Welcome to WrestlePurists’ Coverage of The July 11th Episode of WWE NXT.
Judgement Day In Ring Segment
The show kicks off with Judgement Day making their way to the ring. Finn Balor begins by telling the NXT crowd “daddy’s home.” He says NXT is the place he built and that he’s here to lay down some rules Judgement Day style. He introduces each member one by one to various reactions. Damien Priest cuts a promo on Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes for calling the Judgement Day out last week. Before Dominik Mysterio can speak, Williams and Hayes interrupt. They mock “Dirty Dom.” Hayes says that Finn got the best of him before, but this is “his house now.” He says that TrickMelo run things in NXT. Hayes throws out a challenge for a match tonight. Looks like Judgement Day will oblige.
Tony D Jail Interview
Tony is asked about tonights match and the stipulation that if Channing Lorenzo wins, he becomes a free man. Tony is lacking confidence. He says that Stacks hardly visits him in jail and that he isn’t sure if he can trust him anymore.
Gigi Dolin/Kiana James Video Package
We are shown a video with Gigi Dolin talking about her rivalry with Kiana James. She says the two of them are not that different, but Kiana hides behind lies. Afterwards, we see a very angry Kiana reacting to the video.
Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson) Defeats Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey
Andre hits Dempsey with a flatliner and Chase U wins this spirited tag match by pinfall. Prior to this, Thea Hail put Gulak in a kimura lock on the outside but the referee was unable to see it.
Bron Breakker Locker Room Promo
Bron says Ilja Dragunov made a big mistake getting in his way. He says that there aren’t enough officials there to stop him from breaking him in their match tonight.
Von Wagner and Mr. Stone Performance Center Segment
Inside a darkened performance center ring, Mr Stone and Von Wagner are discussing Von’s attack on Javier Bernal last week. Von says that Javier Bernal’s words reminded him of the horrible treatment he used to get from the kids at school and on the bus. He said that he came to NXT to be a monster, but the crowd cheering him on made him want to to be himself, and that he had Mr. Stone to thank for that.
Cora Jade Defeats Kelani Jordan
Cora Jade Defeats Kelani Jordan by pinfall.
After the match Cora tries to attack Jordan with a kendo stick but Dana Brooke comes in and beats her out of the ring.
Ilja Dragunov Locker Room Promo
Ilja says that Bron will feel his wrath and fury tonight. He then says that his unmatched fury will lead him to the NXT Championship.
NXT Underground Recap
We are shown a video package around last week’s NXT Underground match. Afterwards, backstage, Eddy Thorpe thanks Gable Stevenson for his help training for the match. Gable says he loves being in NXT but has to think about his future.
We then see a group of wrestlers praising Thorpe’s performance. An unimpressed Dijak interrupts and says that there is no way that Thorpe is the toughest guy in NXT after that match.
NXT Championship #1 Contender Match: Ilja Dragunov Defeats Bron Breakker
Wow, what an excellent match here. This was a very physical contest between two impressive talents. Both of these guys really showed out tonight.
Ilja wins the match by pinfall and will face Carmelo Hayes at the Great American Bash.
Wes Lee Backstage Interview
Wes Lee is getting interviewed backstage when he is interrupted by Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. Dominik says that he is answering Wes Lee’s open challenge for the NXT North American Championship. Wes says that he hasnt been doing open challenges lately but he can make a match official right now. Dominik dismisses this and says that he will give Wes a week to get ready for the match.
Baron Corbin Vignette
Baron contemplates his future. He talks about the last 8 years and says that he is fighting fate. He drives to a strange place and sees a hooded figure.
Tiffany Stratton Defeats Ivy Nile
Tiffany Stratton hits that gorgeous moonsault and wins the match by pinfall.
Afterwards, Stratton attempts to call out the crowd for chanting “you tapped out” during her match but they boo her out of the ring.
We then see Thea Hail, Duke Hudson and Andre Chase in the locker room talking about what talking about what Thea learned from Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey. Duke says that Thea is getting to Stratton, that she deserves a rematch for the NXT women’s championship and that she will make Stratton tap out again.
Blair Davenport Interview
Blair says that Roxanne Perez was an impressive champion but now she has arrived. She says that when she is done with Roxanne, she will leave her on the shelf for good.
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo Defeats Joe Coffey
Stacks defeats Joe Coffey by pinfall. Tony D is now a free man.
Early in the match, Stacks lays down for Coffey, but kicks out. Coffey tells Stacks that they had a deal, but Stacks says he is no snitch. Later on, we get a collect call from Tony D played overhead telling Stacks that they took the bait.
After the match we see Ivy Nile backstage. She is confronted by The Schism. She accuses Joe Gacy of being the hooded figure that cost Diamond Mine last week’s match. Gacy denies this. They say that The Schism tree is thriving and that they always have room for one more.
Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz Interview
Yulisa and Valentina are getting interviewed when Los Latharios comes in to hit on them. Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer come in and send them away.
Judgement Day (Finn Balor & Damien Priest) Defeats Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Finn Balor pins Carmelo Hayes after hitting the Coupe De Grace.
Final Thoughts
This was a solid episode overall. We are really starting to see some of these stories come together now and business is picking up as we build to The Great American Bash.
