NXT
Date: September 22, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s tournament time again and in this case that is in the form of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The tournament is back after a few years away and we get started tonight. Other than that, Mason Rook is the new #1 contender to the NXT Title and that could be something. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a video from Cody Rhodes talking about the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. There will be teams from all parts of WWE and Rhodes will be here to present the cup to the winners.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Los Americanos vs. Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno

Rayo flips away from Dar’s wristlock to start and it’s off to Bravo to slug away at Moreno. Dar comes back in for a quick running kick to Rayo’s chest so Rayo grabs a front facelock. That’s reversed into a guillotine so Bravo slams Moreno onto them for the break. Los Americanos clear the ring and get in some dancing as we take a break.

We come back with Moreno still in trouble as Bravo comes in again. That doesn’t go well for the two of them though as Moreno dives over for the tag back to Dar. Everything breaks down and Bravo gets to airplane spin both of them at once. Some kicks have Dar in trouble but Moreno superkicks Bravo out of the air. The Bitter End gets two on Moreno, with Dar having to make the save.

Moreno gets kicked out to the floor where Rayo gives him a moonsault but Dar kneebars Bravo. That’s escaped as well though and it’s a German suplex to leave both of them down. Moreno is back up but dives into a forearm, leaving Rayo to hit a top rope splash for two more. A Russian legsweep is broken up and Moreno runs the ropes to pull Bravo down in a crash. That means a high/low finishes Bravo at 13:27.

Rating: B. These guys were working hard and I wasn’t sure who was going to win until the end, which is a nice feeling. I’m not sure about having Los Americanos going out in the first round but at least they went out in a hard hitting match. Dar and Moreno are a team who might not be the most interesting but at least they’re doing well in the ring.

We look at Mason Rook becoming #1 contender last week.

Kendal Grey goes to a sports psychologist (who we don’t see) and talks about how bad things have been. She’s not happy with sitting on the sideline and just existing and has no idea when she’ll be back in the ring. She was injured in college but had another season. That’s not the case here and the psychologist asks her what it means if she can’t compete. Grey has no idea.

Kali Armstrong vs. Skylar Raye

Grey’s gear has pinstripes and Armstrong knocks her into the corner for the heavy right hands to start. Back up and Raye dropkicks her to the floor, with Armstrong running back in for a clothesline. Raye gets in a rollup and they trade some near falls until Armstrong snaps off a powerslam. We take a break and come back with Raye hitting a Backstabber.

A tornado DDT and frog splash give Raye two, with Armstrong coming back with the spinebuster. The Kali Connection hits the referee…and here is Reina Vulcan to lay both of them out. Raye lands on Armstrong after a torture rack slam and the referee is back to count the fluke pin at 9:33.

Rating: C+. Raye was working hard and you can see why NXT would want to push her as a prospect. She won on a fluke but it’s better than losing outright, while Armstrong gets to have a hoss fight against Vulcan. Raye still has a long way to go, but she has the charisma and look to be good to a nice start.

Shiloh Hill and Saquon Shuggars are in Robert Stone’s office and talk about wanting to blind Tristan Angels and Naraku. Stone reminds them where they are and they’ll deal with this later.

Earlier today, Wren Sinclair was meeting some fans and got ejected because she’s still suspended.

La Catalina/Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan/Zaria

Hail rolls Jordan up to start and it’s off to Catalina for a running hip attack against the ropes. Catalina hits a dive onto both of them with Hail adding a springboard trust fall. We take a break and come back with Hail escaping Zaria’s suplex. That’s not enough for a tag as it’s back to Jordan for a Lionsault.

The abdominal stretch has Hail in more trouble so she slips out and beats up both villains without much trouble. Jordan is back up to cut off the tag though and Zaria’s spear gets two. A kick to the head is enough to get Hail out of trouble and Catalina comes in to clean house. The running hip attacks connect in the corner and it’s back to Hail, who reverses the F5 into a rollup for the pin on Zaria at 9:39.

Rating: C+. I get that NXT wants to keep trying with Hail, but this was more a case of “it’s that time again”. She’s lost so many times over the years and it’s hard to buy that this run is going to be any different. Other than that, Catalina is fine enough as a guest star, though hopefully another title isn’t floating around here full time.

Dorian Van Dux is injured but insists he can go in the six man tag tonight. EK Prosper seems to be ready to take his place, though Van Dux isn’t thrilled.

Here is Cruz Montana for a chat. He has made his intentions clear because he wants the NXT Title, but he hasn’t been stacking those wins. Then again, he hasn’t been stacking losses either, so he wants the next NXT Title shot. Cue Darkstate, with Dion Lennox mocking Montana’s lack of success. Montana is ready to fight right now so Lennox gets in the ring on his own.

Lennox talks about Montana being a star in TNA but this is a bigger stage. Last week, Montana talked about EK Prosper being the future around here. Is it because he and Montana both used to eat dirt? Montana laughs off the idea of that being the big issue, because Lennox may have athleticism but Montana runs circles around him in the ring and on this microphone. The reality is Montana earned his way here and didn’t have to go to any tryout. Montana isn’t worried about Lennox….who asks if Montana’s mother was a drug dealer.

NOW it’s more serious and Lennox talks about his athletic past but doesn’t get why the fans boo him. Is it because Montana was a drug addict? Montana had to become someone, but Lennox has been someone his whole life. The brawl is on, which it could have been after the line about his mother, but this was the kind of segment where I wanted to see Montana beat the daylights out of him so well done.

Mason Rook is in Robert Stone’s office when Hank & Tank come in. They give Rook a pep talk before he leaves, with Hank & Tank then thanking Stone for putting them in the Dusty Classic.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Creed Brothers vs. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins

Presley has been out of action for a good while with an injury. The Creeds jump them from behind to start fast with Presley slipping out of a double spinebuster. A running clothesline takes Brutus down and Presley gives him another clothesline, landing on the floor before Brutus goes over. Back in and Brutus takes over with a hard whip into the corner but Presley is quickly over for the tag off to Riggins to clean house. The Brutus Ball hits Julius by mistake but he’s right back up with a German suplex. The double spinebuster finishes Presley at 3:36.

Rating: B-. Presley and Riggins might not be the best and most polished wrestlers in the world but they’re good as big guys who can brawl. That’s all they need to be and it plays to their strengths well. At the same time, the Creeds are here to wreck people with their suplexes and try to rebuild their statuses, which is going to be quite the process.

We look back at Myles Borne officially turning on Tavion Heights (again) last week.

Sean Legacy/EK Prosper/Zilla Fatu vs. Birthright

Legacy and Stacks run the ropes to start with Legacy getting in a springboard armdrag. It’s off to Connors and Prosper to trade flips and dives until Fatu comes in to slam King, who manages a quick dropkick. Fatu shrugs that off and takes out both King and Connors as everything breaks down. The big triple dives connect on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Prosper and Stacks striking it out until Prosper grabs a super hurricanrana. A running knee gives Prosper two as King makes the save and everything breaks down. Fatu hits a suicide dive to the floor but Prosper gets caught in an assisted sitout powerbomb.

Connors comes back in with a springboard Stunner to keep Prosper in trouble for all of three seconds before it’s back to Fatu. King’s superkick just ticks Fatu off even more and he sends Connors into the corner for the running Umaga Attack. Prosper tags himself in but the referee doesn’t see it. Instead he sees Legacy tag himself in for a springboard 450, which hits raised knees to give Connors the pin at 11:03.

Rating: B-. This has been the latest instance of Legacy being thrown out there to lose, which has been the case for a good while now. At the same time, that makes sense as I’m not really seeing his upside at this point. Fatu got to look dominant while he was in there before his partners messed up, which is a good way to keep him looking strong.

Post match King gets in Fatu’s face and has to be saved by Birthright.

Zaria is ticked off and ready to defend her title against Thea Hail next week. Izzi Dame comes in to throw up a clip of Zaria seemingly acting in a high school version of Wicked. Shockingly enough, this has Zaria upset and she leaves. Ok then.

Here are Grayson Waller and Mason Rook for a chat to wrap up the show. Waller talks about how he’s here to make this title important by defending it against the best. At the moment, that is Rook, who is also the hungriest around here. Waller admits that they’ve both come around the world to follow their dreams but while he can run a marathon, Rook runs to get his DoorDash.

Waller: “He’s big, he’s bad, and Mason when I look at you, it makes me sad.” Yes Rook is a great athlete for his size but he’s soft. Rook won’t be able to keep up with him, but for now, Waller wants to have some fun and hands Rook the microphone. Waller: “Don’t eat it, it’s not a drumstick.”

Rook isn’t an idiot and isn’t going to go insult for insult with Waller. We hear about how Waller didn’t make it on the main roster but the reality is that Rook isn’t here because he failed elsewhere. He’s here because he’s the best big man in the business and Waller’s mic skills won’t save him when Rook’s hands are around his throat next week. Rook did well here, though dang his look is holding him back.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was trying but they were in a rough place. There are only so many stars around here that I would want to see and they were only able to do so much to make the show interesting. It’s certainly not a bad show, but it’s not overly interesting with a lot of people they have. That could change with time, though they have a lot of work to do.

Results
Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno b. Los Americanos – High/low to Bravo
Skylar Raye b. Kali Armstrong – Powerslam
Thea Hail/La Catalina b. Kelani Jordan/Zaria – Rollup to Zaria
Creed Brothers b. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins – Double spinebuster to Presley
Birthright b. Sean Legacy/Zilla Fatu/EK Prosper – Knees to Legacy’s ribs

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: September 15, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re still about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc but the big story this week is crowning a new #1 contender. Last week, Mason Rook, Tony D’Angelo and Saquon Shuggars won a six man tag so this week they’re facing each other for the next title shot. That’s in addition to everything else going on around here so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Lizzy Rain vs. Kali Armstrong

Armstrong slams her a few times to start but Rain is right back with a release fisherman’s suplex for two. Rain takes her down by the arm and gets two off a basement spinwheel kick. Back up and Armstrong misses a charge into the post and Rain dropkicks her through the ropes as we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong getting two off a spinebuster to leave both of them down. Back up and Armstrong dances a bit, only to get kicked in the face. A Stunner is blocked but Armstrong gets caught with a cutter for two instead. Thunderstruck is cut off with a slam but the Kali Connection is cut off by Rain’s flying headbutt. Another Thunderstruck misses and now the Kali Connection finishes Rain at 9:52.

Rating: C+. Armstrong getting a win is good to see as she knows how to do the powerhouse style. It worked well here and that Kali Connection is a heck of a move, just because of how forceful of an impact it has. Rain continues to be there and not doing much, though she has more than enough charisma to keep giving her a chance.

