WWE NXT on USA: Live Results, Highlights, and Grades for Sept. 25

Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic

After Adam Cole (bay bay) and the Undisputed Era showed up in a crow’s nest above the commentary team, it was time for a HOSS FIGHT. It’s hard to make Keith Lee look small, but Dijakovic towers over him — yet Lee got the early advantage.

The combination of strength and agility in superstars of this size is rare enough, but for both men to exhibit such a blend of styles is truly remarkable. Usually, it’s smaller “fliers” who have some strength, like a Tony Nese, that’s more commonplace. But Dijakovic is roughly the same size as Kane or the Undertaker, and Lee has a physique akin to a svelte version of Mark Henry.

And yet here they are, doing flying crossbody blocks, enzuguiris, corkscrew pescados, and, yes, chokeslams on the ring apron. Feast your eyes on that, baby.

Here’s a potentially hot take: Lee and Dijakovic are like a modern day Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome. What I mean by that is they’re both really good at this whole wrestling thing, but there’s something about the combination of the two that brings out the best of the best in each. I could watch these two face each other over and over, because the matches are always top-flight.

And judging by the result, we will get at least one more match between the two giants. While Lee won this battle, I think Dijakovic’s moonsault was a hair better — although the sit-up to escape the pin was one of the finest things I’ve ever seen. Oh, and let’s not forget the avalanche destroyer, what the hell? How is that even a thing, and how does it not put someone away?

Winner: Keith Lee

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 Stars

Much like last week’s fatal four-way to open the show, this was a hell of an opener. Crazy action, ridiculous spots that should theoretically be impossible, and a heck of a hot crowd. Also loving the Tale of the Tape before the match, even if the whole “real sports” thing may be a response to AEW’s approach to their programming.