By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live July 11, 2023 on USA Network
[Hour One] Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Alicia Taylor was the ring announcer…
The show started off with all four Judgement Day members making their entrance to the WWE Performance Center. The crowd showered Judgment Day with “Mami” chants and “Welcome Home” chants for Rhea Ripley. Finn Balor talked first and said “Daddy’s Home”. Balor said NXT is the house that Finn Balor built and he’s here to teach house rules. Balor introduced Damian Priest as Mr. Money in the Bank and Rhea Ripley as the Women’s World Champion.
Balor introduced Dominik Mysterio and they all showered him with boos. Priest did his usual “All Rise” bit. Priest then called out Carmelo Hayes and Trick WIlliams. Priest said that Melo and Trick thought they would get a divided Judgement Day, but they’re getting the Judgement Day that runs WWE, that runs NXT, and that is the murders row of WWE. Dom tried to get words in about Mami, but was showered in boos. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams made their entrance. Rhea berated Melo and Trick for interrupting Dirty Dom.
Melo said he appreciates everyone coming. Melo said the story is more about Finn. Finn is on the Mt. Rushmore of NXT, but now NXT got Trick and Melo influence all over it. Melo said everyone has an opinion of Finn getting one up on him on Raw, but what’s different now is Finn is in Melo’s arena. Rhea said this is all just arrogance. Melo talked about how in the Performance Center, Trick Melo gang runs things. Priest said they do run things, but only because Judgement Day isn’t keeping tabs on them every week. Trick said Priest’s mouth is writing a check he can’t cash.
Trick said they are here to see if Judgement Day is about bout it bout it. Melo challenged Judgement Day to a match. Finn said if you come after the prince, you better not miss. Melo said it was time to do this thang then. The segment ended with Melo’s theme playing and Vic said he hopes the match gets approved…
John’s Thoughts: Smart to have Judgement Day open up the show as they will draw the most eyes to the product with the impending match keeping viewers hooked. Nothing too special here, but everyone was solid delivering their usual lines. Interesting to see if they give Melo his win back since they tend to strongly protect main roster talent on NXT.
Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov was announced as a number one contenders match. They also announced Stacks vs. Joe Coffey for Tony D’s freedom…
They cut to McKenzie Mitchell interviewing Tony D’Angelo via satellite “from jail”. McKenzie talked about the Coffey vs. Stacks match for Tony’s freedom and wondered what Tony’s mindset is? Tony said he’s known Stacks since he was a kid. He said he’s not sure how to think of Stacks now? McKenzie said she hopes Stacks comes through…
Chase U’s Duke Hudson, Andre Chase, and Thea Hail made their entrance…[c]
A Gigi Dolin promo aired. She addressed her ongoing feud with Kiana James. Gigi said that James is just jealous of GIgi. Pictures were shown of James being a party girl in the past. Gigi called James a hypocrite. Gigi said she embraces who she is while James lives a lie…
The show cut to the women’s locker room where James was paranoid of how Gigi found her old photos…
Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak made their entrance. Chase and Hudson jumped Gulak and Dempsey on the ramp…
1. “Chase U” Andre Chase and Duke Hudson (w/Thea Hail) vs. Chralie Dempsey and Drew Gulak. Chase and Dempsey started the match once they were in the ring. Chase worked on Dempsey with methodical offense. Hudson and Chase used tags to cut the ring in half on Dempsey. Lucien Price and Bronco Nima appeared on the crow’s nest. Gulak tagged in and got the upper hand on Hudson. Gulak got a two count off an elbow drop. Hudson hit Gulak with an impressive huracanrana. Gulak came back with a discus elbow. Hudson came back with a uranage for a nearfall.
Hudson dragged Gulak around by the hair and tossed him into the corner. Hudson hit Gulak with a Super Michinoku Driver. Chase tagged in for a one count. Dempsey tagged in and put Chase in a headlock. Chase powered out and tagged in Hudson. Hudson gave Hudson a punch to the back of the neck. Hudson took down Dempsey and Gulak with double lariats. Chase and Hudson hit Gulak and Dempsey with stereo Chase U Bionic Elbows. The show cut to regular commercial.[c]
Dempsey worked on Duke Hudson’s left elbow which Joseph said might have been injured during the Super Michinoku Driver. Dempsey got a two count off a Northern Lights. Hudson managed to backdrop Dempsey and Gulak. He tagged in the fresh Andre Chase. Chase cleaned house. He hit Dempsey with a dropkick and hit Gulak with a swinging neckbreaker. Dempsey and Chase traded Strong Style strikes in the center of the ring.
