By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live August 13, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Highlights from last week’s Night II of the Great American Bash aired…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Sarah Schreiber caught up with Wes Lee and asked him why he betrayed his brothers. Wes Lee said it was time to take back what’s his. Ethan Page walked in and took the mic from Sarah. The camera followed Ethan as he recapped Wes Lee dropping the dead weight. Ethan Page then made his entrance. Page said people wanted Oro Mensah to dethrone him but the Era of All Ego is still going strong.
Say his name and he appears! I believe in Joe Hendry! Joe Hendry made his entrance and said you didn’t even have to say his name this time for him to appear. Hendry noted how Page became the talk in all WWE for about 90 seconds when Page won the title at Heatwave, that’s until Joe Hendry showed up and took the spotlight. Hendry talked about Wes Lee also stealing the spotlight last week. Page told Hendry to stop rambling and take his bags back to TNA.
Page said he doesn’t know why Hendry is here. Hendry said he’s here for the same reason as everyone else, to win the NXT Championship. Page said TNA, NXT, the entire world, believes in Joe Hendry. Page said he doesn’t believe. Page said Hendry’s song makes him sick to his stomach. Page said Hendry is on the 14th minute of his 15 minutes of fame. Page said if Hendry thinks of coming after him, he’ll expose Hendry for the flash in the pan he is.
Hendry said he isn’t a flash in a pan and has been grinding for ten plus years. He said he’s made believers out of everyone he’s faced, like Kurt Angle. Hendry said Booker T is the president of the Joe Hendry fan club. Hendry said even HBK believes in Joe Hendry. He said he’ll make a believer out of Page when he takes the title London, Paris, and Tokyo, America, Scotland, and Canada, and Mexico!
Page exited the ring as Hendry was singing his theme. Wes Lee showed up out of nowhere to blindside Joe Hendry and leave him lying…
Charlie Dempsey was sparring with Myles Bourne. Wren Sinclair showed up to wish Dempsey luck in his upcoming title match. She also noted how Tavion Heights looks like he’s having fun in Japan wrestling for Pro Wrestling Noah…
The Tony D’Angelo Family made their entrance…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Packed opening segment with Joe Hendry putting himself in the orbit of the NXT Champion. NXT is striking while the iron is hot by getting Hendry in the upper mix of things. Interesting to see Wes Lee inserting himself in the mix, as this recent heel turn could coincide with him graduating past North American Championship level.
NXT GM Ava was standing next to Robert Stone and Stevie Turner in front of a bingo tumbler. Stone thanked Stevie for the idea of booking a women’s gauntlet between women who have never challenged for the title before. The first name pulled from the tumbler was Wren Sinclair. The 2nd name was Adriana Rizzo. The Third name was Sol Ruca. Stone went back to complaining, arguing that he actually came up with this idea…
Mike Rome handled the formal in ring introductions for the Heritage Cup match…
1. Tony D’Angelo (w/Channing Lorenzo, Adriana Rizzo, Luca Crucifino) vs. Charlie Dempsey (w/Wren Sinclair, Myles Borne) in a Rounds Match for the NXT Heritage Cup. Both men started the match with technical chain wrestling. Tony D went for a spinebuster, but Dempsey countered it with a Dragon Sleeper. Dempsey used a Triangle to continue to dominate the round. Tony D got out with a backdrop. Dempsey ran out the clock with a heel hook. [End of Round 1]
Tony D started the round with an Alligator Roll that was broken with a rope break. Dempsey came back with a shoulder tackle. Dempsey adjusted his weight to get a one count. Tony D hit his Fisherman Buster finish to get the pinfall. [End of Round 2]
Tony D’Angelo pinned Charlie Dempsey 0:56 into Round 2 to go up 1-0.
The next round started during the picture-in-picture.[c]
The clock ran out with Charlie Dempsey getting a cheap shot in after the bell rang.[End of Round 3]
Wren Sinclair slapped around Dempsey in between rounds to fire him up the same way she fired up Tavion Heights a few weeks ago. Tony D rolled up Dempsey for a nearfall. Tony D manhandled Dempsey with gutwrenches Dempsey rolled up Tony D for a nearfall.. Dempsey picked up the pinfall after a jackknife pin. [End of Round 4]
Charlie Dempsey pinned Tony D’Angelo 1:59 into round 4 to tie the match 1-1.
Tony D hit a spinebuster for a nearfall. Dempsey put Tony D in a armbar which he escaped with a power bomb. Myles Borne got on the apron for a distraction. Stacks hit Myles with a flip dive. Wren Sinclair tripped up Tony D when the referee was distracted with Stacks. Dempsey used a bridged Dragon Suplex to pick up the pinfall win.
