WWE NXT notes: Io Shirai becomes #1 contender to NXT Women’s Title, Gargano and Ciampa

Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai is set up, Candice LeRae helps Johnny Gargano defeat Tommaso Ciampa and the tournament to crown the interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion begins next week.

The April 8th edition of NXT on the USA Network featured two matches that were supposed to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa. The show kicked off with a Ladder match to determine a new #1 contender to the NXT Women’s Championship. Io Shirai outlasted Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Chelsea Green, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae to secure herself an NXT Women’s Title match. Charlotte Flair defeated Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36 to become NXT Women’s Champion and her first challenger will be Io Shirai.

The conclusion of the show saw Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have what was billed as their final match. Before arriving at Full Sail, Candice LeRae handed Gargano an item that was wrapped in a brown paper bag. At the end of Gargano and Ciampa’s bout, Candice came to the ring and told Ciampa that she hates her husband and proceeded to low blow Gargano. It turned out to be a plan by Gargano and LeRae as the item she handed Gargano was a cup and Gargano was able to get a hold of Ciampa and hit him with the “Fairytale Ending” for the victory.

Also, the tournament to crown a interim Cruiserweight Champion kicks off next week. It was announced on WWE’s ‘The Bump’ program that due to Jordan Devlin being in Ireland and not being able to travel due to the Coronavirus outbreak, NXT is now going to crown an interim Cruiserweight Champion.

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A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.