The July 22 edition of WWE NXT promised a huge announcement. General manager William Regal needed to bring some order to a new NXT with recently crowned champion Io Shirai and Keith Lee at the head.
Everyone had an agenda focused on the champions, but this show was all about who was willing to step up. With NXT TakeOver potentially around the corner, who was ready to build themselves up to glory?
Karrion Kross has made his presence felt repeatedly since debuting, but could he make the same impact on the awe-inspiring Dominik Dijakovic?
Could Killian Dain finally turn around his rotten luck in NXT? Would Dexter Lumis make a lasting impact against another NXT veteran?
Would Shotzi Blackheart be able to avenge her shocking loss last week? Would The Robert Stone Brand find new life behind a hungry Aliyah?
This recap will explore just what NXT has in store for the WWE Universe and who will truly stand out from the crowd.
Keith Lee Relinquishes North American Title; William Regal Announces Tournament
1 OF 7
William Regal gave Keith Lee a chance to open the night with an announcement. The champion would relinquish the NXT North American Championship so that he could give as many Superstars as possible a chance to stand out.
Regal announced that tonight would begin a tournament to crown the new North American champion. A series of Triple Threat matches would serve as qualifiers for a ladder match at NXT TakeOver XXX.
Grade
B+
Analysis
There are more positives than negatives to this big announcement. Lee leveraged the NXT North American Championship in order to become the NXT champion. It is a shame he could not hand down the title to a worthy competitor in a great match.
However, it is the right move for NXT to avoid double-booking Lee going forward. NXT has highly protected Lee, so no one was going to take the championship away from him soon. This way, NXT still has two men's singles titles on the line going forward.
A tournament is starting, which should keep NXT exciting for the month to come all the way to NXT TakeOver XXX.
Dexter Lumis vs. Killian Dain
2 OF 7
After forcing Robert Stone to get him a shot at Dexter Lumis, Killian Dain gladly brought the fight to the enigmatic Superstar. Lumis scared The Beast of Belfast early with his deadeye stare. However, the big man was sure that he could beat some life into his opponent.
While Dain had Lumis on the ropes, the artist kept getting back up. He hit a spinebuster and diving senton before throwing down Dain with the kata gatame. The Beast of Belfast fought the hold but ultimately passed out.
Result
Lumis def. Dain by technical knockout.
Grade
C+
Analysis
Dain has struggled often to take his performance to the next level despite getting a chance to fight top talent with plenty of time. This was similar, though Lumis added some needed character to this contest.
The action itself was fine but forgettable. Lumis is better working off faster opponents. It did work to have Lumis take down a monster like The Beast of Belfast. He came out of this looking ready to take the next step.
Breezango vs. Ever-Rise
3 OF 7
Scott Parker and Shane Matthews tried to turn around their rotten luck, but Tyler Breeze and Fandango put them in their place. After coming out in Mountie gear, Breezango showed its ability to push the pace at a moment's notice.
Fandango got the hot tag from Breeze and connected on a Mountie Dive on Ever-Rise. A pair of superkicks in the ring sealed the victory.
Result
Breezango def. Ever-Rise by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Analysis
The charisma of Breezango carried this squash. The entrance was only the beginning of the madness, as Breeze and Fandango committed to their personae fully.
Ever-Rise has had a rocky start in NXT. Even in 205 Live, Parker and Matthews are struggling for a spotlight. Their talent should give them a decent spotlight in time. It's just a matter of taking the right opportunity.
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Aliyah (w/ Robert Stone)
4 OF 7
Robert Stone cheered on Aliyah throughout this back-and-forth match. The manager distracted Blackheart to help Aliyah take control, but it did not last forever.
Blackheart took out Aliyah with a tiger suplex. She then kicked Stone off the apron followed by a diving senton on Aliyah for the win.
Afterward, she ran over Stone again with a tank until Mercedes Martinez ran in and booted Blackheart out of her tank.
Backstage, Martinez agreed to join The Robert Stone Brand as long as it was understood that she just wanted him to get her big matches and look over the necessary paperwork.
Result
Blackheart def. Aliyah by pinfall.