Post match LFG winner Skyler Raye runs in to jump Armstrong and they’re separated.

Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux are getting ready for the Tag Team Titles but Birthright comes in to say the titles are theirs.

Cruz Montana is in Robert Stone’s office to talk about last week’s six man tag. EK Prosper came in to say that loss was his fault, which Montana respects. The Vanity Project comes in and the argument is on, with Stone making the match for later tonight.

Darkstate vs. Dorian Van Dux/Sean Legacy

James suplexes Legacy to start but gets dropkicked away. A basement dropkick has James down again and Legacy gives him an armdrag. Back up and James grabs a scary reverse suplex with Legacy landing on his face. Dux comes in to strike Griffin down and a double belly to back suplex does it again. Griffin is fine enough to suplex both of them at the same time but Darkstate is sent outside. The double dives are broken up with Legacy and Dux are planted down as we take a break.

We come back with everything breaking down and Legacy cleaning house on the floor. Dux’s springboard spinning crossbody gets two on James, who is right back up with an iconoclasm. Legacy is back up with a couple of dives and Dux hits a moonsault to the floor. Cue Dion Lennox to jump Dux though, allowing James and Griffin to hit an assisted toss powerbomb for the pin at 11:36.

Rating: C+. I still do not get the appeal of Legacy and Dux as a team. Dux is a nice powerhouse but Legacy doesn’t do much for me at all. Darkstate continues to be an ok enough team but the division as a whole still doesn’t feel like it has any really good teams throughout. This match didn’t do much to change that feeling.

Post match here is Birthright to say they are tired of disrespect and start by beating on Legacy and Dux. Cue Zilla Fatu for the save, with Legacy and Dux getting back up to help clear the ring.

Mason Rook is ready to have another biggest win of his career to get the #1 contendership.

Earlier tonight, Grayson Waller started running on a treadmill and he’s still going.

Robert Stone asks Skylar Raye what that was about but here is Myles Borne, who wants to apologize to Tavion Heights.

Zaria’s arm is bruised but she’s medically cleared. Izzy Dame comes in to mock her for getting injured by Thea Hail.

Here is Myles Borne to call out Tavion Heights for a face to face apology. Heights joins him in the ring and says Borne crossed the line. Borne says he jumped the gun and acted out of fear just after he lost his two titles. He does clearly apologize but Heights says his back is still sore after he got stabbed.

Heights says he’s not sure if they can fix this but Borne brings up Heights doing something similar to him before. Then they got back together and won the Tag Team Titles. Borne wants to start over fresh and Heights finally agrees to forgive him. They hug and yes Borne does lay him out, including Pillmanizing Heights’ ankle. Nice job here, as they dragged it out before the attack.

Kendal Grey, with Wren Sinclair, goes to a medical clinic to get an update on her ear issue. She doesn’t have a concussion but she needs to rest and see a sports psychologist. This doesn’t sit well with her.

Cruz Montana/EK Prosper vs. Vanity Project

Non-title. Baylor grabs a front facelock on Prosper to start but Prosper trips him down and gets two off a dropkick. Montana comes in and shrugs off Smokes’ shoulder as everything breaks down, with the Project quickly being sent to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Montana in trouble and getting caught with a dropkick Hart Attack for two. Smokes grabs the chinlock but Montana is back up with a Death Valley Driver.

Prosper comes back in with a missile dropkick and it’s time to clean house. A top rope Blockbuster gets two on Baylor and a running knee drops Smokes. Montana pops Prosper up to the top for a hurricanrana….almost into a powerbomb from Montana, who only made a bit of contact. A pair of dives hit the Project but here is Jackson Drake to kick Montana in the face. That’s good for an ejection but Smokes uses the distraction to backslide Prosper, with Baylor assisting, for the pin at 11:52.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure what they’re doing with Montana at the moment but at least he’s getting to do something while being treated like a big star. At the same time, Prosper is already feeling like someone with all kinds of potential and that’s great to see. The Project is getting better as well, though they still feel like they are overachieving for the most part, which is kind of the point.

Saquon Shuggars is ready to win tonight but Tristan Angels comes in to mock a bunch of people, including Zilla Fatu and Shuggars himself. Shuggars doesn’t seem to care.

Here is Kelani Jordan for a chat. She doesn’t want to be a champion who just posts certain pictures of herself on Instagram or hides from title defenses. That’s why she defended her title last week and then debuted on Raw in Mexico City while Wren Sinclair got suspended. This brings out AAA Reina de Reinas Champion La Catalina, who brags about her win and is ready to bring NXT to a new level.

This brings out Zaria, who wants her name in a discussion of dominant champions. Thea Hail joins them to say she can hang with anyone in the ring and has made Zaria tap out. The brawl is on with the villains quickly being dispatched. Hail just feels like she’s begging us to believe her and that’s not good.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for the triple threat tonight and knows Saquon Shuggars from the Darkstate days and Mason Rook, who debuted by attacking him.

Grayson Waller is still running.

Shiloh Hill is studying the colors of the mists and even tests some on himself. Then raccoons start talking to him.

Robert Stone announces the return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The Creed Brothers come in to say they’re winning it again.

We look at Stephanie Vaquer winning the Raw Women’s Title in Chile.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Saquon Shuggars vs. Tony D’Angelo vs. Mason Rook

For a future NXT Title shot. Shuggars tries to go after the two of them but gets clotheslined out to the floor. Rook is sent outside as well, leaving Shuggars to beat up D’Angelo. Back in and Rook snaps off some slams, setting up a double backsplash. D’Angelo gets up again and rolls some German suplexes on Shuggars.

A German suplex to both of them lets D’Angelo get two on Rook, who pops up to the top. That means a Tower Of Doom and everyone is down as Grayson Waller gets off the treadmill as we take a break. We come back with Rook getting two off a splash and Shuggars being the only one standing. A slingshot legdrop gets two on Rook, with D’Angelo Jackhammering Rook for two more.

Shuggars kicks D’Angelo down, earning himself a suplex into the corner. Shuggars goes up top and gets superplexed into Rook’s sitout powerbomb for two, with D’Angelo making the save. Rook and D’Angelo slug it out but Shuggars is back up with a top rope splash to D’Angelo, with Tristan Angels running in to pull the referee out. Shuggars dives onto Angels as D’Angelo’s back gives out while trying to pick Rook up. That means a Blue Thunder Bomb and top rope splash to give Rook the pin at 14:06.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure on the result but then again I’ve yet to get the appeal of Rook. At the end of the day, he’s a fresh name getting the chance to go after the title in what should be a big time TV main event. That’s all this needed to be, though the match was pretty much just a standard triple threat.

Post match Grayson Waller runs out to stare at Rook. So was there really any point in having him on the treadmill for hours?

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show about setting things up for the future, with the tag division and NXT Title picture getting a lot of attention. There was nothing here that you really needed to see though, which is the kind of show that has to happen every so often. Then again there is a long time before Halloween Havoc so they have time to get things ready. Perfectly fine show, but the bigger stuff is coming in the next few weeks.

Results
Kali Armstrong b. Lizzy Rain – Kali Connection
Darkstate b. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Assisted toss powerbomb to Van Dux
Varsity Project b. Cruz Montana/EK Prosper – Backslide with assist from Baylor
Mason Rook b. Tony D’Angelo and Saquon Shuggars – Top rope splash to D’Angelo

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: September 1, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Heatwave and a lot of things have changed. There are a bunch of new champions, including Grayson Waller winning the NXT Title. That’s in addition to new Tag Team, Women’s and North American Champions. We’ve got a lot of things to cover on the way to next month’s Halloween Havoc so let’s get to it.

Here is Heatwave if you need a recap.

Long Heatwave recap.

Here is Zilla Fatu for a chat. Fatu: “HELLO!” Things did not go well for him at Heatwave but he’s not ready to give up. This brings out Tristan Angels, who doesn’t want to hear Fatu go on about Heatwave. These people have the attention of fruit flies and there is no need to put them through this over and over. Fatu isn’t even the main one in his own family but he says he’s ready to beat Angels up in front of his family here in Orlando. So Fatu is a good guy. Huh.

EK Prosper and Saquon Shuggars get in an argument in Robert Stone’s office and both want to be in line for an NXT Title shot. Keanu Carver comes in to want to same thing and asks Stone what he’s going to do.

Naraku says Shiloh Hill has done research on the mist but he doesn’t understand it.

Myles Borne doesn’t regret striking out at Heatwave. Yes he turned at Tavion Heights because he knew Heights was going to turn on him. So he turned on Heights first. Well yeah. It’s certainly a smart idea and makes sense here.

Shiloh Hill vs. Naraku

Hill wrestles him down to start but gets chopped up against the ropes. A cravate doesn’t work for Naraku as Hill is back up with a flying shoulder. Back up and Naraku shoves him off the top and loads up the announcers’ table as we take a break. We come back with Naraku missing a charge into the corner and getting planted down for the inverted Swanton. Naraku is back with a sitout fireman’s carry slam before they clothesline each other. With nothing else working, Naraku sprays the mist into his hand and, after teasing spitting it in Hill’s eyes, rubs it in his face. Into The Abyss finishes Hill at 9:44.

Rating: B-. There is a very good chance that this isn’t going to be finishing here and it could be interesting to see Hill trying to get his revenge. Hill’s random ranting about the mist a few weeks ago turning into a feud is certainly unique and I’ll take that over doing the same thing you see from everyone else. The match wasn’t bad either, but it’s the story that has me more intrigued here.

Romeo Moreno, Noam Dar, Dorian Van Dux and Sean Legacy argue over the future of the tag team division.

Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno vs. Dorian Van Dux/Sean Legacy

Well that’s good timing. Legacy and Moreno take turns flipping over each other to start until Legacy armdrags him into a dropkick. Moreno comes in to strike away at Dux, who gives him such a hard clothesline that Legacy’s jaw drops. Dux charges into a boot in the corner though and everything breaks down with Dar and Moreno grabbing stereo ankle locks. Those are broken up and they go outside with Legacy and Dux getting in powerbomb backbreakers as we take a break.

We come back with Moreno missing a moonsault, allowing Dux to come back in. Dux’s moonsault doesn’t miss and Dar has to dive in for the save. Dar comes in to kick away at Legacy and European clutches him for two. Everything breaks down again and Moreno gives Dux a super Death Valley Driver but Legacy powerbombs Dar onto Moreno to leave everyone down.

Dux Asai moonsaults onto Moreno and Legacy, with Legacy getting caught in a hanging cutter with a top rope double stomp to his back. Dar accidentally elbows Moreno though and walks into an AA from Legacy and Dux adds a top rope splash. Legacy’s springboard 450 hits raised knees though and Dar gets the pin at 11:37.

