The first challenger has qualified for the NXT North American Championship match at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver.
Carmelo Hayes will defend the gold in a ladder match at the event, and on the March 15 episode of WWE NXT 2.0, Cameron Grimes faced Santos Escobar in a qualifying bout. Hayes and Trick Williams joined commentary to watch the hard-fought battle. Grimes nearly got the win with his patented flipping powerslam, but Escobar got his shoulders up at the last second. In the end, when Grimes turned his focus to Hayes on commentary, Escobar caught the fan-favorite with his signature Phantom Driver to secure the victory.
What a match!@EscobarWWE is headed to NXT #StandAndDeliver to battle for the NXT North American Title! pic.twitter.com/IHgywlk6Z3
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 16, 2022
You can read Lovell Porter’s match recap below:
Grimes takes an early advantage. Escobar cuts him off and works him over with a few strikes in the corner. Escobar lands a basement dropkick. After a distraction from Wilde and Mendoza, Escobar trips Grimes on the apron. After the break, Escobar is working over Grimes. Grimes fires up and leaps over Wilde and Mendoza to hit a senton on Escobar. Grimes tries a splash off the top but Escobar counters with a lung blower. Escobar hits the ropes and runs right into a backflip crossbody by Grimes. Grimes superkicks Escobar. Escobar counters the Cave In with the Phantom Driver for the win.
Winner- Santos Escobar
RELATED: WWE NXT 2.0 Results (3/15/22)
