WWE NXT RESULTS: A Stark Contrast for NXTs Womens Division as Former Champ Returns for Redemption (July, 19th 2022)
Welcome all to this weeks NXT report, detailing the aftermath of last weeks close as Cora Jade cemented a shocking heel turn on her own fellow tag team champion, Roxanne Perez. We are set to hear Cora’s motivations in regards to the betrayal, plus Cora herself will be a part of an immense womens number one contenders battle royal, which will see the winning competitor go on to face Mandy Rose for her NXT Womens Championship at a later date.
The first womens appearance of the evening comes from Nikkita Lyons, the first woman to hype her chances ahead of the big number one contenders battle royal that she is to compete in. She knows that tonight, nineteen other superstars stand in her way of a championship match. She doesnt care if its Tiffany Stratton, Wendy Choo, Elektra Lopez, Lash Legend, they are all going over the top rope. They can bring the fight, but she will bring the heat, and as for Mandy, they have unfinished business. After tonight, theres no ducking and dodging Nikkita Lyons for the champ.
We also hear not long later from another battle royal competitor, and its Tiffany Stratton this time. In fact, Tiffany is finding it so offensive that she has got to compete in tonights battle royal. Shes obviously the only woman deserving of a title match and if no one can see that, shes so sorry that it must be so difficult going through life with everything pathetic around them. They can enjoy living under a rock while she goes on to win the battle royal tonight. That message is from Sincerely, the Next NXT Womens Champion.
Before we can hear others superstars thoughts on their entry in tonights battle royal, out comes NXT Womens Tag Team Champion Cora Jade, still donning the championship belt despite her betrayal towards Roxanne Perez in last weeks main event. Already Cora is antagonistic towards the WWE Universe, informing them that they need to shut up if they want to hear what shes got to say. The Boos just ring out more, but Cora continues to make her post betrayal statement. She recaps that she stabbed her “best friend” in the back last week, and remorselessly adds that she should have done that sooner. For the past year, Cora believes shes been the face of the womens division, shown on the posters, in the commercials, and the WWE Universe appointed her as the next breakout star. She reminisces on WarGames, her defying leap off the top of the cage, knowing the fans remember that too, and how they reacted to it. As the praises rang out for her, she took her best friend along with her on her rising journey, taking credit for getting Roxanne in the door, but blasting the WWE Universe for how their attention diverted from her to Roxanne. All of a sudden, its Roxanne being called the next breakout star, the fans are saying that they love her, calling Roxanne the Next NXT Womens Champion. Cora states that after her many failures, it seemed she had the perfect partner, and at the Great American Bash, Cora managed to become champion. They seem on top of the world, on cloud nine, like they will be champions forever. But not even thirty minutes after that victory, Roxanne decides shes going to cash in her contract for an NXT Womens Championship Match. She questions what the hell Roxanne was thinking, especially because Cora’s aim was to make the tag titles the most important thing, and Roxanne seemed over it. The same people cheering Roxannes motivations to go after Mandys title are the same people chanting Roxanne Two Belts, and as far as shes concerned, each of them can go to hell. When Roxanne declared her intent to cash in, thats when Cora felt like their friendship was a lie, like Roxanne did not care about her, using her instead to get into NXT, adding that the former best friend is a selfish b****. In fact, Roxanne was so much in her delusional world last week that she didnt even see who attacked her in the parking lot, and that just happened to be Cora herself. The plan was going to play out perfectly, that Mandy wouldnt be prepared for Cora stepping up in Roxanne’s place, but of course, out came Roxanne to ruin her moment. Thats why it felt so damn good when she struck her in the back with the championship. She remembers how Roxannes face looked like a poor puppy dog, priceless and now that Roxanne isnt going to be here because shes not cleared to compete with a “broken heart” theres not a woman in the damn locker room who can stand in the way of her winning tonights battle royal, and as for the championship title she currently holds…
Cora advances to the outside, and a trashcan awaits. Cora says all the title represents to her now is a lie, and its not worth a damn thing to her anymore. This marks the end of Naive Cora Jade and the beginning of the True Generation of Jade, because shes wired just a little differently these days. Cora removes the NXT Womens Tag Team Championship belt off her shoulder and to higher boos, she drops the championship in the nearby trashcan in Madusa like fashion.
Then, we hear from Indi Hartwell, as the solo babyface talks tonights battle royal, which she is in. So far, flying solo has been anything but a smooth ride for Indi Hartwell, and she guesses that the growing pains come with the territory. Shes searching for whats missing, but regardless of the slips and slopes, the highs and the lows, recent history proves she made the right choice because no one in the division can be trusted. Tonight its every woman for themselves. Only one will win the opportunity to face Mandy Rose for her title, and that woman will be Indi Hartwell.