Rating: B. This got going in the middle and that’s enough to make the whole thing a good match. It’s a match designed around having a bunch of action and maybe Dar and Moreno can get into the title hunt. They’re doing well enough as a team and the Vanity Project need some challengers to start their title reign. Fun match here.

Post match the Creed Brothers run in and wreck both teams. Well it’s not like they have anything else going on on the main roster.

Zaria retires the Women’s Speed Title, which has Robert Stone officially retiring the men’s version as well. Birthright isn’t happy and are ready to take the power back into their hands. With the team gone, Cruz Montana comes in to ask for an NXT Title shot. Keanu Carver comes in to say it’s bad to be Stone right now.

Here is new Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan for a chat. She brags about winning the Women’s Title but she doesn’t need the YOU DESERVE IT chants, because she earned it. Jordan praises Kendal Grey, but if Grey was so great, what does it make Jordan when she beat Grey? The reality is that Grey was in over her head at Heatwave and she got sent into the turnbuckle.

When the ear heals up, she can come get a title rematch but for now, let’s talk about how great Jordan really is. No one does it like her but here is Jaida Parker to interrupt. She won at Heatwave too and that makes her championship material. Parker has beaten her before so let’s run it back tonight. Jordan says Parker is always talking and the match can happen…but we’ll do it next week.

Thea Hail vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons’ Evolve Women’s Title isn’t on the line. Hail takes her straight down and goes after the arm but gets catapulted throat first into the middle rope. The reverse chinlock has Hail in trouble but she pops up for a running flipping neckbreaker. Lyons punches her back down for two and she breaks up a quick Kimura attempt. The Vader Bomb misses though and the Hail Mary gives Hail the pin at 3:17.

Rating: C. Well I wasn’t expecting that. Hail winning a match clean is hard to fathom these days but it should at least move her into the Evolve Women’s Title picture. Granted she was already there in the first place but it’s better than nothing. The ending was clean here and that’s been missing for Hail for a long time now.

Kendal Grey is suffering from vertigo. I hope that’s not a legitimate issue as that stuff can wreck you.

Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix

Rook jumps him in the aisle to start fast and they head inside, with Rook missing a charge in the corner. Hendrix stomps away and gets two off a backsplash before they both miss clotheslines. Crossbodies connect at the same time though and they’re both down. Rook is back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two so Hendrix is back up with a Showtime Kick. The turnbuckle pad is taken off but Rook crushes him into the steel. A sitout fireman’s carry bomb finishes Hendrix at 4:36.

Rating: C+. Rook gets a win and moves up the ladder a bit, though it’s probably only going to mean so much as Hendrix doesn’t mean the most right now. The two of them both need something to do and it could be interesting to see what they do in the next few weeks. Hendrix continues to feel like he could be something, but that’s not going to matter if he keeps losing.

Tavion Heights is annoyed at the loss at Heatwave but above that, he feels betrayed. The Vanity Project comes in to mock him but Heights wants to face Jackson Drake for the North American Title. Drake doesn’t seem thrilled.

Zilla Fatu vs. Tristan Angels

Angels backs into the corner to start so Fatu knocks him into a different corner for the running splash. Back up and Angels is sent outside, with the suicide dive knocking him over the announcers’ table. The fans rather approve but Fatu gets crotched on top to cut off the cheers. We take a break and come back with Fatu getting ticked off and sending Angels into various turnbuckles. A release Rock Bottom into a backsplash gets two but Fatu misses a charge. Angels’ Backstabber gets two but he misses an enziguri in the corner. The Triple Z (running Samoan Spike) finishes Angels at 9:30.

Rating: C+. Well Fatu is already easy to like and feels more natural as a good guy than he did in his earlier weeks. It’s a different way to go and he has the charisma to back it up so let’s see what he can do. Beating Angels is good enough and the Triple Z is a cool looking finisher. Not bad for a singles debut.

Post match Birthright comes out to interrupt and offers Fatu a spot on the team. He’s got a long line of family members to deal with so how long until he’s the Main One? Fatu says no and superkicks Lexis King before leaving to avoid the beating.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Robert Stone introduces new NXT Champion Grayson Waller for a chat. Waller mocks the fans for thinking that someone else was going to win on Sunday. He makes fun of Vic Joseph for freaking out over Waller’s win, but why was he surprised? Waller is a star who has main evented Raw and Smackdown and won a title at Wrestlemania. Now he’s thanking everyone who got him here, which is just himself. He’ll get back to Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis when he has time but for now, who is coming to knock him off his pedestal?

The fans want Cruz Montana and Waller agrees that he’s good. Waller: “But just TNA good.” He wants someone to step up to him so here is Saquon Shuggars of all people. Waller doesn’t seem impressed but here is Cruz Montana to interrupt as well. Montana says that Waller may not be ready but he sure is, only for EK Prosper to interrupt. Before that can go anywhere, Mason Rook says let’s see how tough Waller is.

Tony D’Angelo joins in but Robert Stone says we’re not doing this (despite us already doing this). Keanu Carver comes out and says make a six man tag next week, with the winners in a triple threat #1 contenders match the week after. Stone points out that there are only five people so Carver goes less than subtle with his recommendation for a sixth entrant.

Stone gets the idea and makes the match, with Carver sliding in to go after Waller. The champ leaves so the other six fight to end the show. I like the idea, though having so many people coming after the champion, including some new faces, was an amusing way to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show did a good job of following up on the pay per view, with a bunch of champions receiving challengers right out of the gate. I like what we’re getting around here at the moment, with Fatu already feeling like he could be something in the near future. They still need to make these ideas work, but it’s a good sign coming off the big summer show.

Results
Naraku b. Shiloh Hill – Into The Abyss
Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno b. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Rollup to Legacy
Thea Hail b. Nikkita Lyons – Hail Mary
Mason Rook b. Kam Hendrix – Sitout fireman’s carry bomb
Zilla Fatu b. Tristan Angels – Triple Z

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: August 25, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show before Heatwave and the big story coming out of last week is that the main event will now be a four way for the NXT Title. That should be more than interesting enough, though we still have something to cover tonight. In this case, that’s a weaponized cage match between Saquon Shuggars and Dion Lennox, which should hopefully be it for those two. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shuggars

In a weaponized cage. Shuggars gets in second and Lennox pelts a trashcan at him to start fast. The slugout is on with Shuggars taking him down but getting upkicked in the face. Lennox chairs him down (or mollywopped according to Booker) and sends him crashing into the cage. The belt whipping has Shuggars down again but he gets in a trashcan shot for a breather.

A dropkick sends the trashcan into Lennox for two and it’s time to load up some chairs. Lennox breaks that up and puts the chairs on top of each other (one on the ground and one with legs sticking up) to slam Shuggars onto them for a rather nasty crash. We take a break and come back with Shuggars knocking something into Lennox’s face and sending him into the cage.

Lennox is whipped into a kendo stick in the corner and face first onto a chair for two but comes back with a spinebuster onto the trashcan. Shuggars whips out the trusty bat though and knocks a chair out of his hands but Lennox gets in a shot to the leg. The table is set up and Lennox takes him to the top, where Shuggars fights back until his knee gives out. Shuggars is fine enough to put a trashcan over Lennox and superkick him through the table (which just kind of collapsed underneath Lennox). That and a high crossbody off of the cage finish for Shuggars at 16:49.

Rating: C+. On one hand, it did feel like a big blowoff to their feud, but at the same time, Shuggars’ selling of the knee was almost non-existent at the end. That brought things down, as did the issue of this feud not being so interesting. It’s just been kind of there and while it’s been ok, it’s nothing that has felt big or important. Not a bad match at all, but it came at (likely/hopefully) the end of a less than thrilling story.

NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo thinks his opponents have forgotten who he’s facing. He’s the man who put Oba Femi down in the first place. We hear about how everyone is coming for the title and he’ll beat them all to keep it. Not a bad promo here.

Earlier today, the Vanity Project went bowling to talk about how they’re better than Myles Borne/Tavion Heights. They brag about their greatness and it turns out that they’re only ok at bowling.

Here is Nattie to call out Jaida Parker. She’s here in NXT to fight Parker because she sees potential in Parker, but it’s wasted potential. Look what happened when Parker lost a few times. Nattie knocked her on her a** and turned her into something else. This brings out Parker, who says she took a loss hard but now Nattie has turned her into the real Parker. They’re ready to fight at Heatwave and it’s going to be a submission match. Oh and they called each other b****, so you know it’s personal.

Kam Hendrix vs. Keanu Carver

Carver starts fast with a small package and knocks him down without much trouble. Hendrix gets in a clothesline and kicks Carver into a chinlock, with the fans being on Carver’s side. The Showtime Kick gives Hendrix one and he chops Carver in the back, which is as dumb as it sounds. Some nasty German suplexes drop Hendrix and a Pounce sends him to the floor. Cue Mason Rook for a crossbody, meaning a fisherman’s suplex can finish Hendrix at 3:37.

Rating: C. Carver continues to be oddly fascinating, as he has the whole “I’m smarter than you think” deal, which is working rather well. Who was expecting him to get a pin with a fisherman’s suplex? At the same time, Hendrix continues to not have the best luck around here and that’s not going to work out for him in the long run. Hopefully he can change it around as I still see something in him.

Kelani Jordan talks about how wrestlers come here from other sports but she was the first to be offered a contract. She didn’t need Evolve or a famous last name and she won titles in her first shot. Now she’s going to do it again with the Women’s Title.

Zilla Fatu talks about his father being Umaga and now he’s carrying his legacy as a blessing and a burden. After mocking the “nympho baby” line from last week, he talks about being ready to take the NXT Title and make a real splash. That’s why he’s called the Main One. His charisma continues to be rather impressive.

Zaria vs. Kali Armstrong

Non-title but if Armstrong wins, she’s added to Sunday’s title match. Armstrong’s headlock doesn’t go anywhere so they trade running shoulders. It’s off to a test of strength, with Zaria taking her down but Armstrong is right back with a clothesline to the floor. The dive to the outside connects and we take an early break.

We come back with Armstrong’s top rope superplex leaving both of them down. Armstrong counters a charge into a powerbomb for two but gets pump kicked down. A discus lariat gives Zaria two and the fans are rather behind her. The Kali Connection is cut off with a spear so Zaria loads up the F5, which is countered into a rollup to give Armstrong the pin at 9:11.

Rating: B-. This was the power match and it went as it should have, as there was little reason to set up the stipulation and then have Zaria win. I’m never wild on a champion getting pinned like this, but there is a chance she winds up with a bigger win on Sunday. Or she chokes in another big match and gets nothing out of it, which is always an option when Zaria is involved.

