Will the Chase U MVP get a huge win in Group B?

The NXT Global Heritage Invitational continues via NXT Level Up, and we see Group B’s Duke Hudson face Akira Tozawa for the first time anywhere!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B: Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase VS Akira Tozawa; Duke wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current Group A standings.

Pete Dunne: 1-0, 2 points
Tyler Bate: 0-0, yet to compete
Axiom: 0-0, yet to compete
Charlie Dempsey: 0-1, 0 points

Here are the current Group B standings.

Joe Coffey: 1-0, 2 points
Duke Hudson: 0-0, competes tonight
Akira Tozawa: 0-0, competes tonight
Nathan Frazer: 0-1, 0 points

NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B: Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase VS Akira Tozawa!

While Chase U is struggling to get back on track in regards to the teacher-student relationship of Andre Chase and Thea Hail, their hopes are all on the MVP! Will Duke come through for the U? Or will the Stamina Monster feel right at home on a Friday night?

Fans cheer seeing Tozawa back in an NXT ring, and Duke gives him a fist bump out of respect. The bell rings and we have 12 minutes on the clock. They circle as fans rally for “TO-ZA-WA!” The two tie up, Tozawa waistlocks, but Duke TOSSES him away! Tozawa resets, runs in, goes for a leg, but Duke throws him away again. Duke headlocks, fans cheer the “MVP! MVP!” Tozawa fights the hold, but Duke hits a takeover! Tozawa headscissors, Duke fights it off and the two stand. Tozawa manages to power out of the headlock to headlock Duke back! Duke powers out, then he runs Tozawa over! Fans are torn but Duke kneels to pat Tozawa on the head.

Tozawa smirks and resets with Duke. The fans rally, the two tie up, and Tozawa rolls Duke up! TWO, Tozawa cradles! TWO, and now Tozawa sunset- NO, Duke stays up, and he’s got Tozawa stuck to him as he spins around! Tozawa uses that to complete the sunset flip! TWO, but now Tozawa pats Duke on the head! Fans cheer and the two point at each other. Tozawa kicks, Duke blocks and kicks low! Duke whips Tozawa to a corner, runs in, but Tozawa BOOTS him away! Tozawa then goes up to FLYING RANA! And DROPKICKS! Duke tumbles out, Chase worries a bit, and Tozawa builds speed! Tozawa DIVES into a forearm!

Duke has Tozawa stuck in the ropes, climbs up, and he drags Tozawa up to slingshot and GERMAN SUPLEX! Tozawa flops around, Duke covers, TWO!! Tozawa survives and Duke is a bit frustrated. Duke stalks Tozawa to a corner, stomps him, then hauls him up. Scoop and SLAM, then a cover, ONE!! Tozawa is tough but Duke clamps on a chinlock. Duke leans on Tozawa, fans rally up as Tozawa endures, and Tozawa fights up to his feet. Tozawa throws elbows and body shots, then fires off more shots! But Duke knees low and hard! Duke whips Tozawa to ropes, pops him up, but Tozawa RANAS again!

Fans fire up as Tozawa goes to a corner. Tozawa runs in, SHINING WIZARD! Fans fire up even more, Chase coaches Duke up but Tozawa climbs! Tozawa leaps, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Duke is tough, too, and fans rally up again. Tozawa and Duke stir, slowly rise, and head for each other. Tozawa tries to fireman’s carry? That’s not gonna work, Duke is almost twice Tozawa’s size! Duke CLUBS Tozawa, back suplexes, but Tozawa lands on his feet! Tozawa KICKS a leg out! Fans fire up with Tozawa and he KICKS Duke in the chest! Duke just glares at Tozawa! Tozawa KICKS again, but Duke is Duking up!

Fans fire up as Duke storms around! Chase and the fans fire up for that #BigDukeEnergy! Duke takes another kick, and shouts “U~!” Duke CLUBS, whips, DECKS and ELBOWS Tozawa! SIDEWALK SLAM! Fans fire up and Duke JABS! JABS! JABS! Flip, flop, fly and- Tozawa guards! Duke is thrown off by that, and Tozawa gives him a STRAIGHT RIGHT! Fans fire up and Tozawa runs, but Duke BOOTS him down! Duke hauls Tozawa up, Canadian Racks, but Tozawa makes it a SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!? Duke survives but even Chase is surprised! Tozawa kicks, spins, slides under, and SCREW HIGH KICKS!

Fans fire up as Duke is down after that Tozawa classic combo! Tozawa goes up the corner and Chase panics! Tozawa aims, TOKYO TOWER SENTON onto the knees!! Duke saves himself, he hauls Tozawa up, crucifix lift for THE RIVER!! Cover, Duke wins!

Winner: Duke Hudson, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Tozawa earns 0)

A hardy battle from Tozawa, but he quite literally falls short of defeating Duke! Chase brings Duke his Chase U MVP trophy, will they need to make room in the case for the Heritage Cup?

Here are the NEW Group B standings!

Joe Coffey: 1-0, 2 points
Duke Hudson: 1-0, 2 points
Akira Tozawa: 0-1, 0 points
Nathan Frazer: 0-1, 0 points

The Iron King of Gallus and the Chase U MVP are both leading the way, but will clash eventually. Who will come away with crucial points there? And same goes for Tozawa and Frazer eventually meeting. Who comes away from that match with points on the board?

My Thoughts:

Hopefully no one got their hopes up thinking I was going to add all of NXT Level Up to my schedule. Pretty sure NXT is only gonna get a boost in the views for LVL UP during this month and this month only. I do like that a new superstar, Riley Borne, debuted tonight against Big Body Javi, and that Stevie Turner got back into action against Valentina Feroz. But as for Duke VS Tozawa, really good stuff for Tozawa’s return to the Performance Center Arena, but it makes sense that Duke wins out. Chase U is doing great stuff, Duke is gonna be a big part of Group B’s story, probably giving Joe Coffey his first loss but also giving Nathan Frazer a critical win so Frazer can go on to the finals. As I said on Tuesday, this isn’t quite NJPW’s G1 Climax, but I do like that WWE is trying something like this at all.