Jeremy’s WWE NXT Review 7.16.24

Hello everyone, and welcome to our live WWE NXT coverage on 411! Jeremy Thomas with you as always, and tonight NXT presents a Rascalz reunion match! Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz will join Wes Lee as a trio in an NXT ring for the first time as they battle Gallus. In addition, Roxanne Perez will address the NXT Universe while Oba Femi defends the NXT North American Championship against Duke Hudson. The O.C. will take on OTM in mixed six-person tag team action, and Izzi Dame will face off with Tatum Paxley. And of course there will probably be more shenanigans as we head toward the Great American Bash in a few weeks, so we should be in for a fun show.

Thomas HQ was actually a little light in terms of movies watch, as it’s been a busy week and I’m gearing up for my Fantasia Fest 2024 coverage. You can check out my preview of the top 20 films to look forward to from the festival. I also began my Movies Mid-Year in Review with the Worst of the Year (So Far), which has a lot of…shall we say, not-great movies.

In terms of what I did watch, it was a mostly-great slate. I saw the new Osgood Perkins horror film Longlegs, which I very much enjoyed, and Hit Man on Netflix which just reinforced to me that we’re going to keep seeing a lot of Glen Powell going forward (which is not a bad thing at all). I also watched the 2021 Japanese action-comedy Baby Assassins as some Fantasia prep and it’s a fun combination of the slice-of-life and “girls with guns” subgenres that are historically popular in Japanese cinema. On the flip side, I saw Russell Crowe’s The Exorcism which was not good; you can see my thoughts on that in the Worst of the Year So Far list.

As for TV, I’m still keeping caught up on both RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season nine (Team Gottmik) and The Acolyte, enjoying them both.

Anyway, we’re gonna have a lot to cover tonight so let’s hop right in.

As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s daughters is still active and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.

* We’re LIVE in the Capitol Wrestling Center backstage with the Rascalz. Wes Lee says they aren’t imagining things and Trey says they’re back together. Gallus speaks too, Wolfgang says he hates everyone in TNA especially them and Joe says they’re going to break them.

The Rascalz vs. Gallus

Trey starts with Mark Coffey, lock up and Trey gets tossed across the ring. He ducks a clothesline, goes into the ropes and nails Mark, then hits a rana from the mat. Wentz tags in, double whip into the ropes, rapid-fire tandem offense, cover and Mark kicks out at one.

Mark nails Wentz and tags in Wolfgang, who stomps Wentz down and then suplexes him for one. Joe tags in and hits a ribs shot, sends Wentz into the corner but Wentz gets the foot up and then hits a rana. Lee tags in, senton over the ropes. Lee sent into the ropes but he leaps over, catches Joe and spins him around for another rana! Rana and a cover for two.

Headlock by Lee, back suplex by Joe but Lee lands on his feet and locks it back in. Tag to Wolfgang off the ropes and Wolfgang runs Lee over, then bodyslams him down for two. Snake eyes into the top rope, Lee tries to fight back but is hit with a knee lift. Mark tags in and he and Wolfgang batter Lee. Joe tags in, double chop. Wolfgang in now, Mark tags right away, Lee with an enzuigiri and he tags in Trey, who nails Wolfgang. Joe is in, Wentz in and takes him out, and it’s chaos.

VVic says Joe Hendry’s name AND HE APPEARS! Hendry comes out as we to PIP break.

We’re back and Joe is at commentary as Joe has Wes Lee in a waistlock in the ring. Lee fights to his feet and hits a back elbow but Joe with a kidney shot and tags in Mark. Mark in the corner, all of Gallus is in and Wes DUCKS THEM ALL, then tags in Wentz! Superkick party to Wolfgang and Joe, enzuigiri to Joe and he goes up top for a dropkick to both men! Joe sends Wentz into the ropes and Wentz goes under to trip him up. Trey tags in and the TNA Rascalz take out Gallus, pin on Mark but Wolfgang breaks it up.

Double tag by the Rascalz, TRIPLE dropkick to Mark! Trey slides out of the ring for a DDT to Mark and The Rascalz batter Joe and Wolfgang inside the ring. Wentz on the apron and kicks Mark, then hits a SSP onto both Joe and Wolfgang. Wes leaps over the top to dive on all three Gallus members!

