Implemented on March 7, 2018 to give the NXT a secondary title, much like the Intercontinental Championship and United States Championship on the WWE main roster , the NXT North American Championship has since been the subject of memorable matches.
It is therefore worth remembering the eleven best fights ever for the NXT North American Championship, in chronological order.
NXT TakeOver: New Orleans (April 7, 2018)
Ladder match : NXT North American Championship:
Adam Cole vs. EC3 vs. Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream
On the March 28 episode of NXT , General Manager William Regal announced the introduction of the new NXT North American Championship and was interrupted by EC3, who was making his return to WWE. EC3 was immediately announced by Regal as one of six fighters who would compete in the Ladder Match that was scheduled for a week and a half later at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans , to crown the first champion. That same night, Regal announced the other five contestants: Adam Cole , Velveteen Dream, Lars Sullivan, Killian Dain and newcomer Ricochet.
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV (August 18, 2018)
NXT North American Championship:
Adam Cole (c) vs. Ricochet
On the July 25 episode of NXT , Ricochet confronted Adam Cole and challenged him to a match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV for the championship, but Cole declined. The following week, a match was even scheduled between the two for the event.
NXT (September 19, 2018)
Winner Takes All Match
NXT North American Championship and WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Ricochet (North American) vs. Pete Dunne (United Kingdom)
On the August 29 episode of NXT , Pete Dunne and Ricochet teamed up to face The Undisputed Era, but lost due to a miscommunication. Both blamed the other for the defeat, which led to a match between the two, with their respective titles, the NXT North American Championship (Ricochet) and the WWE United Kingdom Championship (Pete Dunne), on the line.
NXT (October 10, 2018)
NXT North American Championship:
Ricochet (c) vs. Adam Cole vs. Pete Dunne
A champion since NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV , Ricochet was facing Pete Dunne (WWE UK Championship holder) on the September 19 episode of NXT when The Undisputed Era (led by Adam Cole ) appeared and attacked both wrestlers.
The following week, NXT General Manager William Regal scheduled a triple threat match between Ricochet, Adam Cole and Pete Dunne with the NXT North American Championship at stake for the October 10 episode.
NXT TakeOver: Phoenix (January 26, 2019)
NXT North American Championship:
Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
On the December 19, 2018 episode, Johnny Gargano defeated Aleister Black in a Steel Cage match after interference from Tommaso Ciampa. The following week, Ciampa suggested to Gargano to go after the championship in order for both of them to achieve hegemony in NXT. On January 9, 2019, episode of NXT , North American champion Ricochet said that if Gargano wants a title shot, although he questioned Gargano if he would ask face-to-face or attack from behind, alluding to Gargano’s attack. Gargano to Aleister Black. Ciampa appeared and intruded, but was attacked by Black, which distracted Ricochet, who in turn was hit by a Superkick from Gargano. That same night, the match between Ricochet and Gargano for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix was made official .
NXT (February 20, 2019)
NXT North American Championship:
Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Velveteen Dream
On the weekend of January 26th and 27th, Velveteen Dream won the Worlds Collide tournament, beating Tyler Bate in the final, which guaranteed him the opportunity to fight for an NXT and NXT UK title of his choice. On the February 6 episode of NXT, Velveteen Dream interrupted a promo for Johnny Gargano, who about ten days earlier had won the NXT North American Championship, and challenged him to a title match.
NXT TakeOver: New York (April 5, 2019)
NXT North American Championship:
Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle
In the weeks after winning the NXT North American Championship on February 20, Velveteen Dream had problems with Matt Riddle, who fantasized about what the belt around his waist would look like. After several mind games , it was announced that Dream would defend the title against Riddle at NXT TakeOver: New York .
NXT TakeOver: Portland (February 16, 2020)
NXT North American Championship:
Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic
Keith Lee was crowned North American champion during the January 22, 2020 episode of NXT , beating Roderick Strong. The following week, Dominik Dijakovic defeated Damian Priest to become the main contender for the championship, with the title match scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Portland.
NXT : The Great American Bash (July 8, 2020)
Winner Takes All : NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship:
Adam Cole ( NXT ) vs. Keith Lee (North American)
On the June 10 episode of NXT , Adam Cole bragged about his victory over Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver: In Your House and said his era as NXT champion would continue. Moments later, North American champion Keith Lee found him backstage and appeared to challenge Cole .
A week later, Keith Lee said he was going to take the title away from Adam Cole . However, Cole stated that if Keith Lee had his eyes set on the NXT Championship , he himself had his eyes on Lee ‘s NXT North American Championship , expressing a desire to carry both belts. On the same episode of NXT , General Manager William Regal announced that Keith Lee would defend the championship the following week against Johnny Gargano and Finn Bálor , with the winner facing Adam Cole on July 8 in a Winner Takes All match. And Lee won, after a Big Bang Catastrophe in Bálor .
NXT TakeOver XXX (22 Aug 2020)
Ladder match for the NXT North American Championship (vacant):
Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream
At NXT: The Great American Bash, Keith Lee merged the NXT Championship with the NXT North American Championship, but on the July 22 episode of NXT he decided to relinquish the secondary title to allow other wrestlers a shot at the same, while he would focus on in defending the NXT Championship.
Following this decision, General Manager William Regal announced that he would schedule a series of triple threat qualifying matches for a five-man ladder match at NXT TakeOver XXX to crown the new North American champion. Bronson Reed qualified by beating Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong that same night. The following week, Dexter Lumis defeated Finn Bálor and Timothy Thatcher, but ended up relinquishing the opportunity due to an ankle injury. On the August 5 episode, Damian Priest beat Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland. A week later, Cameron Grimes defeated Kushida and Velveteen Dream
Due to Dexter Lumis’ injury, Regal announced two singles matches (between wrestlers who had not been submitted or settled in triple threat matches) to determine the remaining wrestlers in the ladder match for the championship. Gargano and Velveteen Dream beat Holland and Bálor, respectively, to secure the last spots in the title match.
NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day (February 14, 2021)
NXT North American Championship:
Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Kushida
At NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020, Johnny Gargano beat then-champion Leon Ruff and Damian Priest in a triple-threat match to win the championship. After defending the title against Ruff on the December 30 episode of NXT, Gargano gained a title contender: Kushida. On February 4, it was announced that Gargano and Kushida would face off for the NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.