Aleister Black and Ricochet were unsuccessful in their bid to become NXT Tag Team champions at Takeover: New York. The duo fought against The War Raiders at the event but Rowe and Hanson retained the gold.

But this match was about much more than tag team titles. This was Black and Ric’s last Takeover event for NXT. Fans suspected as much, judging from what happened after this match ended. The War Raiders paid respect to Aleister and Ricochet, even bowing down to them in the ring. Now that suspicion has been confirmed in an interview following the match.

Ric and Black hugged with tears in their eyes and in that moment, many fans knew it was their last hurrah in NXT. The pair has made an impressive impact on WWE’s main roster, wowing fans on both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.

The WWE faithful expected that the two would eventually say goodbye to the black and gold brand. That seems to be exactly what’s happened.

Black and Ricochet now have another massive match ahead of them, as they will compete at WrestleMania 35 in a Fatal 4-Way for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Whether or not they will win is anyone’s guess. But it’s clear that their WWE journey is only just beginning.

EXCLUSIVE: @KingRicochet and @WWEAleister talk about the love and support they received from the #NXTUniverse as they head into #WrestleMania. pic.twitter.com/ZPLjkjgLKb

— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2019