WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 18

With just 12 days remaining before Great American Bash 2023, WWE NXT presented a night of action as a part of its July 18 edition.

After getting a peak at the gold brand last week, Dominik Mysterio returned alongside Rhea Ripley to challenge Wes Lee for the NXT North American Championship. Would Dirty Dom throw a wrench into the plans of GAB challenger Mustafa Ali?

Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer hoped to shut up Los Lotharios, who have menaced NXT for weeks. Could they beat the seasoned duo of Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo?

Gigi Dolin and Kiana James would fight for a second time following weeks of mind games. Thea Hail hoped to pick up more momentum in a match with Elektra Lopez. Which women would win and emerge as potential challengers to Tiffany Stratton?

Tony D'Angelo would make his Homecoming to NXT after a long stint in the local penitentiary. Gallus was certain to be close behind, awaiting a coming challenge from The Don and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo.

It was also expected that Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov would have something to say as the date approached for their NXT Championship clash.

It was not the most eye-catching night of action, but NXT continued to deliver fresh matches while building toward another major premium live event.

Ilja Dragunov Stands Up to Carmelo Hayes

Carmelo Hayes blamed Ilja Dragunov for costing him and Trick Williams the main event last week. The Czar made clear that he was doing what he needed to in order to finally fight for the NXT Championship. The two ended the segment glaring eye to eye.

This was fine but not a very exciting start to the show. Melo is a much better promo than Dragunov, so he had to hold back to avoid overshadowing him. With limited build, this also just lacked real heat.

The match will be great, but NXT continues to struggle to take the necessary steps to make Melo feuds must-watch television. Other stories across the show are more involved while The A Champion just relies on his natural charisma and athleticism to get by.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Melo admitted that he could not work at the same physical pace as Dragunov has in the past few weeks.
• The A Champion also said he knew that everyone was judging him as NXT champion.
• "For one of us, it is going to be champagne. For the other one of us, it is going to be just pain." Melo committed to this line fully, more than it deserved.
• Later, Melo, Trick and Dragunov got into a brawl with Schism backstage.
  

Los Lotharios vs. Nathan Frazer and Dragon Lee (w/ Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon)

After Los Lotharios got too focused on flirting with Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon at ringside, Nathan Frazer took them out with a dropkick and outside dive. He sent Humberto back into the ring to take a tilt-a-whirl inverted DDT to win.

This was a phenomenal tag team match. Dragon and Frazer keep delivering each week in the ring. It also helped that Los Lotharios were working motivated. It is shocking a team this good could not find time on SmackDown or Raw.

While it is concerning that Los Lotharios and seem set to break up, the future should be still be bright for Angel and Humberto. They are impressive, polished athletes. If they stick with NXT, they can have good matches together and apart with the NXT roster.

Result

Dragon and Frazer def. Los Lotharios by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Los Lotharios caught Frazer diving and threw him into Dragon as the luchador went for his own dive.
• Los Lotharios press slammed Dragon then Angel hit Frazer with a moonsault outside while Humberto hit the luchador with one inside for a nearfall.
• Humberto kicked out of Dragon's sit-out powerbomb, which may indicate that is no longer his finisher.
• After the match, Garza yelled at Humberto until he got pushed to the floor. Humberto walked out on his partner through the crowd.

Gigi Dolin vs. Kiana James

Gigi Dolin got too focused on Kiana James' bag after it was pulled into the ring. James took advantage and hit her with a 401K on the bag.

After an uninvolved three minutes, this match crawled to a lazy finish that made Dolin look terrible. This was a waste after another month of build for this rivalry.

The only thing interesting in this story is the tease that Dolin may push James to evolve. That was not seen in this match at all. Dolin just lost some credibility.

Result

James def. Dolin by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Baron Corbin found himself in the wood at the end of the flaming TIKI torches.

Axiom and SCRYPTS vs. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price

After a couple minutes, SCRYPTS blasted Axiom with a right hand and watched as Bronco Nima and Lucien Price picked up the pieces. The new tag won by hitting a corner clothesline followed by an Irish Whip into a big boot.

What was the point? Axiom and SCRYPTS have been stuck together for months, and the only interesting story thread for their potential tag team. Just as quickly as it formed, it has vanished.

The superhero duo ruined any momentum that Dabba-Kato had. Axiom has always been established as far too big a star to feud with SCRYPTS, so why is that story continuing?

This was a flat showcase for Nima and Price. They barely got in any offense, and this did not establish their characters either.

Result

Nima and Price def. Axiom and SCRYPTS by pinfall.

Grade

F

Notable Moments

• NXT showed video from last week where SCRYPTS agreed to a match against Nima and Price. Axiom told him that they were not a tag team.
  
• SCYPTS and Axiom looked good in their entrance, moving together in a blur.
  

The D'Angelo Family Stand Tall Over Gallus

Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo celebrated in the ring with their family. An enraged Joe Coffey walked out with Mark Coffey and Wolfgang. A brawl started that ended with The Family on top with the NXT Tag Team Championships.

This was a solid segment to put an exclamation mark on a solid story. NXT put two months into this, and it paid off. The Family is ready to take the championships from Gallus.

