WWE NXT Review – August 8, 2023
Mustafa Ali vs. Axiom
Match starts off with lock up then they go back & forth with offensive moves, pinfall attempts and chops before Mustafa Ali shoves Axiom into the corner and delivers an uppercut.
Axiom delivers a hurricanrana to Ali from off the apron that sends him into the announce table face first then tosses him back inside and looks to ascend to the top rope. Scrypts appears at ringside & that captures Axiom’s attention & that allows Ali to roll him up.
Axiom kicks out and delivers an arm drag then follows it up with a kick and a suplex then delivers a standing moonsault and sits Ali on the top rope. He looks to join him but Ali fights his way out and delivers a clothesline.
Bronco Nima and Lucien Price join Scrypts on the ramp to watch the action as Axiom rolls up Ali but Ali kicks out and delivers a boot to Axiom’s face then looks to go flying off the ropes. Axiom pulls him down mid air before Ali responds with an enziguri to Axiom’s face.
Scrypts, Nima & Price head to the back while Ali delivers a neckbreaker. Axiom transitions into a Sleeper but Ali counters with a Jackhammer. Axiom hits a Code Red and a moonsault off the ropes outside the ring before Ali plants him with a DDT.
He dumps Axiom back in the ring and ascends to the top then looks for a 450 Splash but Axiom rolls out of the way and delivers a tornado DDT then looks to lock in an arm submission.
Ali escapes and locks in a Sharpshooter but Axiom makes his way over to the bottom rope to break the hold then they go back & forth with forearms before Ali sends Axiom crashing to the outside then gets him back inside the ring and delivers a 450 Splash for the win.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
After the match Ali calls his shot and says he gets the next match for the North American Title.
We then head backstage to a video of The Schism & they have a message for Creed Brothers. Joe Gacy tells Creed Brothers that they will find them and turn the Performance Center upside down to do so.
Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan
Match starts off with a lock up then Blair Davenport executes a mat return and a knee to Kelani Jordan’s midsection but Jordan fires back with a hurricanrana and a crossbody then rolls up Davenport but Davenport kicks out and rolls out of the ring.
Jordan follows her out there and tosses her back inside the ring but Davenport sends her crashing into the middle turnbuckle face first. Jordan fires back with a series of back elbows but Davenport delivers a kick to her face.
Davenport with a diving double stomp to her spine off the top rope then follows it up with Kamigoye for the win.
Winner: Blair Davenport
After the match Dana Brooke looks to attack Davenport with a belt but Davenport slides out of the ring. Brooke almost hits Jordan with the belt when she turns around to face her and chews her out for losing the match.
Von Wagner cuts a promo on Bron Breakker ahead of their match later tonight. Wagner promised to put Breakker through a table.
Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup Title Match
Noam Dar (c) vs. Tyler Bate
Round 1
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth with submission holds before Tyler Bate lands a dropkick. Dar goes for a pin but Bate kicks out and they continue locking one another in submissions. Bate looks for a shoulder block but Dar stays standing then they take each other down with clotheslines as Round 1 ends.
Round 2
Bate sends Dar crashing out of the ring then he goes flying over the top rope and levels him with a crossbody then tosses him back inside the ring and plants him with Tyler Driver 97 to get the win.
Bate 1-0
Round 3
After the break round 3 is coming to a close and Bate looks for a diving double stomp off the middle rope as they level one another with clotheslines and Bate pins Dar but Dar kicks out at the last second.
Round 4
Dar & Bate exchange forearms before Bate delivers a knee to Dar’s head then lands an uppercut off the middle rope and follows it up with an airplane spin then looks for a standing shooting star press and follows it up with a back elbow before transitioning into a Knee Bar. Bate counters into a pin forcing Dar to kick out and relinquish the hold. Dar locks the hold back in and Bate is forced to tap out.
Dar 1-1
Round 5
Dar keeps the Knee Bar locked in for a few extra seconds before round 5 begins and Dar delivers a pair of kicks to Bate’s chest. Bate fires off right hands on Dar but Dar locks in a Knee Bar. Bate escapes and rolls up Dar but Dar kicks out.
Bate then lands a rebound clothesline and looks for Tyler Driver 97 but Dar counters into a roll up then Bate reverses the roll up with one of his own to get the victory.
Winner & New Holder Of Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup Title: Tyler Bate (2-1) (Round 5) (NEW CHAMPION!!!!!!)
We then head backstage and see The Schism swarm Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. They ask them where Creed Brothers are but Walker & Ledger inform them that they have no clue as to their whereabouts. Schism then attacks Walker & Ledger before continuing their search.
