The WWE NXT brand held its final episode before the Great American Bash on Saturday, July 12, at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. During this broadcast, Ricky Saints earned the right to select the stipulation for his upcoming North American Championship match against Ethan Page, intensifying the stakes for the bash. This episode also highlighted multiple rivalries heating up across the men’s and women’s divisions, setting a tense yet ambitious tone for the weekend’s big event.
Ricky Saints Claims Gauntlet Victory and Declares Match Stipulation
Ricky Saints emerged victorious in a challenging Gauntlet Match against Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and Jackson Drake, securing his opportunity to dictate terms in his North American Championship match against Ethan Page at the Great American Bash. The gauntlet featured Saints showcasing a blend of technical skill and power moves, culminating in his pin over Drake after a harsh Roshambo powerslam.
The industrious 20-year-old Brad Baylor started the gauntlet, wrestling valiantly against Saints but ultimately succumbing to a Tornado DDT. Next came Ricky Smokes, who was dispatched after an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and a reverse DDT combination. Jackson Drake, the Evolve Champion, brought aggression and precision but could not withstand Saints’ persistent offense.
Following his victory, Saints manifested confidence, announcing that the bout at the Great American Bash against Ethan Page would be a Falls Count Anywhere match, promising a wild and unpredictable contest on Saturday night.
“At Great American Bash, I’ll dogwalk Ethan Page’s ass around Atlanta. It will be a Falls Count Anywhere Match.” —Ricky Saints
This stipulation heightens anticipation for the North American title encounter, with both competitors familiar with each other’s styles and running backgrounds in NXT. Industry observers note that either man is prepared for a potential main roster push, making this match a pivotal moment.
Emerging Storylines Set Tensions for Title Contenders and Upcoming Matches
The tag team scene remained lively as Hank Walker and Tank Ledger successfully defended their NXT Tag Team Championships against The Culling’s Shawn Spears and Niko Vance. Wearing their USA-themed gear, Hank and Tank controlled significant portions of the roughly 12-minute match, enduring near falls and strategic distractions involving The Culling’s associates Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley. The champions prevailed with a combined powerslam and shoulder tackle, retaining their belts.
Following the bout, a confrontation ignited between Sol Ruca and Izzi Dame regarding the NXT Women’s North American Championship scheduled for Evolution. Although Ruca and her partner Zaria had lost their previous match, WWE booked them as challengers nonetheless, sparking commentary about booking choices.
Elsewhere, the ongoing rivalry between Jasper Troy and Je’Von Evans escalated after Troy launched a brutal attack on Evans behind the scenes. Security had to intervene as the two brawled in the ring, foreshadowing a physical match at the Great American Bash.
In tag team action, Mike Santana and Joe Hendry, contenders for the TNA World Title, defeated The High Ryze (Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe) in a tactical encounter. The heels leveraged distractions and group tactics both during and after the match, culminating in an attack by Trick Williams that added an extra layer of storyline intrigue.
Women’s Division Spotlighted with Intense Promo Summit and Battle Royal Preview
The NXT Women’s Evolution Summit offered a vivid showcase of passion and promise, featuring a crowded ring filled with prominent female talent from NXT and other WWE brands. NXT General Manager Ava recounted the growth of women’s wrestling since the inaugural Women’s Evolution Pay-Per-View in 2018 and introduced six NXT contenders for the upcoming Battle Royal at Evolution — Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, and Tatum Paxley.
The segment became chaotic as rivals Jacy Jayne (NXT Women’s Champion) and Jordynne Grace exchanged verbal and physical challenges, representing the competitive nature of the women’s division entering Evolution. Several performers, including Stephanie Vaquer, Natalya, and Maxxine Dupri, made strong proclamations about their chances in the Battle Royal, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming show.
The confrontation ended with a large brawl involving referees attempting to reestablish order, reinforcing the high stakes and combative spirit expected for the Women’s Battle Royal and associated matches.
“Evolution is about the women who paved the way for us. I’ll be the one steering this division into the future.” —Jordynne Grace
Key Moments: Singles Action and Backstage Tensions
Several notable singles matches and backstage exchanges added more layers to the unfolding stories heading into the Great American Bash. Kelani Jordan secured a hard-earned pinfall over Lainey Reid after a difficult four-minute bout. Following the match, Thea Hail attacked Reid in retaliation for previous cheating, sparking a bitter feud that remains unresolved.
