WWE NXT: Results, Highlights and Grades for December 4th, 2019

Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes

Raul Mendoza was originally scheduled to be Kushida’s opponent, but as Mendoza makes his way down the ramp, Cameron Grimes attacks Mendoza before the bell. “You’re fighting me now, boy!” Grimes screams at Kushida as he makes his way to the ring.

Grimes and Kushida wrestle frantically after the bell until Grimes locks in a headlock. Kushida pushes Grimes off the ropes, but Grimes knocks him down, but Kushida quickly returns the favor with a kick, followed by a diving plancha to the outside by The Time Splitter.

Back in the ring, Kudhida chops Grimes. Grimes tries to go for a kick, but gets an Octopus Stretch. Grimes tries to get out of it, but Grimes get caught in it again for a little longer. Kushida wrenches the arm to bring Grimes down for a roll-up, but Grimes grabs the rope before Kushida dropkicks Grimes back down.

Grimes blocks a tornado DDT and catches Kushida’s follow-up springboard in mid-air for a German Suplex for a two count.

Kushida fights out of an arm wrench to hit a handspring kick. Shortly after, he gets a tight roll-up for the win.

Winner: Kushida

Grade: C-

Another disappointing match. Less because of the chemistry (though you could tell they were struggling to work out the kinks in some spots as first time opponents) and more because it was just too short.

I suppose it’s just a preview for the future (hence why we got a roll-up finish rather than ending on something more definitive, like a finisher), but for what this match was, I feel like it could’ve been a lot more. Felt a little rushed in some areas, perhaps due to the time crunch.

Undisputed Era (Cole, Strong, KOR) vs. Keith Lee, Tommaso Ciampa and Dominik Dijakovic

Strong vs. Lee to start. The smaller man runs at Lee, but gets tossed into the corner. Tag to Ciampa, who stomps out Strong in the corner before slamming him to the ground. Tag to Dijakovic, leading to an assisted kick to the gut.

Strong stomps Dijakovic’s knee to tag KOR. KOR locks in a guillotine, but DD reverses with a suplex, then an elbow to the corner, followed by a backbreaker and springboard splash for a two count.

KOR picks up momentum with a kick to the head and tags to Strong, but DD batters KOR into Cole before tossing him out the ring.

During the break, DD forearms and elbows Strong with a series of strikes, most of which are in the corner. Strong picks up momentum with a kick to DD’s knee and tags KOR for a double team, which DD fights out of.

DD attempts a double chokeslam, but Cole causes a distraction. DD’s hand still wrapped around Strong’s throat, KOR locks in a sleeper hold, but DD brings them both down with a Chokeslam/Stunner combo, which was sick!

Tag back to Strong, who works on DD’s abdomen. He slaps DD’s head whilst calling him a “dork,” but DD delivers an exploding lariat. He tries to tag his buddies, but all three men on Undisputed Era drag DD back to their corner. Tag to KOR.

DD finally hits a big boot on KOR before tagging Ciampa, who hits a huge comeback spot, unloading on everyone.

Ciampa escapes a series of strikes from KOR to hit Project Ciampa for a near fall. He sets up a Fairytale Ending, but KOR wiggles out and tags to Strong. Ciampa doesn’t see the tag and catches a Total Elimination.

DD breaks up the pin attempt, leading to all out chaos from all parties until Strong and Ciampa are down. Hot tags to Cole and Lee. Like Ciampa, Lee breaks out a huge comeback spot, dropping everyone in sight.

He teases a huge dive on the outside, but UE run out the way. Lee goes to shoulder block everyone, but catches a superkick in the process. DD nails a corkscrew plancha. KOR goes for a dive, but DD climbs to him up top before Cole makes the save. Then Ciampa attempts the save until Cole enzuigiris Ciampa.

Out of nowhere, Finn Balor runs in and dropkicks Cole into the ref. He hits Ciampa with a 1916. He sets up a dropkick on Cole again, but Lee intervenes and Spirit Bombs Balor. Lee runs right into a superkick and attempts Shining Wizard, but runs into a Fireman’s Carry Jackhammer just as the ref gets up. Keith Lee pins the NXT Champion for the win!

After the bell, NXT GM William Regal comes out to reveal on Dec. 18, Adam Cole will defend his NXT Championship. Next week will determine a challenger in a number one contenders match between Keith Lee, Tommaso Ciampa and Finn Balor in a triple threat.

Winners: Team Lee

Grade: B+

Super fun main event. I really enjoyed this one, though I might be biased because tag matches are my favorite kinds of matches.

Overall Grade: B-

In terms of the quality of an average episode of NXT, this is technically a step down, but also, still a good show for what it is. Match wise, no other match came close to the electric opener, but the segments were interesting and had me excited for the future.

Also, I still hate that whole “hood rat” thing. Let’s leave that whole thing in the past to die and never speak of it again.