jaoude in the face a few more times and then smacks him in the head. Ohno delivers a few elbow shots, but Jaoude comes back and delivers a side suplex. Jaoude charges in the corner, but Ohno counters with an elbow strike. Ohno delivers the Dream Crusher and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Kassius Ohno.

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We see that EC3 will “experience The Dream” after the break.

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Back from the break, we see that “Blood // Water” by Grandson will be one of the official theme songs for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4. Nigel reminds us that EC3 and The Velveteen Dream will go one-on-one at the event and then we see EC3 and Dream at a summit. Dream invites EC3 to sit down and then invites him on a walk. They walk around the pool and Dream says EC3 is the top one percent and deserves the best. EC3 says this is bigger than life and he is bigger than Dream. Dream says he invited EC3 to his facility and EC3 disrespected him. EC3 tosses Dream in the pool to end the segment. We then see that Dream will be live on NXT next week.

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Match #3 – Singles Match: Marcel Barthel vs. Keith Lee
Lee drops Barthel with a left hand strike and follows it with another, but Barthel comes back with a throat thrust. Barthel delivers a European uppercut and runs the ropes, but Lee leapfrogs and then delivers a dropkick. Barthel comes back with a boot to the chest and then an elbow strike. Barthel delivers a step-up enzuiguri and then beats him down against the ropes. Barthel delivers a dropkick to Lee and goes for the cover, but Lee kicks out at two. Barthel delivers right hands in the corner, but Lee comes back with a headbutt. Lee double slaps Barthel in the chest and then goes for a splash. Barthel moves and delivers an uppercut. Barthel goes for a suplex, but Lee counters and slams Barthel to the mat. Lee runs the ropes and delivers a Pounce to Barthel. Lee picks Barthel up and delivers a fireman’s carry slam and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Keith Lee.

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We are reminded of tonight’s main event between Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano, but up next is Taynara Conti vs. Vanessa Borne, and the winner qualifies for the Mae Young Classic Tournament.

We see a promo with The Street Profits. They talk about The Mighty and mock their new name. They reveal that they have a match against The Mighty on next week’s show.

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Match #4 – Mae Young Classic Tournament Qualifying Match: Vanessa Borne vs. Taynara Conti
Conti and Borne battle to the mat. Borne gets a quick two count, but Conti turns it into a two count of her own. Borne drops Conti with a shoulder block, but Conti comes back with a waist-lock. Borne delivers a forearm that sends Conti to the corner. Borne chokes Conti in the corner and goes for the cover, but Conti kicks out at two. Borne keeps Conti grounded with a front face-lock and then turns it into a body scissors submission. Conti gets free and backs Borne into the corner. Conti delivers a slap to Borne and delivers rights and lefts. Conti slams Borne to the mat and then delivers a few hip throws. Borne comes back with a slap, but Conti delivers a slam and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Taynara Conti.

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We see Johnny Gargano walking around backstage. His match against Aleister Black is up next.

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We take a look back to last week’s match between Shayne Baszler and Candice LeRae, and then Kairi Sane saving LeRae from a post-match beatdown. We see that Sane will take on Aliyah on next week’s show. Additionally, Tyler Bate will take on Roderick Strong.

We see Cain Velasquez sitting at ringside.

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Match #5 – Singles Match: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano

Before the match begins, it is announced that Black will challenge Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4, but it has since been revealed that Black has been removed from the match due to an injury.

Black goes for Black Mass immediately, but Gargano dodges it. Black connects with a straight kick, but Gargano fights back. Black comes back with knee strikes, but Gargano kicks Black to the floor. Gargano delivers a suicide dive on the floor and tosses Black back into the ring. Gargano stomps away on Black in the corner and goes for the slingshot spear, but Black blocks it with a knee strike. Black connects with a kick to the head and both men delivers a series of simultaneous clotheslines. Tommaso Ciampa comes to the ring and attacks both men and the referee calls for the bell.
Match Result: No Contest.
Ciampa beats down both men, but Black and Gargano come back. Black drops Gargano with an errant kick and sends Ciampa to the floor. Gargano goes after Ciampa, but Black stops him and Gargano goes after Black. Gargano then takes out Ciampa on the floor. Black and Gargano battle back into the ring and referees finally come out to separate them. William Regal’s music hits and he comes to the stage. He says all of this is out of control and he is not going to try to control or prevent it. He says he is going to let it happen at TakeOver. He says the NXT Championship Match will be a Triple Threat Match (keep in mind that Black was hurt after these tapings at a house show). All three men stare each other down as the episode comes to a close.