‘WWE NXT’ Review (Jul 8th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Gauntlet Match – Ricky Saints def. The Vanity Project
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Ricky Saints overcame the Vanity Project in a Gauntlet Match and earned himself a match against Ethan Page at the Great American Bash. First up was the brash Brad Baylor who took the fight to Saints, but the veteran weathered the early storm and hit a picture-perfect Tornado DDT to pin the young upstart. Ricky Smokes entered next and immediately planted Saints on his shoulder. A sneak attack by Jackson Drake with the referee distracted worsened the injury even more. Saints ultimately beat Smokes with a jackknife cover, but Drake systematically dissected the NXT Superstar’s compromised limbs. Still, Saints overcame the challenge and hit Drake with a Roshambo to win the Gauntlet Match.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Charlie Dempsey def. Tavion Heights
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
What started as a friendly competition turned into a physical contest as Dempsey wasted no time laying into his No Quarter Catch Crew teammate. Heights fired back and leveled Dempsey, leading to a virtual stalemate between the two Superstars. Dempsey ruthlessly trapped Heights’ knee in the steel steps and locked in a knee bar before a modified stretch that forced Wren Sinclair to throw in the towel on Heights’ behalf.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Joe Hendry & Mike Santana def. The High Ryze
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
TNA’s Joe Hendry and Mike Santana teamed up to defeat NXT’s Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, but TNA World Champion Trick Williams sent a message in the process. Dupont and Igwe had a stark power advantage and Williams even clocked Hendry, but Santana Spun The Block and won the match. Williams immediately hopped in the ring and beat down the TNA Superstars alongside High Ryze.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Kelani Jordan def. Lainey Reid
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kelani Jordan picked up another key win as she took down the up-and-coming Lainey Reid. The ruthless Reid targeted Jordan’s knees and it hindered the former North American throughout the match. Somehow, Jordan fought on and hit her remarkable One of a Kind Split-Legged Moonsault to win the match. After the bout, Thea Hail appeared and attacked Reid for her actions last week.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: NXT Tag Team Championship – Hank & Tank def. The Culling
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT Tag Team Title remains with Hank Walker and Tank Ledger thanks to an assist from NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria. Spears and Vance shined early on as the powerhouse of The Culling pounced Walker so hard onto the announce table that it knocked over WWE Hall of Famer and NXT broadcaster Booker T. Izzi Dame made her presence felt by nailing Walker with a huge Big Boot, but her and Tatum Paxley were neutralized by Sol Ruca and Zaria. That distraction allowed Hank & Tank to hit Honk Honk on Spears and win the match.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s NXT was a strong, well-paced episode that delivered consistently across the board. Every match served a purpose, and the build toward both Great American Bash and Evolution 2 was front and centre. That said, it felt a bit ridiculous that NXT is the brand doing most of the heavy lifting in selling two major pay-per-views, especially when the main roster shows have been far less focused. Aside from that, there’s very little to criticise. As a go-home show, it did exactly what it needed to.
