NXT Tag Team Champions #DIY def. Tajiri & Akira Tozawa

#DIY vs. Tajiri & Akira Tozawa - NXT Tag Team Championship Match: WWE NXT, Dec. 28, 2016

Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defend their NXT Tag Team Championship against the returning Tajiri and Akira Tozawa in Osaka, Japan. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

It was a special night for Akira Tozawa, making his first appearance in Japan since leaving to join the 205 Live roster. He teamed with Tajiri, who’s preparing to join Tozawa in the Cruiserweight division, to challenge #DIY for the NXT Tag Team Titles.

After a show of sportsmanship between the two teams, the action was hot and heavy, as Johnny Gargano and Tozawa traded offense in a speedy burst to start the battle. Each team’s respective heavy-hitters, Ciampa and Tajiri, then tagged in, with The Japanese Buzzsaw giving Ciampa a preview of what could lie ahead for him, spitting his trademark green mist into the Osaka air.

Tajiri and Tozawa took control of the match, but Ciampa reveled in the punishment, getting into a thunderous striking exchange with Tozawa. A similar standoff with Tajiri did not end as well for #DIY, who ate the trademark kicks of the Japanese Buzzsaw, then a pair of dives from Tozawa on the arena floor.

Tozawa went on a tear, suplexing the champions left and right, but it was not enough to put #DIY down. Gargano and Ciampa took out Tajiri and caught Tozawa on his own in the ring, clobbering him with their trademark running knee/superkick combination to retain their titles in a thrilling contest.

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