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Cook’s WWE NXT Review 6.2.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest edition of WWE NXT on the CW! We’ve got a big show tonight, including an NXT Championship Match pitting Tony D’Angelo against Cam Hendrix. We’ll also hear from Lola Vice, so you know I’m excited. Let’s go!
If you already subscribe to the 411MANIA Wrestling Newsletter, earlier today you received some of my thoughts on WWE competing with CMLL in Mexico, SmackDown going back to two hours & Mike Santana’s future. (Spoiler alert: it might be on this brand) If you don’t already subscribe, do so right now! Yes, before we get to the show because if you’re like me you won’t remember to do this a minute from now.
Cook’s WWE NXT Review 6.2.26
Then. Now. Forever. Together!
NXT is in Orlando at the Performance Center! Tony D’Angelo is WALKING! Kam Hendrix is WALKING! Earlier today, the Great American Bash was announced as NXT’s next PLE! Vic Joseph & Booker T are our hosts.
Lizzy Rain vs. Zaria: I like Zaria but she scares the living crap out of me. Or do I like Zaria because she scares the living crap out of me? Tough to say. Lizzy says that Lizzy Rain and heavy metal will never die. I sure hope not, it’s one of my favorite music genres. Zaria drives Rain into the corner and shoulderblocks her. Lizzy fights back with a dropkick, punches Zaria in the corner. Zaria blocks a rollup attempt, tosses Lizzy to the apron, Lizzy with a kick, goes up top, Zaria avoids it, Lizzy with a rana on Zaria. Zaria gets mad, drives Lizzy into the corner but Lizzy rolls out then chops away on Zaria. Pump kick by Zaria. Zaria sends Lizzy up & down and kicks away at her. Hard whips into the corner by Zaria. Tatum Paxley walks down to the ring and Zaria’s not happy about it. The fans are, they chant “Tatum”. Lizzy with a rollup for two. Tatum joins Vic & Booker on commentary while Lizzy gets knocked off the top turnbuckle. Zaria shows Lizzy off to Tatum while we go to Non-Stop NXT!
Back in the ring, Zaria sits on Lizzy back a couple of times. Lizzy with an awkward looking rollup for two, the second one looks better but the result’s the same and Lizzy gets clotheslined down. Bodyslam by Zaria gets two, she then applies a rear chinlock. Lizzy gets out, another rollup gets two. Lizzy slips out of a slam attempt, but then gets her back broken. Zaria chokes & lifts Lizzy in the corner. Zaria stuck in the corner, Lizzy follows her up top.
They fight on the top turnbuckle as we return, and Lizzy hits a rana from there. Zaria responds with a spear and both women are down. Punches are exchanged. Lizzy fights back with clotheslines, then a springboard back elbow. Tornado DDT gets two for Lizzy. Zaria with a headbutt, but Lizzy rolls her up for two. Zaria with a knee in the corner, then a discus lariat gets two. The fans want it to rain. Lizzy powers up and hits a cutter, then lifts Zaria for a Samoan Drop, cover gets two. Spin kick to Lizzy, she springboards into a German suplex. Zaria hits a spear and an F-5 for three.
Winner: Zaria (10:31 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
A couple rough spots, but nothing too noticeable or egregious. I think both Zaria & Lizzy have tremendous potential and we should be seeing them on Raw or SmackDown one day. I’m cool with keeping them here for awhile though.
Zaria stares towards Tatum while we see a replay. Zaria lifts Lizzy up for another F-5 & Tatum breaks that up. Tatum says that Zaria can have her title shot next week.
Myles puts over the match featuring Dorian Van Dux & Sean Legacy last week. Tavion suggests they should form a tag team and talks about beating Dark State tonight. After Myles & Tavion leave, Dorian & Sean agree that Tavion has a good idea. Izzi Dame tells Spears & Vance to take care of the business they started last week.
Myles Borne & Tavion Heights vs. DarkState: Saquon Shugars attacks Cutler James in the crowd during their entrance!
Vic & Booker are at ringside, and Vic tells us the Darkstate match has been cancelled due to the attack by Shugars, and we’re getting another tag team match instead!
OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance w/Izzi Dame): This match was scheduled for last week before the Culling attacked OTN during their entrance. Lots of that going on in the tag division. I’m not sure why Izzi has a referee striped bikini top but I’m not complaining about the general look. OTM attack during the entrance and they brawl around ringside before getting in the ring. Spears begs off, then gets elbowed by Nima. Two strikes in the corner by OTM. Tag to Price, Price lands a big shot but Spears fights back and tags Vance in. Vance works Price over in the corner. Vance tries to block Price in the corner, and things break down into fisticuffs. Vance leapfrogs Price, but Price clotheslines him out of his boots and sends him outside. Price bounces Vance off the apron, but Vance kicks him to the floor. Price gets bounced off the ringpost and we go to commercial!
We return and Spears blocks a suplex by Nima temporarily before Nima sends him over. As we see Romeo Moreno talking to Noam Dar backstage, Price tags in and goes ham on the Culling. Spears gets bounced off the apron, back in the ring, Spears gets tossed into Vance. Big knee to Vance gets two. Nima gets headbutted off the apron and Price gets run over by Vance. Spears tags in, a combination move gets two and Spears is busted open. Spears barely avoids being sent into Vance, but Price knocks Vance off the apron anyway. Spears is lifted up and OTM hits a combined Angle Slam for three!
Winner: OTM (5:47 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/4
It looks like OTM are getting a renewed push, which is good for them and worth a try. On the other side, it looks like the divide between Spears & other Culling members is widening. He was out of position a couple of times and barely avoided taking his partner out. Add in the fact he took the pin, and things aren’t looking great for the Chairman.
OTM celebrate in the aisle while Vance & Dame stand over the downed Spears.
EK Proper tells Tate Wilder to hit smart, not fast. Tate insists he has to go fast. Kam comes in and calls Tate reckless. Kam points out that he’s already beat two champions and he’s about to main event for the championship, while Tate has yet to win a match. Kam tells EK that he can tell his grandkids he was in the building the night Kam won the NXT Championship.
Jackson Drake (w/The Vanity Project & Myka Lockwood) vs. Tate Wilder: Drake with a go-behind, Tate with a wristlock that Drake has a tough time fighting out of, he cartwheels out and does the Rick Ride hip swivel. Drake dives over Tate, but Tate takes him down and sends him outside. Tate runs around and cannonballs into Drake & the Vanity Project. We go to commercial!
Tate hits a big move as we return. They punch each other on the apron. Tate kicks Jackson, Jackson responds with a kick and then a spear that takes Tate down on the apron and sends Jackson to the floor! Tate hits a TKO in the ring for two. We see Lexis King warming up surrounded by BirthRight. Tate up top, Jackson crotches him and follows him up. Tate flips over Drake and powerbombs him. Tate back up top, hits the twisting splash for two. Smokes & Baylor both get knocked off the apron, Myka catches Tate on a rana attempt meant for Jackson and bounces him back first off the ringpost. Baylor had the referee distracted, so Drake can hit the 450 splash for three.
Winner: Jackson Drake (4:31 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/4
We didn’t get to see nearly enough here, I have the feeling that these guys will have plenty of what the kids call “bangers” in the future.
Emily Agard is with Robert Stone to talk about the Great American Bash. Stone says it’ll be one of the biggest nights in NXT history. Osiris Griffin comes in to complain about his match being postponed, then is joined by Jasper Troy. Dion Lennox joins the party, DarkState attacks Troy and leave him laying at the end of the segment.
We see clips of Lola Vice beating Izzi Dame last week. We’ll hear from Lola next!
Lola Vice makes her way to the ring! Last week, Lola did what she said she was going to do and knocked out Izzi Dame. She then went to Noche De Los Grandes and proved she’s the complete package. No matter the match, challenger or doubters, she continues to prove everyone wrong. She went to sleep every night for four years imagining her name on the side plates and did whatever it took to make it happen. She doesn’t make excuses and won’t accept them from anyone here. Everywhere she turns someone is targeting her championship. The Championship deserves people stepping up for it, but whoever does will get knocked out.