Chase won the exchange and hit Dempsey with a Russian Legsweep. Chase hit Dempsey with the Chase U stomps. Chase hit Dempsey with a High Fly Flow. Gulak broke up Chase’s pin. Dempsey hit Gulak with a Bridged German for a two count. At ringside, Hail fired up and put Gulak in a Kimura. Hudson and Chase hit Dempsey with The Frat-Liner (Flatliner-Gory Bomb combo) for the win.
Chase U defeated Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak via pinfall in 8:04 of on-air time.
John’s Thoughts: Good tag team match with Duke Hudson standing out with some very cool offense. Good to see Andre Chase back after being off tv for a few months. Chase is definitely someone who works well in NXT where he usually gets great matches out of the young talent. Dempsey and Gulak seem to be losing a lot lately. I hope that NXT gets behind them a bit, especially since the act involves the son of William Regal. They stand out with their grappling style and it would be cool if that style could be given some credibility.
The show cut to Bron Breakker cutting a promo in the locker room. Breakker talked about how Ilja Dragunov wasn’t even on his radar and now he’s in for trouble. Breakker talked about how he’s going to break Ilja and get the title match at the Great American Bash…
Cora Jade made her entrance…[c]
The show cut to Robert Stone and Von Wagner at a random ring at the Performance Center. Somber music was playing. Wagner said he might have gotten carried away last week. Wagner said Javi was talking crap like the bullies he had as a kid. Wagner said his parents tried to shield him from it, but he was on his own at school and at home. Pictures were shown of Wagner as a kid after getting a titanium plate put in his skull.
He said it’s tough not to feel different. He talked about how everyone would avoid him during school projects. Wagner said he accepted the role of monster. He said he came to NXT thinking he had to be a monster. He said he didn’t know what to do when the people supported him last week, but he felt like he was being himself for the first time in his life. Stone said it’s Robert Stone’s irritating ass that he had to thank for the breakthrough…
John’s Thoughts: One of Wagner’s better acting deliveries (still rough, but there’s improvement). I think he should retain some of the bad acting though as it’s been a term of endearment to him and has caught on in memes. It looks like things are finally starting to click with good ol’ Cal Bloom. At one point it seemed hopeless, but he’s finally connecting with the crowd.
Kelani Jordan and Dana Brooke made their entrance…
2. Cora Jade vs. Kelani Jordan (w/Dana Brooke). The match started with Jade dominating the chain wrestling. Jordan came back with an armdrag after a Tiger Feint. Jade came back with a catapult to the bottom rope. Jade hit Jordan with a rebound stomp for a two count. Brooke hit Jordan with a elbow drop to the back of the neck. Jade worked on Jordan with methodical offense. Jade hit Jordan with a Shotgun Dropkick while Jordan was trapped in the ropes. Jade continued to work on Jordan with methodical offense.
Jordan got a two count off a Schoolboy. Jordan rallied with flying axe handle strikes. Jordan did a backflip into a Pele Kick. Jade avoided an Overdrive attempt. Jade tripped Jordan off a springboard attempt. Jade hit Jordan with Jaded (her version, the Dirty Deeds DDT) for the victory.
Cora Jade defeated Kelani Jordan via pinfall in 3:57.
Jordan avoided kendo stick shots after the match. Dana Brooke entered the ring and chased off Jade with strikes and kendo stick shots. The babyfaces stood tall to end the segment…
John’s Thoughts: Kelani Jordan seems to be a bit smoother than a lot of the NIL/College types we see in WWE. She definitely has a good look and charisma to her. She’s still a bit rough and her finishes seem to be a bit rough too, but time and practice will clean that up. High hopes for her. I hope she doesn’t use the Overdrive as a finisher which she teased here. I personally think that’s the worst finisher in the history of pro wrestling. Who I’m not too impressed with yet is Dana Brooke. She’s one of those wrestlers that really need to recreate herself. Look at the wonders its doing for wrestlers like Steve Cutler, Fandango, and Baron Corbin.
