On July 8, 2025, at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, Ricky Saints claimed a decisive win in a demanding Gauntlet Match that aired live on The CW. This victory earned him the authority to select the stipulation for his upcoming North American title contest, setting the stage for a compelling showdown at The Great American Bash.
The battle began with Saints facing Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and Jackson Drake consecutively in a gauntlet format. From the outset, Baylor came out aggressively but was quickly subdued by Saints’ precise missile dropkick from the top rope. Despite Baylor regaining momentum with a backbreaker and neckbreaker combination, Saints countered with a back body drop followed by a tornado DDT for the pin at 3:10.
Following Baylor, Saints squared off against Ricky Smokes, known from the tag team Swipe Right. After an exchange of offense, Saints sent Smokes flying with an overhead throw and wrapped up the match with a rollup at 5:50.
The final challenge was Jackson Drake, who used submission techniques to wear down a fatigued Saints, including a punishing bow and arrow hold. Drake nearly secured multiple near-falls, showcasing his technical skill. Nevertheless, Saints recovered and executed the Roshambo finisher from a high elevation to secure the victory at 9:24.
Immediately after the match, Saints exercised his earned privilege to name the stipulation for his North American title bout, announcing it would be a falls-count-anywhere match at The Great American Bash. This announcement promises a more brutal and unpredictable encounter for fans.
Other Notable Matches and Storylines Unfolded on NXT TV
The night opened with glimpses of the NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank backstage, alongside Joe Hendry, Mike Santana, and Ava, who was accompanied by Robert Stone and Stevie Turner.
In another high-stakes contest, Charlie Dempsey faced Tavion Heights in a match with personal consequences: if Heights lost, he could no longer challenge Dempsey. Despite a promising display of wrestling fundamentals, the match concluded with Dempsey forcing a submission sequence, leading to referee intervention by Wren Sinclair who threw in the towel at 6:02, giving the win to Dempsey. This outcome ensures ongoing tension between the two competitors, despite the official stipulation barring further challenges.
Later, Mike Santana and Joe Hendry teamed up against Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, accompanied by Wes Lee. Hendry showcased his strength early, tossing the bigger Dupont and maintaining control alongside Santana. The match climaxed with Santana’s discus clothesline pinning Dupont at 5:54. The bout underscored NXT’s dominance over their TNA rivals, especially as Trick Williams, Lee, and The High Ryze intervened post-match to attack the defeated challengers.
Women’s Division Heats Up Ahead of Evolution Event
Backstage, Sol Ruca and Zaria expressed enthusiasm about their upcoming tag team title assault at Evolution. Lainey Reid sought to undermine Ruca’s confidence, provoking Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice to step forward and accept Reid’s challenge. This confrontation promises high drama in the women’s tag division.
Kelani Jordan delivered a strong performance in her match against Lainey Reid. Despite Reid’s early leg attacks with a dragon screw legwhip, Jordan mounted a comeback and secured victory with a striking split-legged moonsault from the second turnbuckle at 5:06. Following the match, Thea Hail made a surprise appearance to aggressively confront Reid, signaling further fallout from the encounter.
In a lighter, less wrestling-focused segment, Jordynne Grace was seen reluctantly participating in a glamour-filled salon day with Blake Monroe. Though skeptical at first, Grace admitted to enjoying the pampering, framing it as part of their plan leading into their respective matches at The Great American Bash and Evolution.
Tag Team Champions Defend Titles Amidst Chaotic Encounters
The reigning NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank faced off against Shawn Spears and Niko Vance from The Culling. The match started with a high-impact brawl before the bell, with the champions aggressively attacking their challengers. Both sides utilized double teams, and intense action spilled to the outside area, culminating in Tank being launched into commentator Booker T by Vance.
Midway through, The Culling appeared close to seizing control, but interference from Sol Ruca and Zaria disrupted their momentum. The match concluded with Hank and Tank executing a finishing double-team maneuver, retaining their titles in a hard-fought 7:02 contest.
Rising Stars and Veteran Appearances Add Depth to the Show
Yoshiki Inamura, backed by industry veterans such as The Great Muta, Naomichi Marufuji, Ulka Sasaki, Iyo Sky, and Kaito Kiyomiya, prepared for his NXT Championship challenge against Oba Femi. In an intense verbal exchange in the ring, Inamura confidently predicted his victory, challenging Femi’s claim to the title. Josh Briggs, accompanying Inamura, vowed to support the challenger, even confronting the champion directly during the heated argument.
Meanwhile, a Darkstate video segment depicted their recent invasion of TNA Impact, laying claim to the attack on Hank and Tank weeks earlier. This group’s actions continue to add an unpredictable element to the overall NXT narrative landscape.
Rising Tensions and Future Match Announcements Shape NXT’s Landscape
In a backstage development, the former members of the D’Angelo Family—Tony, Luca, and Stacks—were arranged by Adriana Rizzo into a triple threat match for one final showdown, reflecting ongoing friction and mistrust within their ranks.
Je’Von Evans experienced multiple assaults from Jasper Troy, intensifying their bitter rivalry and escalating the stakes for their anticipated clash for the NXT title at The Great American Bash. Despite his injuries, Evans retaliated fiercely in the ring after Troy demanded a triple threat stipulation from Ava.
Women’s Battle Royal and Evolution Summit Highlight the Show’s Climactic Moments
Ava addressed the crowd at the Evolution summit, reflecting on the event’s history and growth since 2018. She highlighted Iyo Sky’s journey from a Mae Young Classic finalist to current World Champion and announced that six women—Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, and Tatum Paxley—would represent NXT in a battle royal.
Fatal Influence interrupted, sparking a confrontation involving Jacy Jayne, Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, and surprise returnee Stephanie Vaquer, who received a strong crowd response. Natalya and Maxxine Dupree also spoke, and as excited competitors like Ivy Nile, Zelina Vega, and Lola Vice took their places ringside, a chaotic battle royal broke out to close the show.
Why Ricky Saints’s Gauntlet Win Matters for The Great American Bash
Ricky Saints’s triumph in the grueling Gauntlet Match serves as a pivotal moment leading into The Great American Bash, as the choice of a falls-count-anywhere stipulation guarantees an intense, high-stakes North American title match. His resilience through three consecutive opponents illustrates his physical and mental stamina, setting the tone for what is expected to be a headline-grabbing main event.
This victory strengthens Saints’s position within NXT’s competitive roster, while also promising fans a dramatic and unpredictable climax at the upcoming major event. The fallout from other ongoing feuds, such as the Dempsey-Heights rivalry, the escalating tensions between Troy and Evans, and the ongoing battles within the women’s division, indicate a dynamic and evolving wrestling scene that will continue to captivate viewers.
As NXT progresses toward The Great American Bash and Evolution, the outcomes and storylines from this episode will undoubtedly influence future matchups, alliances, and rivalries, maintaining a high level of engagement among the wrestling community.
