WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 25

Just five days before Great American Bash, WWE NXT was scrambling after a shocking title change last week. The June 25 edition of the gold brand would feature new champion Dominik Mysterio as well as Rhea Ripley.

Wes Lee's record-breaking NXT North American Championship reign was ended ignominiously due to the interference of The Judgment Day. He and Mustafa Ali were certain to confront the new champion with aspirations of getting their own deserved title shot.

Ripley agreed to fight Lyra Valkyria one-on-one this week. The Valkyrie was looking to prove herself against the best.

Joe Gacy continued to pursue gold via his mind games. He convinced Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams to team with No. 1 contender Ilja Dragunov to battle Schism.

Cora Jade and Dana Brooke looked to settle their issues in a Kendo Stick match, while Gable Steveson was expected to make a decision about his future with NXT and amateur wrestling.

Events on Tuesday night would set the final stage for NXT's biggest show of the summer and was certain to be explosive.

Wes Lee and Mustafa Ali Come to Blows After Confronting Dom Mysterio and Rhea Ripley

Wes Lee interrupted "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley, challenging Dirty Dom to a match Tuesday night. An angry Mustafa Ali arrived as well.

A brawl broke out between Ali and Lee while Mysterio and Ripley walked out smiling.

NXT has rarely nailed the main roster formula of opening with a promo, but this genuinely worked. This was a hot start to the night.

The crowd gave Dirty Dom no quarter, and Ripley had to commit to just speaking louder than them. Ali and Lee sold how much the NXT North American title meant to both of them.

While last week's main event was not the best match, the aftermath has been electric. NXT is benefiting from a larger spotlight with Dom as champion, and it could mean both Lee and Ali will be out of contention sooner than later.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• It was difficult to hear Dirty Dom as the crowd was booing him so loudly.
  
• Ripley responded to "Cut your mullet" chants by making clear that he would never cut his hair.
• Ali and Lee got in each other's faces after the No. 1 contender insinuated he would have beaten the former champion.
• Lyra Valkyria explained in an interview that she wanted to "see where she stands" in the women's division by fighting Ripley.
• It was later announced Mysterio would defend against both Ali and Lee at the Great American Bash. Dirty Dom did not seem confident in his chances.
  

Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams and Ilja Dragunov vs. Schism

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes did not get on the same page, but two masked men attacked The Dyad at ringside.

This left Joe Gacy alone. Melo got a blind tag and hit Nothing But Net to win.

Trick Williams took incidental contact during the match from The Czar and blamed the challenger for intentionally trying to take him out.

This was a solid tag team match, but the various dramatics at ringside stopped this from reaching a top gear. Gacy and Melo could not lose to Schism, but the group also couldn't lose clean. The result made sense even if it hurt the quality of the contest.

It looks like The Creed Brothers are not done with Gacy and The Dyad, assuming they were under the masks. This feud has run its course mostly, but keeping Diamond Mine in NXT for a while longer is a positive.

Result

Melo, Trick and Dragunov def. Schism by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• It was refreshing for once to see the NXT champion and No. 1 contender on the final episode of NXT before the pay-per-view.
• Melo saved Trick from a double suplex and then hit side-by-side running clotheslines with his friend.
• The Czar accidentally caught Trick with a running uppercut into the steel steps.
• Backstage, Trick got in Dragunov's face despite Melo telling him to back off.
• Melo warned Dragunov that Trick was going to call him out for a fight by the end of the night. The Czar was not worried, warning Trick that he would be broken.
  

Von Wagner (w/ Mr. Stone) vs. Javier Bernal

Von Wagner made short work of Javier Bernal, beating him down before hitting a rotating side slam for the victory.

Afterward, Wagner sent Big Body Javy through the announce table by the will of the NXT Universe.

The big man could not celebrate, though, as Bron Breakker speared him into the floor and smacked him with a steel chair.

