NXT Champion overcomes fireball fallout in Great American Bash opener
Summary
– Tony D’Angelo retained the NXT Championship against Naraku at Great American Bash
– Naraku pushed the champion after weeks of mind games and a fireball attack
– D’Angelo fought through a bandaged face before winning with Dead To Rights
Tony D’Angelo opened Great American Bash with one of the toughest defenses of his NXT Championship reign.
The premium live event took place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, where D’Angelo put the title on the line against Naraku. The match started the show with a physical fight built around weeks of threats and psychological pressure.
Naraku entered the bout with plenty of mystery around him. The former EVIL in NJPW had targeted D’Angelo for weeks and made it clear that he wanted the NXT Championship.
The damage from their most recent encounter was still visible. D’Angelo wrestled with his face bandaged after Naraku’s fireball attack on NXT earlier in the week.
Naraku tried to take advantage of that injury immediately. His attack became so aggressive that the referee nearly stopped the match at one point.
D’Angelo refused to let it end that way. The champion kept fighting, even as Naraku dragged him deep into a battle that spilled around the Performance Center setup.
Both men tore through the area and created several close near-falls. Naraku looked ready to end D’Angelo’s reign more than once, but the champion kept finding ways to survive.
D’Angelo has carried the title since Stand & Deliver, and this defense showed why he has become one of NXT’s most reliable champions.
The final moment came when D’Angelo caught Naraku and put him down with Dead To Rights. That was enough to score the pinfall and keep the NXT Championship around his waist.
Tony D’Angelo remains champion, but Naraku made sure the victory came with a heavy price. The Don of NXT survived Great American Bash, even after being pushed to his limit.
