Carmelo Hayes Wins NXT North American Championship

NXT 2.0 has a brand new North American Champion...but it's probably not one of the two men you expected it to be!

The October 12 episode of NXT 2.0 was headlined by a North American Title Match between reigning champion Isiah 'Swerve' Scott and Santos Escobar. The two men and their respective factions - Hit Row and Legado Del Fantasma - have been feuding for a number of months.

With Hit Row set for the main roster and Friday Night SmackDown following the 2021 WWE Draft, many fans assumed Escobar would pick up the win here. And it seemed to be heading that way as the rest of Hit Row were 'abducted' before the match, while Legado Del Fantasma tried to get involved to assist their leader.

Scott received some unlikely help in the form of Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams, who fought of Legado Del Fantasma and allowed him to retain the North American Title. However, as the trio celebrated in the aftermath of the victory, Hayes attacked Scott, and redeemed the Championship opportunity he earned by winning the 2021 Breakout Tournament.

A few minutes later, Hayes had defeated a visibly tired Scott to win the North American Title.

Scott won the belt from Bronson Reed on the June 29 episode of NXT. He and Hit Row will become members of the SmackDown roster when the draft takes effect following Crown Jewel 2021, on Friday 22 October.