Karrion Kross Defeats Johnny Gargano To Retain NXT Title; Chokes Out Samoa Joe
Photo Credit: WWE
It was quite the NXT Title match as Karrion Kross closed out not only Johnny Gargano, but Samoa Joe. The Champion Kross showed his strength and power against the game Gargano, but Johnny got some of his signature shots in against Karrion. Kross went to kill Johnny off with a top rope maneuver, but Gargano rolled over on top for a pin attempt. He then reversed a running powerslam into a tornado DDT. Johnny continued the attack with some leg kicks before cranking Kross in a modified crossface. Kross powered through such to lock in a sleeper. Johnny began to fade as Samoa Joe check on him, but Gargano made it to the ropes. Joe shoved Kross off after he didn’t break the hold and it causd the men to stare each other down.
Kross continued his chicanery as he pulled out steel steps to slam Johnny on, but Joe stopped that as well. Back in the ring, Kross crushed Johnny with a quadruple powerbomb. He then hit a reverse exploder suplex and his patented back elbow smash to get the win.
Post-match, Joe looked to leave the ring, but Kross caught him from behind with a guillotine choke to put Samoa Joe asleep. That ended the episode with Kross standing tall.