Welcome to WrestlePurists’ coverage of the August 1st episode of WWE NXT.
The show kicks off with Gallus attacking Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo outside of the arena, in the parking lot.
Lyra Valkyria Defeats Jacy Jayne
Before the match, Jayne tells commentary that she is going to finish what she started with Lyra Valkyria. As Lyra is coming down to the ring, Jayne attacks her and the two brawl until the match is started by the official.
This was a fine match to start things off tonight. These two young ladies are improving everytime we see them in the ring.
Valkyria wins with a splash off of the top rope.
TrickMelo Locker Room Segment
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are in the locker room talking about last night’s match with Dragunov and Carmelo’s successful title defense. Trick says that things need to change and he needs to start doing things for him. He doesn’t want to breakup TrickMelo but he needs to be his own man. Carmelo is bummed out, but agrees.
Tony D’Angelo and Stacks Baskstage Interview
McKenzie Mitchell is interviewing Tony D and Stacks backstage while they are with a medical trainer. Tony says that Gallus are dead men walking and that he wants a match with them tonight. Stacks reminds Tony that it will be three on two, but Tony tells him to make the call.
Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio Promo
Rhea and Dominik come down to the ring to talk about Dom’s successful title defense at last nights Great American Bash. Dominik calls himself the greatest Luchador of all time.
This prompts Dragon Lee to come out to the ring. He says he will no longer take the disrespect of Dom’s claims. He calls Rey Mysterio the greatest of all time. Dominik says he is the one that made the Mysterio name relevant. Dragon Lee challenges Dom for a title shot next week, which Dominik accepts. Suddenly, we see Dom’s father, Rey Mysterio appear on the titantron. He says he will be in attendance for the match next week!
Backstage we see Carmelo Hayes and Wes Lee. Lee is down and out about losing three weeks in a row. Hayes tells Lee that he is still feeling the effects of his match with Dragunov. He says that Lee doesn’t understand what it takes to be NXT Champion. At this point, Noam Dar and Oro Mensah show up and declare Noam the Heritage Cup Champion. Noam pokes fun at Lee losing to Dominik Mysterio twice which leads to a brawl that is broken up by officials.
We return from commercial with McKenzie Mitchell interviewing Thea Hail, Andre Chase and Duke Hudson. Thea is distraught from last night’s loss to Tiffany Stratton. She says she never tapped. Andre says that he had to throw in the towel but Thea disagrees. The two begin to argue until Baron Corbin walks up. He tells them that the interview is over. He tells Thea that this job isn’t for everyone and that she peaked Sunday. He tells her that she should pack her things and leave. Andre gets upset and gets in Corbin’s face. Corbin tells him to put his big boy dress pants on and do something about it. Andre says that he will and Corbin walks away smiling.
Dijak Defeats Eddy Thorpe
This was a solid match. It’s always great to see Dijak in the ring. He wins this match against Thorpe with a Cyclone Kick.
After the match, Tony D is on the phone with someone, asking for their help. After a brief few words, he hangs up and tells Channing Lorenzo that “he is on his way.”
We return from commercial backstage with Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan. They are talking about Dana’s kendo stick match with Cora Jade. Dana says that Cora brought out her dark side. Kelani tells her that the fans needed to see that side of her. Dana says that actually enjoyed it and that Kelani now needs to find her own killer instinct.
Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice Defeat Valenti Feroz & Yulisa Leon
Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice win this tag team match by pinfall after Lola hit an impressive roundhouse kick on Yulisa Leon.
This wasn’t the strongest match, but there is plenty of talent between these four women. It feels like NXT has been doing a much better job of highlighting their women’s division as of late.
Noam Dar & Oro Mensah Defeat Wes Lee & Carmelo Hayes
This was a well paced tag match featuring some entertaining offense and solid work from bell to bell.
After some back and forth action, Lee accidently kicks Hayes. As Lee reacts to his mistake, Mensah hits him with a superkick. Noam wins the match with a nova roller.
After the match, Hayes and Lee argue until Hayes leaves the ring in disgust.
We then see Bron Breakker who tells us why he speared Von Wagner last week. He mocks Wagner’s story and calls him soft and a nobody like his father. He tells Wagner to come find him if he doesn’t like what he is saying.
Rhea and Dominik are in the parking lot when they are approached by Axiom who says he can’t wait to watch Dominik lose next week to Dragon Lee. Dominik is confused, as he thinks Axiom is actually Dragon Lee. As Axiom corrects him, Mustafa Ali approaches to confront Dom and Rhea. Ali says that he wasn’t the one who was pinned on Sunday. Axiom starts to argue with Ali for interrupting so Rhea and Dominik walk away. An angry Ali says that he has been disrespected for 6 years and that the North American Title is “his.”
Baron Corbin Andre Chase
Baron Corbin continues his solid in ring work during this NXT run.
Corbin had Andre Chase in a single leg crab when Thea Hail threw in the towel. Luckily for Andre, the official missed this. Agitated, Thea leaves ringside. Chase escapes the hold, but moments later, Corbin hits him with the End of Days and scores the pinfall.
After the match, we see a video package highlighting Roxanne Perez’s experience at The Great American Bash. It shows her family, and all of the buildup to her match with Blair Davenport. We then see highlights from Sunday’s match where Perez defeated Davenport in their Weapons Wild Match.
Backstage, Meta-Four is celebrating their victory when Tyler Bate shows up. He gets Noam to agree to a match for the Heritage Cup Championship.
The Schism In Ring Segment
Joe Gacy says that disobedience and insubordination is not tolerated. He says that two of their members have went against them. They force the members to remove their masks one by one and leave the ring. Believing they are The Creed Brothers, Gacy tells the last two members to remove their masks. To their surprise, it is not the Creed Brothers who then appear on the titantron. They say they are on vacation and no longer in NXT. Gacy says he knows that the brothers are in the arena and orders his followers to find them.
We see more backstage footage from last week where Cora Jade has packed her bags and is offering her goodbye to the women’s locker room.
Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo’s mystery partner is revealed to be Santos Escobar!
Tony D’Angelo, Channing Lorenzo & Santos Escobar Defeat Gallus
This was a fast paced and fun main event. Tony D, Stacks and Escobar win this one after Stacks and Tony hit the “bada bing bada boom.”
After the match, the three stand tall together in the middle of the ring.
After the match we get a Ilja Dragunov promo. He blames Trick Williams for his loss on Sunday, calling him the sole reason he isn’t the NXT Champion. He says he will get his retribution and he won’t stop until Trick is eliminated.
