Another week, another episode of NXT as the year comes closer and closer to coming to an end. Tonight’s episode was very focused on matches, including an entertaining and brutal Steel Cage match between Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black in the main bent of the program. This was also a noteworthy show in that some new faces on the roster stepped into the ring on this night. It all began with Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke teaming up to wrestle Dakota Kai and Io Shirai, just as the four women agreed to do on last week’s show. 
Io Shirai & Dakota Kai vs. Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke – 
  The time has finally come for the other half of the Four Horsewomen to make their wrestling debuts. This is the first time that Shafir and Duke have competed in Full Sail on NXT television. They came down to NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler’s entrance music and took on Io Shirai and Dakota Kai in this match. These four have been feuding for a while now, and it has all come down to this.

Duke started the match off by trying to take down Kai. She did so after Shafir got in a kick behind the referee’s back. Shafir tagged in next and worked over Dakota in the center of the ring. Duke tags back in and the two of them double team Kai as Jessamyn lands a running boot. She squeezes the head, briefly gets taken down by Kai. She tried to tag Io, but Duke slams her back down. Fortunately, Kai crawls over and makes the tag but so does Duke. 
  A 619 from Shirai followed by a springboard dropkick to Marina. Running double knees in the corner up next. Shirai tried to go up for a moonsault, but Duke tries to stop her. Dakota Kai ran back in and sent Duke all the way down to the floor. After that, Io Shirai was able to hit a moonsault to hand the former MMA fighters their first loss in NXT.
Winners: Dakota Kai & Io Shirai
  One more video package for Dominik Dijakovic. He says that he doesn’t see failure in his future and that the whole world will feast their eyes. More from him in just a little bit as he debuts on NXT next after a short break.

  A quick replay of Matt Riddle defeating Punishment Martinez two weeks ago was shown. Fans may recall that Riddle was knocked out by Kassius Ohno shortly afterwards. Riddle was asked for his reaction, to which he said that he was “not too happy” about it. He doesn’t blame Ohno though because he knocked him out in seven seconds at NXT Takeover: WarGames. He dared him. To attack him again because he’ll knock him out again. He politely bid the NXT crew farewell before he left.
Dominik Dijakovic vs. Aaron Mackey –
  This is Dijakovic’s first appearance in NXT as a full time member of the show. He towered over his local opponent Aaron Mackey. He immediately punched him several times and sent him down to the canvas. “Time to fly” he yells as he sends Mackey flying across the ring with a suplex. He displays his strength as he throws Mackey from corner to corner. 

