WWE NXT July 14, 2026 Results & Recap: Lola Vice Earns Her Rematch and Tony D’Angelo Demands a Street Fight

The road to NXT Heatwave continued last night with an episode that leaned heavily on in-ring action, immediate championship stakes and the fallout from The Great American Bash. Lola Vice fought her way back into the NXT Women’s Championship picture by defeating Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong in a competitive main event, but the result also raised a fair question about why Vice needed to win a No. 1 Contender’s Match for a rematch she could have simply demanded. Zaria successfully navigated a hastily assembled Fatal 4-Way after Layla Diggs was removed from the show due to injury, The Vanity Project once again retained the NXT Tag Team Championship with outside assistance, and Jackson Drake continued building momentum toward the NXT North American Championship picture. The most important development came from Tony D’Angelo and Naraku, whose rivalry refused to end with D’Angelo’s victory at The Great American Bash. Their repeated fights throughout last night eventually forced Robert Stone to book an NXT Championship Street Fight for next week. Last night featured five matches and more than 56 minutes of wrestling, giving the show a much stronger competitive foundation than most weekly WWE programming, but the episode was still dragged down by repetitive interference, several underdeveloped backstage stories and a few rivalries that should have already ended.

Here Are the Full Results

• The Vanity Project (c) defeated Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux (NXT Tag Team Championship)
• Naraku defeated Tate Wilder.
• Zaria (c) defeated Izzi Dame, Lizzy Rain and Nikkita Lyons in a Fatal 4-Way Match (NXT Women’s North American Championship)
• Jackson Drake defeated Tavion Heights
• Lola Vice defeated Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong (NXT Women’s Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match)

Breakdowns & Reactions

The Vanity Project Survives Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux

Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux entered last night with little time together as a team, but their chemistry immediately made the opening NXT Tag Team Championship match feel less predictable than it appeared on paper.

Legacy began against Ricky Smokes and quickly established the challengers’ pace with a dropkick. Brad Baylor entered, Van Dux answered with another dropkick and the challengers repeatedly used their speed to force the champions into one another. Legacy followed a moonsault with a springboard crossbody to the floor, while Van Dux continued the pressure with splashes and a springboard moonsault.

The champions eventually slowed the match by isolating Legacy. Baylor drove him into the corner with a spear, Smokes controlled his ankle from the apron and the champions connected with a dropkick-and-spinebuster combination. Their offense was not flashy for the sake of being flashy. It showed why Baylor and Smokes have remained champions: they understand positioning, blind tags and how to cut the ring in half.

Van Dux created the comeback with a hurricanrana and springboard moonsault, but the best sequence came when Baylor made a blind tag and combined a single-leg codebreaker with a spear from Smokes. Legacy broke the fall and kept the challengers alive.

The most convincing near fall came after Van Dux superplexed Smokes and Legacy followed with a 450 Splash. Baylor barely stopped the count, giving the audience a legitimate reason to believe the titles were changing hands.

Then came the predictable part.

Jackson Drake interfered when Legacy attempted another dive. Van Dux neutralized Drake, but Myka Lockwood low-bridged Van Dux and sent him out of the ring. Baylor drove Legacy into the steps, allowing the champions to finish him with their reverse DDT and diving stomp combination.

The action was excellent. The finish was the same Vanity Project finish viewers have seen repeatedly.

Legacy and Van Dux lost, but they emerged as a team worth keeping together. Their offense was smooth, their timing was strong and they brought a completely different rhythm out of the champions. Online reaction during the match was especially strong for the 450 Splash near fall, with many viewers briefly convinced that NXT was about to crown new champions.

Grade: B+

What Worked

• Legacy and Van Dux looked like a legitimate team instead of two singles wrestlers randomly paired together.
• The champions effectively isolated Legacy and controlled the middle portion of the match.
• The 450 Splash near fall was one of the best false finishes of last night.
• The challengers’ aerial offense contrasted well with Vanity Project’s more calculated tag-team wrestling.

