‘WWE NXT’ Review (Jul 18th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down in this episode…
Match #1: Nathan Frazer & Dragon Lee def. Los Lotharios
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT return of Los Lotharios did not go the way they planned as the team of NXT Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer and Dragon Lee walked out as the victors. Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo started the match by jumping Frazer and Lee with tandem dropkicks to the outside, and early on it looked like Los Lothario would cruise to the win. A pair of remarkable moonsaults from Garza and Carrillo was followed up by an incredible powerbomb from Lee, but all four Superstars refused to give in as the match wore on. With the NXT Universe in a frenzy, Frazer took out both members of Los Lotharios and tossed Garza back into the ring where Lee hit him with a twisting neckbreaker to pick up the win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Kiana James def. Gigi Dolin
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Despite Gigi Dolin’s best efforts, Kiana James escaped from NXT with the win thanks to underhanded tactics. Both Superstars battered each other in order to exact some payback, but James became increasingly frustrated by not being able to put away the resilient Dolin. In a last ditch effort, James grabbed her signature handbag but it was caught by Dolin and when she went to hit James with it, the official snatched it away. In the ensuing tussle, James hit 401K and Dolin hit the bag face first which allowed James to score the pinfall.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Bronco Nima & Lucien Price def. SCRYPTS & Axiom
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The team of Bronco Nima & Lucien Price made their NXT debut and while they looked like a force to be reckoned with on their own, they received some help from SCRYPTS turning on his partner, Axiom. The speed and athleticism of Axiom and SCRYPTS was remarkable as they kept the larger Nima off-balance. Out of nowhere, SCRYPTS decked Axiom from behind and the masked Superstar was left to Nima and Price who proceeded to maul the helpless Axiom and end the via match via a crushing big boot.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Thea Hail def. Elektra Lopez
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Thea Hail has made another Superstar tap out as she submitted Elektra Lopez in the middle of the ring. Lopez was on a mission to prove a point and with Lola Vice in her corner it looked like her size and strength would be enough to win, but Hail was lightning quick and locked in a Kimura Lock before her opponent even knew what hit her. After the match, Hail was confronted by Stratton and granted a rematch for the NXT Women’s Championship at the Great American Bash.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Oro Mensah def. Eddy Thorpe
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Meta-Four scored a huge victory as Oro Mensah defeated Eddy Thorpe to bring momentum back to his group after Noam Dar lost the Heritage Cup. Dar’s “Main Man” Mensah unleashed a lot of pent up frustration on Thorpe, but the supreme strikes of Thorpe allowed him to take command of the match. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson distracted the official and Dijak appeared out of nowhere to deliver a big boot to Thorpe which allowed Mensah to hit his rolling kick and win the bout.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: North American Championship – Dominik Mysterio def. Wes Lee
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Judgment Day continues their dominance over WWE as “Dirty” Dominick Mysterio dethroned Wes Lee to become the new NXT North American Champion. The presence of WWE Women’s World Champion halted the early momentum that Lee had and Mysterio took full advantage by hitting the three amigos suplexes as well as his father Rey Mysterio’s signature move, the 619. Lee proved that he has the heart of a champion and after a huge diving attack to the outside, he looked poised to retain his title, but Finn Bálor and Damian Priest ran interference which allowed Ripley to nail Lee with her title, allowing Mysterio to cover him and become the North American Champion.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This week’s NXT opened strong and closed stronger – even if the latter didn’t have the same standard of wrestling. But then when you have a big upset win for the close of your show – with Dominik Mysterio picking up a title belt, you know you’ve made an unmissable show. Which is probably why the rest of the card didn’t really put in the same effort as the two aforementioned matches!
