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Tonight's the night. It's a Triple Threat match for Keith Lee's NXT North American Championship. The winner will not only hold that gold but will get an opportunity at Adam Cole's NXT Championship next month. Keith Lee, Johnny Gargano, and Finn Balor are all looking to become the first WWE Superstar to hold both titles at the same time.
We were treated to some footage earlier in the day which showed Cameron Grimes high-tailing it from the scene of a rather nasty crime. Damien Priest was found pinned between his car door, screaming in pain and grabbing at his back. They were scheduled to face one another tonight.
Cameron Grimes did enter the arena, calling out Priest for slashing his own tires and lying about injuries. He assumed that Preist would never make it to the ring, and demand the referee give him a win by way of forfeit.
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Well, the Archer of Infamy is not a man known to back down from a challenge.
Cameron Grimes vs Damian Priest on NXT
Priest caught Grimes running in with a nasty right hand, and continued to pelt him with punches and kicks. Grimes managed to fight out of a chokelam, but was rocked with a big boot for his trouble.
Grimes avoided a running splash in the corner, and focused up on the bandaging around Priest's adbomen. Priest found a way to fight through the pain, delivering a sky-high one-handed chokeslam. Still, Grimes managed to save himself by rolling out of the ring to prevent the pin.
Priest followed, leading to a brawl between the two on the floor. Grimes was able to avoid the Razor's Edge on the apron as Priest's back gave way. He followed up with the Cave In, but it wouldn't keep Priest down on the floor.
Priest avoided a second one, but again his back gave out. Grimes finally drove Priest into the mat with a second Cave In, giving him another huge upset win, this time over the Archer of Infamy.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Damian Preist via pinfall to kick off NXT.
Grade: B-
Robert Stone ran into Rhea Ripley again, this time in the parking lot. He attempted, once again, to bring the Mosh Pit Kid into the fold, and just like two weeks ago, was sent into the trash. This time around, Aliyah came in and bit off a bit more than she could chew, slapping the former NXT Women's Champion.
We'll see these two face off on NXT later in the night.
It's another Thatch Can wrestling class on NXT. Timothy Thatcher shows off the importance of perfectly applied submission moves, proving that mat technique is able to overpower the biggest and strongest of opponents.
Thatcher said the most important thing was that his students had fun, and he'd be making champions out of them very soon.
Santos Escobar vs Jake Atlas on NXT
The NXT Cruiserweight Champion took Jake Atlas to the corner, but Atlas was able to escape and hit a perfect running crossbody on Santos Escobar. Atlas kept up the pressure, trapping Escobar in a sleeper hold.
Escobar escaped but was beaten into a pulp in the corner. An incredible running hurricanrana took out Escobar, but a distraction from Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza allowed Escobar to send Atlas into the plexiglass.
Back from the break, and Escobar took Atlas out with a leaping heel kick. El Legado Del Fantasma talked trash to Atlas while Escobar dished out more punishment. Atlas made it back to his feet and stunned the NXT Cruiserweight Champion with some right hands. A series of clotheslines and a scoop slam set up for a standing moonsault. Escobar kicked out at two.
After taking out Mendoza and Wilde, Atlas spiked Escobar with a headlock driver, but again only earned a two-count. Escobar caught Atlas moving to the top, and was brought down with a Phantom Driver.
Results: Santos Escobar defeated Jake Atlas via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A-
We're back again for another round of Undisputed Therapy. Roddy Strong told Kyle O...er...the doctor that he's ready to conquer the fear of the trunk. Adam Cole and Bobby Fish were elated to hear this. Strong sat up and finally noticed that it was Kyle O'Reilly who was helping him with his therapy.
The Undisputed Era took Strong to the trunk, which he conquered. The group was so excited for the former NXT North American Champion, and Adam Cole said it doesn't stop there. Tonight, he'll get some revenge against Dexter Lumis on NXT.