What Didn’t Work

• Another interference-assisted retention made the champions look overly dependent on their group.
• The finish was easy to anticipate once Drake and Lockwood became involved.
• Legacy and Van Dux earned enough support to deserve another meaningful opportunity instead of disappearing from the title picture.

Saquon Shugars Searches for Partners as the Tag Division Splinters

After the opening match, Saquon Shugars watched Legacy and Van Dux arguing in the trainer’s room before attempting to recruit OTM for a six-man tag against DarkState.

The refusal made sense. Shugars spent much of his time alongside DarkState terrorizing the NXT roster. Now that he needs assistance against his former group, the people he helped attack have no reason to trust him.

That is a solid character consequence. Shugars is not being allowed to escape his history simply because DarkState turned against him.

The segment then shifted toward OTM and BirthRight. Lexis King attempted to create tension between Bronco Nima and Lucien Price by bringing up Nima’s connection to Los Perros del Mal in AAA and suggesting that Price was no longer Nima’s real family.

There is continuity in acknowledging Nima’s outside involvement, but teasing another NXT tag-team breakup is the wrong direction. The division already relies heavily on recently assembled teams. Breaking apart one of its established units would weaken it further, especially when OTM has not received enough consistent television time for viewers to become invested in the potential split.

Grade: C

What Worked

• Shugars facing rejection because of his history with DarkState was logical.
• The segment kept the six-man tag story moving across the episode.
• NXT acknowledged Nima’s connection to a storyline outside the brand.

What Didn’t Work

• OTM has not been featured consistently enough for a breakup tease to carry much emotional weight.
• The tag division needs established teams, not another unnecessary separation.
• Lexis King’s attempt to create tension felt more like filler than a major storyline development.

Tristan Angels Destroys Shiloh Hill’s Tooth as “The Fog” Arrives

Tristan Angels came to the ring carrying Shiloh Hill’s fake tooth and used it as evidence that Hill was never the respectable man he claimed to be. Angels dismissed him as a creepy hillbilly who never belonged in the ring with him before stomping the tooth against the steel steps.

Hill responded from the screen by claiming that losing the tooth had cleared his mind. Fog then poured onto the entrance area as Hill laughed and warned Angels that “the fog is coming.”

Both men committed to the material. Angels delivered the better part of the segment because his arrogance remained rooted in an understandable character. He defeated Hill at The Great American Bash and wanted to humiliate him afterward.

Hill’s response was where the story lost its way. He has enough natural intensity, size and personality without being turned into a supernatural character. The fog and exaggerated laughter did not make him more intimidating. They made the presentation feel forced.

The Great American Bash should have ended this rivalry. Angels won, Hill was humiliated and both men were positioned to move forward. Instead, NXT is stretching the program by adding supernatural elements that do not fit either performer.

The online response reflected that disconnect. Some viewers enjoyed Angels’ delivery, but the fog generated more confusion than anticipation.

Grade: D+

What Worked

• Angels delivered his insults with confidence and remained committed to his character.
• Destroying the tooth gave Hill a personal reason to want another match.
• Both men have enough personality to hold the audience’s attention without a long segment.

What Didn’t Work

• The rivalry should have ended at The Great American Bash.
• The supernatural fog did not fit Hill’s established character.
• Hill’s screaming and laughter felt more exaggerated than threatening.
• Nothing about the segment created a strong reason to see another match.

Robert Stone Replaces the Injured Layla Diggs With Three Challengers

Layla Diggs earned a Women’s North American Championship opportunity last week by defeating Izzi Dame, Lizzy Rain and Thea Hail in a Fatal 4-Way Match. An injury suffered at a live event removed her from last night’s planned match with Zaria.

Rather than selecting one replacement, Robert Stone listened to Dame, Rain and Nikkita Lyons argue their cases before placing all three into the championship match.

