Our WWE NXT results for tonight include The Culling challenging Hank & Tank for the NXT Tag Team championships, Ricky Saints will battle Evolve’s The Vanity Project in a gauntlet match, TNA’s Joe Hendry & Mike Santana teaming up to battle High Ryze, and Tavion Heights clashing with Charlie Dempsey. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE NXT Card:
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Hank & Tank (c) vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
- Gauntlet Match: Ricky Saints vs. The Vanity Project
- Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. High Ryze
- Tavion Heights vs. Charlie Dempsey (If Heights Wins, He Can Leave the NQCC)
WWE NXT Results:
Gauntlet Match: Ricky Saints vs. The Vanity Project w/”All Ego” Ethan Page
Brad Baylor starts the match with Saints. Baylor puts up a good fight, but Saints gets the pin after a tornado DDT. Ricky Smokes is up next. Smokes clobbers Saints from behind and works him over. Smokes eventually runs into a Manhattan drop into a jackknife cover for the pin. Jackson Drake is next. Drake is all over Saints, working over his back. Drake tries a swanton. Saints gets his knees up. Lariat by Saints. Saints hits the Rochambeau for the win.
Winner- Ricky Saints
After the match, Saints grabs a mic and says he’s going to dog walk Page at the Great American Bash. Saints announces their match will be falls count anywhere.
Grade: B
Solid match. It’s funny how, during a gauntlet match, standard wrestling moves can end a match. Saints picking falls count anywhere is a bit of a letdown. Considering the last match they had, you’d think Saints would have gone steel cage or dog collar. Either way, Page and Saints are going to attempt to murder each other at the PLE. This writer can’t wait.
A glamour workout?! ? ✨
What does @BlakeMonroeWWE have in store for @JordynneGrace?? ? pic.twitter.com/a4TAswdA2z
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
Tavion Heights vs. Charlie Dempsey (If Heights Wins, He Can Leave the NQCC)
Heights is in control early, tossing Dempsey all over the ring. Dempsey works a cravat that Heights tries to roll out of, but he can’t. Heights bodyslams Dempsey to break the hold. Dempsey and Heights trade submission holds. Dempsey slaps Heights. Heights spears Dempsey and lays in a flurry of punches. Leaping Lariat by Heights. Dempsey rolls out. Heights follows. Dempsey and Heights clock heads.
Read More: Charlotte Flair Believes A Four Horsewomen Match Will Still Happen
After the break, Dempsey trips Heights, and his leg ends up trapped between the ring steps and the ring post. Dempsey pushes Wren Sincliar out of the way and repeatedly stomps Heights’ leg. Dempsey traps Heights in a leg lock. Heights struggles to get to the ropes. Dempsey torments Heights with several submission holds. Heights refuses to submit. A teary-eyed Sincliar throws in the towel to end the match.
Winners- Charlie Dempsey
Grade: B
This was an intense but quick match. Heights’ fought hard for his freedom in this one, but Dempsey has a nasty streak that rivals William Regal. This story is far from over. At this point, Dempsey is holding Heights hostage. This is going to lead to the complete implosion of the NQCC.
Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. High Ryze w/Wes Lee
Dupont and Igwe double-team Santana early. Santana and Hendry clear the ring. After the break, Igwe and Dupont are working over Hendry. Santana gets the tag and lands a flurry of offense. Lee distracts the referee. TNA World Champion Trick Williams runs down to ringside and sends Hendry into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Santana drops Dupont with Spin the Block for the win.
Winners- Mike Santana and Joe Hendry
After the match, Williams and Co leave Mike Santana and Hendry laid out.
Grade: B
Good tag team match. Wish they had more time or bothered to show us most of High Ryse’s beatdown of Hendry. This is one of the worst constants on WWE TV. We don’t get to see most of the bad guys “heat.” Igwe and Dupont seemed to be getting in some good shots, but we didn’t get to see most of it.
Did we just get a preview of The Great American Bash?!?@noah_yoshiki just slammed @Obaofwwe with ease! ? pic.twitter.com/GycyxeVBvc
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
Lainey Reid vs. Kelani Jordan
Jordan lands a few strikes. Reid takes out Jordan’s knee. Reid works over Jordan’s injured knee. Jordan fires up and lands a flurry of offense. Jordan goes up top. Reid cuts Jordan off. Both women brawl. Jordan knocks Reid off the top. Jordan crushes Reid with a middle rope leaping One of a Kind Moonsault for the win.
Winner- Kelani Jordan
WHAT A FINISH! ?@kelani_wwe had a pull out a little extra to get the win! ?? pic.twitter.com/mQftcjvYu5
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
After the match, Thea Hail attacks Reid.
Grade: C+
Solid stuff here from Reid, smartly working over the highflyer’s leg to ground her. Reid dominated Jordan for most of this, but Jordan, somewhat surprisingly, got the win with a breathtaking new version of her One of a Kind split-legged moonsault.
He did it again! ?@jaspertroywwe just jumped @WWEJeVonEvans in the Trainer's Room… pic.twitter.com/Wnkly9U6aQ
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
"As far as family business is concerned, this is the final battle."@AdrianaRizzoWWE did what she had to do, The D'Angelo Family implodes next week… ? pic.twitter.com/E1aU4ScHq3
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
A man on a mission ?
You just knew @WWEJeVonEvans was going to get the last laugh tonight ? pic.twitter.com/D08p6S9cv2
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
“Our home is now your home.”
Looks like The Culling might have found a new member in @TatumPaxley… ? pic.twitter.com/G4yVUVrag4
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Hank & Tank (c) vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
Hank and Tank attack Spears and Vance before the bell rings. After a flurry, Hank gets trapped in The Culling’s corner, and Vance lays in a few stiff shots. Tank gets a blind tag and double-teams Vance with Hank. Hank gets distracted outside the ring by Izzi Dame. Vance shoulder checks Hank clear across the commentary desk, into Booker T.
After the break, Spears and Vance cheat several times, but they can’t hold Hank or Tank down for a three count. After Dame gets involved in the match, Zaria and Sol Ruca walk to the ringside. Ruca brawls with Dame. Zaria picks up Paxley and carries her to the back.
Back in the ring, Hank and Tank hit their finish on Spears for the win.
Winners and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions, Hank and Tank!
Grade: B-
Same old, same from Hank and Tank. Their matches are exhausting due to the number of near-falls they always feature. There was a lot happening in this one, but Hank and Tank’s retaining was a bit of a surprise.
The Six NXT Representatives for the WWE Evolution Battle Royal as announced by @avawwe_ :
– Jaida Parker
– Lola Vice
– Kelani Jordan
– Lash Legend
– Izzi Dame
– Tatum PaxleySee you in Atlanta ladies! pic.twitter.com/JTF7FJlwJj
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2025
Evolution Summit
NXT GM Ava announces the NXT participants for the Evolution battle royal: Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, and Tatum Paxley. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence interrupt. Jayne complains about not being the focus of Ava’s entire existence. Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Natalya, Maxxine Dupree, Zelina Vega, Ivy Nile, Jaida Parker, Giulia, and basically everyone else surround the ring. Parker says it’s her time, slides into the ring, and starts a massive brawl.
Grade: C
They took way too long getting to the brawl. Also, Giulia, who is the current United States Champion was just kind there. How odd was that?
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