12/19/18 WWE NXT Recap: Duke/Shafir vs. Kai/Shirai; Dijakovic Debuts; Heavy Machinery in Action; Black vs. Gargano in a Cage

NXT opens with a preview of tonight’s main event: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano inside of a steel cage. The opening credits then roll and Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson welcome us to the show.

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Match #1 – Tag Team Match: Dakota Kai and Io Shirai vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir
Duke and Kai start the match and Duke shoves Kai down to the mat. Kai comes back with a quick roll-up, but Duke powers out. Duke applies a waist-lock, but Kai fights back and kicks her in the face. Kai delivers a double stomp and goes for the cover, but Duke kicks out at two. Kai kicks Duke in the face, but Shafir kicks Kai in the back and Duke takes advantage. Duke delivers a few palm strikes and then tags in Shafir. Shafir delivers a few forearm shots and goes for the cover, but Kai kicks out at two. Shafir applies a rear naked choke, but Kai counters with knee strikes. Shafir drops Kai to the mat and goes for the cover, but Kai kicks out at two. Shafir slams Kai into the corner and tags in Duke. They double team Kai and then Duke kicks her in the face. Duke goes for the cover, but Kai kicks out at two. Duke applies a neck wrench, but Kai fights back and takes her down.
Shirai and Shafir tag in and Shirai takes control of the match. Shirai sends Shafir into the ropes and delivers the 6-1-9 and then connects with a springboard dropkick. Shirai delivers running knees in the corner and then slams Shafir to the mat. Shirai goes up top and Duke gets involved, but she gets send to the floor. Shirai connects with the moonsault on Shafir and gets the pin fall.
Winners: Io Shirai and Dakota Kai

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We are reminded of tonight’s main event: a Steel Cage Match between Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano.

We then see a vignette for Dominik Dijakovic. He debuts tonight.

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We take a look back to two weeks ago when Matt Riddle defeated Punishment Martinez, but was then laid out by Kassius Ohno. We then see an interview with Riddle. Riddle says he is not too happy with Ohno, but he can’t blame him since he knocked him out in seven seconds at TakeOver. Riddle dares Ohno to get into the ring with him, because he will knock him out in seven seconds again.

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Match #2 – Singles Match: Aaron Mackey vs. Dominik Dijakovic
Dijakovic drops Mackey with a clothesline and then tosses him across the ring. Dijakovic connects with a back elbow in the corner and then delivers a knee to the ribs. Dijakovic tosses Mackey across the ring again and then connects with a knee strike to the face and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Dominik Dijakovic

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We are reminded once more of tonight’s cage match main event between Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano.

We then see a vignette for Heavy Machinery. They will challenge the Undisputed ERA for the NXT Tag Team Championship next week, but they will be in action up next as well.

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William Regal, through a tweet, announces that Io Shirai has been added to the Fatal Four-Way #1 Contender’s Match next week joining Lacey Evans, Bianca Belair, and Mia Yim. The winner will advance to NXT TakeOver: Phoenix and challenge Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship.

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Match #3 – Tag Team Match: Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic) vs. Two Local Competitors
Dozovic starts against one of the guys and tosses him across the ring. He tags in his partner, but Dozovic smashes him in the corner. Dozovic tosses the new guy into the corner and tags in Knight. Knight and Dozovic smash the guys together and then Dozovic tosses one to the floor. Knight slams the other guy, now known as Danny Decardo, into the corners repeatedly. The Undisputed ERA appear on the stage and Knight drops Decardo with a clothesline. Dozovic tags in and he and Knight slam Decardo to the mat with the Compactor. Dozovic covers him, but pulls him up at two. Knight and Dozovic drop the other guy with the Compactor and then Knight tags in legally. Dozovic slams the guys together and then he and Knight hit and double Compactor and Dozovic pins both guys for the win.
Winners: Heavy Machinery

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We see Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano warming up backstage. Their Steel Cage Match is up next.

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We are reminded that Aleister Black will challenge Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix.

Match #4 – Steel Cage Match: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano attacks Black during his entrance and they brawl all around the ring and cage. Black slams Gargano into the barricade, but Gargano comes back and slams Black into the steps. Black battles back with body shots and then tosses Gargano into the ring and the referee locks the door as the bell rings.
Gargano tries to escape, but Black stops him. Black connects with an elbow shot and then trips Gargano up. Black connects with an elbow shot and slams Gargano to the mat. Black goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Black tries to kick Gargano against the cage, but Gargano dodges and delivers one of his own. Gargano starts the climb, but Black stomps him. Gargano drops to the mat and pulls the ropes and Black crotches himself on the top rope. Gargano slams Black into the cage and beats him down on the mat. Gargano grinds Black’s face against the cage and then slams him into the turnbuckle. Gargano connects with a chop, but Black begins to fight back. Black takes Gargano down and then scales the ropes. Black connects with a moonsault to take Gargano down to the mat. Black slams Gargano into the cage a few times and then connects with a series of kicks and then a knee strike.
Black connects with a running knee and goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Black begins to climb and then sits on top of the cage. Black gets back down and kicks Gargano in the face. Gargano comes back and sends Black into the cage. Gargano grabs Black and delivers a power bomb from the ropes. Gargano goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two. Black and Gargano exchange forearm shots and Gargano delivers a superkick. Gargano runs the ropes, but Black drops him with a jumping knee strike. Black kicks Gargano against the cage a few times and then delivers a knee strike that sends Gargano through the open door. Black grabs Gargano to keep him in the ring, but Gargano counters with an enzuiguri. Gargano tries to escape again, Black grabs him again. Gargano turns it into the Gargano Escape, but Black gets to his feet and throws Gargano into the cage.
Gargano holds on and begins to climb, but Black stomps him again. Both men sit on top of the cage, but Gargano comes down and pulls Black with him. Gargano goes for a cutter from the top rope, but Black sends him crashing to the mat. Black connects with double knees and goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Black sets up for Black Mass, but Gargano dodges it and kicks Black in the face. Gargano torpedoes Black into the turnbuckle and then does it again into the cage. Gargano picks Black up, but Black counters with Black Mass. Gargano gets to his feet first and begins to climb as Black crawls to the door. Tommaso Ciampa rushes the ring and slams the door into Black and then gets into the ring with him as Gargano watches from the outer wall of the cage. Gargano gets back into the ring and he and Ciampa stare each other down. Gargano and Ciampa double team Black and hit him with the DIY double kick.
Ciampa leaves the cage and Gargano gets the pin fall.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
-After the match, Ciampa backs up the ramp and claps for Gargano. Gargano sits down next to Black, stares at him, and then gets up and leaves the cage as the show comes to a close.