WWE NXT: Karrion Kross finishes off Dominick Dijakovic in main event

Keith Lee relinquished the WWE NXT North American title.

WWE NXT continued the path of various storylines on Wednesday. This week, the focus was around Karrion Kross as he looked to take out Dominick Dijakovic, an individual respected by NXT champion Keith Lee. Not only was Lee the focus of that storyline, but news broke that he relinquished his NXT North American title, creating opportunities for other men on the roster to fight for that title soon.

The action began with a match between Dexter Lumis and Killian Dain. Dain brought out his hard-hitting offense for this match, but it was not enough to stop the mysterious Lumis. This was a tough match for both men and ended via submission as Lumis forced Dain to pass out. The big man never submitted, but he did not have enough to keep Lumis from getting the victory.

The tag team division was featured next with a match between Breezango and Ever-Rise. For a moment it looked like the Mounties had made a return to the WWE, but once again it was Breezango expressing their creative output during their entrance. Much of this match involved Breezango on offense as they picked up another victory, keeping themselves in the tag team title picture.

Aliyah and Shotzi Blackheart continued their rivalry with another singles match on Wednesday. Blackheart almost ran over Robert Stone once again, and he was barely able to escape her tank at the last minute. Blackheart got off to a quick start, but Stone’s presence created enough of an opportunity for her to capitalize on the distraction. Aliyah had things going her way until Blackheart was able to turn that around to her own benefit. Stone tried to step in for his client again but ended up getting kicked off the apron, falling on his injured ankle. Blackheart then climbed to the top for the finish, hitting her with a diving senton to get the victory.

Bronson Reed advances to first NXT TakeOver

The NXT North American title will be up for grabs in a ladder match at the next NXT TakeOver. There will be a series of triple-threat matches to determine the participants. On Wednesday, former champions Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano were set for a match against Bronson Reed to see who would advance. Gargano and Strong were at a size disadvantage against Reed, so they teamed up to take out the big man. Just like all other examples of triple-threat matches, that alliance broke apart when Strong and Gargano began looking out for their own self-interests.

Each man had his moments of flash in this match. Reed ate a nasty powerbomb to the outside that took him out of the match for a second. Strong and Gargano used the opportunity to put on a show in the ring, going back and forth to work for the pin fall. Gargano hit the One Final Beat, but before he could get the win, Reed hit a massive splash from the top rope to pin Strong and advance to NXT TakeOver.

Oney Lorcan and Timothy Thatcher continued their quest to beat each other within an inch of their lives when they faced off in another one-on-one match. This match was as much of a grappling affair as their first go-around. Lorcan and Thatcher exchanged holds in every position, standing and on the mat, neither man able to gain an advantage over the other. It was that standing grappling that allowed Thatcher to steal a victory, countering a double wristlock into a pin fall for the win.

Kross is on a path for the NXT championship. On Wednesday that path required him to find a way through Dijakovic, a battle that occurred in the main event. Kross showed that he could match Dijakovic’s power from the very start. He kept the big man grounded early, punishing him with a head lock from side control. It looked like Kross was going to storm through Dijakovic like he has done everyone else, but he was able to turn away every bit of offense sent at him. Dijakovic was incapacitated when Kross kicked the steel steps into his head as he laid on the outside of the ring. Kross could have left him there to be disqualified, but instead rolled his motionless body back into the ring to finish him off. Lee came out to the ring to motivate his colleague, but that would not be enough to keep Dijakovic from being choked to sleep by Kross.

July 22 NXT Results

• Dexter Lumis defeated Killian Dain via submission
• Breezango defeated Ever-Rise via pin fall
• Shotzi Blackheart defeated Aliyah via pin fall
• Bronson Reed defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in a triple-threat match
• Timothy Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan via pin fall
• Karrion Kross defeated Dominick Dijakovic via submission