Posted on 7/23/125 by Bob Magee
It’s busy times for WWE’s formerly-black-and-gold brand! The
NXT roster has been through The Great American Bash,
Evolution and TNA Slammiversary since it’s last episode an
there are doin’s a-transpirin’!
-There was a nice nod to Ozzy Osbourne (RIP!) off the top as
the traditional footage of wrestlers arriving for work
kicked off the show. The card was run down with Vic Joseph
and Corey Graves and Booker T arriving to a great Houston
ovation. Booker announced that the show would begin with an
8-person surprise Mixed Tag Team match!
Mixed Tag Team Match: NXT Women’s North American Champion
Sol Ruca, Zaria and NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs
The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum
Paxley)
The Culling jumped their opponents off the bell, but things
settled down with Hank and Spears facing off. A quick tag to
Vance and he and Hank traded punches until Spears tagged
back in. Hank Sent Spears face first into the turnbuckle and
Tank tagged in with a Senton.
Spears got a quick tag to Paxley and she and Zaria went back
and forth. Ruca jumped in to cut off Dame interfering and
the men came back in. Then, it broke down into a straight up
brawl culminating with a 4-person slam and quadruple splash
from the Hank, Tank, Zaria and Ruca side.
Hank and Tank isolated Spears in their corner and traded
tags to try and take him out. Spears ducked Tank and Vance
hopped in with a devastating clothesline. Vance worked the
arm of Tank and Dame added a kick to the face through the
ropes for good measure.
Vance and Spears double teamed Tank while the crowd chanted
for Ruca. Vacne went to the top rope and tried a headbutt,
but Tank dodged it and reached for a hot tag. Spears cut it
off though and he and Tank battled in the center of the
ring.
Paxley and Ruca were tagged in next and Ruca took out Paxley
and Dame with a little help from Zaria. Zaria went for a
pin, but Dame broke it up. The men tagged back in and Tank
used Hank as a weapon to take out Vance. Spears began
superkicking anything that moved.
Dame went up top and flung herself onto Hank and Tank on the
outside. Not to be undone, Ruca did the same thing to Spears
Paxley and Zaria were in the ring and Spears tried to
interfere, but Zaria hit him with a face breaker. Paxley
tried for a quick rollup, but the lights went out and
DarkState appeared int he crowd!
When the lights came back on, Paxley had Zaria in a pin and
got the 1-2-3 to give the Culling the win.
Match Result: The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi
Dame and Tatum Paxley) defeated Sol Ruca, Zaria and Hank &
Tank
Super fun match to kick things off! Ruca is really popular
with the NXT crowd and I’ve always been a big Shawn Spears
fan. I like the Culling a lot and they are a great foil for
Hank & Tank in the tag division!
-Jordynne Grace was shown arriving to the arena. She was met
by NXT GM Ava who said that she was not allowed in the
building. Grace promised to get her hands on Blake Monroe
anyways.
-NXT Women’s Champion & TNA Knockouts champion Jacy Jayne
came to the ring with the rest of Fatal Influence, Fallon
Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. Jayne grabbed a mic and celebrated
her win, declaring herself the best. She was very adamant
she did it all by herself to prove everyone wrong. She is a
history maker!
Suddenly Lash Legend’s music hit and the Legend herself
joined the conversation. Legend congratulated Jayne and said
that Jayne was about to begin her fall from the top. Legend
said that it’s time for her moment, and suddenly more music!
Jaida Parker came down to the ring. Parker declared that she
has a direct line to the NXT Women’s title and Legend can
step aside. Jayne said that they should figure it out for
themselves and Fatal Influence jumped Parker and Legend.
Parker and Legend cleared the ring and began jawing at each
other as the segment slammed into:
-Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints having a conversation in the
back about Jasper Troy. Evans gave Saints some advice: Don’t
over think it.
Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy
Saints fought Ethan Page at the Great American Bash in a
brutal Falls Count Anywhere match. When that match spilled
over into the back, Saints and Page stumbled onto Troy, who
was either eating his lunch or angrily leaning against a
wall lamenting a loss to Je’von Evans. Troy decided to take
that out on Saints and NXT GM Ava made this match so that
they can properly destroy each other.
If you’re just joining us, Troy is a very big, very angry
man. Saints needed to use his quickness and agility to get
around the big man, but it didn’t work well off the top.
Troy sent Saints into the corner and Clotheslined him on the
ring apron (the most revolutionary part of the ring!).
Troy hoisted Saints up on his shoulder and hit a spinning
slam for the first near fall of the match. Troy grabbed
Saints again and threw him out of the ring. Saints clutched
his wrist as Troy exited the ring, picked him out and
carried him back into the ring.
Saints tried his hardest to fight back, but a trio of big
splashes from Troy left him writhing in the ring. Troy added
one more splash for good measure, but Saints managed to kick
out. Troy punched Saints in the stomach so hard his wrist
tape started coming off.
Every time Saints started gaining some offense, Troy would
hammer him back down. Troy began literally throwing Saints
around the ring, hoisting him up on his shoulders. Saints
wriggled free, but Troy decided a Bear Hug was in order and
Troy ragdolled him.
Saints got desperate and bit Troy on the head. Saints lured
Troy out of the ring and laid some haymakers on him. Troy
tried to punch back but Saints ducked and Troy hit the ring
post. Troy shoved Saints back into the ring, favouring his
hand.
Saints went up top and hit a high crossbody followed by a
spinning DDT. It wasn’t enough though as Troy kicked out at
2. Keeping up the momentum, Saints sent them both outside
over the top rope. Troy got to his feet first and began
menacing the Ref. Saints used that to hop on Troy’s back and
they battled up the entrance ramp.
The Ref tried to get them back into the ring, but the entry
ramp collapsed on Saints! Troy hit a senton bomb on him
through the collapsed metal ramp! The ref began a count in
the ring and Troy staggered back, just beating the count and
getting the win over Saints!
Match Result: Jasper Troy defeated Ricky Saints via Countout
Wow! The collapse of the ramp may have been a little
premature, but IF they needed to call an audible, they did
it seamlessly. Troy is an awesome force and I think if they
can give him some good creative, he’ll be a big star.
-Next, tribute was paid to 2021 Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne
who’s involvement with WWE goes all the way back to
Wrestlemania 2.
The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams
Over the weekend, Williams defeated Joe Hendry and Mike
Santana in a Triple Threat Match at TNA Slammiversary to
retain the TNA World Championship. However, his mouth got
the best of him and he badmouthed the Undertaker’s WWE LFG
team. Taker, lacking things to do with his time these days,
would like a word with the TNA Champion about it.
Williams made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic.
Williams talked about his victory at Slammiversary and said
that he was undeniably the greatest TNA Champion of all
time. Williams said that he will drop anyone in his way.
Williams said that the LFG team told on him to the
Undertaker. Williams gave taker props, but he’s never held
down two brands at the same time like Williams. He then said
that LFG has made the Undertaker soft. He then called Taker
down to the ring.
A giant DONG rang out, but quickly switched to the American
Badass music and out strode the Undertaker. He walked to the
ring (stepping around the hole Ricky Saints left in the
ramp) and got a mic. The music faded and Taker stood
silently, considering what he would say while the crowd
chanted for him.
Eventually, Taker began speaking, calling Williams a Dead
Man Walking. Taker admired William’s cowhide leather outfit
and said that Williams had it all… except respect. Taker
said that Williams just isn’t the same guy with the TNA
title as he was with the NXT title. NXT Williams was hungry,
he said. He had that “daawg” in him.
Undertaker said that TNA Williams isn’t that guy anymore.
With his current attitude, he won’t keep the TNA
Championship for long. Taker said that he tries to teach his
LFG team to not have an attitude and Williams interrupted,
saying he doesn’t give a damn about the LFG team! No one is
as good as he is!
