Making the match and Nakamura vs. Jones.
Disclaimer: I am finally updating "American Bulldog" as I'm also planning a big championship match soon between Henry Jones and the NXT Champion who is not Samoa Joe anymore, but it's Bobby Roode who defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT: Takeover San Antonio in January.
ENJOY!
Henry Jones, he has been undefeated since he debuted on NXT against Samoa Joe and won.
He has defeated Austin Aries, Tye Dillinger, No Way Jose, and many more superstars and he's popular in the ring, and in the locker room, and popular with fans as well.
Meanwhile NXT's main men in charge like Paul "Triple H" Levesque Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, Ryan Ward, and Vince McMahon were talking at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
"Now, that Shinsuke is no longer the champion to Kassius who are we going to pick for our number one contender for the NXT Championship against Kassius." Ryan Ward said to the three.
"How about Samoa Joe?" Vince proposed.
"No…he's already a two-time champion and he's set to face-off against Kassius Ohno at NXT: Takeover Minneapolis in two months." Stephanie said to her father.
"Okay then Stephanie who do you suggest?" Vince asked her daughter.
"How about Tye Dillinger?" Stephanie asked him.
"I don't know, it might work it just depends on if he's got charisma and enough passion for this business." Vince McMahon said back to her daughter.
"Guys." Paul interjected.
"Yes Paul." Vince and Stephanie replied back.
"How about "The American Bulldog" Hank Jones, he has been undefeated so far in seven months of competing on NXT since he started and since the Donald Trump administration started the fans need someone to look up to." Triple H said to them.
"Paul, sweetie…I love the idea, sounds great." Stephanie said to him.
"Yeah Paul, that sounds perfect, Kassius Ohno vs. "The American Bulldog" Hank Jones for the NXT Championship." Ryan Ward said as he did a hand gesture like he was pointing at a marquee.
"Nope." Vince said to everyone.
"Why not?" Triple H asked.
"Everyone else except Paul leave the room." Vince said as Ryan Ward and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque left the room.
"My wife, your mother in law Linda is on Trump's cabinet as an administrator of the Small Business Administration, and I even inducted Donald Trump into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, but the point is…I don't want Hank Jones to be NXT Champion because he's off the walls with his promos." Vince said to Paul.
"Come on Vince, that was one time…before America even got split over Trump…and besides, Trump might do a terrible job." Paul said to Vince.
"Ugh…fine." Vince McMahon said to Paul as he caved.
"Hank Jones will be the next number one contender for the NXT Championship but it'll be decided in a Number One Contender's Match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Hank Jones." Vince said as he and Paul shook hands as Ryan and Stephanie got back inside.
"Everything okay Dad? Paul?" Stephanie asked.
"Everything is okay. Now, Hank is going to have the chance to wrestle Shinsuke Nakamura for a shot at the NXT Championship next week, tell William Regal." Vince said before Paul already texted William Regal what was going to happen for next week's show.
"Already done." Paul said as he, Stephanie, and Ryan left his office.
"Whew, that was a close one." Vince said and we go to the NXT Arena.
1 Week Later.
Hank arrives at the NXT Arena ready to rumble for the biggest of his life so far as he is 36-0 in his career and gets dressed for the match and get his gear on and his face-paint on and it was 25 minutes before the match and he was drinking some water and getting some last minute exercise in.
"Hey Hank." Paul greeted Hank.
"Hey Paul, listen I just wanted to say thank you for this opportunity." Hank said to Paul as they hugged.
"Anytime I had to fight for you, and besides after tonight you owe me." Paul said to him.
"I know, we go drinking." Hank said to him.
"It'll be on me." Paul said to Hank as well.
"Good luck out there tonight against Nakamura, I'll be watching very closely." Paul said to Hank.
"Thanks Paul." Hank said back before he sat back down and began saying his prayers.
"Dear God, please watch over me and my family tonight as I go into this wrestling match. Amen." Hank said in his brief prayer as he got his American Flag and left his locker room before running into Shinsuke Nakamura.
"Shinsuke…Kon'Nichiwa." Hank said as he did a traditional Japanese greeting and a Japanese bow and shook hands.
"Hank Jones, you are a great competitor. You and I will have great chemistry, and write a beautiful masterpiece like The Coen Brothers." Shinsuke Nakamura said before his music began to play as they shook hands once more before Shinsuke left and went through the curtain.
"Here comes the former two-time NXT Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura!" Tom Philips said and the crowd was positive and then the bell rang.
"The following contest is a number one contender's match set for one-fall! Introducing first from Kyoto, Japan…weighing in at 220 Pounds, he is a former two time NXT Champion…Shinsuke Nakamura!" Mike Rome one of NXT's ring announcers announced while Nakamura was making his entrance.
