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‘NXT THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH 2023’ Recap + Review – Hayes vs. Dragunov, Stratton vs. Hail, Dirty Dom vs. Lee vs. Ali

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JonBy

DATE: July 30, 2023
VENUE: H-E-B Center (Austin, TX)
COMMENTATORS: Vic Joseph & Booker T
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock (Live)

NXT is back on the road with The Great American Bash, featuring a NXT Championship main event as Camelo Hayes defends against Ilya Dragunov. Also on the show Roxanne Perez looks to get a measure of revenge on Blair Davenport in a “Weapon’s Wild” match, Tiffany Stratton defends the Women’s Championship against Thea Hail in a Submission Match, Dirty Dom defends the North American Championship against both the former champ Wes Lee and Mustafa Ali, and so much more!  

Read on for a full recap of the show or use the handy links to skip to the Results/Ratings or a specific match. The choice is up to you! 

CHAMPIONS 

  • NXT CHAMPION: Carmelo Hayes 
  • NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Tiffany Stratton 
  • NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION: “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio 
  • NXT HERITAGE CUP CHAMPION: Nathan Frazer 
  • NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Gallus (Wolfgang & Mark Coffey) 

LINEUP 

SHOW RECAP

RESULTS & RATINGS

FINAL THOUGHTS

*****

-OPENING VIDEO: Cody Rhodes narrates a video highlighting the history of The Great American Bash, from its inception courtesy of his father Dusty Rhodes to the WWE PPV years to…this. 

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Gallus (Wolfgang & Mark Coffey) [c] [w/ Joe Coffey] vs. “The Don” Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo for the NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

D’Angelo was pinched for various crimes thanks to Gallus ratting him out, forcing Stacks to help his boss the only way he could: WITH A WRESTLING MATCH. Stacks beat Joe Coffey in a singles match, causing the charges against D’Angelo to be dropped and earning them a Tag Team Title shot which they’re cashing in on tonight. You know, typical pro wrestling sh*t. I think Lou Thesz shot the same angle during his World Championship run. 

Wolfgang rushes the corner, knocking D’Angelo off the apron and tossing Stacks across the ring. Coffey tags in, Stacks catches him with a back elbow and dropkick. D’Angelo tags in and drops Coffey with a short-arm clothesline, Wolfgang runs in and eats a right hand for his troubles. Stacks tags in, D’Angelo flings him into Coffey with a hip toss, Stacks covers for a two-count. Joe Coffey trips up Stacks, Mark Coffey tries to take advantage but gets caught in a choke. Joe distracts D’Angelo, Wolfgang drops him with a clothesline on the floor then tags in for a Stun Gun on Stacks to give control of the match to the Gallus Boys. Wolfgang tags in and covers Stacks for a two-count (after a cheap shot from Joe on the floor) then slows it down with a cobra clutch of sorts. Coffey tags in and comes off the buckles with a shoulder tackle for the 1…2…Stacks kicks out, Coffey slaps on a front facelock. Coffey catches Stacks with a knee to prevent a tag, bringing him back to the Gallus corner.  

Stacks dodges Coffey in the corner and hops over Wolfgang, making the hot tag to D’Angelo. D’Angelo throws Coffey around the ring with belly-to-belly suplexes then plants him with a spinebuster for the 1…2…D’Angelo moves and Wolfgang accidentally elbowdrops his partner. Stacks clears Wolfgang from the ring and tags himself in, D’Angelo comes off the buckles with a superplex and Stacks follows up with a flying headbutt for the 1…2…Wolfgang barely makes the save and knocks himself and D’Angelo silly with a double clothesline. Wolfgang gets the blind tag and hits a buckshot spear on Stacks, Wolfgang tosses Coffey onto D’Angelo and follows up with a MOONSAULT for the 1…2…Stacks kicks out and Gallus can’t believe it! Joe Coffey hands off a bat to Wolfgang but gets caught, Gallus connect with a knee/slam combo for the 1…2…D’Angelo makes the save! D’Angelo powerbombs Coffey onto Wolfgang on the floor. Joe Coffey tries to use a crowbar but D’Angelo hits him instead then tosses Stacks onto the Gallus Boys; Stacks rolls Wolfgang in and D’Angelo tags in for a double slam for the 1…2…3! YES! 