The storytelling chops of these teams have been on full display, and the in-ring action should compliment the build. This will be a physical brawl where The Don and The Underboss will find a tactic to overcome Joe at ringside.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Stacks met D'Angelo on his way out of jail, driving him home in style.
  
• The Underboss showed a full video of his plan with The Don coming to fruition.
  

Thea Hail (w/ Duke Hudson) vs. Elektra Lopez (w/ Lola Vice)

Elektra Lopez dominated the opening of this match, but Thea Hail reversed right into the Kimura Lock to force a tap-out.

After the match, Hail called out Tiffany Stratton. The Center of the Universe walked out and accepted the rematch. The challenger wanted to make it a submission match, and she trapped the champion in a Kimura until she accepted.

This barely lasted a minute. While Lopez can do more than he showed here, this made sense as Hail continues to build her legitimacy. NXT has done everything possible to sell that everyone taps out to the Kimura.

By making the women's match submission-focused, this should aid Stratton's continued evolution, adding a submission finisher to her arsenal.

This feud puts Hail in the biggest match of her career while challenging Stratton as champion. The champion will win, but both women can walk out as made stars.

Result

Hail def. Lopez by submission.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Lopez and Vice cut a pre-taped promo on Hail's unworthiness for a title shot.
  
• Stratton continues to put over Hail big, once again tapping out to her Kimura Lock.
  

Eddy Thorpe v. Oro Mensah (w/ Meta-Four)

With the help of Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson, Noam Dar and Dijak, Oro Mensah pulled off a huge upset over Eddy Thorpe with a running spinning heel kick in the corner.

This was a shocking result after Thorpe's impressive win in NXT Underground. However, he was heavily protected. Dijak vs. Thorpe is a smart feud for both men that will get The Alpha Wolf right back on track.

Meanwhile, Meta-Four is starting to regroup as a stable. Dar is selling his deep depression well, and it is allowing everyone else in the group to speak for themselves. This stable has come around quickly.

Result

Mensah def. Thorpe by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Meta-Four apologized to Thorpe about missing Supernova Sessions by giving him a signed picture of Dar with the Heritage Cup. Thorpe ripped it.
• Jackson and Legend distracted the referee by rolling a barely conscious Dar into the ring. Dijak struck Thorpe behind the referee's back.
  
• Gable Steveson promised to make his decision about his future next week.
  

Roxanne Perez Walks Out on Joint Interview with Blair Davenport

Blair Davenport told Roxanne Perez that she was not ready to compete in the new NXT. The Prodigy responded by promising to bring a rage that she has never shown before.

Davenport continued to mock Perez until The Prodigy walked out on the interview.

NXT has a strong story to tell with Perez and Davenport. Their first match lacked the necessary fire and ferocity, but it sounds like The Prodigy is ready to match her opponent physically in round two.

If so, this could be a showstealer. It will be an important turning point in the career of Perez, who can prove herself and get back on track. If she fails though, The Prodigy might not get back to the title picture any time soon.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• NXT Anonymous caught Booker T motivating Perez earlier in the day.
  
• Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan did some impressive gymnastics exercises together.

NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rhea Ripley)

Rhea Ripley was the deciding player in this match, bashing Wes Lee with the Women's World Championship while Finn Bálor and Damian Priest played distraction. Dominik Mysterio covered him to win the NXT North American Championship.

Mysterio is at a level in the ring where he can benefit from reps like this. He kept this slower than needed for the first ten minutes, but the contest did begin to pick up once Lee began his comeback. This was certainly below Lee's usual standard as champion.

This was a difficult way to end an impressive reign by Lee, who broke every record for an NXT North American champion. However, it certainly protected the champion, who was completely outworking Dirty Dom before The Judgment Day stole it.

This leaves Mustafa Ali in an awkward position come Great American Bash. How will the title match change for the PLE? Many questions are left unanswered following a genuinely surprising result.

Result

Mysterio def. Lee by pinfall to become the new NXT North American champion.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Backstage, Ali questioned Lee giving Dominik Mysterio a title match.
• Ripley called out Lyra Valkyria backstage, telling her to make a statement at the expense of Jacy Jayne.
• Dirty Dom actually managed to hit the 619 for a nearfall, but he missed the frog splash.
  

Overall Show

This was a bad show. Outside of the opening tag team match, every other match was forgettable to actively bad. The main redeeming segment was Tony D'Angelo's Homecoming.

NXT tried to take several swings to build stories for the future, but none really worked. SCRYPTS turned heel again for no reason. Gigi Dolin lost her mind in order to lose a bad match.

The only possible exception is the surprise win of Dominik Mysterio. It could be interesting to see him as a champion, but it looked far better to end Wes Lee's reign by handing over the reins to Mustafa Ali.

The build to Great American Bash was muted at best. Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov had a lackluster segment. Thea Hail has been too dominant to believe in the end that she will actually beat Tiffany Stratton.

It is clear that the NXT bookers wanted to make a splash. This show will be talked about on SmackDown and Raw after the ending. However, too little was actually entertaining to watch in order to get people talking.

Overall Grade: D