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In the aftermath of NXT Great American Bash, the July 12 edition of WWE NXT 2.0 had a chance to be an even bigger night thanks to a major championship match.

Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, and in the aftermath, Perez decided to cash in her NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament contract to challenge Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship.

She had a chance to go from breakout star to top woman in NXT 2.0 by winning all the gold. Toxic Attraction would do anything to keep the title on Rose.

This show would also include two first-time matches. Apollo Crews faced Giovanni Vinci. Solo Sikoa challenged Von Wagner.

These three matches were only the beginning as Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes and The Creed Brothers were looking for new challengers for their gold.

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Apollo Crews and Giovanni Vinci challenged each other at every stage, but when Xyon Quinn saw an opening, he punched Crews in the mouth. This allowed Vinci to win with an elevated powerbomb.

This went as expected. Quinn interfered to make sure that neither man lost clean. Vinci gets a tainted win while Crews can state that Quinn cost him the match.

Predictability did not take away from the action. These are two ridiculously athletic men with impressive strength that worked well together. It was a showcase of men that made each other better. A future match could be even better.

Result

Vinci def. Crews by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Roxanne Perez was found laid out in the parking lot as the show started.
• Vinci rebounded off the ropes right into a Crews dropkick.
• Vinci caught Crews mid-dive and dead-lifted him into a suplex.

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Cameron Grimes told the NXT Universe that he failed and learned a lesson about doing things the right way. JD McDonagh mocked The Richest Man in NXT, but the moment they got physical, Grimes sent the NXT newcomer running.

Grimes struggled with this promo. While he was trying to sell his genuine frustration with his recent failures, he just did not look comfortable. McDonagh’s involvement made for a good match set-up but hardly helped the promo itself.

If Grimes is going to turn heel, he needs a new rival. He cannot just be a stepping stone for Bron Breakker’s next challenger.

Grade

D+

Notable Moments

• Tiffany Stratton talked herself up while getting a pedicure at a local business.
• Roderick Strong told Damon Kemp that he would teach him a lesson next week after costing Strong the NXT Tag Team Championships.
• Grayson Waller struggled to talk about his loss at NXT Great American Bash.

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Tatum Paxley was outmatched by Kayden Carter, but she showed her growing ring instincts. She caught Carter in a leg trap pin to steal the three count.

With each performance, Paxley shows more. She is still a work in progress, but she looked good here in working Carter. She sold well and transitioned through Carter’s impressive bevvy of offense in just three minutes.

It is a shame the two did not get more time. There were some sloppy moments, but this would have certainly been smoother with less time constraints. Paxley picking up the win could be the beginning of her true run in the women’s division as a contender.

Result

Paxley def. Carter by pinfall.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Paxley was clearly focused on Nile at ringside, wanting to prove herself.
• Joe Gacy interrupted the commentators after the match to talk about Schism’s future.

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Duke Hudson got on Sanga’s nerves and paid for it. Sanga planted him with a chokeslam to pick up a quick win.

While defeating Hudson does mean something for Sanga, who is picking up major victories against established talent, this was a mess of a squash. There was no real rhyme or reason to the action before Sanga planted Hudson.

After all he has done in NXT, Hudson would seemingly be established enough to put up more of a fight. However, he has already been passed up by many since Dexter Lumis was released, including Sanga, who is on track for a title shot before long.

Result

Sanga def. Hudson by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Backstage, Hudson and Sanga got into an argument that led to this match.
• Pretty Deadly walked into a country bar to challenge Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley set the match for next week.

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With Robert Stone and Sofia Cromwell watching closely, Von Wagner beat down Solo Sikoa, only for him to get right back up. The two fought with malice until they could not be stopped, both getting counted out and brawling into the back.



This was a rare match where it was difficult to call the winner, so NXT did not choose anyone. Sikoa and Wagner would make for interesting rivals beyond just this one match. Given the non-finish, WWE seems to be moving that way.

With The Samoan Superstar’s experience, he pushed Wagner to work a full top star match from the start to the finish. It would have fit right in on Raw or SmackDown, including the awkward ending. The two have plenty more to give.

Result

Sikoa vs. Wagner goes to a double countout.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Stone and Cromwell talked up Wagner, who then took over the backstage promo and told Sikoa he would beat him anywhere.
• The two continued to fight after the finish, battling to the back and all the way to the parking lot. Sikoa threw Stone into the trash after the brawl stopped.
  
  
• Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams talked up their wins while partying on the streets.

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Alba Fyre appeared on the stage as Lash Legend had Indi Hartwell on the top rope. Indi Wrestling took advantage with a spinebuster then rolled up Legend to win. Afterward, Fyre sent Legend running with her baseball bat.

This was an absolute mess, and it was not just on Legend. Hartwell had the biggest botch of the night, completely whiffing on a springboard diving elbow.

It was bad before that though as the women had no chemistry together. Luckily, the right woman won, though Legend continues to get the better spotlight over the more established Hartwell.

Result

Hartwell def. Legend by pinfall.

Grade

F

Notable Moments

• Backstage, Lash Legend promised to bounce Hartwell around like a basketball.
• Hartwell completely whiffed on her springboard diving elbow, forcing the two to improvise a roll-up finish.
• Chase U enjoyed an international field trip in London, England.

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Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo took a beating throughout the match, but he set up Tony D’Angelo to hit his finisher to win. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro were forced to prove their loyalty by attacking Blade afterward.

This was a fine tag team match that made the most of the match time. Blade and Enofe are really good at maximizing their minutes. Stacks is fine, and Tony D was protected.

The point was to continue selling the future angle within The D’Angelo Family. Once Santos Escobar is back, the story will truly kick off again.

Result

Tony D and Stacks def. Blade and Enofe by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Before the match, The D’Angelo Family explained why the group was not involved in the attack on Roxanne Perez.
• Blade planted Stacks with a leg drop, sent The Don outside, then connected on a spinebuster for a nearfall.
• NXT showed another video package for Axiom, highlighting his mask.

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Cora Jade interrupted Toxic Attraction to challenge Mandy Rose, but Roxanne Perez walked out for her title match, even with tapped-up ribs. Perez hit Pop-Rox on the outside, but as Jade attacked her friend with her tag title, setting up Rose for a bicycle knee to win.

Afterward, Jade broke her skateboard on Perez’s back as she screamed that she made her friend a star.

Rose and Perez had a good match that could be great down the line. They were competing with limited time and around a worked injury. It still felt like a big moment in NXT, even before the heel turn.

It was almost telegraphed that Jade would turn against Perez. Toxic Attraction laying out Perez was too obvious, and anyone else would not have had the same impact. Even if it was predictable, it worked because of the story.

Jade has built herself up but never found success alone. Perez has found immediate success and looked poised to jump right past her. This was the only time a heel turn would have made complete sense. It is just a shame that the women’s tag titles suffer for it.

Result

Rose def. Perez by pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Jade explained she didn’t see who attacked Perez but knew it must be Toxic Attraction.
• Other women including Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon asked each other about what happened to Perez, but no one had an answer.
• Nikkita Lyons made clear in her own interview that she did not attack Perez but would fight Rose if the challenger could not go.
• Rose ripped at the tape that protected the ribs of Perez as she continued a focused attack on the challenger’s injury.