Kendal Grey introduces the trainer to a NASCAR driver but the trainer is worried about Grey’s ear. She’s cleared, but Wren Sinclair comes in to worry as well. The driver gets them to breathe.

Birthright vs. Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno/Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux

Dar and Dempsey go technical to start with the former getting two off a backslide. Dux comes in and gets taken into the corner for a double stomp from King. That’s shrugged off and it’s off to Legacy to put King down for two of his own. Connors comes in and gets his ankle locked, as does King. Everything breaks down and Dar and Moreno cut off suicide dives with stereo crossbodies in a cool spot. Connors kicks Moreno down on the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Moreno still in trouble and the numbers game making it worse. Moreno dives over them though and brings in Dux to clean house. Everything breaks down and Dux hits a big dive to the floor, leaving Legacy to hit his 450 for two as King makes the save. Connors has to break up a cross armbreaker with a Swanton and it’s the parade of big knockdowns. Moreno hits a huge dive to the floor but Dempsey grabs the reverse fisherman’s suplex to pin Dar at 11:31.

Rating: B. This was good just because it went insane and everyone was flying around and going all over the place. You don’t get that very often in an eight man tag and it was a heck of an entertaining spectacle. Moreno and Dux are still better in these short bursts and they were used well here. Very fun match.

Robert Stone asks Keanu Carver about the interference but Carver says a win is a win. Shiloh Hill comes in and wants to face Naraku but goes into an explanation of why the red mist did less damage. Stone shrugs it off and makes the match for next week.

AAA Cruiserweight Title: EK Prosper vs. Rey Fenix

Fenix is defending. Prosper rolls him up to start and rolls away from an armdrag attempt. Fenix’s springboard armdrag works a bit better so Prosper dropkicks him out to the floor. The big moonsault connects for Prosper and we take a break. We come back with Fenix winning a strike off but Prosper reverses what looked to be a tiger bomb into a faceplant.

Fenix sends him into the ropes for the rope walk kick to the face though and a frog splash gets two. Prosper fights back and sends him into the ropes, only to get caught with a handspring cutter. The Mexican MuscleBuster is blocked and Prosper is back up with a super hurricanrana. The great moonsault misses though and Fenix gets the Mexican MuscleBuster to retain at 11:07.

Rating: B-. This worked well enough, though it was a bit harder to get into after seeing the big parade of dives in the previous match. Prosper has turned into a nice prospect around here and it’s cool to see him fire off that moonsault. Fenix wasn’t about to lose on his way to the #1 contenders match against Penta next week but at least it was a good high flying match.

Myles Borne and Tavion Heights meet another NASCAR driver and are going to be at his race this Friday. The two of them are trying to figure out strategy for Borne wrestling two matches on Sunday. Hank & Tank come in and seem to want the titles. Right now though, the champs are worried about Heatwave.

Heatwave rundown.

It’s time for the Heatwave Summit, which seems to be about the big title matches. Therefore, here are Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair to get things going. Grey talks about coming a long way in the last year and is ready to face Kelani Jordan. She gets in a jab about Liv Morgan not defending her title that often and tells Jordan to not miss.

This brings out Jordan, who says she put the target on Grey’s back but Sinclair promises a WrenQCC, which means a Championship Celebration, in her home state. This brings out Zaria to say she’s unifying the titles but Kali Armstrong joins them to say she’s beaten “both of ya’ll delusional heffers”. Now it’s Grayson Waller interrupting, saying the women are great to look at and hard to listen to. After Heatwave, he’s all anyone will be talking about but here is Tony D’Angelo to say that he’s not sure which version of Waller this is, but he’ll still be a disappointment.

Cruz Montana joins us in the crowd to say he likes the chaos around here and while the others are here to talk, he wants to throw hands. The big brawl is on and here is Zilla Fatu for the big dive to the floor. Grey, Sinclair and Fatu stand tall with various titles to end the show. This was about all you could do with so many matches to cover and I’ll take getting it all together over doing this multiple times.

Overall Rating: B. This show was designed to get me more interested in the big event on Sunday and it did just that. The best thing here is that they had a mixture of good action and build to the show, which is hard to do in the same night. The cage match was the big feature here and if that means the feud is over, I’m all for it. Another good show this week, but Sunday is what really matters.

Results
Saquon Shuggars b. Dion Lennox – High crossbody off of the cage
Keanu Carver b. Kam Hendrix – Fisherman’s suplex
Kali Armstrong b. Zaria – Rollup
Birthright b. Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno/Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Reverse fisherman’s suplex to Dar
Rey Fenix b. EK Prosper – Mexican MuscleBuster

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: July 22, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

Last week saw a big change as we have a new Evolve Champion. I’m not sure what that is going to mean as Aaron Rourke might be sticking around or heading up to NXT. That’s where things get confusing as there is only so much of a history around here. Other than that, the Mog Squad continues to be a big deal around here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons are meditating but Jacobs thinks Lyons needs to get ready for her first title defense. Lyons says she’s ready for because everything is set. She’ll prove it tonight.

Opening sequence.

Cappuccino Jones/Marcus Mathers vs. Shido Ash/Viktor Zanov

Zanov knocks Mathers into the corner to start as the Mog Squad is in the VIP section. A spinning high crossbody gets Mathers out of trouble and he kicks Zanov in the face for two. Ash comes in and gets dropkicked by Jones but Zanov gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Jones knocks Zanov down but gets gutwrenched by Ash to cut him right back off.

Some dodging and moving works a bit better for Jones though and he gets over to Mathers for the tag. Mathers kicks away and hits a middle rope Stunner into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two on Ash. Sam Holloway is here to yell at the Squad, even as Mathers accidentally knocks Jones out to the floor. Back in and a toss into a German suplex finishes Mathers at 7:29.

Rating: C+. You have to get the new monster team in the win column and this worked perfectly well. They looked like a pair of wrecking balls out there and got to run through a pair of people you recognize. That being said, I knew Mathers was taking the fall the second he was announced for the match, which is rather sad to see.

Laynie Luck is ready to win tonight. Anya Rune wishes her luck in a rather nerdy way which looks like some kind of blessing. It’s received as well as you would expect.

Dorian Van Dux vs. Sam Holloway

They test out the power to start and Dux gets in an armdrag. Dux seems to be favoring his ankle or knee though and it gets even worse as he escapes a powerbomb. Hold on as we pause for Dux to hold his knee in the corner but he comes out swinging. That earns him an overhead belly to belly suplex and a slingshot elbow but Holloway misses a splash in the corner. Naturally the giant Holloway is able to hit a running dropkick in the corner but Dux catches him on top.

The superplex sends both of them crashing down and it’s a double breather. Somehow Dux manages a Thesz press and hammers away, followed by a Samoan drop. Dux loads up the shooting star press but realizes that would be idiotic and just falls down with a splash instead. Back up and a spinning Rock Bottom gives Holloway two but Dux hits a heck of a clothesline to put him on the floor. A huge moonsault hits Holloway but they’re both so banged up that it’s a double countout at 8:11.

Rating: B-. I was digging this one as it was a pair of hard hitting guys hitting each other until neither of them could get up. That’s the kind of fight you do not see very often around here and it worked well, though the countout is still disappointing. At least Holloway didn’t lose for a change though, which is nice to see for a change.

Tate Wilder is sick of Harley Riggins not being able to let things go, so he’ll be back for one more fight next week.

Here is new Evolve Champion Harlem Lewis for a chat. He loves the sound of his name being announced as a champion but he can’t believe that this has happened. After being around for months, he realized he needed to be even more violent, which brings out Aaron Rourke. The fans are happy to see Rourke, who says that Lewis was his toughest challenger and earned every bit of it. He knows that Lewis can be beaten though and wants his rematch.

Cue Tristan Angels to interrupt and mock Rourke, calling his title reign MEDIOCRE. Rourke brings up Angels never being a champion, with Angels telling him to “ZIP IT SPARKLES!” Rourke: “You’re in the most sparkles here!” This brings out Max Abrams, who says he mogs all of them because he is “a true chad”. Rourke punches him in the face, with Lewis getting rid of Angels…and then clotheslining Rourke as well.

Kale Dixon and his still unnamed associate have a photo shoot and brag about their attractiveness. It’s Gal comes in to say he and Dixon should team up for a swimsuit calendar. And yes, he does drop his rope to reveal…well very little clothing. Dixon wants to face him in the ring instead and leaves, so Gal steals the photo shoot.

Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen immediately bails out to the floor to start and Holyfield is right there with him to send him back inside. Jensen knocks him into the corner this time and fires off some knees, followed by a neckbreaker. Some forearms have Holyfield staggering around the ring so Jensen goes for the turnbuckle pad. The referee catches him and Holyfield gets a rollup, with Jensen pulling the pad off. Holyfield hammers away in the corner but avoids being dropped onto the buckle. A flying shoulder drops Jensen so Holyfield tries to send him into the buckle. Instead Jensen blocks him and grabs a rollup, and the rope, for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C. Holyfield isn’t particularly good yet, but that’s partially because he has almost no experience. The idea here was to have him do things as basically as he could and that is the only way he can go. The ending makes Holyfield look like an unproven rookie who lost to a veteran, which is how the story should be going. Odds are this isn’t done, and Holyfield can outsmart him to win in the end. Or just knock Jensen silly.

The woman we saw at Succession III, whose name might be the Unknown, asks about your greatest fears, with talk of being replaced. But what about fearing the unknown? These things are certainly unique.

Women’s Title: Nikkita Lyons vs. Laynie Luck

Lyons, with Sloane Jacobs, is defending and takes the legs out to start in a hurry. Back up and Luck sends her outside for a knockdown and we take an early break. We come back with Lyons getting two off a suplex and then hitting something like a reverse Bronco Buster. Luck fights up though and grabs a springboard tornado DDT but gets crotched up top. A spinning kick to the head retains the title at 5:02.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t an interesting match coming in and then they went through it this fast. It didn’t feel like an important match in the slightest and Luck didn’t feel like she had any chance of winning. The idea here missed and that’s not something you often see around here, so we’ll call it a one off misfire.

Post match PJ Vasa and Gianna Capri come in to attack Luck, with Vasa using a chair on Vasa’s ankle. Thea Hail, Wren Sinclair and Skyler Raye run in for the save. Timothy Thatcher comes in to announce an eight woman tag for next week to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked the show well enough and as usual, they did some things that felt somewhat different. This show doesn’t feel like it does the same thing over and over and that helps so much. It wasn’t a red hot show but as usual, it was less than an hour so you can only get so annoyed. Less is more again, and that’s something most shows can’t offer. For now, an acceptable show and that’s fairly low on the Evolve ladder.

