WWE NXT
Episode 493
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: February 20, 2018
Event Date: January 30, 2019
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton
Video
Johnny Gargano is the North American Champ, but Velveteen Dream has earned a title shot. Tonight, the title is on the line.
Intro Video
“Resistance” by Powerflo
Match 1
Aleister Black vs Roderick Strong
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after Black Mass
Time: 8:26
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Strong looked very good and had Black reeling throughout the match. Black answered the challenge well, but Strong looked like he was pulling ahead. Still, Black is only ever one Black Mass away from a win. This match set a very good tone for tonight’s episode.
Ring Area
After the match, the Undisputed Era runs to the ring and attacks Aleister Black. Ricochet runs dow to the ring to help Black. Ricochet is hobbled by a hurt knee, but he and Black manage to fight Undisputed Era out of the ring. Undisputed Era backs away up the ramp.
Video
At the Performance Center, Serena Deeb and Sara Amato are excited about new recruits. However, Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke start a shouting match with some of the trainees (Mia Yim, Lacey Lane, Jessie Elaban, MJ Jenkins, and Jessika Carr). Deeb and Amato escort Baszler and her friends out of the room.
Video
Bianca Belair complains about not winning at Takeover. She also complains about Io Shirai and Kairi Sane. Belair refuses to step aside for Shirai. She also (incorrectly) states that she’s undefeated.
Match 2
Mia Yim vs Xia Li
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Mia Yim wins via pinfall after Protect Ya Neck
Time: 3:55
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was short, but I think they matched up well. Yim did her best to stay away from Li’s kicks and strikes, and it most worked out for Yim. There was one spot they had to do twice to get it right, but they transitioned out of the first attempt well. Other than that, the match was short yet pretty solid. I liked the finish.
Ring Area
After the match, Shayna Baszler run down and attacks Mia Yim. Shafir and Duke join Baszler. After a few seconds, Jessie Elaban, MJ Jenkins, and Lacey Lane run out to help Yim. The trainees succeed in distracting Baszler, Duke, and Shafir for a moment, but they are quickly overwhelmed. After dealing with the trainees, Duke and Shafir hold Yim so Baszler can hit her with a running knee strike.
Backstage
Johnny Gargano is warming up for his match when Candice LeRae walks up. Tommaso Ciampa also walks up and tells Gargano that if Gargano needs him, Ciampa will be there. Gargano says he won the North American title on his own. He looks at LeRae and says everything he needs is right here. Gargano walks away with LeRae. To himself, Ciampa says he will be watching.
Video
Jeremy Borash has a sit-down interview with Matt Riddle. Riddle talks about being who he is, taking out Kassius Ohno, and being unstoppable.
Match 3
North American Title Match
Velveteen Dream vs Johnny Gargano (NA Champ)
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Velveteen Dream wins via pinfall after the Purple Rainmaker and becomes the new North American Champ
Time: 20:42
Match Thoughts
Great match! Dream frustrated Gargano early in the match, but after a while the action started to even out. Both men looked like champs in this match. The action continually built up to the finish, and the winner made a definitive statement with the way he ended the match. This was one of the better NXT matches of the year so far, and that’s saying a lot.
Show Impressions
Very good show. This one was stacked with good matches.
Match of the Night
Dream vs Gargano
Because of course.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-02-20