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NXT Recap: Hideo Itami Returns, Attacks Bobby Roode

Like the rest of WWE television this week, NXT is really starting to get things underway. We have a tag team match where Aliyah and Liv Morgan challenge Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, as well as a cage match between Tye Dillinger and Eric Young in the main event. On top of that, there is a surprising (well not that surprising if you read the title, but still) returning Superstar in the hunt for the NXT Championship.

Opening Segment
Before the show’s theme song even ends, Bobby Roode’s “glorious” entrance theme starts blaring. The NXT Champion comes down to the ring to brag about how he retained his title against Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: Orlando. Roode complains about the pageantry that Nakamura received during his farewell last week and instead says that his second consecutive victory over the King of Strong Style gave Nakamura no other choice but to “tuck his tail” and leave. Roode then addresses the locker room, telling them to join “Bobby Roode’s” NXT, or get out. The man to answer that challenge is Hideo Itami.

Hideo Itami was suffering from an injury after a botched powerslam from Tucker Knight at a house show, but he seems to be back and 100%. Roode starts yelling at him, but Itami immediately slaps the champion. After Roode takes off his suit jacket in preparation for a fight, Itami picks him up and knocks him out with the Go to Sleep.

Announcement
A huge match is made for next week’s episode of NXT. Tyler Bate, the current United Kingdom Champion, returns to action to defend his title against 205 Live’s Jack Gallagher.

In a video filmed at the WWE Performance Center, Andrade “Cien” Almas interrupts Drew McIntyre’s workout in order to challenge him to a match for next week.

Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Danny Burch
Before Almas’ match against Drew McIntyre next week, he tries to make up for his loss to Aleister Black at TakeOver: Orlando tonight against Danny Burch. Burch occasionally wrestles for NXT as enhancement talent, but his most notable performance was in the first round of the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament, where he unfortunately lost after getting the back of his skull split open.

Burch gets a good amount of striking offense in on Almas, but El Idolo gets the upper hand and hits the double knees in the corner followed up by the hammerlock DDT for the rebound win. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas

Aliyah & Liv Morgan vs. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce
Last week, Billie Kay was filming herself and Peyton Royce walking around the WWE Performance Center when they ran into Liv Morgan and Aliyah in the trainer’s area. Kay and Royce made fun of Aliyah for nursing an injured arm, but Morgan got back at them by pushing Kay into a nearby tub (which was, indeed, full of water). Tonight, they settle things in the ring.

Aliyah attempts a roll-up on Peyton Royce, while Billie Kay holds onto Royce from the apron to prevent the pinfall. Liv Morgan rushes the ring and hits Kay with a dropkick, giving Aliyah the opportunity to get the pinfall and the win. Winners: Aliyah & Liv Morgan

Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young – Steel Cage Match
The Tuesday after WrestleMania 33, Tye Dillinger got called up to SmackDown Live along with Shinsuke Nakamura. Before the Perfect 10 makes the full-time switch to the main roster, he has some unfinished business in NXT. For weeks, Eric Young demanded that Dillinger joined SAnitY, but Dillinger kept refusing. This led to weeks of assaults, not only on Dillinger but on No Way Jose and Roderick Strong as well. Dillinger’s four-person team would lose to SAnitY in mixed tag team action at TakeOver: Orlando and tonight is Dillinger’s last chance to get back at the deranged group’s leader. Dillinger wanted this to be a cage match so the rest of SAnitY could not interfere.

Of course, SAnitY rushes the ring and scales the cage to try and interfere in the match. Roderick Strong and Kassius Ohno help even the odds and Dillinger is able to escape through the cage door. Winner (via escaping the cage): Tye Dillinger

Written by Travis Brinkley

Travis Brinkley is the Wrestling Contributor for Get More Sports who watches WWE and Lucha Underground. Occasionally, he will also write about sports video games.

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