Results
Shido Ash/Viktor Zanov b. Cappuccino Jones/Marcus Mathers – Toss German suplex to Mathers
Sam Holloway vs. Dorian Van Dux went to a double countout
Brooks Jensen b. Elijah Holyfield – Rollup while holding rope
Nikkita Lyons b. Laynie Luck – Spinning kick to the head

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: July 14, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

Heatwave is starting to come into view but we have a good enough while to go. The big story around the NXT Title seems to be a rematch between Naraku and champion Tony D’Angelo. Other than that, we have various people coming for various titles, as tends to be the case on a wrestling show. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Tag Team Titles: Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux

The Project is defending. Legacy rolls Smokes up to start fast before armdragging Baylor into an armbar. Dux comes in for a nice dropkick and a belly to back suplex, setting up Legacy’s standing moonsault for two. Smokes gets chopped down in the corner and Baylor comes in off a blind tag, only to be sent outside. Legacy hits a huge dive and we take a break.

We come back with Legacy in trouble in the corner and Smoke grabbing a chinlock. Legacy fights out of a double belly to back suplex though and it’s a rolling tag to bring in Dux to clean house. Smokes trips Dux from the floor though and it’s a Codebreaker into a spear for two, with Legacy making the save.

Everyone is down for a minute until Dux crotches Smokes on top. A top rope splash and 450 combine to give Legacy two and the champs are sent outside for stereo dives. Jackson Drake is pulled in but Myra Lockwood low bridges Dux out to the floor. Legacy is sent into the steps and a top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination retains the titles at 13:09.

Rating: B-. Dang it the Project is starting to get good at their thing and that was the case again here. They’re a team who look like they should be easily beaten but they are just good enough to get by. That’s a good place to be and it should be interesting to see which team is finally able to figure out the combination to finally beat them.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne think they could take the Tag Team Titles but Kam Hendrix comes in to say he wants the North American Title. He’s hurt for now but showtime is coming soon.

Saquon Shuggars wants OTM to be his partners against Darkstate but they remember him being a bit evil so that’s a no. OTM goes over to talk to Birthright for going after them, but Birthright brings up Bronco Nima going to AAA on his own. Maybe there are some cracks in the OTM foundation.

Here is Tristan Angels for a chat. He’s not big on Shiloh Hill, who has a family tree involving wild animals but Angels is here with Hill’s missing tooth. Angels then stomps on said tooth, so here is Hill on the screen, saying that he can fix his smile, but Angels can’t fix the fact that the fog is coming. Hill shouts that a bunch and some fog appears to scare Angels.

Nattie and company think that Nikkita Lyons should replace the injured Layla Diggs in the Women’s North American Title match. Lizzy Rain and Izzy Dame want in as well so a lot of bickering ensues. Robert Stone is sick of it and makes a four way for the title tonight.

Tate Wilder vs. Naraku

Wilder gets an inset promo saying he likes this kind of a challenge. Wilder snaps off an armdrag to start but gets sent throat first into the middle rope. Naraku is sent outside though and we take a break. We come back with Naraku throwing him into an STF. That’s broken up so Naraku grabs a chinlock, only for Wilder to fight up for a Sling Blade. A Sling Blade backbreaker gets two on Naraku and a spinning high crossbody gets the same. Wilder goes up again but gets shoved down for a big crash. Back in and Into The Abyss finishes Wilder off at 8:56.

Rating: B-. Wilder was trying here but he was in over his head and got crushed in the end. Naraku got to shake off just about everything that Wilder threw at him and wound up winning, as the match should have been. There is a good chance that Naraku is coming up on a violent rematch with Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Title so a nice win like this is a good thing.

Post match D’Angelo comes in for the brawl, with security only having so much success.

Hank & Tank and EK Prosper turn Saquon Shuggars down as well.

Women’s North American Title: Izzy Dame vs. Nikkita Lyons vs. Lizzy Rain vs. Zaria

Only Zaria is defending. They fight for some early rollups for two each until Rain springboard elbows Zaria down. Zaria is back up with a spinning clothesline to Lyons and it’s time to pair off for stereo brawls. We take a break and come back with Lyons and Rain striking it out on the apron until Zaria and Dame clothesline each other.

Back in and Rain cleans house but Lyons gives her a sitout powerbomb for two. Dame is back up with a running dropkick to break up a fireman’s carry and get two on Zaria. Rain and Lyons are knocked outside and Zaria spears Dame for two. Cue Nattie and Karmen Petrovic but here is Jaida Parker to take Nattie out. Zaria spears Petrovic and a spear into the F5 finishes Lyons to retain the title at 12:46.

Rating: B-. This was a tricky one as they went from a singles match to a wild four way with pretty much no build. That’s not their fault in this case and they did what they could here. Zaria retains the match and while it’s annoying that Lyons took the fall, at least they did everything to get out of there given the screwy circumstances.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey turn Saquon Shuggars down too, but Lola Vice comes in to say she’s not done with Grey.

Tony D’Angelo demands Robert Stone give him Naraku again and the match is set for next week. D’Angelo says he isn’t waiting and Stone chases after him.

Tavion Heights vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake, who is backed into the ropes to start rather quickly. Heights grabs a headlock, which doesn’t work very well for him as Drake drives him into the corner. Back up and Heights suplexes him into the corner and we take a break.

We come back with Heights missing some charges into the corner and getting his leg taken out. The Figure Four goes on with Heights turning it over, sending Drake crawling to the rope for the break. A big backdrop sends Drake onto the Project so Brad Baylor gets up on the apron. That’s cut off so Heights tries the belly to belly, only to get reversed into a sunset flip to give Drake the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. It’s a good night for the Project and it’s nice to see Drake get a pretty big win without much cheating. He’s the most talented of the Project and someone who could go somewhere as a singles star so why not see what he can do? At the same time, Heights continues to lose and I have no idea where he’s supposed to go in this whole thing.

Reina Volcan is a force of nature and ready to wreck people.

Saquon Shuggars, Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno….and they actually say yes! Huh, I was expecting someone from the main roster showing up.

Kali Armstrong talks trash to Kendal Grey and promises to win. Armstrong runs into Jaida Parker, who isn’t impressed. Nattie and company jump Parker.

Shawn Spears saw potential in the Culling and he’s proud of Izzy Dame. He was proud of Niko Vance for taking a step forward, but then it was two steps back. Let’s find out just how much Vance learned.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Kali Armstrong

For a future Women’s Title shot. Armstrong is clotheslined to the floor to start, leaving Jordan to roll Vice up for two. Back in and Armstrong’s charge hits the post, leaving the other two to brawl on the mat. Armstrong breaks that up with some slams, with Vice being sent outside. Jordan neckbreakers Vice who DDTs Armstrong for two but Vice sends Jordan outside.

A guillotine choke has Armstrong in trouble but Jordan is back in for the save. Vice and Jordan brawl to the floor so Armstrong takes them both out with a big dive. We take a break and come back with Vice hitting the running hip attacks in the corner. Armstrong spinebusters Vice for two but Jordan kicks both of them in the face, followed by a double Eat Defeat.

Jordan gets pulled into a triangle choke with Armstrong making the save, setting up a string of rollups for two each. A frog splash breaks up Vice’s cross armbreaker for two but Armstrong powerslams Vice. The Kali Connection sends Vice outside so she and Jordan can trade rollups for two each. Back in and Vice spinning backfists Armstrong but gets dropped by Jordan. The 450 hits Armstrong, only for Vice to kick Jordan off and get the pin at 14:20.

Rating: B-. It was almost all action, but Vice is absolutely the right choice given how strongly her first match with Grey was received. If you already have a story that good, just run a rematch because the fans are going to want to see it. Jordan and Armstrong losing again is fine as Jordan will get her big title shot down the line and Armstrong is going to be a force just because of the incredible power and athleticism.

We run down next week’s card but it’s off to the parking lot.

Tony D’Angelo and Naraku are fighting in the parking lot so Robert Stone comes in to make their title match next week a street fight.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show built around getting us ready for the pretty big TV show next week before we start the real build towards Heatwave. The good thing is that they made it work here, with pretty much everything clicking and the winners feeling like they got something out of their matches. I want to see where some of these things go next week and I’ll take that every single time.

Results
Vanity Project b. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Van Dux
Naraku b. Tate Wilder – Into The Abyss
Zaria b. Izzy Dame, Lizzy Rain and Nikkita Lyons – Spear to Lyons
Jackson Drake b. Tavion Heights – Sunset flip
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong – 450 to Armstrong

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: July 7, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re in an interesting place as the big story coming out of last week was…uh…someone we ALL know debuting and attacking Tatum Paxley. That’s going to need some follow up and preferably a name as it feels like quite the big story. Kendal Grey is defending the Women’s Title too so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Kali Armstrong is in the ring to start and she isn’t happy. She saw everyone cheering for Kendal Grey and she had her target. As soon as she decided to go after Grey, everyone was paying attention to her. Now she wants the title and doesn’t care who she has to face. This brings out Lola Vice to say Armstrong is impatient but Kelani Jordan interrupts. She can’t believe what she’s hearing because everyone is worried about Tatum Paxley. Jordan is the one who should get a shot and the brawl is on, with Armstrong clearing the ring. As usual, Jordan is not great at talking. It’s just not her thing.

Darkstate vs. OTM vs. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux vs. Birthright

For a future Tag Team Title shot and it’s Nima and Griffin cleaning house to give us the big power brawl to start. Legacy is back up to send them into each other but Price powers Birthright around without much trouble. James kicks Price away but Legacy and Dux give him a double suplex. Birthright is back up to clear the ring though and we take a break.

We come back with Darkstate firing away until Price forearms Stacks out of the air. Dux gets the tag and fires off the kicks into a moonsault until Nima gives him a spinning Big Ending for two. A bunch of people go outside and Stacks suplexes Dux into Connors’ sitout powerbomb. Legacy and Dux moonsault onto the floor and Griffin hits a dive of his own. Cue Saquon Shuggars in the crowd but Dion Lennox chases him off. A bunch of people brawl to the back and Legacy’s springboard 450 finishes Connors at 14:17.

Rating: B-. This was a bunch of people going all over the place and the problem comes down to there just being so many people out there. The match didn’t have much in the way of a flow or structure as everything was about getting stuff in against each other. Also, it showed how unimportant a lot of these teams really feel, with Legacy and Dux being even weaker.

Jaida Parker isn’t happy with Nattie making her give up, especially when Nattie is here to revitalize her dead career. Parker is coming for her.

Saquon Shuggars knows he needs help to fight Darkstate but no one likes him. It’s time to shake hands and kiss babies to show people he has changed.

