By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live July 28, 2026, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Highlights from last week’s main event took place, which included Mike Santana’s debut as a member of the NXT roster (it was announced online that his WWE name is “Cruz Montana”)…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Emily Agard was the backstage interviewer…
Vic and Booker tried to check in, but they were cut off by Grayson Waller with a mic in the ring. Waller talked about debuting on the main roster 6 weeks after breaking his knee in an NXT ring. Waller talked about winning the Smackdown Tag Team titles by climbing a ladder at WrestleMania. He said he was at the top of the world, but something changed. He said it’s not his work ethic or talent.
He said maybe he was too honest, didn’t politic, or he didn’t kiss the right ass. Waller said the last two years of his career were an embarrassment and he’s man enough to admit it. He said he had to carry over 200 lbs of a person on his back. He said he got people to cheer his name, but that man was Marty Janetty on the microphone. Waller talked about acting like he was at a funeral, and climbing to the top of ceilings telling people how good someone else was.
He said it was ironic that he was dressed for a funeral, but the only thing dying was his career. He said, but it’s a “new day”. He said he can cash a check and eat at catering. He opened his sweater and said he got himself in the best shape of his career. He said he says what he means. Waller said he’s had demons and one demon is the NXT Championship. He said the NXT championship used to mean something. Waller listed off famous NXT champions.
Waller said when you win the title you get treated like a god. He said he didn’t so he gets treated like a Netflix ad break comedy act. Waller said he’s going to change that by coming after the NXT title. Waller said Cruz Montana will be a shiny new toy that people won’t care about in a few weeks. Waller said it’s not 2005 because being the best man in TNA is like being the best talent in a local YMCA.
Waller said Tony D’Angelo only won the title because no one was left. Waller said Tony D can go home to his ugly baby soon. A stage hand told Waller that HBK wants him to wrap it up. Waller said to tell Shawn he can tune the band and make someone make him. Waller said the NXT men’s roster is complacent, and the women’s roster is running laps around them. Waller said that the only callups worthy of being called up are all women (which drew cheers). Waller praised the independent wrestlers in Evolve, and talked about how great they are in the ring. He talked about being an indie guy himself.
Waller then trash talked Evolve’s indie guys, saying they suck on the microphone as charisma vacuums. Waller said HBK is smiling in Gorilla because he’s finally telling the truth. Waller shut the crowd up when they cheered him. Waller said the Men’s roster is here for the taking. Waller said he’s the most underrated guy on the roster. Suddenly, Waller’s mic was cut. Waller got in the camera and told the mic cam that WWE’s cages are rattled. The show cut to commercial…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Hot damn. That was a pretty good worked shoot promo. Random NXT pipe bomb style promo. This felt like WWE acknowledging the problems they have in NXT that they are attempting to fix. To be fair, NXT is doing a better holding themselves accountable more than the main roster. I agree with pretty much everything Waller said. I’ve been saying for years that NXT men’s roster is gasping for air due to their immensely talented Women’s roster, and that’s a GREAT problem to have. I actually also agree that Waller is one of the most underrated wrestlers in WWE given his skillset. He’s a wonderful talker and can fill that Miz reality TV star role. But he’s also amazing in the ring and can do some insane stunts. He’s like Logan Paul if Paul had ten more years of in-ring experience, and that’s a huge complement.
Vic did an ad plug for Zuffa boxing…
Myles Borne and Tavion Heights were chatting backstage. Mason Rook pulled up and said he didn’t like that Waller was talking down to the current roster. Rook threatened to get his hands on Kam Hendrix later too. Borne asked to not get involved with his match. Heights said he’ll keep Rook in check. Rook left…
Entrances for the next match took place…
Entrances for the next match took place. It’s the battle of the two wrestlers with rhyming names…
1. Lizzy Rain vs. Izzy Dame (w/Niko Vance). Izzi pressured Rain into the ropes and the ropes and chopped her. Rain returned the favor with her own chops. Izzi ran through Rain with a shoulder tackle. Rain rallied with chops. Rain hit Izzi with a back elbow. Izzi tripped Rain off the top rope and gave her a clothesline. A picture-in-picture showed Cruz Montana arriving at the Performance Center.
