WWE NXT: Lee vs Dijakovic 2 is a Match of the Year candidate

The best wrestling match of last week didn’t happen on Saturday; It happened on Wednesday night on WWE NXT and it’s potentially a Match of the Year.

Ever since their first meeting in WWE – which took place all the way back in February – ended in a double countout, we finally got the payoff of Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic on August 28th in NXT.

Keith Lee has been in a weird spot on the black and gold brand, going from an impressive win streak to a loss against upstart Damian Priest. He’s upset people are overlooking him in a seemingly crowded roster for the “developmental” brand and rightfully so. Lee is one of the most dynamic and charismatic people to watch. He deserves more respect. After a great match-up with the towering, intimidating Dominik Dijakovic, the two big men caught the attention of the NXT Universe.

Dijakovic, however, seemed to be getting the bigger push. He called out North American Champion Velveteen Dream, which looked to be setting up an intriguing challenger for the title. Sadly, a knee injury took the Feast for our Eyes out of the NXT spotlight, until this month.

The match up between these two worked on some many levels.

The Storytelling

First, let’s look at the story implications and built-in tension. As I mentioned previously, following the double count out finish in Lee Dijakovic 1, Lee seems to be cooling off in the eyes of WWE. It’s a shame too, because he is such an interesting prospect and always entertaining to watch. He even acknowledged this in a promo segment backstage, where he was upset with the NXT Breakout Tournament taking center stage and, subsequently, him being overlooked. He aimed once again to have the Universe Bask in his Glory against Damian Priest, but failed to capture the victory (though looking very good in the bout). This left Lee without a win in quite some time, worrying he would slide down the ladder in NXT.

Dijakovic seemed hotter than ever before falling to an unfortunate knee injury. Having powerful big men in wrestling is one thing, but DD showed a varied arsenal and good ring work, making him a fun watch between the ropes. In fact, he and Lee are very similar in a lot of ways: bigger men physically, outstanding ring work, and a hunger between the ropes to captivate a crowd. This is why their first match-up was such a pleasure to watch. Normally with each performer having the size advantage, it was finally a great pairing worthy of the “unstoppable force meets an immovable object” moniker that is thrown around so willy-nilly nowadays. The double count-out was so disheartening, but it also made us clamor for the prospect of these two big men going at it again.

Though it took six months, it worked out the best because the timing was perfect. The North American Champion picture is crowded with the likes of Dream, Pete Dunne, and Roderick Strong seeming to clash for a while. Dijakovic is no longer a piece that fits into that carefully planned jigsaw. He needs to rebuild momentum, and, returning from injury, he needs to make a statement to remind us why we should Feast our Eyes. Lee is desperate for a win. It’s all fun and games to Bask in the Glory of the Charismatic One, but wins are what will put you into contention for a title. That’s why Jordan Myles is challenging Adam Cole (BAYBAY), and Lee is looking for a win. He needs momentum as well, to solidifying himself as one of the biggest threats in NXT.

So here we are, two very similar competitors with a similar goal: position themselves in the spotlight of NXT. And, boy, what a match we got.

The In-Ring Work

This match was awesome. So, so, so awesome. From bell to bell, this match ran for 11 minutes and 15 seconds, and it had great pacing that never seemed to let up. We saw it all in this match, and it should not be overlooked at all.

It had a great spot that was a callback to the original match, where Dijakovic was on the outside, and Lee did not want a count out victory. It highlighted the determination to make a statement in this match by a decisive finish.

This was just one of the examples of exemplary storytelling that was told in the match. We saw bits and pieces throughout, manifesting in trash talk and emotions displayed by each competitor. Keith Lee really deserves praise for turning up the heat, a welcomed departure from his calm, cool, and collected demeanor. You could see he needed this win more than anything. Sometimes, it even seemed if Lee’s methods were bordering heelish behavior. Both competitors should also be praised for their masterful selling, which really helped build the stock of each other as they traded blows and strikes.

The two put on a spectacular match that ranges from spots highlighting their strength and power to sequences that highlighted each person’s agility. The best spot of the match was the Avalanche Spanish Fly executed by Lee on Dijakovic that had the audience going from “Please Don’t Die” to a roaring crowd and the chants of “NXT! NXT!.” The scariest moment in the match was when, countering a PowerBomb, Dijakovic seemed to hit his head/neck on the mat in an effort to flip and land on his feet.

The finish was a suitable end for the match, as Dijakovic catches Lee in a rare mistake, nailing his finisher for the 3-count. Both competitors put on a stellar match and really showcased their ability.

What’s Next for these Two?

For Dominik Dijakovic, the sky’s the limit. This victory will propel him back into the spotlight, and he doesn’t seem to be heading for a loss any time soon.

For Keith Lee, the future is a bit murky. I was really pulling for him to win, and now I fear he may turn heel in the not-so-distant future. I really can see him being a contender for the WWE NXT Championship, and, honestly, a great candidate to take the belt off of Adam Cole (BAYBAY).

With that being said, the match was an absolute joy to watch and absolutely deserves being a candidate for Match of the Year (even winning it). Go check it out if you haven’t. I would honestly rate this match a 4.9 (if it wasn’t for the scary spot with the PowerBomb, I would have no problem giving it a 5). You would have to stretch and nitpick to find flaws in the match, and it shows how valuable NXT is as a brand for delivering quality matches every week, not just Takeovers.

Feast your Eyes on two of the hottest prospects in WWE NXT, and Bask in their Glory.