Our WWE NXT results for tonight include Zaria defending the NXT Women’s North American Championship against a mystery opponent, Naraku clashing with Tate Wilder, the NXT Tag Team Championships are on the line when The Vanity Project defends against Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux, and Kali Armstrong battling Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE NXT Card:
- NXT Women’s North American Championship Match | Zaria (c) vs. TBA
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match | The Vanity Project (c) vs. Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux
- NXT Women’s Championship Number One Contender Triple Threat match | Kali Armstrong vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice
- Naraku vs. Tate Wilder
WWE NXT Results:
NXT Tag Team Championship Match | The Vanity Project (c) vs. Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux
Legacy and Smokes trade pins. Legacy sends Smokes flying with a hip toss. Baylor tags in and eats a hip toss as well. Van Dux and Legacy are in control early. Baylr takes control after going low. Van Dux and Legacy clear the ring. Van Dux slingshots Legacy into Baylor and Smokes.
After the break, Van Dux and Legacy hit a combo splash/450. Baylor breaks up the pin. Legacy lands a big dive. Jackson Drake hops up on the apron but gets taken out by Van Dux. Lockwood low bridges Van Dux. Smokes and Baylor hit their finish on Van Dux for the win.
Winners- The Vanity Project
Grade: C+
Something about the Vanity Project isn’t clicking, and I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is. The match was the same as every other Vanity Project title defense.
“Mr. NXT”
Tristan Angels complains that Shiloh Hill is gross. Angels notes that he stole Hill’s false tooth, so he can’t attempt to portray a normal human being. He won’t let Hill lie to himself anymore, so what he does now is for Hill’s own good. Angels stomps on Hill’s false tooth on the ring steps. Hill appears on the ‘tron and says Angels did him a favor, and now the fog is coming. Hill laughs like a maniac as the lights flicker.
Grade: D
Ugh. Hill worked just fine sans any silly alter ego gimmick. Also, Angels may be wrestling in the wrong era. Stay tuned on that notion. Let’s see if it rings true.
Naraku vs. Tate Wilder
Wilder lands a brief flurry. Wilder tries a dive, but Naraku catches him with an elbow to the face. As Naraku attempts to reenter the ring, Wilder surprises him with a double stomp. After the break, Naraku is working over Wilder. Wilder manages to land a slingblade backbreaker, followed by suplex. Naraku avoids a moonsault from Wilder, but Wilder lands on his feet. Wilder lands a springboard crossbody on the other side of the ring. Wilder goes up top. Naraku pushes Wilder off the top to the floor. Naraku shows Wilder that everything is EVIL as he sends him Into the Abyss for the win.
Winner- Naraku
After the match, NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo attacks Naraku. Naraku spits the mist, but D’Angelo avoids it. Naraku blinds one of the security guards attempting to break up the brawl.
Grade: C+
Wilder is extremely agile, but he needs to slow down a bit and allow things to register more. With his high-flying style, being able to sell the butt-kickings he’s taking will bring him to the next level. Naraku is just biding his time before his inevitable NXT Championship win. Not sure why they are taking their time with this one.
NXT Women’s North American Championship Match | Zaria (c) vs. Evolve Champion Nikkita Lyons vs. Lizzy Rain vs. Izzie Dame
As soon as the bell rings, everyone brawls. Zaria fires up and floors Dame with a lariat. Rain tries a springboard, but gets caught midair by Zaria in a German suplex. Zaria eats a diving lungblower from Dame. Zaria pops back to her feet, lets out a battle cry, and spears Dame out of her boots.
Read More: WWE Star Pulled From NXT Title Match Due to Injury
Everyone lands a big move. Nattie and Petrovic attack Zaria outside the ring. Jaida Parker storms the ringside and fights both women off. Zaria spears Lyons and hits an F5 for the win.
Winner and STILL Women’s North American Champion, Zaria!
Grade: B-
Solid fatal four-way match. Zaria looked like a monster out there. Talk about getting your heat back. Rain has been impressive, but she needs to win a match or two that matter. This is the problem with fast-tracking new talent into the title picture. If they aren’t going to win, what’s the point? Give them a feud outside of the title to give fans a chance to find reasons to care about the superstar you claim to want to get over.
Tavion Heights vs. Jackson Drake w/The Vanity Project
Heights and Drake trade shots. Drake walks into a suplex from Heights that sends him into the turnbuckles. After the break, Drake lands a rope hanging dragon screw. Drake works on Heights injured leg. Heights fires up and sends Drake flying over the top onto Smokes and Baylor. Drake counters Height’s Belly-to-Belly with a sunset flip for the win!
Winner- Jackson Drake
Grade: B-
This was a solid TV match. Both Heights and Drake continue to impress. Not sure Drake needs Baylor and Smokes. Lockwood is more than enough.
NXT Women’s Championship Number One Contender Triple Threat match | Kali Armstrong vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice
Armstrong gets taken out early. Vice and Jordan trade shots. Armstrong runs over both women with clotheslines. Armstrong takes turns body slamming both her opponents. Jordan sends Armstrong flying with a springboard rana. Vice traps Jordan in a choke. Armstrong breaks it up. Jordan runs into a pop-up powerslam. Vice breaks up the pin. Vice lands a senton off the apron. Armstrong slips while trying to leap up top, but she recovers and lands a dive.
After the break, Jordan lands a double eat d’feet. Jordan tries her finish, but Vice counters with a triangle. Jordan turns it into a pin. Armstrong breaks it up. Vice locks Armstrong in an armbar. Jordan breaks up the submission with a frog splash! Vice manages to kick at two. Armstrong destroys Vice with the Kali-Connection. After a series of reversals, Vice blasts Armstrong with a Vice City. Jordan hits Armstrong with a 450 splash. Vice breaks up Jordan’s pin with a spin kick. Vice pins Armstrong.
Winner and NEW Number One Contender, Lola Vice!
Grade: B
This was an exciting triple threat match. Much like the four-way earlier, the action was non-stop. Armstrong, who was a standout in Evolve, was destined to eat the pin in this one. The monster push we thought Armstrong should have hasn’t materialized just yet, but given the talent there, it will happen. Vice needed a rematch to close things out with Champion Kendal Grey. We didn’t need this match to get us there, but this writer is happy we got it.
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