The decision solved an immediate television problem, but it was not especially logical. Dame and Rain had at least competed in the No. 1 Contender’s Match. Lyons had no equally strong claim to the opportunity other than her association with Nattie and Karmen Petrovic.

Nattie’s visible frustration with Diggs getting injured was the more interesting part of the segment. Instead of showing concern, Nattie treated the injury as an inconvenience to her group. That continued establishing the relationship as one built on control rather than mentorship.

Grade: C+

What Worked

• NXT quickly addressed Diggs’ injury rather than quietly removing the match.
• Dame and Rain had reasonable arguments after competing in last week’s No. 1 Contender’s Match.
• Nattie’s reaction added another controlling layer to her character.

What Didn’t Work

• Lyons was inserted without a convincing championship claim.
• Giving three wrestlers title opportunities weakened the importance of Diggs winning last week.
• NXT relied on another multi-person match instead of selecting one clear replacement.

Naraku Defeats Tate Wilder Before Tony D’Angelo Starts a Fight

Naraku’s match with Tate Wilder was never really about Wilder. It was designed to rebuild Naraku after his loss to Tony D’Angelo at The Great American Bash and restart the championship rivalry.

Naraku opened by slapping Wilder and immediately cutting off his attempt to increase the pace. Wilder tried to fly, but Naraku caught him with a forearm, dumped him back into the ring and controlled him with suplexes, chops and a crossface.

Wilder eventually created separation with right hands and drove Naraku down onto his back, but his comeback ended quickly. Naraku caught him with Enter the Abyss and scored the decisive victory.

Wilder remains athletic and fundamentally capable, but NXT has yet to give viewers a clear reason to care about him. He competes, loses and disappears until another opponent needs a television victory. Unless those defeats are building toward a character change, he is becoming enhancement talent without a story.

The important development came after the bell. Tony D’Angelo attacked Naraku from behind and fought through security to reach him. Naraku attempted to use the mist again, but accidentally struck a security guard.

D’Angelo being the aggressor was the correct choice. Naraku has attacked him with mist and even used a fireball during their rivalry. It would have made D’Angelo look passive if he simply waited for Naraku to strike again.

Naraku’s entrance and presentation remain stronger than his actual matches. He looks like a major threat before the bell, but his offense still lacks the memorable violence necessary to match the character’s aura.

Grade: C+

What Worked

• Naraku won decisively and regained momentum after The Great American Bash.
• D’Angelo behaved like an angry champion instead of waiting to be attacked again.
• The accidental mist added chaos without weakening D’Angelo.
• The post-match fight moved the championship story forward.

What Didn’t Work

• The match itself was largely forgettable.
• Wilder remains trapped without a meaningful character or storyline.
• Naraku’s in-ring work still does not fully match his elaborate presentation.
• The championship rematch initially felt unnecessary because D’Angelo already defeated him.

Zaria Survives Izzi Dame, Lizzy Rain and Nikkita Lyons

The replacement championship match became one of the fastest and most physical parts of last night.

Lizzy Rain immediately sent Zaria out of the ring, allowing Dame to attempt a quick rollup. Lyons used her strength against Dame, while Zaria returned with a pop-up headbutt, uppercuts and a boot to Lyons. Rain answered with a springboard back elbow before the champion ran through Lyons with a clothesline.

The four-woman format allowed the match to maintain movement without forcing one wrestler to control the action for too long. Rain showed speed, Dame brought more deliberate power, Lyons used strikes and throws, and Zaria operated as the central powerhouse.

One of the better sequences saw multiple submissions applied at the same time. Zaria trapped Rain while Lyons locked Dame in a crossface, forcing the champion to release her own hold to break up Lyons’ submission.

Rain later increased the pace with a double dropkick, spinebuster and cutter. Dame answered with a backstabber and chokeslam before Zaria broke the fall. Zaria then speared Dame, but Dame became the rare wrestler to kick out of the move.

That should matter. Dame surviving one of Zaria’s biggest weapons gave her a protected moment even in defeat.

