A quick recap plays of the aftermath from Karrion Kross’ victory over Johnny Gargano last week. Samoa Joe called it right down the middle but, when he tossed the champ’s hand down a bit too quickly for his tastes, Kross locked in a rear naked choke and put him out.
That brings us to Samoa Joe absolutely incensed, calling out the champ. William Regal comes out to argue against him. He says that Samoa Joe the referee was assaulted and not Samoa Joe of NXT management. Joe says that he’s sufficiently “provoked” and that Regal’s semantics doesn’t change the fact that Kross is out of control. Joe even brings up Kross taking a trip to RAW last week (as opposed to this week but more on that later.) Joe says it won’t go past tonight but someone is going to sleep tonight.
Xia Li’s subtitles say that she is ready for tonight’s match against Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Tyler Rust & Roderick Strong vs Bobby Fish & Kushida
Diamond Mine isn’t five steps down the ramp when Fish and the NXT Cruiserweight Champion attack them from behind and toss them about the ring. Once the referee gets them separated and the match started, former Undisputed Era teammates, Strong and Fish are going at it. Strong gets the worst of it from both Fish and Kushida until he reaches into his bag of backbreakers on Kushida. The hybrid styles of MMA, kickboxing, and strong style (no pun intended) from these four competitors keeps you guessing until Bobby Fish sacrificing himself to take Roddy out of the equation so Kushida can secure a Hoverboard Lock on Tyler Rust.
Winners: Kushida & Bobby Fish
LA Knight pulls up to the arena earlier in the day with Cameron Grimes driving his white Corvette, arguing that they’d have gotten there if Grimes had listened to him instead of the GPS. Grimes reminds him that he’s still rich himself and could’ve gotten them there quicker in his Rolls Royce. When he has a spot of trouble with LA’s bags, Drake Maverick offers to help only to end up with LA in his face. The two agree to a match later tonight.
Apparently, we’re counting Takeovers now and NXT: Takeover 36 will be August 22, one day after this year’s SummerSlam.
Odyssey Jones is profiled as a part of this year’s Breakout Tournament (which continues tonight.)
Franky Monet vs Jacy Jayne
Jessi Kamea accompanies Franky to the ring. Only seconds after the match starts, Robert Stone appears to accompany Jessi (and cheer on Franky.) Franky is in control but Mandy Rose makes three outside parties to come down to the ring. Mandy’s not in Franky’s corner or Jacy’s though. She puts her red bottom shoes up and lies across the commentary table! The distractions allow Jacy Jayne to get her licks in but one Boujee Buster and that’s that.
Winner: Franky Monet
McKenzie Mitchell wants to know how Johnny Gargano is recovering from last week’s loss to champion, Karrion Kross. Johnny starts to tell her but Kyle O’Reilly is more interested in Austin Theory’s comments about him last week. Kyle’s in the mood to scrap and, once it’s spelled out in small words for Austin, the match is made. Johnny wishes Theory luck because he’s on his own tonight.
Wade Barret had a chance to sit down with former NXT North American Champion, Bronson Reed. Bronson is itching to fight back stronger. His next challenge? Adam Cole (Bay bay!) next week.
Kyle O’Reilly vs Austin Theory
Theory does the no-look high five… with no partner as it dawns on him that this is really all him. O’Reilly’s mat-based submission is getting stymied by Theory’s physicality and he learns that the youngster has legit chops to go with his muscle, as well. Kyle does manage to frustrate Austin with a roll through that he pulls short on a running kick for a slap. Theory is fired up enough to charge right over the top rope but recovers again with a backbreaker. A mush to O’Reilly’s face with Theory’s boot and he pays for his hubris when a low single gives Kyle a handhold for his sub game. The commentators say that Austin Theory is maturing before their eyes when he hits a forward roll into a leaping blockbuster! He tries the same opening for a dropkick but Kyle grabs his leg for an Achilles lock. He escapes to the ropes but a fisherman’s suplex doesn’t get the win on O’Reilly. A cavalcade of kicks and knees from the former Undisputed Era member before he butterflies Theory into an armbar position. He won’t tap so the transition is made to an ankle lock but he gets to the ropes. Kyle can’t take Austin out with strikes but Austin only gets a two count after a Blue Thunder Bomb. Ushigoroshi only gets a two count as O’Reilly will not stay down! Kyle rolls outside and Theory gets the steel ring steps ready possibly for a brainbuster like that which injured O’Reilly’s neck. Kyle snaps and becomes a buzzsaw of kicks and slaps until a dazed Austin is face down on the mat. O’Reilly leaps from the top turnbuckle onto Theory’s ankle and grabs hold of an Achilles lock that forces him to tap.
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly
After the match, Kyle won’t let go until the referee pulls him off and raises his hand.
Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai tell McKenzie that, regardless of what Xia Li says, she’s not worried. Xia’s kicks, bodyguard, and her friend on the throne? None of them scare her, chica.
Legado del Fantasma has a Mariachi accompaniment… but Santos Escobar sends them away. He says that the fans aren’t worth it. He won’t do as Hit Row does and debase himself for the fans. He’s going to take the North American title with blood and tradition. Hit Row comes out. B Fab tells Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza that every knows that Escobar is their papi rico. Top Dolla drops bars on them. But Swerve gives them a history lesson of his and Escobar’s past. Escobar says put up or shut and put up they do. Wilde & Mendoza brawl with Ashante and Top Dolla and B-Fab saves Swerve from an El Kabong by Escobar. Legado is sent packing after Wilde eats a six string sandwich to a big crowd reaction.
