A pair of matches with NXT WarGames implications are set for next Tuesday’s episode of NXT
WWE has announced that a ladder match between Kay Lee Ray and Dakota Kai will take place on NXT next Tuesday. The winner will earn the WarGames entrance order advantage for their team.
Io Shirai, Raquel Gonzalez, Cora Jade & Kay Lee Ray are facing Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne & Kai in a WarGames match at NXT WarGames on Sunday, December 5.
A tag team number one contender’s match with Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner facing Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) has also been announced for next Tuesday’s NXT. The winning team will challenge Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) for the NXT Tag Team titles at NXT WarGames.
Barthel & Aichner won the NXT Tag Team titles from MSK at Halloween Havoc last month.
Next Tuesday’s NXT is the go-home show for NXT WarGames. “Joe Gacy’s all-inclusive invitational” will also take place on the episode. Gacy is challenging for Roderick Strong’s Cruiserweight Championship at NXT WarGames.
Two of NXT’s top stars are set to take part in a dark match at tonight’s SmackDown.
John Pollock of Post Wrestling reported today that Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly are scheduled for a dark match at tonight’s SmackDown. The show is taking place at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Gargano and O’Reilly’s contracts with WWE are both set to expire next month.
In NXT, Gargano recently started to feud with North American Champion Carmelo Hayes. Hayes & Trick Williams defeated Gargano & Dexter Lumis in the main event of this week’s NXT episode.
O’Reilly has been part of a tag team with Von Wagner since NXT was rebranded as NXT 2.0. They lost to Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde on NXT this Tuesday.
NXT’s Raquel Gonzalez and The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) appeared in dark matches prior to last week’s SmackDown. Gonzalez defeated Toni Storm, while The Creed Brothers lost to The Viking Raiders.
Kyle O’Reilly’s WWE contract is reportedly expiring next month.
PWInsider reported this afternoon that O’Reilly’s contract is slated to expire in December. This would be the third WWE contract to come up soon, as Johnny Gargano’s contract is reportedly expiring on December 3, while Kevin Owens’ is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2022.
O’Reilly, 34, signed with the WWE in 2017 and made his debut on NXT aligning himself with Adam Cole and longtime tag team partner Bobby Fish. They, along with Roderick Strong, formed a stable known as The Undisputed Era. He held the NXT Tag Team titles three times with his stablemates throughout their run as a group.
The team broke up in February of this year, with Cole turning on O’Reilly. The two feuded through August, when O’Reilly defeated Cole at NXT TakeOver 36. Cole departed the company after the match and later signed with AEW. Bobby Fish, who was released from WWE in August, has also since signed with AEW.
In the weeks since the NXT 2.0 reboot in September, O’Reilly has been aligned with Von Wagner, forming a tag team.
Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner will face Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde on NXT this Tuesday night. The match was announced after the two teams went back and forth on social media.
WWE posted a tweet over the weekend asking fans who they’d like to see be the first team to challenge for Imperium’s NXT Tag Team titles. When Wagner said he and O’Reilly should get the title match, Mendoza called Wagner out for wanting a title shot when he’s only been in NXT for “five minutes.”
O’Reilly responded by pointing out that he’s the only three-time Tag Team Champion in NXT history. Mendoza then tweeted that this isn’t 2018 anymore and Legado del Fantasma will show O’Reilly & Wagner who the best tag team right now is.
The partnership between O’Reilly & Wagner started to form after Wagner made the save for O’Reilly when he was attacked by Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland on the premiere of NXT 2.0 in September.
Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner won the NXT Tag Team titles by defeating MSK in a Lumberjack-O’-Lantern match at Halloween Havoc last week.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Johnny Gargano & Dexter Lumis vs. NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner vs. Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde
Tony D’Angelo will appear on Lashing Out with Lash Legend
Cameron Grimes will enter Duke Hudson’s Poker Room
A grudge match has been added to the lineup for tonight’s NXT.
WWE has announced that Kyle O’Reilly vs. Ridge Holland will take place on NXT tonight. Two weeks ago, Holland and Pete Dunne attacked O’Reilly in the locker room and took him out of the fatal four-way match for the vacant NXT Championship.
The debuting Von Wagner, who made the save for O’Reilly, replaced him in the four-way match later that night. Tommaso Ciampa defeated LA Knight, Dunne, and Wagner to win the NXT Championship.
Ciampa & Bron Breakker faced Dunne & Holland in the main event of last week’s NXT. O’Reilly appeared during the match and stopped Holland from using his club as a weapon. After O’Reilly threw Holland back into the ring, Breakker hit a press slam into a powerslam and pinned Holland to get the win.
Tonight is week three of NXT 2.0. Here’s the updated card for the episode:
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Franky Monet
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Io Shirai & Zoey Stark defend against Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne)
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong defends against Grayson Waller
No DQ match: B-Fab vs. Elektra Lopez
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Ridge Holland
The debut of Lash Legend’s “Lashing Out” talk show
A new champion will be crowned as NXT’s revamp begins tonight.
With Samoa Joe vacating the NXT Championship due to injury, the winner of a fatal four-way match on tonight’s show will become the new NXT Champion. Pete Dunne, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight are facing off in the match.
The four-way match was originally set to decide a challenger for Joe. Dunne, Ciampa, O’Reilly, and Knight had all emerged as potential challengers for the NXT Championship following Joe winning the title from Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver 36 last month.
The show will also feature the wedding of Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis. Plus, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro will face Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne, B-Fab will make her in-ring debut, and Ridge Holland and Julius & Brutus Creed will be in action.
The revamp is being called “NXT 2.0.” It will include NXT’s new logo and a new set making their official debut tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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It’s a new day … Yes it is!
Big E of New Day is the WWE Champion, and it is also a new day for NXT. Tonight NXT has a new look, and a new NXT Champion is crowned.
Let the reboot begin. The lead-in on USA Network is the Western movie Tombstone. Pretty sure the lead-in to NXT on USA has never been a Western. Tonight is already different. Not too different in some ways. USA airs an ad for Monday Night Raw just before the NXT show starts.
NXT 2.0 opens with promos from the contenders in the fatal four way match for the NXT Championship. Tommaso Ciampa began by saying tonight is Goldie 2.0. Pete Dunne in a snarling promo says he will put down the other contenders. Kyle O’Reilly talks about being one win away from achieving a goal that is 16 years in the making, and says it’s “about damn time” he wins the NXT title.
LA Knight closes out the opening promos with a shot at former champ Samoa Joe. Knight claimed the medical reason for Joe vacating the title was due to him losing his manhood, because he was scared of Knight. Now three others are stuck in that same spot. Bron Breakker (Bronson Steiner) walks in wearing a signature Steiners singlet. He told Knight he wanted to prove himself. Knight warned Breakker he would “beat the brakes off this cross eyed halfwit.”
The new canned intro featuring music from Wale is an improvement in my opinion. The new graphics are a bright change of pace. Very vibrant. The remodeled set and the new layout of the arena looks much better than the previous soundstage.
Bron Breakker defeated LA Knight
Breakker (Bronson Rechsteiner) upset Knight in the opener to NXT 2.0.
Breakker fittingly looks like a Steiner, especially with his 1990s singlet. Its color pattern matches that of NXT 2.0.
