Jackson Drake remains the NXT North American Champion after an unexpected assist led to a successful defense against EC Prosper. Tuesday night’s episode of “WWE NXT.”
As usual, Drake arrived at this meeting with his Vanity Project friends Brad Baylor, Ricky Smoaks and Maika Lockwood. Also per usual, Lockwood sneakily distracted Drake’s opponent, in this case by grabbing Prosper’s leg as the referee checked on Drake. The reigning champion capitalized by throwing Prosper into the ring rope.
Drake later hit a springboard for a near fall. A frustrated Drake then climbed to the top rope where he sent Prosperi crashing to the mat with a headbutt. The high flyer didn’t last long, however, as he sent Drake flying next thanks to a hurricanrana. Prosper followed with a leg lariat and after fighting off Baylor and Smokes, Prosper also got poisoned.
In the final stretch of the title match, Prosper went up top for a moonsault, but before he could do it, Lockwood climbed up to the apron to distract the referee. Meanwhile, Cam Hamdricks kicked Prosper out of the turnbuckle, allowing Drake to submit the Shining Wizard for the win.
Drake captured the NXT North American Championship defeating Myles Borne at NXT Heatwave on August 30. Since then he has successfully defended it against Tavion Heights and now Prosper on “NXT” television. Vanity Project friends Baylor and Smokes reign as NXT Tag Team Champions, losing to Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar Dusty Rhodes in the semi-finals of the Tag Team Classic earlier on tonight’s telecast.