NXT: Chase University captures the heart and gold

Three years removed from the infamous NXT 2.0 rebrand, the comeback story of the white-and-gold brand is personified most by Chase University: a once corny afterthought turned into a fan-favorite unit. They headlined tonight’s episode by regaining the NXT Tag Team Championships in another standout match, making Orlando erupt again for the recurring, big Chase U victory. Miraculously, the sweater-wearing professor might be the heart and soul of the Performance Center.

Entering that PC first tonight was Wes Lee, who turned on The Rascalz last week at The Great American Bash. “It’s just time for me to start taking what’s mine,” he said in a brief interview. NXT Champion Ethan Page took over with an “All Ego” microphone sleeve to celebrate his victory over Oro Mensah in-ring, calling NXT “N-X-Me.” But Joe Hendry interrupted – the TNA outsider who’s actually making the brand his – to stake his claim at the NXT Championship to unanimous “we believe” chants. He listed believers like Kurt Angle, Booker T, and Shawn Michaels, but before his sing-along could begin, Lee superkicked him to spoil the party. 

After, NXT General Manager Ava announced a gauntlet eliminator match to determine Roxanne Perez’s challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship at No Mercy. The six competitors, who haven’t gotten an opportunity yet, were chosen at random backstage: Wren Sinclair, Adriana Rizzo, and Sol Ruca were selected first preceding tonight’s opening introductions.

Tony D’Angelo (c) vs Charlie Dempsey – Heritage Cup Championship

Sinclair fills the absence in No Quarter Catch Crew left by Tavion Heights, who’s having an unexpectedly breakout excursion at Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. The competitors commence in some real graps for an even round one, and D’Angelo grits his way into Forgetta Bout It to score in round two. After picture-in-picture, Dempsey lands a post-round cheapshot that Sinclair slaps him over, ultimately leading to a NQCC technical pin in round four. The match persists as a beautiful mix of Greco-Roman and British wrestling respectively until American shenanigans from Stacks and Myles Borne allows Sinclair to interfere. Dempsey capitalizes with a butterfly suplex to regain the Heritage Cup Championship, bringing the trophy back home.

Winner: Charlie Dempsey

Tatum Paxley explodes on Lola Vice for being a “popular and cool MMA fighter that has had everything handed to them.” After, a promo package highlights the seemingly unending feud between Eddy Thorpe and Lexis King, stemming from the latter’s hate for EDM music – no, really.

Eddy Thorpe vs Lexis King

King jumpstarts the match during Thorpe’s entrance, and Booker T shares his hate for “techno-pop” like a real unc. King targets Thorpe’s right hand that he injured during a DJ session and eventually hits The Coronation for three. But neither the fans or production appear to care as the next segment starts abruptly.

Winner: Lexis King

Trick Williams responds to Pete Dunne’s victory last week in a vignette detailing a shared backstory. At 18, Williams says three of his college football teammates jumped him – it didn’t end favorably, but it coincided with his motto of “figuring it out.” Dunne is interviewed thereafter, claiming that he’s moving forward to the NXT Championship. Cameras smoothly transition to the background makeup chairs where Meta-Four bickers with Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne about next week’s six-women gauntlet with three remaining names to be announced later. 

Lola Vice vs Tatum Paxley

Women’s North American Champion Kehlani Jordan joins commentary and commends Paxley for their match last week. Meanwhile, Wendy Choo comes from behind to choke out the champion, but Vice holds steady with a spinning backfist on Paxley for the victory. The competitors embrace in respect, but Choo holds the title high like a “nightmare on our hands” as Vic Joseph aptly describes.

Winner: Lola Vice

Robert Stone spins for the next three competitors: Jaida Parker, Kendal Grey, and Karmen Petrovich. Brinley Reece congratulates her friend Petrovich, but Izzi Dame bluntly says she’s hated her since their 2022 tryout. 

Wes Lee enters the ring to rare jeers, explaining that Zach Wentz let him down again –  losing their match last week and leaving NXT two years ago. Lee says he achieved greatness on his own in an oddly neutral, awkward promo, suggesting a one-on-one match at No Mercy. “I wish you the best in all your future endeavors,” he says before Pete Dunne and Joe Hendry interrupt consecutively for a pull-apart brawl between the three gunning for the NXT Championship.

Regrouped NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom say they’re “locked in” for tonight’s main event. After, North American Champion Oba Femi cuts off Tony D’Angelo once again to talk down his upcoming open-challenge competitor.

Duke Hudson apologizes to Ridge Holland and thanks him for getting Chase University another chance at the tag titles. The Brit expresses his gratitude, hyping up Chase U like the wholesome family they’ve become.

Oba Femi (c) vs Otis – North American Championship

The competitors had a brief meat-off on RAW last night, prompting Otis to accept the open challenge. They lock horns and slap meat, and Otis gains the upper hand with a shoulder tackle before break. Femi sends him into the steel steps with an unearthly snap for his size, continuing the assault with rapid uppercuts. Akira Tozawa eats a chop for the love of the game, firing up Otis to hit The Caterpillar and splash for two. But Femi reverses momentum with a humongous powerbomb, retaining the gold in yet another impressive showing.

Winner: Oba Femi

In an orchestrated vignette, Shawn Spears encourages Brooks Jensen to call him his leader and mentor. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe watch on in disgust, and meanwhile, Hank Walker and Tank Ledger game-plan for their match against The Good Brothers next week.

Izzi Dame vs Brinley Reece

Footage recaps the WWE SummerSlam tryout, overlooked by Shawn Michaels and CM Punk. It’s like an episode of Succession (I’ve never seen Succession). Dame and Reece competed in the same tryout in 2022, and commentary props it up like a Limp Bizkit “My Way” face-off. Vic Joseph does offer a witty line about rookie Dame already considering herself a legend, as she sat with the Steiner Brothers in the legends section at SummerSlam. She delivers a big boot and powerslam for victory in tonight’s Level Up showcase.

Winner: Izzi Dame

NXT General Manager Ava reiterates next week’s six-women gauntlet match and announces a triple-threat between Wes Lee, Joe Hendry, and Pete Dunne to determine NXT Champion Ethan Page’s challenger at No Mercy. Roxanne Perez walks in to disingenuously gloat, and the new signees can’t come soon enough.

Ashonte “Thee” Adonis admires the selection of women’s rostermates, but none of them budge. Dion Lennox contrastingly sits and reads a book called It Ends With Us. “Oh, really? Well it can end with us next week in the ring,” Adonis claps back.

Chase University vs Nathan Frazer and Axiom (c) – NXT Tag Team Championships

Commentary debates whether Ridge Holland has been good for Chase University, as he got the squad tonight’s tag title match. They’re definitely a stronger unit, literally, but the champions’ speed gains the upper hand before picture-in-picture. Holland receives the hot tag from Andre Chase to manhandle the smaller opposition with ease, but Frazer comes back with a 450 Splash. Tag specialist Chase connects with an assisted double-stomp, but the champions up the ante with a superplex-brainbuster combo for a big near-fall. Chase, arguably the heart and soul of this era’s NXT, gets Orlando standing for his comeback ending in an assisted backstabber for two. Axiom hits a top-rope Spanish Fly on Holland, Chase knocks Frazer off the ropes, and Holland capitalizes with a spike DDT for three in a heartwarming eruption.

Winners: Chase University