Keanu Carver vs. Tank Ledger

Ledger jumps him to start and knocks Carver outside. Back in and Carver gets in a shot of his own to cut that off, followed by quite the clothesline. A powerbomb gives Carver two, with his taped up knee giving out at the end. Ledger strikes away and even gets in a Swanton for two but a full nelson is blocked. Somehow Carver is back up with a dropkick and an Alabama Slam for the pin at 4:46.

Rating: C+. They were smart to keep this short as Carver is all about power and devastation. He absorbed everything that Ledger threw at him and fought through the injury to win. That’s a good way to make Carver feel like a monster and I’m curious to see where he’s going next, as he’s an effective smashing machine.

Naraku talks about how he isn’t done with Tony D’Angelo and asks how far D’Angelo is willing to go, because Naraku will do anything to win the title.

Tate Wilder wants to fight Naraku and Kam Hendrix, whose knee is still banged up, doesn’t think much of Mason Rook. Cue Rook, who scares Hendrix off.

Nattie is ready for her match and offers to be there with Layla Diggs, but Diggs wants to do this on her own. Works for Nattie, who does want her friends out there for the title match.

Lizzie Rain vs. Thea Hail vs. Izzy Dame vs. Layla Diggs

For a Women’s North American Title shot. Dame takes over to start but gets dropped by Rain. Some rollups for two each are exchanged until Rain backdrops Hail out to the floor. Rain’s springboard elbow drops Dame but Diggs is back up to elbow both of them. Hail is up with a middle rope dive onto all three of them and we take a break.

We come back with Hail and Diggs hitting stereo frog splashes for two each. Hail superkicks Diggs into a standing moonsault for two and a springboard backsplash gets two more. Rain is back up with a double cutter, followed by a single cutter to a diving Diggs. Dame chokeslams Diggs for two and a middle rope Codebreaker hitting Rain. Hail’s Kimura is broken up and everyone is down again. Rain elbows Dame into the corner and gives Hail Thunderstruck, only for Diggs to hit her perfect moonsault for the pin at 14:28.

Rating: B-. This was similar to the opening match but it was rather nice to have half of the people involved overall. It helps so much, just for the sake of having less going on and fewer people flying around. Diggs winning is an interesting choice for the win, but it’s a good way to give her a quick move up the charts.

The woman who debuted last week talks about wanting to attack anyone and calls herself a force of nature. Her name: Reina Vulcan.

Here is an upset Tavion Heights for a chat. He doesn’t like the things that he said before the Great American Bash and he wants to apologize to Myles Borne. This brings out the Vanity Project, who say they deserve some apologies of their own. Jackson Drake doesn’t think much of Heights’ statements so the brawl is on, with Heights clearing the ring.

Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar run into Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux and seem interested in a match. Legacy and Dux are more interested in figuring out which of their names comes first.

Shiloh Hill vs. Niko Vance

Hill charges into a boot in the corner to start but avoids a middle rope headbutt. Hill’s top rope clothesline gets two and it’s time to stare at each other, followed by Hill hitting another clothesline. Vance is back with a gutwrench faceplant and a middle rope headbutt for two of his own. Back up and Hill snaps off a DDT before striking away and getting two off a backsplash. Cue Tristan Angels for a distraction, allowing Vance to hit a running elbow for the pin at 4:41.

Rating: C+. It was fairly intense while it lasted but this was more about Angels vs. Hill continuing than anything else. That’s a fine enough way to go as a culture clash is always going to work. Hill has certainly gotten some interest from the fans as well and that’s a good sign. It also shouldn’t be surprising as he’s rather oddly charismatic and it’s working well thus far.

Post match Vance poses and here is Shawn Spears to chair him in the back.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Nattie

Grey is defending and all of their respective friends are here too. They grapple on the mat to start with Grey getting the better of things. A shot to the face drops Grey so she wrestles Nattie down again. Nattie tries her belly to back drop but Grey picks the ankle into an ankle lock. That’s broken up and they fight outside with Grey getting distracted, allowing Nattie to get in a cheap shot. The seconds get in a big fight and we take a break.

We come back with Nattie holding an abdominal stretch but getting small packaged for two. Nattie pulls her into a rear naked choke so Grey grabs a failed cross armbreaker attempt. Back up and a middle rope dropkick is countered into the Sharpshooter. Grey makes the rope and they fight over a rollup, only for Grey to snap off Shades Of Grey for the pin to retain at 12:19.

Rating: B-. Well at least we should be done with Nattie as a challenger. That’s a good thing to see, as the idea of Grey feuding with her for the long term is almost depressing. The match was the perfectly fine technical display but Nattie wasn’t going to end the big new title reign and certainly not this soon. For a one off TV main event, it worked perfectly well.

Post match Jaida Parker comes out for a staredown with Nattie. Kali Armstrong, Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan surround Grey to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show about moving stories forward, but it made you realize how a lot of these people haven’t been developed all that well yet. The thing to remember is a good number of these people are freshly moved up to NXT from Evolve and haven’t had the chance to grow yet, despite being put in these spots. That is making for a tricky situation and NXT is handling it as well as they can, which is impressive enough. The show was busy but good enough and held my interest so we’ll call it acceptable this week.

Results
Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux b. OTM, Darkstate and Birthright – Springboard 450 to Connors
Keanu Carer b. Tank Ledger – Alabama Slam
Layla Diggs b. Thea Hail, Lizzie Rain and Izzy Dame – Moonsault to Hail
Niko Vance b. Shiloh Hill – Running elbow
Kendal Grey b. Nattie – Shades Of Grey

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NXT
Date: June 30, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with the Great American Bash and the big story coming out of the show was Lola Vice losing the Women’s Title to Kendal Grey. We’ll get to see where things go for the new champion going forward, probably in the form of meeting a new challenger. Other than that, Tony D’Angelo turned back a challenge from Naraku and he’ll be needing a new challenger of his own. Let’s get to it.

Here is the Great American Bash if you need a recap.

We open with a long Great American Bash recap.

Here is Kendal Grey for a chat. She’s more nervous to be out here now than she was in the main event on Sunday. Ever since John Cena picked her to be in the Women’s Iron Survivor, her life has been crazy. No one puts pressure on her like she does and she kept dropping the ball. This Sunday, she proved she belonged here, even though she doesn’t look like a normal champion.

No she isn’t going to dress like a Barbie but when the bell rings, she’ll be wrestling like a champion. Sooner or later, everyone is going to find out they can’t keep up with Kendal. Cue Wren Sinclair with a cake but before they can celebrate, here is Kelani Jordan to say she wants the title shot she has earned. Tatum Paxley pops up out of the crowd to dive onto Jordan as Wren and Kendal have cake.

Keanu Carver has attacked El Hijo del Vikingo, saying the title match is off.

Izzi Dame is complaining about how she doesn’t have a title but Zaria isn’t pleased with her issues. Lizzie Rain comes in and annoys both of them with loud music.

Kelani Jordan complains about everything to Robert Stone, who has no time for this. Stone gives her Tatum Paxley in tonight’s main event before going to deal with Keanu Carver. Thankfully Carver is a few feet away and says that he doesn’t like being overlooked. His reward: a match with EK Prosper tonight. WWE is getting annoying with announcing things and then changing them lately.

Tag Team Titles: Vanity Project vs. Galeno/El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

The Project is defending. Baylor shoves Galeno into the corner to start and gets punched by Wagner as a result, with Wagner hitting a big running flip dive to take the champs out. We take a break and come back with Wagner enziguring his way out of the corner and bringing Galeno in again. House is quickly cleaned, including a toss dropkick to send Wagner up for a dropkick to Smokes.

The Project is right back with a dropkick Hart Attack for two on Wagner but Galeno’s reverse suplex connects for the same. Wagner climbs onto Galeno’s shoulders for a splash on Baylor but Galeno accidentally backdrops Smokes onto the cover to break it up. Jackson Drake offers a distraction as well and a top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Wagner retains the titles at 10:10.

Rating: B-. This worked well enough for a team of guest stars popping in for the sake of a one off title match. It’s not like there is any story to the match and the Project are seen as weak enough that they could lose the titles at any time. It wasn’t great but it was the Project getting to capitalize on a mistake, which does make sense for them. Or anyone really.

A bunch of tag teams want a title shot so Robert Stone makes a four team #1 contenders match next week. Romeo Moreno/Noam Dar are left out as Stone says they need to build up their resume first (fair and accurate).

Mason Rook vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Rook blocks an early headlock takeover attempt and gets two off an early powerslam. Hold on though as Kam Hendrix calls Booker T. to say he’s about 60% cleared to return to the ring and will be back soon. But did he get a new sling to cut down on the chaffing?

Anyway Rook misses a backsplash but does a Samoa Joe sidestep of a springboard moonsault. Rook’s second backsplash attempt connects and Drake rolls outside as we take a break. We come back with Drake getting two off a cutter but Rook drops him with a toss Blue Thunder Bomb. The cannonball crushes Drake in the corner but he avoids a sitdown splash.

Drake hits a Lionsault double stomp (OUCH) for two, only for Rook to slam him down again. Another powerbomb is countered into a heck of a Code Red to give Drake two. Back up and Rook’s sitout powerbomb gets two more and the fans are (rightfully) losing it over this stuff. The Project gets up for a distraction though and Drake gets a Backstabber, with Myra Lockwood holding Rook’s foot for the pin at 11:51.

Rating: B+. Well where in the world did that come from? These two just happened to have great chemistry together and I was wondering where this was going. This was a couple of guys trading one big move after another and while Rook has been treated like a big deal since he debuted, I didn’t know Drake had this in him. Shockingly awesome match here and I could go with a rematch.

Post match Rook wrecks the Project.

Tate Wilder gives EK Prosper a pep talk.

Kali Armstrong comes in to Robert Stone’s office and wants a chance. He tells her that actions speak louder than words.

EK Prosper vs. Keanu Carver

Carver powers him into the corner to start and grabs an early armbar. Prosper is up with a dropkick and a low bridge to the floor, naturally setting up the big running flip dive. Back in and a top rope splash gives Prosper two and we take a break. We come back with Prosper fighting out of a chinlock and seeing Carver hitting a great looking release German suplex during the break.

Carver’s powerslam is countered into a Stunner (that was different) but he cuts off a dive to drop Prosper onto the announcers’ table. Cue Hank to knock Carver through the barricade (in revenge for Carver attacking Tank at the Great American Bash) for nine, leaving Prosper to hit a moonsault for the pin at 10:12.

Rating: C+. There is something to be said about having Carver run through people but getting taken out as a result of his own actions. That’s a far cry from Carver slipping on a banana peel or getting cheated unfairly as it also keeps him strong. Prosper is looking good too and it is nice to see him getting a chance of his own, including being the kryptonite to Carver.

