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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NXT
Date: August 18, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re rapidly approaching Heatwave and the card has mostly come together. If nothing else, we have the issue of the debuting Zilla Fatu, who showed up last week to interrupt the #1 contenders match. Other than that, we need to find out about the North American and Tag Team Title situation, which should be decided this week. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at last week’s #1 contenders match, with Zilla Fatu debuting to take out both Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller. That should make Montana #1 contender as Fatu attacked him first but odds are it won’t go that way.

Here is Montana for a chat. Montana immediately calls Fatu out before talking about wanting the NXT Title. Fatu isn’t stopping him but here is Rey Fenix instead. Fenix is ready to defend his AAA Cruiserweight Title next week and he’s glad to see Montana here. Montana says they’ve faced each other before and the ring is Fenix’s, because Montana is going to wait for Fatu in the parking lot (and yes he acknowledges how dangerous it is out there).

EK Prosper vs. Tristan Angels vs. Romeo Moreno vs. La Parka

For a AAA Cruiserweight Title shot next week. Angels and Parka are knocked outside to start and Prosper hits a kick off the apron with Angels making a save. Parka gets to take over on Moreno with a flapjack but Prosper clotheslines Parka instead. Angels is hiptossed to the floor and Moreno hits a dive to the floor, setting up Parka’s moonsault onto the pile as we take a break.

We come back with Angels enziguring Moreno on top, leaving Prosper and Parka to kick it out. Moreno missile dropkicks both of them down and rolls Angels for a suplex. Parka catches Moreno on top with a super Spanish Fly but Prosper frog splashes in for the save. Back up and Parka suplexes Moreno into the corner as Booker tries to say that this is the same Parka from WCW. Prosper is back in to take everyone out, setting up an outstanding moonsault to finish Moreno at 10:27.

Rating: B. This was all action throughout and that’s as good as you can ask for with a match like this. They were going nuts and it’s great to see Prosper getting an actual chance. While I can’t imagine him winning the title, I’ll take him getting a nice win like this and it was a heck of an entertaining match on the way there.

Post match Prosper and Fenix have a staredown, albeit with a handshake.

The Vanity Project offer to take care of the injured Kendal Grey, who wasn’t impressed. Wren Sinclair didn’t think much of them either and the women left with their belts. Myra Lockwood says prove them wrong.

Nattie vs. Thea Hail

Nattie’s cronies and Jaida Parker are here too. Nattie takes her to the mat to start, with Hail quickly escaping. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Nattie but Hail is right back up with a Thesz press. Hail sends her outside for a dive onto the villains and dances with Parker as we take a break. We come back with Nattie breaking up a Kimura attempt but having the discus lariat countered into a backslide. Hail’s running flipping neckbreaker gets two before grabbing the Kimura, which is broken up rather quickly. The Sharpshooter makes Hail tap at 8:27.

Rating: C. This was pretty much every Nattie match, with her usual offense and the Sharpshooter to finish someone else off. I’m sure we’ll get another Parker vs. Nattie match out of this and I have no idea why they’re still fighting. The match wasn’t awful, but it was dull, which tends to be the case with Nattie’s stuff.

Post match Nattie’s friends hold Parker back while Nattie gets another Sharpshooter on Hail.

Lucien Price is going after the Speed Title on his own and Bronco Nima is ok with that.

Speed Title: Lucien Price vs. Lexis King

King is defending with a five minute time limit. Price superkicks him at the bell for two and has to catch King bailing out to the floor. King tries to hide behind Birthright and manages to burn through the first minute but Price catches him with one of those huge chops. Back in and Price cuts him off with another chop so King changes plans with a neck snap across the top rope.

We have two minutes left as King starts kicking away at the chest. That doesn’t go very far as Price plants him down with a minute to go. Birthright offers a distraction though and Price gets taken down behind the referee’s back. The Coronation is enough to retain the title at 4:36.

Rating: C. I’m glad that the title seems to be going away (assuming it follows the path of its Women’s counterpart) as I really don’t see the point in this being its own championship. They have something with the idea of King running around to burn off the clock, but between the tournaments to set up title matches and the title feeling rather low level, it wasn’t working. Odds are it’s done soon, and that’s probably for the best.

Post match Birthright goes after Price again but Bronco Nima runs in for the save.

Here is Grayson Waller for a chat. Waller has been asking people to stop him and now we have Zilla Fatu. He’s not scared of Fatu or the family because he’s from Australia and has been fighting Samoans all his life. Thankfully Fatu has the ankle monitor off and can run free but Waller thinks he’s #1 contender anyway.

This brings out NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, who is fine with taking Waller out next. Cue Cruz Montana who never found Fatu but he remembers taking Waller out last week. Montana is willing to take out all three of them one after another but here is Robert Stone to make a triple threat title match. He’ll deal with Fatu when he gets here. Not wild on the triple threat, but Waller stealing the title is an interesting option.

Shiloh Hill and Lizzy Rain talk about next week’s AAA Cruiserweight Title match and think EK Prosper has a good chance. Rain isn’t happy with Kali Armstrong but Myles Borne interrupts. He gets right to the point: if Hill beats Jackson Drake tonight, he can have a North American Title shot at Heatwave. Hill certainly approves. Booker: “Champions don’t do that!” Uh, he did something very similar for Rick Martel in 1998.

Robert Stone talks to Zilla Fatu on the phone and he’ll be there in thirty minutes. With that out of the way, Stone finds Keanu Carver in his office and wants in the NXT Title picture. He’s willing to earn it, but for now he wants STONE TO DRINK THE COFFEE HE MADE HIM AND IS SHOUTING ABOUT IT UNTIL STONE DRINKS THE COFFEE. Kam Hendrix comes in and Carver leaves in a huff.

Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair vs. Kelani Jordan/Kali Armstrong

Sinclair and Jordan start things off with Sinclair hitting a dropkick and getting to front facelock Armstrong. Grey comes in for a front facelock of her own but it’s back to Jordan for a superkick. Everything breaks down and the villains are dropkicked to the floor, with Sinclair hitting a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Sinclair fighting out of trouble and bringing Grey back in to clean house. Everything breaks down, with Grey firing off the German suplexes. Armstrong breaks up an ankle lock but whipping Grey into the corner, banging up her bad ear in the process. Sinclair comes back in to take over on Jordan, who grabs a slingshot cutter. Armstrong tags herself back in and is quickly caught in the Final Wrench. That’s broken up and Grey is kicked ear first into the steps. The powerslam and Kali Connection finish Sinclair at 10:31.

Rating: B-. This was a nice tag match as Armstrong gets to run through a champion in the process. I would assume that the title will be gone after Heatwave and again, that’s probably the best for everyone. If nothing else, Jordan and Grey only got to do so much here, which you would think would have been a good chance to build towards their title match. There’s still time, but it would have made more sense here.

Saquon Shuggars and Dion Lennox have a sitdown interview (in separate locations) where they argue a lot and we’re getting a weaponized steel cage match next week. They basically didn’t stop insulting each other for the few minutes they were on screen, with Lennox promising to win before leaving.

Shiloh Hill vs. Jackson Drake

For a North American Title shot at Heatwave and the Vanity Project is here with Drake. They fight over wrist control to start as Booker says that Drake is in his FAVE FIVE! Hokey smoke it’s still a thing!!! Hill fireman’s carries him into a right hand to the face but Drake sends Hill outside for the cheap shots from the Project.

We take a break and come back with Hill fighting out of a front facelock, meaning it’s a discus lariat to drop Drake. A standing flip dive gives Hill two more so the Project interferes again, only to get ejected. That takes too long so Hill dives onto them but the referee gets taken down back inside. Cue Naraku to mist Hill, meaning Drake can hit a 450 for the pin at 11:06.

Rating: B-. This is a good example of two people who are up and comers but still getting a featured spot. It might not be a big main event to end a show but it’s a bigger spot than they usually have. You need to bring people along like this and they did well here, with Hill getting to move on Naraku in an upgrade for him as well.

Zaria is ready to unify the Women’s Speed and Women’s North American Titles at Heatwave but Kali Armstrong comes in. Armstrong calls Zaria a “red headed heifer” and gets a match with her next week, with the Heatwave Title match becoming a triple threat if Armstrong wins. That was quick and to the point.

We look at CM Punk at a recent NXT house show. That’s quite the get.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Robert Stone is in the ring and brings in Zilla Fatu to sign his contract. Fatu greets commentary and here is Tony D’Angelo to watch from the platform. Fatu is glad to be in the biggest wrestling company in the world and we get an UMAGA (Fatu’s father) chant. He’s here to show us that he’s not another……I’m going to assume he was going for “nepo baby” but it certainly sounded like he said “nympho baby”.

Last week he made some people mad and that’s going to keep happening. Cue Grayson Waller and Cruz Montana, but Stone says that the contract makes Fatu’s first NXT match a title match. Heatwave is officially a four way for the title and Fatu signs. A lot of yelling ends the show. Given how things have been going, that pretty much had to happen.

Overall Rating: B. Well Fatu felt like a star (though he was basically in a 1999 Rock cosplay) and the title match for Heatwave makes sense, especially with everywhere you could go after. Other than that, some stuff was moved forward, including tightening up the big card and doing some things for next week. I’m interested in where the NXT Title picture is going though and that’s the best possible result. Another good show this week.

Results
EK Prosper b. Tristan Angels, La Parka and Romeo Moreno – Moonsault to Moreno
Nattie b. Thea Hail – Sharpshooter
Lexis King b. Lucien Price – Coronation
Kelani Jordan/Kali Armstrong b. Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair – Kali Connection to Sinclair
Jackson Drake b. Shiloh Hill – 450

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 11, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph Booker T.

As can often be the case in wrestling, we need a new #1 contender for the title and we’ll be finding a one tonight. Cruz Montana will be facing the resurgent Grayson Waller for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Title. That’s in addition to Kendal Grey needing a new challenger so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Lizzy Rain is nervous in the back when the Culling comes up. They mock her for not having help so she’s going it alone.

Lizzy Rain vs. Culling

So there’s no Shawn Spears to team with Rain as originally planned. Rain charges at Dame to start and we get the opening bell, with Dame being dropkicked into the corner. Dame pulls her out of the other corner though and they trade forearms until Rain hits a quick elbow. Vance comes in so here is EK Prosper and we do indeed have a tag match. Vance can’t get a suplex back inside and everything breaks down with the Culling getting chopped in various corners. Dame trips Rain down onto the apron though and then drops her onto the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Rain grabbing a super hurricanrana for two on Dame as Vance makes the save. Everything breaks down again and Vance’s top rope headbutt gets two on Prosper. Rain tries Thunderstruck on Vance but gets launched into a sitout powerbomb to give Dame two more. The second Thunderstruck hits Vance and a Shining Wizard takes him down again. Prosper drops a moonsault for the pin at 10:48.

Rating: B. For a thrown together match with a replacement partner, this wound up being rather good stuff. Rain has grown on me a bit and while I’m still not big on hearing her talk, she’s getting better in the ring. Dame continues to feel like she should be ready to break through but it hasn’t happened just yet.

Last week, Tavion Heights and Myles Borne celebrated winning the Tag Team Titles and told the tag division that they were ready to defend the titles. This was rather well received.