Ilja Dragunov cut a promo in the locker room. He talked about how Bron is about to feel his wrath and fury. Ilja talked about how his intensity can’t be matched and how that will lead him to the NXT Championship at the Great American Bash…
Bron Breakker made his entrance…[c]
A colorful ad aired for the NXT shop of WWE’s merch site…
Vic Joseph hyped WWE Fastlane and said it was the first time WWE was holding a PLE in Indianapolis in 7 years…
A recap video aired of last week’s NXT Underground match…
The show cut to Gable Steveson and Eddy Thorpe being interviewed in the NXT parking lot. They bragged about beating Damon Kemp and Gable tossing around people. Gable said he’s not sure what his future holds because he’s juggling around WWE, The Olympics, and the National Championships…
Random Developmental wrestlers were watching the last segment on a tablet. Dijak showed up and said he doesn’t think Eddy Thorpe should be celebrated after one win…
Ilja Dragunov made his entrance…
3. Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov for a NXT Championship title shot at the Great American Bash. Breakker quickly pummeled Ilja in the corner with tackles and grinding knee strikes. Ilja fought out with alternating hands. Breakker ended the rally with a spinebuster. Breakker got a one count. Booker plugged his ESPN radio show while talking about Breakker. Breakker reversed a discus lariat with a backdrop. Breakker grinded Ilja’s face on the 2nd rope. Ilja rallied back with stiff chops to back Breakker into a corner.
Ilja hit Breakker with a diving knee drop. Ilja worked on Breakker with stiff right hands. Breakker fired through with a double leg takedown and ground and pound. Breakker suplexed Ilja from the ring and both men tumbled to ringside. The show cut to picture-in-picture.[c]
Breakker rallied with right hands. Ilja came back with a Yakuza Kick and running lariats. Ilja took down Breakker with a knife edge chop while Breakke was running the ropes. Ilja gave Breakker two chained German Suplexes. Breakker did a German after a standing switch. Ilja no sold it and hit Bron with a German Suplex. Breakke used his boots to block a diving forearm. Breakker grazed Ilja with a Top Rope Bulldog.
[Hour Two]Ilja rallied back with right hands. Ilja hit Breakker with a Death Valley Driver into the bottom buckle. Ilja dropkicked Breakker in the hamstring with a Coast-to-coast. Ilja hit Breakker with Torpedo Moscow. Breaakker kicked out of Ilja’s finisher. Ilja went for a dive, but Breakker reversed it with a spear. Ilja kicked out of Bron’s finisher. Breakker smashed Ilja’s head into the mat. Ilja reversed Breakker’s press slam into a DDT.
Ilja power bombed Breakker for a nearfall. Ilja hit Bron with a flying strike for a two count. Bron hit Ilja with a lariat. Ilja blocked a spear with a flying knee. Ilja gave Bron a Torpedo Moscow to the back of the neck for the clean win.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Bron Breakker via pinfall in 14:21 to earn a shot at the NXT Championship at the Great American Bash.
John’s Thoughts: Wonderful match as usual from Ilja and Bron continues to show that he can have a good match with whoever you put him in the ring with despite him only being in pro wrestling for less than two years (it does help that he was surrounded by pro wrestling all his life). Crazy seeing him do that suplex from the ring to ringside! These two have faced before, but this time Bron is the clear heel. Bron is doing amazing work in his new heel role. He was strong as a babyface that loves fishing, but he seems natural in the ring as a heel. Bron is on a 5 or so match losing streak, but they are having him look strong by kicking out of everyone’s finishers. He makes it work because his ending sequences have been pretty fun.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Wes Lee about his upcoming match against Mustafa Ali at the Great American Bash. Lee said he’s not sure how to read Ali. Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley showed up. Dom said he accepts Lee’s open challenge because he knows Lee is the “Open challenge guy”. Lee said he didn’t even issue one. Rhea said Lee is just scared because Dom in in NXT this week. Lee said things got crazy when he was giving out shots on a weekly basis. Lee said he’d challenge Dom tonight. Dom said he’d face Lee, next week…
Tiffany Stratton made her entrance…[c]
A Baron Corbin cinematic promo aired. Corbin talked about how he burned his past last week, but he’s now without a compass. He said he’s not sure about his future. He said this house, this life, is built off echoes of the last eight years. He said he’s preached you can’t fight fate, but he’s fighting fate now. Corbin said he can see something when he looks back. he said he can see nothing in common with his past characters, but now “who the hell am I?”. Corbin drove off to a random forest with Tiki torches. Corbin looked shocked when he saw the back of a hooded man…
John’s Thoughts: Another good cinematic promo from Baron Corbin. I really like how he’s using past bad gimmicks as character development. I did wince a bit at Corbin meeting the hooded figure in the forest. These cinematics showed that Corbin doesn’t need a JBL or to be attached to an act to stand out. I hope this intriguing development doesn’t lead to him joining some sort of cult or the Schism, or something like that.