Last week, Malcolm Bivens & Indus Sher were attacked by Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch during the NXT Tag Team Title Match. Indus Sher got their revenge on 205 Live. Bivens said he was still furious, and the trio was ready to send a message to One-Two.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter vs Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez on NXT
Kayden Carter tried to cut down the giantess Raquel Gonzalez, but couldn't take her off her feet. Catanzaro tagged in, and with Carter were able to drape Gonzalez across the middle rope for a slingshot neck drape from Catanzaro.
Gonzalez broke away quickly to tag Dakota Kai, who was taken out by a springboard senton press. A big boot rocked Catanzaro. Gonzalez joined in for a big boot/powerslam combo, giving Kai a two-count. Catanzaro managed to tag in Carter, who lit up Kai and Gonzalez with a series of kicks. A victory roll into a superkick gave Carter a near fall.
Carter delivered a Team Kick style kick to the Captain, nearly knocking Kai out of the ring. A scorpion kick sent Carter into her corner where Catanzaro tagged in. Gonzalez was next, who caught Catanzaro leaping in for a powerbomb, knocking Carter away with a big boot for good measure. Kai tagged in, forcing a submission.
Results: Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
Following the match, NXT's resident villain made her intentions known. She's coming for the NXT Women's Championship. She's coming for Io Shirai.
Karrion Kross w/Scarlett vs Bronson Reed on NXT
Bronson Reed took the fight to Karrion Kross, laying into him with some heavy blows on NXT. However, Kross shrugged off the offense, dropping AusZilla with a nasty right hand. An exploder suplex sent Reed across the ring.
Reed wasn't out yet, and responded with a right of his own, followed by an enziguri and German suplex. They both stood up, leading to a trade of elbows and boots. A series of big splashes in the corner only served to fire up Kross. A Northern Lights Suplex floated over into a clothesline set up for the Doomsday Saito.
Following that, the Kross Jacket earned Kross yet another victory on NXT.
Results: Karrion Kross defeated Bronson Reed via submission on NXT.
Grade: C
Karrion Kross has absolutely run through the NXT roster so far, and is building up quite an undefeated streak. Who will be able to knock off Kross?
Adam Cole was interviewed about who he'd like to face on July 8th for his title.
Cole didn't care, and was more worried about if he had enough space on his mantle for another championship.
We saw a Mercedes Martinez vignette, and it looks like the vet will be making her long-awaited return to NXT very soon.
Rhea Ripley vs Aliyah w/Robert Stone on NXT
Rhea Ripley tossed Aliyah around ringside with ease before sending her to the floor with a dropkick. Aliyah regrouped and was immediately taken out by a series of clotheslines and cravate knee strikes. A dropkick to the back of the head set up for the near fall.
Aliyah pelted The Nightmare with some kicks but was caught in The Prism. Robert Stone threw a shoe at her, leading to her chasing him around ringside for a bit. Aliyah looked to roll-up Ripley off of the distraction, but Ripley shrugged it off. A boot to the gut set up for the Riptide, absolutely dominating Aliyah in an embarrassing fashion.
Results: Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C-
Another loss for the Robert Stone Brand. At least he didn't vomit in the ring this time, right?
Dexter Lumis vs Roderick Strong w/Bobby Fish on NXT
Roderick Strong was mortified at having to be in the ring with the Tortured Artist known as Dexter Lumis. Strong tried to flee but was held there by Bobby Fish. Lumis began stalking him, leading to Strong running off with his tail between his legs, giving Lumis an easy win on NXT.
Results: Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong via count-out on NXT.
Grade: N/A
Bobby Fish was caught for a few moments in Dexter Lumis' submission hold, but managed to escape, leaving Lumis to stare on into nothing.