Charlie Dempsey defeated Tony D’Angelo via pinfall 2:02 into round 5 to become the new Heritage Cup Champion (1-2).
John’s Thoughts: A good Heritage Cup match with the logical outcome given the recent character development of Wren Sinclair. Given NQCC finally settling down a bit after their two abrupt faction losses of Drew Gulak and Damon Kemp, it looks like this Heritage Cup might be better than Dempsey’s first run. Wren Sinclair has definitely breathed new life to the faction and he adds a lot with her spunk and personality.
Lola Vice congratulated Kelani Jordan on her successful title defense last week. Lola and Jordan then saw Tatum Paxley seething over dolls. Lola went to cheer up Paxley, but Paxley snapped and told Vice that everything is handed to her. Vice said she is going to show Paxley that everything wasn’t handed to her…
The show cut to a Lexis King and Eddy Thorpe hype package where Thorpe talked about how important EDM and his heritage is to him, while King continued to hate on EDM…[c]
Vic Joseph plugged pre-sale tickets for the NXT on CW show…
Lexis King attacked Eddy Thorpe during his entrance. Eddy Thorpe agreed to start the match once both men entered the ring…
2. Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King. Thorpe controlled the early part of the match, but King turned the tables once he went after Thorpe’s injured hand. Thorpe rallied with chops from the uninjured hand. Thorpe fended off King with footsie strikes, a German Suplex, and elbow drop. King reversed Thrope’s finisher with a shoulder breaker. King hit Thorpe with his swinging neckbreaker for the win.
Lexis King defeated Eddy Thorpe via pinfall in 3:09.
John’s Thoughts: A standard match to forward this feud, giving Thorpe two outs in getting jumped and having the hand injury. This EDM vs. Rock Music feud feels a bit bland and isn’t doing much to flush out Thorpe’s character.
A Trick Williams promo aired. Trick talked about how he hasn’t figured Pete Dunne yet, but he will. He talked about fixing past issues, like taking care of Carmelo Hayes and then defeating the Mad Dragon to become NXT Champion. Trick brought up Dunne mentioning how he was mugged on a bus in the past. Trick said he was jumped at 18 years too. He said teammates got jealous of the new freshman rolling up to the point where they threw stones with him inside the car.
Trick talked about following them and poppin’ off. He said it wasn’t the smartest decision, but he figured things out and they all got theirs by the end of the season. Trick said he isn’t coming for Pete Dunne for advise, but a rematch. Trick said one way or another, he’ll figure Pete out…
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Pete Dunne and asked him if Trick will get the rematch. Dunne refused. Dunne said men like Trick like to bitch and moan, while people like him move forward. Dunne said he’s moving forward to the NXT Championship…
The camera panned over to Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson arguing with Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jasmyn Nyx. Henley continued to hate on rookies…
Lola Vice made her entrance…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Good run back promo from Trick and good parallelism by Trick relating to Dunne getting mugged on the bus. It’s good to also see WWE getting the most out of Pete Dunne after the Tyler Bate injury by giving him mic time and pushes on both NXT and the main roster.
Kelani Jordan joined the commentary team for the next match…
3. Lola Vice vs. Tatum Paxley. Paxley hit Lola with a crossbody early on. Vice hit Paxley with a power slam. Vice yelled I’m a Latina and hit Paxley with a hip attack and axe kick. Tatum got a two count after a rollup. Tatum then put Vice in a single leg crap. Paxley got distracted when Wendy Choo put Kelani Jordan in a sleeper at ringside. Paxley hit Vice with a Lightning Spiral. Vice avoided a dive and jot Paxley with a backfist for the pinfall win.
Lola Vice defeated Tatum Paxley via pinfall in 2:20.
Back at the name drawing table, Jaida Parker, Kendal Grey, and Karmen Petrovic drew the final spots in the women’s gauntlet match. Brinley Reece pulled Petrovic aside and wished her luck, noting how she’s proud at Petrovic, both of them starting in WWE from the same tryout. Izzi Dame passed by and talked a bit of trash to both women…
Wes Lee was shown walking backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: I like that Wendy Choo is back with a more mature gimmick, but they really seem to be dragging their feet on this at this point. I feel like the logical direction would be for Choo and Paxley to form some sort of weirdo pairing. This is also somehow going to also pull Kelani Jordan into her first official program as champion.
[Hour Two] Wes Lee made his entrances in street clothes. He also looked a bit more methodical than usual. Wes took his time soaking in boos. He said he gets it, last week he shocked the world. He said he shocked himself too. He said he believed he was going to win the tag titles with his best friend, but Zach let him down yet again. Wes talked about Zach letting him down two years ago too. He said one of the best tag teams in NXT history, was just done, like that.