  “Feast your eyes” is what he exclaims before he grabs Aaron by the head, puts him on his shoulders in a torture rack positron, then slams him on his knee back first, He calls this move the Feast Your Eyes, and it was enough to get him the quick and decisive win. 
  Dijakovic is a huge specimen who is both imposing and a real force to be reckoned with in the ring. NXT is in need of a new “Freak” character now that Lars Sullivan is set to receive a main roster promotion. Dijakovic has appeared on NXT before in one-off matches against the likes of The Velveteen Dream, but this appears to be the start of a more permanent run for the former ROH Top Prospect.
Winner: Dominik Dijakovic
  Speaking of main roster-bound NXT Superstars, a short video package for Heavy Machinery was shown. They will be in action shortly.
  Before we get to Heavy Machinery, NXT General Manager William Regal announced that Io Shirai will be the fourth member of the Fatal 4-Way match that will see the winner earn a championship match against Shayna Baszler. She will face Bianca Belair, Mia Yim, and Lacey Evans.
Heavy Machinery vs. Local Wrestlers
  Otis and Tucker make short  work of a local and much more scrawnier tag team on this night. Otis runs absolutely wild on both men before Tucker Knight comes in and joins him. Afterwards, Tucker gets in the ring and gets the chance to show off what he is capable of before some uninvited guests arrive.
  The Undisputed Era steps onto the stage to watch the match. Otis and Tucker have both made it clear recently that they would like to face Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong for the NXT Tag Team Championships. Tucker becomes distracted, which causes one of his opponents to strike him across the back. Big mistake since is has no effect on Knight. A vicious clothesline takes care of that pesky little problem.
  A tag from Otis Dozovic is up next as both of them hit The Compactor. Otis goes for a pin but breaks it up on purpose. Tucker brings in the other member of the team as they hit a Compactor on him. Clearly sending a message, they stacked up both men and hit a Compactor on both of them as the tag team titleholders watched on. They will face off for the gold next week.
Winner: Heavy Machinery
Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black in a Steel Cage Match
  NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa knew that these two were enemies who badly wanted a shot at his title. What did he do? He convinced these two rivals to face each other in a match, but not just any match. Tonight, there was a rare Steel Cage match on NXT. Aleister Black came down to the ring, but Gargano attacked him before he could even enter the cage!
  Gargano and Black brawled around ringside as they each sent each other into barricades and ring steps while the referee pleaded with them to enter the cage. Black takes over the ambush and rolls Johnny into the cage. We are officially underway. Gargano instantly goes to the far side of the ring and tries to climb out. Black drags him down and goes to work on the man who attacked and injured him months ago.
  Johnny tried to climb out again and Aleister follows him. Gargano dropped back down and yanked Black down right where it hurts on the top rope. “Johnny Wrestling” has fun pressing Al into the steel and chopping him in the corner of the ring. Irish Whip onto the opposite corner of the ring, but Black fights him off. He lands some strikes, then Gargano catches him and catapults him. Black grabs onto the cage and tries to climb. Realizing his mistake, Johnny runs after him. Black moves over to the nearest turnbuckle and hits a moonsault.
  Black overshot the moonsault just a bit and landed on his knee. He got up and went ruthless on Gargano, nevertheless. The former NXT Champion threw him into the cage and landed his signature kicks, as well as a knee to the face for a two count. Black tries to climb out after this, and he even gets to the very top of the cage. Quite foolishly, Aleister gets back in the ring to inflict more damage, he pays for this almost immediately as Gargano catches him with some kicks,
  With his body draped over the ropes, Gargano uses Black as a step to climb out of the cage, but it doesn’t take too long for Aleister to follow him up there. They traded elbows as they held on to the cage, but Gargano utimately took control as he powerbombed Black back down in the ring. That definitely did some damage, but it wasn’t enough to get Johnny the win.
  Both begin trading punches and forearms. Black tries to hit Black Mass. then Gargano dodges and hits another blow. As Gargano is laid out near the corner of the ring, a referee opens the door. Johnny comes real close to crawling out of the cage through the door on two occasions, but Black was able to pull him back into the ring before both feet could touch the floor. Back in the ring, Gargano locks in the GargaNo Escape. Aleister gets out of it st first by standing up, but he falls back down and lands right back in the maneuver. He tries once more by throwing Johnny into the cage.
  Johnny uses this opportunity to climb out and makes it to the other side as Black stays in the ring recovering. Aleister makes a dash for his opponent and pulls him back in the ring once again. They stood on a top turnbuckle as Gargano attempted to launch Black off of it. Black counters, throws Johnny down, and follows that up with a Meteora. German Suplex with a bridge on Gargano next for another measly two-count.
  Aleister lifts up Johnny for Black Mass, but he fights out of it just in time. Gargano lifts Al onto his shoulders and tosses him face first into the steel cage again. He tells Black “I absolve you of your sins” before he attempts to go for a kick to the head. However, Black hits him first with Black Mass. Both men are sent down, but just then, they begin to make their escapes. Gargano climbs out of one side while Black tries to crawl out of the door. As Aleister pokes his head out of the door, the door is slammed shut right on his head by an unseen man. It’s Tommaso Ciampa!
  Ciampa walks into the ring and lays a beat down on Black. Gargano stops climbing down and holds onto the cage in shock as his tag team partner turned enemy helps him win. Thunderous “DIY” chants breaks out from the fans. Gargano climbs back into the ring and Tommaso stops beating on his Takeover: Phoenix opponent. Both men stare at each other across the ring as Aleister suffers jn the middle of the ring. What happens next is truly shocking: they both hit their old DIY double knee strike move on Black. Ciampa leaves the cage as Gargano makes the pin. The NXT Champion clapped for Johnny as he walked to the back.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
  What on earth is going on around here?!?! Are DIY officially back together again? Ciampa and Gargano have been bitter rivals ever since Tommaso turned on him and tormented his family months ago. They’ve had wars on this year’s Takeover shows, and one of the main reasons for Gargano’s turn to the dark side is because he could not stand to see anybody else take the NXT Championship away from Ciampa. What is clear is that Black is next in line for a shot at the NXT title. That match will be going down at NXT Takeover: Phoenix in January. Will Gargano help Black retain the title there, or is this a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” case. The key is in the follow up.
  Aside from that, the Steel Cage match main event was as excellent as one would expect it to be given the talent involved. This show also saw two debuts in the forms of Dominik Dijakovic and the final two Horsewomen. Next week’s show will be the final episode of NXT for the year. 2018 has been a tremendous year for the yellow and black brand, so it will be interesting to see if the show ends the year on a high note. Maybe a little preview for 2019 will be provided as well. I’ll see you NXT time!