Who will challenge The Ruler in Atlanta?

Jasper Troy wants another shot, but Yoshiki Inamura wants his first! Who will challenge Oba Femi as #1 contender to THE NXT Championship?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Joe Hendry VS Wes Lee w/ High Ryze; Hendry wins.
• Myles Borne VS Lexis King; Myles wins.
• Thea Hail VS Lainey Reid; Lainey wins.
• #ZaRuca VS Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley w/ The Culling; Izzi & Tatum win.
• NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Jasper Troy VS Yoshiki Inamura; Inamura wins and will challenge Oba Femi for the title at The Great American Bash.

PLAY BY PLAY

Trick Williams is here!

The fans are torn as they chant “Whoop Dat Trick!” The TNA World Champion says he’s the man as he makes his way to the ring. Trick daps it up with Booker T, Corey Graves & Vic Joseph as he joins commentary for this opening match, “Let’s talk about it~!”

Joe Hendry VS Wes Lee w/ High Ryze!

TNA Slammiversary is weeks away, and the Prestigious One is getting his rematch with Trick Williams. But will Hendry make it to July 20th? Or will the Cardiac Kid do the champ’s dirty work and end Hendry?

The bell rings and the fans chant, “We Believe! We Believe!” Hendry and Wes circle, feel things out and tie up. Hendry wrenches an arm to wristlock, then he wrangles Wes to the mat. Wes kips up but Hendry wrangles him again. Wes fights up, Hendry wrenches and hits a fireman’s carry takeover! The fans rally and duel, Wes kicks and rises again to wrench the arm. Wes knees low, but Hendry rolls, rolls, and kips up! Hendry headlocks for the takeover! The fans cheer, Wes headscissors, but Hendry kips free! The fans cheer more but Wes is furious. Wes runs up, Hendry dodges, but then Wes dodges to UP KICK!

Wes kips up, runs, but Hendry blows past Wes to CLOBBER him! Hendry brings Wes up, reels him in, and he suplexes, only for Wes to block! The fans rally as the two fight for control, and Hendry suplexes! Wes slips free and goes to a corner. Wes BOOTS Hendry away, then goes up to GAMANGIRI! Hendry wobbles, Wes runs up and RANAS! Hendry tumbles out and Wes grins. Wes builds speed to WRECK Hendry with a dropkick! Hendry hits the desk then falls over, Tyriek & Tyson mocking him. Wes goes outside, says this is for Trick, but Hendry LARIATS Wes! The fans fire up as Hendry and Trick stare down, but NXT goes to break.

NXT returns as Hendry whips Wes, Wes grabs ropes, and Tyriek trips Hendry up! The fans boo, Hendry storms out to confront Tyriek but Tyson is also there. Hendry turns around into a DIVE from Wes! Trick applauds and the fans are torn again. Wes puts Hendry in the ring, the ref warns Ty & Ty, but Wes goes to the corner. Hendry grabs a leg, Wes kicks him away, and then Wes goes to the second rope, PHOENIX SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Hendry survives and Wes seethes but he pushes Hendry around. The fans rally up as Hendry rises! Wes ROCKS Hendry, then ROCKS him again! Hendry shoves Wes, Wes BOOTS back!

Wes talks trash, runs and tilt-o-whirls, but Hendry stops the DDT! The fans fire up as Hendry powers up to suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up even more! The fans rally as both men rise up. Hendry ROCKS Wes, ROCKS him again and again, then whips Wes to LARIAT! The fans fire up more as Hendry scoops and FALL AWAY SLAMS Wes! Hendry then kips up and… Turns! The fans cheer but Trick says they’re sheep! Hendry stomps, stomps, and claps! The fans join in, and Hendry has the guzel! Wes slips out of the Standing Ovation, ROCKS Hendry, but Hendry ROCKS Wes! Wes fires a body shot, talks trash, then runs, but into another scoop!

Hendry fireman’s carries Wes, for the WIDOWMAKER! Cover, ROPEBREAK thanks to Tyson! The fans boo as High Ryze helps out Wes again, but Hendry argues with Ty & TY. But SANTANA is here! Mike Santana is the third part to the TNA World Championship match, but he’s standing up for the brand as he YANKS Ty & Ty from the apron! Wes runs up, Hendry dodges, and now the guzel! STANDING OVATION! Cover, Hendry wins!