He said everyone was feeling sad for Zach, but sorry for Wes. He said people were doubting him. He said people slotted him as a tag team guy. He said he picked himself up and made himself the greatest North American Champion of all time. He said some people may cheer or boo that. Wes talked about how Zach and Trey had a good run in TNA, while Wes was literally breaking his back for success in NXT.
Wes talked about how they all have the same dreams, but Wes was the only one that reached that greatness. He said he is tired being Zach’s caretaker. He said he’s done worrying about what Zach is saying or doing. He said he kept everything together as the Rascalz, driving from city to city, squashing all their beefs, and even waking up Zach every night. He said he’s tired of taking care of Zach.
He said to get where he wants to go, he can’t ride his friend’s coat tails. He said Trey and Zach only reformed the Rascalz for that WWE rub. He said No Mercy is coming up and he’ll show no mercy to Zach when they face. Wes said after that Wentz can go off with Trey to be TNA wrestlers, while Wes goes after the NXT Championship. Wes then wished Zachary Wentz the best on his future endeavors.
Pete Dunne made his entrance and congratulated Wes Lee for figuring things out. Dunne said it doesn’t matter because he’s going after the NXT Championship too. Say his name and he appears! Joe Hendry jumped Wes Lee from behind as revenge from earlier. A pull apart brawl ensued…
John’s Thoughts: A bit of uncharted territory for Wes Lee who has been the plucky babyface for his entire career across multiple companies. His singles run in WWE has really allowed him to develop good serious promos and he did a really good job here turning his past trials and tribulations into a good villain origin story. It also helps that there seems to be a dimension of realism behind Lee’s promos. He really hit it in this promo when he dropped the classic “best in your future endeavors” line that WWE has become infamous for when releasing their stars.
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Nathan Frazer and Axiom. Frazer noted that they’ve been at odds a bit, going after singles gold, but they’ve conquered their struggles and are on the same page now. Kincaid hyped up Axiom and Frazer vs. Chase U as the main event of this episode…
A unseen interviewer tried to interview Tony D’Angelo about his recent title loss, but he was cut off by Oba Femi hyping up his upcoming match against Otis…[c]
Chase U were psyching each other up backstage. Duke Hudson apologized for being down on Ridge Holland last week and how everything will be okay, just as long as Chase U gets the titles. Riley Osborne showed support to Ridge. Ridge talked about being inspired by Thea Hail and how he wants to do her and Chase U proud by bringing gold to the University…
Oba Femi made his entrance. Otis made his entrance as the challenger to Oba Femi. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions..
4. Oba Femi vs. Otis (w/Akira Tozawa, Maxxine Dupri) for the NXT North American Championship. Both men started out at a stalemate during the collar and elbow lockups. Oba toyed with Otis with Otis giving Oba a shove. Otis kept a low base to block a snapmare. Otis and Oba traded and no sold shoulder tackles. Otis managed to clear Oba from the ring heading into regular commercial.[c]
Oba got the upper hand after tossing Otis into the ringpost. Otis hit Oba with sidewalk slam. Oba came back with a slap to the chest. Oba then caught Otis with a running uppercut. Vic noted that Otis was sporting a injured arm from wrestling on Raw the night before. Oba gave Otis a series of elbow drops and running uppercuts in the corner for a nearfall. Otis backdropped Oba and came back with clubbing blows.
Oba dodged Otis and gave him a Northern Lariat. Otis slapped Tozawa in the chest when Tozawa tried to fire up Otis. This woke up Otis who gave Oba a clubbing blow. Otis gave Oba stiff alternating arms. Otis hit Oba with a World’s Strongest Slam. Otis then took off the shirt and did the Caterpillar for a two count. Otis hit Oba with a Vader Bomb for a nearfall. Oba reversed ten punches in the corner into a sitout power bomb for the victory.
Oba Femi defeated Otis via pinfall in 10:37 to retain the NXT North American Championship.
John’s Thoughts: Not a pretty match, but a good change of pace hoss fight between two powerhouses. Otis’s powerhouse style was a nice change of pace for some of the agile big men that Oba has faced off in other title defenses. The match result wasn’t in question but Otis was good enough here to be a good challenger.
The show cut to Brooks Jensen recapping his recent downward spiral. He said that Josh Briggs saying he had his back was just empty words. Jensen talked about one person looking out for him. A leader, and a mentor to him. The camera panned back to show he was talking to Shawn Spears. Spears said Jensen’s speech was perfect…
The camera cut to the locker room where Enofe and Blade not liking what Jensen is becoming. Hank and Tank showed up and hyped that they were facing Gallows and Anderson next week…
Izzi Dame made her entrance….[c]
The show cut to highlights from WWE’s Summerslam tryouts. Vic Joseph noted that Izzi Dame was discovered at last year’s Summerslam tryouts….