Undertaker offered Williams one more piece of advice: Don’t
step to an OG (Taker being the OG). Williams looked
terrified as Undertaker promised to make him famous.
Williams tried to sucker punch Taker, but he immediately
goozled him and hit him with a vintage Taker chokeslam! The
segment ended with Williams lying in the ring.
-Back from a commercial, Fatal Influence were discussing who
would take on Jaida Parker and Lash Legend. Michelle McCool
joined them and made some suggestions. They headed off to
Ava’s office to make things official.
Blake Monroe vs. Wren Sinclair
Monroe had a heck of a week going back to Great American
Bash. There, she made her NXT/WWE in-ring debut in a tag
match with Jordynne Grace in an eventual loss to Fatal
Influence. Then, at Evolution, she turned on Grace, costing
her the NXT Women’s Title in a match with Jacy Jayne. Grace
had promised to be out there somewhere looking for revenge
and caught in the middle is Sinclair, who was big-upped by
her friends in the No Quarter Catch Crew earlier in the
show.
The two locked up and Monroe took control, sending Sinclair
to the corner. She raked Sinclair’s head along the ropes and
and had her until Sinclair hit a big back elbow. Sinclair
tried to employ the technical style of the NQCC and it threw
Monroe off at first.
Monroe regained control with a sling blade followed by a
tight chinlock while wrenching her arm behind her. Sinclair
fought out of it with an armdrag and some big chops. Monroe
sent Sinclair face first into the ropes and then a big head
butt.
Monroe hit a big slam and pinned Sinclair, getting her first
NXT singles victory.
Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Wren Sinclair
After the match, Monroe grabbed a mic but before she could
say anything, Jordynne Grace appeared through the crowd and
headed right for Monroe. Grace battled security allowing
Monroe to grab her from behind and DDT her into a steel
chair!
The match was pretty good, essentially a glorified squash,
but I’m loving the feud between Grace and Monroe. They are
both excellent at this pro wrestling thing and I can’t wait
to see them go one on one.
-Back from commercial, NXT North American Champion Ethan
Page was in the ring with a podium. Next to him was a second
podium with a belt under a black cloth. Page said that he
would be bringing more class to the title than the 17
Americans that had previously held it.
Page talked about his parents being immigrants from the
Ukraine and that he was born in Canada. He unfurled a set of
Canadian flags and said that the title would no longer
represent the continent of North America, because America is
a lie. It should represent the pure dominance of Canada over
the rest of North America.
Page said the was born in Canada but made in America which
makes him the greatest North American alive. He tossed the
NXT North American Championship Belt to the side and
unveiled a new version of it with a Canadian flag as the
strap.
Page listed the various reasons that he feels Canada is
better than America or Mexico, including hotter women,
cleaner air and being nice to each other. He said that the
USA is in HIS North America and as the North American
Champion, he takes great pride in holding the title. But
that pales in comparison to the pride he feels about being
Canadian.
He then asked the audience to rise as he sung the Canadian
National Anthem. He began singing but was cut off by an
arriving Santino Marella, TNA Director of Authority!
Marella made his way to the ring and said that Page should
be ashamed of himself. Marella lives in Canada and he said
that Canadians don’t think like Page. He said that Page
couldn’t relate to the people of North America because he is
a “bumhole boy.”
Page said that Marella should go back to TNA and Marella
said that someone with dignity, honor and pride should hold
the North American title. He then challenged Page to a match
next week. Page said that he wouldn’t do that, he’d do it
RIGHT NOW!
Page turned around and Marella had the cobra ready for him!
Page grabbed his new belt and bailed as the Commentary team
speculated about the match happening next week!
-Backstage, Trick Williams was looking around every corner
for the Undertaker, trying to avoid him. That set him up to
run into NXT Champion Oba Femi though and the two stared
each other down as the show went to commercial.