Tony D’Angelo & Channing Lorenzo defeated Gallus [c] via pinfall to win the NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (8:43) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: The storyline around this feud has been really goofy but luckily when it came to having the match they did not disappoint. Good match with The Family getting their ultimate revenge after months of torment in decisive fashion. Deserving win by a team the crowd seem to really love. (***)

[BACK TO TOP]

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-VIDEO: Cora Jade exists. 

-EARLIER TODAY: Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes [w/ Trick Williams] arrived to the arena. Well that’s good, would’ve been awkward if they didn’t. 

— 

WEAPONS WILD MATCH
Roxanne Perez vs. Blair Davenport

Davenport has been on a reign of terror in NXT, injuring such luminaries as Wendy Choo and Nikkita Lyons, earning the ire of Perez whom she beat in dominant fashion on an episode of NXT. Perez’s rage has intensified since, including a grocery store beatdown on Davenport, leading to tonight’s Weapons Wild match. No rules, weapons strewn about the ring for both competitors to use.  

Perez embraces her little sister and mom in the front row, then gets attacked out of nowhere from Davenport, the match starting out of nowhere. Perez battles back with a back elbow and crossbody off the barricade. Davenport rolls Perez in and grabs a chair, Perez knocks her back to the floor and connects with a tope suicida. Davenport rolls in, Perez sends her back out with a clothesline and goes for another tope, but this time gets countered with a trash can to the face. Davenport introduces a branding iron to Perez’s midsection and bounces a chair off her back. Davenport continues the attack right in front of Perez’s mom and sister. Davenport covers Perez with a trash can and dents it with repeated shots from the branding iron. Davenport wedges a chair in the buckles then introduces a second trash can into the ring, ignoring the way more fun weapons inside (USE THE BULLROPE!). Davenport tosses Perez into one of the wedged chairs, Perez dropkicks another chair into Davenport’s face and she rolls to the floor. Perez follows but gets choked with a studded belt, Perez’s mom begging her to stop.  

Davenport screams at Perez’s family, MAKING HER LITTLE SISTER CRY, Perez angrily attacks her with the bullrope (YESSSS SHE GETS IT) and whips her with the studded belt. Perez wraps the belt around Davenport’s wrist and whips her repeatedly into the barricade, then pulls out a table which POPS THE CROWD SO LOUDLY I THOUGHT IT WAS HOGAN/ANDRE AT WRESTLEMANIA III. Austin loves tables I guess, goddamn. Perez counters a suplex by ramming Davenport into the ring apron, Davenport trips her up when she tries to come off the top buckle for…something. Davenport piles up some chairs in the center of the ring and goes for a German suplex, Perez goes for a Pop-Rocks onto the chairs but Davenport counters with an Alabama Slam. Davenport slams Perez through a trash can, covering for the 1…2…Perez kicks out! Davenport comes off the ropes with a double stomp but gets next to nothing from it so Perez quickly attacks and connects with a Side Russian legsweep so they can move past it. They battle to the apron, Davenport blocks a legsweep attempt and kicks her off the apron. Perez trips Davenport up and hits a running knee into the skull/ring steps, then puts her through a table with a TOP ROPE SPLASH! Perez rolls Davenport back into the ring and POP ROCKS INTO THE CHAIR PILE FOR THE 1…2…3! 

Roxanne Perez defeated Blair Davenport via pinfall (11:50) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: Decent use of plunder, loved seeing the bullrope come into play and Davenport making Perez’s sister cry was funny. I didn’t hate it! (***)

[BACK TO TOP]

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–Thea Hail trains backstage with Andre Chase and Duke Hudson, while Tiffany Stratton warms up backstage in her locker room. 

