The final episode of NXT before the Great American Bash & Evolution ended with a Women’s Summit to promote the battle royal this Sunday.
After last week’s taped show, NXT was back with a new episode this week at the Performance Center. Like Raw, the show had two big events to promote with Saturday’s GAB event at Center Stage and Evolution on Sunday, where several of the NXT talents are involved.
RESULTS
*Gauntlet Match: Ricky Saints over Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Jackson Drake
*Charlie Dempsey over Tavion Heights
*Joe Hendry & Mike Santana over Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont
*Kelani Jordan over Lainey Reid
*NXT Tag Team Titles: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger © over Shawn Spears & Niko Vance
Here are the major news items from Tuesday’s program:
NXT Talents Added to Evolution Battle Royal
The show featured a Women’s Summit in the closing segment where Ava listed Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, and Tatum Paxley for the battle royal at Evolution.
It was highlighted with appearances by Stephanie Vaquer, Maxxine, Natalya, Ivy Nile, Zelina Vega, Giulia, and the six NXT women listed for the battle royal, leading to a show-closing brawl as Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley watched on and laughed.
The winner of the battle royal will receive a title shot at Clash in Paris on August 31.
Ricky Saints runs the gauntlet, names stipulation
Ricky Saints opened the show by defeating Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and Jackson Drake to earn a rematch with North American Champion Ethan Page at the Great American Bash.
The three matches were short, but Baylor showed good facial reactions when he sold and bumped well for Saints. The last match was reserved for EVOLVE champion, Drake, who landed on the knees of Saints attempting a Springboard Swanton and was defeated with the Roshambo.
Saints announced that his match with Page on Saturday will be a Falls Count Anywhere match.
The Family’s Final Battle
Adriana Rizzo returned to NXT programming during a sit-down segment with the fractured members of The Family – Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, and Luca Crusifino.
Rizzo went to Ava, and the three will have one final match next week in a triple threat, which they are promoting as “The Final Battle”, which sounds oddly familiar.
They are saving this for Tuesday’s program rather than adding another match to the Great American Bash.
Great Muta & NOAH stars appear
Yes, this was the episode where Keiji Muto made his NXT debut (and he got to keep his name).
A video promoting Saturday’s NXT Championship match featured messages from Muto, Naomichi Marufuji, Ulka Sasaki, Kaito Kiyomiya, and IYO SKY wishing Yoshiki Inamura good luck on Saturday.
There was a face-to-face segment involving Oba Femi and Inamura. Inamura stated he would fight with “honor” (again, very familiar) and called Femi his “biggest challenge”. Femi responded by asking if Inamura can lose with honor, and that he isn’t worthy of unseating him.
Josh Briggs cut a promo on Femi. The audience didn’t react well to Briggs, and a brawl ended the segment.
Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe’s Glamour Workout
There was a series of vignettes where Monroe convinced Grace to take a break from training and go to the salon together.
It was the tried-and-true formula for an “on location” scene where one participant is out of their element, like Tiffany Stratton at Fallon Henley’s farm, and an odd couple pairing like Sol Ruca and Zaria.
Grace warmed up to the beauty treatment and the two bonded, going into Saturday’s tag match against Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley.
Monroe was very good in the segments and the most character work they have done with her, so far, while also cementing her as a babyface as Grace’s friend.
Updated lineup for the Great American Bash
*NXT Championship: Oba Femi © vs. Yoshiki Inamura
*North American Championship: Sol Ruca © vs. Izzi Dame
*North American Championship – Falls Count Anywhere: Ethan Page © vs. Ricky Saints
*Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley vs. Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe
*Jasper Troy vs. Je’Von Evans
*TNA Slammiversary contract signing with Trick Williams, Joe Hendry & Mike Santana