Mark rolled into the ring, Trey tags in, he and Wentz put him on the top, double superkick and they grab him — Lee with a stomp off the top for the pin!

Winner: The Rascalz (12:04)
Rating: *** 3/4
Thoughts: That was just a phenomenal way to start NXT. Great work all around and The Rascalz looked fantastic there. I have no complaints.

* Joe Hendry narrates a recap of last week’s NXT and his appearance to compete in the main event of the show alongside Trick.

* Chase U is here but Thea needs to run to the ring because Roxy is about to speak and Ridge goes with. Chase says that Duke Hudson understands his opportunity tonight against Oba Femi and will show up and show out to become NXT North American Champion. Riley says he was worried at first but Duke will win the title, which is the main event.

* Roxy WALKS backstage and Thea nearly attacks her, but Ridge holds Thea back.

* Ethan Page in Ava’s office and has complaints, saying NXT has become an unsafe work environment. Here’s Oro Mensah right on cue and Ava says not in her office. Page says this is what he’s talking about, and Oro challenges Page for the title. Page says he shouldn’t be rewarded for bad behavior and says no. Ava tells Oro he’s not in the title picture and turns him down. Oro says that the longer he runs, the worse it gets for Page.

Ava says Page should defend the title tonight, and Page says he’ll do so against Dante Chen.

* Roxy is here! She makes her way down to the ring and gets a mic. Roxy asks what it’s going to take for everyone to start treating her like the champion she is? She says she defeated NXT’s biggest badass in Lola Vice and should be getting her flowers. She says the NXT Universe is literally witnessing greatness, and they gave the loser a standing ovation!

Roxy says it should have been her and that the fans don’t deserve to watch someone like her. She says she’s so good at 22 and hasn’t hit her prime yet. What’s she going to be like in five years? She says she’s not competing against the locker room; she’s competing against history. She says 13 years ago Charlotte Flair had her first match and is now a 14-time champion, but she’s on pace to shatter her records, Bayley’s, Asuka’s and Rhea’s.

Roxy says what pisses her off is all the talk online that when Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer come to NXT, they’re going to wreck things. Roxy says roll out the red carpet to the world, because no one can compete with her. She says it’s funny that Thea is her next champion because she has as much chance of winning as Duke tonight.

Thea is out here and says Roxy acts like she’s owed respect, but no one owes her anything. Thea says their paths have never really crossed and she used to look up to Thea, thinking they’re not that different. Roxy knows what it’s like to be underestimated and doubted, so go ahead and doubt her because she’s broken doubters’ noses and arms, and beaten people she was never supposed to beat. She says she’ll write her name in the history books at GAB.

Roxy says Thea is brave coming out here without her chaperones. She says she’s not underestimating Thea, but as long as she has the title it’s not Thea’s time or anyone else’s. She says Thea isn’t ready and that when she loses, she loses control. She says the title is for big woman, not children. And Thea is nothing but a little girl.

Roxy attacks Thea, who fights back! Roxy tries to get a crossface on — but Thea turns it around and locks in the Kimura! Ridge breaks it up and Roxy flees with her title.

* Kelly asks Kelani backstage about her win over Sol, and she says she had to pull out crazy moves to retain the title. She mentions Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer and how she’s going to keep upping her game. Wendy Choo is behind Kelani and walks off.

* We get a recap of the events involving Brooks Jensen.

* Kelly asks Lola Vice about her Heatwave match. Lola says she left everything she had in the ring, broke her hand and Roxy couldn’t tap her out. Fallon, Jacy and Jazmyn come in to mock her and Jacy says to go back to MMA, saying ATT would welcome her back. Fallon calls her “rookie” and Lola says she’s not going anywhere. Jacy says she’s a fighter, so go fight. Lola says she’s looking at her opponent and Jacy looks worried.

Je’Von Evans vs. Brooks Jensen

Briggs is with Brooks and Brooks isn’t pleased. Brooks grabs a charging Evans and puts him in the corner. Whip across the ring, Evans goes up and over and nails Brooks. Drop-toe hold into the bottom rope, Brooks up and gets tossed.

Jensen pulls Evans to the outside and they brawl, Jensen shoves Evans back. Evans charges and gets crotched on the guardrail. Evans comes back with a superkick, then hits a springboard moonsault and rolls Brooks in. Springboard spinning heel kick gets two.