Kendal Grey is in Robert Stone’s office where he announces a four way Women’s North American #1 contenders match next week. Nattie and her new friends come in with Nattie praising them and then asking for a title match. Stone and Grey are in so the match is set for next week.

Jaida Parker vs. Karmen Petrovic

Nattie, Layla Diggs and Nikkita Lyons are here with Petrovic. Parker powers her into the corner to start and grabs a quickly broken headlock. Back up and Parker sends her into the corner for the Tear Drop but a Nattie distraction lets Petrovic drop Parker onto the apron. Petrovic stomps away inside and a suplex sends Parker flying for two. Parker reverses a kick to the chest into the Rings Of Saturn, sending Petrovic straight to the rope. A baseball slide drops Petrovic so Nattie and company get in some cheap shots. Back in and Parker shrugs it off, setting up the Hipnotique and Deja Vu for the pin at 4:48.

Rating: C. I would hope that we’re not going to see Parker run through Nattie’s group to get at Nattie because I don’t want to see Nattie around that long. I do like Petrovic getting a chance to do something but losing in about five minutes is hardly some big upgrade. At least Parker got a win, and her getting even more would be a nice thing to see.

Shiloh Hill and Tatum Paxley talk about enjoying fun and knowing how to turn into their dark versions when necessary. Paxley leaves and Niko Vance comes in, saying they need to get rid of weak stars one by one. Hill doesn’t like the implication that Paxley is weak and Vance says the toothless look makes for a nice smile.

Sean Legacy comes up to Dorian Van Dux (who wasn’t in the tag team meeting earlier) and says they need to be on the same page. Dux says they will be.

Myles Borne and Wren Sinclair are happy with their wins on Sunday but Tavion Heights comes in. Heights says that no matter what, friends stay together no matter what, in an effort to erase what he had said to Borne. It doesn’t quite work, as Borne says that’s what he’s been trying to tell Heights all along before leaving.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for a chat. When you do things every day, you start taking them for granted. Last week he got his eye burned and had to sign a document before he was able to fight at the Great American Bash. That made him stop for a second, because he wasn’t sure if he was going to risk his health to defend the NXT Title. Of course he was, and that’s why he gave it his all against Naraku.

There is no one in that locker room willing to swim deep enough to take the title from him. And that’s that, with Kendal Grey coming out for the main event but Naraku comes in to chair D’Angelo down. An STO onto the chair leaves D’Angelo down. I’m really not getting the reason for this feud continuing when D’Angelo beat him clean.

After a break, we see Naraku backstage before the attack, where he misted D’Angelo to leave him completely blinded before laying him out. That’s a nice touch that didn’t come across earlier.

Tatum Paxley vs. Kelani Jordan

They fight over a lockup to start and go to the mat, with Jordan taking over. Jordan’s headlock doesn’t last long as Paxley is up with a dropkick to the floor. Jordan is right back up but misses an Asai moonsault, allowing Paxley to hit a superkick to the chest. We take a break and come back with Paxley forearming away and seeing Kali Armstrong jumping Kendal Grey on commentary right before the break.

With Grey gone, Paxley strikes away at Jordan, including a step up kick from the floor to the head. Paxley misses a 450 though and tweaks her ankle (which was also banged up during the break). Jordan stomps her down and cranks on the leg, with Paxley rolling her out to the floor. The Cemetery Drive is countered and Jordan goes after the leg to set up something like an Angle Slam. One Of A Kind finishes Paxley at 12:20.

Rating: B-. I’m not happy to see Paxley losing here but at least Jordan’s push towards the big showdown for the title is being built up. It might not be interesting, but at least it’s coming together. Paxley is in a weird place as she doesn’t have much to do right now and she’s on a losing streak, which is hardly a great sign for her future.

Post match Jordan leaves but a woman (Vic: “We all know who that is!”) comes in to jump Paxley and lay her out to the end the show. Naturally commentary never said the newcomer’s name but it’s Nikki Blackheart.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show for the most part as it followed a logical path, save for Naraku vs. D’Angelo continuing. You can see where a lot of these feuds are going and I want to see how some of those stories play out. This was a bit of an upgrade over the last few weeks of NXT and I’m glad to see that, as the Great American Bash was only so interesting. Throw in the rather awesome Rook vs. Jackson match and it was a nice show this week.

Results
Vanity Project/Galeno/El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Wagner Jr.
Jackson Drake b. Mason Rook – Backstabber with assist from Lockwood
EK Prosper b. Keanu Carver – Moonsault
Jaida Parker b. Karmen Petrovic – Deja Vu
Kelani Jordan b. Tatum Paxley – One Of A Kind

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NXT
Date: June 23, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s the last show before the Great American Bash and that means we’re in for a big one this week. Actually two, as it’s a DOUBLE CONTRACT SIGNING, with both the NXT and Women’s Title matches officially being signed. That’s about all you could ask for in a single show, with the wrestling being a bonus to TWO, count em TWO contract signing. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Tony D’Angelo isn’t happy that Naraku hasn’t signed the contract for the Great American Bash but Robert Stone tells him to be on good behavior. Aaron Rourke comes up and D’Angelo wishes him good luck tonight. An appreciative Rourke wishes D’Angelo the same.

Evolve Title: Aaron Rourke vs. Tristan Angels

Rourke (who is rather flamboyant) is defending. They trade headlocks to start with Angels switching over to a cravate (how English of him). Rourke flips over him out of the corner and hits a quick dropkick but Angels gets in a forearm to the back. The nerve hold doesn’t last long and Angels misses a charge to the floor. Angels trips him down onto the apron and we take an early break.

We come back with Angels working on the arm but Rourke fights up and strikes away. A fall away slam puts Angels down again as we see D’Angelo looking for Naraku. Rourke hits a middle rope Codebreaker for two but takes too long stealing the Mr. NXT sash, earning him an enziguri out to the floor. Angels seems to be pulled underneath the ring though and comes out looking terrified. The Molly Go Round retains the title at 8:53.

Rating: C+. This was fine as a way to do something of an Evolve showcase. Angels has been around for a bit before so this was more about Rourke, who did well enough. Rourke is someone who takes some time to grow on you but he definitely has the talent to get somewhere. Let the fans get to know him a bit more and it could work out rather well.

D’Angelo finds Naraku in the parking lot (uh oh) and Naraku presents him with the signed contract. D’Angelo opens it…and a fireball explodes in his face. Robert Stone panics while Naraku laughs.

Post break an ambulance arrives and D’Angelo is taken away as Stone is still worried.

Here is Saquon Shuggars for a face to face meeting with Dion Lennox. Shuggars cuts him off to talk about Darkstate throwing him through a table five weeks ago. Lennox was the one acting like the leader and calling Shuggars an independent wrestler. Shuggars is indeed a wrestler but Lennox says Shuggars wasn’t supposed to be on the team. Darkstate got what they needed out of him and then moved on, with the final beating coming on Sunday

Shuggars insists that there is no Darkstate without him. Shuggars says the other two are lost without him and if Lennox put on Shuggars’ jockstrap, it would be a bad fit. Lennox says Shuggars is a facade and he would disappear just before it was go time. Dropping Shuggars wasn’t a mistake because it was a correction. Lennox is ready to finish him off at the Bash. This was an intense showdown but it’s still members of a not so interesting team fighting.

Hank & Tank talk to comedian Matt Matthews, who might be ready to get in the ring. The Vanity Project is in the background.

Myles Borne talks about being someone who has always been uncomfortable but he has grown to live with it. He started to get comfortable in the No Quarter Catch Crew and got even better. Tavion Heights talks about their time together and now they’re fighting for the title on Sunday.

Wren Sinclair can’t calm Heights down because he doesn’t have a title. Kendal Grey comes in and gives the now healthy Sinclair a pep talk. Cake is teased.

Birthright vs. Hank & Tank

The rest of the team and Matt Matthews are here too. Hank works on Connors’ arm to start and Stacks gets armdragged down as well. A cheap shot puts Hank into the wrong corner though and the villains go to stomping. Hank clotheslines his way to freedom and a double slam sends Connors flying for two. Everything breaks down and Matthews has to be saved, meaning Hank & Tank can hit stereo dives as we take a break.

We come back with Hank getting powerbombed out of the corner for two but he ducks a clothesline. The diving tag brings in Tank to clean house and it’s back to Hank, who gets Stunnered over the top rope. Stacks adds a top rope elbow for two as everything breaks down again. Hank plants Stacks but Connors hits a big Swanton. Matthews manages to take out the rest of Birthright on the floor and the powerslam/running neckbreaker combination finishes Stacks at 12:02.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the appeal of Hank & Tank, but I really hope they drop this comedian sooner than later. Matthews isn’t particularly funny or memorable and he’s been on the show for a few weeks now. Odds are it’s just some mandate from the CW because otherwise, what in the world are they thinking? If nothing else, what does the rest of Birthright do now that they got beaten up by a rather tiny non-wrestler?

Shiloh Hill says he’s healthy, both in body and mind, and wants to beat up Tristan Angels at the Great American Bash.

We look back at Tony D’Angelo being burned.

We go backstage for the Women’s Title contract signing. Kendal Grey says she hit Lola Vice by mistake but Vice doesn’t want to hear it. She has Grey’s style figured out but Grey talks about her own amateur wrestling style. Grey is going to raise the bar even higher on Sunday, though Vice doesn’t think Grey is doing anything Vice hasn’t done in the first place. Vice promises to retain and they both sign.

Keanu Carver vs. EK Prosper

Carver runs him over to start and gives Prosper a big throw out of the corner. Prosper is back up with a springboard missile dropkick, only to get gorilla pressed down. A springboard moonsault connects on Carver, who knocks Prosper hard to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Carver pulling him out of the air for a hard slam. Quite the release German suplex puts Prosper down again but he gets in some kicks to the head. The Shining Wizard rocks Carver again and Prosper hits a heck of a springboard moonsault to the floor. Carver isn’t having that and blasts him with a clothesline, followed by the Pounce. A powerbomb is…reversed into a sunset flip to give Prosper the big upset pin at 9:53.

Rating: C+. I’m not wild on the idea of having Carver lose like this but points for giving another of the newcomers a big win. Prosper is a heck of an athlete and there’s always room for a high flier like him, though getting a better name would help him a lot. Carver losing is a bit of a risk, but they did at least try something with Prosper and I’ll take that.

Post match Carver lays him out with a running clothesline and a powerbomb puts Prosper through the announcers’ table.

Zaria is ready for Tatum Paxley, who couldn’t let Zaria enjoy her own success. Their title match is set for the Great American Bash.