After the break we see NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes nervous to watch what’s about to happen between Ilja Dragunov & Trick Williams in the locker room. Dijak & Wes Lee approach him and begin arguing over who Hayes’ next challenger should be. Dijak then attacks Lee.
Ilja Dragunov wastes no time and calls Trick Williams out to the ring to take responsibility for his actions.
Williams’ music hits and he appears. He says there’s no need to waste time and says he sees the look in Dragunov’s eyes. He says he knows Dragunov won’t be backing down and neither will he. Dragunov says Williams has no right to be making demands following The Great American Bash and reminds him what happened during their 1st bout in the ring. Williams says he lost control and let his anger get the best of him then gives him his flowers. He says he has a proposal for Dragunov & Dragunov says he’s only in the ring for retribution.
Williams says he never hit Dragunov with the NXT Title at The Great American Bash because Dragunov ran into it then challenges him to a match in order for him to prove himself. Dragunov tells Williams to look into his eyes because they burn red and whenever he looks to fulfill his destiny something gets in his way. He says this time will be different, then tells Williams to think about what he’s asking for. Williams says he’ll be bringing his A Game and although Dragunov has beaten countless he never beat Carmelo Hayes. Williams calls for the match to take place at Heatwave in 2 weeks and Dragunov accepts his challenge.
After the break Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey were interviewed talking trash about Hank Walker & Tank Ledger for being sidelined due to injury. Damo Kemp met them but they were interrupted by Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs & that sets up a tag match later on.
Backstage Kelly Kincaid is with Bron Breakker & he was asked what he thought about Von Wagner’s statements. When Breakker was told that Wagner promised to put him through a table Breakker stated the following give me a break.
After the break we see Rey Mysterio chatting with Roxanne Perez then he takes notice of Thea Hail and approaches her. He says he knows what it’s like to be the underdog and gives her some words of encouragement. Hail asks Rey about his relationship with Dominik Mysterio and Rey says while he still loves Dominik, he needs to realize who his real family is. Andre Chase & Duke Hudson then enter and Chase voices his excitement for Hail’s conversation with Rey. Hail tells Chase that unlike him Rey would never throw in the towel.
Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner
Bron Breakker delivers a knee to Von Wagner’s midsection then he fires off shoulders on his midsection before Wagner does the same to him. Breakker responds with a shoulder tackle but Wagner delivers a pair of his own and follows it up with a double underhook suplex.
Breakker rolls out of the ring and Wagner follows him then he eyeballs the announce table and starts to clear it but Breakker sends him into the ring apron spine first and dumps him back into the ring.
Wagner delivers a forearm and a right hand to Breakker’s spine then follows it up with a clothesline and sends Wagner’s head repeatedly into the mat. He delivers a few right hands to Breakker’s head but Breakker lands a German suplex and a standing moonsault.
He berates Wagner but Wagner gets fired up and they level one another with clotheslines before Wagner fires off right hands then delivers a back elbow and a splash in the corner but Breakker fires back with a Spear for the win.
Winner: Bron Breakker
After the match Wagner powerbombs Breakker through the announce table.
There was a vignette of Eddy Thorpe where he went to the woods to regain some footing after his loss against Dijak last week.
North American Champion Dominik Mysterio & Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley spoke backstage before Lyra Valkyria confronted her. Valkyria told Ripley to practice what she preaches and let Mysterio do it on his own.
After the break The Schism continues their search for Creed Brothers and ask if NXT Tag Team Champions The Family. They list off all the information they know but nothing about Creed Brothers. Jagger Reid says if they won’t talk then their friends can do something to make them do so. He adds that The Family has something they want the NXT Tag Team Titles. Gacy tells him & Rip Fowler to stay on task and Schism heads off.
Tag Team Match
Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey vs. Josh Briggs & Brooks Jansen
Drew Gulak & Brooks Jansen lock up to get this match started before Gulak delivers a pair of chops but Jensen takes several shots of his own and delivers a powerslam. Charlie Dempsey tags in and delivers a hip toss before Josh Briggs tags in and delivers a bodyslam.
He follows it up with an elbow drop and tags Jensen back in before Gulak tags in and is planted by Briggs & Jensen. Briggs becomes legal again and Gulak delivers a kick to his face. Briggs tosses him across the ring from off his shoulders then delivers a double right hand to Gulak while the referee is distracted.
Dempsey tags in and takes some shots at Briggs then tags Gulak back in & Gulak wears Briggs down then tags Dempsey in. Dempsey wears Briggs down with an arm submission but Briggs fights his way out with a powerbomb and tags Jensen in.
Jensen catches an interfering Gulak with a bodyslam then plants Dempsey on the mat then the action spills to the outside and both teams brawl.