Winner: Joe Hendry, by pinfall

Trick is upset but the proud Boricua wasn’t going to let Wes cheat Hendry like that. With two opponents coming after him, is Trick going to lose the title one way or another? Or will this year’s Slammiversary commemorate the Trick’N A Era?

NXT shares footage from after last week’s show.

Tatum Paxley was very upset with #ZaRuca for dragging her away during the Women’s Fatal 4 Way. She is only trying to do good things! Was she doing something bad? Sol says they were just trying to keep her from doing something she’d regret, which is something good friends do. Zaria says that’s why for the 100th time, that is why she has to be careful around Izzi, Izzi is NOT a good friend. Tatum doesn’t get why, but then Izzi storms in. Izzi asks what ZaRuca was doing getting involved when Tatum was helping her! What is she talking about?! Izzi says she knows Tatum didn’t mean to cost her that match, she knows Tatum’s intentions are pure.

Izzi just wants Tatum to understand, she still won her friendship. Zaria is stick of this. If Tatum is falling for this act, then go right ahead. Zaria storms out, and Izzi says clearly ZaRuca is a team. And she’s pretty sure she and Tatum would make an even better one. Tatum says Izzi is right. Those two head out and Sol sticks her tongue out. These two teams are set to face off tonight, will true friendship prevail?

Luca Crusifino is here!

The Consigliere tried to help Tony D’Angelo with the Heritage Cup but ended up messing that up. But The Legal Eagle’s here now, mic in hand, and he says Tony has been questioning his loyalty since Stand & Deliver. After last week, Luca wants to put this to bed. He wants to settle this. He asks Tony to please come out here. The Don surprisingly obliges, but he already tells everyone, “Look at this! My consigliere is calling me out here.” Tony joins Luca in the ring and says how the tables have turned. Luca says Tony thinks everyone has turned against him, but Tony sarcastically says yeah, no, Luca isn’t out to get Tony. At least, that’s not what the last month has shown.

But last week, Luca screwed Tony out of the Heritage Cup and practically handed it to Stacks. Luca points out Tony punched him out for that. Tony tells Luca that as he recalls, Luca’s the one who hit Tony first. Luca says he gave Tony the respect to listen to him, but now Tony has to listen to Luca. The fans like this! Luca says if we’re talking loyalty, let’s talk loyalty. Loyalty was Luca leaving college with one year of eligibility at Duquesne to help the family because Tony asked. Loyalty was Luca turning down law firm job offers without hesitation for a job that he’s wanted since he was a child. Loyalty was Luca giving up everything he’s done up to this point for a chance, just a CHANCE, to be in the WWE.

And Tony knows that without a doubt, Luca has never done a damn thing to doubt Tony. Never! And y’know what that is? That is loyalty! The fans cheer, but then here comes Stacks. The Heritage Cup Champion swaggers out here, trophy in his arms and mic in hand. Stacks says he wouldn’t be standing here OUR Heritage Cup Champion without Luca, so he thanks Luca for that. Tony says this is exactly what he’s talking about! Stacks goes to talk but Luca says to shut up! Stacks is NOT part of the family, this is between Luca and Tony. Tony tells Stacks yeah, this is just between Tony and his consigli- LUCA DECKS TONY!?

Stacks steps into the ring and he puts his arm around Luca! Stacks tells Tony that’s what he gets for how he treated everyone! Luca’s on Stacks’- LUCA DECKS STACKS!! Luca says his loyalties now lie… with Luca Crusifino! The consigliere is done being someone’s second, but what happens now that Luca puts himself first?

Backstage interview with Oba Femi.

Kelly Kincaid is with The Ruler and brings up tonight’s match of Yoshiki Inamura VS Jasper Troy to name the new #1 contender to the title for Great American Bash. Does Oba have any predictions or a preference on who he’ll face? Oba says he sees why the fans warmed up to Inamura in such a short amount of time. Oba wants to see if Inamura has the grit and tenacity to make it past Troy. Troy has shown he is very hungry. You might think that as champion, Oba just wants to see them both destroy each other so the challenge will be easier at Great American Bash, but no, that’s not it. Oba wants to see…

Well first, Inamura walks in, Briggs by his side. And the Great Rush tells Oba that tonight, you sees that grit and tenacity. Inamura is just as hungry for the biggest test in his career. Oba tells Briggs to get his guy ready, because amidst all the chaos in NXT, all these other championships changing hands, there is one constant: Oba Femi. He is not the hunted, he is the hunter, and the bigger the names he puts down, the more prestigious his own legacy becomes. So he’ll see the winner very soon. Inamura says Oba won’t have to wait long. See you at The Bash. Inamura & Briggs head out, but will they be going to Atlanta to challenge The Ruler?