Knight’s new moniker is the “Million Dollar Mega Star.” He works over Breakker at the start of the match, but Breakker soon fights back. Breakker gives Knight a belly-to-belly suplex, but Knight tries to cut him off. Breakker fires up once more to pick Knight up for a gorilla press, and Breakker drops Knight into a powerslam. Breakker then covers Knight for a three count.
NXT roster members are backstage congratulating Breakker on his shocking win.
Jensen & Briggs cut promos in an inset picture tthat woukd have fit it on an episode of Wrestling Challenge in 1987. They got to shine early on and often in this present day match. When Jensen climbs the top rope, but Barthel distracts him. That allows Aichner to give Jensen an avalanche butterfly suplex, and Aichner covers him for a pinfall.
Great promo from Hit Row puts over B-Fab.
B-Fab (with Hit Row) defeated Katrina Cortez
B-Fab pins Cortez in a short enhancement match. Cortez got some offense, until she leapt off the middle rope. B-Fab with a high kick boots Cortez in the face, and B-Fab pins her.
After the match, B-Fab went to cut a promo. She is interrupted by Elektra Lopez, who was again dressed like Carmen Sandiego. Where in the world? She was also flanked by El Legado del Fantasma. Lopez and B-Fab had words with each other.
Austin Theory returns to NXT in a backstage skit with Johnny Gargano, Cameron Grines and Odyssey Jones. Theory surprised Gargano by returning after previously running away. Theory says every wedding needs a priest. So Theory brought Damian Priest with him. Gargano is glad to see him and all, but Priest is not an actually priest that can officiate the wedding. Theory is confused by this.
Breakout turn for Carmelo Hayes
Samantha Irvin interviews the Breakout tournament winner, Carmelo Hayes, in the ring. Hayes says life is great, and he now has “the juice.” But he admits there is a target on his back, so he called a friend to help watch his back. That friend is Trick Williams.
Trick tells Carmelo that he is proud of him, but Trick has a bone to pick with him. Trick says Carmelo is acting too humble, yet Trick claims he and Carmelo are “bouty bouty.” Hayes flips a switch, and he cuts a heel promo proclaiming himself as “The Chosen One.” When ‘Melo shoots, Hayes says he does not miss.
Duke Hudson entered the set ready for a match that was apparently next. Hudson stops on his way to the ring, and Hudson tells Hayes he “got lucky” when Hayes beat Hudson in the tournament. Hudson then saunters past them on his way to the ring.
Trick says stuff like that stops tonight. Trick removes his shirt, and he jumps Hudson. Hayes joins in on giving Hudson a beatdown.
Mandy Rose has a new look she is debuting tonight.
Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro defeated Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne via disqualification
Mandy Rose ran in for a DQ.
During the match it was TO THE BACK like an old episode of Impact. Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland jump Kyle O’Reilly in a sneak attack backstage. Meanwhile, the women’s tag match rolls on until Mandy Rose runs in.
Rose is dressed in all black from her cut-off shorts to her leather jacket and boots. Rose was also wearing a beanie on her head, waiting for the big reveal. She attacks Catanazaro, and the referee calls for the bell.
The big reveals comes when Rose showing her new hair color. Out with the blond, Rose in now a brunette.
Sarray ran in to run off the heel trio. This leads to a trios match.
Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne defeated Sarray, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro
Rose covered Carter to win the six-woman tag match. Rose also faced off with Sarray during the match, but their issues remain unsettled.
The heels work over Catanzaro, proverbially cutting the ring in half. Hot tag to Carter, and she runs wild. Rose fed into her, and Carter got a nearfall. Jayne jumps in to break up the count with a superkick. A melee ensues. When the smoke settles Sarray is facing off with Rose.
Rose has beef with Sarray due to the injury angle from a few weeks ago. Rose was getting vengeance when Carter cuts her off. Carter is briefly distracted trying to dodge an attack by Jayne. That allows Rose to strike. Rose delivers a knee strike, ans she covers Carter for a pinfall.
A commercial tie-in with an insurance company promotes WWE Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez.
William Regal is joined by interview correspondent McKenzie Mitchell for an announcement about the main event. Kyle O’Reilly is out of the fatal four way. Replacing O’Reilly in the title match is Von Wagner (Cal Bloom), who by the way is the son of retired pro wrestler Wayne Bloom. No relation to Dr. Wagner.
Ridge Holland defeated Drake Maverick (with Grayson Waller)
Holland pins Maverick in a glorified squash match.
Holland mauls Maverick. The underdog tries to fight back, but to no avail. Northern Grit by Holland, and he covers Maverick for an easy three count.
Ciampa in a backstage promo mentions it has been 908 days since Ciampa had Goldie, which is his pet name for the NXT Championship belt.
Tony D’Angelo is coming soon to NXT. In a vignette he talks about being in the mafia without saying he is the mafia. D’Angelo mentions his great amateur wrestling background, but that does not pay. He is now in the family business. D’Angelo is also coming to NXT, where he says the money is at.
Julius & Brutus Creed (with Diamond Mine) defeated Dan Jarmon & Trevor Skelly
The Creed Brothers won handily in another squash match.
Slower pace than their debut where they pummeled two enhancement wrestlers. Make no mistake, they pummel two job guys this week, just more slowly. They took their time more so this week.
In a post-match promo, the Diamond Mine get into the ring. Malcolm Bivens introduces the audience to the newest member of Diamond Mine. She is Ivy Nile.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida interrupts Bivens promo to tell Bivens they talk too much. Bivens challenges Kushida to a title match against Roderick Strong. Kushida accepts the challenge, thus making a title match for next week.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Pete Dunne, LA Knight and Von Wagner in fatal four way to win the vacant NXT Championship
Ciampa won the title after pinning Knight in a really good match. Started out like a standard WWE fatal four way, but got much better from there.
Similar to other fatal four ways in WWE, it starts with two wrestlers ending up outside the ring so two could face off in the ring. At least at first things were typical, as the match gets wilder as it goes on.
Wagner looks like a powerhouse. He got to shine just before the show cut to a commercial break. Knight during the break took out Wagner by sending him crashing into the ring steps. Not for long as Wagner was soon back in the ring.
Highspots galore with everybody getting to look strong at some point or another. Lots of action and a quick pace throughout. Ciampa executed a Widow’s Bell on LA Knight for a near fall, and Ciampa followed up that with a corkscrew flip dive over the ropes to the outside.
Wagner with an Olympic slam on Dunne for a close two count. That would not be his only near fall. Another came just before the finish. Knight is able to give Dunne a superplex, only for Wagner to jump in with a suplex on Knight for another two count. Ciampa punts Wagner to break up the count.
Fairy Tale Ending finisher by Ciampa, and he covers Knight. 1…2…3.
“Goldie is coming home,” proclaims Vic Joseph on commentary. No wonder Goldie was mentioned so much by that name throughout the show. Nice touch to remind viewers of the name.
While the title match was billed as the main event, the wedding is closing the show.
The wedding of In-Dex
NXT roster members file in as guests to the wedding. Johnny Gargano, playing the father figure, walks Indi Hartwell down the aisle. As the ceremony begins we learn some middle names. Lumis’ full name is Dexter Gaylord Lumis, and Hartwell’s full name is Indi Ophelia Hartwell.