The Way is having a meeting and Candice is on the warpath. She brings up her and Indi losing the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship, Johnny failing to win the NXT Championship from Karrion Kross, and Austin losing to Kyle earlier in the night. When Indi makes a Freudian slip about Dexter, Candice is ready to call the therapist. While Johnny and Candice argue with Indi, Austin says that the family is falling apart. He holds up a high five but walks off when it isn’t even noticed.
Samoa Joe has been pacing for the pat hour plus. William regal says that he has been in touch with Karrion Kross and he will be there. Joe says he’ll be the first to greet him.
Andre Chase vs Odyssey Jones
Chase knows he can’t move the 405-pounder so he goes right to work on the legs and the stick-and-move. It looks like Jones misses a catch when Chase goes for a plancha but it ends safely. Chase plats matador on the outside as Jones runs into the lighting rig and the ring post. Chase gets a moonsault on a standing Jones but the submission attempt sees him at the mercy of a human freight train. Multiple shoulder blocks and a Boss Man Slam and Odyssey Jones advances in the Breakout Tournament.
Winner: Odyssey Jones
MSK is riding high on their success and just about to tell McKenzie what “MSK” stands for when the video hiccups and we now have Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner tell us about how the mat is sacred and that they will protect it by any means necessary.
Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan are geared up for a fight against Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher next week.
LA Knight vs Drake Maverick
Cameron Grimes mistakenly holds the lower ropes open for LA Knight and needs to be corrected. As soon as the bell rings, LA Knight is still instructing Grimes on how to present the Million Dollar Belt when Drake Maverick comes right at him with right hands. Drake’s speed and scrappiness aren’t quite enough to make up for the million dollar muscles but lack of focus on the match (as opposed to how and where Cameron Grimes is standing) allows him to make up the difference. Every time Drake Maverick gets ragdolled across the ring, the fans start to chant “To the moon!” It gets to be too much for Knight who turns to Grimes yet again. Drake Maverick gets the schoolboy rollup for three!
Winner: Drake Maverick
After the match, a frustrated LA Knight batters Maverick in the corner until Cameron Grimes pulls him off. Grimes tells LA that the match is over but he disagrees. He orders Grimes to punch Drake Maverick! He holds Grimes to his word and Maverick by the hair until a frustrated Grimes plants a right on Drake’s jaw and recoils in regret.
Karrion Kross pulls up… or does he? Joe rushes the bald head but it’s just a hired driver in Kross’ car. Sorry, the champion is in another Charger.
Raquel Gonzalez (c) vs Xia Li for the NXT Women’s Championship
Raquel immediately bulldozes Xia Li, demanding respect as champion. Xia proves frustratin, though, with a unique method of movement. She’s slowed down by a ladies’ size 11 to the face and a ring post to the shoulder. Tunabout is fair play and Xia wraps Raquel’s long leg around the ring post like she’s trying to make Ric Flair proud. During the picture-in-picture, Xia keeps the pressure on with dragon screws and dropkicks to the hamstring. Gonzalez powers out of a single leg crab and hits a fallaway slam to get back in the game. Clothesline and dropkick by the champ for a two count. Xia Li with multiple pinning combinations and a corkscrew kick to the ribs but it’s not enough. Spinebuster and a turning Vader Bomb but Xia kicks out! Xia is lying on the ground as the referee and trainer staff check on her for an extended time. Raquel keeps yelling at her that “You wanted this!” and telling her to get up. As oon as Xia Li regains her feet, she gets planted with the single arm power bomb.
Winner and still champion: Raquel Gonzalez
After the match, Samoa Joe marches down to the ring and calls for Kross to come out and face him. Kross is on the big screen. He tells Joe that the belt means that he can go where he wants, do what he wants, and hurt who he wants. We see William Regal unconscious on the ground as Kross pulls away from the arena.
Five Takeaways from NXT 7/20
- The Olympics trump NXT for the next two weeks, sending them to Syfy. NXT’s ratings aren’t bad but, if they stay consistent with the switch over, how long will it take before someone at NBC/Universal asks why they can’t stay there?
- Legado del Fantasma has had a good run as a heel faction but, since the end of Undisputed Era (ironically,) they’ve been losing steam. Hit Row is the new hotness. In a heel vs heel program, it’s a question of strength and novelty and coolness. Right now, it’s pretty evident who’s going over.
- LA Knight winning the Million Dollar Championship and the return match to make Cameron Grimes his butler was the right choice. Every time they’re on the screen together, the magic proves that.
- The Breakout Tournament is one of my favorite gimmicks going. NXT always lets their enhancement talent shine but nothing gets noticed like a shown entrance and a win.
- Samoa Joe back in action is a thrilling prospect. It’s a shame that it… and the entirety of NXT… was crapped on all over by poor decisions on another show. Unfortunately, as long the numbers show more people watching RAW that don’t watch NXT rather than the other way around (and, at this point, you really have to wonder why,) someone will always see them (even the champion) as expendable. But, if WWE is going to ignore everything that makes NXT great and everything that goes on the show, I have no problem ignoring some of their other shows.