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Gable Steveson vs. Baron Corbin 

Steveson is a Gold Medalist who has been touted as a big WWE hire for what feels like forever. This past week he finally declared his next move would be at NXT, attacking Corbin who tried to talk him into going back to the Olympics or college instead of entering the dangerous world of pro wrestling. I have no idea why Baron Corbin’s new aesthetic is burning pirate ships but hey do your thing, boss. Corbin does have experience beating up Olympic Gold Medalists, having been the man who retired Kurt Angle. 

Corbin works Steveson over in the corner, Steveson floats over a charge and throws a series of forearms before being shoved away. Corbin bails to the floor, Steveson makes him pay with a German suplex onto the protective mats. Steveson tries another, Corbin backs him into the post to break his grip then bounces his head off the steel. Corbin, who needs to tie his laces, continues working Steveson over, the Austin crowd fully on his side (BIZZARO WORLD, COLE). Steveson fights back with jabs, Corbin picks him out of the air and connects with a Death Valley slam for the 1…2…Steveson kicks out. Steveson rams Corbin into the top rope (?!?), Corbin responds with a series of stomps.  

Steveson finds his second wind, connecting with series of overhead belly-to-belly suplexes and a clothesline out to the floor. Steveson brings him back in just to clothesline him back out, the crowd booing heavily. Corbin rams his spine into the apron, Steveson tosses Corbin over the announce table and they slug it out as the ref calls for the bell. 

Gable Steveson and Baron Corbin fought to a double countout (6:30) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: Oof maybe they should’ve let Steveson get some reps on the Largo Loop or something before putting him on a PLE. He was okay I guess, sticking to the basics, but the crowd was having NONE of it. Corbin made it work as best he could. I think Steveson will make a good heel if he leans into the rejection from the audience. Post-match brawl was more entertaining than the match. (*3/4)

Crowd chants “BULLSH*T” as refs break up the Steveson/Corbin brawl. Steveson reenters the ring and drops the straps, Corbin runs in and the brawl continues, more security coming out to try and keep them apart. Steveson throws them around and splashes Corbin in the corner so the brawl can keep going. Steveson gets the upper hand in the end, putting Corbin through the barricade and standing tall.

[BACK TO TOP]

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-LAST TUESDAY: Rhea Ripley beat Lyra Valkyria in a close match, Valkyria looking good even in defeat. After the match Ripley told Valkyria to prove her right and beat Jacy Jayne. 

–McKenzie Mitchell’s interview with Lyra Valkyria is cut short courtesy of a sneak attack by Jacy Jayne, officials doing their damndest to keep them apart as Rhea Ripley looks on in glee. 

— 

“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio [c] [w/ Rhea Ripley] vs. Wes Lee vs. Mustafa Ali for the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP 

Lee’s record-setting reign as North American Champion came to an ubrupt end courtesy of The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio and his mami Rhea Ripley. Lee and Ali both argued for a shot at Dom, but thanks to the encouragement of Ripley Dom said he would take BOTH on at the same time tonight. 

Dom immediately bails to let Ali & Lee battle it out, Ali follows him out but Ripley gets in his way to save his papi. Lee stalks from behind, Dom tries to run but they catch him and stomp the life out of him in the center of the ring. Lee and Ali take turns attacking Dom, teaming up for a double chop that sends him to the floor. Lee and Ali trade hip tosses and sunset flips. Ali chops Lee, the two trade forearms and battle on the buckles, Dom comes out of nowhere and shoves them both to the floor. Dom rolls Ali in and covers for the 1…2…not yet. Dom hits 2 of the 3 Amigos on Lee, Ali runs in and Dom tries to do the third to both but Ali & Lee counter into three suplexes of their own, Ali covers for the 1…2…Lee breaks it up and covers for the 1…2…Ali breaks it up. 