The official presiding over the ceremony does the “dearly beloved” routine, and then he asks who is here to give Hartwell away. Gargano begins to cut a promo, but Candice LeRae has to stop him. Gargano ask Austin Theory is if he has the rings. Theory says “we’re in a ring, silly.”
Ikemen Jiro stands up wearing his flashy sports jacket and trunk. Almost everyone in the ring raises their hand. Lumis looks around while opening his coat to reveal a hatchet. Everyone puts their hand down.
Hartwell reads her vows. She tells Lumis he is misunderstood, and many people see him as a creep. She sees him as her “cuddly teddy bear.” Some people see Lumis as a stalker. What she sees is a “caring man with a well-groomed mustache, and tight clothes that never takes his eyes off me.” She says Lumis is called a freak.
“Damn right he’s a freak.” Indi says. “Dexter’s my freak,” Indi says. She goes to say she remembers that night he climbed into the Gargano’s house late at night.
Lumis quickly covers the microphone, cutting off Indi’s story. Gargano is in disbelief. Indi says Dexter is cute when he is upset like that. She also put him over for never losing a staring contest. She says they understand each other, and she loves him. The guests pop with applause.
Now it was Dexter’s turn to recite his vows. The crowd is hushed. The building grows quiet at the notion that Lumis may deliver a spoken word. Lumis instead gives a thumbs up.
The wedding officiant calls out Lumis, saying Hartwell poured her heart out to him. He cannot believe Lumis has nothing to say. The officiant is now causing a scene. Is his name Ken?
Lumis snatches the officiant in a chokehold, and Lumis puts him to sleep in the middle of the ceremony. This is the equivalent to a ref bump in a wedding, and a first for me. Never seen such in all my days. What in tarnation? The man presiding over the wedding is choked out.
Gargano starts a chant for William Regal, urging Regal to preside over the wedding. Regal looks mortified at the thought.
Beth Phoenix jumps into the ring. She has history in this storyline, as she helped play matchmaker. Phoenix in the past urged Hartwell to make a move on Lumis. Now they are getting married and Phoenix is saving their relationship once again. Phoenix has been a strong supporter of In-Dex.
Phoenix says she got ordained as a minister, so she can now preside over the ceremony. Phoenix says lets cut to the chase. Andre Chase stand up to interrupt. He is taken out by a nerve hold from Odyssey Jones.
Hartwell says her “I do” when Phoenix asks her. Phoenix asks Lumis. Long pause. Phoenix says we can take that as a “yes” from Lumis, but Lumis grabs the mic. Lumis says “I do,” and the crowd goes wild.
Phoenix pronounces them husband and wife. “You may kiss the bride.” The couple kiss for a happy ending.
New NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is watching the wedding from a backstage monitor. He is approached by Bron Breakker. They shake hands in a show of respect, yet the moment is tense. They have an awkward staredown as the show fades to black.
The wedding ended on a happy note, which is very unlike the chaos of wrestling weddings of the past. If viewers on USA Network still wanted to see a wedding end in chaos, they could have stuck around after NXT. Tombstone was the lead-in before NXT, and the movie aired again on USA Network after NXT went off the air. The movie opens with the heel faction ruining a wedding, after NXT had closed their show with a happy wedding.
A new NXT Champion will be crowned this Tuesday night.
With Samoa Joe vacating the title, WWE has announced that the winner of Pete Dunne, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight’s fatal four-way match on Tuesday’s episode of NXT will become the new NXT Champion. The four-way match was originally supposed to determine a number one contender to Joe’s title.
Joe posted a video on Sunday night announcing that he was relinquishing the NXT Championship effective immediately. Joe said that, due to certain injuries, WWE medical informed him that they’d like him to step away from the ring for a “brief but still indeterminate” amount of time.
Joe said he’d be back shortly to collect the NXT Championship from whoever wins it.
At TakeOver 36 last month, Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship. Joe was then confronted by Dunne, O’Reilly, and Knight on the post-TakeOver episode of NXT. Ciampa also got involved in that segment and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.
NXT’s revamp will kick off with this week’s episode. The revamp is being called “NXT 2.0.”
Here’s the updated lineup for Tuesday’s episode:
Fatal four-way match to determine new NXT Champion: Pete Dunne vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. LA Knight
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Franky Monet
A fatal four-way number one contender’s match will determine the first challenger for Samoa Joe’s NXT Championship.
Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, LA Knight, and Pete Dunne will face off in an NXT Championship number one contender’s match on NXT next Tuesday. The announcement was made by general manager William Regal on tonight’s episode of the show.
Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship at TakeOver 36 last month. It’s Joe’s third NXT Championship reign. His first two reigns with the title were in 2016.
Dunne, Knight, and O’Reilly all confronted Joe on NXT following his title win. Ciampa also got involved and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.
Ciampa defeated Holland on NXT last week, Knight defeated Johnny Gargano, and O’Reilly defeated Duke Hudson.
WWE has also announced that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will defend her title against Franky Monet on NXT next Tuesday. Plus, the show will feature the wedding of Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis.
Next week’s NXT will mark the official start of the brand’s revamp. It will include the debut of NXT’s new logo and a new look for the Capitol Wrestling Center being revealed.
Kyle O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole tonight, scoring the decisive win in their three match feud.
Tonight’s match between the two was a two out of three falls match that was billed as “The Undisputed Finale”. The third fall, held inside a steel cage, featured weapons that both men used throughout the match. The finish had O’Reilly being handcuffed to the ropes, with Cole drilling him with multiple superkicks. O’Reilly caught one and locked in a heel hook despite being handcuffed to the ropes and picked up the submission win when Cole tapped.
The first fall of the match had O’Reilly pick up the win in what was a straight wrestling match after countering the Panama sunrise into a cradle. Cole picked up the second pinfall in a street fight, pinning O’Reilly after O’Reilly was dropped into chairs set up in the ring.
The future of Adam Cole in WWE is in question following reports that he had extended his contract through SummerSlam weekend. His original contract came up in July.
WWE has set a date and given the stipulations for Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly III.
In what’s being billed as the “Undisputed Finale,” Cole and O’Reilly will face off at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22. It will be a two-out-of-three falls match, with Cole and O’Reilly each picking one of the stipulations.
The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match, the second fall will be a street fight, and, if necessary, the third fall will be a steel cage match.
The match and stipulations were announced during a face-to-face segment with Cole and O’Reilly on tonight’s NXT. O’Reilly chose the first fall, then Cole chose the second. The third fall was chosen by NXT general manager William Regal.
Cole and O’Reilly have a 1-1 record against each other since the breakup of Undisputed Era. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, O’Reilly defeated Cole in an unsanctioned match. Cole then defeated O’Reilly at NXT Great American Bash last month.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver 36:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
The Undisputed Finale: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly (two-out-of-three falls match)
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, Ted DiBiase has to become Knight’s butler)
After airing on Syfy for two weeks due to the Olympics, NXT is back on the USA Network tonight.
NXT general manager William Regal will mediate a face-to-face segment with Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly on tonight’s show. Cole and O’Reilly have a 1-1 record against each other since the breakup of Undisputed Era. O’Reilly defeated Cole at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, but Cole picked up the win at Great American Bash last month.
O’Reilly attacked Cole with a steel chair on NXT two weeks ago and suplexed him onto the steel steps.
WWE has confirmed that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will defend her title against Dakota Kai at TakeOver 36 later this month. Kai turned against Gonzalez two weeks ago and laid her out with a kick. After Kai explained her actions last week, Gonzalez will respond tonight.