Fallon Henley, whose also in tonights battle royal, is also on double duty, as shes to accompany Briggs and Jensen to their NXT UK title defense against Pretty Deadlys Kit Wilson and Elton Prince. Fallon suggests her boys do not worry about her, but on themselves because its harder to keep the titles than it is to win them. She urges them to keep focused and stay composed. Jensen isnt composed though, and warns Pretty Deadly that they’re in for an a** whooping.
That title defense nearly instantly follows, as Briggs and Jensen, with Fallon Henley in their corner, defend their NXT UK Tag Team Championships against Pretty Deadly. Midway through, Elton is thrown to ringside, and along the way, he bumps Fallon and knocks her to the floor. Later, Kit tries to utilise one of the championships back in the ring, but gets into a short tug of war with Fallon, who tries to stop Briggs from getting hit. In the end, the title ends up out of Kit’s hands, and the double team finish from Jensen and Briggs right after Fallons assist leads to them retaining their titles.
Much later in the evening, we hear from a former rival of Nikkita Lyons, Lash Legend. The Tall and Charismatic Superstar knows that the best women that NXT has to offer will be in the same ring at the same time tonight, the top twenty but Lash Legend is the top one, the odds on favorite to win it all and its as easy as two slaps and a clap. As for Miss Firemaker (Alba) she will see miss bird brain in the battle royal. When she throws her over the top rope, she will see that no one messes with Lash Legend, THE one and only.
We also see Thea Hail, but not as a participant in the battle royal. Her and her Chase University Cohorts encounter the former Fabian Aichner, Giovanni Vinci. Beforehand, Independent Wrestler Sofia Castillo encounters Giovanni, asking for a photo with him. He snaps one quick, but she realises its one solely focused on himself. She clarifies that she meant a photo of them together, but Giovanni refuses. But of course everyone wants a photo with the man who handled Apollo Crews last week, and with style. The Chase University crew pull up with megaphones and banners, and Bohdi tries to extend an invite to Giovanni, but he refuses that too and demands they get their bus out of the way. Thea fangirls over Giovannis car and starts touching it, but he demands no fingerprints on the ultra expensive car. Thea backs away and apologises then takes off with the Chase University herd, not even budging their bus to the chagrin of Giovanni, as the bus now blockades his car.
Jakara Jackson also makes a background appearance while Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes discuss recent events, including Wes Lee who has talked about Trick as of late. Carmelo is pushed to pay attention on Wes, especially his match next week. Trick knows two things, Grayson Waller is going to ride, and Wes is going to Cry, so they might as well watch the end of Titanic. They crack more Wes disses from there.
Then its back to the Capitol Wrestling Center, and McKenzie Mitchell stands by with the members of Toxic Attraction, NXT Womens Champion Mandy Rose and Jacy Jayne and GiGi Dolin. McKenzie informs the trio that they are moments away from the battle royal, where the winner earns a future opportunity to face Mandy for her title. She questions the champion on who she thinks has what it takes, and Mandy makes a joke about Tatum Paxley being the next contender and tries to turn away with the others, but McKenzie stops them. She wonders why they are saying Tatum, but Mandy is annoyed that McKenzie is letting out more than one question. She insists that she just gave the first name that came to her mind, but what they are going to do now is leave, and McKenzie will watch them leave like the weird microphone holders do. Jacy mocks McKenzie and gets called rude for it, but Jacy doesnt look bothered. GiGi chimes in that whoever wins the battle royal is the next challenger, or as they like to call it, the next loser, so McKenzie can take her pick. They are also wondering when they will get back their championships, but in walks Ivy Nile.
Ivy walks over, asking them if they are going to say what they are saying to her face, promising that after tonights battle royal, she will render the current champion unconscious and take the title. Kiana James walks in to interrupt, declaring that Ivy has zero odds of winning. Strategy and Brains trumps muscle in every situation, and this case is no different. As for Mandy, unfortunately her long title reign will come to an end when…Alba beats her, as the Scot declares herself as she cuts Kiana off. She vows that she will beat Mandy, and shes looking at the woman who will burn her toxic empire to the ground. Mandy just looks in disgust and Ivy and Kiana stay silent as Alba heads off to the ring.
Getting entrances for the match are Alba Fyre, Elektra Lopez and Cora Jade. The other competitors flank the ring, those competitors being Tiffany Stratton, Tatum Paxley, Ivy Nile, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Kiana James, Fallon Henley, Yulisa Leon, Valentina Feroz, Sloane Jacobs, Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo, Indi Hartwell, Lash Legend, Amari Miller and Arianna Grace. Entrant Twenty, replacing a quietly removed Sarray for reasons unknown, is a returning Zoey Stark, competing in her first match back as a singles competitor, and in her first match since her injury back in November.