Ali gets sent to the floor, Lee drives Dom into the canvas with a meteora for the 1…2…Ali breaks it up and sends Dom to the floor. Lee whips Ali into the corner, Ali dropkicks Dom on his way in and plants Lee with a DDT for the 1…2…Dom breaks it up. Ali catches Dom with a kick followed by a rolling neckbreaker. Ali traps both opponents, Lee in a Boston Crab and Dom in a camel clutch, trying to get both to submit but Dom bites his way out. Dom plants a dropkick on Ali and sets Lee up for the 619 but runs into a superkick instead. Ali superkicks Lee, landing next to Dom on the bottom rope. Ali goes for a 450 but both escape and he hits nothing but apron (THE PART OF THE RING WHICH IS THE HARDEST). Dom surprises Lee with a rollup for the 1…2…Lee kicks out and sends him to the floor, following up with a tope suicida through the middle and bottom rope. Ripley angrily charges but Lee dodges her and rolls back in. Ripley hops the apron to stop Lee from flying, Ripley turns around to check on Dom and LEE FLIES OVER HER, CONNECTING WITH A PLANCHA ONTO DIRTY DOM. Ripley, however, gets the last laugh and puts Lee through the announce table with the Riptide, rolling him back in for Dom to cover for the 1…2…LEE KICKS OUT AND RIPLEY SCREAMS IN FRUSTRATION. 

Ripley snatches the North American Championship and slides it into the ring. The ref grabs it, Ripley hits Lee with her Women’s World Championship and Dom covers again for the 1…2…LEE KICKS OUT AGAIN! Dom heads to the top, Ali comes out of nowhere with a dropkick that ties him up on the top buckle; Ali climbs over Dom and connects with a 450 Splash on Lee for the 1…2…Ripley pulls him off, Dom comes off the top with a Frog Splash on Lee for the 1…2…3! 

Dominik Mysterio [c] defeated Wes Lee and Mustafa Ali via pinfall to retain the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP (12:05) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: Dom being a chickensh*t that only wins because Ripley does the work for him is such a good act, man. I’m fully sold on them as a duo. Fun triple threat match, loved that finish. Such a piece of sh*t, I hope he never goes back to being a babyface again. (**3/4)

[BACK TO TOP]

— 

–McKenzie Mitchell is standing by with Trick Williams. Williams says Ilya Dragunov may respect he and Carmelo Hayes’ friendship but he’ll never understand it because they go way back. Williams says ‘Melo is going to show the world why He is Him. 

— 

SUBMISSION MATCH
Tiffany Stratton [c] vs. Thea Hail [w/ Andre Chase & Duke Hudson] for the NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Stratton became the new NXT Women’s Champion at NXT Battleground, defeating Lyra Valkyria to win the vacant championship. Hail won a battle royal to become the #1 contender at NXT Gold Rush and managed to make Stratton tap to the Kimura Lock but the ref never saw and came up short. Hail is getting her rematch tonight, having gotten Stratton to agree to a Submission Match after once again humiliating her with another Kimura Lock.  

Hail goes right after the arm, Stratton escapes and tries a roll-up but pinfalls don’t count in a Submission Match so TOUGH SH*T. Hail traps Stratton in a cravat, holding on as Stratton tries to roll her off. Stratton finally escapes and picks Hail’s leg mid-leapfrog, turning into a surfboard in the center of the ring. Hail escapes and attempts a Fujiwara Armbar but Stratton powers out. Hail sends Stratton to the floor and tries a tope suicida but Stratton kind of sort of slams her on the way down, but fully cracks her spine in the ring post. Stratton focuses her offense on Hail’s back, a “LET’S GO BARBIE” chant breaking out for a few seconds. Okay that made me chuckle. Hail connects with forearms, Stratton responds with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a back handspring splash into the spine. Stratton traps Hail in an over the shoulder backbreaker, locking her hands to trap Hail’s arms. Hail escapes and backdrops Stratton, STRATTON GODDAMN LANDING ON HER HEAD AND NECK JESUS.  