EK Prosper and Lizzy Rain are asked about their win but Kali Armstrong takes the microphone and goes into the arena, where she says she wants her Women’s Title shot. Kelani Jordan comes in to say the same thing she always says, with Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair interrupting as well. Grey is tired of hearing from Jordan so she gives her a contract for a title shot. Jordan would use it next week but that would be a waste on these fans so we’ll do it at Heatwave. Armstrong doesn’t want to wait so the brawl is on with Grey and Sinclair being left laying.

Keanu Carver interrupts Cruz Montana over getting thrown into a #1 contenders match. They stare each other down and Carver tells Robert Stone that he hasn’t seen anything yet.

Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shuggars

Darkstate is here with Lennox. Shuggars starts fast and gets knocked into the corner but comes back with a backbreaker for an early two. A Darkstate distraction lets Lennox send him throat first into the ropes though and the chinlock goes on. Lennox’s northern lights suplex gets two and we’re right back to the chinlock. That’s broken up as well and Shuggars gets in an elbow to the back of the head but has to threaten Darkstate with the baseball bat. They send him into the announcers’ table though and that’s enough for the sitout slam to give Lennox the pin at 4:56.

Rating: C. That’s it? They’ve been feuding for months and the big finale is Darkstate interferes and Lennox gets an easy win in less than five minutes? I wasn’t expecting some Wrestlemania level match but I was expecting something a bit better than this. Shuggars’ revenge didn’t even mean anything in the end and Darkstate just wins. What a weird piece of business.

AAA GM calls Robert Stone, who announces a four way next week for a Cruiserweight Title shot in two weeks. EK Prosper and La Parka will be involved with more names to come. Interestingly Mysterio suddenly had to go, which is similar to how he had to leave last week on AAA, with no explanation.

Grayson Waller yells at at Saquon Shuggars (something about messages on a phone) and tells him to do something. Shuggars grabs his bat and limps away.

Women’s North American Title: Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair

Zaria is defending and Sinclair’s Women’s Speed Title isn’t on the line. Sinclair starts fast with some rollups for two each but gets kicked in the head in the corner. Zaria starts in on the arm but Sinclair elbows out of a choke in the corner. We take a break and come back with Sinclair getting a sunset flip out of the corner, only to walk into a spear. Cue Saquon Shuggars beating on Dion Lennox with the bat and their brawl coming into the ring. The distraction lets Zaria grab the F5 to retain at 9:38.

Rating: C+. This was a weird one as Zaria pretty much had the match won before the interference and then she won anyway. It’s not like that really changed much but it did indeed take place. Zaria retaining is fine as it evens their series and hopefully lets them move on. Either that or it’s a winner take all match, which isn’t a bad idea if they unify the belts.

Shiloh Hill sends in another update, revealing that he is healing far faster than expected and could wrestle on live events wearing a mask, and of course he has about five on at once. He also promises to find out more about the poison mist and might do some experiments.

Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix

Rook backdrops him to start but gets hit in the face, allowing Hendrix to stomp away. A nice spinebuster plants Rook for two but Rook is back up with some shots to the face. Rook’s release German suplex and Blue Thunder Bomb get two as a turnbuckle pad has been ripped off. Hendrix sends him into the buckle, setting up a Showtime Kick for the pin at 3:33.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted but it didn’t last very long. I’ve been a fan of Hendrix since he started in Evolve (all that time ago) and it would be good to see him getting a chance to showcase what he can do. If nothing else, him getting more time on the microphone would be a great thing, assuming it actually happens.

The Vanity Project want their Tag Team Titles back but Tavion Heights and Myles Borne come in. Robert Stone makes Jackson Drake the same deal: if he can win next week, he gets a North American Title shot and the Project gets a Tag Team Title shots. The Project wants both matches at Heatwave but Stone says the dates will be determined. Borne is fine with wrestling twice in one night and Drake’s opponent next week is…Shiloh Hill.

Lexis King vs. Lucien Price

Non-title and Birthright is here too. King’s right hand just annoys Price, who knocks him into the corner for a rather hard chop. Birthright’s distraction lets King (whose chest is bleeding from that chop) get in a cheap shot and go after the arm. A spinning high crossbody gives King two and he hits a running forearm to the back of the head. Price gets back up and takes out Birthright, followed by a one armed powerbomb for the pin out of nowhere at 3:27.

Rating: C. I can certainly go with OTM getting some wins of their own as they have felt like a team ready to break out for a long time now. That has to start somewhere and the show can always use some fresh blood in the bigger spots. At the same time….dang I like King but he feels like a doormat here, Speed Title or not.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey come in to see Robert Stone with Sinclair wanting to face Zaria again. She offers the Speed Title in a unification match, which is enough to get Stone to sign off. Next week, the two of them are facing Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong.

Jaida Parker and Thea Hail are happy with their win last week. They’re happy to be friends.

Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno are happy with Moreno getting a spot in the four way for the #1 contenders match next week. Tristan Angels comes in to say he’ll win the match anyway, despite never being a cruiserweight before.

Cruz Montana vs. Grayson Waller

For a title shot against Tony D’Angelo, who is on commentary. Montana tells him to bring it to start before grabbing a suplex. Waller is right back with some shots to the face and a suplex of his own as things slow down a bit. Cruz comes back with some running chops in the corner into a backsplash to send Waller outside. The suicide dive sends Waller crashing over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Montana hitting a clothesline into a sitout F5 to drop Waller again. Waller ducks an enziguri and gets caught with a rolling Buck Fifty (backflip into a cutter) for two. Montana charges into an elbow to the face and a running stomp to the back gives Waller two of his own. Waller tries his rolling cutter but walks into Spin The Block (discus lariat). Hold on though as Zilla Fatu (named as such) runs in and lays out Montana for the DQ at 12:49.

Rating: B. They were getting going by the end here and the ending is a way to get them out of having one of them get a pin. That’s a good thing, as you don’t want Waller, who has been labeled as a joke, losing so soon and you definitely don’t want Montana losing here. Good stuff here, with the ending being the smart way out.

