New title introduced, EC3 debuts at NXT TV tapings

Image: JJ Williams

NXT introduced a new secondary singles title at tonight’s television tapings, with the inaugural champion set to be crowned during WrestleMania weekend.

William Regal announced that the first NXT North American Champion will be decided at TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7th. It was at that moment that EC3 came out, making his official NXT return. He said that it was nice that Regal was going to create a title just for him. Regal said that no one is handed anything in NXT, and he will instead square off against five other competitors in a ladder match to crown the first champion. Those five other competitors were later revealed to be Lars Sullivan, Velveteen Dream Killian Dain, Adam Cole and Ricochet.

EC3 made his return to WWE back in January at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia but did not appear at last month’s Center Stage tapings. He was part of both the original incarnation of NXT and the developmental territory as Derrick Bateman before he was released by WWE in 2013.