Photo by WWE.com
Samoa Joe toppled Shinsuke Nakamura to reclaim his NXT Championship Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at NXT TakeOver: Toronto at Air Canada Centre.
The Samoan Submission Machine become the only two-time holder of the developmental’s biggest prize, to the shock of fans in attendance.
Nakamura nailed Joe with a Kinshasa, knocking him out of the ring and leaving him bloodied.
But that was when he low-blowed the King of Strong Style, slamming him to the steel steps before hitting a Muscle Buster for the three-count.
It was just the redemption Joe wanted after losing the title to the Japanese superstar at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II back in August.
He gauded Nakamura in believing he was humbled after that first match, but ensued to take the champion out, slamming him to the steel steps to shelve him for at least a month, setting up this rematch.
In the night’s other matches, Asuka retained her NXT Women’s Championship after beating the returning Mickie James, making her tap out to a crossface chicken wing submission.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa finally claimed the NXT Tag Team titles, forcing The Revival to simultaneously submit in their two-out-of-three falls match.
The Authors of Pain also became the second winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, beating TM61 in the tournament Finals.
Manager Paul Ellering was suspended on a shark cage over the ring, but that didn’t stop him from aiding his monsters after he dropped a steel chain. Though Akam would miss on his chain-aided swing, the Authors of Pain were still able hit Nick Miller with The Last Chapter to win the match.
Bobby Roode also continued his undefeated run in NXT, nailing Tye Dillinger with the Glorious DDT for the three-count to open the show.