Evans leaps at Brooks in the corner but Brooks moves. Evans with a shot to Brooks but gets hit with a lariat, Brooks pounds on Evans and pulls him outside — front suplex on the commentary booth. Brooks on the apron and leaps off for a legdrop to Evans as we go to break.

We’re back as Brooks nails Evans coming off the ropes with a kneelift, and applies a crossface with a knee in the back. Brooks with a gutwrench suplex, he charges into the corner but Evans moves. Brooks with a back elbow and goes up top, but Evans leaps up for a rana!

Evans ducks a clothesline and takes Brooks down, he gets whipped in the corner and strikes away at Brooks. Kick to the back, Evans to the apron — springboard crossbody for a nearfall. Evans goes for a springboard but gets caught, Brooks with a double underhook slam for two.

Shawn Spears is out here and Briggs confronts him. Brooks tells Briggs not to waste his time with him, and Evans DIVES onto Brooks! He rolls Brooks in, top-rope cutter for three.

Winner: Je’Von Evans (9:00)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Very good match between these two. Brooks looked competitive and honestly, looked much smoother in the ring than he used to. The distraction protects Brooks fairly well too.

Brooks with a post-match attack on Evans and Briggs backs him off. They argue to the back.

* The D’Angelo Family are playing cards when Charlie Dempsey walks up and “Pssts” Tony. Tony walks over and says not to “Psst” him. Charlie talks about the trunk move to write off Kemp last week and Tony jokes that Myles was talking all about it. Charlie says that he’s still coming for the Heritage Cup and Tony isn’t surprised. Charlie says that a witness may have seen him, and hypothetically it may have been a her. Tony tells him to take care of it on his own.

* Dante Chen is walking backstage and is asked by Sarah about getting his match tonight. Chen says he was surprised but this is why he stays ready. He knows Ethan thinks he’s an easy first challenger, but he’s learned that when you get your moment you need to maximize it.

* Ethan Page WALKS backstage.

* Trick is backstage and says he doesn’t recognize himself without the title. He’s talking to Ilja, who says that when Trick beat him, he set his mind on conquering new worlds. But the question is what Trick wants? He wants his rematch but Page won’t give him one. Ilja says they’re different situations. Trick hangs up and approaches Pete Dunne, who says to figure it out himself.

NXT Championship Match
Ethan Page vs. Dante Chen

Lockup to start, Page with a headlock, shot into the ropes and runs Chen over. Page tells Chen to show him what he’s got. Lockup, Chen backed into the corner and Page pats his head and walks off. Chen with a roll-up for two! Chen with shots to Page, but Page comes back — shot into the ropes and Chen with a chop. Palm thrust, cover gets two.

Page chucks Chen over the top to the outside and hits a leaping shoulderblock off the apron. Back in and Page with mounted punches to Chen. Chen into the ropes into a back elbow, then a bodyslam for two. Page argues with the ref and then kicks Chen in the head, mocking him. Chen fights back with strikes, but Page with a kneelift. Pick up but Chen slides down and nails Page. Page sends Chen to the apron, shoulder to the but and a sunset flip by Chen for two.

Chen batters Page with strikes and nails him off the ropes. Inverted atomic drop, off the ropes but Page nails him. He goes for a suplex, Chen counters into a roll-up for a nearfall. Backslide for another. He sets up — big double chop and a cover for two-plus.

Chen to the outside and lies in wait — he goes for a sprinboard crossbody but slips and Page with a big boot. Ego’s Edge hits, that’s it.

Winner: Ethan Page (4:18)
Rating: ** 1/2
Thoughts: This was fine, it was obviously intended to give Page a win and give Chen a rub. That slip off the top didn’t help Chen’s perception but otherwise this was fine.

Oro attacks Page after the bell but is put down with a DDT. Page talks shit and poses with the title. He walks away but Oro attacks him and rolls him into the ring — clotheslines! Page catches a boot and Oro spins into a kick. He lays out Page and covers him for a symbolic three!

* We get a montage video hyping up Duke Hudson and running through his time in NXT from a gambler to the MVP of Chase U. He says tonight he becomes NXT North American Champion and we see his promo from last week.

* Gallus is backstage and say any other night they’d win. Joe Coffey says if he hears the name Joe Hendry one more time — Joe’s theme song plays and he slips in. Gallus tell him to go back to Scotland, and Joe says he would be jealous too but he’s sticking around because he likes it. Gallus says when WWE fans think of Scotland they think of Gallus and McIntyre, not some flash in the pan. Hendry makes a quip and walks off.

