'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's time once again for WWE NXT! We're one week out from the epic and historic Championship vs Championship match from last week. Adam Cole and Keith Lee put on one of the best matches of the year and an instant classic, and it was the Limitless One who walked away with the gold! Tonight, Lee addressed the NXT Universe.
Io Shirai would also defend her NXT Women's Championship against Tegan Nox tonight. We also saw Damian Priest vs Cameron Grimes in a grudge match, Shotzi Blackheart in action, and much more!
We opened the night with the Champ-Champ himself, Keith Lee! The Moment Maker turned Prophecy Ender has now dubbed himself the History maker. Lee asked for the ring announcer to welcome him to the ring once again, as the first time was so beautiful he just had to hear it one more time.
The NXT Double Champion said that, celebrations aside, he got here due to a series of opportunities and that he's no self-made man. His late trainer Killer Tim Brooks set him on the right path, and without him, this moment wouldn't be possible.
The NXT Universe was also there to welcome him with open arms, and he couldn't do any of this without the support of the fans. One final name that Keith Lee had to mention, though, was the big man Dominik Dijakovic. Lee and Dijakovic had one of the greatest rivalries in NXT, and Lee knew that his title reign would have to go through Dijakovic at some point.
Dijakovic was one of the first NXT Superstars to celebrate with Lee last week. Lee said the feud between them both is why he made it to the top. Because of that, the first challenger to Keith Lee's titles will be Dominik Dijakovic. Not only that, but that match will take place tonight!
Damian Priest vs Cameron Grimes opens NXT
Cameron Grimes rushed Damian Priest for the Cave In but was stopped by a massive boot. That was Grimes' go to plan for most of his matches in NXT, but Priest has yet to fall for it. Priest stomped out Grimes in the corner and delivered a series of flying elbows to the jaw.
A running cyclone kick rocked Grimes, sending him to the floor. Priest brought him back in but was met with a superman punch, knocking the big man to the floor. A baseball slide connected, and on the inside, a swinging sidewalk slam put Priest down for two.
Throughout the commercial break, Grimes cut off Priest's momentum every chance he had, even if that meant going for the eyes. After minutes of domination, Priest responded with a bell clap, setting up for a nasty discus clothesline that turned Grimes inside out.
On the floor, Grimes avoided a chokeslam to the apron. A stiff forearm rocked him, though, allowing Grimes to toss him onto the apron anyway, this time with a Razor's Edge.
A lifted flatliner in the ring planted Grimes for a two-count. Grimes escaped The Reckoning and slammed into Priest for a twisting powerslam, but couldn't put him away. He slapped the taste out of Priest's mouth, but that only seemed to wake him up.
Grimes missed a Cave In and got caught in the ropes, allowing Priest to hit another Cyclone Kick. The Reckoning spiked Grimes, giving Priest the win on NXT.
Results: Damian Priest defeated Cameron Grimes via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Another session of Thatch as Thatch can premiered on NXT. Timothy Thatcher taught his students the importance of leaving an impression. A submission is a victory, but locking it in after the bell will bring "pure satisfaction."
Shotzi Blackheart vs Indi Hartwell on NXT
Indi Hartwell locked up Shotzi Blackheart early on NXT, but a double knee arm breaker broke things up. Blackheart booted Hartwell repeatedly in the gut before bringing her to the floor with a modified single-leg takedown. A headscissors sent her into the corner, but Blackheart missed the dropkick.
Hartwell launched Blackheart to the floor with a dropkick of her own. Back inside, Hartwell picked up a two-count with a side slam. Blackheart escaped a surfboard stretch and planted Hartwell with a bulldog. A striking combination ending in a switchblade kick set Hartwell up for a senton in the ropes.
Robert Stone came out to distract Blackheart, forcing the ref to miss Aliyah shoving her to the mat head first. A big boot from Hartwell earned her the victory.
Results: Indi Hartwell defeated Shotzi Blackheart via pinfall.
Grade: C+
Backstage, Tegan Nox said that she would soon be mentioned in the same light of her heroes Kane and Molly Holly. Tonight, she would be a champion. She wasn't the only woman in NXT looking at gold, however.
It looks like Rhea Ripley has her eyes on the prize once again.
We saw Legado Del Fantasma toasting one another for a job well done at NXT Great American Bash. Drake Maverick is done for. Breezango are a joke. Legado Del Fantasma are the true artists of Lucha Libre.
Raul Mendoza is the true technical mastermind, Joaquin Wilde is an aerial assassin, and Santos Escobar is the man that brought the NXT Cruiserweight Championship back to glory. What does the future of the cruiserweight division hold now that Legado Del Fantasma is in charge?