It was good to see Wagner finally get back on track with a win. He worked this match confident and focused with a crowd genuinely behind him through the squash.

The trick here was that it wasn't just a squash match. Breakker has chosen his next target in Wagner. These two have fought before, but both are in more comfortable roles.

Even if Wagner does not defeat Breakker, he can benefit from working with the former world champion. The heel should only further help build up the big man as a babyface.

Result

Wagner def. Bernal by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Big Body Javy apparently asked for this match due to an interaction at a recent NXT house show. Booker T talked up Bernal's aggressive side before he was crushed.
• After Breakker's sneak attack, the crowd chanted "You still suck!" at him.
  
• NXT showed a hype vignette for Tiffany Stratton, who called Thea Hail's actions last week in forcing her into a match "despicable."
  

Gable Steveson Chooses to Make NXT Debut at Great American Bash

Gable Steveson weighed his options, possibly going after another national championship in college or a second Olympic gold medal, but Baron Corbin interrupted.

The 23-year-old suplexed The Lone Wolf and challenged him to a match at Great American Bash.

While Steveson may be coming along as an in-ring worker, he is still a terrible promo. He looked lifeless reading off his lines to a man who was talking circles around him.

WWE clearly trusts him to start his WWE career big, immediately wrestling Corbin. While this is good for the Olympian, it doesn't bode well for his rival getting back on track in NXT anytime soon.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Corbin said he was ready to cross lines he never had before to get ahead.
• Two weeks of Corbin vignettes ends with this, and he looks the same as he did before he left.
  

Kendo Stick: Cora Jade vs. Dana Brooke (w/ Kelani Jordan)

Dana Brooke made Cora Jade pay by using a variety of kendo sticks to wipe out her challenger. With some help from Kelani Jordan, she hit a senton bomb onto Jade with kendo sticks and a steel chair beneath her to win.

This was not very good. The two could not find a pace that worked for them and looked too much like they were setting up spots, only for those spots to make little impact.

Brooke defeating Jade even with help does not do much for either woman. The crowd is still more behind the NXT regular, and Brooke looked more like the heel throughout.

Perhaps the point is to bring in someone to help Jade even the odds, but it would be best to move on from this feud entirely. Jade and Brooke do not have any chemistry.

Result

Brooke def. Jade by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Brooke immediately went after Jade and dumped her over the announce table. Jade responded by tripping her onto the table and smacking her with a kendo stick.
• Jade tried to introduce a steel chair, but Jordan got involved to help Brooke, handing her weapons to protect herself.
• In a private ring, Damon Kemp convinced Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey to work with him.
• NXT showed footage of Roxanne Perez and Blair Davenport fighting in a gas station. The Prodigy stood tall.
  

Tony D'Angelo and Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo vs. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price

Bronco Nima and Lucien Price dominated the action early, including taking cheap shots at Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo to stay in control.

Once Tony D'Angelo got the hot tag, though, he was unstoppable. He sealed the win with the Bada Boom.

Gallus appeared on the titantron and warned that they were still staying on top after the Great American Bash.

While Nima and Price showed more in their second match in NXT, they have already lost some credibility. The Family ran over them to build momentum for their tag team title match.

It looks like Scrypts may be working with these two for the long term. That could help them, but only once he has escaped his feud with Axiom, which he cannot win.

The Don looked good here, and the hype is clear for the NXT Tag Team Championships match. It is the right time to finally crown D'Angelo.

Result

The Family def. Nima and Price by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Scrypts was on commentary for this match. Booker T awkwardly told Vic Joseph repeatedly to call him "Reginald."
  
• Axiom attacked Scrypts and ran him off through the ring.
  

Meta-Four Finally Wakes Up Noam Dar on Supernova Sessions

During the latest Supernova Sessions, Meta-Four presented Noam Dar with a new Heritage Cup, which awakened The Scottish Supernova from his catatonic state.

Nathan Frazer and Dragon Lee questioned the legitimacy of the Cup, starting a brawl with Meta-Four that also included Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz.