The match eventually became overwhelmed by outside interference. Nattie and Karmen Petrovic attacked Zaria while the referee was occupied. Jaida Parker arrived, fought Nattie away from ringside and allowed the match to return to the wrestlers.

Zaria pulled Lyons back into the ring, connected with a Spear and followed with the F-5 to retain.

Considering how quickly the match was assembled, it delivered. Rain looked sharp in her return to a meaningful position, Dame came across as a future singles challenger and Lyons showed improvement. The problem was that the championship became secondary to Nattie, Karmen and Jaida’s feud during the closing minutes.

Grade: B

What Worked

• The match maintained an energetic pace without becoming completely disorganized.
• Rain made a strong impression with her speed and combinations.
• Dame kicking out of Zaria’s Spear protected her as a future challenger.
• Zaria survived three opponents and still scored a decisive finishing sequence.
• Jaida Parker followed through after previously promising to confront Nattie’s group.

What Didn’t Work

• The involvement of Nattie and Karmen made the finish unnecessarily crowded.
• Lyons’ reason for receiving the opportunity remained weak.
• Diggs winning the No. 1 Contender’s Match last week was immediately undermined.
• Zaria still lacks one clear personal rivalry heading toward Heatwave.

Tony D’Angelo Demands Another Match With Naraku

Tony D’Angelo confronted Robert Stone backstage and demanded another NXT Championship match against Naraku.

Stone made the match official for next week, but D’Angelo remained angry and walked away before Stone could learn what else he was planning.

The segment effectively showed that simply defending the championship was no longer enough for D’Angelo. He wanted to end Naraku, not just defeat him.

The questionable part was D’Angelo placing his own championship on the line against someone he already beat. Naraku should have been the one demanding another opportunity, while D’Angelo demanded the stipulation. Instead, the champion voluntarily gave his challenger another title match.

Grade: B-

What Worked

• D’Angelo’s anger felt consistent with everything Naraku has done to him.
• The champion remained proactive throughout last night.
• The segment created anticipation for another confrontation before the end of the show.

What Didn’t Work

• D’Angelo had little logical reason to voluntarily defend his title against someone he already defeated.
• Naraku did not have to earn the rematch.
• The stipulation should have been established during this segment instead of delayed until later.

Jackson Drake Steals a Victory From Tavion Heights

Tavion Heights entered last night trying to recover from his unsuccessful NXT North American Championship challenge against Myles Borne at The Great American Bash. Jackson Drake entered with the entire Vanity Project in his corner and another opportunity to establish himself as the group’s singles championship threat.

The early exchanges appropriately relied on their amateur backgrounds. Heights repeatedly used mat returns and a side headlock, while Drake responded by driving him into the corner and targeting the leg.

Heights connected with a German suplex, but Drake answered with a big boot and later a cutter. Drake then applied a Figure Four Leg Lock, forcing Heights to reverse the pressure before Drake reached the bottom rope.

Heights created the strongest visual of the match by catching Drake in an airplane spin and launching him over the top rope onto Baylor and Smokes with a belly-to-belly throw.

The finish once again came down to numbers. Heights struck Baylor when he climbed onto the apron, giving Drake the opening to roll him up.

The wrestling was solid, but the result felt like the second version of the opening match’s finish. Vanity Project interfered, the referee missed it and another member escaped with a victory.

Drake is clearly moving toward the NXT North American Championship. He has accumulated victories and now defeated the man who most recently challenged Myles Borne. The larger story involves Heights’ continued frustration and Borne’s absence. Heights needed help against four people, yet his supposed friend never appeared.

That absence should become important. Otherwise, NXT left an obvious storytelling opportunity untouched.

Grade: C+

What Worked

• Heights and Drake incorporated their amateur wrestling backgrounds.
• Drake’s leg work gave the match a simple structure.
• Heights throwing Drake onto Vanity Project was an excellent power spot.
• Drake’s victory moved him closer to the NXT North American Championship.