Post match Fatu lays out both of them and hits a top rope splash on Montana. Fatu stares down at D’Angelo and says he needs that to end the show. That’s a big deal, though I would hope that they acknowledge that Montana won by DQ and don’t go with the “no contest” thing. If someone runs in and attacks one wrestler, it’s a DQ by definition. Acknowledge it.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked most of the show, though there was a stretch in the middle that felt like they were just jumping through things really quickly. There were good parts and the main event angle was a nice surprise, plus a solid opener. Heatwave is starting to come together and a four way for the NXT Title is far from the worst idea. Nice job here and it would have been even better if the middle of the show had been a big better developed.

Results
EK Prosper/Lizzy Rain b. Culling – Moonsault to Vance
Dion Lennox b. Saquon Shuggars – Sitout slam
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair – F5
Kam Hendrix b. Mason Rook – Showtime Kick
Lucien Price b. Lexis King – One armed powerbomb
Cruz Montana b. Grayson Waller via DQ when Zilla Fatu interfered

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 28, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re just over a month away from Heatwave and the big story coming out of last week was the debut of…that guy who used to be in TNA under the name of Mike Santana. That’s not going to go well with NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and it might be time for a big title showdown. Other than that, we’re coming up on Lola Vice challenging Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title in the Underground. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s main event with Tony D’Angelo retaining over Naraku and….what’s his name debuting.

Commentary is cut off by an invading Grayson Waller, who talks about the things he has done in WWE but then things changed. What happened to him in the last two years? He’s been doing nothing, carried someone for months, and then spent forever pretending to be at a funeral. He could show up to catering once a week for some salt and pepper chicken but he’s here to be the biggest star around.

That means winning the NXT Title and make it mean something again. Who is going to stop him? Cruz Montana? That would be the former TNA World Champion, with Waller loving the new name. Is Tony D’Angelo going to stop him? Waller is going to send him home to his ugly baby. Shawn Michaels needs to send one of his guys out here to get rid of him.

The women are running laps around the men of this place and mocks people who wrestle for a bit and then spend time in the medical room. Or the independent stars who show up here and go nuts in the ring but have no idea how to use a microphone. He knows Michaels is freaking out on the headset but Michaels is also smiling because Waller is speaking the truth.

Waller’s mic is cut off so he grabs the camera and says consider your cages rattled. Where in the world has this Waller been? This was one heck of a rant and if it means something from a serious Waller, I’m interested in seeing where it’s going because this was pretty awesome stuff. I’ll believe it when I see it, but this got my attention.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne are ready to fight tonight when Mason Rook comes in. Rook doesn’t like what Waller said so he’s going to beat up Kam Hendrix.

Lizzy Rain vs. Izzy Dame

Dame backs her up against the ropes to start and pulls Rain off the top for a crash onto the turnbuckle. Back up and Rain hits a spinwheel kick but a dropkick through the ropes is cut off and we take a break. We come back with Dame hitting an Orton backbreaker but Rain gives her a missile dropkick.

Rain’s springboard elbow is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb and it’s time to forearm it out. They crash out to the floor before going right back inside with a Death Valley Driver giving Rain two. Rain spears her down but Niko Vance offers a distraction. Cue Shawn Spears to scare Vance with a chair, allowing Rain to hit Thunderstruck for the pin at 12:35.

Rating: B-. This was more about the issues with Vance and Spears but it also saw Rain get a big win, which is the best thing that could have happened for her. She certainly seems to be someone NXT wants to push and it’s slowly starting to come together. Now just find something for her to do long term and she should be fine.

Cruz Montana meets Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar. Saquon Shuggars comes in and the team apologizes for the loss last week. Montana remembers meeting Shuggars and getting into it with him but Shuggars insists he’s a changed man. He hopes Montana will see that and Montana seems open to the idea. Kelani Jordan comes in to say this place is unfair and Montana just walks away as she rants.

The Vanity Project meets with Robert Stone and complain about possibly having to defend against Myles Borne and Tavion Heights. They aren’t scared, but here is Keanu Carver, who wants a match against EK Prosper next week. Stone agrees, saying that was way too easy. Grayson Waller calls and Stone wants him back here because this isn’t done.

Video on Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey in the Underground, with Vice talking about how hard she worked to get here.

Thea Hail and Jaida Parker are both happy with how things are going and Parker thanks Hail for helping her last week. They have a tag match next week against Nikkita Lyons and Karmen Petrovic.

North American Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Myles Borne

Borne is defending. They go to the mat to start and it’s an early standoff, allowing Hendrix to work on the arm. A clothesline and slam give Hendrix two but Borne is back up with a dropkick to the floor. There’s the dive to take him out again and we take a break with both of them outside.

We come back with Hendrix lifting him up for a one armed powerbomb and grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up and Borne fires away, setting up a quick powerslam for two. Hendrix cuts off a dive though and hits a running boot for two as Tavion Heights is holding Mason Rook back from interfering. Borne pops back up with Borne Again to retain at 12:01.

Rating: B-. I liked the interference/distraction as it made sense for both of them to do what they were doing. Borne continues to hold onto the title and is turning into quite the star in his own right. On the other hand you have Hendrix, who feels like he has potential but isn’t getting the chance to succeed all that often, which can be rather frustrating.

Post match Rook goes after Hendrix so here is the Vanity Project to jump Borne and Heights. That’s broken up though and the Project is cleared out.

Lizzy Rain loves KFC popcorn chicken. Tristan Angels comes in to say she needs a better role model.

Zaria wants her next title challenger and Wren Sinclair comes in to say she wants her next challenger. Sinclair can have a shot next week and if Zaria wins, she gets a future Women’s Speed Title shot.

