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It's August 19th and 3 days till NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, tensions are already running high mostly because there is still yet to be a number #1 contender for the NXT Championship, the Champion has had a vice-like grip on that title since he won it back in February of last year, now two men are butting heads to be the one to pull the title from him, Kevin Owens and Duncan Blake...

... Both men stood in the middle of the ring, the crowd cheering for them both while the two faces stood toe to toe trash talking each other and arguing why their going to be the one to head to New York this Saturday, no one really knew who it will be but at the end of the day, it's about who really wants it more, both men started trading blows in the middle of the ring, back and forward with the crowd cheering for both men.

KO got the upper hand first grabbing at Duncan's arm and pulling for a whip, only Duncan didn't move, he was able to use his entire weight to hold back on KO's pull, in return, Duncan used said arm to pull KO towards him and clothesline him to the mat instead, Kevin would get up right away but Duncan would drop him with another clothesline, and another, then another and another before Kevin stumbled into the corner right when Blake wanted him to be...

... KO hit the mat hard but still didn't stay down, rolling to his hands and knees before sitting on one knee, Duncan didn't let him take a breather though, grabbing at his head to pull him to his feet, Kevin however didn't need that long and was able to punch Duncan in his gut, making the bigger 6'3 man stumble back, enough for the Prize fighter to take the fight to the bigger man.

Blow after blow, KO pressured Duncan till they both found themselves near the ropes, Kevin stepped back and clotheslined Blake over the ropes and into the mats below, the crowd cheered when KO looked from Duncan then the ropes across from him, Kevin shrugged before running towards them just as Duncan got back to his feet...

... Kevin jumped to his feet and hyped up the crowd as if they needed it, even so, they praised him as he lifted Duncan to his feet and threw him into the nearby steal steps, the ref counted but took his time because he needed to check on Duncan and his shoulder, Kevin pushed the ref back though, adding feul to the already heated fire about how important this match is, Kevin grabbed Duncan again then through him into the metal barricade, once again causing the ref to check on him.

Kevin seemed in full control while Duncan crawled up the ramp and towards the announcers table, Kevin didn't seem to be in a rush no more, Duncan however used the table to help him stand, KO didn't think nothing of this and pulled Duncan to his feet, Blake however did think and execute his plan, hoisting KO up with one hand...

... Duncan stumbled away, leaning on the titron while holding his right arm, selling him being thrown into the steps and barricade, KO however was being checked on by the ref, once Kevin pushed the ref back, Duncan was right back onto the attack, blow after blow after blow, down into Kevin's face, Duncan however heard the refs count and needed to break the count, doing so just before the 8 count.

Kevin was able to get back to his feet while Duncan did this, both men met back at the bottom of the ramp, Kevin spearing Duncan into the apron, with a seemingly second wind, Kevin drive his hand into Duncan's head before running up the steal steps, Duncan is stumbling near the impact zone, Kevin took a deep breath before running at Duncan jumping off the apron for a cross body, Duncan was able to catch him hid air...

... Duncan didn't wait like he did earlier though and lifted Kevin back to his feet, punching more and more till KO was pretty much down and out leaning against the barricade, the fans loved when they fought so close to them, Duncan was only seeing red though and grabbed Kevin by the back of his neck, he moved Kevin off the barricade before easily tossing him over the barricade and into the crowd...

... Duncan was so caught by the moment while KO landed on the front row that neither even noticed the ref counting, the crowd didn't either because Kevin is right by their feet getting pulled to his feet, that was till the ref made the final call for the night, putting an end to the match-up.

Ref: ... 10! Ring the bell!

... Duncan stopped and turn to the ref, pissed at himself for letting the count get so out of hand, Kevin sat on one of the chairs as well, after realising what happened mostly thanks to the ring announcer making the call that the match ended in countout, neither of them are going to Brooklyn now meaning the NXT Champion has no one to fight anymore, making the Champ really, really happy...

https://youtu.be/9SdSfbatWqw

... The crowd booed for the NXT Champion as he walked out the curtain onto the stage with a microphone in his right hand and NXT title slung over his left shoulder, meanwhile Duncan and KO are still trying to collect themselves from the count out match they just put each other through, seeing Ace on the stage with a grin probably isn't what they wanted to see...

