North American title match, Shirai-Blackheart set for next week’s NXT

Two more matches involving champions have been announced for next week’s episode of NXT.

In his first defense of the title, Damian Priest will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Timothy Thatcher next week (Wednesday, September 16). NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will face Shotzi Blackheart in non-title action on the episode.

NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango defending their titles against Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) is also set for next week.

Priest became NXT North American Champion by winning a five-way ladder match for the title at TakeOver XXX last month. Thatcher then confronted Priest two weeks ago, said the way Priest acts is embarrassing, and declared that he wants the first shot at Priest’s title. Last week, Thatcher defeated Bronson Reed.

Thatcher broke down film of Priest during his Thatch-as-Thatch-can seminar on NXT tonight. Later in the episode, Priest was interviewed about next week’s match. Priest said there’s no chance he’s losing the North American title in his first defense.

Robert Stone went to destroy Blackheart’s tank on NXT tonight but got caught by Blackheart. Aliyah attacked Blackheart and accidentally knocked her into Shirai. Blackheart and Shirai teamed up to lay out Aliyah and Stone. Blackheart then picked up Shirai’s title belt. She went to give it to Shirai but pulled it away. Shirai took the title belt and told Blackheart she likes her — so don’t make Shirai hurt her.

After airing on Tuesday for two straight weeks amid the NHL playoffs, NXT will be back on Wednesdays starting next week.