Kelani Jordan comes out and asks if it’s finally her time to get a chance. She’s made it impossible to deny her any longer. Lola went to AAA, came back with momentum and became NXT Champion. Their stories aren’t that different. When Lola goes somewhere else and gets over, a star is made. When it’s Kelani, it’s a different story. She went to TNA and proved she could represent NXT anywhere. The same people that applauded Lola’s success wouldn’t recognize Kelani’s. She sees championship matches go by without her being considered. Kelani just needs one chance to beat Lola. Lola says Kelani was TNA Knockouts Champion, but if you blinked, you missed it. Lola’s celebrating her one year anniversary of…
Well, I’m not sure because Kendal Grey is coming out with Wren Sinclair, and Kendal says that she’s already proven she’s the top contender. She won the Iron Survivor, where she beat both Lola & Kelani. Before she targets the title, she wants to settle business with Kelani for what she did to her best friend. Kelani says that Kendal did that. Kelani says that Kendal can’t win the big one. Lola has heard this before and doesn’t want to hear it again. Next week, Kelani & Kendal can have a match to determine who will face Lola at the Great American Bash. Kelani & Kendal start talking trash, Lola tries to backfist Kelani but hits Kendal instead! This sort of thing seems to happen a lot to Lola, her aim isn’t the best. These are the things to work on in NXT.
Next week we’ll see Shiloh Hill & Tristian Angels decide who is Mr. NXT! The NXT Universe will vote, as will three special judges. Shiloh asks Tatum if the commercial was over the top and Tatum loved it. After Shiloh leaves, Zaria attacks Tatum! She F-5s Tatum on a rolling cart, and Shiloh comes back to shoo her off and call for medics.
Mason Rook tells Tony D’Angelo it should be his title match tonight. Tony says he’ll run through all of his challengers one by one. Rook says he’ll run through them all except one. Stone walks up and books Rook against Naraku next week, if Rook wins he’ll get a title shot. Stone tells Rook not to get involved in tonight’s title match.
Men’s Speed Championship Match: Lexis King (c) (w/BirthRight) vs. Romeo Moreno (w/Noam Dar): We’ve got a 5 minute time limit here since this is a Speed Championship match. Romeo with some strikes, jumps over Lexis, rolls him up before dropkicking him. Romeo with a German suplex, then a springboard into a kick gets two. Quick rollup by Romeo. Lexis slips out of a suplex, runs into a back elbow then kicks Romeo in the corner before double stomping him. Dropkick in the corner gets two. Lexis with some kicks to Romeo. They exchange strikes. Lexis tries a Canadian Mapleleaf, Romeo fights out, then vertical suplexes King. Superkick to King, then Romeo drops him for two. Rings of Saturn by Romeo, King rolls over into a pin attempt, then goes outside. Romeo dives onto Stacks & Connors, then throws King back in the ring. King goes back to the Canadian Mapleleaf, Romeo with a cradle for two. Kick by Romeo, he misses the springboard moonsault. King with a running strike to Romeo’s back, then he hits the Cornation for three.
Winner: Lexis King (4:35 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
This was all right. I haven’t really been sold on Lexis King over the years but he seems to be making some progress here. Romeo’s looked good early on, though I think it’d be a bit early to strap him up. Nothing wrong with giving him title shots.
Nattie didn’t realize that Jaida Parker would get her feelings hurt so easy. Jaida’s performance last week was less than mediocre. Jaida doesn’t have time for this, but Nattie sees through her act and isn’t afraid of her. Jaida is scared, and she’s also soft. In the background, Hank & Tank agree that what Nattie said was vicious, and Nikkita Lyons suggests that Jaida can dish it out but can’t take it.
EK tells Tate that he hates to say he told him so. Kam Hendrix talks some stuff and tells Tate he’ll wire his jaw shut. EK is tired of Kam’s bragging, and Kam tells EK to watch him later tonight. Wren Sinclair tells Kendal that she’ll stay backstage next week so Kendal can handle Kelani on her own.
Myles Borne & Tavion Heights vs. DarkState (Osiris Griffin & Dion Lennox): There’s been a slight change in the DarkState lineup, but we’re still getting the match. Borne with a headlock, Lennox knocks him down. Myles with a headlock takeover, shades of MJF. Dion gets out, they exchange strikes. Tag to Tavion, he walks into a kick from Dion. Tag to Osiris, Osiris gets a quick pinfall combo but Tavion takes control in the corner. Double dropkick and hip toss by Myles & Tavion. Osiris chokes Myles into the corner. Myles avoids the chokeslam and clotheslines Osiris over the top rope. Tavion & Dion join them on the outside and Tavion backdrops Dion on the floor.
