In a thrilling turn of events on the latest episode of NXT, fans were eagerly awaiting to find out who would step up to challenge Carmelo Hayes for the coveted NXT championship at the upcoming No Mercy premium live event, scheduled for Sat., Sept. 30, 2023, at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California. The answer came swiftly.
Ilja Dragunov and Wes Lee kicked off the show with a high-stakes showdown, a number one contender match. The winner of this clash would secure a spot in the main event of NXT No Mercy, where a potential rematch with Carmelo Hayes awaited them.
The match delivered in every sense, receiving raucous chants of “this is awesome” and “both these guys” from the passionate crowd at the Performance Center. It was a contest marked by intense back-and-forth action, but when the dust settled, it was Ilja Dragunov who emerged triumphant, sealing the victory with a hard-fought pinfall.
Booker T, the ever-astute commentator, summed it up perfectly, saying, “All those wars finally caught up to Lee.”
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As excitement continues to build for NXT No Mercy, here’s an updated look at the event’s card:
NXT Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
Heritage Cup Clash: Noam Dar (c) vs. Global Heritage Invitational winner
