NXT returns tonight just after the heartbreaking loss in the NXT Championship match last week. In case you missed it, Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Johnny Gargano to retain his title once again after interference from Tommaso Ciampa cost Garagno the match. As per the stipulation, Gargano was forced to leave NXT. True to his word, Gargano did not appear on this show (with the exception of a brief video from last week shown), but a ton of fun matches were still had at this show in Atlanta.
Tyler Bate vs. The Velveteen Dream –
  This match has been in the works for a while and Bate and Dream even had a brief confrontation during last week’s show. As a result, the match took place during this show. It all began with Dream going for a wristlock before Bate countered it into a wristlock of his own. From here on out, Dream constantly went after Bate but the former UK Champion always found a way to avoid or reverse his maneuvers.

  Once the Velveteen Dream was able to stop him, he laid him out with some kicks and boots to the back. Dream locked Bate into a modified version of the Camel Clutch, which Bate was able to power out of. He and Velveteen Dream then proceeded to trade strikes back and fourth until Bate attempted to get the upper hand by hitting a knee strike from the top of one of the ring posts. Dream moved out of the way just in time, but Bate still suplexed him for a two count.
  Of course, Bate got the Dream up on his shoulders for an Airplane Spin, however, Velveteen was able to elbow his way out of it before he could get too dizzy. Bat e then attempted to go for the Tyler Driver ’97, but again, Dream reversed the move and went for a kick.
  An uppercut from Bate stunned the Dream only for a moment before the latter busted out a spinebuster on the young British wrestler. Bate still managed to kick out of this one. They began to punch and uppercut each other once again. The Velveteen Dream attempted to go up to the top rope for the Purple Rainmaker, but Bate tried to stop him with a dropkick. Instead, he was caught by the Dream and sent down to the canvas. Dream finally hit his signature elbow drop to pick up a win.
Winner: The Velveteen Dream

  Paul Ellering and the Authors of Pain both spoke from backstage and warned current NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish that they intend on coming for the their titles.
  The aforementioned video of Johnny Gargano then aired next. Originally shot last week, the video shows Gargano signing his termination papers before bidding General Manager William Regal and the referee from his match against Almas farewell.
Adam Cole vs. Cezar Bononi –

  Before the match even began, Adam Cole took the microphone and praised Bononi for winning the “Future Star of NXT” award from the 2017 NXT Year-End Awards. He said that a future star such as himself deserves to be a member of the Undisputed Era. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly tossed the tall Brazilian a shirt and he then began to contemplate possibly joining the group.
  It turned out to be an elaborate distraction from the boys though, because Cole then suddenly began to beat down Bononi. Cezar did fire back with a big boot, which got him a two count, in fact. Fish and O’Reilly briefly distracted him again by standing on the apron for a moment. Cole then dished out a superkick before giving the NXT newcomer a knee to the back of the neck to earn a victory.
Winner: Adam Cole
  A brief video package hyping up the Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane match later in the show was aired. The video package mentioned the two ladies and their match in the final of the Mae Young Classic, in which Sane beat Baszler to win the tournament.
  We then got a wacky segment which saw Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins interview each other on the streets of Atlanta as they both pretended to be ordinary citizens. The two wrestlers asked each other who they though would win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Unsurprisingly, everybody they “interviewed” declared that the Profits would be the winners of the tournament.
Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler –
  As mentioned already, this was a rematch between the two Mae Young Classic finalists. A few weeks ago, Kairi Sane interfered in Baszler’s match against Ember Moon for the NXT Women’s Championship. Her interference allowed Moon to retain her title even though it seemed as though she would have certainly lost had Sane not interfered in the match.
  So how did the rematch go? Well, it wasn’t much actually. Baszler continues to be built up as a legitimately tough title contender as she laid waste to Sane for much of this match. It began with them both exchanging holds for a bit before Baszler took over and started demolishing and wearing down the woman who defeated her last year.
  Sane did show flashes of perseverance here and there. In fact, she had some members of the NXT audience in Atlanta that the match was over after hitting the former MMA fighter with Kabuki elbow, but it proved to not be enough to put Baszler away.
  Kairi then went for the Insane Elbow, but Shayna caught her just in time and was able to lock Sane in the Rear Naked Choke. With nowhere left to go, the Japanese wrestling sensation had no choice but to tap out to the most feared woman in the NXT women’s division right now.
  After the match concluded, Baszler stormed towards the announcer’s table and berated the commentators for calling her a coward. She promised to face Ember for her title again and that she will either leave with her title or a limb.
Winner: Shayna Baszler
  Zelina Vega and NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas came down to the ring for a promo. As one might expect, they were not exactly humble on this night. Vega bragged about Almas defeating Johnny Gargano four times in a row. She also got a dig at Candice LeRae in there when she mentioned that she does not feed off of her husband’s success, but she instead creates success.
  Almas began to speak up next, and he too decided to brag about sending Johnny Gargano away from NXT without the fan-favorite ever defeating him in a match. Almas said that Gargano came after him again, and again, and again, but he has now made “Johnny Wrestling” into what he called “Johnny Jobless.” Almas concluded by claiming that while everyone may still call Gargano “Johnny Wrestling” everyone will simply still call him the NXT Champion. Vega and Almas proceeded up the stage as their music played throughout the building.
  Before leaving, Aleister Black’s music began to play. He made his way through the crowd and entered the ring with a microphone. Before he could challenge Almas for his title, Kilian Dain of SAnitY’s music began to blare. Dain came out through the crowd and entered the ring as well. Both men stated a few weeks ago that the want to have a match for the NXT Championship, but it looks like they’ll be going through each other first. They both began to brawl as Almas and Vega scurried to the back. Dain ended up laying out Black as the show concluded for the week.
  WrestleMania is just around the corner, which means that NXT Takeover: New Orleans is approaching even sooner. With Black and Dain facing off at some point, it seems likely that the winner will determine who will face Almas for his title in the main event of the show. Be on the lookout for that match very soon.
  In the meantime, it was confirmed that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will kick off next week as the Authors of Pain face TM61 in a rematch from the finals of the 2016 tournament. With all of the momentum that TM61 has had since returning a few weeks ago, can they defeat Akam and Rezar and move forward in the tournament, or will the Authors of Pain repeat history once again? We will find out for sure next Wednesday. I’ll see you NXT time!