Myles Borne VS Lexis King!

Myles may be hard of hearing, but all anyone has to do is look and see how The Drama King is high on himself. Lexis claimed he was going to give some advice to young Myles, but will he see that Myles doesn’t need it? Or will Lexis show everyone that Myles still has a long way to go?

NXT returns and we see George Gumbs Jr. & Tyreak Sapp are in the front row to watch their new friend, Myles. Myles makes his entrance, a theme song and tron all his own, and also in Florida Gators blue ‘n’ orange. The bell rings and the two tie up. King wrenches the wrist but Myles rolls, kips up, and wrenches. Myles has the wristlock but King rolls, cartwheels, and handsprings to then UP KICK! The fans boo but King eggs Myles on. Things speed up, King hurdles but Myles leaps! They keep moving, but King steps on Myles’ back! King mocks Myles, the fans rally up, and Myles runs up on King.

King headlocks, Myles powers up and out, only for King to whip Myles. Myles turns hurdle into a BIG back suplex! Myles facelocks, he gator rolls King around, then he lets off to Gator clap at King! The fans rally, but King knees low and CHOPS Myles! King whips, Myles reverses, and Myles runs up, but King puts him on the apron. Myles ROCKS King first, then goes up the corner. But King DROPKICKS Myles! Myles is stuck up top so King fires off shots! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, and King argues with her. King CHOPS Myles, goes up, and to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO! Myles survives and the fans fire up!

King mocks the Gator clap right at Gumb & Sapp, but Myles fires body shots! King CLUBS Myles, Myles ROCKS King, but King KNEES low! King whips Myles back to the corner, LARIATS and CHPOS, then sits Myles down! King runs to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! King clamps onto Myles for a seated COBRA TWIST! Myles endures, the fans rally up, and Myles fights up. But King SMACKS Myles! Myles ROCKS King again and again! But King drop toeholds Myles into buckles! King runs, fakes the dropkick, and he SLAPS Myles! The fans are torn but Myles is pissed! Myles stands, blocks a kick, and he ROCKS King!

Myles ROCKS King again and again, whips him to ropes, then LARIATS! And LARIATS! And UPPERCUTS! Then he OVERHEAD SUPLEXES King! King flounders, Myles runs up, but King ELBOWS him! Myles blocks the superkick! ANGLE SLAM! Cover, TWO! King toughs it out but Myles stays fired up. Myles stands King up, fireman’s carries, but King CLAWS the eyes! The fans rally for Myles but King dodges to SUPERKICK! King reels Myles in, CORO- NO, Myles powers out of the straitjacket! Myles hits the ORTON DROPKICK! And then the gator chomp leads to a ZIGZAG!! Cover, Myles wins!

Winner: Myles Borne, by pinfall

Call that the Touchdown cuz Myles spiked King! But will Myles keep going the distance until he’s a champion?

Dark State speaks.

Cutler James claims, “NXT’s been nothing but chaos since Dark State popped out. We got an NXT superstar as TNA Champ, and now we got a Noah wrestler gunning for the NXT title?” Osiris Griffin says, “Hank ‘n’ Tank get dropped, everybody wanna point their fingers at us? Man, all I’m saying is, everything going on around here is cuz Dark State allows it.” Dion Lennox says, “We see everything. This is our playground, and chaos is our game!” Saquon Shugars says, “Yeah, so y’all might as well get used to it. Go ahead, get comfortable. Because if we catch y’all lackin’, there ain’t no saving you, bruh. Cuz we could strike anywhere, any place, any time!”

Dion says, “Matter o’ fact, I know where we fitting to go next. But y’all don’t.” The masks are up and the shadows are even more dangerous than before. Will NXT, and perhaps even TNA, find that #NoOneIsSafe?

Thea Hail VS Lainey Reid!

While the Chase U graduate might be a “Grown-Ass Woman,” the Southern Belle doesn’t see much maturing happening. Will Lainey show that she leveled up past Thea already? Or will she see there’s still a lot to learn?

