WWE NXT Winners, Live Grades and Reaction From July 14

As the women's division continues to take center stage on WWE NXT, a loaded Triple Threat will determine Kendal Grey's next challenger for the NXT Women's Championship.

Kali Armstrong, Kelani Jordan and former champ Lola Vice have all staked their claim to an opportunity and any one of them could realistically reign supreme. The bout could also mark Vice's swan song from NXT if she's unsuccessful ahead of a long-awaited main roster call-up.

The episode will also feature two other title matches as Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux challenge The Vanity Project for the NXT Tag Team Championship, while Zaria defends her NXT Women's North American Championship in a Fatal 4-Way after Layla Diggs was injured over the weekend.

Naraku will return to action to take on Tate Wilder after previously signaling that his rivalry with Tony D'Angelo remains unresolved.

Here are the complete winners, grades and reaction for the July 14 edition of WWE NXT as it airs live on The CW.

NXT Tag Team Championship: The Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux

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Last Time in Action: The Vanity Project defeated El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno to retain (NXT, June 30); Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux won a No. 1 Contender's Fatal 4-Way tag team match (NXT, July 7).

Legacy and Van Dux are fresh off becoming No. 1 contenders to the tag titles, while Vanity Project came into this contest looking to keep their recent winning ways alive.

This match had a nice clash of styles with the aerial offense of Legacy and Van Dux being a breath of fresh air. Vanity Project portray their cowardly characters really well but can also bring it when the bell rings, as evidenced by this outing.

Legacy came close to stealing the win for his team at one point in the same fashion they won last week, only for Brad Baylor to break up the pinfall attempt with a vicious dropkick.

Before the babyfaces could do more damage, Vanity Project's insurance policy Myka Lockwood took out Van Dux at ringside and paved the way for Baylor and Ricky Smokes to hold onto the gold.

Result

The Vanity Project defeated Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments and Observations

• This was an entertaining opener. It will be interesting to see who else will step up to Vanity Project as Heatwave gets closer.
• There isn't much of a tag division for Vanity Project to defend against, so putting together talents who are directionless like Legacy and Van Dux for the occasional title shot isn't a bad thing. Legacy and Van Dux have terrific chemistry as partners.
• Lockwood has taken to her role as Vanity Project's bodyguard of sorts exceptionally well. Hopefully it isn't long before we see her step in the ring, because she's been impressive on WWE LFG.

Shiloh Hill Interrupts Tristian Angels

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Tristian Angels took aim at Shiloh Hill for not only getting beat by him at The Great American Bash. He proceeded to pull out Hill's fake tooth and smash it on the steel steps.

Hill interrupted from the big screen, telling Angels that the fake tooth may have helped his smile but losing it helped his mind. Hill laughed maniacally and warned Angels by saying "the fog is coming" as fog flooded the entrance area.

Grade

D+

Notable Moments and Observations

• Both men are good talkers and made the most of the material they were given here, but this wasn't very good. There was no reason for this rivalry to continue in the first place and this segment wasn't successful in creating interest in a rematch.
• Hill has great composure whenever he speaks, but the screaming and laughing make him more annoying than intimidating. He had excellent intensity on WWE LFG and still does on NXT, but they're having him go too over-the-top with it.
• The fog spilling out of the entrance area looked like something you'd see during an old Undertaker feud. The supernatural stuff with Hill is unnecessary when he's proven in the past that he can hold his own when he's just himself.

Naraku vs. Tate Wilder

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Last Time in Action: Naraku lost to Tony D'Angelo (The Great American Bash, June 28); Tate Wilder lost to Jackson Drake (NXT, June 2).

This marked Naraku's first match since coming up short against NXT champion Tony D'Angelo at The Great American Bash. Wilder hasn't wrestled since early June, so this was his chance to finally get one in the win column.

Of course, this was designed to be more of a showcase for Naraku than anything else. Wilder has the basic moves down, but he has yet to connect with the crowd as a character and therefore it's difficult to care about him.

The two had a fairly average outing that culminated with Naraku quickly and decisively putting Wilder away for the win. D'Angelo emerged afterward to attack Naraku and fight off a few security guards in chaotic fashion.

Result

Naraku defeated Tate Wilder.

Grade

C

Notable Moments and Observations

• It's hilarious how much of a star Naraku comes off as when he's making his entrance, only for the bell to ring and that aura to almost immediately vanish. He's perfectly competent in the ring, but he has yet to deliver anything special in the ring since arriving in NXT.
• Wilder badly needs a meaningful program to sink his teeth into. If the idea isn't for him to snap after enduring so many losses, then he risks continuing to flounder.
• The D'Angelo vs. Naraku feud has been fine, but they need some sort of stipulation match to blow this thing off, ideally before Heatwave.

NXT Women's North American Championship: Zaria vs. Nikkita Lyons vs. Lizzy Rain vs. Izzi Dame

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Last Time in Action: Zaria defeated Tatum Paxley to retain (The Great American Bash, June 28); Nikkita Lyons teamed with Zaria to lose to Lizzy Rain and Tatum Paxley (NXT, May 12); Rain and Dame lost a Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender's match to Layla Diggs (NXT, July 7).

Although Layla Diggs became No. 1 contender on last week's show, an injury she suffered over the weekend at a live event led to her being pulled from this match. Robert Stone instead rewarded Rain and Dame (who were involved in the No. 1 Contender's match) title shots along with Nikkita Lyons (for some reason) in a Fatal 4-Way.

