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NXT on Christmas Night kicked off with a recap of last week before Roderick Strong put out an open challenge for the North American title. Austin Theory answered the call and the match was underway immediately.
Roderick Strong (c) vs. Austin Theory - NXT North American Championship match
Theory put up a great fight and the crowd was cheering for both men early in the match. Strong went for his trademark submissions but took a standing dropkick for a near fall. Strong took out Theory with a dropkick of his own but was hit with a devastating buckle bomb.
Strong hit a Superplex and nailed Theory with the End of Heartache backbreaker before locking in the Strong Hold submission for the win.
Result: Roderick Strong def. Austin Theory to retain the NXT North American Championship
Match rating: A
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Jack Gallagher
Scott was showboating early on after taking out Gallagher with a dropkick before Gallagher got out of the ring to catch a breather. Scott ran after him before the match returned to the ring and he locked in an armbar.
Swerve nailed Gallagher with a Flatliner and got a 2-count before Jack hit a rebound clothesline. Scott ended things with a jumping thrust kick to the face of Gallagher and got the victory.
Result: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott def. Jack Gallagher
Match rating: B
Candice LeRae vs. Taynara Conti
Taynara was trash talking and taunting LeRae after gaining the advantage in the match before Candice got up and took her to the corner. She hit a missile dropkick for a two count before hitting the springboard moonsault for the big win.
Result: Candice LeRae def. Taynara Conti
Match rating: B
Dominik Dijakovic vs. Bronson Reed
The two traded counters as the match started and matched each other move for move, hold for hold as it went on. Dominik Dijakovic missed a suplex and got the moonsault. Dijakovic then went for the Chokeslam powerbomb and got the three-count.
Result: Dominik Dijakovic def. Bronson Reed
Match rating: B
Bianca Belair vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Shotzi Blackheart made her debut on NXT against the veteran Bianca Belair. The green-haired newcomer didn't waste any time, taking Belair down but was caught in a Bonzai drop.
Blackheart hit a Sunset Flip but took a big kick. The rookie got a near-fall off a kick of her own but Belair dropped her outside while she was herself dropped on the apron.
Belair got her finisher in and picked up a quick win.
Result: Bianca Belair def. Shotzi Blackheart
Match rating: C
Keith Lee & Lio Rush vs. Damian Priest & Tony Nese
The Christmas themed tag match started with Lee showing up with a plate of cookies. Rush and Priest kicked us off but Lee tagged in early. Nese chased the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion outside the ring and Lee tackled him into the announcers.
We returned from commercials to see Priest take down Rush before Nese tagged in. Rush made the tag and Lee flattened his opponents with clotheslines. Priest escaped a Spirit Bomb and tagged in Nese who attacked Lee from behind when Keith went after Priest.
Lee hit a Jackhammer on Neese before Rush hit the frog splash and they got the win!
Result: Keith Lee & Lio Rush def. Damian Priest & Tony Nese
Match rating: A
Episode rating: B
The last NXT of the year sent us off with a series of big matches, a title shot and two unexpected debuts.
