NXT will keep saying Joe Hendry’s name, because the TNA wrestler is now officially a recurring character. He joined Trey Miguel and Zach Wentz of The Rascalz tonight in calling Orlando their second home, heading most of the excitement on the white-and-gold brand as outsiders. Holding down the fort though was homegrown North American Champion Oba Femi and, believe it or not, Chase University as school MVP Duke Hudson challenged for the title in a breakout main event. From one meme wrestler in Hendry to a meme university in Chase U, the chronically online fanbase ate well.
The Rascalz vs Gallus
The trios make opening remarks enroute, and Gallus says they hate everyone in TNA, including “that walking meme.” It’s the Rascalz’ return match after four years – Trey Miguel’s first in NXT and Zach Wentz’ homecoming to “welcome back” chants. While Wes Lee is the grown-into frontrunner, their offense is equally flashy, flooring all of Gallus down with running strikes mid-match. Vic Joseph says the meme name, and as prophesied, Joe Hendry appears to a warm welcome as he joins commentary before picture-in-picture. Wentz makes a speedy comeback, and Miguel continues the trio’s total nonstop action that devolves into their signature, almost notorious assisted flips. An elevated double stomp from Lee grants the Rascalz a win, but Gallus deserves a hand for playing the punching bags throughout.
Winners: The Rascalz
Hendry narrates his own recap package, highlighting last week’s impromptu duo with Trick Williams in a victory over NXT Champion Ethan Page and Shawn Spears. Later, Page is met by habitual attacker Oro Mensah in General Manager Ava’s office, but instead of accepting an NXT Championship match, the champion defers to the randomly selected Dante Chen. Ava’s presence, which she has none of, is oddly enough to keep “on sight” Mensah at bay.
Chase University is interviewed before a chance at the North American Championship tonight, and meanwhile, Ridge Holland is forced to restrain Thea Hail from Roxanne Perez. They leave Andre Chase and Riley Osborne to express their confidence in school MVP Duke Hudson – who despite truthfully having potential, is tonight’s meal for Oba Femi.
NXT Women’s Champion Perez talks in-ring, putting on her see-through mean girl act. She claims to be on-track to break records held by Charlotte Flair, Asuka, and other actual NXT greats. But the realness comes in mentioning Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer’s online hype over her, and Hail eventually interrupts to stake her claim at Great American Bash. Perez hypocritically degrades her challenger as a “little girl.” and Holland returns to separate a short-lived brawl.
In the locker room, Women’s North American Championship Kehlani Jordan is opposingly optimistic about newcomers Giulia and Vaquer. She plans to up her game until Wendy Choo stands behind her menacingly. They can’t come soon enough.
Lola Vice is interviewed about her loss at Heatwave, and she proudly recalls taking five Pop Roxes in defeat. Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyx interrupt to tell the rookie to retreat back to American Top Team, which was in hindsight a faction with more cohesion than this.
Je’Von Evans vs Brooks Jensen
With Henley seemingly directionless, her former teammates Jensen and Josh Briggs begrudgingly reunite after a lackluster split for all. Briggs calls Jensen his responsibility after months of rogue invasions ending in Evans’ backstage assault. The latter’s trademark bouncy offense is stifled by a surprising RVD-like draped leg drop on the announce desk, and Jensen retains control after break. Evans comes back with an effortless springboard hurricanrana and crossbody before Shawn Spears appears ringside. Jensen separates him from Briggs, and the distraction allows Evans to connect with his beautiful springboard cutter for victory; like the theme song says, that boy is indeed bouncy. Jensen blindsides the winner post-match to a disgruntled Briggs, and Spears watches in the shadows of their dissension.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
Charlie Dempsey interrupts the D’Angelo Family’s card game, and Tony D’Angelo commends his “trunk tactic” on Damon Kemp. Dempsey asks, hypothetically of course, what happens if a witness saw, but D’Angelo leaves that issue to him.
Trick Williams asks for advice, over phone, from former rival Ilja Dragunov about getting the NXT Championship back. The diagnosis isn’t assuring, and he attempts to get a second opinion from Pete Dunne, who coldly says, “Figure it out.”
Ethan Page (c) vs Dante Chen – NXT Championship
Chen is interviewed beforehand about being Page’s first title defense, saying, “I’ve learned when you get your moment, you’ve got to maximize it.” He has strong, concentrated support from the Orlando faithful who buy into the multiple near-fall roll-ups. But a pump kick and Ego’s Edge puts it away, giving Page the victory before Oro Mensah attacks. The champion reverses with a DDT and a smile, but the “Main Man” comes back with two Rolling Thunder kicks, counting his own three-count as NXT’s new heroic challenger.