NXT returns as Lainey makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two tie up. Thea puts Lainey ont he ropes, Lainey turns that around, and repeat. Lainey KNEES low, THROWS Thea by her hair, then taunts her. Thea TACKLES Lainey and rains down forearms! Lainey pushes Thea away, but Thea is back to wrench an arm and SWEEP a leg! SLIDING KICK! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Lainey sputters but Thea is on her! Thea bumsps her off buckles, UPPERCUTS and clinches, but Lainey fires elbows! Lainey goes to buckle bump but Thea ELBOWS free! Thea then dodges Lainey, but Lainey catches the back body block!

Lainey wheelbarrows Thea to SMACK her off buckles, then SNAP GERMAN her away! Lainey then throws down ELBOW after ELBOW! And she STOMPS Thea down! The fans are torn but Lainey bumps Thea off buckles. Lainey digs her boots in, the ref counts, but Lainey stops at 4. Lainey brings Thea around, CLUBS her down, and then paces. Lainey drags Thea up to whip her to ropes, and ELBOWS her down! Thea sputters, the fans rally more, and Lainey clamps on with a chinlock. Lainey has the forearms in Thea’s face, but she fights around as the fans rally up again. Thea pries the hold open but Lainey KNEES low!

Lainey underhooks Thea, brings her around, and TIGER SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Thea survives that shot but Lainey pushes her around. Lainey kicks Thea around, but Thea avoids the elbow drop! Thea goes to ropes, Lainey storms up, but Thea ELBOWS her away! And BOOTS her! Thea grabs an arm to hit the ARM CODE BREAKER! Thea then CLOBBERS Lainey again and again! Then she wrenches, KICKS a leg out, and SLIDING LARIATS! The fans fire up as Thea hits a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Thea is frustrated but she stalks Lainey to the apron. Lainey RAMS Thea, steps back in, and goes up to FLYING CHUCK!

Thea flounders, Lainey hauls her up, but Thea fights the lift! Thea wrenches but Lainey fights off the Kimura! Lainey pulls hair, then trips Thea! Lainey high stacks, with feet on the ropes! But the ref sees that! Lainey and the ref argue, but Thea rolls Lainey up! TWO!! Lainey runs and KNEES Thean down!! Cover, with Lainey holding ropes! Lainey wins!!

Winner: Lainey Reid, by pinfall

Well, Lainey may not have been able to beat Jacy Jayne, but she’s apparently learned from her! Lainey plays fast and loose with the rules here, will this be how she reaches the top?

No Quarter Catch Crew meets backstage.

Tavion Heights is disappointed in his loss last week, but Wren Sinclair says that’s why they say Je’Von is BOUNCY~. Charlie Dempsey agrees there. Wren says Tavion was so close to the win, but a bit selfishly, she’s glad he’s still in NQCC. Tavion says imagine having to do it with this mask on. Dempsey says what Troy did to Je’Von was what Tavion should’ve done, but he didn’t. That proves Dempsey’s point that Tavion needs a little bit more time in the NQCC. Oh, does it prove him right? Because Tavion isn’t making excuses, he lost to Je’Von. But he wants the exact deal Myles was given: A 1v1 with Dempsey! Then if Tavion wins, he’s out!

Dempsey says Tavion doesn’t want that, that’ll be two loses in a row. Wren says no, that’s definitely what Tavion wants. Dempsey says yes, he can hear Tavion, they’re both right next to him. But look, Tavion, if you want that match, fine. But when Dempsey wins, this conversation they’re having will never happen again. Tavion shakes hands on it, so the deal is made. Will NQCC lose another pivotal member? Or will there be no “graduation” for Tavion just yet?

Jasper Troy speaks.

“The NXT locker room leaves in fear of Oba Femi. ‘He’s dominant. He’s invincible. He’s a titan.’ But did he look that way when he was in the ring with me?! The NXT Champion barely survived. And now I’m only one match away from the rematch that I want. And I know Oba, he’ll root for Inamura, because he knows what’s waiting for him at The Bash if I get my hand raised tonight. Inamura, I’m going through you. And Oba, you may be backed by destiny, but you’re destiny is mine!” We’re going to see some big men slap meat, but who comes out on top as a contender?

#ZaRuca VS Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley w/ The Culling!

Sol Ruca & Zaria have Tatum’s best interests at heart, but it just isn’t getting through to her. Will a match have a better effect? Or are The It Girl’s hooks already in deep on the lonely girl’s heart and mind?