What Didn’t Work

• The interference finish was repetitive after the opening match.
• Myles Borne’s absence was noticeable and went unexplained.
• Heights continues losing without receiving meaningful character development.
• The match felt more like setup than a complete story.

Saquon Shugars Finally Finds His Team

After being rejected throughout last night, Saquon Shugars finally convinced Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno to join him against DarkState.

Moreno understood the opportunity immediately. Defeating DarkState would place him and Dar closer to the NXT Tag Team Championship. Shugars appealed to Dar’s confidence and ego, while Moreno helped push him toward accepting.

The pairing is unusual, but the motivations were explained. Shugars needs partners. Moreno wants a championship opportunity. Dar believes he is talented enough to make any arrangement successful.

This was a basic segment that accomplished its purpose and gave next week’s six-man tag more context.

Grade: B-

What Worked

• Each wrestler had an understandable reason to accept the match.
• Shugars’ repeated failures made finally finding partners feel earned.
• The story created a direct connection to the tag-team title picture.
• The segment completed an arc that ran throughout last night.

What Didn’t Work

• Dar and Moreno felt like Shugars’ last available options rather than a dangerous team.
• DarkState did not have a major presence on last night despite being central to the story.
• The rivalry remains more about assembling participants than personal hatred.

Reina Volcan Announces Her Arrival

Reina Volcan appeared in another vignette and declared that NXT would not survive her before announcing her in-ring debut for next week.

The presentation gave her size and presence without revealing too much. NXT has introduced several new wrestlers in a short period, so Volcan will need more than an imposing look to separate herself from the rest of the roster.

Her match with Skylar Raye next week should be a straightforward showcase. The real test will be whether NXT gives Volcan an immediate character direction after the debut instead of relying on vignettes and squash matches for too long.

Grade: B-

What Worked

• The vignette clearly established Volcan as a threat.
• Her debut received a firm date and opponent.
• The presentation created curiosity without overexplaining her character.

What Didn’t Work

• NXT has introduced so many new faces that another intimidating newcomer risks blending into the roster.
• Volcan will need a real rivalry quickly after the debut.
• The dialogue was effective but familiar.

Nattie’s Group Attacks Jaida Parker

Kali Armstrong briefly confronted Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair before Jaida Parker warned Armstrong that Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan would be ruthless in the main event.

Once Armstrong left, Nattie attacked Parker from behind with Karmen Petrovic and Nikkita Lyons joining the assault.

The attack followed Parker’s interference in the Women’s North American Championship match and established Nattie versus Parker for next week.

Parker has desperately needed a focused rivalry. She has been placed near championship pictures without receiving enough decisive victories to maintain her momentum. A singles program with Nattie can help, but only if Parker is treated as more than another young wrestler for the veteran to outsmart.

The numbers advantage also continued showing that Nattie’s group operates through control and intimidation. However, Diggs’ injury and Lyons’ loss have already exposed cracks in the group’s effectiveness.

Grade: B-

What Worked

• The attack directly followed Parker stopping Nattie’s interference.
• Parker finally received a clear singles opponent.
• Nattie’s group continued establishing its identity.
• The segment connected the Women’s North American Championship match to next week.

What Didn’t Work

• Another three-on-one attack contributed to last night’s excessive interference.
• Parker has been beaten down too often without enough meaningful victories.
• The story needs to establish whether Diggs remains loyal to Nattie after being blamed for her injury.

Shawn Spears Calls Out Niko Vance

Shawn Spears appeared in a vignette and challenged Niko Vance to face him next week.

The match can help define Vance after his separation from Spears, but this rivalry has not received enough consistent attention to feel especially important. Spears is valuable when he is developing younger performers through character work, yet NXT frequently starts and stops his stories before they gain momentum.

The match itself should be physical and technically sound. The question is whether it leads anywhere beyond next week.

Grade: C+

What Worked

• Spears clearly stated what he wanted.
• Vance receives a singles match with an experienced opponent.
• Their shared history gives the match more purpose than a random pairing.