We go to Non-Stop NXT. Myles gets worked over a bit by DarkState. Dion with a headlock, Myles fights out. Tavion comes in, hits a powerslam on Dion for two. Osiris tags in and runs Tavion over with a shoulderblock. Tavion slips out of a slam and tries a sleeperhold. He keeps trying but Osiris isn’t having it. Dion tags in, as does Myles. Myles with a suplex, but Dion gets the upper hand and tags in Osiris. Osiris hits a twisting splash then tags Dion.
We return to Dion stretching Myles on the mat after a backbreaker. Osiris tags in and hits a backbreaker of his own. Myles boots Osiris but can’t get to the corner. Another backbreaker by Osiris. Dion catapults Myles into Osiris, who hits a front slam for two. Dion with a front chancery to a headlock. Myles finally gets the tag, and Tavion goes after Dion. Overhead throw by Tavion. Osiris in, Tavion lifts him and drops him face first. Gutwrench suplex by Tavion. Dion helps block another suplex attempt and Osiris sends Tavion into the ringpost. Myles gets knocked off the apron, and a Doomsday Device on Tavion ends the match.
Winner: DarkState (11:01 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
Some solid action here, the best I’ve personally seen from the DarkState folks. Tavion & Myles have history together but don’t really seem to make for a great tag team.
Saquon looks on from the crowd with a baseball bat. Tavion doesn’t appreciate Myles’s attempt to help him up.
Next Week: Tatum vs. Zaria! Kendal vs. Kelani! Rook vs. Naraku! Mr. NXT Pageant!
NXT Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Kam Hendrix: We see Naraku looking on and nodding as Tony D hits the ring. Booker calls Kam’s pose the Heisman and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what that pose is. Showtime kick right away from Kam gets two. DDT by Kam gets two. Kam’s trying to finish this thing early. Kam with punches and kicks to Tony. Forearm in the corner by Kam, but then Kam rolls into a running slam by Tony. Kam goes outside to avoid a chokeslam. Tony sends Kam back into the ring and hits some strikes. Clothesline & chops in the corner by Tony. DVD toss by Tony, then a backdrop and a clothesline to the floor. Naraku stands up in the audience and stares Kam down.
We go to Non-Stop NXT. Kam slowly gets back in the ring and kicks Tony. Kam whipped into the corner a couple of times. A cover gets two for Tony. Tony gets Kam in the STF, Kam makes his way to the ropes, then he yanks Tony outside and bounces his face off the ringpost. Back in the ring, Kam with a strike in the corner, then a roll into a running clothesline gets two. Cam works a rear chinlock.
Well, it’s actually a cobra clutch when we return full screen. Tony fights out, then runs into a kick and gets suplexed by Kam. Cover gets two. Kam talks some stuff to the audience while Tony fights back to his feet. Tony no-sells a couple of punches and fires back. German suplexes by Tony. Spinebuster by Tony! A Fuhgedabout it suplex gets two. Spear in the corner by Tony, the second is broken up by a knee, Kam uses the ropes on a pinfall attempt to get two, then he argues with the referee. Tony with another suplex for two. Kam with a showtime kick, then a sitout powerbomb gets two! Strikes are exchanged. Kam with some kicks, but then he runs into a powerbomb from Tony that gets two. Kam snaps Tony’s neck on the top rope, then crawls towards a chair. Mason Rook is here to prevent that! Tony backdrops Kam on the announce table, they go back in the ring and Tony hits Dead to Rights for the three count!
Winner: Tony D’Angelo (10:47 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
I thought this was a decent showing for Kam, but I never really felt like he had much of a chance here. Tony’s got business to deal with featuring Naraku & Mr. Rook, while Kam seems on the verge of a feud with EK Prosper and/or Tate Wilder. Hopefully that can elevate all three.
We see some replays and my local channel cuts in during the middle of it. It looks like I missed Naraku presenting Tony with the NXT Championship and Mason looking on from ringside while Kam looked up at him. So long for now!
If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on tonight’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on social media from time to time. To be honest, e-mail is a better option and you can reach me at [email protected].