Ivy Nile made her entrance. Still shots were shown of The Creed Brothers losing the loser leaves NXT match from last week. This week, Ivy was wearing a Creed Brothers shirt..
4. NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Ivy Nile in a non-title match. Tiffany suplexed Ivy early on. Ivy came back with a snap T Bone Suplex for a two count. Ivy got a two count off a Juji Gatame. Booker talked about how he wants a cup of Biscotti. Vic told Booker that a Biscotti is a cookie not a drink. Booker joked that a Biscotti is whatever he wants it to be. Both women traded submission attempts. Ivy hit Tiffany with a running right hand. Tiffany tripped up Ivy. Tiffany knocked off Ivy from the apron with a hip attack.
Tiffany worked on Ivy with methodical offense. Ivy came back with an enzuigiri. Ivy hit Tiffany with a Cartwheel DVD which Vic said was a ode to Julius. Ivy put Tiffany in the Dragon Sleeper. Tiffany escaped and tossed Ivy into the ropes. Tiffany came back with a Rolling Senton and a Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Ivy Nile via pinfall in 4:39.
Tiffany took the mic after the match and soaked in “You Tapped Out” chants. Tiffany said she doesn’t need to explain herself to the annoying peasants in the crowd. She said she beat Thea Hail fair and square. Tiffany wined “leave me alone”…
The show cut to Thea Hail coaching Andre Chase about the kimura lock. She said even though Dempsey and Gulak are terrible people, they gave her a cool submission to make anyone tap out. Andre said that Hail isn’t done with Tiffany and there should be a rematch. Hudson, Hail, and Chase chanted “rematch”…
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo made his entrance. Stacks was wearing sweatpants that it looks like he borrowed from Dolph Ziggler’s Spirit Squad days..[c]
John’s Thoughts: Short and sweet match to give Tiffany a credible win against a badass opponent. That said, it still baffles me that NXT has never gotten behind the badass looking Ivy Nile who stands out as different. Here’s hoping that they turn her recent losing streak into character development that will lead into a buzzsaw run. The Creeds leaving could lead to that development. Back to the match, I did get a chuckle out of Booker thinking a Biscotti was a drink with Vic calling him out on it.
The show cut to a picture of a drunk and disheveled Noam Dar who’s still depressed after losing the Heritage Cup, and therefore he can’t host Super Nova Sessions this week…
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Blair Davenport. Davenport bragged about destroying Roxanne Perez. Davenport called Perez an innocent little girl. She said Perez was a decorated champion, but this division is for grown ass women, not little girls with ribbons in their hair. Blair said if Perez comes back she’ll get treated like Lyons, Choo, and Ruca, put on the shelf…
Joe Coffey and Gallus made their entrance…
5. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. Joe Coffey (w/Mark Coffey, Wolfgang) for the freedom of Tony D’Angelo from prison. Booker educated Vic about how money works in prison. Vic said the worst he’s ever gotten was a parking ticket. Joe dominated with a side headlock. Joe hit Stacks with an axe handle strike. Joe stopped the match and told Stacks “it’s time to become Don”. Joe hit Stacks with a clothesline. Stacks kicked out. Joe was shocked that Stacks didn’t just lie down.
Joe yelled that they made a deal. Stacks said “I ain’t no snitch”. The show cut to regular commercial.[c]
Oh lord, Vic Joseph just received a paid call from Tony D’Angelo from jail. Tony was cheering Stacks, saying that this was Channing’s plan all along to lure in Gallus. Meanwhile, Joe was dominating the match with methodical offense. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price showed up to confront Gallus at ringside. Stacks backdropped Joe and hit him with a forearm. Stacks found a crowbar and hit Joe in the gut. Stacks threw the bar at Wolfgang and pulled a Eddie Guerrero by faking being knocked out. The referee turned around and ejected Wolfgang. Stacks hit Joe with a Knee version of the Seth Rollins stomp for the win.
Channing Lorenzo defeated Joe Coffey via pinfall in 7:16 of on-air time to win the freedom of Tony D’Angelo.
