The road to WWE NXT Great American Bash officially started last night on The CW, but the June 2nd episode felt more like the first chapter of a larger story than a major destination on its own. Shawn Michaels announced earlier in the day that Great American Bash will take place on Sunday, June 28th, at 7 p.m. EST on The CW, placing NXT on an already loaded wrestling Sunday alongside TNA Slammiversary and AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. Readers can check out our full breakdown of the announcement and its significance.
With several of the established stars who carried NXT through WrestleMania season now appearing on RAW and SmackDown, last night’s show continued the difficult process of rebuilding the brand around a much younger and less experienced roster. That transition has created fresh matchups, new characters and genuine unpredictability, but it has also exposed an obvious problem: several wrestlers being asked to occupy prominent television time are still learning how to consistently carry meaningful segments and matches.
The episode was not bad. It moved quickly, advanced several storylines and gave viewers a clear reason to tune in next week. However, it also lacked the standout match, must-see promo or major angle needed to make the first show on the road to Great American Bash feel truly important.
Tony D’Angelo successfully retained the NXT Championship against Kam Hendrix in the main event, but the larger story revolved around the two men circling his title reign. Naraku continued protecting D’Angelo’s championship until he receives his own opportunity to dethrone him, while Mason Rook stopped Hendrix from using a steel chair and remained firmly positioned as the other major obstacle standing in the champion’s path.
Elsewhere, Lola Vice’s next challenger began to take shape, Zaria forced her way into a Women’s North American Championship match, Saquon Shugars continued targeting his former DarkState allies, Lexis King retained the Men’s Speed Championship and The Culling’s internal problems became even harder to ignore.
Here are the full results
- Zaria def. Lizzy Rain
- OTM def. The Culling
- Jackson Drake def. Tate Wilder
- Lexis King (c) def. Romeo Moreno (WWE Men’s Speed Championship)
- DarkState def. Myles Borne and Tavion Heights
- Tony D’Angelo (c) def. Kam Hendrix (NXT Championship)
Breakdowns & Reactions
Zaria def. Lizzy Rain
Grade: B
Zaria and Lizzy Rain opened the show with one of the better matches of the night. Rain continues to improve as a sympathetic underdog who can absorb punishment, create believable comeback sequences and make the audience want to see her survive against physically stronger opponents. She did not look out of place against one of the most imposing women on the roster.
The outcome was never in serious doubt, but the match did its job. Zaria controlled the early portion of the contest with her strength and aggression, cutting off Rain’s attempts to increase the pace. Rain fought back with chops, a springboard back elbow, a tornado DDT and an Ace Crusher, but Zaria eventually regained control with a German suplex, two Spears and an F-5.
Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley joined the commentary desk during the match and immediately became Zaria’s primary focus. After winning, Zaria attempted to inflict more damage on Rain until Paxley stepped into the ring and offered her a championship opportunity next week.
That decision was consistent with Paxley’s character, but it was also reckless. She did not simply accept a challenge. She voluntarily placed herself in the path of a woman who has been looking for a reason to destroy someone.
Later in the night, Zaria reinforced the threat by blindsiding Paxley backstage and throwing her into equipment cases. The title match now feels less like an ordinary defense and more like a potential turning point for both women.
The live reaction reflected the effectiveness of the match. Rain received praise for continuing to grow into her role, while Zaria’s physical presence and the simplicity of the title setup made the segment easy to follow. NXT sometimes overcomplicates its storytelling. This was the opposite.
Quick rundown:
- Rain used her speed and resilience to survive Zaria’s early offense.
- Paxley arrived during the match and watched from ringside before joining commentary.
- Zaria finished Rain with two Spears and an F-5.
- Zaria attempted to attack Rain after the bell.
- Paxley intervened and granted Zaria a Women’s North American Championship match next week.
- Zaria later attacked Paxley backstage.
Saquon Shugars Disrupts DarkState’s Plans
DarkState’s scheduled match against NXT North American Champion Myles Borne and Tavion Heights was delayed after Saquon Shugars attacked Cutler James with a metal pipe during the group’s entrance.