Birthright vs. OTM

Nima throws Connors around to start and shrugs off Stacks’ right to the face. Price comes in for a hard chop but some double teaming puts Nima in trouble for a change. That just earns Birthright a double suplex and it’s back to Price to clean house. Stacks is tossed over the top onto the rest of Birthright and we take a break. We come back with Connors getting two off a Swanton but Nima hits a top rope stomp to the chest to get out of trouble. Price comes back in to wreck people but here are Los Perros del Mal. The distraction lets Stacks get in a kick to the head to pin Price at 8:54.

Rating: C+. This made perfect sense and I’m curious to see where it goes with Nima. Having different loyalties with Los Perros and OTM is going to become a problem for Nima sooner than later and that’s not something you see often. If nothing else, it’s nice to see OTM getting to do something other than the random one off matches they’ve had for years.

Post match Price is not happy with Nima.

Kendal Grey is training hard for Lola Ice in the Underground. She’s been training extra hard in amateur wrestling to get ready.

Kali Armstrong wants a title shot but Izzy Dame and Kelani Jordan come in to say not so fast.

Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels

Hill starts fast but runs into some raised boots in the corner. Hill misses a charge into the corner so Angels knocks him outside for a neckbreaker. We take a break and come back with Hill fighting out of trouble but getting crotched on top. Angels catches him on top with a superplex for two and they head outside, with Hill being sent into the steps. A powerbomb onto the announcers’ table gives Hill two back inside and he shoulders Angel in the corner. The super Thunderbreaker finishes Angels off at 10:25.

Rating: B-. There is something of a natural rivalry here but that feels like the end, with Hill getting the better of things to finish Angels off for the time being. That’s a good thing too, as Hill is becoming quite the cult favorite around here and could be moving on to bigger things. At the same time, Angels should be fine as he’s that annoying, which will always work.

Here is Cruz Montana for a chat. He has worked hard to get here and wants to be the kind of star his daughter deserves. Along the way though, he was told that he had reached his ceiling as a tag wrestler. He didn’t accept that and became the biggest star in TNA. Montana is grateful to TNA to everything he did there but now he wants to show he can do this with the biggest names in wrestling. He wants to be NXT Champion, and if he has to go through Grayson Waller, they can meet in any YMCA Waller wants.

This brings out Tony D’Angelo, who introduces himself as the NXT Champion. He’s ready to show Montana what he’ll do to keep his spot and they’re ready to go. Cue Waller, with Montana swinging for him but hitting D’Angelo by mistake. The three of them stare at each other to end the show. We didn’t get much new here, but Montana got his chance to show what he can do and promos like that will get him over around here too.

Overall Rating: B-. Montana already feels like a bigger star than almost anyone around here and that’s a great sign for him. It’s not the best sign for D’Angelo though, as his title reign feels like it is being measured in days. You also have the midcard firming up a bit and that could go a long way in keeping the division interesting. Next week will be more about the women though and that should be able to keep things going. Nice job here, with Montana looking like a big deal right out of the gate.

Results
Lizzy Rain b. Izzy Dame – Thunderstruck
Myles Borne b. Kam Hendrix – Borne Again
Birthright b. OTM – Kick to the head to Price
Shiloh Hill b. Tristan Angels – Super Thunderbreaker

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 21, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s time for a major title rematch as Tony D’Angelo is defending against Naraku in a street fight. D’Angelo already beat him in one title match, though now we have to do it again due to reasons. In addition, we are starting to approach Heatwave and it’s time to start getting the card ready. Let’s get to it.

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

Robert Stone tells the referee’s main event that Naraku and Tony D’Angelo cannot couch before the main event. Thea Hail comes in to talk to Stone about something but Nattie comes in to say she’s going to beat Jaida Parker.

Romeo Moreno/Noam Dar/Saquon Shuggars vs. Darkstate

It’s a brawl on the floor to start until Dar hammers away on Lennox inside. Lennox runs away from Shuggars so it’s off to Griffin, who pulls a springboarding Moreno out of the air. Everything breaks down and Lennox has to be saved from a TripleBomb through the announcers’ table. Instead Dar gets planted down and we take a break.

We come back with Shuggars getting the tag to clean house, including a basement dropkick for two on James. Shuggars dives into a backbreaker though and everything breaks down again. Moreno’s springboard missile dropkick hits Lennox, who is taken outside for a Death Valley Driver through that wooden wall. Back in and a double toss powerbomb finishes Moreno at 9:27.

Rating: C+. If Darkstate is going to be anything, they absolutely had to win here. The team is still on life support but they should be able to beat a makeshift ground who is there for the sake of giving Shuggars another match. This was all about Shuggars vs. Lennox of course, and there is a good chance that we’ll be seeing a violent fight between then sooner than later.

Post match Shuggars and Lennox have to be help apart.

Lizzy Dame and Thea Hail are unhappy with how things are going around here. Kendal Grey and Jaida Parker get into it a bit over Natalya but calm down.

Here is Kendal Grey, with Wren Sinclair, for a face to face showdown with Lola Vice. Grey is glad Vice won the title shot next week but Vice thinks this is going to be rough for her. The reality is that Vice isn’t done in NXT but Grey says she is already dominating around here. Unlike Vice, it didn’t take her years to make this happen. Vice issues the challenge for the Underground on August 4, with Grey saying she’ll kick Vice’s a** so she can go back to shaking it. That’s a big upgrade, though having Vice’s mega gimmick match as the rematch is a quick move.

Video on Tony D’Angelo vs. Naraku.

Keanu Carver vs. Hank Walker

Tank Ledger is here too. Walker jumps him to start fast and the slugout is on. Carver gets in a few right hands to send him outside but Walker is back in with a Boss Man Slam. That’s cut off with a toss into the fall away slam so Carver goes after Ledger. Walker gets in a flip dive through the ropes and goes back inside, only to get Pounced. The Alabama Slam finishes for Carver at 4:30.