Kai will face Sarray in tonight’s opening match. Plus, NXT UK’s Ilja Dragunov will appear, there will be a special look at the feud between NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe, and the NXT Breakout Tournament semifinals will begin with Odyssey Jones vs. Trey Baxter.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a canned intro recapping the previous episode. Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett welcomed viewers to the show from the commentary desk. Joseph said Beth Phoenix is on vacation.
Joseph goes on to say there is breaking news. Ember Moon is not cleared to wrestle, and her replacement was the number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship, Dakota Kai. She came to the ring and cut a promo on NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez before the match.
Kai vowed to beat the undefeated Sarray, and prove she was no one’s sidekick. Kai declared herself the next women’s champ.
Dakota Kai defeated Sarray
Kai pinned Sarray clean to end Sarray’s undefeated streak in NXT. Despite giving Sarray her first loss in NXT, the match was really dern good. Raquel Gonzalez ran in afterwards for a post-match save.
Kai was very aggressive, and she began to maul Sarray. Nifty counters by Sarray, and she caught in a bridging half crab leglock. Kai got a rope break, but Sarray started stomping her. Sarray executed a Perfect-plex before the show went to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Fighting spirit exchange as the show returned from break. Sarray stomped on Kai again, and Sarray suplexed her. Kai soon fought back, and she hit Sarray with a face wash. They traded strikes. Sarray delivered a stiff dropkick like she has in other matches, and then she went for another. Missing on the second attempt, Sarray fell victim to a kick from Kai.
Sarray came back with near falls on Kai. Sarray delivered a spin kick, and went to measure for a running kick. Kai cut her off with a boot to the face in a corner, and Kai covered Sarray for a pinfall.
Kai went to kick Sarray again after the match. She measured Sarray, but Gonzalez ran in for a save. Kai ran off and fled. Gpnzalez then cut a promo on Kai, saying she was going to tear Kai apart at TakeOver. They meet in a grudge match for the title on the upcoming card.
Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis are going on their first date. Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano are still not happy, but Gargano says they must make this work for the family. Dexter arrives with flowers, and Gargano invites him inside the house. LeRae and Gargano were acting like over-protective parents. Gargano and LeRae then plotted to follow the new couple on their date. To be continued…
Ilja Dragunov was the focus of a vignette sponsored by Sonic. His live segment on the show is next after a commercial break, and an interlude by Hit Row.
Great promo by Hit Row as they stood around a fire in a barrel. They burned a mask as a warning to Legado del Fantasma.
Pete Dunne confronts Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov said he is not a man of words. On the path he is on, word do not mean anything. Pain mean something. The struggle has meant something. Fighting spirit meant something. He put his strength into his fist instead of the mouth. He will do the unthinkable at TakeOver. You will witness chaos and rage. An unbeatable kingdome will fall when he defeats WALTER to become the new NXT UK Champion.
Pete Dunne interrupted Dragunov, and Dunne said he was due a thank you. Dunne said he carried Europe on his back, and Dunne claimed Dragunov is not getting the title match. Had he stayed in Europe, Dunne say she would have put Dragunov in his place a long time ago.
Dragunov responds that Dunne has big words, but Dragunov says he is here because of himself. Dragunov vowed to beat WALTER, and that is something that Dunne cannot change. Dragunov reminded Dunne that Dunne never beat WALTER. Dragunov then challenged Dunne to a match. Dunne said after tonight, Dragunov would not make it to TakeOver.
LA Knight lambasted Cameron Grimes in a backstage interview with McKenzie Mitchell. Grimes stood there with a stern look on his face, just taking it. Knight ordered Grimes to put the Million Dollar title belt on Knight’s shoulder.
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight (with Cameron Grimes) defeated Andre Chase
Knight pinned Chase in a very short match. Chase started off like a house of fire, but Knigth quickly caught him with a headlock DDT. Knight then pinned him.
Knight ordered Grimes into the ring, and he ordered him to kneel at his feet. Out comes The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase.
DiBiase said this has gone too far. He knows Grimes is a man of his word. DiBiase says Grimes has more going for him than being a butler. DiBiase told Grimes he believed in him, and the fans believed Grimes too.
Knight cut off DiBiase, and Knight threatened to punch him in the mouth again. Grimes warned against that. DiBiase told Knight to shut his mouth. DiBiase told Grimes he could be anything he wants to be. DiBiase said Grimes wants to be a champion. DiBiase challenged Knight to put the Million Dollar title on the line.
Knight shot down the title match, saying he already beat Grimes twice. Then Knight agreed to the match at TakeOver anyway. Knight added a new stipulation to the match. If Knight retains against Grimes in the match, DiBiase becomes Knight’s new butler.
DiBiase is a gambling man, and he agreed to the stip. The match is on for TakeOver 36.
A vignette hyped Gigi Dolan. She warned the NXT roster that she is running over everyone, and she is not doing it alone.
Gigi Dolan (with Jacy Jayne) defeated Amari Miller
Dolan pinned Miller in a short match. Miller showed fire, but Dolan soon cut her off. Dolan won after executing a cobra twist bomb. Wickedly cool move, but hard to describe. Dolan looked strong in winning.
The wacky skits continue as Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis are on a date. LeRea’s cover was blown as she tried to spy on them at a restaurnant.
Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly face-to-face
General Manager William Regal served as a moderator, and a team of security was stationed around the ring. Cole and O’Reilly will be picking the stips for a two-out-of-three falls match at TakeOver. They each get to pick one stip, and Regal picks the final stip.
O’Reilly started off the verbal debate. He thought of a lot of different stipulations, but his loss to Cole at The Great American Bash did not set well with him. O’Reilly picked a straight wrestling match for the first fall. O’Reilly’s reasoning was a loss in a straight-up match would hurt Cole’s ego more than any chair shot to the head.
Cole responded that O’Reilly is so predictable. Cole said O’Reilly was delusional that he was better than Cole. Hot take: Cole is a helluva talker. Cole went on to pick a street fight for the second fall.
O’Reilly said he would be willing to be anything to put Cole “down for good.” Cole called him a moron. For 13 years Cole says O’Reilly has riden on his coattails. Cole was on fire here. He said O’Reilly will never be Adam Cole.
Cole called himself the greatest NXT superstar ever, and Cole called O’Reilly a footnote in Cole’s career. Cole went on to call O’Reilly soft. Cole kept baiting O’Reilly into a fight. They tied up in a pull-apart brawl. Regal yelled at them, saying the third fall will be inside a steel cage.
Tommaso Ciampa (flanked by Timothy Thatcher) cut a promo on Ridge Holland. Thatcher meets Holland in a match next week on NXT.
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK and Imperium cut promos on each other.
Odyssey Jones defeated Trey Baxter in a NXT Breakout Tournament semi-final match
Jones pinned Baxter, and Jones adavncing to the tournament final.
Rather short match for semi-final tournament bout. This was David vs. Goliath, but Goliath won clean this time.
Samantha Irving interviewed Jones after the match. He sent a shout out to his momma.
Boa (with Mei Ying) defeated Drake Maverick
Boa pinned Maverick after outside interference.
Mei Ying got off her thrown to join Boa at ringside. She would go to intefere in the match.