NXT returns and not only do Izzi & Tatum make their entrance, but Shawn Spears & Niko Vance accompany them. Will The Culling’s presence be a factor here?

The teams sort out and Tatum starts against Sol. Sol tries to reason with Tatum even now, but Tatum refuses to listen. Zaria gets in Tatum’s face about this, but then Izzi gets in Zaria’s face! Izzi & Tatum take a shot but ZaRuca dodges! Then Zaria gives Sol a boost to DROPKICK Izzi & Tatum! The fans fire up and Sol brings Tatum up with a waistlock. Tatum fights the lift, but Sol still sits her down. Tatum pries the hold open, then backflips over to waistlock! The fans applaud that unique switch, but Sol powers up to switch! Izzi tags in as Tatum bucks the O’Conner! Sol kips up, Tatum dodges her, and Izzi ROCKS Sol!

Izzi scoops Sol to SLAM her, then she and Tatum nod. They hold hands as they bring Sol up. Izzi whips Sol to the corner and RAMS her! Izzi ROCKS and CHOPS Sol on repeat! The fans boo but Izzi tags Tatum. Tatum stomps away on Sol but the ref counts. Sol blocks a boot, trips Tatum, and jackknife bridges, TWO! Sol wrenches and YANKS on the arm, then CLUBS Tatum! Sol whips Tatum to the corner, runs and ELBOWS her, then tags Zaria. ZaRuca double whips to DOUBLE HIP TOSS! Then they shake hands to DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Tatum is tougher than that but Zaria stands on Tatum.

Zaria scoops, Tatum slips free, and Tatum ducks a boot! Tag to Izzi and the fans fire up as we get the lady titans! They shove each other, Izzi dodges a shot but then Zaria dodges a boot! Izzi comes back to BOOT after all! Cover, TWO! Zaria stays in this but Izzi stays on her with a facelock. Zaria fights up, powers out, and ROCKS Izzi! Izzi ROCKS Zaria, Zaria ROCKS Izzi, repeat! Then Zaria HEADBUTTS! Izzi staggers, Tatum tags in, and Zaria CLOBBERS Izzi! But Tatum goes up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Zaria stays in this but Tatum stays on her with a facelock! Tatum grinds Zaria down, leans her weight on the hold, but Zaria fights up.

The fans rally, Zaria picks Tatum up, and she tags Sol. Zaria TOSSES Tatum, then Sol slingshots to FACEBUSTER! Tatum flounders, Izzi runs in, but Sol dodges to give her a FACEBUSTER! Sol tags Zaria back in, and Sol climbs up. Zaria fireman’s carries Tatum, puts her on the ropes, and Sol stands on Tatum as a surfboard! Then she SUPER CROSSBODIES Izzi! And then Sol sets Izzi back up so Zaria can THROW Tatum onto Izzi! The Culling is panicking while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and Zaria fireman’s carries Tatum. Tatum flails, Izzi tags in, and then Tatum anchors Zaria to the ropes! Izzi runs and DROPKICKS Zaria! Zaria falls but Izzi brings her up. Izzi whips Zaria to the corner, RAMS into her, then Tatum tags in. Tatum brings Zaria out but Zaria ducks the enzigiri! Zaria waistlocks, Tatum elbows free and SHOTGUNS Zaria! Tatum runs and RAMS into Zaria! She traps Zaria, Izzi tags in, and Izzi pulls Tatum towards the corner to squeeze Zaria! The ref counts but Izzi lets go at 4. Izzi then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Zaria is tougher than that, and Izzi grows frustrated.

Izzi drags Zaria up but Zaria fires a haymaker! Izzi fires back, then choke grips! VOLLEYBALL SPIKE CHOKE SLAM! Tag to Tatum and she runs to SOMERSAULT SCISSOR KICK! Cover, TWO! Zaria survives and Tatum is shocked! Tatum KNEES Zaria in the back, clamps on a chinlock, but the fans rally up. Zaria endures and fights around, then fires body shots. Tatum ENZIGIRIS! Zaria falls, Tatum covers, TWO! Tatum snarls and she drags Zaria into another chinlock, just to CLUB her! Tatum then clamps on and grinds Zaria. Zaria fights up, the fans rally up, but Zaria powers up, only for Tatum to DDT!