Rating: C. Carver getting to smash through someone else is a good thing to do and I could go for seeing it happen more often. So far that has been the case for him most of the time, save for that EK Prosper stuff, but that’s not a bad idea. It’s not like there was a reason to believe that Walker was going to beat him so seeing Carver smash through someone was good thing.

Post match Carver goes after ledger again but EK Prosper runs in for the save and Carver is beaten down.

Nattie offers her services to Lola Vice, who isn’t interested.

Shiloh Hill buys a tooth from Danhausen, who is happy to accept Bitcoin.

Jaida Parker vs. Nattie

Nattie’s friends are here too and offer a distraction, allowing Parker to get some rollups for two each. Parker wins a power off and tries the Hipnotique, only to have Nattie run out to the floor. A distraction lets Nattie go after the knee to take over as we go to a break. We come back with Parker in trouble but managing a Falcon Arrow for two.

Nattie’s Michinoku Driver gives her two and there’s the Sharpshooter, which sends Parker crawling over the apron for the break. Parker gets her own chop block and Sharpshooter…and here is Thea Hail to throw in the towel (after Nikkita Lyons and Karmen Petrovic were arguing over it) for the win at 11:40.

Rating: C+. Hail vs. Nattie doesn’t do much for me but what matters here is that Parker didn’t lose again. It certainly seems like we are moving away from Nattie vs. Parker and that’s good to see as the feud has gone on far too long. Parker still feels like a star in the making and it would be nice to see her moving on.

Video on Tony D’Angelo vs. Naraku, setting up their street fight rematch for the title.

Kelani Jordan annoys Robert Stone and says she was robbed last week. Stone says the referee’s decision is final. OTM comes in and they have a match set, though Bronco Nima has to decide if he’s working for NXT or AAA that night. Lucien Price doesn’t seem pleased.

Niko Vance vs. Shawn Spears

Izzy Dame is here with Vance, who gets jumped from behind to start fast. Dame offers a distraction though and Vance gets in a shot from the apron to take over. A running clothesline cuts Spears down again but Spears knocks him outside. That means a suplex to put Vance on the floor again but another Dame distraction lets Vance come back again.

We take a break and come back with Vance getting suplexed off the top. Spears fires off the chops and grabs a chair, which brings Dame up to the apron. Cue Lizzy Rain for a distraction and Spears….does the Eddie Guerrero faking being hit by a chair. Believe it or not this actually works and Vance is disqualified at 11:05.

Rating: C+. I was expecting Vance to win here but there is something to be said about the veteran Spears outsmarting him to win. And it even gave us another Guerrero tribute so it’s great to see. While I can’t imagine this winds up going well for Spears in the end, at least he did get off to a nice start so it’s not as straightforward as you might have expected.

Kam Hendrix’s knee is at 67.2% when Myles Borne and Tavion Heights come in. Borne wants to reform the team with Heights and they would like a shot at the Tag Team Titles. Stone agrees, if Borne can successfully defend his North American Title next week. Hendrix gets a well timed text saying his knee is cleared. Stone says if that’s true, he can have the title match next week. Heights is thrilled.

Reina Volcan is ready to prove that she is a natural disaster.

Reina Volcan vs. Skyler Raye

Volcan grabs a powerslam for an early two but Raye starts flipping around. Some running shots in the corner are cut off with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker though and Raye is right back in trouble. A torture rack (the Natural Disaster, a great name) makes Raye give up at 3:05. Pretty solid debut.

Rating: C. This was all it needed to be, as Raye got in a bit of offense and was then promptly smashed. Volcan feels like the new big monster around here and has basically been promoted as such. Go with what makes sense to her and have it work out, which is what they did here.

Shiloh Hill and Robert Stone shill KFC until a rather aggressive Stone requests and receives a match with Tristan Angels next week. Hill calms way down when he gets the match, but he also steals the chicken.

An SUV arrives in the back, with commentary speculating that this is whom Stone has been talking to on the phone all night (which hadn’t really been overly noticeable but fair enough).

NXT Title: Naraku vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending in a street fight (Commentary says this is the first time the title has ever been defended in a street fight and…..how is that possibly true?). Anyway, Naraku mists him at the bell and D’Angelo rolls outside, where Naraku starts grabbing the weapons. Some chair shots have D’Angelo in more trouble and Naraku suplexes him through some open chairs. D’Angelo fights up and goes over to find a bottle of water to clean out his eyes.

Naraku is sent crashing through the barricade and we take a break. We come back with D’Angelo hitting Naraku with a ladder and loading up a table. An Alabama Slam through a table is broken up so D’Angelo goes to the eyes to put Naraku back down. They head outside again and Naraku Widowmakers him through the announcers’ table. Back in and another misting is blocked, with D’Angelo rubbing the mist into Naraku’s eyes. Dead To Rites through the table retains the title at 12:03.

Rating: B-. This was a pretty standard street fight/weapons match and it went well enough to give D’Angelo a clean win. I’m a bit surprised that they didn’t give Naraku the title as he felt like the one planned to stop D’Angelo, but he could move on to someone else rather quickly. Either way, nice enough stuff here for a big TV main event.

Post match D’Angelo celebrates but former TNA World Champion Mike Santana (no name here, because WWE) comes through the crowd for the big staredown to end the show. Yeah you knew he was showing up and it was a matter of when rather than if, so thankfully they didn’t waste time.

Overall Rating: B-. I wasn’t feeling a lot of this show, though the Santana debut at the end was a great bonus. What matters the most here is that they can start moving towards Heatwave and I could go for seeing what they have in mind for the card. Santana getting the title there wouldn’t be out of the question, but there are at least some seeds being planted for the show this far out. Nice enough show here, but the main event is the only match really worth your time.