Maverick was getting manhandled early on in the bout, but he came back for a dive to the outside. Ying spat mist in the eyes of Maverick, and Maverick walked into a roundhouse kick. Boa then scored a pinfall.
The wacky dating skits continued with even more wackiness. Johnny Gargano poorly disguised himself as a waiter. He approached Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis with a cake. The unwritten rule in pro wrestling is someone is getting the cake in the face. Hartwell busted Gargano for spying on her and Lumis. They fought over the cake, and it was sent into the face of Lumis. This was all supposed to be comedy I think.
A “Prime Target” video package hyped Samoa Joe vs. Karrion Kross for the NXT title at TakeOver. Great stuff. Next week Joe and Kross are face-to-face on the go-home episode ahead of the supercard next Sunday.
Pete Dunne defeated Ilja Dragunov
Dunne pinned Dragunov in a banger. WALTER caused a disrtaction during the match, and he attacked Dragunov after the bout.
Grappling in the beginning, and it was fantastic. The match only got better from there. Dunne was some kicks and a hard slap to Dragunov, and Dragunov answered back moments later with a stiff lariat.
Dragunov fired up into a flurry of offense. He jumped off the middle rope with a flying knee drop. On a second high risk move Dunne nailed Dragunov with an uppercut in mid-air. From there the match went through a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Dunne is working over Dragunov as the show returned from the break. Despite getting booted in the face, Dragunov fought back to trade strikes with Dunne. Great counters and exchanegs leading to a double down. More great counters and reversals, which led into them trading near falls.
My god these counters are a thing of beauty. Dragunov with a deadlift powerbomb for two. More two counts, but Dunne keeps kicking out.
Dunne went for Bitter End, but he is countered by Dragunov. Dunne kept targeting the arm, but Dragunov fought to execute a dealift German suplex for yet another near fall. Senton bomb off the top rope by Dragunov.
NXT UK Champion WALTER walks out on stage, which distracts Dragunov. Dunne tried for Bitter End afte a sneak attack. Dragunov fought him off, and countered the Bitter End again. Dragunov went for Torpedo Moskau, but Dunne blocked the attempt. Dunne then delivered a Bitter End, and he pinned Dragunov.
WALTER attacked Dragunov after the match, but Dragunov with one more counter for the night. Dragunov hit WALTER with Torpedo Moskau, which knocked WALTER out of the ring. Dragunov posed with the NXT UK title belt as the show closed.
The build to a third match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly will continue on next week’s NXT.
WWE has announced that Cole and O’Reilly will take part in a face-to-face segment on NXT next Tuesday. The segment will be mediated by NXT general manager William Regal.
Since the Undisputed Era broke up, Cole and O’Reilly have a 1-1 record against each other. O’Reilly defeated Cole in an unsanctioned match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, while Cole defeated O’Reilly at NXT Great American Bash last month.
Cole defeated Bronson Reed in the main event of last week’s NXT. After the match, O’Reilly attacked Cole with a steel chair and suplexed him onto the steel steps. It was claimed on NXT tonight that Cole wasn’t currently medically cleared to compete due to the attack.
WWE has also announced that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will “break her silence” on next week’s NXT episode. Dakota Kai turned against Gonzalez last week and laid her out with a kick. Tonight, a video aired where Kai explained her actions. Kai took credit for giving Gonzalez her start in NXT and said Gonzalez was selfish for going after the NXT Women’s Championship when it should have been Kai’s opportunity.
Ember Moon vs. Sarray has also been announced for next week’s NXT. Plus, NXT UK’s Ilja Dragunov will appear on the episode. Dragunov is challenging for WALTER’s NXT United Kingdom Championship at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22.
After airing on Syfy for two weeks due to the Olympics, NXT will be back on USA Network next Tuesday. Here’s the full list of what’s been announced for the episode:
Face-to-face segment with Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will break her silence
The Great American Bash returns again as WWE presents a special episode of NXT tonight.
A grudge match will take place in the main event as former Undisputed Era stablemates Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole face off. O’Reilly defeated Cole when they met in an unsanctioned match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April.
Three title matches are also set for tonight’s show. MSK will put their NXT Tag Team titles on the line against Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell will defend their NXT Women’s Tag Team titles against Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, and LA Knight will defend the Million Dollar Championship against Cameron Grimes. If Grimes loses, he has to become Knight’s butler.
Plus, NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano will meet face-to-face. Hit Row will also deliver a “Championship Cypher” to celebrate Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeating Bronson Reed last week to become the new NXT North American Champion.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The voice of Dusty Rhodes fittingly opened The Great American Bash in a canned intro. The video package ran down the card, and it closed by again featuring the voice of The American Dream.
Holy cow, this show has a corporate sponsor with an advertising tie-in, and it may be the most mainstream sponsor ever on NXT. Bud Light Seltzer was the sponsor of the GAB. While not the very much more mainstream Bud Light beer, the seltzer cousin will have to do. Please drink responsibility.
The red, white and blue ropes are back. Couple that with it being The Great American Bash, and I’m now super nostalgic.
The show is kicking off with a men’s tag team title match.
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher to retain their titles
Lee cradled Thatcher for a pinfall, and the champions retain in a fantastic bout. Freaking great opener to kick off the card. Challengers looked strong throughout the match, but MSK were still able to remain the champs.
Ciampa & Thatcher worked over Wes Lee, proverbially cutting the ring in half as they punished him. Ciampa gets caught with a dropkick out of nowhere by Lee, and Carter is able to tag in. Carter is on fire, culminating in a springboard quebrada to the floor. Thatcher took the bullet for Ciampa and stepped in to catch Carter. That allowed Ciampa to waylay Carter with a lariat. The show cut to a commercial break, and Lee down selling at ringside.
Hot tag soon as the show returned from the break, and Lee cleaned house. Lee was on a roll when he too was waylaid by the challenger. Thatcher lowbridged Lee as he ran the ropes, and Lee tumbled outside. The challengers again targeted Lee, but both of the defending champs fought back to counter Thatcher. However, the champs were cut off. Carter was now the target, and he was worked over.
Fighting spirit and Ciampa is rocked by a jumping knee strike. He was on rubber legs, and MSK looked to set up their finisher. Ciampa escaped with Thatcher’s helping to make a save. That would backfire on the challengers when Thatcher hit his partner with an uppercut by mistake. Ciampa went down, and Thatcher walked into a superkick. Lee went for a crazy looking handspring flipping move, but Ciampa nailed him in mid-air with a shotgun dropkick.
Close near fall after a Project Ciampa. Lee countered another Ciampa’s finisher, but the challengers turned the tide after some quick tags. Carter countered a super Air Raid Crash. MSK double team Ciampa. Carter with a swanton bomb, and Lee with a corkscrew senton for a two count. Thatcher dragged Lee out of the ring, and Thatcher also clocked Carter with a right hand. The challengers had again cut off the champs.
Ciampa executed an assisted Fairy Tale Ending on Lee, and Thatcher applied an ankle lock. Carter back in to make a save, and Lee trapped Thatcher in a small package. 1…2…3. The champs retain in a great bout.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano face-to-face
General Manager William Regal and Samoa Joe are in the ring to host a segment where they attempt to settle things between Gargano and Kross. This is pro wrestling, so talking their problems out erupted into mayhem.
