Now former NXT North American Champion Solo Sikoa has relinquished the title on the September 20th edition of NXT.

Sikoa and the man he beat for the title, Carmelo Hayes, were called into the office by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels. HBK stated that the circumstances that Solo SiIkoa won the championship were not correct, as he was not sanctioned to be in the match. Michaels would then say that the result of the match can’t stand, forcing Sikoa to relinquish the title.

Shawn Michaels said that he was proud of Solo Sikoa, shaking the hand of the now former champion. Carmelo Hayes held out his hands, expecting the title to be held back to him, but Shawn Michaels had other ideas. It was then announced at Halloween Havoc that Carmelo Hayes and 4 other competitors yet to qualify would compete for the North American Championship in a ladder match. Later on in the show, Oro Mensah would defeat Grayson Waller to be the first competitor to qualify for the ladder match.

Carmelo Hayes was the champion at the start of the September 13th episode of NXT. The anniversary show would see the fans vote for who would challenge Hayes for the title. The vote was won by Wes Lee, but Hayes and Trick Williams would take out Lee backstage before coming out to the ring stating that there is no challenger. This would be when Solo Sikoa would shockingly come to the ring, defeating Hayes and winning the title in the process.

NXT will hope that the North American Championship ladder match will live up to the prestige of the first ladder match that crowned the inaugural North American Championship, won by Adam Cole. This match was critically acclaimed, earning a 5* rating from Dave Meltzer.

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