What Didn’t Work

• The rivalry has not received enough television time.
• The segment did little to increase the emotional stakes.
• It currently feels like a television match rather than part of the Heatwave build.

Lola Vice Defeats Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong

The main event presented three completely different wrestlers fighting for the same opportunity.

Vice brought striking and submissions. Jordan relied on speed, flexibility and aerial offense. Armstrong used explosive power and treated both opponents like obstacles she could run through.

Jordan and Vice initially worked together to clothesline Armstrong out of the ring, but the alliance immediately collapsed. Armstrong returned and drove both women into opposite corners before slamming them.

Armstrong then took the biggest early risk, climbing to the top rope and wiping out both opponents with a crossbody to the floor. The move briefly looked uncertain during its setup, but she recovered and completed it cleanly.

Jordan and Armstrong temporarily joined forces against Vice before Jordan attacked Armstrong and attempted to steal control. Jordan’s desperation remained the match’s central character thread. She entered with an 0-8 record in No. 1 Contender’s Matches, and everything she did reflected someone terrified of failing again.

Jordan connected with a double codebreaker, German suplex, middle-rope leg drop and split-legged moonsault. Vice responded by trapping Jordan in a triangle choke, but Jordan turned the submission into a pin before Armstrong broke the fall.

The closing stretch was the strongest part of last night.

Armstrong and Jordan traded pinning combinations, with Jordan coming within a fraction of finally securing the opportunity. Vice returned with her spinning backfist loaded, Jordan moved and Armstrong absorbed the strike.

Jordan then climbed to the top rope and hit a 450 Splash on Armstrong. Instead of immediately securing the pin, Jordan lost the moment as Vice recovered, kicked her out of the ring and covered Armstrong.

That finish perfectly continued Jordan’s story. She performed most of the work, survived the biggest exchanges and hit the move that should have won the match. She was still in the wrong place when the decision happened.

Armstrong also looked completely comfortable in her first major NXT main event. Her shoulder tackles had frightening speed, her power spots looked credible and she never appeared outclassed by two more experienced television performers.

Vice winning was both logical and frustrating.

She lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Kendal Grey at The Great American Bash and deserves a rematch. However, putting her in a No. 1 Contender’s Match made Jordan and Armstrong feel like supporting characters in a route back to a match NXT could have booked without eliminating either one.

The result divided viewers. The in-ring work received widespread praise, particularly Armstrong’s performance and Jordan’s athleticism, but many questioned why NXT used a Triple Threat Match to give Vice a rematch she already had a reasonable claim to receive.

Grade: A-

What Worked

• All three wrestlers brought a distinct style and role to the match.
• Armstrong looked like a future champion in her first major NXT main event.
• Jordan’s continued failure was told through her decisions rather than commentary alone.
• The closing series of backfists, counters, rollups and the 450 Splash was excellent.
• Vice used her experience and awareness to steal the decisive moment.
• The finish created another painful chapter in Jordan’s ongoing story.

What Didn’t Work

• Vice did not need to win a No. 1 Contender’s Match to justify receiving a rematch.
• Jordan was once again denied a one-on-one NXT Women’s Championship opportunity.
• Armstrong took the fall despite being the freshest potential challenger.
• NXT chose a familiar championship match over creating a new one.

Tony D’Angelo and Naraku End Last Night in the Parking Lot

Officials rushed into the parking lot during the final moments of last night and found D’Angelo and Naraku fighting again.

Robert Stone finally stopped trying to contain the rivalry through normal matches and declared that next week’s NXT Championship match would be a Street Fight.

The stipulation is exactly what the rivalry needs. D’Angelo already defeated Naraku in a regular championship match. Running the same match again would have felt repetitive. A Street Fight allows Naraku’s mist, fire and unsettling presentation to collide with D’Angelo’s brawling style without forcing either man into a conventional structure.

It should also end the rivalry.