This was almost identical to last week's four-way in that it was all action and everyone had a chance to shine. It became clear that Lyons was also a part of this so she could eat the losing fall (which is exactly what happened), but even she had a solid showing out there.

Dame stood out at one point with a running dropkick to Zaria who had Lyons on her shoulder while simultaneously hitting a running senton on Rain. While Rain and Dame brawled, Nattie and Karmen Petrovic were taken out at ringside by their rival Jaida Parker, leading to Zaria blasting Lyons with a Spear.

Result

Zaria defeated Nikkita Lyons, Lizzy Rain and Izzi Dame to retain the NXT Women's North American Championship.

Grade

B

Notable Moments and Observations

• Officials presumably had to rush to come up with a back-up plan for Zaria vs. Diggs, so going with a Fatal 4-Way was an acceptable option despite not making a ton of storyline sense. It was certainly a fun consolation prize.
• Dame vs. Rain could be an enjoyable non-title feud to keep the both of them busy. Rain had a hot first month in NXT before disappearing for about a month or two, so it's nice to have her back in the mix finally.
• Hopefully Diggs' injury isn't too serious so we can still see her fight Zaria in the not-too-distant future.

Jackson Drake vs. Tavion Heights

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Last Time in Action: Jackson Drake defeated Mason Rook (NXT, June 30); Tavion Heights lost to Myles Borne (The Great American Bash, June 28).

All of The Vanity Project were back out to stand in Drake's corner. Myles Borne, despite having an established alliance with Heights, didn't show up at all.

That pretty much foreshadowed the finish with Vanity Project distracting Heights from the apron to cost him the victory. At least they were having a quality contest prior to that point and were given an ample amount of time to show what they could do.

This was a well-worked match that will end up being forgotten, but it should have a direct effect on the NXT North American Championship picture.

Result

Jackson Drake defeated Tavion Heights.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments and Observations

• The ongoing drama between Borne and Heights has been going on for so long that it has to culminate sometime soon if they want to keep viewers interested. Heights' latest loss should get him closer to snapping on his friend.
• Drake has been racking up some impressive wins over the last few months and wouldn't be a bad fit as NXT North American champion. Perhaps Heights costs Borne the title against Drake and that's what cements his heel turn?
• Apparently Mason Rook has no issue with Vanity Project resorting to underhanded tactics to beat him two weeks back because he hasn't interacted with them since. How strange.

NXT Women's Championship No. 1 Contender's Match: Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Kali Armstrong

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Last Time in Action: Lola Vice lost to Kendal Grey (The Great American Bash, June 28); Kelani Jordan defeated Tatum Paxley (NXT, June 30); Kali Armstrong defeated Jaida Parker (NXT, May 5).

Armstrong hadn't had any high-profile matches on NXT TV up to this point, but she didn't look out of place in the slightest in this match. She had one misfire on the top rope before the commercial break but recovered nicely and nailed an impressive crossbody on the outside.

Vice and Jordan aren't strangers to fighting for top titles and didn't hold anything back. Jordan and Armstrong forming an alliance during the commercial break was fun, even if it was short-lived.

All three women were constantly in the mix, so there was never a dull moment. Jordan's double Eat Defeat looked cool as well as her huge splash off the top to break up the armbar Vice had locked in on Armstrong.

There was a flurry of finishers in the closing moments, which led to some brief confusion over whether Jordan had won or not when she rolled up Armstrong. Vice pinned Armstrong with a backfist after clearing Jordan from the ring.

Result

Lola Vice defeated Kali Armstrong and Kelani Jordan to become No. 1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

B

Notable Moments and Observations

• Any one of these women could have realistically gone over, so the unpredictable outcome made matters more exciting. It's logical to run back Vice vs. Kendal Grey and to have Vice lose a second straight time so she can be called up to the main roster in the coming weeks.
• The speed Armstrong gets on her signature shoulder tackle is Bron Breakker levels of impressive. She's made great strides in the ring over the past year and will certainly be a player on this brand in the future. She took the loss in this match, but it was too early for her to be contending for the title, anyway.
• Post-match, Tony D'Angelo was shown attacking Naraku in the parking lot. Robert Stone announced that their NXT Championship rematch on next week's episode will be a Street Fight.

Overall Show

Although Heatwave isn't for another month and a half, NXT is doing a solid job of keeping things moving in the meantime with multiple contenders being crowned and championships being defended.

However, it would benefit the brand to focus on individual stories instead of throwing everyone into multi-person matches every week. On the last two episodes alone, there were three Fatal 4-Ways and one Triple Threat.

It helps to have matches with stakes, but it's even better to have characters with clearly-defined motivations and arcs. That isn't to say NXT has none of that, but so many fresh faces were introduced in the immediate aftermath of Stand & Deliver that it's not easy to elevate everyone at once.

It appears most of the feuds that are carrying over from The Great American Bash will wrap up in short order to set up some other storylines for Heatwave. Tony D'Angelo vs. Naraku in a Street Fight for the NXT Championship is a nice attraction for next week's episode despite the title not feeling like it's too much in jeopardy.

Virtually anything with the women's division delivers, but the rest of NXT TV could use a bit of a boost at the moment.

Final Grade

B-

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.