Hail’s offense briefly stops as she favors her back, allowing Stratton to counter her springboard nothing with a bodyscissors. Hail escapes and sends Stratton to the floor with a dropkick, following up with a tope suicida and a Polish Hammer. Stratton gets sent into the post, Hail rolls her in and comes off the top with a crossbody but STRATTON ROLLS THROUGH AND PICKS HER UP. Hail tries to counter into a Kimura so Stratton throws her overhead and both ladies take a second to get their bearings. Stratton connects with a rolling senton and goes for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Hail battles back and connects with a SUPER EXPLODER into a bodyscissors/Kimura Lock combo. Stratton grabs the rope but there’s no rope break but HAIL LETS GO ANYWAY. Hail grabs a Kimura on the floor, Stratton rams her into the spine then the ring steps. Back in the ring Stratton hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever right to Hail’s back and locks her in the Boston Crab in the center of the ring. Stratton loses her grip for a moment then reapplies the Boston Crab and sits back on it, knee to the spine, forcing Chase to THROW IN THE TOWEL?!? Booo. 

Tiffany Stratton [c] defeated Thea Hail via forfeit to retain the NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (11:45) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: Helluva match up until the last few minutes where it felt like they were losing the thread until Chase finally threw in the towel. Cop-out finish but Stratton retaining is the right move, she’s the best part of that women’s division right now. (***1/4)

[BACK TO TOP]

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-BACKSTAGE: Nathan Frazer, Dragon Lee, Yulisa Leon, & Valentina Feroz celebrate their Kickoff win. Dragon Lee bids them adieu and runs into Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. Mysterio says he made the Mysterio name relevant and his Dad is a deadbeat who only helps people who look like him not an original like Dom.  

-NXT’s next Premium Live Event is No Mercy, happening on September 30th. 

-THIS TUESDAY ON NXT: The Schism will interrogate their masked members, Lyra Valkyria battles Jacy Jayne, Eddy Thorpe battles Dijak, and much more! 

— 

Carmelo Hayes [c] [w/ Trick Williams] vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP 

Dragunov defeated Bron Breakker to get a shot at Hayes’ NXT Championship. The two have gotten along sort of over the weeks, though Trick has absolutely no love for Ilja.  

Hayes brings Dragunov to the mat with a wristlock, Dragunov tries to counter but Hayes yanks and back down he goes. Dragunov cracks Hayes’ arm over his shoulder, Hayes dodges a spinning elbow and brings him back to the canvas with an armbar. Dragunov counters a headlock with a hip toss and grabs a deep chinlock of his own. Hayes connects with a shoulderblock, Dragunov bounces back with a kick to the face but Hayes quickly recovers and it’s back to the canvas the challenger goes. Hayes rolls through an escape attempt, keeping Dragunov trapped in an armbar and rubbing his forearm into the cheek. Hayes escapes a German suplex attempt and lights Dragunov up with a LOUD chop. An angry Dragunov charges Hayes into the corner and connects with a host of chops, Hayes catches him with a springboard clothesline and a pump kick that knocks Dragunov off the apron.  

Back in the ring Dragunov catches a kick and stuns Hayes with a jumping enzuigiri to the back of the head. Dragunov snatches Hayes out of mid-air with a German suplex. Hayes and Dragunov trade forearms, Dragunov sends Hayes to the mat with a slap right to the jaw. Dragunov holds onto Hayes, connecting with a pair of German suplexes, Hayes tries to escape the third but eats a jump kick and Dragunov this time connects for the 1…2…kickout. Dragunov drops Hayes with a pair of blows, one to the front and one to the back, Williams looking on in concern. Dragunov chops Hayes into mincemeat in the corner, Hayes responds with a slap to the face which only makes his opponent angrily and leads to KOBASHI CHOPS and a spinning chop for the 1…2…Hayes kicks out but he is hurting. 

Hayes refuses to give up, fighting back with forearms but he gets dropped with more chops including one to the knee that trips him up. Hayes hits Dragunov, Dragunov turns him inside out with a Constantine Special for the 1…2…HAYES KICKS OUT. Dragunov clubs Hayes in the back of the head and grabs a cobra clutch, locking in a bodyscissors to further reduce the champ’s oxygen. Hayes forces Dragunov to let go by turning it into a pinfall attempt, Dragunov immediately bounds and covers for the 1…2…Hayes kicks out again. Hayes hangs onto Dragunov’s wrist and repeatedly stomps him down; Dragunov hits an enzuigiri and Hayes responds with a tilt-a-whirl bulldog and both men are down, crowd chanting “NXT!” at the top of their lungs.  