Heatwave is still several weeks away. D’Angelo needs a new challenger, while Naraku needs to prove he can remain compelling without repeatedly attacking the same champion. Next week must provide a decisive conclusion instead of another finish designed to extend the feud.

Grade: B+

What Worked

• The parking-lot fight gave last night a chaotic ending.
• The Street Fight stipulation fits both characters.
• Stone reacted to the situation instead of allowing the same attacks to continue.
• Next week now has a legitimate championship attraction.

What Didn’t Work

• The rematch remains difficult to justify based on Naraku’s win-loss record.
• The feud cannot survive another inconclusive finish.
• The announcement came so late that the main event winners received little closing focus.

The Road to NXT Heatwave

NXT Heatwave takes place Sunday, August 30, at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas, as part of a same-day doubleheader with Lucha Libre AAA. That leaves NXT with several weeks to move beyond the remaining Great American Bash rematches and establish a card worthy of a major arena.

Last night advanced several championship directions, but it did not lock in any Heatwave matches.

NXT Championship

D’Angelo versus Naraku in next week’s Street Fight should be the final chapter of their rivalry. D’Angelo retained at The Great American Bash, Naraku continued attacking him and the champion responded by demanding another fight.

The stipulation gives the feud a proper ending, but it also means NXT must begin identifying D’Angelo’s Heatwave challenger immediately afterward.

There is no obvious opponent yet. That makes next week especially important. A post-match confrontation, surprise return or new No. 1 Contender’s process will likely reveal whether D’Angelo enters Heatwave as champion and who NXT believes is ready for its top men’s program.

NXT Women’s Championship

Lola Vice is now officially next in line for Kendal Grey.

Grey defeated Vice for the championship at The Great American Bash and successfully defended against Nattie last week. Vice winning last night gives Grey another opportunity to prove that her title victory was not a one-night upset.

The date of the rematch has not been announced. NXT can either use it as a major television match before Heatwave or stretch the rivalry into the event.

The better choice depends on the planned result. If Grey defeats Vice again, the match can firmly establish her as champion and possibly free Vice for a main-roster move. If Vice regains the title, NXT risks making Grey’s reign feel transitional.

Kelani Jordan’s continued failures also remain important. Her 0-8 record in No. 1 Contender’s Matches can become one of NXT’s strongest character stories, but only if it eventually leads to growth. Continuing to have her lose without changing her approach will turn sympathy into repetition.

Kali Armstrong left last night without the opportunity, but she looked like a future centerpiece. She does not need to be rushed into a title match at Heatwave, although NXT should keep her close to Grey and the championship.

NXT North American Championship

Myles Borne retained against Tavion Heights at The Great American Bash, but the relationship between them remains unresolved.

Jackson Drake’s victory over Heights placed him closer to Borne’s championship. Drake has accumulated enough wins to justify a title match, and Vanity Project already presents him as the group’s singles star.

The most obvious direction is Borne versus Drake, with Heights’ frustration becoming the deciding factor. If Heights believes Borne abandoned him last night, he could either cost Drake the match to protect his friend or cost Borne the championship and complete a turn.

NXT must commit to the story soon. Borne and Heights have been trapped in an extended cycle of friendship, tension and misunderstanding. Heatwave is the natural deadline.

NXT Women’s North American Championship

Zaria has now retained against Tatum Paxley and survived last night’s Fatal 4-Way. She remains strongly protected, but she does not have a clear Heatwave opponent.

Layla Diggs is still owed the opportunity she earned. Her injury prevented the match rather than eliminating her championship claim. Once medically cleared, she should receive the singles match that was taken away from her.

Izzi Dame also emerged from last night with a legitimate argument. She survived Zaria’s Spear and was not involved in the decision.

Jaida Parker’s rivalry with Nattie’s group could eventually intersect with the championship, especially if Parker defeats Nattie next week. NXT has several possible challengers, but Zaria needs one focused rivalry instead of another multi-person match.

NXT Tag Team Championship

The Vanity Project continues escaping with the championship through numbers.