The angle was simple, violent and effective. Shugars is not interested in delivering long explanations or seeking closure with his former allies. He wants revenge, and every appearance makes DarkState feel increasingly vulnerable.
The group eventually regrouped later in the show with Dion Lennox replacing Cutler James, but Shugars’ attack forced DarkState to operate on his terms. He continued watching them from above after their eventual victory, baseball bat in hand, making it clear that the story is far from over.
DarkState needed a new direction after its internal fracture. Shugars hunting his former partners one by one has given the faction a more compelling story than simply existing as another group of intimidating wrestlers.
OTM def. The Culling
Grade: C+
Shawn Spears and Niko Vance stepped in for the impromptu replacement match against Bronco Nima and Lucien Price after the scheduled DarkState bout was postponed.
OTM brought the intensity. Nima and Price wrestled like a team with a purpose, using their size, physicality and tandem offense to overwhelm The Culling. The crowd responded well to them despite the abrupt nature of the matchup, which is a positive sign as NXT continues searching for credible challengers in the tag team division.
The match itself was fine, but it felt rushed. Spears and Vance struggled to build any meaningful momentum before OTM put them away with a powerful double-team slam.
The more important story was The Culling’s continued deterioration. Izzi Dame watched from ringside after telling the group to move forward without excuses, but Spears and Vance once again failed to deliver. Niko and Izzi stood over Spears after the loss with visible frustration.
At this point, Spears feels like the least necessary member of the faction he originally helped create. The tension has been building long enough. The story needs to move forward soon before repeated losses make the group impossible to take seriously.
Quick rundown:
- The match was added after Shugars attacked DarkState.
- Nima and Price controlled the pace with their power.
- Spears suffered a bloody nose during the match.
- OTM won with a double-team slam.
- Izzi Dame and Niko Vance looked increasingly frustrated with Spears after the loss.
Jackson Drake def. Tate Wilder
Grade: B-
Tate Wilder continues to lose matches, but he has not stopped making an impression.
Before the match, EK Prosper encouraged Wilder to fight smarter instead of relying entirely on risk-taking. Kam Hendrix interrupted the conversation to mock Wilder for struggling while Hendrix had already secured an NXT Championship opportunity. The exchange gave Wilder’s match additional weight because the question was no longer whether he could entertain the audience. It was whether he could finally turn his athleticism into a meaningful victory.
Wilder and Jackson Drake worked a fast-paced match built around their explosiveness. Wilder caught Drake with a TKO and followed with a powerbomb and a corkscrew splash for a near fall. He also took out Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes when Vanity Project attempted to interfere.
However, the numbers game remained the difference. Myka Lockwood caught Wilder during a dive and powerbombed him into the steel steps and ring apron. Drake capitalized with a 450 Splash to earn another victory.
The finish protected Wilder, but NXT cannot protect him with excuses forever. He has shown enough potential to remain interesting, yet every loss makes it harder to view him as anything more than an exciting wrestler who cannot win when the stakes increase. That can become a storyline, but the storyline needs a payoff.
Drake continues accumulating victories, although the interference is starting to overshadow his talent. Vanity Project cheating is part of the presentation, but Drake is athletic enough to benefit from occasionally proving he can win without everyone else doing the work for him.
Quick rundown:
- EK Prosper encouraged Wilder to take fewer unnecessary risks.
- Hendrix mocked Wilder for struggling to win while he had already earned a title opportunity.
- Wilder hit a TKO, a powerbomb and a corkscrew splash for a near fall.
- Wilder neutralized Baylor and Smokes at ringside.
- Lockwood caught Wilder during a dive and powerbombed him into the steps and apron.
- Drake won with a 450 Splash.
DarkState Sends Another Message
General Manager Robert Stone appeared backstage to discuss Great American Bash before Osiris Griffin confronted him about DarkState’s canceled match.
Jasper Troy entered the scene, but the situation quickly turned chaotic. DarkState attacked Troy and left bodies scattered around the backstage area.
The segment helped reinforce the faction’s danger after Shugars made them look vulnerable earlier in the night. That balance was important. Shugars is a legitimate threat, but DarkState still needed to remind everyone that the group can create destruction without him.
Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan And Kendal Grey Collide Over The NXT Women’s Championship
Lola Vice entered the ring to celebrate retaining the NXT Women’s Championship against Izzi Dame last week and continued presenting herself as the standard-bearer of the division.
Vice spoke about the work it took to reach the top, the doubters she proved wrong and her success across NXT and AAA. She then asked the obvious question: who is next?
Kelani Jordan answered first. Jordan questioned why Vice’s success outside NXT earned praise while her own run in TNA generated criticism and resentment. She argued that she has repeatedly done enough to earn a championship opportunity, including tapping out Vice and defeating Wren Sinclair twice.
Kendal Grey interrupted alongside Wren Sinclair and reminded everyone that she pinned Jordan and Vice during Iron Survivor before winning the match. She also wanted revenge for Jordan’s recent attack on Sinclair.
Vice eventually cut through the arguing and announced that Jordan and Grey will face each other next week, with the winner challenging her at Great American Bash. Jordan then grabbed the championship, causing Vice to accidentally strike Grey with a spinning backfist while trying to recover the title.
The segment accomplished its main objective. Jordan vs. Grey is the correct match to book, and the winner will enter Great American Bash with a clear story against Vice.
However, the execution was uneven. The division has strong athletes and several interesting directions, but some of the in-ring promo delivery still feels too rehearsed. The segment became more effective once the talking stopped and the physical angle created additional tension.
Jordan remains the more compelling choice to win next week because her frustration has a clear foundation. Grey is talented, but her character still needs more definition beyond being an accomplished wrestler who believes she deserves an opportunity.
Quick rundown:
- Vice celebrated retaining the NXT Women’s Championship against Dame.
- Jordan confronted Vice and argued that her accomplishments have been unfairly dismissed.
- Grey interrupted and reminded everyone that she pinned Vice and Jordan during Iron Survivor.
- Vice announced Jordan vs. Grey for next week.
- The winner will challenge Vice at Great American Bash.
- Jordan grabbed the title, causing Vice to accidentally knock out Grey with a spinning backfist.
Zaria Attacks Tatum Paxley
Tatum Paxley discussed next week’s championship defense with Shiloh Hill backstage while he prepared for the Mr. NXT Pageant. After Hill walked away, Zaria blindsided Paxley and threw her into equipment cases.
Zaria holding up the Women’s North American Championship over the fallen champion was an effective visual. Paxley gave her the opportunity, but Zaria made it clear that gratitude is not part of the equation.
Mason Rook And Naraku Stand Between Tony D’Angelo And Great American Bash
Tony D’Angelo confronted Mason Rook backstage and asked whether he planned to interfere in the main event.
Rook refused to make promises. D’Angelo warned that he would take out every challenger one by one, but Rook confidently told the champion that he would become the challenge D’Angelo could not overcome.
Stone entered and announced Rook vs. Naraku for next week. The winner will challenge D’Angelo for the NXT Championship at Great American Bash.
The camera placement made the segment even better. Naraku stood silently in the background while Rook and D’Angelo spoke, watching everything without needing to say a word.
Naraku’s presentation has been one of the most intriguing parts of NXT’s new era. He does not want D’Angelo to lose the championship before they fight because he wants the satisfaction of taking it himself. The story has given D’Angelo’s title reign an unusual dynamic: Naraku is simultaneously his protector and one of his most dangerous enemies.
Rook represents a different threat. He is powerful, athletic and far less interested in playing mind games. Next week’s match is one of the most important NXT television matches since the post-WrestleMania roster reset because the winner will immediately shape the main event of Great American Bash.
Lexis King (c) def. Romeo Moreno To Retain The WWE Men’s Speed Championship
Grade: B
Lexis King retained the Men’s Speed Championship against Romeo Moreno in a match that benefited from the five-minute limit.
Moreno immediately wrestled with urgency. He used a German suplex, springboard offense, a basement superkick and a Rings of Saturn submission attempt to pressure the champion. King slowed the pace whenever possible, repeatedly looking for the half-crab and using Birth Right’s presence at ringside as an additional advantage.
