After telling Tommaso Ciampa that he doesn't need The Blackheart's help, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano receives a challenge from Worlds Collide winner Velveteen Dream.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Started from the bottom, now we’re here. Newly crowned NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano stepped into Full Sail Live with extra spring in his step following an exhilarating matchup against Ricochet at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. By the sounds of the mounting “Johnny Champion” chants that met him inside the ring, Johnny Wrestling was back, indeed.
With a long, hard-fought journey now behind him, Gargano appeared ready to seize his long-awaited victory lap, telling the NXT Universe “at TakeOver: Phoenix, we were validated when I won this.” But the trip down memory lane invited another champion, NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, who strolled down the ramp to congratulate Gargano on his victory and for following “The Champ’s lead,” along with a reminder of their victory pose at the close of TakeOver. As Gargano poked a hole through Ciampa’s fairy tale ending (“Johnny Gargano will never need Tommaso Ciampa”), out came the winner of the first-ever WWE Worlds Collide Tournament, Velveteen Dream.
After outlasting 14 other NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live Superstars to claim the first WWE Worlds Collide Tournament, The Dream earned himself a guaranteed championship opportunity of his choosing. As both reigning champions stood in his midst, the enigmatic provocateur quickly made his decision, locking his scope on Gargano’s freshly polished crown and begging the question: “When it’s Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream, will it be Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Champion? Or will it be Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Jacka**?” Though the question went unanswered, the silent yet tense stare-down that followed surely spoke volumes.
Later it was confirmed that the hotly anticipated title bout will go down two weeks from tonight, exclusively on WWE Network.