Robert Stone tells Naraku that he might have just cost himself the title shot. Keanu Carver comes in and gets yelled at but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Izzi Dame vs. Arianna Grace

For the Women’s Speed Title shot and their respective friends are here too. Dame kicks her in the face at the bell and a Sky High gets two. Grace gets in a kick to knock Dame out of the air though and goes up, only to take too long. Another shot to the face gives Grace two as we have a minute left. Dame gets in a knockdown of her own but Shawn Spears insists on a hand slap, allowing Grace to get the small package pin at 2:19.

Wren Sinclair comes out for the showdown as Dame doesn’t want to hear it from the Culling.

Robert Stone says there are going to be some AAA stars at the Great American Bash and we’ll get an update on the NXT Title match before the end of the night. The Vanity Project comes in and want to be part of the Great American Bash. Stone doesn’t seem to have time for this.

NXT Origins video on Alexa Bliss. I believe this is the third time this has aired in a week.

Jaida Parker is upset but doesn’t seem to want to talk to OTM about it. Lucien Price seems to be fine with Bronco Nima joining Los Perros del Mal in AAA.

The Culling vs. Dorian Van Dux/Sean Legacy

Spears takes Legacy into the corner for the hard chop, only to get caught with a double stomp to the back. It’s off to Dux to stay on the arm, who gets forearmed in the jaw for his efforts. Vance comes in and gets sunset flipped for two, with Dux going off to his arm for a change. Legacy gets taken down but kicks Spears in the head without much trouble. Everything breaks down and the Culling takes over as we take a break.

We come back with Vance taking a shot to save Spears, allowing Dux to come back in and wreck the villains. Everything breaks down and an assisted swinging DDT gets two on Legacy. Dux moonsaults onto Vance on the floor and it’s Legacy’s 450 into Dux’s shooting star press to pin Spears at 11:33.

Rating: B-. Not too bad here, though I still don’t get the appeal of Legacy. He’s just kind of there for the most part, with Dux at least looking like a monster who could do a lot of damage. At the same time you have the Culling, who haven’t exactly done anything in a long time, which doesn’t seem likely to be changing.

Post match Vance turns on Spears and chokeslams him through the announcers’ table. Izzi Dame approves.

Great American Bash rundown.

Here is Robert Stone to explain the NXT Title situation. He brings out Naraku, who says if Tony D’Angelo is out, he’ll just take the title. Cue Mason Rook to say he’ll fight Naraku for the title. Now it’s the Vanity Project to interrupt, saying they want in on the title match. Rook takes the Project out so Naraku says give him the title. Stone says it was always going to be someone else for the title match…and here is D’Angelo to clear Naraku out.

One more Great American Bash rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. They definitely did a bunch of to set up the Bash here, even if it felt like a last ditch effort. They added in a few more matches to pad the show out a bit, though it still feels like it’s missing a big match to really carry things. Hopefully the show lives up to the hype, which did get stronger here, though it was starting fairly low in the first place. Good stuff here, with the D’Angelo vs. Naraku ending being a relief over what they were teasing just a few moments before.

Results
Aaron Rourke b. Tristan Angels – Molly Go Round
Hank & Tank b. Birthright – Powerslam/running neckbreaker combination to Stacks
EK Prosper b. Keanu Carver – Sunset flip
Arianna Grace b. Izzi Dame – Small package
Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux b. The Culling – Shooting star press to Spears

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NXT
Date: June 16, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re rapidly approaching the Great American Bash and that means one of the great NXT traditions: the big sitdown before a title match. In this case that’s between NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and #1 contender Naraku, who are set to face off in twelve days. We’ll also find out the #1 contender for the North American Title so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Here is Zaria for a chat. She talks about how hard she worked to get here and all of the effort people saw, but they only talked about Sol Ruca. This title is a course correction and she doesn’t owe anyone any gratitude. Cue Kelani Jordan for an interruption but since Zaria doesn’t have the title Jordan wants, Zaria can’t do anything for her.

She does have some special advice though: Zaria is never going to be good enough for the fans but all Jordan needs is one shot at Lola Vice. This brings out Kendal Grey, who says the result is going to be the same anytime she faces Jordan. Cue Vice, who says that she’s still the Women’s Champion and can take out all three of the. Robert Stone, tag match, everyone is happy.

Tavion Heights vs. Jackson Drake

For a title shot against Myles Borne and the Vanity Project is here with Drake. They fight over some rollups to start but Heights is back up with some gutwrench suplexes. Heights works on the armbar before sending Drake crashing into the corner. Some clotheslines don’t do much to Drake though and a jumping knee sends Heights outside as we take a break.

We come back with the two of them hitting crossbodies at the same time, allowing Heights to snap off a backdrop. Drake grabs a handspring cutter though and snaps off a standing shooting star press for two more. Drake takes too much time going up though and gets tossed down, setting up Heights’ good looking top rope splash for two. A backdrop sends Drake crashing onto the Party and here is Borne to clothesline the Party down. The belly to belly finishes for Heights at 11:06.

Rating: B-. Drake was a good choice for a challenger here as he’s just dangerous enough to be a threat to Heights. At the same time, Heights vs. Borne has been built up for a few months now and is the logical way to go. Heights feels like a threat with that suplex and I want to see the title match so call this a nice success.

Post match Borne and Heights have a staredown, with Borne raising Heights’ hand and Heights not really approving.

Last week, Robert Stone talked to Evolve Champion Aaron Rourke, Hank & Tank and the comedian from last week’s Mr. NXT contest, with the comedian being surprised at how violent it is around here. Birthright comes in and doesn’t like the comedian mocking him so a tag match seems likely.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Thea Hail vs. Izzi Dame

Hail gets two near falls in the first ten seconds and Dame’s faceplant gets two more. Back up and Hail goes after the arm, with Dame bailing out to the floor. Some stomps to the arm have Dame in more trouble but she avoids the springboard backsplash. The running knee finishes for Dame at 2:10. Yeah Hail is never going to happen is she?

Kendal Grey wants Wren Sinclair by her side but Sinclair isn’t sure about her bad knee. Lola Vice comes in to suggest she’ll retain the title anyway.

Tony D’Angelo comes to see Naraku and accuses him of having nefarious motivations. Naraku doesn’t know what is going on but D’Angelo brings up Naraku’s history in Japan. D’Angelo accuses Naraku of having a bunch of people coming to help him. D’Angelo signs and leaves, with Naraku saying evil is coming but not signing.

Video on Nattie vs. Jaida Parker.

Keanu Carver and EK Prosper come in to see Robert Stone, who puts them in a match.

Nattie vs. Jaida Parker

Nattie runs from the power to start and the chase lets Parker take her down back inside. Parker grabs a waistlock but Nattie reverses into a headlock takeover. The grappling on the mat doesn’t get Nattie anywhere and Parker pulls her into the Rings Of Saturn. That’s broken up as well and they go outside for a double clothesline and we take a break.

We come back with Nattie running her over on the floor again and stopping to pose. That’s enough of a delay for Parker to slap on an STF back inside, sending Nattie crawling over to the rope. Back up and Parker wins a slugout to send Nattie into the corner for the Teardrop. The Rings go on again but Nattie escapes and they go outside, with Parker being sent into the barricade. Back in and the Sharpshooter (eventually) makes Parker tap at 15:13.

Rating: B-. As usual, Nattie gets to be in something that might make logical sense but isn’t the most thrilling match. Nattie is not interesting and hasn’t been for a long time, which is what causes whatever stories she has to be less than thrilling. Parker losing again doesn’t help either, but this isn’t likely to be wrapping up anytime soon. At least it shouldn’t be.

Mason Rook talks to Lizzie Rain but Tristan Angels interrupts them. Shiloh Hill is injured so Angels will have to be. Mr. NXT in his absence. Evolve Champion Aaron Rourke comes in to mock Angels (including his efforts in last week’s swimsuit round) and a match is set for next week.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Arianna Grace vs. Layla Diggs

They trade fast near falls to start until Grace gets two off a suplex. Back up and Diggs fires off some kicks, including a rolling kick to put her down. Diggs dives onto Birthright but the delay lets Grace small package her for the pin at 2:45.

Noam Dar talks to some of the new stars around here and names Romeo Moreno as his new partner. Dorian Van Dux and Sean Legacy are off to find opponents.

Tate Wilder talks about injuring his finger a few years back but it just made him go after his success that much more.

Saquon Shuggars talks about growing up in a rough neighborhood and how he had to get into wrestling to escape. Then he joined Darkstate, who kept chipping away at the good things he was doing. Now he’s out and he’s ready to face Dion Lennox. Good stuff here, as Shuggars has a nice story.

Zaria/Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice/Kendal Grey

Vice and Jordan go to the grappling to start before missing kicks to the head. It’s off to Grey, who dropkicks Jordan out to the floor and it’s off to Vice vs. Zaria for the showdown. Zaria counters a springboard bulldog into a suplex and it’s already back to Grey. That’s fine with Zaria, who knocks her outside for a cheap shot from Jordan and we take a break.

We come back with Vice hitting the running hip attack on Jordan, who goes back to Vice’s hand to take over. One Of A Kind is broken up but it’s back to Zaria to spear the now legal Grey in half. Grey gets in a Fujiwara armbar, which is broken up rather quickly and all four are knocked down. It’s back to Vice, who slips out of a powerbomb and slaps on a guillotine. That’s broken up and they head outside for the string of dives. Zaria loads up an F5 but Tatum Paxley pops up for a distraction. Back in and Vice’s spinning backfist finishes Zaria at 12:45.

Rating: C+ Good grief stop having Zaria get pinned so often. She has a reputation as someone who chokes in big matches and she loses in her first match as champion? That doesn’t exactly make things better for her and I’m not sure how it’s the best idea here. The match was rather energized, but the result leaves something to be desired.

Grey and Vice show some tentative respect as Paxley dives onto Zaria. Jordan comes back in for a distraction and Grey accidentally takes Vice down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show advanced a good bit towards the Great American Bash, but it didn’t help the fact that the Bash isn’t feeling all that important. NXT is still trying to get their new stars established and that makes for quite the stretch on a bigger stage. Hopefully things pick up both at and after the Bash, because while this stuff is perfectly fine, it doesn’t have much of a spark and that’s not going to work long term.

Results
Tavion Heights b. Jackson Drake – Belly to belly
Izzi Dame b. Thea Hail – Running knee
Nattie b. Jaida Parker – Sharpshooter
Arianna Grace b. Layla Diggs – Small package
Lola Vice/Kendal Grey b. Zaria/Kelani Jordan – Spinning backfist to Zaria

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