Izzi Dame vs. Tatum Paxley

Tatum interrupts Izzi’s in-ring post before the match and they go into it. Tatum hits a springboard dropkick and then a crossbody into Dame in the corner, kick to the jaw for two. Tatum goes for a crossbody again but Izzi catches her for a bodyslam. Stomps to Tatum’s back and an elbowdrop, cover gets two.

Izzi mocks Tatum, who fights back with strikes to the gut. Tatum floats over on a bodyslam, gets sent into the corner and comes out to get sent into the other corner. Dame out to the floor and grabs Tatum, bending her back around the ringpost for four. Back in for a backbreaker that gets a nearfall.

Izzi pulls Tatum into an over the shoulder backbreaker submission — and Wendy Choo is walking to the ring! Izzi backs up and Tatum is able to escape, she grabs Izzi’s foot for a dragon screw. Tatum dodges a lunge, enzuigiri, takedown and an elbowdrop for two.

Tatum with a pumphandle but Izzi counters and gets a two-count. Izzi with a backbreaker again but Tatum escapes, Izzi charges into the corner but Tatum moves, Psycho Trap for three.

Winner: Tatum Paxley (4:04)
Rating: ** 1/4
Thoughts: This was a fine match for four minutes. Nice to see Tatum get a win at last.

Wendy hands Tatum her doll from last week, Tatum laughs and Wendy leaves.

* Thea asks Ridge why he stopped her, and he points out if Thea broke Roxy’s arm there’s no title match. Duke walks in with the rest and fakes as if there’s too much screaming and yelling, and thanks Ridge for getting the match. Duke says Oba is a man and can be beat; Chase says “FUCK YES HE CAN!”

Cedric Alexander and Ashante are walking backstage, and Ashante is distracted by the NXT women. He walks up in Lash and Jakara. Lash isn’t interested but he says this isn’t Chase U; it’s Chase Him. And he was interested in Jakara. Oro walks in and plays cockblocker, Ashante smooth talks and Lash gets Meta-Four out of there. Cedric says Ashante is gonna get in trouble, and Ashante says he loves trouble.

Lola Vice vs. Jacy Jayne

Lockup to start, Jacy with a waistlock but Lola escapes, Jacy into the ropes and runs Lola over. Jacy goes for a knee, Lola blocks it and knocks Jacy down, then shakes it as a taunt. Lola with kicks, Jacy ducks one and hits a superkick. She stomps on Lola’s wrapped hand, then goes right to work on the wrist, slamming it into the mat a couple of times.

Jacy grabs the wrist and bends it back, Lola back to her feet and ducks a clothesline, then hits a couple big kicks. Rapid-fire kicks to the gut and then one to the head! Jacy in the corner, Lola charges in with a hip attack, cover gets two.

Front facelock but Jacy hits jawbreaker to get out of it. Jacy off the ropes into the spinning backhand and that’s it.

Winner: Lola Vice (2:44)
Rating: N/A
Thoughts: RIP Jacy Jayne.

Fallon attacks Lola after the bell and beats her down. Jazmyn joins in, Lola fights back but the numbers game wins — and here’s Sol and Karmen for the save! They clear the ring.

* Tatum is backstage with Wendy’s doll, Kelani walks up and says she’s sure Wendy was looking for it. Tatum says its hers, and does Kelani want to play? Kelani says they’re too old for dolls and walks off. Tatum drops that doll and grabs a more Kelani-looking one.

* Ethan Page is asked if he’s upset with how tonight turned out. He says upset with what? He retained his title before Oro ruined things. He is asked about the “pin” and he says Oro didn’t pin him and none of this bothers him (it does).

OTM vs. The O.C.

It’s a brawl to start and the bell rings with Michin and Parker in the ring. Michin batters Parker and backs up, she charges into the corner but Parker moves. Jaida puts Michin on the second rope and drops on her. My feed went wonky but Parker with a jackknife cover for two

Jaida tags in Price and Gallows enters. They battle in the ring but Price hits a BIG uranage. Anderson comes in but Price takes him out. Charging clothesline to Gallows in the corner and he tags in Nima. Gallows fights back but gets knocked down and choked against the second rope. Nima off the ropes for a legdrop against the second rope and then beats Gallows down.

