NXT Cruiserweight and North American Championships To Be Unified At New Year’s Evil

The latest episode of NXT 2.0 featured the bombshell announcement that the NXT Cruiserweight and North American Championships will be unified at New Year’s Evil.

The current reigning champions, Carmelo Hayes and Roderick Strong, have been at odds for weeks. This animosity culminated in Malcolm Bivens challenging Carmelo Hayes to the championship unification match on behalf of Diamond Mine stablemate Roderick Strong, and Carmelo Hayes, which Hayes accepted.

“Hey Roderick Strong, you want smoke with Melo? Well, I got so much smoke that you gonna choke. ‘Cause I am the A-Champion and in 2021 when I shot, I never missed.

“Going into 2022, we gonna keep it the exact same way. so at New Year’s Evil, I’mma give you a Christmas present and I’mma give you that match, but I’mma be the one walking out with two titles.”

Hayes has held the North American Championship since defeating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott by cashing in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract, while Roderick Strong captured the Cruiserweight title by defeating KUSHIDA in September. The match follows recent reports that the Cruiserweight Title could soon be retired.

.@Malcolmvelli challenges @Carmelo_WWE to a Title vs. Title Match with @roderickstrong at #WWENXT#NewYearsEvil! @DiamondMineWWEpic.twitter.com/TmZqNNL1Fr

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 22, 2021

Next week’s episode of NXT 2.0 will feature a contract signing for the unification match which will be hosted by commentator Wade Barrett.

H/T to Inside The Ropes for the above transcription.