On September 16, 2020, NXT presented a dynamic live show at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, featuring intense matchups and major announcements. Among these, the Iyo Sky NXT match stood out as a highlight early in the broadcast, demonstrating her rising prominence within WWE’s developmental brand.
Amid the unfolding action, Damian Priest defended his North American Championship in a compelling main event, while William Regal prepared to announce new developments affecting NXT’s competitive landscape. This event aired on the USA Network and captivated fans with a blend of high-stakes wrestling and storyline progression.
Opening Matches Showcase Iyo Sky’s Impact and Emerging Talent
The evening began with a notable non-title match pitting Shotzi Blackheart against Io Shirai, known today as Iyo Sky. Despite being presented here as Io Shirai, her performance cemented what would become a star-making moment. Beginning with a heated exchange of physical maneuvers and counters, the match extended over 14 minutes and featured complex sequences including submissions, aerial offense, and near falls that held fans in suspense.
Shotzi’s aggressive style clashed with Io’s agility and technical precision, delivering an intense back-and-forth that concluded with Io hitting a flawless moonsault to secure the victory. Post-match, Shotzi was praised by announcer Wade Barrett for a standout performance, highlighting the match’s significance in elevating both competitors.
Kelly Wells, the event’s contributor, commended the bout as possibly Shotzi’s best in NXT to date and suggested that it marked her arrival in the upper echelon of the brand’s roster. The crowd’s reaction and competitive spirit exemplified the rising level of in-ring storytelling that NXT had cultivated as a platform for emerging stars.
Mid-Card Contests and Character Developments Enhance the Card
Following the opener, Tommaso Ciampa quickly dispatched Desmond Troy, a newcomer under a new ring name, in a brief but hard-hitting contest. Ciampa’s dominance was further solidified by post-match tension as Jake Atlas interrupted an attempted chair attack, setting up their upcoming encounter and heightening the evening’s narrative stakes.
A backstage vignette featured a tense pairing of Drake Maverick and Killian Dain, whose uneasy alliance set the stage for their forthcoming tag team battle, amid hints of friction and unresolved issues.
Finn Balor appeared in a black-and-white segment underscoring his role as the NXT Champion and the “prince” of the brand, signaling his intent to defend the title with renewed vigor. Balor’s declaration that suitors should “look both ways” before challenging him foreshadowed the approaching gauntlet eliminator match that would determine his next challenger.
Kushida faced Austin Theory in a technical matchup, during which Kushida’s aggressive new style was on full display as he swiftly forced Theory to submit with a Hoverboard Lock. This marked a turning point for Kushida’s character, displaying a more ruthless edge compared to earlier renditions.
Next, Breezango successfully defended their NXT Tag Team Championships against the formidable Imperium, composed of Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel. The high-paced tag team contest featured tactical exchanges, tandem offense, and elevated moments including superkicks and suplex combinations, culminating in Breezango’s victory after capitalizing on a missed European Bomb. The bout demonstrated Breezango’s unexpectedly serious approach to competition amidst an entertaining persona.
Xia Li and Jessie Kamea challenged Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro in a women’s tag team contest, where Li cast herself in a more antagonistic role throughout. Despite valiant efforts, Li and Kamea fell short as Carter and Catanzaro secured the win with a decisive tandem pump kick and crucifix combination. The post-match interaction saw Li’s distancing from her partner, hinting at potential factional conflict.
Tag Team Rivalries and Backstage Drama Build Toward Future Clashes
The pairing of Drake Maverick and Killian Dain took on Undisputed Era members Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish in a handicap match, complicated by Dain’s reluctance to participate. Throughout the match, Drake carried the burden, facing overwhelming odds against the heel faction. William Regal intervened backstage to urge Dain to join the fight, resulting in a chaotic brawl that ended with a disqualification after Fish wielded a chair.
The discord between Drake and Dain simmered as Dain ended the match by coldly striking Maverick, underlining the volatile dynamic between them and leaving their partnership questionable. Kyle O’Reilly’s surprise return to save Jake Atlas from a sneak attack by Tommaso Ciampa added further intrigue to the broader conflict shaping NXT’s roster.
Announcement of Gauntlet Match and Rising Stakes Ahead of TakeOver
William Regal addressed the crowd with pivotal news about the upcoming gauntlet eliminator match designed to select Finn Balor’s next challenger for the NXT Championship at the impending TakeOver event. The match format involves multiple contenders entering at timed intervals, with eliminations by pinfall or submission, emphasizing endurance and strategy.
While the official competitors were not named, a graphic previewed over ten participants, hinting at a competitive field aimed at intensifying the title picture. Additionally, an eleven-woman battle royal was scheduled for the following week to determine the next contender for the women’s championship, further raising competitive stakes within NXT’s women’s division.
Main Event Spotlight: Damian Priest Retains North American Title in Physical Bout
Damian Priest defended the North American Championship against Timothy Thatcher in a match drawing heavily on the strong style typically associated with Japanese wrestling. The contest featured a mix of grounded grappling, impactful strikes, and submission attempts, demonstrating both competitors’ resilience and technical skill.
Thatcher initially controlled the match by targeting Priest’s limbs and maintaining a punishing pace with holds like the Fujiwara armbar and half-crab submissions. Priest showed adaptability, responding with power moves including a spinning heel kick from the top rope and his signature “Reckoning” finisher to secure the victory after nearly 13 minutes.
The match was notable for its measured pacing and physicality, standing out as a clean, decisive title defense on a card otherwise full of storyline developments and interference. Both wrestlers’ performances underscored their suitability for the North American Championship, suggesting possible rematches in the near future.
Storylines Deepen as NXT Builds Toward October TakeOver Event
The evening balanced in-ring action with advancing narratives, such as Tegan Nox’s growing determination to claim contention and her brewing rivalry with Candice LeRae, framed through candid video messages that intertwined their personal and professional conflicts. Nox’s confident declaration,
“And this time, Io, everything is different,”
referenced her readiness to take on Iyo Sky and highlighted the increasing intensity among the women’s division challengers.
Overall, the show represented a moment of progression for multiple characters and rivalries, positioning NXT’s upcoming events as pivotal points in the brand’s evolving story landscape. The mix of competitive wrestling and story development continued to engage viewers as the October 4 TakeOver loomed, promising high-stakes encounters and potential shifts in championship dynamics.
Despite featuring two extended championship matches that maintained competitive integrity without excessive interference, the broadcast felt like a strategic breather, preparing the audience for a packed and potentially hectic schedule ahead. The pacing and buildup suggested careful orchestration behind the scenes to elevate NXT’s status as a premier wrestling show with meaningful matchups and character arcs.