-Back from Commercial, Yoshiki Inamura met with Je’Von
Evans. Inamura was wondering if he’d been a bad friend to
Josh Briggs. He likes Briggs, but not always how he thinks.
Evans said sometimes you can love someone, but not like
them.
-The scene transitioned to the No Quarter Catch Crew
lamenting Wren Sinclair’s loss. Suddenly, Bubba Ray Dudley
appeared. He congratulated Wren on a good match and said
that he was going to set up a match between Charlie Dempsey
and Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he can leave the Crew.
Then, Lexis King wandered by and accused Dempsey of not
really being deaf. Dempsey left and that was the end of the
segment. Weird.
-Then, the match was made official: Next week, North
American Champion Ethan Page will defend his title against
TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella!
NXT Championship Triple Threat Match: Yoshiki Inamura vs.
Josh Briggs vs. Oba Femi (c)
At Great American Bash, Femi and Inamura had a slugfest that
saw Femi retain the NXT title. The bigger issue was that
Briggs, Inamura’s best friend, kept trying to interfere on
his behalf. Not wanting to win the title in a “dishonorable”
way, Inamura wasn’t pleased with Briggs’ interference.
Briggs thinks Inamura was being “too nice.” The question is
will they work together in this triple threat? Or will Femi
be able to stand back and let these two take each other out?
Off the bell, Femi sent Briggs to the outside and he and
Inamura began clubbing each other in the corners. Femi
flipped Inamura over which allowed Briggs to jump in a get a
quick splash. Femi bounced between Inamura and Briggs before
sending them into opposite corners.
Imamura got a big slam on Femi but during the count, Briggs
“inadvertently” stepped on the Ref’s hand, breaking the
count. In the confusion, Femi delivered a double Chokeslam
to both men. Femi focused on Briggs, but Briggs sent Femi
into the corner and Inamura began stomping him.
Inamura went for a cover and Briggs stepped towards him to
break up the pin, but Femi kicked out and the two eyed each
other. Briggs then introduced a chair into the ring.
Inamoura did not like that dishonorable move and Briggs
slammed him onto Femi for his trouble. Inaumra then returned
the favor and the two began working together.
Briggs went for a cover, but Inamura didn’t break it up.
Femi kicked out and stalked Briggs into the corner, setting
him up on the second rope. Inamura grabbed Femi from below
in an Electric Chair position. Inamura threw him backwards
and Femi dragged Briggs down with him.
Briggs went for a quick cover, but Femi kicked out. Briggs
seemed to think that Inamura caused the kickout and the two
got angry at each other. Inamura was sent out of the ring by
Femi, who was then chokeslammed by Briggs, resulting in a
two-count.
Briggs and Femi fought in the ring and Inamura returned,
charging at Femi. Femi leapt into the air and Inamure
speared Briggs by mistake. Inamura then lifted Femi and hit
a sit-down powerbomb. The ref started counting, but Briggs
pulled him out. The ref jumped back in and tried to count
again, but Briggs put Femi’s arm on the ropes.
That made Inamura mad and he screamed at Briggs while laying
Femi out for a big splash. As he mad the pin though, Briggs
broke it up with a moonsault. Briggs went for the cover, but
Femi kicked out at two.
Briggs and Inamura had enough at that point and started
trading chops and punches. Inamura gave as good as he got
and Briggs hit a massive lariat. That brought Femi back in
who hit a powerbomb on Briggs and got the pin to retain his
title.
Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Yoshiki Inamura and Josh
Briggs
After the match, Briggs ran over Inamura at ringside. The
scene switched to the back where Je’Von Evans was still
trying to figure out what he is going to do next. The
Undertaker approached and offered him some advice: Keep
going after the biggest dog in the yard. Evans considered
that as the show went off the air.
Great triple threat main event tonight! The story was
obviously the dissolving of the friendship between Briggs
and Inamura, but Femi looked great as always. He didn’t
steal a victory, he earned it through smarts and picking his
moments. NXT is chock full of talent right now and I can’t
wait to see what’s next!