WWE NXT
Episode 497
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: March 20, 2019
Event Date: March 13, 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
Intro Video
“Resistance” by Powerflo
Ring Area
Triple H heads to the ring, and he’s carrying the NXT Title. Triple H says he doesn’t need to remind everyone how special NXT is. NXT is where dreams become possibilities. For some people, realizing those dreams can take a long time, and for others, that dream can come to an end.
Triple H says he was going to announce an NXT Title match for Takeover between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. However, Tommaso Ciampa has been forced to relinquish the NXT Title due to having neck surgery. When one dream ends though, another dream begins. Gargano will still compete for the title, and his new opponent will be decided in a Fatal Five Way match tonight.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley asks Kona Reeves for a reaction to tonight’s announcement and main event. Reeves thinks it will be alright.
The Forgotten Sons walk by, but they don’t care about tonight’s main event. They’re more interested in next week’s main event when they’ll compete in the finals of the Dusty Classic.
Video
A look at Ricochet and Aleister Black. Even though they’ve formed a team, they know it’s every man for himself when they compete to earn the opportunity to challenge for the NXT Title.
Velveteen Dream sees that the biggest spotlight at Takeover is made for him.
Video
A look at Tommaso Ciampa’s recent successful neck surgery.
Video
Matt Riddle is stoked that he has a chance to qualify for an NXT Title match at the biggest Takeover of the year.
Adam Cole is going to make history.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley asks Kairi Sane and Io Shirai about their upcoming title match. Kairi and Io both want the NXT Women’s Title, so they will compete against each other, but they will remain friends regardless of the outcome. Bianca Belair walks up and says she would have beaten Shirai if not for Shayna Baszler. Belair also says she is going to go through both Kairi and Io on her way to becoming champ.
Match 1
Fatal Five Way NXT Title Number One Contender Match
Adam Cole vs Ricochet vs Velveteen Dream (NA Champ) vs Matt Riddle vs Aleister Black
(referee: Drake Wuertz; stipulation: the winner will face Johnny Gargano in a 2-out-of-3 falls match for the vacant NXT Title at Takeover: New York)
Result: Adam Cole pins Ricochet after the Last Shot
Time: 14:45
Match Thoughts
Great match! The pace was extremely high throughout the entire match. I think Matt Riddle really stood out. He seemed to be the most focused on inflicting as much damage as quickly and efficiently as possible while going for submissions every time he had the opportunity. Everyone else looked great too, each in their own ways. I am very happy with the outcome. Really, I would have been happy with any one of these five guys in an NXT Title match, but I’m REALLY happy with who actually won.
Show Impressions
This entire show was devoted to the Fatal Five Way and the NXT Title situation. It felt like a special episode for that, and I enjoyed it.
Match of the Night
Fatal Five Way
Maybe match of the week/month. We shall see.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-03-20