Price tags in and they beat on Gallows, but Gallows battles back briefly before Prince hits shoulders in the corner and puts Gallows down. Nima tags in, nails Gallows in the gut, cover gets two. Nima wrenches on Luke’s neck, Luke gets to his feet and elbows free but Nima with a shot to the back and knocks Anderson off the apron. Gallows with a flapjack to Nima and tags in Michin.

Michin runs wild on Parker, teardrop suplex and a series of strikes and kicks. She drops Jaida and covers for a nearfall. Jaida with a back suplex to Michin, both slow but Nima tags in and Karl is in here. Anderson with chops and kicks, but Nima catches him and puts him in the corner. Nima charges into a boot, Anderson with a neckbreaker off the top, Gallows tags in. Elevated neckbreaker, cover gets two.

Things break down, Michin with Eat Defeat to Nima and she dives on Parker. Gallows with a big boot, Magic Killer, that’s it.

Winner: The O.C. (5:58)
Rating: ** 1/2
Thoughts: This was fine. Let the feud die now.

* The NQCC are jumpy as Wren Sinclair walks in and wants to be part of the group. They say no and Wren says that she’s not the only one who saw what happened. She’s kidding through and Wren jockeys with Myles, then says she’s going to wrestle her way into their heart and the group.

* Duke Hudson and Oba Femi WALK backstage.

* Eddy Thope is deejaying a party when Lexis King tries to mess with him and it turns into a brawl.

Set For Next Week:
– Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King
– Oro Mensah vs. Ashante Adonis

NXT North American Championship Match
Oba Femi vs. Duke Hudson

Lockup to start, they go back and forth a bit. Hudson shot into the ropes and he slams into Femi, neither go down. Duke does it again with no effect. Third try and Femi nails him, then locks in a headlock. Hudson powers his way into a reversal, Femi strikes his way free. Whip across the ring and Femi runs Duke over.

Hudson back up and takes the headband and Chase U shirt off! He ducks a charge and hits a rana! Into the ropes and he runs Oba over, hits a DDT and clotheslines him to the outside! We’re on PIP break.

Oba took over during the break and has a chinlock applied as we come back. Duke fights his way to his feet and breaks the hold, but Femi with a kidney shot and then a kick to the head. He batters Duke in the corner, then whips him back into the corner. Duke with a shot to the gut but gets sent across the ring, Femi with a sidewalk slam for two.

Femi back to the chinlock, Duke breaks it up with a jawbreaker. Oba counters an Irish whip into a backbreaker and then another. He covers for a nearfall. Oba up and grabs Duke for a snake eyes into the corner, then a back suplex — but Duke counters for two-plus! Femi puts him in the corner for splashes but tries for one too many and Duke with the big boot.

Duke fights from his knees and sends Oba into the ropes, knocking him down on the rebound. Chase U jabs and the elbow to the dome! Femi to the outside, Duke dives onto him! He rolls Femi in and hits a German suplex! Cover for two-plus.

Duke puts Femi on the top and climbs up, he sets up for the superplex but Femi fights him off. Hudson with the Stratusphere! He grabs Oba, but Oba goes for a backdrop — Hudson with a sunset flip. Femi gets Duke on his shoulder and Duke takes down Femi for two! Chokeslam by Oba, but Duke kicks out at two!

Oba puts Duke on the top and climbs — Hudson with a sunset flip powerbomb! He covers for a nearfall. Femi to the outside, Duke is out with him — Oba with a back suplex through onto the desk. Femi rolls Hudson in and follows — Fall From Grace gets it.

Winner: Oba Femi
Rating: *** 1/4
Thoughts: Damn good main event. Hudson looked way more credible than I expected but it was done in a way that didn’t take any shine from the champion. No way was Duke going to win here, but he looked good and Femi still rules. No complaints.

* Briggs and Brooks are walking out and Brook says he lost because of Briggs. He wants a match with Briggs next week and Briggs says he beat him last time and doesn’t want to put him through it again. Brooks says “No Disqualification” and drives off.

And with that, we’re done for the night!

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Very strong episode of NXT from a match perspective for the most part. The brand has a couple of weeks until the two-week GAB so they're taking a bit of time, but plenty was set up here. The brand has been on a roll, benefitted by the TNA crossovers, and this was another very good episode.