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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.
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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.
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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.
