Posted on 6/24/126 by Bob Magee
NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience
from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
The show begins with NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo in the
office of NXT General Manager Robert Stone. Tony D wants to
know if Naraku signed the contract for their title match.
Stone assures the champ that Naraku will sign tonight while
also slightly gaslighting him. More to come from this story
after the opening bout and throughout the show.
Wade Barrett is back in NXT tonight for color commentary in
the broadcast booth alongside the longtime voice of NXT —
Vic Joseph.
Opening the show in the sound stage is an Evolve title
match.
Aaron Rourke vs. Tristan Angels for the Evolve Championship
—
The match goes through a commercial break. Before the show
cuts to the break, the lights in the soundstage go dark and
a flickering red light illuminates the ring. A cackle rings
out, and Angels is briefly terrified. Shiloh Hill might be
playing mind games with Angels.
Later in the match, the “Mr. NXT” sash becomes involved in
the bout. Angels goes to retrieve his sash outside the ring
(which he stole from Hill last week), and he is dragged
underneath the ring. Presumably more shenanigans from Hill,
as Angels gets back into the ring looking bewildered. Hill
is never identified by name, but was programmed with Angels
in recent weeks.
Back in the ring, a disheveled Angels walks into a pump
kick. Rourke then executes his Merry Go Round (somersault
senton) off the top rope, and the champion hooks a leg to
cover the challenger.
Match result: WWE Evolve Champion Aaron Rourke defeated
Tristan Angels via pinfall to retain his title.
— NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo confronts Naraku in the parking
lot with Robert Stone in tow trying to play peacemaker. Tony
D wants to know if Naraku has the contract. Naraku hands
Tony D the contract. Then comes a fireball gimmick soon
thereafter. D’Angelo opens the contract and is blinded by a
fireball. Robert Stone panics while Naraku offers a sinister
laugh.
D’Angelo leaves in an ambulance after the show returns from
a commercial break. The champ is yelling and threatening to
kill Naraku. Stone watches as the ambulance leaves as sirens
blare. To be continued…
— Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox are both in street clothes
as they meet in the ring for a face-to-face confrontation.
They cut promos on each other, with Shugars arguably gaining
the upper hand in the verbal battle.
Shugars says he does not move scared, but he moves smart
instead. That is why to took out the other members of
Darkstate ahead of his upcoming match against Lennox.
Shugars plays on the idea he is just an indie wrestler
compared to the others in Darkstate. Shugar put emphasis on
him being a wrestler.
Lennox asks which one of them looks more like a superstar,
meaning himself. Darkstate was never supposed to include
Shugars. Lennox insists they took him in to get what they
need from him, and they wil leave him in the past after
Sunday (at The Great American Bash). Shugars claims there is
no Darkstate without him, and was the glue holding them
together.
Shugars puts down both Cutler James and Osiris Griffin
before saying Lennox cannot lace Shuagrs’ boots. Shugars’
wrist tape could burn the wrists of Lennox, and Shugars
boasts that his jock strap would not fit Lennox.
Lennox claims them dropping Shugars was a correction. Lennox
concludes with bold statements, insinuating that Shugars
signed his own death warrant for The Bash on Sunday.
This was a decent go-home segment, albeit far too long. Too
much like community theater instead of a blood feud.
— Comedian Matt Mathews is back on NXT, and he will
apparently be in the corner of Hank & Tank in the next match
on tonight’s card.
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger (with Matt Mathews) vs. Birthright
(Uriah Connors & Stacks with Lexis King, Charlie Dempsey &
Arianna Grace)
—
This is a fun match, and it is really good. Hank & Tank are
over with the audience, and the comedian did not take away
from the match itself while being in the corner. Birthright
looks like bumbling heels as they try to assault the
comedian just before the finish.
At ringside, the comedian has Lexis King’s scepter, and King
wants it back. He hooks the comedian so Charlie Dempsey can
wind up for a punch. The comedian dodges and Dempsey decks
King. Dempsey then goes to punch the comedian, but he ducks
and trips Dempsey, who falls face first into the crotch of
King. Meanwhile in the ring, Hank & Tank execute their
double-team finisher on Stacks. Hank then pins Stacks.
Match result: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Uriah
Connors & Stacks when Hank pinned Stacks.
— Shiloh Hill is interviewed backstage by Sarah Schreiber,
and Hill is asked about Tristan Angels. Hill cuts a good
promo on Angels. Hill insists that he and Angels are not
even. Hill is calm at first before screaming into the camera
and ending with a cackle.
— NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice sits down with her
challenger, Kendal Grey, for a pre-taped contract signing
overseen by Robert Stone. Vice and Grey keep their cool as
they cut promos on each other before signing the contract.