In a sitdown backstage scene, Tony D’Angelo met with Angela Rizzo, Luca Crusifino, and NXT Heritage Champion Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. The group debated their legacy and upcoming triple threat match, underscoring shifting alliances and distrust within their faction.
Meanwhile, Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs engaged in a face-to-face confrontation with NXT Champion Oba Femi. Inamura pledged to win the title at the Great American Bash with the support of his fans and allies, while Femi questioned Inamura’s worthiness. Briggs, who has a more aggressive demeanor, declared his intent to aid Inamura by any means necessary in a contest that promises tension and unpredictability.
“At the Great American Bash, I’ll fight with honor and become the new NXT Champion.” —Yoshiki Inamura
“Maybe they’ll pick up Inamura when Femi beats him. I wonder if Inamura can lose with honor.” —Oba Femi
“At The Bash, Inamura will beat Femi’s ass. Inamura is a man of honor while I’m a man of mayhem.” —Josh Briggs
Match Highlights and Analysis:
Gauntlet Match: Ricky Saints’ performance was technically and physically impressive as he dispatched three opponents using a wide array of moves, ultimately granting him the power to choose his title match stipulation. This segment also introduced young, promising talent including Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and Jackson Drake.
Tag Team Championship Match: Hank Walker and Tank Ledger delivered the most compelling action of the night, overcoming The Culling’s combined efforts to seize potential upset moments. Though the current NXT tag team division has fewer standout teams than before, the champions demonstrated cohesion and resilience.
Singles Contest: Charlie Dempsey defeated Tavion Heights via submission after targeting a leg injury. This victory enhances Dempsey’s momentum without ejecting Heights from the No Quarter Catch Crew, complicating his storyline status.
Tag Match: Joe Hendry and Mike Santana defeated The High Ryze, with post-match attacks by Trick Williams setting up further alliances and rivalries within the brand.
Upcoming Matches and Event Expectations for Great American Bash
The highly anticipated card for the July 12 Great American Bash includes several title matches and intense grudge bouts. The main event matches scheduled are:
- NXT Championship: Oba Femi defends against Yoshiki Inamura
- NXT Women’s North American Championship: Sol Ruca versus Izzi Dame
- NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Ricky Saints in a Falls Count Anywhere match
- TNA World Championship Contract Signing: Trick Williams (c), Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana
- Singles Match: Jasper Troy vs. Je’Von Evans
- Tag Team Match: Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe vs. Fatal Influence (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley)
These matches reflect ongoing storylines, with fresh challenges and highly personal rivalries coming to a head. The addition of the Troy versus Evans match adds more intrigue to the card, especially after their backstage brawl.
Women’s Summit and Battle Royal Tease at NXT Evolution
The women’s summit segment served as a platform to showcase NXT’s depth and the intense competitiveness between its female athletes. With the multi-woman Battle Royal set for Evolution, many involved wrestlers expressed confidence and determination to win, highlighting the evolving dynamics within WWE’s women’s divisions. The summit ended in an all-out brawl that communicates the unpredictable nature of this upcoming high-profile match.
Overall Reflection on NXT’s Current Landscape
This episode of NXT successfully advanced storylines and promoted the Great American Bash, but the quality of matchups varied, often feeling routine amidst moments of solid action, such as the tag team title bout and Ricky Saints’ gauntlet. The men’s singles division currently lacks a robust stable of compelling, top-tier contenders, with less in-ring excitement than earlier periods of the year. Conversely, the women’s division continues to demonstrate strength with dynamic interpersonal rivalries and surprising developments.
Fans can expect some energetic contests at the Great American Bash, though the lineup might not reach the heights of NXT’s best recent events. The episode left viewers anticipating the fallout from the Falls Count Anywhere stipulation, the evolving factions backstage, and the debut of new talents highlighted during the broadcast.
Broadcast Information for WWE NXT Great American Bash
WWE NXT Great American Bash will air on Saturday, July 12, at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. The event will be available live on Peacock in the United States and Netflix internationally. Viewers can expect multiple title defenses and heated confrontations that have been meticulously built during the NXT programming leading up to this event.