Gargano claimed Kross was scared to face him in the ring. Regal said this feud cannot go on, which is departure from this feud must continiue. Regal announced a title match between the two next week. Kross objected to a title match, and Kross said he was not afraid of Gargano.
Kross has three goals when he wakes up every morning. He wants to remain the NXT Champion, he wants to main event WrestleMania, and he wants to become WWE Champion. He insulted Gargano by saying he was wearing his wife’s jeans.
Kross said this was not a cartoon. This was real life! Regal interrupted to say next week in the title match there is a special referee, and that person is none other than Samoa Joe. The crowd popped, and Gargano threw a zinger as he was leaving the ring.
Gargano said it was funny Kross mentioned Gargano’s wife when “Kross couldn’t even lace my wife’s boots.” Kross had heard enough. He wanted to fight right now, but Joe stepped in to block his path. Kross had a staredown with to conclude the segment.
A vignette hyped NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida.
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes to retain his title
Knight pinned Grimes, so Grimes must now become Knight’s bulter per the stipulations of the match. Decent enough match that leads into the next chapter of this feud.
Grimes showed fire at the start, leading to a flying cross body off the top rope. Knight would briefly counter Grimes, but Grimes with a counter of his own. Knight regained the advantage as the show cut to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Knight was on offense during the break, so I almost lost interest. Didn’t help that a commercial with Ric Flair was stealing the show. The show returned from the break, and Knight was still in control. Grimes struck with a one-man running Spanish Fly, leading to a double down.
They traded strikes, and they would go on to trade near falls. Grimes fired up on Knight, and Grimes began a comeback, and Grimes gets a near fall after a swinging uranage slam. Grimes skinned the cat, only get caught in a Torture Rack and dropped into a facebuster. Two count for Knight. Grimes again kicked out moments later after taking a superplex.
Knight fetched the Million Dollar title belt. He brought the belt into the ring, and the ref took it from him. Meanwhile, Grimes was able to use an O’Connor Roll. Knight reveresed with a handful of tights. Knigth takes a poision rana, and yet another two count.
The fighting spilled outside. Knight gave Grimes a DDT onto the title belt on the floor. They teased a countout, but Grimes was able to get back into the ring. Grimes was unsteady, and he took a headlock DDT in the ring. Knight then covered Grimes for a pinfall.
NXT Breakout Tournament entrants were introduced. The tourney includes Trey Baxter, Carmelo Hayes, Andre Chase, Josh Briggs, Ikemen Jiro, Joe Gacy, Odyssey Jones and Duke Hudson. The tournament begins next Tuesday on NXT with Jiro vs. Hudson in a first round match.
Zoey Stark & Io Shirai deafted NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions The Way (Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) to win the titles
Stark pinned Hartwell during a finish that featured the surprise return of Tegan Nox. New champions are crowned, and LeRae looks to be in feud with Nox moving forward.
The champions wore gear inspired by The Kliq from the era of The New Generation. Hartwell was Razor Ramon, and LeRae was 1-2-3 Kid.
Shirai got to shine early on, and then it was Stark’s turn to shine. The match went through a commerical break with the champions in control.
During the break a cross-promotional spot with WWE and the Olympics. The spot featured Bobby Lashey and Olympic Gold medalist Zack Snyder. Synder said he might want to try wrestling.
Back to the match, with heat on Stark. Hot tag to Shirai, and she sqaured off with LeRae. Those two are so good against each other. Stark & Shirai with double team moves, and Stark looked strong getting a near fall.
No water in the pool on a Shirai moonsault. LeRae applied a Gargano Escape on Shirai. Hartwell then jumped in the ring to apply an Anaconda Vice (Dexter Lumis’ finishing hold) on Stark. The challengers escaped the holds, and LeRae is dropped with a plam strike. Shirai again went for a moonsault, but LeRae with counter suplexed Shirai off the ropes.
Teased ending another match on the show with a cradle, yet it was only a two count. The lights inside the CWC went dark. The battery that had been charging appeared on a video screen. It went for 99% to 100% and the lights powered on in the arena. Tegan Nox appeared on the stage.
LeRae looked as if she saw a ghost. Shirai knocked LeRae out of the ring. Stark then delievered suplex into a knee strike, and Stark covered Hartwell for a pinfall.
Nox and LeRae brawled after the match, with LeRae fleeing the scene and Nox giving chase.
Dexter Lumis came to ringside during a commercial break, and he carried away Hartwell in his arms. Love is apparently in the air.
Toni Storm cut a promo on NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez. Storm was asked about Sarray wanting a match with her. Storm scoffed at the thought, and declined the challenge.
Hit Row’s North American Championship Cypher Celebration
The Hit Row group looked like superstars in this segement. This was basically a live rap concert, and it was arguably the best hip hop segment ever in WWE that did not star a professional musical act. Instead of simply cutting a promo, members of Hit Row spit bars. B-Fab rapped first, then Top Dolla, and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott concluded with his own rap. Ashante “Thee” Adonis was their DJ.
Very different than anything else on WWE television, Hit Row hit a home run with this segment. Not sure it got them over as heels, but they looked like superstars nonetheless. Hard to describe it in typed words, it has to be seen with the sound on for the full effect.
Adam Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly
Cole pinned O’Reilly in a great pro wrestling match. Much different than their unsanctioned match. That previous match might be better, but personally I liked tonight’s match more simply because it was a straightforward wrestling bout with no gimmicks. But it this was a bloodfeud (if WWE allowed the use of blood), although the match did not start out accordingly.
They did start what was a grudge match in this bitter feud with a collar and elbow, which is my only criticism. The story apparently being this match was about proving who was better in the ring, as opposed to their prior meeting in what was basically a lights out match. That follows the recent WWE trend of following up a stipulation match with a straight wrestling match. Go figure. Tonight’s bout was nevertheless a great match.
They grappled, and Cole powdered out before a commercial break. More grappling as the show returned from the break. Cole was reeling as O’Reilly was dominating him, but the tide soon turned into Cole’s favor. Cole with a neckbreaker on the floor, and Cole targeted O’Reilly’s neck.
O’Reilly fired up on Cole, and O’Reilly targeted an arm. Great back-and-forth action. Cole lambasted O’Reilly with trash talk, causing O’Reilly to hulk up. O’Reilly was raining down punches in a corner when Cole escaped his clutches, and Cole blasted O’Reilly’s knee with a superkick. Cole followed up by smashing O’Reilly knee into the ring post.
The show cut to picture-in-picture commercial break with O’Reilly on the mat selling his knee. Cole worked over the knee during the break. On cue, O’Reilly valiantly began to fight back when the show returned from commercial, leading to a double down.
Cole was again targeting O’Reilly knee, but O’Reilly with a recepit attacked Cole’s knee. Dragon screw in the ropes by O’Reilly. They traded strikes and kicks. Near fall by Cole after a running high kick. Cole unabel to connect with the Panama Sunrise, and O’Reilly answered back with a series of strikes.
O’Reilly blocked a superkick, catching Cole’s leg. Cole then took a cradle suplex at the hands of O’Reilly, but Cole somehow kicked out. O’Reilly with Kawada kicks, and then O’Reilly with a takedown. O’Reilly tried to transition into an armbar, but Cole blocked the hold. Small package for two. Cole with a counter for a heel hook, and Cole locked in a figure four leglock. O’Reilly countered to apply a heel hook where he also hooked the other leg with his legs. Cole managed to crawl to the bottom rope, breaking the hold.