Results
Darkstate b. Romeo Moreno/Noam Dar/Saquon Shuggars – Double toss powerbomb to Moreno
Keanu Carver b. Hank Walker – Alabama Slam
Jaida Parker b. Nattie – Sharpshooter
Shawn Spears b. Niko Vance when Vance didn’t hit him with a chair
Reina Volcan b. Skyler Raye – Natural Disaster
Tony D’Angelo b. Naraku – Dead To Rites through a table

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:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

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

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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Great American Bash 2026
Date: June 28, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s the first live special on the CW and that means we should be in for a heck of a show. There are actually seven matches on the card, which is rather high for WWE these days. The main event will see Tony D’Angelo defending the NXT Title against Naraku, which should be a big deal. Let’s get to it.

The opening video talks about the greatness of America and the matches on the card.

NXT Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Naraku

D’Angelo is defending and is coming in with a badly burned eye. The bell rings and they go outside, where Naraku grabs a chair but gets speared through the wooden wall less than ten seconds into the match. Back in and Naraku starts going after the eye, with the referee asking D’Angelo if he wants to continue.

Of course he does so Naraku goes after the eye again before grabbing a half crab. A suplex puts D’Angelo down again and we take a break. We come back with Naraku hitting a powerbomb before going up, where D’Angelo grabs a powerbomb of his own. D’Angelo fights up and grabs some German suplexes but Dead To Rites is blocked. Naraku hits a German suplex but D’Angelo pops up with Dead To Rites to retain at 10:10.

Rating: B-. That’s it? That’s the NXT Title match to open the show? It wasn’t a bad match but I was expecting a bit more than a ten minute match with a break in the middle. The eye thing only meant so much here and D’Angelo just won without much trouble. I’m still not sold on D’Angelo as the guy but at least he had a nice title defense here.

We recap Zaria defending the Women’s North American Title against Tatum Paxley. Zaria beat her up to get the title but Paxley isn’t done with her and interfered in one of Zaria’s matches. Now it’s about the title and revenge.

Women’s North American Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Zaria

Zaria is defending. They get in a tug of war over the belt to start and the fight is on, with Zaria using the power to drive her into the corner. The shoulders to the ribs have Paxley in trouble but she manages a double stomp onto the back. Paxley ties her in the ring skirt and fires off a superkick into an enziguri. That’s enough to set up a sleeper on the floor but Zaria drops her back first onto the floor for a big crash.

We take a break and come back with both of them going up, with Zaria being dropped onto the post. A high crossbody connects for Paxley and she drops Zaria with a superplex. Zaria pops back up with a spear and they’re both down. They go up again and Paxley ties her in the Tree Of Woe, with Zaria sitting up before a Coast To Coast. They slug it out on the apron until Paxley drops her with a sunset bomb.

Paxley goes over to grab the title for some reason before hitting a Cemetery Drive on the floor. Another one back inside gets two and everyone is surprises. The F5 is countered into a rollup but Zaria is back up with a spear. Now the F5 connects….for two in a heck of a near fall. Zaria hammers away and hits a curb stomp, followed by another F5 to retain at 14:04.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a fight and I bought on a few of those near falls. These guys beat the living daylights out of each other and it was fun to see them having this kind of a brawl. The best thing is that Zaria gets another win in a big match, which is what she needs to reset her reputation. I’m not sure what is next for Paxley, but putting her into the Women’s Title picture isn’t crazy.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair fire each other up.

The Vanity Project brags to Robert Stone, who get their matches for this week: Jackson Drake vs. Mason Rook and the Tag Team Titles being defended against Galeno/El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. The Project isn’t happy.

We go outside to the watch party, with Kevin Owens (in a Waylon Mercy shirt) being rather interested in what we’ll be seeing tonight, with the next two matches in particular. Owens’ t-shirt closet must be amazing.

Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels

Hill starts fast and even steals Angels’ sash before grabbing quite the airplane spin. Angels is back up with a shot to the face in the corner though and we take a break. We come back with Hill pulling Angels underneath the ring and the lights go out. We go to the under the ring cam (because that’s a thing) and Angels finds a ringing phone. A voice on the other end says THE FOG IS COMING and Hill (in a mask) grabs a choke from behind.

They get out and Hill pops up for another choke but Angels slips away. The steps are loaded up and Angels knocks Hill into the corner as we take another break. We come back with Hill using the steps to run from the floor for a spear through the ropes. Hill goes up but dives into a Codebreaker, only for Angels to miss a driving knee. The Whisper Of The Beast gives Hill the pin at 13:01.

Rating: C+. This match got some time and Hill winning continues his rather odd push. There’s something so strange about him and yet it’s kind of working. I could have gone without the weird underneath the ring deal but this could have been a lot worse. Angels will be fine as he is one of the easiest stars to dislike around here.

Post match Hill grabs the Mr. NXT sash and says this was proof of why no one should sleep on him.

Nikkita Lyons praises Nattie on her latest Guinness World Record. Nattie brags about the Sharpshooter and praises Karmen Petrovic and Layla Diggs. Nattie doesn’t like Jaida Parker but Diggs doesn’t think much of Parker.

EK Prosper is in Robert Stone’s office and complains about Keanu Carver putting him through a table. Stone calms him down by giving him a AAA Latin American Title shot against El Hijo del Vikingo. Works for Prosper.

Women’s Speed Title: Arianna Grace vs. Wren Sinclair

Grace, with Birthright, is challenging. Grace starts fast with a neckbreaker and goes after Sinclair’s bad knee. A Robinsdale Crunch gives Grace two as Sinclair can’t get anything going early on. Sinclair breaks up a superplex attempt but has to go after Charlie Dempsey, allowing Grace to get two off a small package. A spinning sitout powerbomb (like Dalton Castle’s Bang A Rang) sets up the Final Wrench to retain at 4:47.