Tatum tags Izzi and they put Zaria in the corner. Izzi whips Tatum in, but Zaria KNEES the crossbody down! Zaria dodges Izzi and hot tags Sol! The fans fire up as Sol LARIATS Tatum, ELBOWS Izzi, and repeat! Sol then SWEEPS the legs on them both, handsprings and DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! The fans fire up with Sol, and she ELBOWS Izzi in the corner! Zaria tags in and she SPLASHES Tatum! Then ASSISTED SHOTGUN on Tatum! Zaria scoops Izzi, Sol goes up, SLAM and then the handstand SPLASH! Cover, Tatum BREAKS it and FLYING KNEE SMASHES Sol! Tatum hurries out but Sol TRIPS Tatum up!

Zaria hauls Izzi up, fireman’s carries, but Izzi fights free! CODE BREAKER! But Tatum is down, no one to tag! Sol tags in and she runs up! Izzi back suplexes but Sol lands out! SURFBOARD BACKSTABBER! But Tatum returns to tackle Izzi, so that Zaria’s SPEAR hits Sol!! The fans are just as stunned! Zaria is pissed now, but Tatum DUMPS her out! And then Tatum WRECKS Zaria! Izzi ROCKS Sol, then hits the SKY HIGH! Cover, Culling wins!!

Winners: Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley, by pinfall

Tatum saved Izzi from disaster, and now Izzi has pinned the NXT Women’s North American Champion! Tatum has joined The Culling, but will Izzi be the one reigning?

Ava Raine meets with Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and The Vanity Project.

The NXT General Manager stands with The Absolute on one side, All Ego and his new friends on the other. She tells Swipe Right & Jackson Drake that in her honest opinion, Ethan Page is the last person they should trust. But that aside, she was hoping to have a civil conversation. Ricky Saints says there’s nothing civil about this, but it’s gonna be man to man, and they don’t need the peanut gallery here. Saints wants his rematch! Ethan says first of all, show a smidge of respect to THE Vanity Project. And they’re literally only here to help Saints. It’s in case Saints steps outta line again and Ethan has to send Saints to the hospital, Vanity Project is actually here to protect Saints.

And as for the rematch… Ethan laughs and says please keep up with the times. Ethan Page is the North American Champion, the GREATEST North American wrestler to ever hold it, and from here forward, Ethan will be dictating every single thing about this title on his terms. Oh, wow, his terms? Just like every championship that Ethan has “earned” here? Swipe Right says hundos. Hundos…? Ethan says yes, hundos. But Ethan is a fighting champion and he’s in a fantastic mood. He will give Saints an opportunity: Saints can earn the title match, if and only if he survives the Vanity Project gauntlet!

Saints says wow, gauntlet? Jackson Drake says no, Ethan can’t- Jackson starts coughing, and he speaks in a hoarse voice, all to mock Saints. Ethan and the Vanity Project laugh, Saints says that’s real cute, Slim Jim. But he doesn’t mind playing this little game. Because when he beats the gauntlet, he gets to dictate the stipulation for his rematch. Ava likes that idea. Ethan says let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Ava says no, sorry, it is official: Saints VS Vanity Project. Perfect! Perfect… Ava says hundos. Ethan says it’s fine, Vanity Project’s got this. But do they? Or will it be an Absolute victory next week?

Chase U is in session.

Andre Chase tells the class, “After reflecting on last week… Uriah, you made me realize that it might be time for this old dog to learn some new tricks. So I wanna apologize. Tough love is the only way that I know, but if it wasn’t for you two, I never would’ve reopened Chase University. Hell, when I heard Kale call out to me the day I emptied out my classroom, in my darkest of days came a glimmer of hope. And I don’t want to lose sight of that. So Kale, next week, I got you a singles match.” Kale says heck yeah! Chase continues to say that while his methods aren’t for everyone, he does want to be better, if they’ll allow it.

Kale thanks Mr. Chase, and he accepts the apology. Bring it in! They hug it out and Uriah says it is never too late to grow and break those toxic patterns. Chase says he and Uriah will be ringside for Kale, but Kale needs to promise to listen to Chase and use what he has learned here the past few weeks, to show them that… Wait, is it toxic to say what he wants to say? Uriah says you can 100% say it, so long as you say it with, not at someone. Then Kale, you show them that you are EFFIN’ CHASE U TOUGH!! The class is fired up, but will Kale finally get that win?