More back-and-forth with each rocking the other. O’Reilly fell out of the ring, and Cole executed a Panaman Sunrise off the apron on the floor. Cole rolled O’Reilly back into the ring, and O’Reilly got his foot in the rope to break up a pin.
They traded strikes, and Cole takes a brainbuster. Cole was prone on the mat as O’Reilly climbed the turnbuckle. O’Reilly leapt off the top with a bombs away knee drop, but Cole rolled out of the way. O’Reilly crashed and burned. Cole delivered a Last Shot, yet O’Reilly kicked out at two and three quarters.
Cole went for a Panama Sunrise, and O’Reilly blocked it with a knee strike. However, O’Reilly delivered the strike with his injured knee that Cole worked over previously in the match. Cole then executed the Panama Sunrise, and he followed with a Last Shot. Cole went on to cover O’Reilly for the deciding pinfall.
The build to the Great American Bash continues on tonight’s episode of NXT.
A non-title match between Kyle O’Reilly and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida will take place on NXT tonight. O’Reilly chose to face Kushida after NXT general manager William Regal told O’Reilly and Adam Cole last week that they could pick their own opponents for tonight’s show.
As O’Reilly and Cole brawled backstage last week, Regal announced that O’Reilly vs. Cole will take place at NXT Great American Bash on Tuesday, July 6. New NXT authority figure Samoa Joe helped break up the brawl, but Cole pushed him out of the way and kept going after O’Reilly. Joe then choked Cole out with the Coquina Clutch.
Cole hasn’t revealed who he’ll be facing tonight.
Tonight’s show will also feature Franky Monet in action, Hit Row’s Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis vs. Ever-Rise, and Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. The Robert Stone Brand’s Aliyah & Jessi Kamea.
Plus, the Diamond Mine will open after several weeks of teaser videos. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show begins with an opening monologue from Adam Cole. He talks about soon facing Kyle O’Reilly at The Great American Bash. Cole mentioned an “assault and attack” by Samoa Joe last week. Cole warned Joe that Cole is the new king of NXT. When he defeats O’Reilly, Cole says he will be called the greatest ever in NXT. Nobody can change his mind.
Cole is interrupted by Carmelo Hayes. Like Cole, Hayes also has a microphone. Hayes said Cole might not know who he his, but Hayes knows who Cole is in NXT. Hayes said he could change Cole’s mind. Cole asked how. Hayes spoofed the John Cena debut where he famously roared “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION” in Kurt Angle’s face. Hayes said this was the “same energy.” Hayes then slapped Cole like Cena did to Angle almost a decade ago.
The match was on from there.
Adam Cole defeated Carmelo Hayes
Cole pinned Hayes after a Panama Sunrise, capping off a fun match.
Hayes showed a lot of fire at the start, but Cole soon cut him off. Hayes fought back to get a two count on Cole. The fight spilled outside the ring, where Cole repeatedly sent Hayes crashing into the barricade. The match went through a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Cole worked over Hayes during the break, and Cole executed an ushigoroshi. That’s too cool of a move for a commercial break, but oh well. There was at least a replay when the show returned from the break.
Cole taunted Hayes, which led into a Hayes firing up. Hayes and Cole traded strilkes before Hayes dropped Cole with a kick. Cole answered back with a kick of his own, and Hayes was seemingly on rubber legs. Somehow, Hayes countered Cole to deliver a cutter.
Small package from Cole nets a two count. Hayes in return gets a near fall after a codebreaker. They kept trading near falls. Cole with a lungblower for two. Hayes superkicked Cole when Cole went for a Panama Sunrise. Hayes springboard off the middle rope, and Cole struck him out of mid-air with a superkick. After a Panama Sunrise, Cole covered Hayes for a clean pinfall.
Let’s talk about it!
Saddle up for a string of talking segments and character development.
Franky Monet was backstage chatting with Jessi Kamea and Aliyah of the Robert Stone Brand. Presley was also there. He’s a good boy. Robert Stone found them. He was looking everywhere for them. Monet went to leave, and she high fived Kamea and Aliyah. Stone went to high five Monet, and Presley snapped at him. Stone shrieked in terror. Bad dog.
Zoey Stark in an interview with McKenzie Mitchell talked about teaming with Io Shirai. Stark was surprised Shirai chose her. Shirai stepped into the frame to say she picked Stark as her partner, but she did not like her. They have a match later tonight against the Robert Stone Brand.
A vignette profiled the new Million Dollar Champion, LA Knight. He cut a promo on Cameron Grimes.
The Way has a new way
Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory came to the ring for a promo. Gargano said it was exciting times, and new management is in town. So we need a new NXT Champion, according to Gargano himself. Gargano said it should be him. He claimed it was “paradise” when he was NXT Champion.
Gargano ranted about being better than Karrion Kross. Then out comes Pete Dunne to confront Gargano. Dunne was flanked by Oney Lorcan, and they both got in the ring to face off with The Way. Dunne said he was clearly the number one contender ahead of Gargano. Dunne also insulted Theory, telling him to shut up.
Theory was ready to snap, but Gargano held him back. Gargano said there is a new way to do things around here. The Way no longer participates in “shenanigans or hijinx,” and they are “law abiding citizens.”
Gargano said to Dunne, “There are rules for a reason, Peter.” Gargano gently put down the microphone, and The Way left peacefully. Or so Gargano thought. He was leaving when Theory turned back around. Theory pointed at Dunne, warning Dunne that Theory was watching him. Dunne in turn snapped Theory’s finger. So much for peace.
Cameron Grimes arrived at the building earlier today. He was handing out money when someone made a smart aleck comment about Ted DiBiase. Grimes smacked him, cackled, and tossed the geek ten dollars for taking the punch.
General Manager William Regal argued with Adam Cole about Samoa Joe. This all seems to build towards Joe vs. Cole. Hopefully, they aren’t just teasing a match. Hope they deliver.
The Way went to see Regal. They were angry at Dunne for snapping Theory’s finger. They wanted Regal to send in Joe. Gargano and Theory wanted Joe to choke out Dunne, and then throw him through a wall. Regal instead booked Gargano & Theory in a match against Dunne & Lorcan. Gargano complained he did not even have his gear on. It’s intricate, and it takes an hour to put on. Regal was having none of it, and he ordered them to get ready. They made it seem like the match was next, but it was not next. Patience, grasshopper.
Io Shirai & Zoey Stark defeated Jessi Kamea & Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Shirai pinned Kamea to win the match. The bout was more of a backdrop for an angle that followed it.
The NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, strolled out to ringside during the match. After a commercial break, there was a hot tag to Shirai. She ran wild, and she delivered a missile dropkick for a two count on Kamea.
Shirai was cut off, but she was able to tag out. Stark with a missile dropkick of her own. Shirai with a moonsault press, and Shirai covered Kamea for a pinfall.
LeRea & Hartwell got on the apron to confront Shirai & Stark. NXT Champion Raquel Gonzalez and her tag team partner, Dakota Kai, came to ringside. Shirai & Stark were surrounded and under siege. Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart joined the party. A huge brawl started with all the teams fighting in a melee. Samoa Joe led a bunch officials in breakup up the brawl. Joe seen to it that order was restored in the CWC.