This Meta-Four reintroduction has worked very well. The group has comedic timing to spare, and Dar has been especially hilarious. Now that he has his mojo back, Frazer vs. Dar is a far more exciting matchup.

It is unlikely that The Scottish Supernova will get his Cup back, but Frazer will only truly feel like he earned his title when he has actually defeated Dar.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Dijak warned Eddy Thorpe not to get too cocky from just one big win.
• Chase U hyped up Thea Hail for her title match at the Great American Bash.
• Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo argued in the parking lot after their loss last week, and Humberto made clear he was done listening to his teammate.
  

Rhea Ripley (w/ Dominik Mysterio) vs. Lyra Valkyria

Even with Dominik Mysterio helping her, Rhea Ripley had a tough time putting away Lyra Valkyria.

The Valkyrie nearly won off a frog splash, but after a kick-out, The Eradicator got serious and took the win with a Riptide.

After the win, Ripley refocused Valkyria on making Jacy Jayne pay, defeating her soundly when they next fought.

While Ripley rarely wrestles on WWE television these days, she does deliver with every chance she gets. This was a phenomenal showcase of her talent while also elevating The Valkyrie.

She looked like a legitimate threat to The Eradicator down the stretch, even if she was never going to actually win. Valkyria also needed this opportunity as she continues to inch closer to the top of the NXT card.

At this point, Valkyria needs to beat Jayne in the rematch of the two rivals. After that, The Valkyrie could quickly rejoin the NXT Women's Championship scene.

Result

Ripley def. Valkyria by pinfall.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• Ripley caught Valkyria running with a headbutt and then went for a frog splash, but The Valkyrie knocked her off the post to the floor.
• Dirty Dom took a suicide dive to save Mami, but it did not stop Valkyria from taking down Ripley with a headscissors takedown outside followed by a DDT and frog splash in the ring to almost win.

Ilja Dragunov Stands Tall in Brawl with Trick Williams

Trick Williams called out Ilja Dragunov, and The Czar answered.

The No. 1 contender came out in fancy black attire and wiped out Trick. After a series of chops, he hit two running low forearms.

Carmelo Hayes made the save, taking the Torpedo Moscow for Trick.

This was the most heated segment involving the NXT Championship in all of 2023. The way Dragunov coldly stomped to the ring to lay out Trick after warning him to back down was next-level greatness.

The challenger looked unstoppable, and NXT smartly booked this to never make The Czar the outright heel. Melo did not want Trick to take this fight. Dragunov did not want Trick to take this fight. Trick did it anyway and paid for it.

This became personal quickly, and that should only add to what will be the match of the night at Sunday's Great American Bash.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

• Dragunov put over Melo's honors and loyalty to his friend, but he warned that Trick was all he would have left after the Great American Bash.
  

Overall Show

While the wrestling this week was not at NXT's best level, the storytelling has rarely been stronger. From the opening segment to the closing brawl, this was a Great American Bash go-home show through and through.

Dominik Mysterio has now seamlessly integrated himself into the NXT North American Championship scene, setting up a Triple Threat that seems completely unpredictable.

Rhea Ripley will be in his corner on Sunday, but on this show, it was Dirty Dom in her corner for the obvious main event, the strongest in-ring action of the night featuring Lyra Valkyria.

Over the course of Tuesday night, Carmelo Hayes built the hottest feud in his NXT career. He and Ilja Dragunov have set the stage for a possible match-of-the-year contender, a rare honor for an NXT bout in modern WWE.

Across the rest of the card, taped vignettes were the driving force to continue hyping Tiffany Stratton vs. Thea Hail and Roxanne Perez vs. Blair Davenport. This made up for a few clunky segment in the middle of the night.

True go-home shows are in WWE. The company too often fails to build a sense of anticipation in the final week before a PPV. This was a very successful go-home show that the company could learn from going forward.

Overall Grade: B+