Backstage interview with Joe Hendry & Mike Santana.

Kelly Kincaid says Joe started the night off with a bang. It was a great victory over Wes Lee, with a surprise assist from one of his opponents for Slammiversary. Hendry tells Santana that he appreciated the help against High Ryze. Santana has Hendry stop there, and says, “Check it. You and I are throwin’ hands in two-and-a-half weeks at Slammiversary. But the reality is, we’re united when it comes to defending TNA against guys like Trick and High Ryze.” Then breaking news from NXT GM, Ava: Hendry & Santana will team up against Tyson & Tyriek! Hendry says he won’t get the invite to the Santana family barbeque, but that doesn’t matter.

They are two completely different people, but they have one thing in common, and that is a quest to bring the TNA World Championship home to TNA. Santana says as much as he believes, don’t get too excited. Hendry is a cornball, but he reps TNA to the max. But he also wants to make this real clear: Santana is the one bringing the title home where it belongs, so Hendry just has to get ready for Slammiversary. Hendry says that job is fit for only one man, and you’re looking at him. Kelly says Slammiversary is right around the corner, but there’s also The Great American Bash. That is where the contract signing for this Triple Threat will be held!

Kelly sends it back to commentary, but there are some big moves happening. Will TNA’s stars shine over High Ryze? Will they use that 2/3 advantage to take the title off of Trick?

Briggs hypes up Inamura backstage.

Briggs tells Inamura he’s got this! Briggs believes in Inamura! Inamura will be the one to defeat Oba! He’ll be the one to dethrone The Ruler at the Great American Bash! Inamura says he’s got this for both of them! But he has this, alone. Inamura has Briggs stay back here, but Briggs says yeah, Inamura’s got this! Will Inamura turn it into the Great American Rush? Or will he fail to get through Troy?

The Culling regroups backstage.

The Chair Man applauds the victory, and Tatum is very excited! Spears says that was incredible. Tatum is really starting to look like part of the family. Niko says he sees the chemistry developing, and that’s good to see. Tatum thanks them, and Ava walks over to congratulate them, too. They’re clicking quickly as a team. Izzi says it is easy to do when you have a true friend. Ava says that’s great for them. And Izzi, with your pin on Sol, you will face Sol for the Women’s North American Championship at The Great American Bash. The Culling is very excited to hear that, and Izzi says it is about damn time. Izzi says she couldn’t have done it without Tatum!

But then Hank ‘n’ Tank storm in! They get jumped from behind, and the only evidence is a black steel chair? It’s gotta be Spears & Niko! These cowards better watch themselves! But as things get heated, security rushes in and Tatum shouts over everyone! Her new friends would never do something like that! But if Hank ‘n’ Tank are so big and bad, put the tag titles up against them next week? Hank ‘n’ Tank says yeah, they hit first, and will damn sure hit last! Ava says if that’s what they want, then the match is made. The Big Belly Bandits are ready to break Spears & Niko, but are they falling into The Culling’s cunning trap?

NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Jasper Troy VS Yoshiki Inamura!

NXT returns and Inamura makes his entrance to join Troy in the ring. The bell rings and Troy runs up! Inamura dodges to fire forearms! The fans rally, Troy kicks low, and Troy scoops to SLAM Inamura! Troy runs and ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Troy huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Inamura up. Troy whips Inamura hard into a corner! Then he SPLASHES Inamura, before hitting a short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Inamura but Troy clamps on a chinlock. Troy grinds Inamura but Inamura fights up! Inamura pries the hold open, and he facelocks in return! Troy endures, powers up, and he pries the hold open!

Troy short arm LARIATS, but Inamura stays up! Troy short arm LARIATS again, but Inamura still stays up! Inamura roars, Troy short arm- NO, Inamura dodges to hit a BIG back suplex! And then ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Troy stays in this but the fans rally for Inamura. Inamura stomps Troy, clinches, and the fans rally up. Troy rises but Inamura has the headlock. We see Oba watching this backstage, and he likes what he sees. Troy powers up, pries the hold open, and he powers up, only for Inamura to hold on tight! Inamura grinds Troy down, but Troy powers up again. Troy fires body shots, whips Inamura away, but Inamura RAMS Troy!