NXT & NXT North American Championship Match: Dominik Dijakovic vs Keith Lee (c)
Dominik Dijakovic and Keith Lee were evenly matched early on, with the challenger avoiding some of the champion's biggest shots. Dijakovic got caught with the Grizzly Magnum, but stood up before the moonsault, and almost caught Lee with Feast Your Eyes. Lee escaped as we moved into the commercial break on NXT.
Back from the break, Dijakovic was beating down Lee with stiff clubbing blows to the back. Lee blocked a suplex and Pounced Dijakovic to the floor. Like last week, Dijakovic avoided the shoulder tackle through the plexiglass, but Lee stopped himself before driving through it.
A vicious left hand inside stunned Dijak, but he responded with a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Lee caught Dijak in the ropes and spun Dijakovic around with a swinging facebuster.
Lee took Dijakovic to the top, but he knocked the NXT Dual Champion to the mat. A diving blockbuster and a discus big boot only put Lee down for two. Another boot was countered with a big one-handed chokeslam, though. Lee then dropped Dijak with the Big Bang Catastrophe for the three.
Results: Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A-
Dijakovic and Lee hugged, but it was cut short when the lights went out. Scarlett appeared, bringing a bag of the broken hour glass that Lee destroyed last month, leaving an ominous message for the Limitless One. Karrion Kross is watching. Soon all Fall and Pray.
Dominik Dijakovic was interviewed backstage on NXT and said that Keith Lee is on a whole different level than him. As far as Karrion Kross goes, he isn't ready. Kross ran in and attacked Dijak, dropping him on the cement with a back body drop.
Dijakovic was out cold, possibly in worse condition as Kross left him laying.
Timothy Thatcher vs Denzel Dejournette on NXT
Timothy Thatcher found it a bit more difficult to take Denzel Dejournette to the floor than he expected. Still, he grabbed ahold of the left arm, and began tearing his opponent apart limb by limb.
A modified single leg Boston Crab forced an easy tap for Thatcher.
Results: Timothy Thatcher defeated Denzel Dejournette via submission on NXT.
Grade: D
Oney Lorcan saved Dejournette from further humiliation and a possible injury. Looks like there's some unfinished business between these two.
Robert Stone was seen trying to apologize to Killian Dain for spilling coffee on him last week. Dain said he could repay him by getting him a match with Dexter Lumis.
Next week, Dain will get what he wants. Dominik Dijakovic will also get a chance at revenge when he battles Karrion Kross next week.
NXT Women's Championship: Tegan Nox vs Io Shirai (c)
Tegan Nox had the advantage early on with a series of takedowns and pinfall attempts on NXT. Io Shirai took control, stomping Nox out in the corner. Nox was sent to the floor but avoided a baseball slide. Shirai caught Nox's kick and sent her face-first into the apron.
Io Shirai attempted a springboard crossbody inside but was turned into a fallaway slam by Nox. Still, Shirai tripped up Nox, sending her face-first into the turnbuckle. A pair of running knees rocked Lady Kane. Shirai took her out to slow things down with a modified chin lock.
Nox was trapped in the ropes for a few seconds with a Figure-4 Necklock. The NXT Women's Champion lit up her challenger with a series of chops. Nox got caught in a crossface, but made it to the ropes. Shirai continued to take the fight to her, sending into the steps. Nox was able to avoid a double knee, though, leaving Shirai clenching both legs in pain.
On the inside, Shirai cut off Nox's momentum again, hitting a double arm backbreaker, but further injuring her knee. A German suplex with a bridge gave Shirai another two-count. She moved up for the moonsault only to be knocked off, getting trapped in the Tree of Woe.
The canonboar connected, and Nox followed up with a high angle crossbody off the top. A chokeslam spiked Shirai, but she couldn't get the win. Shirai dumped Nox in the corner with a German suplex and landed a beautiful missile dropkick.
Still, Nox remained in the fight. A facebuster and the Molly Go Round earned her another near fall. The Shiniest Wizard failed to connect, though, as Shirai rocked her with an upward palm strike.
The moonsault put Nox away in an epic first title defense for Io Shirai.
Results: Io Shirai defeated Tegan Nox via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A+
Dakota Kai attacked her afterward, laying her out with a big boot. Looks like the other half of Team Kick is looking for a shot at the NXT Women's Championship.
Episode Rating: A
After an incredible two nights of The Great American Bash, tonight's episode was a bit mellowed down. However, Lee and Shirai may have got a glimpse into their respective futures as champions.
