While NXT’s acclaimed women’s division looks ahead to WWE Evolution on July 13, the NXT’s men’s division looks to TNA. Current TNA Champion Trick Williams defends against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana at TNA Slammiversary on July 20 with a contract signing happening at NXT Great American Bash on July 12.
Wes Lee vs Joe Hendry
TNA Champion Williams joins the booth and greets a delighted Booker T. Despite the downers online, Orlando still believes in Hendry and sends a warm welcome. They pop for a ringside clothesline preceding commercial, but Lee capitalizes thereafter with a suicide dive via interference from The High Ryze. Lee hits a second-rope Phoenix Splash, Hendry makes a comeback to “we believe” chants, and Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe get involved once again. Santana arrives to even the odds, and Hendry hits Standing Ovation for victory. Fighting to end “Trick-N-A,” the TNA guys are seemingly the most popular in NXT.
Winner: Joe Hendry
After Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo beat Tony D’Angelo last week for the vacant Heritage Cup Championship, Luca Crusifino calls out “The Don” to prove his loyalty. Lorenzo appears, thanking Crusifino for inadvertently helping him win. Crusifino then drops D’Angelo with a right and follows with another for Lorenzo. “My loyalty lies with Luca Crusifino,” he says.
NXT Champion Oba Femi is interviewed about tonight’s number-one contenders match between Yoshiki Inamura and Jasper Troy. Inamura steps in, announcing that he’s hungry and ready. “I am not the hunted – I am the hunter,” Femi responds.
Lexis King vs Myles Borne
Florida Gators George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp spectate ringside after their run-in with the former. Borne fittingly hits a gator roll, but King recuperates with a dropkick and superplex. King’s offense looks surprisingly smooth, and maybe his new trunks help his aerodynamics. Borne hits his own signature dropick and Zig Zag for victory, celebrating with the Gators-branded WWE title ringside.
Winner: Myles Borne
In a vignette, Darkstate says they thrive on chaos but deny attacking NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox are obvious standouts, and Cutler James is there too.
Thea Hail vs Lainey Reid
Reid interrupted NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne a few weeks ago, and she’s been abruptly inserted into weekly programming since. She’s likely had more screen time than NXT’s big new signee Blake Monroe. Reid controls until getting caught for using rope leverage, and she ultimately wins anyhow by grasping the bottom rope.
Winner: Lainey Reid
Tavion Heights protests his toxic relationship in No Quarter Catch Crew and requests a match against Charlie Dempsey for his release. They shake on it, and Dempsey says the conversation won’t happen again after he’s victorious.
Jasper Troy talks down the camera, claiming that Femi hopes Inamura beats him tonight. “You may be backed by destiny, but your destiny is mine,” he says towards the NXT Champion.
Zaria and Sol Ruca vs Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley
Footage from last week shows Dame manipulating Paxley into teaming despite Za-Ruca’s qualms. Paxley joins the line in The Culling’s entrance, and commentary suggests Shawn Spears and Niko Vance are the culprits who attacked the NXT Tag Team Champions. Za-Ruca showcases oddball chemistry, and Ruca dives off of a fireman’s-carried Paxley before break. Booker T especially likes Paxley’s somersault leg drop, Ruca makes a comeback, and Zaria assists her with a twisting splash. Vic Joseph begrudgingly admits The Culling has brought a new side out of Paxley, who saves Dame from a spear from Zaria. The latter instead hits Ruca, and Dame pins the Women’s North American Champion with a sit-out bomb.
Winners: Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley
In Ava’s office, North American Champion Ethan Page and Evolve’s The Vanity Project come face-to-face with rival Ricky Saints. Page offers a title match, only if Saints survives a gauntlet consisting of the faction. Plus, if Saints wins, he gets to choose the stipulation.
From office to classroom, Andre Chase apologizes to Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon for lashing out. Chase gifts Dixon a singles match next week, and the two embrace with a hug. Corey Graves bluntly and correctly comments that Chase University is a sinking ship.
Backstage, Santana tells Hendry they’re united in defending TNA. They team against High Ryze next week, but Santana assures that he’ll be the one defeating Williams at Slammiversary. Kelly Kincaid announces that the triple threat contract signing will happen at NXT Great American Bash.
Spears and Vance say Paxley looks like part of the family, and Ava announces that Dame will challenge Ruca for the Women’s North American Championship at The Bash. Walker and Ledger are restrained from attacking The Culling, and Paxley goads them into defending the NXT Tag Team Championships next week.
Jasper Troy vs Yoshiki Inamura
Josh Briggs hypes up Inamura in the locker room, and the latter insists he stays behind. Graves says Troy reminds him of TNA’s Abyss – although he’s much less intense. Troy utilizes his size advantage and hits a Black Hole Slam for two, but Inamura comes back like a tank. Inamura hits a top-rope splash for three, heading to the Great American Bash against Femi for the NXT Championship. Femi squares off with Inamura, and in-ring, Je’Von Evans connects with a sneaky springboard cutter on Troy – who’s lost the little steam he had.
Winner: Yoshiki Inamura
“It’s not over until I win,” starts Jordynne Grace’s new auraless def rebel theme. Grace looks forward to honoring women’s wrestling at Evolution but questions if she belongs in the WWE. “I became someone they couldn’t ignore,” she says proudly before NXT Women’s Champion Jayne and Fatal Influence interrupt. Jayne denies being “the most beatable champion in history,” Grace tells her to shut up, and Fatal Influence pounces. Blake Monroe makes the save, and Ava announces Jayne and Fallon Henley versus Grace and Monroe at the Great American Bash.