Moreno eventually dove onto King’s allies at ringside, but the extra effort cost him valuable time. After Moreno missed a springboard moonsault, King landed a knee strike and finished the match with Coronation.
Moreno looked like the better athlete for most of the contest. That is not necessarily a flaw because King’s character is built around his arrogance and ability to survive despite claiming to be the fastest wrestler alive. The issue is that the Speed Championship would benefit from more matches where the champion feels uniquely suited for the format.
King remains entertaining, but Moreno looked like someone worth keeping in the mix.
Quick rundown:
- King offered a fake handshake before disrespecting Moreno.
- Moreno pressured King with fast-paced offense and several near falls.
- King repeatedly attempted to slow the challenger with a half-crab.
- Moreno applied the Rings of Saturn and later dove onto Birth Right at ringside.
- Moreno missed a springboard moonsault.
- King retained with Coronation before the time limit expired.
Nattie Neidhart Continues Targeting Jaida Parker
Nattie Neidhart confronted Jaida Parker backstage and called her soft, arguing that Layla Diggs nearly defeated her last week despite limited training.
Parker challenged Nattie to settle the issue in the parking lot, but Nattie refused to take the bait and continued questioning Parker’s toughness.
The feud still feels like it is waiting for a stronger hook. Parker has a natural presence and Nattie can bring credibility to almost any opponent, but the story needs to become more than repeated confrontations built around the same insult.
DarkState def. Myles Borne And Tavion Heights
Grade: B
Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin represented DarkState against North American Champion Myles Borne and Tavion Heights after Shugars attacked Cutler James earlier in the show.
The match had a straightforward purpose: DarkState needed to regain momentum, while Borne and Heights needed to show that their old chemistry was not enough to completely repair their relationship.
Borne and Heights started well with tandem offense and suplexes, but DarkState gradually isolated Borne and prevented him from making a clean tag. Heights eventually entered with a burst of offense, including a belly-to-belly suplex and a Karelin lift, but Lennox and Griffin recovered and finished him with a Doomsday Device.
The match worked because it advanced multiple stories without overcomplicating anything. DarkState picked up a necessary victory. Borne avoided taking the pinfall. Heights absorbed the loss and continued showing signs of frustration. Shugars remained present without directly interfering, watching from above with a baseball bat.
Borne and Heights may be moving toward a North American Championship feud. That direction makes sense, especially if Heights grows tired of being treated as an old partner rather than a legitimate singles threat.
Quick rundown:
- Lennox replaced Cutler James after Shugars’ attack.
- Borne and Heights started quickly with tandem offense.
- DarkState isolated Borne for much of the match.
- Heights entered with a strong comeback.
- Lennox and Griffin finished Heights with a Doomsday Device.
- Shugars watched from above with a baseball bat.
- Borne and Heights argued after the loss.
Tony D’Angelo (c) def. Kam Hendrix To Retain The NXT Championship
Grade: B
Kam Hendrix entered the biggest match of his young NXT career with confidence bordering on arrogance. He had already defeated D’Angelo in tag team competition alongside Rook, but challenging for the championship in a singles main event was an entirely different test.
Hendrix caught the champion immediately with a Showtime Kick and followed with a neckbreaker and DDT for early near falls. The strategy was obvious: overwhelm D’Angelo before the champion could settle into the match.
D’Angelo recovered and began using his power advantage, launching Hendrix with a release Attitude Adjustment, German suplexes and a spinning spinebuster. Hendrix remained competitive and nearly stole the match with his feet on the ropes, but the referee caught the attempt.
The challenger later connected with another Showtime Kick and a Liger Bomb for one of the match’s strongest near falls. Hendrix then reached for a steel chair at ringside, but Rook stepped on it and prevented him from using it.
D’Angelo took advantage, sending Hendrix onto the announce table before putting him away with Dead to Rights.
The match was solid, but Hendrix did not look completely ready for a major championship main event. D’Angelo worked hard to make him appear dangerous, and the near falls created tension, but a few sequences lacked the smoothness and confidence expected from a featured title match.
That does not mean Hendrix failed. He gained valuable experience, received a meaningful television opportunity and left the match with more credibility than he had entering it. However, the finish correctly reinforced that D’Angelo remains on a different level.