When the bell rings, everyone is surrounding Cora Jade, including Zoey Stark. Cora abdicates from competing for now, and heads to the outside untouched, at least until Ivy catches up to her, forearms her and throws her back into the ring. As Ivy does this, the brawls are breaking out with the other competitors in the ring. Cora, meanwhile, sneaks her way back out and is chased by Ivy, but Cora makes it to the back as Ivy loses her and heads back to the ring instead. Amari tries to grab Tatum from the apron to try and take her over the top rope but Ivy makes the save with a dropkick and sends Amari to the floor. Amari is the first competitor eliminated.
Arianna Grace, meanwhile, fends off both Indi and Fallon after the two work together to move her over the top rope to the apron. However, Indi comes back, running at her and booting her amid a queenly wave taunt to take her off the apron and down to the floor. Arianna has been eliminated.
Lash Legend captures Alba mid headscissor and uses her body to knock down her fellow competitors. However, as Lash hoists Alba up, Alba dangles over the top rope, taking Lash to the apron then below as both enemies crash onto the floor. Both Alba and Lash have been eliminated, but arent done with the animosity as Alba snaps and brawls with Lash, with Lash taking over and the two brawl to the back.
Meanwhile, Tiffany trips Wendy on the apron and Wendy crashes to the floor, but performs a unique spot Naomi and Kofi esque as she lands on a pillow and not the floor itself. A happy Wendy Choo rolls back to the ring, much to the disgust of Tiffany who attacks her some more. Yulisa, meanwhile, tries to take Zoey over the top rope, but it backfires. Yulisa charges to Zoey but Zoey takes advantage of the speed and momentum, hurls Yulisa over the top rope and onto the floor. Yulisa Leon has been eliminated.
Valentina looks to avenge her partner, throwing a load of forearms at Zoey. A Headscissor sequence takes Zoey over the top rope to the apron, but Zoey raises up Valentina with her strength and tries to drop her on the floor, but Yulisa is still about and cleverly catches the tag team partner. Zoey comes back with a kick to Yulisa which causes her to drop Valentina in turn. Valentina has been eliminated.
Meanwhile, Kiana takes her former tag team partner, Fallon Henley, over the top rope. She uses various offense to try and knock Fallon off the apron, but Fallon clings to the nearby rope using her arm. Kiana eventually attacks Fallon and causes her to bump onto the floor. Fallon has been eliminated, and her elbow injury appears to have been aggravated at the hands of the calculating foe as well.
Also going on on an opposite apron, Wendy tries to clench Tiffany in a sleeper hold, but Tiffany gets free and uses Wendys own slushie cup to knock her off the apron and to the floor, this time scoring a successful elimination. Wendy Choo has been eliminated.
When we return from a commercial break, we found out some more of the competitors havent made the cut and have been eliminated, Sloane Jacobs due to the tag team work from Kayden Carter and Katana Chance, and Elektra Lopez, also due to Katana and Kayden working together. Kayden and Katana even surprise by working together to take Ivy over the top rope and to the floor, eliminating the lead female of the Diamond Mine. Ivy has been eliminated.
However, Katana is also on the apron, and clings to Kayden as Ivy has her leg grasped. In the end, Ivy turns out to have much more power and manages to yank Katana free of Kayden, dropping her against the floor. Katana has been eliminated, Kayden following as shes bumped off the apron by Nikkita Lyons shoulder block. Kayden has been eliminated. However, with both now on the outside, the two seemingly heels tag up and attack Ivy two on one. This diverts Tatum Paxleys attention from Nikkita to them, and to prove her allegiance more to the Diamond Mine, she springs over the top rope and dives onto Katana and Kayden to save Ivy, eliminating herself in the process. Tatum has been eliminated.
Indi, who uses offense to take over her fellow remaining competitors, later goes to boot Tiffany. However she misses and ends up tumbling over the top rope, crashing to the floor in what might not have been originally intended as Tiffany doesnt manage to get her hands on her on the way down. Indi has been eliminated.
Tiffany taunts Indi and returns back to the ring, joining the remaining three with her, Nikkita Lyons, Kiana James and Zoey Stark. Nikkita bombards Tiffany and Zoey with offense then is taken to a corner by Kiana, but she blasts back with a big roundhouse kick. With Kiana floored, Nikkita takes her off the mat with ease and lobs her over the top rope and to the floor. Kiana has been eliminated. However, as Nikkita celebrates this, Tiffany bursts back in and sends a celebrating Nikkita over the top rope, soon hitting the floor. The most likely winning candidate, Nikkita Lyons, has been eliminated.
