Major Title Change At WWE NXT Halloween Havoc
A two-time North American Champion was crowned last night.
WWE revived WCW's old Halloween Havoc concept on USA Network last night, with the promotion's spooky special yielding a major title change in its very first match.
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest was defending the strap against Johnny Gargano. This was a Devil's Playground match as dictated by the Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal gimmick, and was essentially a no DQ, no countout, falls count anywhere bout, leading to the wrestlers brawling all across the special set.
Priest looked to have the win secured when he went for his Reckoning move atop a raised platform. Instead, he was jumped by an unknown assailant in a Scream costume, who attacked Priest with a pipe, gave Gargano a tombstone to hit the former Punishment Martinez with, then score the victory.
Gargano is the first two-time North American Champion in NXT history, having originally reigned for 25 days last year. Velveteen Dream ended up taking the strap from him.
Io Shirai successfully defended the NXT Women's Championship in the night's other title fight. The Scream scoundrel appeared once more but was neutralised by host Shotzi Blackheart, who took the person out before Shirai scored the victory.