The post-match angle mattered more than the result. Naraku entered the ring, handed D’Angelo the NXT Championship and bowed. Rook watched from ringside. Neither challenger attacked the champion because both men understand that the real battle is coming.
The image perfectly captured the main event story heading into next week. D’Angelo is the champion, but he is surrounded.
Quick rundown:
- Hendrix surprised D’Angelo with an immediate Showtime Kick.
- D’Angelo recovered with power offense and multiple German suplexes.
- Hendrix attempted to steal the match with his feet on the ropes.
- Hendrix hit another Showtime Kick and a Liger Bomb for a near fall.
- Hendrix reached for a steel chair.
- Rook prevented Hendrix from using the chair.
- D’Angelo sent Hendrix onto the announce table and retained with Dead to Rights.
- Naraku handed D’Angelo the championship and bowed after the match.
- Rook watched from ringside ahead of next week’s No. 1 Contender’s Match.
Best Match Of The Night
Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix was the best match of the night.
It was not a great main event, but it had the strongest combination of stakes, story progression and meaningful near falls. D’Angelo made Hendrix look credible without sacrificing his own standing as champion, while Rook and Naraku added tension without completely overshadowing the match.
Zaria vs. Lizzy Rain was the closest competition because it was cleaner and more consistent from bell to bell. However, the main event carried greater importance and produced the strongest closing visual of the night.
Best Segment Of The Night
Naraku handing Tony D’Angelo the NXT Championship and bowing after the main event was the best segment of the night.
It required no long explanation. Naraku’s message was obvious. He does not respect D’Angelo. He is not protecting him out of loyalty. He wants the champion preserved until he can personally take the title away from him.
Rook watching from ringside completed the visual and gave next week’s match a clear purpose. NXT needs more segments like this: simple, direct and built around characters whose motivations are easy to understand.
Here is everything announced for next week’s show
- Tatum Paxley (c) vs. Zaria (NXT Women’s North American Championship)
- Mason Rook vs. Naraku (Winner challenges Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship at Great American Bash)
- Kelani Jordan vs. Kendal Grey (Winner challenges Lola Vice for the NXT Women’s Championship at Great American Bash)
- Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels (Mr. NXT Pageant)
Final Thoughts
Last night’s episode of WWE NXT was a solid but uneven beginning to the road to Great American Bash.
The show successfully established the major stories that will carry the brand through June. D’Angelo is surrounded by two legitimate threats. Vice will soon have a clear challenger. Paxley may have made a costly mistake by giving Zaria a title opportunity. Shugars continues to make DarkState uncomfortable. The Culling appears closer to imploding every week.
The problem is that NXT still feels like a brand operating on potential rather than consistently delivering must-see television.
That is understandable after such a significant roster reset. New wrestlers need opportunities to make mistakes, develop characters and learn how to carry larger roles. However, viewers also need reasons to remain emotionally invested while that growth takes place.
Several wrestlers showed promise last night. Rain continues to improve. Wilder is exciting despite his losing streak. Moreno made the most of a short title match. Hendrix gained valuable main event experience. Rook and Naraku feel like credible threats despite still being relatively new to the current NXT landscape.
The ingredients are there. The show simply needs stronger execution, more polished promos and at least one memorable match or angle each week that feels important enough to cut through the crowded wrestling schedule.
Next week’s episode has the potential to be much better. Two No. 1 Contender’s Matches, a Women’s North American Championship defense and the continued build toward Great American Bash give NXT a stronger card with more meaningful stakes.
Last night moved the pieces into position. Next week needs to make the board feel important.
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I’m the quiet one until the bell rings then I’ve got takes. I live for WWE NXT and TNA, I want every promotion to succeed, and I will absolutely roast the bad decisions on sight (because someone has to). Anime taught me to respect long-term storytelling; wrestling taught me that sometimes the plan is “we panicked” and called it “unpredictable.” The Miz got me into all of this, so yeah I appreciate confidence, commitment, and the art of talking like you’re already the main event. Now I bring that same energy to the page as the main writer for Late Night Crew Wrestling because if you’re not here to be must-see and tell the truth, why are you here?!