Keanu Carver vs. EK Prosper—
Lots of high flying by Prosper in this bout. Carver plays
monster heel in this retelling of David against Goliath.
Except instead of a slingshot and stone to defeat the larger
foe, Prosper utilizes a sunset flip. Just before the finish,
Prosper takes a Monty Brown Pounce from Carver. Prosper is
on rubber legs, yet he manages to counter a powerbomb with a
sunset flip to hold Carver down for a three count.
Carver gets his heat back after the match by pummeling
Prosper and powerbombing him on the announce desk. Prosper
takes an ugly bump on his neck as the desk implodes
underneath him.
Match result: EK Prosper defeated Keanu Carver via pinfall.
— NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria cuts a promo on
Tatum Paxley in a pre-tape segment where video clips
highlight the upcoming rematch between Zaria and Paxley. The
return bout for the title is set for Great American Bash.
— Robert Stone is angry with Naraku. Stone threatens to
suspend Naraku, who laughs at Stone and scoffs. Naraku says
if Stone does that, he has not title match for The Bash.
Keanu Carver walks by and Stone attempts to scold him for
the attack on Prosper. Carver fires up he will continue to
lay out people until he gets the title match he wants.
Izzi Dame (with The Culling) vs. Arianna Grace (with
Birthright) in a number one contender’s match for the
Women’s Speed Championship
—
This is a tournament final with a three-minute time limit.
The winner gets a title shot at The Great American Bash
against WWE Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair.
With a minute remaining, Dame signals for a finisher. Shawn
Spears is ringside reaching into the ropes wanting a high
five from Dame. That distracts Dame, and she is caught in a
small package for a three count.
Match result: Arianna Grace drafted Izzi Dame via pinfall to
become number one contener for the Women’s Speed
Championship.
After the match, Spears apologizes to Dame as she is upset
with him. In the meantime, Sinclair comes down the ramp to
pose with the title belt in stare down with Grace.
— Robert Stone is ending a phone call with AAA General
Manager Rey Mysterio when Sarah Schreiber enters the office
to interview the NXT GM about the status of the NXT title
match on Sunday. Stone mentions AAA talent will be at The
Bash. Stone then says he will announce who is Naraku’s
opponent later tonight. The Vanity Project interrupts, and
Jackson Drake is lobbies for a match. Stone does not seem
impressed with Vanity Project.
— “NXT Origins” features the journey of Alexa Bliss in the
black-and-gold brand.
Dorian Van Dux & Sean Legacy vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears &
Niko Vance with Izzi Dame) in a tag team match
—
Dame is still very mad at Spears, who remains apologetic
ahead of this tag bout. The match goes through a commercial
break, and angle bookends the match where Vance turns on
Spears.
Van Dux gets to shine after a hot tag. He runs wild before
leaping off the top rope with a big moonsault for a near
fall. Vance jumps in to break up the subsequent pinning
attempt. They trade near falls with Spears getting two and
half after an assisted implant DDT from Vance.
As they go home, Legacy delivers sliced bread on Spears.
Springboard 450 splash by Legacy on Spears, and Van Dux
follows up with a shooting star press. Van Dux then covers
Spears for the deciding pinfall.
Match result: Dorian Van Dux & Sean Legacy defeated Shawn
Spears & Niko Vance when Van Dux pinned Spears.
After the match, Vance helps Spears to his feet before Vance
turns on him. Vance helps him up before clotheslining
Spears. Vance tosses Spears over the ropes, and Vance gives
Spears a chokeslam on the announce desk. For the second time
tonight, the desk implodes. Vance is flanked by Dame as they
stand over a fallen Spears.
— GM Robert Stone heads to the ring holding the NXT title
belt. Stone gets to the ring and announces the entrance of
Naraku. He gets into the ring and gets in the face of Stone.
Naraku demands the championship if Stone has no one to face
Naraku on Sunday.
Mason Rook interrupts the confrontation, and he wants to
fight Naraku for the title. Rook wants he and Naraku to run
it back, but this time have gold on the line.
Out comes Jackson Drake and Vanity Project to a promo on
Stone and Rook. Drake wants the title shot, and he keeps
referring to Rook as “Pork Chop”. That leads to Rook and
Drake having a pull-apart brawl.
Meanwhile, Naraku demands Stone declare him the champ if
there is no one to wrestle for it. That is a swerve, as
Stone informs Naraku that his opponent was always going to
be Tony D’Angelo.
The NXT champion storms to the ring with a large bandage
over part of his face. Spirit of ’76 comeback by D’Angelo as
he trades strikes with Naraku. He targets the knee to escape
the clutches of D’Angelo. Naraku flees the ring, and the
title match at Great American Bash is still on!