Winner: Ethan Page
A vignette for Duke Hudson highlights his years-long tenure in NXT, going from an afterthought gambler to the legitimate MVP of Chase University. It’s evident why the turn was nixed with great lines like: “I often say it’s not about Chase me, it’s about Chase U!”
Joe Coffey mistakenly says his name, and Joe Hendry appears. “I’d be upset too if somebody just strolled in and became the most talked-about superstar in all of NXT,” Hendry says before declaring he’s here to stay. Fellow Scots Gallus discredit his worth to Scotland but generously namedrop Drew McIntyre as a true local hero.
Izzi Dame vs Tatum Paxley
Paxley starts by crawling under Dame, but the silliness is justified by some smooth offense. Powerhouse Dame reverses momentum before Wendy Choo appears ringside, but after sending her opponent into the post, Paxley connects with her finisher for the pinfall. Choo hands the winner her misplaced Dame doll, finding somebody to match her freak.
Winner: Tatum Paxley
Duke Hudson thanks Ridge Holland for getting him tonight’s match against Oba Femi, vowing that the North American Champion can be defeated. “F- yes, he can!” Andre Chase says before a hand-on-deck “Chase U!”
New NXT signee Cedric Alexander talks opportunity while Ashonte “Thee” Adonis is preoccupied with the opportunity of the women’s locker room. He holds up Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend before Meta-Four member Oro Mensah stands up for them. “You know I love trouble,” says a newly confident Adonis.
Lola Vice vs Jacy Jayne
The trio of Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx’s motive of harassing rookies falls through with the latter’s lack of experience and the others’ inability to climb the ladder. “I’m the exception,” Nyx said in their earlier segment, which is a rare weak cop-out for NXT storylines. Vice impresses with leg strikes, and the finishing spinning backfist hits every time. But the trio commits a three-on-one assault, and evening the odds are Karmen Petrovich and Sol Ruca to complete the “rookie” squad.
Winner: Lola Vice
Tatum Paxley asks Kehlani Jordan if she wants to play with her Izzi Dame doll. “We’re too old to be playing with dolls,” Jordan declines before Paxley pulls out a new one of her likeness.
Cameras catch Ethan Page before exiting the building, and the NXT Champion emphasizes that Oro Mensah didn’t pin him. “For the record, none of this bothers me… and he didn’t pin me,” Page insists.
OTM vs The O.C.
Jaida Parker and Michin start the alphabet soup war, and Lucien Price overpowers his opposition thereafter. Luke Gallows reverses momentum over Bronco Nima, and Karl Anderson retains control with two neckbreakers. Michin gives Nima Eat Defeat, leading to Magic Killer for a cold victory after two previous losses to OTM. What’s next for this rivalry, three more matches?
Winners: The O.C.
Wren Sinclair blackmails the No Quarter Catch Crew into joining the group, potentially, after seeing them stuff Damon Kemp into their trunk – her and about 600,000 viewers. After, Lexis King crashes Eddy Thorpe’s DJ set, and security is forced to separate before their match next week.
Duke Hudson vs Oba Femi (c) – North American Championship
It’s a testament to Femi’s young career to already elicit big-fight feel, not just because both competitors are roughly 6’5”. Hudson loses the bull fight but fights back with a hurricane-sized hurricanrana before picture-in-picture. The champion dominates thereafter, manhandling Hudson with ease until running into a big boot. The latter capitalizes with an outside dive and the Childhood Dream, or Stratusfaction in layman’s terms, but Femi recuperates with a chokeslam for two. The pops keep growing; Hudson connects with a top-rope sunset flip, Femi slams him onto the announce desk and ultimately hits Fall From Grace to retain in a spectacular TV main event.
Winner: Oba Femi
Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen banter through a crowded NXT parking lot, and the latter suggests a no disqualifications match next week. Jensen drives away in the passenger seat, leaving the question: who took the wheel?
NXT 7/16/24
Orlando, FL
Femi and Hudson are those guys, and Chase U consistently proves its worth. What isn’t consistent are NXT’s hit-or-miss storylines, but those like Page-Mensah are intriguing weekly television. It’s commendable to make women’s wrestling a forefront in NXT, but again, Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer need to bring the hits quick.