Remaining are Zoey Stark and Tiffany Stratton. Zoey manages to take Tiffany over the top rope though she hangs on on the apron and makes a return. Zoey clotheslines her over and Tiffany loses her footing, though in a very close call, only one of Tiffanys feet hits the floor, whereas both must be for an official elimination. Tiffany lifts Zoey over onto the apron and Zoey fires a forearm at her, knocking Tiffany down. Zoey narrowly avoids tumbling and rolls back to the ring, dropkicked by Tiffany who tries a handspring back elbow after only for Zoey to block and German Suplex her across the ring. Zoey hauls Tiffany over the top rope, but once again Tiffany hangs on, at least until she forearms her all the way to the floor. Tiffany has been eliminated.
Just as it seems Zoey may have had it won, Cora Jade has resurfaced, and ultimately opportunistic. She awaits for Zoey to realise and Zoey turns and sees her coming, scooping her mid charge and sending her all the way over the top rope and Cora crashes to the floor. Cora has been eliminated. Zoey wins the match, and is the New Number One Contender to the WWE NXT Womens Championship.
(Cora Jade Segment)
(Giovanni Vinci, Sofia Castillo, Bohdi Hayward and Thea Hail Segment)
(Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams Segment feat Jakara Jackson)
(Mandy Rose, GiGi Dolin, Jacy Jayne, Ivy Nile, Kiana James and Alba Fyre Backstage Segment)
(Number One Contenders Battle Royal; Zoey Stark Returns)
(Zoey Stark Backstage Exclusive)
Thoughts On:
Cora Jade Segment: This was a strong first heel promo from Cora, with some valid points to it. The verbal stuff was strong, but i wasnt a fan of what followed. Sure, the title drop into the trash bin gets more heel heat instantly, but the timing couldnt be anymore ironic or suspicious. WWE have done nothing but not acknowledge the main rosters womens tag team titles after Sasha and Naomi’s unjust suspension, and probably have no intent of bringing it back. Now, with Cora’s move, i fear NXT is about to have the same effect, and that they may retire the brands womens tag titles, which, in the time of a suggested “womens evolution”, couldnt be an anymore backwards move. It gives a stacked womens division less to fight for, and if the later battle royal indicated anything, its the existence of the tag teams, their chemistry and their cohesion. They exist solely for those titles. Hopefully we either get a tournament to crown new champions, or some angle with Toxic Attraction trying to reclaim them via demands, or maybe even Roxanne gets a new partner like when Pete Dunne brought in Timothy Thatcher to fill in for him in his absence while he was champion with Riddle. NXT has Valentina and Yulisa, Ivy and Tatum, Kayden and Katana, Toxic Attraction and potentially Sarray and Erica Yan or Io should Sarray or Io come back. Thats quite a few tag teams that could be without titles, and teams who should be fighting to be the champions should they be vacated.
Womens Battle Royal: This was a great battle royal. I would have never called Kiana being in the final four, but she did great. I was surprised to see Sloane and Kiana last longer than Alba and Lash, and i thought Ivy would be in the match longer to be honest, but her being eliminated by Katana and Kayden made sense angle wise, and considering its not a pinfall, shes still protected. As dumb as Tatum eliminating herself was, i thought it was a nice touch, as it truly showed how much Ivy and the Diamond Mine means to her, as she sacrificed a title shot to save Ivy, which again, goes back to showing the cohesion of tag teams in NXT. That and Valentina caring about Yulisa’s elimination as to go after Zoey and when she was close to elimination, Yulisa saved her (briefly). Im not sure what went on with Indi’s elimination. It seemed to me like she was meant to stay on the apron and Tiffany takes her off but it seemed the speed and momentum might have caused her to go over completely, though i could be entirely wrong. If it was botched, Poor Indi has not had a good few weeks in terms of things going wrong. It was rumored Zoey was returning soon, but didnt expect it to be in the battle royal, but im fine with it. I was shocked that Nikkita got eliminated, but wasnt surprised that she was in the final few. Zoey and Tiffany seemed to have chemistry and i enjoyed every moment of their clash, with some VERY close calls, and then there was Cora trying to be an opportunistic heel at the end, only to backfire. Im gutted Sarray was quietly removed, but im fine with Zoey winning. I wondered if she was going to have a potential title run, and it might just come to fruition now. Toxic Attraction took her out kayfabe wise, so it makes sense to run this redemption angle. The only way i can see Zoey losing to Mandy right now is if Tiffany, Cora or a returning Io Shirai costs her the match.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 