5 Reasons why Keith Lee should win the Winner Takes All match at NXT's Great American Bash

The very landscape of NXT is set to be completely changed during the second night of the Great American Bash. Last week's episode saw Io Shirai retain her NXT Women's Championship. It also saw other stars like Karrion Kross, Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano maintain their spots and aspirations in NXT. Santos Escobar also claimed dominance atop the Cruiserweight division while also setting up a six-man tag team match against Drake Maverick and Breezango.

Another huge contest, perhaps the biggest match in NXT history, however, is main-eventing week two of the Great American Bash. After retaining his NXT North American Championship last week, Keith Lee will battle NXT Champion Adam Cole in a Winner Takes All match. That's right - after Wednesday night, one man from the yellow and black brand will be a dual Champion.

The last double title holder in WWE is actually a current one in Bayley as she is concurrently a Women's Tag Team Champ and the SmackDown Women's title holder. The feat hasn't been done in NXT and especially not during its tenure on USA opposing AEW Dynamite.

Adam Cole has held the NXT Championship for over a year, but he needs to walk out of the match empty-handed. Here are five reasons why Lee needs to win the huge match on NXT's big stage.

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#5 Maintains Lee's momentum from the end of 2019

Reigns and Lee showed mutual respect at the end of their Survivor Series 2019 match.

Two NXT stars came out of Survivor Series and Royal Rumble weekends with great momentum. For the women, it was Rhea Ripley. She soon dispatched Shayna Baszler to become the new NXT Women's Champ two months after Survivor Series.

The other star was Keith Lee. Not only did he have an extremely impressive showing during the 5-on-5-on-5 traditional elimination match but he was also one of the final two participants alongside top star Roman Reigns. For a performer to get that sort of rub is a huge statement.

Lee also participated in the 2020 Royal Rumble and had another strong showing. While he didn't win or eliminate Brock Lesnar, the Limitless One did elicit a shocked response from The Beast. He also was one of the few performers who nearly eliminated the former WWE Champion.

If Lee wins this Wednesday night, it will continue his enormous momentum from earlier this year. It will also hopefully portend that his momentum and success in NXT will carry over on to either RAW or SmackDown.

#4 The Undisputed Era, including Cole, has done all it can in NXT

The Undisputed Era

NXT has been very kind to Adam Cole. As a member of the NXT roster, Cole has held or defended every title available to him. He's the longest reigning NXT Champion, the first NXT North American Champ and he also defended the NXT Tag titles when various members were injured.

Simply put, Cole has done everything during his tenure in NXT. There's not much left for him to do unless they want to do a break up angle. That, however, would be a complete mistake. TUE are the best faction in WWE and one of the best in pro wrestling. To break them up would be a colossal misstep.

In addition to Cole, the pairings of Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish and Roddy Strong have all held tag team gold more than once. They've always competed in matches of the night every time they compete in the ring. They've beaten teams like American Alpha, DIY, Heavy Machinery and Moustache Mountain. The group has accomplished literally everything there is to do in NXT.

Strong lost the NXT North American title to Lee. With Cole failing in the humongous match, it opens the group up to move up to either RAW or SmackDown. That would also leave a void for another faction to fill in NXT.

#3 Heels will now be chasing the title

Kross and Scarlett

For as long as Adam Cole has been NXT Champion, most of his challengers have been faces. He's dispatched Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Velveteen Dream, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne and Balor.

He's faced so many of the top faces of NXT that some like Riddle have moved on without capturing the top prize in NXT. As the months pass and new wrestlers are signed, however, it continually reshuffles the deck and what is possible in a title match.

Lee's ascension to top star is just one example as is Balor's return to the yellow and black brand. Both of those men are technically faces with Balor a sort of tweener. Since all of Cole's challengers have been good guys, things need to be reset in the opposite manner. If and when Lee wins the title, most of his opponents will be bad guys.

Sure, Balor might still challenge him down the line, but the likes of Killian Dain, Karrion Kross and Timothy Thatcher are defined heels that will be knocking on the Limitless One's door if he wins both titles. It's time for the dynamic to change atop NXT and Lee winning Wednesday night will accomplish that.

#2 It opens up the NXT North American title picture as well

Bask in his glory.

If Keith Lee wins at the Great American Bash, his days as NXT North American Champion are numbered. It's with that title that he's established himself as one of the top stars in WWE. If he wins both titles, including the NXT Championship, it will likely mean that he's going to be the top guy instead of holding the mid-card title in NXT.

That's precisely what happened when the Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan to become both Intercontinental and WWF World Heavyweight Champion at the same time. He relinquished the Intercontinental title to focus on defending the WWF title.

Becky Lynch became Becky Two Belts after WrestleMania 35. She had originally been the SmackDown Women's Champ until TLC 2018 where she lost the belt to Asuka. After winning both titles, since she was needed more so on RAW than on Friday nights, The Man dropped one of those titles a month after winning them. It opened up the SmackDown women's division so that other women could have a chance.

If Lee does win both titles, he'll most likely drop his coveted North American title in its next defense. They could even book him in two matches in one night similar to how Lynch defended both of her belts at Money in the Bank 2019.

By moving up to rule over NXT as its top Champion, other stars will then get the chance that Lee initially received. Performers like Kross, Damian Priest, Balor, Dexter Lumis, Cameron Grimes, Swerve Scott and Kushida could then carry the NXT mid-card. Lee winning both titles will do that and he'll open up the North American title prospects when he inevitably loses that title.

#1 It's time for a change

Finn Balor's return to NXT last fall added another major player to the fold.

When WWE feels that it needs to shake things up, it usually has a big title change or a new Superstar join RAW or SmackDown. The same thing is done in NXT and a recent example of that is Balor's return to the yellow and black brand last fall. Another such shock addition came in the form of the imposing Karrion Kross.

Throughout the last year and change, Adam Cole has ruled over NXT as its top star. His group was heavily featured on TV and in some of the top storylines on Wednesday nights. It was well deserved as all members of The Undisputed Era deliver both in the ring and in promos.

While his time atop NXT has been entertaining and full of great matches, it's just time for someone else to run with the ball. Few stars have reigns of over a year. Cole's year-plus reign has eclipsed the former record-setting reign of Finn Balor. The same is happening with Bayley and the women of Friday nights. It's well past time that another lady gets the chance to represent SmackDown as it's Champion.

For the product to stay fresh, there has to be change at various points. With this type of record-setting moment slated to make a huge star, that star needs to be Lee. Cole is already a made man in wrestling and WWE. Just like the MITB briefcase should, this match should make a huge new star instead of constantly rewarding the same top stars. Lee needs to and should win both titles at the Great American Bash and NXT needs the change to move forward.