5. Brinley Reece vs. Izzi Dame. Reece went for a Sunset Flip, but had it blocked. Reece hit Izzi with a flip into a clothesline for a two count. Dame hit Reece with a slow looking tilt a whirl backbreaker. Izzi hit Reece with a backbreaker for a two count. Dame hit Reece with a sitout bomb for a two count. Reece escaped a side rack and gave Dame a high knee, followed by an axe handle. Reece yelled at Dame to stop being a bully. Reece hit Dame with a Northern Lights for a two count.
Izzi blocked Reece with a big boot. Dame hit Reece with a side slam for the victory.
Izzi Dame defeated Brinley Reece via pinfall in 4:12.
Kelly Kincaid interviewed NXT GM Ava about next week’s show looking good on paper. Ava announced the No Mercy Gauntlet to find out Roxanne Perez’s next challenger. Ava also announced Wes Lee vs. Pete Dunne vs. Joe Hendry to get a title shot against Ethan Page. Roxanne Perez showed up and gloated about winning a gauntlet match to lead to her getting the women’s title. Perez said unfortunately no one next week will get close to the title…
Vic and Booker plugged NXT No Mercy ticket sales. The show cut to Shawn Michaels announcing the first two shows on CW being on the road and featuring CM Punk and Randy Orton…
Separate shots of Chase U and Axiom and Frazer were shown as they were walking backstage…[c]
Ashante the Adonis was backstage hitting on random developmental women wrestlers backstage. Ashante noticed that Dion Lennox was reading a book and catching the attention of the shawtys. Ashante asked Dion what he was reading. He said he was reading “it ends with us”. Adonis said it will end with them in the ring next week…
The following matches were announced for next week: Joe Hendry vs. Wes Lee vs. Pete Dunne, the women’s gauntlet eliminator match, Hank and Tank vs. Gallows and Anderson, and Lola Vice vs. Wendy Choo…
Entrances for the main event took place. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions…
6. Nathan Frazer and Axiom vs. “Chase U” Ridge Holland and Andre Chase (w/Duke Hudson, Riley Osborne, Thea Hail) for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Chase and Axiom started the match. Chase got a early two count off a running knee. Axiom came back with a dropkick and tagged in Frazer, who rolled up Chase for a two count. Holland tagged in and hit Frazer with a tackle. Axiom helped dump Ridge to ringside and hit him wit a superkick. Axiom and Frazer hit their opponents at ringside with quick dives. The show cut to picture-in-picture.[c]
Holland hit Axiom with a pop up DDT for a nearfall. Axiom tagged in Frazer. Axiom hit Holland with a dive. Frazer hit Holland with a 450 for a nearfall. Holland took down Frazer and held Axiom in place for a double stomp. Frazer broke up Chase’s pin. Axiom escaped a butterfly suplex. Frazer put Holland in a sleeper. Frazer caught Axiom’s accidental kick.
[Overrun] They got on the same page ad hit Chase with a superkick brainbuster. Chase kicked out of Axiom’s pin to fire up the crowd. Chase rallied with chops. Axiom came back with a sleeper. Chase gave Axiom a big boot. Holland hit Frazer with an assisted Backstabber Bomb to give Holland a good nearfall. Censored “holy shit” chants ensued. Axiom hit Holland with a Super Spanish Fly.
Chase knocked Frazer off the top rope into the announce table. Axiom caught Chase with a Golden Ratio. Holland turned Axiom inside out with a clothesline. Holland hit Axiom with a tuck DDT for the victory.
Chase U defeated Axiom and Nathan Frazer via pinfall in 10:09 to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
The Chase University student section stormed the ring to celebrate with Ridge Holland and Andre Chase. They also got a confetti celebration. Chase U all did their Chase U pose to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A random week to have two surprise title changes, but both title changes made sense based off the stories being told. Axiom and Frazer have done a good job as vulnerable babyface champions, so eventually their mistiming would get the better of them. As Chase U tends to do, they have fixed the very awkward Ridge Holland fake retirement and klutz storyline by sucking him into their vortex of awesomeness. They are cheesy as hell, but they tend to make things work out.
I don’t expect Frazer and Axiom to move on from this quite yet either as there’s a run back rematch that should be fun. Good action here with some really good nearfalls by the end. NXT seems to be shuffling things up a bit as the show gets ready for both their debut on CW, and their return to the road with those first two shows. I actually have to run out in a bit so I’ll be a bit late with my NXT audio review. I’ll most likely have it out sometime tomorrow.
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