Grade
D+
Analysis
This supposed grudge match was built over multiple weeks, but it ended in minutes after an unspectacular contest. This is similar to Aliyah's endless feud with Xia Li. She is not elevating her opponents, especially inexperienced rivals.
Martinez can help elevate Blackheart. She is a veteran with a ton of experience and major matches under her belt. She could be the one to fully help the tank driver take her next step in NXT.
NA Championship Qualifier: Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong vs. Bronson Reed
5 OF 7
Backstage, Roderick Strong was interrupted by Bronson Reed, who was done listening to a man with too many opportunities. He promised to take advantage of his first opportunity at gold. Johnny Gargano arrived to mock Reed for thinking he could win against The Rebel Heart of NXT.
The big man was the chaotic focus of this contest. Both heels had to work together to take out Reed. Refusing to lose, the big man ran over them both, especially after The Messiah of the Backbreaker and The Rebel Heart turned on each other.
The focus of the match changed as Gargano began taking advantage of opportunities rather than helping Strong. Reed set up Gargano for a Doomsday Device with Strong's help, but The Rebel Heart ducked Strong and hit a poisonrana on the big man.
Reed was taken out of the match finally by a running knee combined with a powerbomb from Gargano onto the floor. Gargano hit the One Final Beat on Strong, but Reed returned in time to hit a diving splash to pin The Messiah of the Backbreaker to win.
Result
Reed def. Strong and Gargano by pinfall to advance to the NXT TakeOver North American Championship ladder match.
Grade
A
Analysis
This was a fantastic Triple Threat, showing off the talent of all three men. Strong and Gargano kept the action fast. Reed did not fall behind, working as the centerpiece given his size advantage on the other two men.
With the way that Keith Lee set up this tournament, Reed had to win. It was the right result to show why talent needs opportunities. By overcoming two former NXT North American champions, the big man solidified his status as the dark horse of the ladder match.
Oney Lorcan vs. Timothy Thatcher
6 OF 7
Timothy Thatcher stomped to the ring, ready to do some damage. He wore down Oney Lorcan with focused submission wrestling, keeping the distance between them nonexistent. Through sheer stubbornness, Lorcan fought out and landed a sequence of physical strikes to even up the damage.
Thatcher survived Lorcan's Fujiwara armbar by using a fishhook behind the referee's back. Lorcan continued the attack with vicious knife-edge chops and wristlocks that wore at Thatcher's injured arm after a bad collision with the steel post.
Injured and scared, Thatcher could not escape Lorcan's wristlock, so he had to force him to the mat and grab a handful of tights to steal a pinfall.
Result
Thatcher def. Lorcan by pinfall.
Grade
A
Analysis
Lorcan and Thatcher have unique chemistry in the ring together that no one else in NXT can match. These technical and physical matches may not be for everyone, but those ready for the old-school focus should be in heaven.
This match was completely different from the first encounter. Lorcan showed that he had learned from their first clash, while Thatcher took his opponent too lightly. It was an intense match with a great finish that should lead to a third match soon.
Dominik Dijakovic vs. Karrion Kross
7 OF 7
Dominik Dijakovic gave Karrion Kross the biggest fight of his NXT career so far. After an early dominant streak from Kross, Dijakovic ducked his right hand and connected on a spinning heel kick.
Though The Herald of Doomsday was dazed, Kross still took over with a DDT. Dijakovic found his second wind as he hit a suplex and chokebomb for two.
Kross threw Dijakovic into the steel steps and then trapped his head between the steps and the steel post. He knocked out Dijakovic with a running boot against the steps and then dragged him into the ring.
Keith Lee walked out as Kross hit repeated right hands on a defenseless Dijakovic. Kross mocked Lee, but Lee's top rival refused to give up or take the champion's help. Finally, The Herald of Doomsday locked in the Kross Jacket for the win.
Result
Kross def. Dijakovic by technical knockout.
Grade
A-
Analysis
This was the best match Kross has had to date. While it was great to watch Kross work a more competitive match, it was even more impressive to see the way he brought more storytelling out of Dijakovic. Dijakovic is talented, but he rarely brings this much story to his matches.
In the end, it was a great end to a strong second hour of NXT. The wrestling quality of the main event may not have matched up to the previous two contests, but this was all about getting Lee and Kross face-to-face. Now, the real story begins.
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