The Messiah of the Backbreaker takes on The Next Level in a thrilling matchup. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

With a combined five 2017 NXT Year-End Award nominations between them, Roderick Strong and Fabian Aichner have already shown the NXT Universe why they are two of the best wrestlers in the world. Tonight, they further cemented their standing as in-ring savants with an awesome head-to-head clash on NXT.

The Italian-born Future Star of NXT Award nominee attempted a high-risk top-rope springboard attack, only for Strong to counter the move before locking in his Strong Hold for the submission win.

After the bout, Strong made perhaps the boldest and most dangerous callout of his career. The Messiah of the Backbreaker declared Lars Sullivan a “force like something he’s never felt before” that he wants to “destroy.”