WWE NXT results, April 25, 2018: Ciampa sends Gargano out on a stretcher in sickening scene

ORLANDO, Fla. — Roderick Strong is done fighting the good fight alone. In fact, he might be done fighting the good fight altogether, now that he’s joined forces with NXT’s most opportunistic unit, Undisputed ERA.

The Messiah of the Backbreaker admitted as much during the controversial quartet’s first appearance on NXT since their triumphs at TakeOver: New Orleans, where the group not only retained the NXT Tag Team Titles (thanks to Strong’s betrayal of partner Pete Dunne), but also added a new accolade in the form of Adam Cole’s NXT North American Title. Strong, who wore one of the NXT Tag Team Titles and was introduced as a champion alongside Kyle O’Reilly, said he experienced an epiphany in The Big Easy, as he realized the ERA members always had each other’s backs and suggested The BruiserWeight only cared about his WWE U.K. Championship.

Bobby Fish bragged about the ERA’s ability to overcome the odds, no matter how unfavorable, and O’Reilly said the faction will leave the rest of NXT in the dust. To reinforce that point, Cole then sent his teammates to the locker room, vowing to go it alone in his first NXT North American Title defense on WWE Network against Oney Lorcan.

NXT North American Champion Adam Cole puts his newly won title on the line against the hard-nosed Oney Lorcan. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

With his ribs taped, Adam Cole was still showing the effects of his two matches at TakeOver: New Orleans. Oney Lorcan took full advantage, punishing The Panama City Playboy with an abdominal stretch and a knee to the ribcage. Lorcan then hung up Cole stomach-first onto the top rope. As Cole writhed in pain on the floor, Kyle O’Reilly ran to ringside with an athletic trainer and threw up an “X” — indicating Cole needed medical attention. With the referee’s attention diverted, Roderick Strong attacked Lorcan on the other side of the ring, dropping him with a suplex onto the ring apron.

The NXT Tag Team Champions then suddenly deemed Cole able to compete again, and he slipped into the ring to blast Lorcan with the Last Shot and pick up a questionable victory. Undisputed ERA beat down Lorcan after the bell, prompting Danny Burch to come to his teammate’s aid, but the British brawler was quickly smothered by Cole, Strong & O’Reilly.

By hook or by crook, Undisputed ERA continue to shock the system of NXT.

Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight take on Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli in a rubber match. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

All is not well in the land of Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli — if such a land even exists anymore — as the long-fraying partnership between the two elite athletes appeared to splinter completely during their latest duel against Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight.

Late in the hard-hitting match, Dozovic dodged a shoulder block by Riddy Mo, causing Moss to barrel into Sabbatelli. The miscommunication evidently rankled Sabbatelli, who refused to tag into the action moments later and instead retreated to the locker room, abandoning his once-inseparable tag partner. Facing a two-on-one disadvantage, Moss was easy pickings for Heavy Machinery, as Dozovic & Knight hit him with the Compactor to prevail.

As Moss was left to contemplate Sabbatelli’s actions, Heavy Machinery called out The War Raiders for attacking them two weeks ago, with Dozovic & Knight declaring they’re “coming for war.”

Aleister Black's scheduled NXT Title defense against Johnny Gargano is upended by Tommaso Ciampa's ravenous attack on Gargano. SAnitY's Eric Young takes advantage of the opening and challenges The Dutch Destroyer. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

Tonight was supposed to be a new beginning for Johnny Gargano as he prepared to challenge NXT Champion Aleister Black, unencumbered by the ghosts of his past, namely Tommaso Ciampa.

Instead, the wretched Blackheart struck again, not only costing Gargano his title opportunity, but also sending the beloved Superstar to a local medical facility after a harrowing attack.

Ciampa ambushed Johnny Wrestling from behind during his ring entrance. He ran him into the announce desk and yelled that Gargano would “never get rid of” him. Gargano courageously fought back, but a low blow dropped him to his knees. Though NXT referees tried to intervene, Ciampa’s onslaught only escalated further, and he drove Gargano off the stage, through equipment tables below.

Once Ciampa exited, officials and medical staff rushed to Gargano. With a tremble in her voice, Candice LeRae assured her husband that he would be all right. Gargano was placed onto a backboard and stretcher, and Kassius Ohno joined the procession as it somberly but urgently snaked through Full Sail, passing distraught-looking Superstars — including Black — until it reached a waiting ambulance.

As the ambulance drove off with Gargano inside, WWE Network cameras panned to the haunting sight of Ciampa waving goodbye from atop a nearby NXT production truck, dead-eyed and unmoved by the grief he had caused.

WWE NXT photos for April 25, 2018, featuring NXT Champion Aleister Black vs. SAnitY's Eric Young, a historic NXT North American Title bout between champion Adam Cole and challenger Oney Lorcan, Tommaso Ciampa's outrageous attack on Johnny Gargano and more.

The NXT Universe was disquieted by the unsettling incident, and the NXT Champion was outraged. He marched to the ring and began to address Ciampa but was quickly interrupted by unexpected guests: SAnitY’s Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain. Young proclaimed that he would find “greatness” out of the chaos that befell Gargano, and soon The Dutch Destroyer had a replacement opponent in the form of SAnitY’s unpredictable leader.

The NXT Champion used his striking prowess to repeatedly beat Young to the punch during the rugged contest, but in staving off interference by Wolfe, he lost sight of Young, and the ring veteran capitalized on it. Still, the SAnitY maestro could not keep up with the black-metal mutilator. Just when it looked like Young was one step ahead, he was, in fact, one step behind, walking right into a blink-and-you’d-miss-it Black Mass that put him down for the three-count.

Wolfe and Dain tried to pounce on the NXT titleholder after the bell, and The Dutch Destroyer turned out their lights with a pair of Black Masses. As one of NXT’s wildest factions of all time appears destined for SmackDown LIVE, Black stood tall, signifying that SAnitY’s brand of chaos will no longer destabilize the black-and-yellow brand.