Damon Kemp runs down and levels Jensen while the referee isn’t looking. He hands him over to Dempsey & Dempsey plants him with a dragon suplex for the win.
Winners: Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey
Backstage in the locker room Dana Brooke & Kelani Jordan argued before Brooke promised Jordan what her killer instinct should be next week when she faces Blair Davenport.
Ivy Nile vs. Kiana James
Match starts off with a lock up then Kiana James pulls Ivy Nile out of the ring and sends her crashing into the ring post then delivers a suplex and tosses her back into the ring. She goes for a pin but Nile kicks out and delivers an enziguri.
James delivers a jawbreaker off the ropes then follows it up with a kick to Nile’s spine and cinches in an arm and shoulder submission as we go to a break.
After the break The Schism appears at ringside and surrounds the ring as James delivers a kick to Nile. She cinches in a shoulder submission as Schism begins to hand on the ring apron in synch. Nile lands a back elbow and a series of kicks to James’ thigh then delivers a shoulder tackle and a hurricanrana.
James plants Nile with a spinebuster and locks in another shoulder submission then Nile fires back with a powerslam and looks to lock in her signature submission but gets too close to the ropes and stares down Ava as she relinquishes the hold & that opens the door for James to plant Nile for the win.
Winner: Kiana James
After the match The Schism gets inside the ring & 2 members hold Nile in place as Ava demands Nile tell her where Creed Brothers are before The Family runs down with crowbars in hand to provide Nile with a helping hand.
We then head over to a text message conversation between Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo about their late grandfather.
We then head backstage and see Meta 4 confront Tyler Bate. Meta 4 demands that Bate give Noam Dar his Heritage Cup back before Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer walks in and tries to get Dar to admit his Heritage Cup is a fake even offering him a shot at the real Heritage Cup at Heatwave. Dar does so and Bate gives Dar his cup back as promised.
Backstage McKenzie Mitchell is with Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton & she admitted that she went on a Shopping Spree and went for pink clothing because of the Barbie movie. Stratton admitted that she did not who would be her opponent before saying that it would be no one.
Trick Williams left the arena before Wes Lee told Trick Williams that he was coming for Carmelo Hayes. Damon Kemp, Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey confronted Williams in the Parking Lot but Williams calls them Oompa Loompas before challenging any of them to a match next week then Myles Borne walks in.
North American Title Match
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Dragon Lee
Match starts off with a lock up then Dragon Lee delivers a hurricanrana and a series of kicks but Dominik Mysterio winds up on the outside and stares down Rey Mysterio then Rhea Ripley gets in Rey’s face allowing Lee to deliver a dropkick to Dominik through the middle rope as we go to a break.
After the break Dominik delivers a jawbreaker to Lee off the ropes then follows it up with a dropkick and a knee to his midsection then executes 3 Amigos and goes for a pin. Lee kicks out and Dominik rains down right hands on him.
He unlaces Lee’s mask and looks to pull it off but Lee gets fired up before he can and lands a pair of back elbows. He clotheslines Dominik out of the ring and delivers a tope suicida then tosses him back inside the ring and delivers a knee to the side of his head.
They teeter on the top rope before Lee delivers a diving double stomp to Dominik’s chest. Dominik fires back with a neckbreaker and a series of forearms then lands a thrust kick and sends Lee into the ropes.
He dials it up for the 619 then ascends to the top and looks for a Frog Splash but Lee gets his knees up and lands a powerbomb then goes for a pin but Dominik kicks out.
Ripley slides Dominik into the North American Title but Rey grabs the North American Title out of his hand before Lee runs the ropes and Ripley hits him in the back of his head with the Women’s World Title before Dominik plants him with a Michinoku Driver for the win.
Winner & Still North American Champion: Dominik Mysterio (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!)
After the match Rey gets in Dominik’s face. Dominik holds up his North American Title before Rhea Ripley gets in between they and goads Rey on before Lyra Valkyria then blindsides Ripley and Lee attacks Dominik.
Matches Of The Night
Mustafa Ali vs. Axiom- 7/10
Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup Title Match- 7/10
North American Title Match- 7/10
Next Week’s NXT
Blair Davenport vs. Dana Brooke
NXT Tag Team Titles Match
The Family (Tony D’Angelo & Stacks) (c) vs. The Dyad (Jagger Reid & Rip Fowler)
NXT Title #1 Contenders Match
Wes Lee vs. Dijak
Trick Williams vs. Drew Gulak
Heatwave Card So Far (August 25th)
Trick Williams vs. Ilja Dragunov
Heritage Cup Title Match
Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Noam Dar
NXT Title Match
Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Wes Lee or Dijak