John’s Thoughts: A well worked match, but it’s still a bit tough to suspend my disbelief on a professional wrestling match somehow having bearing on a prison sentence. They haven’t even revealed the “charges”. I’m happy to see Stacks getting more shine, but it’s a bit eye rolling when that shine is around such a cartoony storyline. Joe Coffey also seems out of place here and dealing with the pro wrestling mafia seems beneath him. I rolled my eyes when we got the random “phone call” from prison. Looking forward to Nima and Price though as they’ve impressed during the NXT Level Up show.
Joe Gacy, The Dyad, Ava, and unnamed cultists showed up to brag in front of Ivy Nile about banishing The Creed Brothers from NXT. Ava implied that the Schism will welcome Ivy Nile with open arms…
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and his buddy Trick Williams made their entrance…[c]
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz about Noam Dar not being able to host Supernova Sessions this week. Leon and Feroz talked about how Dar is annoying. Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo showed up and flirted with Feroz and Leon. Feroz and Leon blew them off. Nathan Frazer and Dragon showed up to scare off Garza and Carrillo….
The Tony D’Angelo Homecoming and Wes Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship was advertised for next week….
The Judgment Day made their entrance. Vic noted that Damian Priest can cash in his briefcase on Carmelo Hayes if he wants…
John’s Thoughts: No way Priest cashes in on the developmental title and I hope them mentioning it is just to explain the mechanics of MitB. It would be asinine to do that after the momentum Priest has developed after the Bad Bunny feud. Dom winning an NXT title? I wouldn’t mind that, but I don’t expect it given them building towards Wes Lee vs. Mustafa Ali already.
5. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams vs. “Judgment Day” Finn Balor and Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio). Priest and Williams started the match with Priest dominating with his long strikes. Balor and Priest used tags to cut the ring in half on Trick. Vic noted that Finn Balor has the record for most days as NXT Champion. Trick got a window of opportunity and tag to Melo after hitting Balor with a lariat. Trick and Melo cleared Finn from the ring. Melo hit Priest with an assisted springboard crossbody heading into picture-in-picture.[c]
Judgment Day cut the ring in half on Melo back from the break with quick tags. Melo hit Priest with a jawbreaker to get the tag to Trick. Trick beat down Priest with punches and a dropkick. Trikc hit Priest with a knee and flapjack. Trick got a one count after a neckbreaker. Trick hit Priest with a handstand roundhouse. Both men took each other out with stereo lariats. Balor and Hayes tagged in.
Melo hit Balor with an Atomic Drop. Melo hit Balor with a superkick for a two count. Balor came back with a Sling Blade. Balor hit Melo with his signature Shotgun Dropkick. Balor dodged a Coup De Grace. Melo caught Balor with a springboard lariat. Priest tagged in and was rolled up by melo for a two count. Melo reversed a South of Heaven into a Stundog Millionaire. Priest hit Melo with a front facelock driver. Trick broke up the pin. At ringside, Priest hit Trick with a Razor’s Edge on the announce table.
Melo knocked down Priest and went for Nothin’ But Net. Dom distracted Melo. Melo reversed South of Heaven into a DDT. Dom distracted the referee by bringing a chair to the ring. Priest was about to hit Melo with the Money in the Bank Briefcase. Ilja Dragunov ran out to take the briefcase. Melo accidentally hit Ilja with a running forearm. Priest hit the distracted Melo with a South Of Heaven. Balor tagged in and hit Melo with the Coup De Grace for the win.
The Judgment Day defeated Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams via pinfall in 12:14.
Melo and Ilja bickered after the match to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A good match that continues WWE’s new approach to NXT where there is more main roster crossover. A bit surprised that they had Melo take another loss to Finn (Trick was around), but the ending made sense to start towards the Melo vs. Ilja match. Trick Williams did look good here and hung in there, selling for veterans Priest and Balor.
Another solid episode of NXT. They are taking their time and building towards Great American Bash. Go out of your way this week to watch Ilja Dragunov vs. Bron Breakker which anchored this show. HBK and crew still have their weird quirks and the quirky moment of the week was the whole Tony D’Angelo’s prison sentence being on the line in a pro wrestling match.
Jeez, they might as well have “prison release papers on a pole” and be done with it.
Did you notice that 2 of the cultists were the Creeds? They even gave Ivy a long look before they walked away