... Ace is good at getting the worst out of the fans, they hate him and he loves it, he's not sure what he loves more, the crowd booing him right now or the fact that both Duncan and Kevin aren't going to NXT: Brooklyn with him in a few days time, Ace is such an asshole though he waited for the crowd to stop booing before he said what he came out here to say.

Ace: What a surprise. Two goofballs try to play at the big boy tables and they just come up short...

His gimmick is that he's a "gambler", he takes risks other's wouldn't do making him a pretty bad champion, he's rarely defended the title in his 300 plus day reign but you can't deny he's been the best with the belt so far, he's gotten the best out the crowd and when he has, they've been great matches, there's even talks of Ace getting the call up to the Main Roster this year but that's just talks.

Ace: ... This is just perfect, two idiots fighting over who will face me at Takeover Brooklyn but neither won, you both went all in and blew it...

Ace used his free left hand to mimic a blowing motion, Duncan leant on the apron, staring at him with daggers while KO stayed sitting in the chair, both of these guys have been going on and on for the NXT title, Duncan longer then Kevin but that doesn't change that Kevin wants to win the title just as much, only not as much as Ace wants to keep the title right where it belongs.

Ace: ... I really should be thanking you both because now. Well, now I have a day off.

Ace chuckled as he shrugged, Duncan stood up with a deep frustrated sigh and Kevin just didn't even seem to be listening, the fans didn't mind him sitting there, even the guy who's seat he took, they just enjoyed the show, that was until the NXT GM came out to interrupt the Champion and put a spanner in his works.

William: Well now hold on there a second Ace...

The crowd cheered as Ace stood on the state, looking to the curtain where William Regal walked out, his right hand held up with his index finger, pointing out the issue and his left hand with the microphone in, Ace stood there sighing to seeing the boss while the other two men looked over, interested in what the General Manager has to say.

William: ... You got one thing right and you got one thing wrong, maybe you should leave the thinking to someone else in future...

Ace looked down with a frustrated look while William just insulted him in front of the crowd, then fans, Duncan and Kevin seemed to enjoy it, Ace didn't reply though, just loosely tossing the microphone in his right hand, he didn't care what they thought, not really, he's still got the title and no one to take it away from him, why should he care what they think.

William: ... The thing you got wrong is you will not have a day off. That NXT title will be defended at Takeover Brooklyn, even if I have to strip you of it first...

This time the crowd cheered, Duncan and Kevin liked hearing it, Ace didn't though, turning to William and talking to him, not into the microphone just out loud using the hand with the mic to point over to the guys, telling him they didn't lose, William however saw the same thing everyone else did but he'll be damned if the NXT title isn't defended at a Takeover event.

William: ... However you were right in saying neither of these guys won. But...

Ace liked hearing that Kevin and Duncan didn't win, maybe that meant he'll get an easier match-up this weekend, Duncan tossed his hands up a little while Kevin now sat on the barricade, having climbed back over while Ace was kicking off about having to defend his title, the "but" part caught everyone's attention though.

William: ... They didn't lose either...

William looked down with a small smirk before looking to Ace beside him with a little shrug, they did both lose though, that's what Ace kept yelling at him, the crowd however didn't agree, neither did the NXT General Manager, which is why he came out here, not only because Ace was bragging but also... actually it was mostly because of the bragging, so William wanted to shut him up.

William: ... The NXT Champion, Ace will now defend the NXT title at Takeover Brooklyn in a Triple Threat. Against Kevin Owens and Duncan Blake. Good evening gentleman.

William left while ignoring Ace's yells, Duncan and Kevin shared a look with a smile all while the crowd cheered, Ace isn't going to get out of this now, so he just stood there looking across to Duncan and Kevin, telling them to come and get the title, he's beaten them both before so one more time at the same time shouldn't be a problem for the Champion, either way he needs to be careful, he doesn't have to lose that match to lose the title, Duncan and Kevin need to be careful as well, because Ace will do anything to keep the title, it's his prized possession...

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{To Be Continued!}