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Tonight's episode of WWE NXT was a special one as for the first time ever, the show emanated from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida instead of the Full Sail University. With NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay and WrestleMania 36 almost on the horizon, we are getting to see some more feuds building up.
Tonight, we got to see Keith Lee defend his NXT North American Championship against Cameron Grimes after the latter made it clear that GM William Regal had provided him with a title opportunity and also a rematch from TakeOver: Portland as The BroserWeights defended the NXT tag team titles against The Undisputed Era.
Usually we only rate matches for a show and don't cover segments but considering what went down towards the end of the show between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano which reminded us of their intense rivalry and the brutal Street Fight match that they had in the past, we couldn't help but give an honorable mention.
#1 Keith Lee (c) vs. Cameron Grimes (NXT North American Championship match)
The first match of the night kicked off with Keith Lee defending his NXT North American Championship against Cameron Grimes. Despite having an obvious difference in size, Grimes made up for it by relying on his technical mat-based skills and fast-paced strikes.
Early on into the match, Grimes tried to do the impossible task of lifting Lee up for a German Suplex but The Limitless Superstar countered it and ended up dropping him to the floor with a big double chop to the chest. After tangling in around for a bit and getting sent out by Lee from the ring to the outside, Grimes started targetting the limbs of Lee and even managed to hit the German Suplex on Lee in a second attempt.
They traded more back and forth blows and a tilt-a-whirl DDT by Grimes almost dethroned Lee. However, after connecting with a huge pounce attack, Lee hit Grime with the Big Bang Catastrophe to retain the title after a classic bout.
Results: Keith Lee defeated Cameron Grimes via pinfall.
Grade: A
#2 Mia Yim vs. Dakota Kai (Qualifier match for the No. 1 contender's ladder match)
Mia Yim and Dakota Kai faced each other for an opportunity to advance into the Women's Ladder match at TakeOver: Tampa Bay that will determine a new No. 1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship.
Kai who came out for the match with her ally Raquel Gonzalez was determined to pick up a victory after being victorious in her last two matches against best friend-turned-bitter enemy Tegan Nox. Yim started the match by unloading on Kai with kicks and strikes but the tables were soon turned on the HBIC when Gonzalez attacked Yim and dropped her on the apron.
Kai then hit Yim with the Kairopractor backbreaker in the middle of the ring but Yim stunned Kai and Gonzalez by kicking out at two. Gonzalez once again tried to interfere in the match but the referee saw the foul play and tossed her out. A frustrated Kai who was then pleading with the ref got nailed with the Protect Ya Neck from Yim who the got the pinfall.
Results: Mia Yim defeated Dakota Kai via pinfall.
Grade: A
#3 Kushida vs. Raul Mendoza
Kushida took on the high-flying Raul Mendoza in a match which saw both Superstars evenly matched in terms of agility. The former NJPW star's progress was halted due to an injury that he suffered in late 2019 but since coming back, he had been rarely seen in the ring.
That's why in tonight's match against Mendoza, Kushida tried to make the best of his opportunity and was focused on making a great impression. In a match which saw counters and reversals one after the other, Kushida managed to tap out Mendoza with the cross-armbreaker after nailing him with a superb Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle.
Results: Kushida defeated Raul Mendoza via submission.
Grade: B+
#4 Tegan Nox vs. Deonna Purrazzo (Qualifier match for the No. 1 contender's ladder match)
After we saw Mia Yim advancing to the No. 1 contender's match earlier in the night, it was time for another qualifier match where Tegan Nox took on Deonna Purrazzo. Unlike Mia Yim who was bothered by outside interferences, Nox got into trouble because of her injured arm which The Virtuosa used to her advantage by applying on the Fujiwara Armbar which made Nox writhe in agony.
However, Nox managed to roll Purrazzo into a pin which the latter kicked out off. No sooner had she kicked out, Purrazzo was met with the Shiniest Wizard from Nox which sent the latter to TakeOver: Tampa Bay.
Results: Tegan Nox defeated Deonna Purrazzo via pinfall.
Grade: B
#5 The BroserWeights (c) vs. The Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Championship match)
Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle defended their NXT Tag Team titles against Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish of The Undisputed Era in a rematch from TakeOver: Portland. Much like their match from TakeOver, tonight's match was also a tag-team classic as all four Superstars displayed immense technical prowess inside the ring.
A special moment from the match saw Pete Dunne paying homage to Eddie Guerrero by throwing himself to the mat when Adam Cole & Roderick Strong entered the ring to attack Dunne when the referee's back was turned. When the referee turned his attention to the Superstars, Riddle made him believe that he saw Cole and Strong attack Dunne which then led the ref to evict both Cole and Strong from ringside despite their pleas.
Although Cole and Strong were tossed out by the referee, the Grizzled Young Veterans came out to cause the distraction. However, Dunne decked both James Drake and Zack Gibson with punches and Riddle tossed Fish over the ropes and onto the Veterans which took them out.
O'Reilly who was the legal man then got hit with the double-team finisher by Dunne and Riddle who then got the pinfall win.
Results: The BroserWeights defeated The Undisputed Era via pinfall.
GradesA+