"Shinsuke Nakamura against "The American Bulldog" Hank Jones is a dream match that is coming true tonight and these two men are facing each other in a number one contender's match for the NXT Championship at NXT: Takeover Minneapolis and it could be a huge deal." Corey Graves said before he got into the ring and the crowd chanted "Nakamura" for almost a minute until the chanting and music died down.
"This crowd has been waiting for this match." Tom Philips said before "American Made" by Jimmy Hart started to play and the crowd roared loudly.
"Introducing his opponent, from Hibbing Minnesota weighing in at 255 Pounds he is "The American Bulldog" he is…Hank Jones!" Mike Rome announced as the crowd got super loud in the cheers and Hank waved the American Flag, high-fived a few fans at ringside, and even gave the flag to a lucky kid at ringside before he took off his jacket and finally got into the ring.
"USA! USA!" The crowd chanted for a minute and Hank and Shinsuke finally shook hands and the ref signaled the timekeeper to ring the bell and the match finally began.
"Here we go, our main event is underway and one of these men will face against Bobby Roode at NXT: Takeover Minneapolis for the NXT Championship." Corey Graves said to Tom Philips.
"Percy Watson, what do you think of Hank Jones?" Tom asked Percy.
"He has been on fire for more than 6 months this is his biggest test of his career and he's beaten nearly everyone except Nakamura and Bobby Roode but Hank is undefeated 36-0 will he be 37-0? We'll find out by the end of this match." Percy said while Shinsuke and Hank were battling with their different styles, Shinsuke with his famous Strong-Style, and Hank with his Powerhouse/Technician/Heavyweight style and they were finally jockeying for position and Hank pushed Shinsuke down to the mat winning the position war and Shinsuke flipped backwards down to the bottom turnbuckle.
"Whoa!" Corey Graves shouted and Hank dominated early on and the crowd cheered for a bit and Hank was setting up for a belly-to-belly and Shinsuke threw Hank into the corner and did a corner high knee to his face while the crowd cringed.
"What a knee by Nakamura as he nails an Axe Kick right to the back of the head of Hank Jones." Tom Philips said after Nakamura did said move and went for the cover.
"1..." the ref counted and Hank powered out and nailed several clotheslines and even nailed a big boot until he tried going for the win early.
"1…" The ref counted before Shinsuke Nakamura kicked out as they kept battling it out until Shinsuke Nakamura nailed a knee to the back of the head and was setting up for his finisher.
"Is he going for it?" Tom asked Corey before Shinsuke nailed it.
"Kinsasha!" Corey Graves said before he pinned Hank as the ref began the count.
"1…2…" The ref counted as Hank kicked out at two and started to rally up a comeback by nailing several clotheslines, a big boot, and even a back body drop before he began setting up for The Strike of America which was a discus punch.
"Here it comes." Tom Philips said before Hank Jones nailed it.
"The Strike of America!" Tom Philips shouted before the ref began to count the pin-fall.
"1…2…" The ref counted before Shinsuke Nakamura kicked out at two and Hank Jones was surprised.
"Nakamura kicks out and Hank Jones is setting up for Liberty Suplex which is a Tiger Suplex." Corey Graves said as Shinsuke Nakamura got up and Hank Jones nailed it.
"Liberty Suplex and this might be it." Corey said before the ref began to count.
"1…2…" The ref counted and Nakamura kicked out and Hank applied Eagle Lock which is an Anaconda Vice.
"Eagle Lock! Hank Jones has the Eagle Lock applied!" Tom Philips said as Hank held it in until Shinsuke countered it with kicks to his head as he tries to nail Kinsasha again but Hank avoids it and then Hank nailed a running powerslam called Red, White, and Blue.
"1…2…3!" The ref counted and Hank Jones won the biggest match of his career so far as the crowd exploded into loud cheers.
"Hank Jones is coming home to face Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship." Tom Philips said.
"Here is your winner, and number one contender for the NXT Championship…Hank "The American Bulldog" Jones!" Mike Rome announced as the crowd kept cheering.
"Percy you have been quiet all match long, are you alright?" tom asked him.
"Yeah, I was just in awe of this masterpiece of a match. That's all." Percy said before Bobby Roode walked up the entrance ramp with a microphone.
"See you in Minneapolis." Bobby Roode said before he left.
"We'll see you next week." Corey Graves said as the camera faded to black and Hank went backstage with the NXT Rostare applauding both Shinsuke Nakamura and Hank Jones for their incredible performance.
"Great job, now go home. We'll have drinks later." Paul told Hank.
"Thanks Paul." Hank said and went back home.
I know that after NXT: Takeover San Antonio there is NXT: Takeover Orlando, the reason why that the next NXT Takeover special is at Minneapolis is because Hank Jones needs to have the home-field advantage in his NXT Championship Match against Bobby Roode.
READ AND REVIEW EVERYONE!