Rating: C+. This was a short and to the point match and that’s not a bad thing. It’s nice to see Sinclair get a win in a higher stakes match, if nothing else because she’s healthy for a change. I’m still not sure why we need the Speed Titles but at least it’s getting Sinclair television time, which is rather appreciated.

We recap Saquon Shuggars vs. Dion Lennox. Shuggars got kicked out of Darkstate and wants revenge, which has included picking off the team one member at a time with Lennox being the only one left.

Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shuggars

Lennox punches him down to start but Shuggars, still in his jacket, comes up with a shot of his own. The running clothesline has Lennox down again but he goes after the knee. That doesn’t seem to work as Shuggars grabs a neckbreaker for two. Another neckbreaker puts Lennox on the apron but here is the rest of Darkstate for a distraction, allowing Lennox to come back with a release Rock Bottom. A splash to the back gives Lennox two and we take a break.

We come back with Lennox snapping off a spinebuster for two. Shuggars fights up with a toss suplex into a basement dropkick and they’re both down. A slingshot legdrop gives Shuggars two but Lennox drops him back first across the turnbuckle (GEEZ that looked bad). Back in and a powerslam gives Lennox two and some big clotheslines connect for the same. Shuggars pulls him out of the corner and…kind of drops him. A top rope Vader Bomb finishes for Shuggars at 14:10.

Rating: D+. I feel bad about getting on this match but dang this did not work. The action wasn’t smooth, the ending looked awful and the story was only so interesting in the first place. This really did not work and hopefully it wraps up the feud for good, as I don’t need to see any more from these two.

Post match the rest of Darkstate is suddenly healthy and comes in to lay Shuggars out.

Tatum Paxley, with very red eyes, is upset about her loss and feels like she let everyone down. Kelani Jordan comes in to say no one cares because she’s always being overlooked for people like Paxley. That earns her a forearm to end “Bad Line Reading In NXT”.

North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Tavion Heights

Borne is defending and they show some respect to start. They go with the grappling to start, which is a stretch for Borne when he’s against an Olympian. A ram of heads leaves both of them down so Borne is back up with a dropkick to the floor. They go face to face on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Heights snapping off some suplexes, including a capture version for two. Borne gets the same off a northern lights suplex and slugs away, only for Heights to get in a shot to the throat. Heights dumps him outside and the muscles him up for a suplex back inside as we take a break.

We come back with Borne striking away and grabbing a Nightmare On Helm Street for two. A dropkick only hits ropes though and Borne is down again. Heights is back up and grabs a fireman’s carry, which is reversed into a not so great looking Borne Again to retain the title at 17:05.

Rating: B. This was a good bit better, with the two of them working well together and beating the fire out of each other. That’s what it needed to be, with Heights having a good shot at the title but not being able to pull it off in the end. Borne has become a rather nice star around here and I could go for him holding the title for a good while.

Post match Borne talks about how Heights is going to be a champion one day but it’s not happening now, because he’s holding this title for a long time.

The watch party panel recaps the show, with Kevin Owens making it clear that he has never turned on anyone in his life. Hank & Tank come up to talk about next week’s show, including mentioning Keanu Carver’s loss. This brings out Carver to wreck Tank and put him through a table. They kind of asked for it.

We recap Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey. Vice is the defending champion and the former top prospect, while Grey is the current big up and comer. It’s her time to move up to the next level.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice

Vice is defending and they go to the mat to start. Back up and Grey gets taken down with a judo throw for two. Grey gets back up and they have a standing switch, only for Vice to knock her down. Vice strikes away, only to get taken into a chinlock. Grey is sent outside so here is Kelani Jordan to go after her but Wren Sinclair cuts her off. Vice hits a dive off the apron to drop Grey and we take a break.

We come back with Vice hitting some running hip attacks in the corner but Grey drops her with a suplex. The straps come down and Grey snaps off some more suplexes until Vice gets in a German suplex of her own. Grey gets in a superkick but springboards into another kick. They go outside with Vice getting rolled into an ankle lock, which is let go so Shades Of Grey can connect off the barricade.

Back in and they trade ankle locks until Grey switches into a cross armbreaker. That’s escaped as well so Vice grabs a sleeper. Grey escapes but misses a moonsault, allowing Vice to kick her in the head for two. The guillotine choke has Grey in trouble but she reverses into a cradle. They hit a back elbow each and it’s a double cover for a double two. They slug it out until Grey ducks a shot and gets up for a middle rope Shades Of Grey for the pin and the title at 15:09.

Rating: B. These two worked rather well together and it was clear that they knew each other. The idea here seemed to be that Grey kept learning what Vice was going to do and eventually caught her, which even played into the end as Vice went for one big shot too many and got caught. Grey gets her win to become the new star of the division while Vice can move on to the main roster. Not bad at all.

Grey celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. There were good parts to this but it felt like an extended version of the weekly show, especially with the backstage segments. The ending was the only part that really felt important, with the NXT Title match just kind of being there. It liked it well enough and you can only get so annoyed at a show that airs on free television, but not my favorite overall. This was a show that could have benefited from being trimmed down, perhaps by dropping the Shuggars/Lennox and Hill/Angels matches. Either way, good enough but it could have been a lot stronger with another draft of the format.

Results
Tony D’Angelo b. Naraku – Dead To Rites
Zaria b. Tatum Paxley – F5
Shiloh Hill b. Tristan Angels – Whisper Of The Beast
Wren Sinclair b. Arianna Grace – Final Wrench
Saquon Shuggars b. Dion Lennox – Top rope splash
Myles Borne b. Tavion Heights – Borne Again
Kendal Grey b. Lola Vice – Middle rope Shades Of Grey

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: 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

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: 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

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6