A tag team title match was announced for The Great American Bash in two weeks time. MSK defend their NXT Tag Team Championship against Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher at The Bash.
Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory defeated Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan
Gargano pinned Lorcan to win the tag bout. Easily the best match on the show so far by a wide margin, but O’Reilly and Kushida are still yet to go. Karrion Kross would attack Gargano after the match.
Great wrestling at the start, but who are the protagonists here? Not sure, but the grappling itself is really good. Theory’s finger that Dunne injured earlier in the night was an easy target. Dunne & Lorcan slam Theory into edge of the ring apron, and Theory was down selling as the show cut to commercial.
Hot tag to Gargano, and he cleaned house. Maybe he and Theory are now protagonists. They whine and gripe too much for protagonists, but they kick ass in the ring so [insert Toru Yano shrug]. They could be comedic babyfaces I guess.
Near fall after Theory springboarded Spanish Fly. Dunne jumped in to break up the count. Dunne sqaured off with Gargano, leading to a double down. Theory and Lorcan traded chops, and Lorcan struck with a blockbuster.
Dunne again targets the injured finger of Theory. Joint locks gave way to an armbreaker. Gargano made a save to break the hold. Dunne and Gargano go back-and-forth. Dunne & Lorcan double team Gargano. He fought back with a La Mistica counter, but Gargano is nevertheless takes a double powerbomb from Dunne & Lorcan. Theory made a save to break up a pin. In turn, Theory is rocked.
Lorcan looks to strike a prone Theory, but Gargano cut off Lorcan with a superkick out of nowhere. Gargano flew through the ropes to hit Dunne with tope into a tornado DDT. Gargano followed up with One Final Beat, and Gargano covered Lorcan for a three count.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross, wearing a leather jacket that would make Bret Hart jealous, attacked Gargano after the match. Kross in a sneak attack laid out Gargano at ringside.
Kross later was met backstage by Samoa Joe, who let him pass to see Regal in the GM’s office. Joe turned around, and Pete Dunne was staring at him. They glared at each other. And scene.
Announced for next Tuesday on NXT is a triple threat number one contender’s tag team match. This was set up with a huge brawl earlier in the night. Stark & Shirai vs. Kai & Gonzalez vs. Moon & Blackheart is set for next week.
Franky Monet defeated Elektra Lopez
Monet pinned Lopez with the Glam Slam in the encore of Monet’s “world premiere.” This was an enhancement match for Monet, but Lopez was able to get some offense. Monet still won handily.
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed was being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Reed was interrupted by Hit Row, and they tried to intimidate him.
Ever-Rise in a skit from ealier in the day were about to spray paint the SUV of Hit Row. Ever-Rise were caught red-handed, and they ran away. This was supposed to be comedy I think.
Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis) defeated Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
Top Dollas pinned Martel to win a squash match.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and B-Fab were at ringside in Hit Row’s corner. Ever-Rise were no match for Top Dolla & Adonis. Although Ever-Rise sent Top Dolla over the ropes with a low bridge, that only served to anger Top Dolla.
Ever-Rise were then squashed, and Martel took a double team finisher that looked nasty. Top Dolla powerbombed Martel while Adonis leapt in the air to deliver a neckbreaker. Never liked that double team move ever since seeing Villano IV break his neck taking a similar combo on WCW Monday Nitro in 1998. It still makes me cringe whenever I see it. Cringed even more seeing the combo here in this match, as it looked brutal.
Scott after the macth laid out Parker with a kick. Hit Row posed over the fallen Ever-Rise.
McKenzie in an interview informed Mercedes Martinez that Martinez was booked next week in a mixed tag match against Xia Li & Boa. Martinez was surprised by the news. She was also surprised by a sneak attack from Xia Li. Making a save was Jake Atlas. Looks like he is the tag team partner for Martinez in the mixed tag next week on NXT. The match was made official after a commercial break.
The battery charging since last week is up to 51%.
Kyle O’Reilly defeated NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida in a non-title match
O’Reilly pinned Kushida with a cradle to end a great match. Possibly better than the tag match in being the best bout on the show. The Diamond Mine debuted after the match to attack Kushida. In addition, Adam Cole tangled with O’Reilly in a post-match pull-apart brawl.
Awesome chain wresting and great grappling in the beginning. The pace soon quickened, but they both collided on a double headbutt. The show cut to a commercial break with both on rubber legs. Kushida recovered quicker, and he began to work over O’Reilly during the picture-in-picture break. O’Reilly countered Kushida, and O’Reilly was briefly in control on offense.
O’Reilly and Kushida were going back-and-forth as the show returned from the commercial break. More great grappling and cool counters. This was really getting good as the intensity picked up. They would trade all sorts of strikes, and they traded holds.
After a brainbuster by O’Reilly and a near fall, there was a double down. Kushida went on to smash O’Reilly’s arm on the ring post. Kushida targeted the arm even further. They fought on the ring apron, and O’Reilly was suplexed on the apron by Kushida.
More counters and strikes, and that led to another double down. Kushida kept attempting a Hoverboard Lock. O’Reilly fought to block it as he tried to roll through. O’Reilly even grabbed ahold of his own trunks to block the submission hold. O’Reilly then caught Kushida in a cradle for the deciding pinfall.
Diamond Mine debut
Cole ran in after the match to brawl with O’Reilly. Not only does that help build towards their match in two weeks, it also got O’Reilly out of the ring for the angle that closed the show.
The Diamind Mine attacked Kushida in the debut of the new faction. The stable consists of Roderick Strong, Tyler Rust, and the debuting Hideki Suzuki. Strong laid out Kushida, and the new faction stood over Kushida. Malcolm Bivens is apparently managing The Diamond Mine. He picked up the Cruiserweight Championship belt, and held it for Strong to gaze at. The Diamond Mine is here, and they already have their sights set on a title.
Overall, this was pretty good episode of NXT. Nothing but clean finishes, which is refreshing on a WWE show. The episode then ends with a cliffhanger, building intrigue for next week.
The rivalry between former Undisputed Era stablemates Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly will continue at the Great American Bash.
It was announced tonight that Cole vs. O’Reilly will take place at NXT Great American Bash on Tuesday, July 6. The event is a special episode of NXT television.
On tonight’s NXT, there was a backstage brawl between Cole and O’Reilly that had to be broken up by officials. NXT general manager William Regal announced that O’Reilly and Cole will go one-on-one at the Great American Bash. Regal also said that O’Reilly and Cole could pick their own opponents for next week’s NXT episode.
It will be O’Reilly vs. Kushida on NXT next Tuesday after O’Reilly chose Kushida as his opponent. Cole hasn’t revealed who he’ll be facing next week.
When Cole pushed new NXT authority figure Samoa Joe out of the way and went to keep brawling with O’Reilly, Joe choked out Cole with the Coquina Clutch
At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, O’Reilly defeated Cole in an unsanctioned match. Cole and O’Reilly were then both involved in the fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House this past Sunday. Karrion Kross defeated O’Reilly, Cole, Pete Dunne, and Johnny Gargano to retain the NXT Championship. As O’Reilly had Cole in a submission, Kross put the Kross Jacket on O’Reilly. O’Reilly passed out and Kross retained his title.
This will be the second straight year that NXT has presented a Great American Bash event. Cole vs. O’Reilly is the first match that’s been announced for this year’s show.
