Angel Garza sought to get inside the head of Lio Rush, and it only seemed to light a fire under the NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
With that fury, The Man of The Hour overcame the challenge of the self-assured Garza to retain his title — albeit with some controversy.
Playing mind games from the opening bell, Garza tried to goad the champion into a disingenuous handshake, then escalated his tactics significantly. Making his way into the crowd right in front of Rush's wife Sarah and their two sons, NXT's resident Casanova proceeded to perform the now-signature spectacle of ripping off his pants right in front of Rush's family in a major sign of disrespect.
Garza went step for step with the infuriated Rush, and came an eyelash away from his first taste of championship gold after hitting "The Wing Clipper." Perhaps getting overzealous, Garza tried again for his trademark maneuver – this time from the second rope. However, The Man of The Hour headbutted his way out of danger.
Connecting moments later with The Final Hour twice in succession, Rush was able to secure the win — but not without Garza's foot appearing to catch the bottom rope out of the official's sight during the pinfall.