Aliyah and Robert Stone were talking to NXT GM William Regal on the iPad. They demanded a rematch with Ripley, which Regal loved. I mean, we haven't seen Stone wrestle yet in NXT. So next week, we'll see Robert Stone team with Aliyah against Rhea Ripley. Stone added the condition that if they won, the former NXT Women's Champion would have to join the Robert Stone Brand. Ripley was happy to agree.
Next week, we'll see a Fatal 4 Way Match to determine the #1 contender to NXT Woman's Champion Io Shirai. It'll be Mia Yim vs Candice LeRae vs Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai. Also, NXT will host its first ever strap match between Roderick Strong and Dexter Lumis.
NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano vs Finn Balor vs Keith Lee (c)
Johnny Gargano opted to leave the ring, leading to Keith Lee and Finn Balor to throw the first shots in the NXT North American Championship. Lee caught Balor flying off the top, which was where Gargano tried to run in for a schoolboy. Lee stood tall and ran through both challengers with a series of shoulder tackles.
Lee dropped Gargano with the Grizzly Magnum and was then caught with a sleeper by Balor. Lee refused to give in and tossed Balor overhead. Gargano made the same decision, leading to the same outcome. Balor jumped back onto Lee for the sleeper, which after the third attempt has finally taken the NXT North American Champion to one knee.
Still, what's the definition of insanity? Lee shrugged it off again, driving Balor into the corner. Balor pelted Lee with elbows and forearms, only to be caught by Lee. Gargano ran in and was caught as well, and we saw both challengers get tossed overhead for a double release belly-to-belly.
Gargano escaped a powerbomb attempt and went to the legs. Lee fought him off, freeing him up for a sleeper by Balor. The NXT North American Champion refused to give in. Both Balor and Gargano were tossed to the floor, with Gargano taking the worst of the punishment, a teeth rattling right hand.
As Lee moved to the floor, a slingblade took him out. Balor followed up with a senton off the apron. Balor and Gargano teamed up to send the big man into the steel steps, seemingly taking him out of this NXT North American Triple Threat match.
Inside the ring, Balor and Gargano battered each other, leading to the slingshot spear taking Balor down for a two-count. Gargano set up for One Final Beat but was hit with a forearm. Balor took Lee down with a senton over the ropes then planted Gargano with the Eye of the Hurricane.
A slingblade took out Gargano, but before he could set up for the shotgun dropkick, Lee rose from the ashes. The NXT North American Champion took out both challengers with a slingshot crossbody.
Lee set up Gargano and Balor in opposite corners, taking the fight to them with a series of body splashes. Lee picked up Balor in the electric chair, but the former NXT Champion turned it into another sleeper hold. Luckily for Lee, Balor was kicked off of his back with the superkick.
One Final Beat planted Balor, only for Lee to break up the pin. Lee countered a tilt-a-whirl DDT, but Gargano was able to use momentum to turn it into a tornado DDT regardless. Gargano followed up with a suicide dive to Lee.
Another dive to Balor was blocked, as Balor set up for the 1916 DDT. As Balor picked up Gargano, they were laid out with a pounce by the Limitless One. Back inside the ring, Lee's Spirit Bomb was countered with a double foot stomp. The Shotgun Dropkick was stopped as Gargano ran in for a superkick.
Balor still sent Gargano into Lee, and made it to the top. Gargano knocked him off and powerbombed Gargano onto his back. Lee hit the Big Bang Catastrophe on Gargano and avoided a Coup de Grace. Another Big Bang Catastrophe to Balor retained the NXT North American Championship for Keith Lee.
Results: Keith Lee defeated Finn Balor to retain his NXT North American Championship.
Grade: A
With that, Keith Lee will move onto the all-or-nothing NXT Championship match on July 8th. Will Keith Lee emerge as NXT Champion, or will the inaugural NXT North American Champion Adam Cole reclaim the belt he made famous?
Episode Rating: A
Another action packed episode of NXT gives us a mouthwatering clash between Cole and Lee in two weeks time. Escobar and Kross continue their rampage on NXT as well.
