Rusev Thanks Ambrose & Itami, Post-TakeOver Brawl Video, Gargano

On Twitter, Rusev gave thanks to both Hideo Itami & Dean Ambrose. As previously reported, Itami will be exiting WWE soon and is reportedly heading back to Japan. WWE also announced that Ambrose is finishing up with the company in April after declining a new five-year contract.

Thank you Kenta and thank you Dean.
— Rusev (@RusevBUL) January 30, 2019

Below is a new backstage footage after The Post-NXT TakeOver: Phoenix brawl took place between Aleister Black, Velveteen Dream, Ricochet, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa & Adam Cole. Ciampa, Gargano & Cole get separated from the other three with Ciampa yelling he wins and every TakeOver he is the main event. The two sides will be in a Six-Man Tag Team Match for Halftime Heat on The WWE Network, which will air during next Sunday’s halftime of Super Bowl 53.

It was announced during last night episode of NXT TV that the new North American Champion Johnny Gargano will be making his first appearance as champion at Full Sail University on next week’s show. Below, Gargano spoke to Sarah Schreiber about getting the big win against Ricochet at TakeOver:

How does @JohnnyGargano feel about being the NXT #NorthAmericanChampion? … He loves it. #JohnnyTakeOver #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bApkYATnkk
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2019