Izzi got a two count after a Gourd Buster on Rain. Rain hit Izzi with a nice modified spinning heel kick. Izzi blocked a Wrecking Ball kick and reversed it into Snake Eyes and a Yakuza Kick.[c]
Rain hit Izzi with rapid chops. Booker yelled “Rainmaker!” (wrong company Book!). Booker then got confused with the Izzi and Lizzy names ( I don’t blame him for that). Rain rallied with a combination into an Exploder suplex. Izzi ended Lizzy’s rally with a Magnum. Rain came back with a discus forearm. Rain hit Izzi with a Superkick. Izzi caught Rain out of the air and hit her with a Blue Thunder Bomb.
A “this is awesome” chant ensued. Rain and Izzi traded Yay Boo forearms. Rain got a two count after a backslide. Izzi and Rain spilled to ringside. Rain shoved Izzi into the steel steps. Rain hit Izzi with a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Izzi came back with a crucifix bomb for a good nearfall. Izzi hit Rain with some methodical strikes. Rain came back with Stundog Millionaire and a running uppercut. Niko got on the apron for the distraction.
This allowed Izzi to hit Rain with a Yakuza Kick. When Niko turned around, Shawn Spears pulled down a hoodie and threatened Niko with a steel chair. The other distraction allowed Rain to hit Izzi with Thunderstruck (Roundhouse Scorpio Rising) for the victory.
Lizzy Rain defeated Izzi Dame via pinfall in 12:28.
John’s Thoughts: Surprisingly strong match in the middle of the hour. I have go give Izzi Dame her props as she’s starting to be consistent with putting on strong in-ring showings. The only reason this match was booked was because both of these women have rhyming names (which annoys me trying to transcribe this). That said it was a strong in-ring showing and they even squeezed in some light development for the Culling’s feud with Shawn Spears.
Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno dapped it up with Cruz Montana backstage. Romeo and Cruz chatted in spanish. Saquon Shugars pulled up to say Hola. Shugars, Dar, and Moreno bragged about beating up DarkState. After Dar and Moreno left, Montana pointed out how he beat Shugars when Shugars was acting a fool at Madison Square Garden. Shugars said he’s a changed man and Montana will see.
After Shugars left, Kelani Jordan showed up to tell Montana that NXT is an unfair working environment. Montana walked away when Kelani was ranting about how unfair things were. Kelani talked about how everyone continues to ignore her…[c]
The Vanity Project were in Robert Stone’s office, annoying him. Baylor and Smokes berated Stone for giving Tavion and Myles a tag title shot. Jackson Drake bragged about beating Tavion a few weeks ago. The Vanity Project cleared when Keanu Carver showed up. Myka Lockwood gave Keanu a up-down lookdown before leaving. Stone apologized for Keanu getting jumped last week. Carver calmly said it was fine and all he wants is a match against EK next week. Stone agreed and Keanu was appreciative. After Keanu left, Stone yelled at Grayson Waller on the phone and yelled at him to get back as soon as possible…
A Lola Vice promo aired where she hyped up next week’s Underground match against Kendal Grey…
Kam Hendrix made his entrance…[c]
An ad aired for WWE Unreal Season 3…
Thea Hail and Jaida Parker were celebrating backstage about screwing Nattie over. Jaida talked about how she hasn’t been the best in the locker room, but she appreciates what Hail did for her. Hail talked about being happy to have her back. Hail talked about how she heard that Nattie is pissed. She said that Stone booked her and Jaida against Karmen Petrovic and Nikkita Lyons next week. Jaida thanked Hail for being the most honest person in the women’s locker room to her. Hail hugged Jaida for the complement…
Myles Borne made his entrance. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions (Dang, does Mike Rome add more bleach to his hair week after week? This man’s hair just gets more bleached and bleached every time he pops up on camera)…
2. Myles Borne (w/Tavion Heights) vs. Kam Hendrix for the NXT North American Championship. Kam dominated the early collar and elbow and wristhold sequence. Borne managed to come back with his own wristholds and armbars. Kam escaped and hit Borne with a body slam. Borne came back with a Randy Orton Dropkick. Borne hit Kam with a flip dive at ringside. Kam tripped Borne on the apron.[c]
Wow. Grayson Waller. A guy i disliked now a guy i love. Lol
Wow. Just wow. That was a PIPE BOMB! That wasn’t WWE Grayson Waller. That was PWA (Sydney) Matty Wahlberg! Indy guy – and I loved every second of that! Aussie representing!!