Legacy and Van Dux proved they deserve to remain together, but Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno are already attempting to position themselves for an opportunity through next week’s match with DarkState.

DarkState, OTM, BirthRight and the possibility of Shugars remaining involved make the division busy without making it especially clear. The next Heatwave challengers should emerge through an actual story, not another Fatal 4-Way that temporarily combines every available team.

The champions are effective heels, but constant interference eventually becomes a crutch. At Heatwave, they need opponents capable of neutralizing Drake and Lockwood so the championship match can end without the same formula.

The Rest of the Brand

Nattie versus Jaida Parker, Shawn Spears versus Niko Vance and Reina Volcan’s debut are all important for establishing the next level of the roster.

Parker needs a meaningful victory. Vance needs a stronger character identity. Volcan needs to move beyond presentation and prove that her in-ring work matches the buildup.

Tristan Angels and Shiloh Hill should finish their rivalry before Heatwave. The Great American Bash already provided a logical ending, and another month of fog, teeth and supernatural warnings will not improve it.

Best Match and Segment of the Night

Best Match: Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Kali Armstrong

The main event combined the strongest in-ring work with the clearest character story. Jordan’s desperation, Armstrong’s explosive power and Vice’s experience created a natural three-way dynamic.

The result was debatable. The match quality was not.

Armstrong looked ready for more significant opportunities, Jordan delivered another excellent performance and Vice played the role of the veteran who understood how to steal the right moment.

Best Segment: Tony D’Angelo and Naraku’s Parking-Lot Fight

The final fight transformed an unnecessary standard rematch into a Street Fight that fits the rivalry.

D’Angelo looked furious, Naraku remained dangerous and Stone finally stopped trying to force their conflict into a normal wrestling match. The segment also gave next week a strong central attraction.

What Was Announced for Next Week’s WWE NXT?

• Tony D’Angelo (c) Naraku (NXT Championship Street Fight)
• Nattie vs Jaida Parker
• DarkState vs Saquon Shugars, Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno
• Reina Volcan will make her NXT in-ring debut against Skylar Raye
• Shawn Spears vs Niko Vance
• Keanu Carver vs Hank Walker

Final Thoughts

Last night succeeded because it gave wrestling enough room to matter. Five matches received more than 56 minutes combined, the opening tag-team title match started the show with immediate energy and the women once again carried NXT’s strongest material.

The main event was the best match, but its booking exposed one of NXT’s current problems. The brand keeps using Triple Threat and Fatal 4-Way matches to place several wrestlers into the same story rather than developing individual rivalries. Last week featured two Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender’s Matches. Last night featured another Fatal 4-Way and a Triple Threat. The matches are usually entertaining, but the format is becoming a shortcut.

The Vanity Project interference has also become repetitive. Baylor, Smokes and Drake all benefited from the group last night. That consistency makes sense for their characters, but using nearly identical finishes twice on one episode reduced the impact of both matches.

The women’s division remains NXT’s greatest strength. Vice, Jordan and Armstrong delivered a strong main event. Zaria, Dame, Rain and Lyons exceeded expectations in a match assembled because of an injury. Parker and Nattie now have a direct issue for next week. Even with questionable booking decisions, the women consistently feel more developed and important than most of the men.

The men’s world-title picture remains less certain. D’Angelo and Naraku have a fitting Street Fight, but the rivalry should end next week. Heatwave is far enough away for NXT to begin a completely new championship program, and D’Angelo needs an opponent capable of making his reign feel bigger than an extended feud built around mist and surprise attacks.

Last night was a good wrestling show with several incomplete stories. It moved the brand closer to Heatwave without truly defining the event. The next two weeks will determine whether NXT is deliberately clearing away its Great American Bash rematches or simply filling time before the real Heatwave build begins.

Overall Grade: B-

Make sure to subscribe to our Late Night Crew Wrestling YouTube Channel. Follow @yorkjavon, @kspowerwheels & @LateNightCrewYT on X.