Following on from Keith Lee’s historic victory last week, there was a lot to live up to tonight. We heard from the new NXT Champion and got a good idea of what was next for him. Tegan Nox and Io Shirai faced off for the NXT Women’s Championship, Damian Priest and Cameron Grimes settled their feud in the opening match, and Robert Stone got some payback on Shotzi Blackheart from last week. A lot more happened, so let’s dive right in.

The NXT and North American Champion Keith Lee came to the ring. He asked Alicia Warrington to announce him as the new NXT Champion once again before saying 2020 had been a difficult year, but incredible things happen in the NXT ring. He said he’s enjoyed celebrating his win and it was time to get back to reality. There’re a lot of supportive people in the locker room, but there are also enemies. Lee mentioned how Time Brooks, his coach who had now passed, believed in him when no-one else did, and that the NXT Universe welcomed him with “the most open arms,” as well as and how they sang to the world with passion – how everyone should bask in his glory. In a surprising turn of events, he welcomed his “frenemy” to the ring so that they could talk.

Dominik Dijakovic came to the ring, and Lee said it was their feud that helped to propel Lee to the championships, and that he’d spoken to William Regal about the both of them facing off. Dijakovic asked when he thought they should “do this,” with Lee responding emphatically that they “should do it tonight.” Dijakovic accepted, making a match that we would see later on. We’ve seen these two guys have some great matches over the last few years, so this should be a great one.

Damian Priest vs Cameron Grimes

I was praying that Damian Priest would wipe the smile off of Cameron Grimes’ face because he annoys the hell out of me. Priest has been on the up recently, and this was a great opportunity to keep on climbing to the top. Straight away, Priest began to destroy Grimes with a range of strikes, then landed a handful of running knees and a spinning knee strike as Grimes as he stood in the corner. It didn’t take long for Grimes to find an opening as he took advantage of his opponent, chipping away at Priest with a selection of high impact moves.

Priest offloaded some big kicks to Grimes, then hit a big clothesline that turned Grimes inside out. Grimes returned the favour by hitting a clothesline and knocked Priest outside the ring. Unable to gain any momentum, Priest dropped Grimes with a Razor’s Edge on the apron. Back in the ring he nailed Grimes with a flatliner, but only managed a two count. Grimes went for the double stomp but ended up falling through the ropes, which allowed The Archer of Infamy to hit a cyclone kick, followed by The Reckoning. After picking up the win, Priest said he was interested in seeing who would be coming out the winner of the match between Lee and Dijakovic.

Winner: Damian Priest Rating: 6/10

Shotzi Blackheart vs Indi Hartwell

I love Shotzi, but this match didn’t flow particularly well. Hartwell tried to control Blackheart but ate a bulldog, a cannonball, and a step-up DDT. Robert Stone came to the ring and distracted the referee, as Aliyah appeared from behind and knocked Blackheart off the top turnbuckle, allowing Hartwell to pick up a shock win. The match didn’t last long, and the action was a bit clumsy. I doubt Hartwell’s first win in NXT will lead to anything, but this feud between Blackheart and Robert Stone/Aliyah is ramping up.

Winner: Indi Hartwell Rating: 4/10

Winner Take All Match for the NXT and North American Championships: Dominik Dijakovic vs Keith Lee (C)

It was a slow start to the match, as Dijakovic and Lee tried to gain the upper hand through a war of attrition. Dijakovic tried to knock Lee off his feet to no avail, then hit a knife-edge chop. Lee took it, then hit one of his own which knocked Dijakovic off his feet. As Lee climbed the turnbuckle, Dijakovic grabbed him on his shoulders but was unable to drop the double champ.

Dijakovic tried to overcome Lee, striking at the back of the champion, but ate some huge punches. Lee knocked Dijakovic across the ring with a huge charge. Outside the ring, Lee went for another charge, but Dijakovic moved out of the way. They both got in the ring, and Dijakovic hit a sidewalk slam on Lee and went for a signature clothesline, but Lee countered. Dijakovic hit a huge blockbuster off the turnbuckle, then a cyclone boot to the face of Lee, only managing a two-count. Lee’s freakish strength delivered a one-arm powerbomb, then ended Dijakovic’s hopes with the Big Bang Catastrophe for the win.

