On the September 9 episode of WWE NXT, Tavion Heights accomplished a historic feat, breaking an obscure, 36-year-old record in the process. His victory over the NXT North American Champion, Ethan Page, in a Flag Match was not just a big win for his career; it was also a history-making moment that the wrestling statistics account, @WrestleStatcast, has highlighted.
During the broadcast, Tavion Heights defeated the Canadian champion, Ethan Page, in a Flag Match when he was able to retrieve the American flag to secure the victory. The match was the first Flag Match to take place in WWE in 21 years, with the last one being a bout between La Resistance and The Hurricane & Rosey in 2004.
However, the historical significance of the match goes even deeper. As pointed out by @WrestleStatcast, Heights’s victory marks the first time that an American has won a televised Flag Match against a Canadian since “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan defeated Dino Bravo in 1989.
The win has implications for the NXT North American Championship picture. With a victory over the champion, even in a non-title match, Heights has now positioned himself as the clear number one contender for the gold. The championship belt itself was recently given a Canadian-themed redesign by Page.
With his historic victory now in the books, it seems inevitable that a championship match between Tavion Heights and Ethan Page will be made official for an upcoming NXT premium live event. Heights has the backing of his own powerhouse, Olympic Gold Medalist Tyra Mae Steele to help even the odds against Page’s ally, Chelsea Green.