Hayes and Dragunov trade chops, Hayes connects with a lariat but is too out of it to make the cover. Dragunov counters Hayes and rains down elbows to the side of the head, Hayes elbows back and connects with a springboard DDT for the 1…2…SHOULDER UP. A frustrated Hayes rains down right hands and climbs the buckles, Dragunov stuns him with a leaping kick and throws him back to the canvas. Dragunov comes off the top with a senton for the 1…2…HAYES GETS THE SHOULDER UP! Dragunov tries to go coast to coast but Hayes catches him with a Codebreaker as he lands, Hayes comes off the top but Dragunov counts with a POWERBOMB THAT DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD. Dragunov lands with a leaping forearm for the 1…2…HAYES KICKS OUT! 

Dragunov goes for a top-rope superplex, Hayes counters on the way down with a SUPER CUTTER, Hayes crawls over and covers for the 1…2…DRAGUNOV KICKS OUT AND WILLIAMS IS GONNA HAVE A HEART ATTACK. Williams grabs the NXT Championship and tells Hayes this is what he’s fighting for, trying to motivate his friend. Hayes and Dragunov kick and strike at each other, jockeying for advantage until they knock one another down, earning themselves a standing ovation. Williams motivates Hayes once more, Dragunov hits Williams with a Torpedo Moscow (hitting his head on the NXT Championship), Hayes rolls him back in and hits NOTHING BUT NET for the 1…2…3! 

Carmelo Hayes [c] defeated Ilya Dragunov via pinfall to retain the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP (24:06) 

  • JON’S THOUGHTS: What a f*cking main event, goddamn. Hayes and Dragunov destroyed each other for over 20 minutes and to my surprise kept my attention the entire time. Just a brutal fight and near-falls that had me almost out of my seat. The ending, Williams essentially hitting Dragunov with the NXT Championship as he attempted a Torpedo Moscow, was a little eh but you know what they earned the stars I’m giving and the praise it’s going to get online otherwise. Also gives Williams a damn good case for a title shot in the future should he decide he no longer wants to sit on the sidelines. I know wrestlers don’t normally get health insurance because the industry blows but I hope Dragunov is an exception to the rule. Man is putting himself through HELL for NXT. (****1/2)

[BACK TO TOP]

*****

RESULTS & RATINGS 

  • Tony D’Angelo & Channing Lorenzo defeated Gallus [c] via pinfall to win the NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (8:43) (***) 
  • WEAPONS WILD MATCH: Roxanne Perez defeated Blair Davenport via pinfall (11:50) (***) 
  • Gable Steveson and Baron Corbin fought to a double countout (6:30) (*3/4) 
  • Dominik Mysterio [c] defeated Wes Lee and Mustafa Ali via pinfall to retain the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP (12:05) (**3/4) 
  • SUBMISSION MATCH: Tiffany Stratton [c] defeated Thea Hail via forfeit to retain the NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (11:45) (***1/4) 
  • Carmelo Hayes [c] defeated Ilya Dragunov via pinfall to retain the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP (24:06) (****1/2)

[BACK TO TOP]

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FINAL THOUGHTS 

Watching NXT on a weekly basis is almost unbearable unless you DVR it and click around, but they rarely disappoint with their Premium Live Events and The Great American Bash was no exception. Tight lineup and runtime, every match delivered in their own way and the main event was an absolute must watch. If their weekly show was half as good as their PLEs are I wouldn’t be so damn hesitant to watch more frequently. Great show, worth watching, go do the thing so Ilya gets a raise. 

  • MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Hayes vs. Dragunov 
  • MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: Rhea Ripley gets sick of everybody’s sh*t and puts Wes Lee through a table with the Riptide

[BACK TO TOP]

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