After the bell, both men hugged it out, but the lights went down. Scarlett appeared at the top of the ramp. It’s happening, people. She walked to ringside and placed the broken hourglass that was destroyed weeks ago, symbolising that time was up, and Karrion Kross would be coming for Keith Lee. The wheels are in motion for Keith Lee and Kross to face off, meaning these next few weeks could be very interesting. Backstage, Dijakovic was being interviewed when Kross interrupted. They began to brawl, but Kross launched him behind some barricades and left him lying on the ground. A match between Kross and Dijakovic was made official for next week later on in the show.

Winner: Keith Lee (And still NXT and North American Champion) Rating: 6.5/10

Timothy Thatcher vs Denzel Dejournette

Dejournette didn’t do too badly in the beginning, but it wasn’t long before Thatcher utilised his catch wrestling prowess. Despite Dejournette trying to kick out, Thatcher locked in a half Boston crab for the win. He continued to lock in the hold after the bell, which led to Lorcan running to the ring to attack him. There is clearly some unfinished business between these two men.

Winner: Timothy Thatcher Rating: 3/10

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Tegan Nox vs Io Shirai (C)

Much of the action started off on the ground as both women locked in headlocks, with various pin attempts by Nox to grab an early victory. Shirai went for a baseball slide but missed. Nox stood on the apron and went for a kick, but Shirai grabbed her foot and pulled her over, forcing Nox to faceplant the apron. In the ring, Shirai went for a crossbody off the ropes, but Nox grabbed her and hit a fallaway slam followed by a bridge. Shirai kicked out and put in some work trying to injure Nox’s right arm with a vicious submission.

Shirai continued to wear Nox down, hitting a double knee to her sternum. Nox was struggling as Shirai continued to hurt her. Every time Nox made some sort of a comeback, Shirai was there to block every attempt. After Nox moved out the way, Shirai went knee first into the steel steps, but back in the ring, she landed a tiger driver on Nox, then a German suplex. Nox found some momentum with a few cannonballs and a crossbody from the top rope. She hit her Lady Kane chokeslam, but only managed a two count. Shirai launched Nox into the corner with a German suplex, then followed up with a double knee. The Genius of the Sky landed a 619 and a missile dropkick off the top rope, but again, Nox kicked out.

Nox hit the Molly-go-round but Shirai kicked out. After a Shotei palm strike, Shirai flew through the air and hit a moonsault, picking up the win after a hard-fought battle by both women. As Shirai walked to the back, Dakota Kai came out of nowhere and delivered a massive boot to the women champion’s face as the show went off the air. The match was great, and Kai’s surprise attack could finally mean we see her with an opportunity to become NXT women’s champion very soon.

Winner: Io Shirai (And still NXT Women’s Champion) Rating: 8/10

What Else Went Down?

– Timothy Thatcher was back in another training session video, teaching his trainees how to lock in the Fujiwara Armbar. He wanted to show them how to make their opponents cry like a baby, much like he did to Oney Lorcan at The Great American Bash.

– A video aired of Legado Del Phantasma toasting to the loss of Drake Maverick. They acknowledged how Breezango made fun of them, with Santos Escobar saying, “this is what happens when you make fun of the Lucha Libre culture.” It was an opportunity to hype themselves as a force to be reckoned with, and although it didn’t last long, it did what it needed to. I’m excited to see what they do next in NXT.

– Robert Stone apologised to Killian Dain backstage when Aliyah interrupted to show some of Lumis’ artwork featuring Stone being run over by Shotzi Blackheart’s tank. Dain said if Stone wanted to make things up with him then he needed to get him a match with Lumis. Seconds later, the match was made official for next week (that was some quick work from Stone).

After The Bell

Following on from last week’s incredible main event, Io Shirai and Tegan Nox had a war. I’m glad Shirai retained because she’s a phenomenal athlete, although I’d love to see Kai with some gold around her waist. Keith Lee kept his gold as well, but now Karrion Kross has officially made a b-line for the champion, meaning things are only going to heat up from here.

The other matches were OK, but nothing really stood out. Timothy Thatcher and Oney Lorcan continued their feud, and Killian Dain has his sites set on Dexter Lumis for some reason. After a relatively strong few months in storytelling, NXT seems to have put on the breaks. There’re some great possibilities, but it all depends on whether they capitalise on the great talent at their disposal.

Star of the Show: Keith Lee Overall Rating: 7/10

All images and videos courtesy of WWE