Troy stays up, but Inamura hits his sumo stance! The fans fire up and Troy decides to take Inamura up on this challenge! Inamura runs up to RAM Troy! Troy staggers back, Inamura returns but Troy scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Inamura survives but Troy clamps onto him. Troy whips, Inamura ducks and comes back to LARIAT Troy up and out! Inamura shouts, “C’MON, JASPER!” The fans fire up with Inamura while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns once again and Inamura whips. Troy CLOBBERS Inamura! The ref checks, Inamura is still in this, so Troy runs to SPLASH DOWN! And then he runs to SPLASH DOWN again! Troy huffs ‘n’ puffs and he runs again, SPLASH DOWN! Cover off the hattrick, TWO! Inamura toughs it out and Troy frowns. The fans rally for Inamura as he sputters and coughs, but Troy stands him up. Troy scoops to POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Inamura survives again and Troy grows frustrated. Troy paces, brings Inamura up, and the fans rally up. Troy reels Inamura in, but Inamura fights the Cobra Twist! They go around and around, both men fighting for control!

Troy CLUBS Inamura, but Inamura CLUBS back! Inamura then slips around and POSTS Troy! The fans fire up while Troy stumbles out of the corner. Inamura runs up, dodges a lariat, and he CHOPS Troy! And CHOPS! CHOPS! CHOPS! Inamura CHOPS Troy down to his knees, then fires off a flurry of forearms! The fans are fired up as Inamura ROCKS Troy! Inamura runs, RAMS Troy, but Troy stays up! Inamura runs again, but into the BLACK HOLE SLAM! Cover, TWO!?! Inamura shocks Troy by surviving! Troy huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs again, SPLASH DOWN onto knees! Inamura fire the SUMO PALM STRIKES!

Inamura puts Troy in a corner to then ROCK and CHOP on repeat! The fans fire up but the ref counts, so Inamura whips corner to corner. Inamura then whips corner to corner again! Inamura scoops Troy!? And SLAMS him! The fans fire up with Inamura and he scoops Troy again, for a SPINNING SLAM! Inamura roars and he goes to the corner! The fans fire up as Inamura climbs! GREAT RUSH SPLASH!! Cover, INAMURA WINS!!

Winner: Yoshiki Inamura, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Championship)

Inamura topples Troy, and now he is set to face Oba! Oba makes his way back out here so he can look Inamura in the eyes. Troy is raging as he stands back up, and he demands Oba give him his second chance. But wait! Je’Von Evans slips in from the crowd side! Springboard and O G CUTTER!! The fans fire up as Je’Von gets even with Troy in the background of the title scene! Will the Young OG show Troy that he can fly even higher? Will Inamura make the most of his golden opportunity in Atlanta?

Jordynne Grace is here!

The fans fire up as the Juggernaut, the #1 contender to the NXT Women’s Championship, makes her way to the ring. Grace grabs a mic and she says, “I wanted to come out here tonight and be completely honest. Getting to this point is the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do.” The fans applaud that, and Grace says last week reminded her of something: She was reminded that she thrives under pressure. “And the bigger the battle, the bigger the win. So now, I’m about to walk into Evolution, a historic Premium Live Event not just for WWE but for Women’s Wrestling.” The fans cheer that! And Grace says this time, she’s not watching from the sidelines, she’s a part of it!

Grace vows to make history alongside the best women’s wrestlers in the world. But for the sake of complete honesty, Grace has to be something she is honestly terrified of being: vulnerable. Grace has been thinking a lot lately, and asking herself, “Am I actually good enough to be here?” The fans cheer and chant, “Yes You Are!” Grace wonders if she belongs in the WWE. “YES! YES! YES!” Grace knows they know her journey. They know she didn’t grow up saying she was born to be a WWE superstar. But she did everything she had to do in order to become one. She became someone that they couldn’t ignore!

So at Evolution, she will beat Jacy Jayne and remind herself of exactly who she is! Because Grace may not have been born- Well, speaking of, The Fatal Influence shows up. And Jacy has a mic to say, “Alright, Jordynne, are you done with this incredibly pitiful sob story of yours yet? I mean, congratulations on making it the absolute highlight of your career. And I know, I know, I’m fully aware that you can bench press more than me. But you can’t carry, and in fact, you’ll never carry this division the way that I will. But by all means, continue flexing your muscles and hoping that one day, a championship will just magically fall into your arms.

“But I can promise you, it won’t be my NXT Women’s Championship, and it damn sure won’t be at Evolution. Because everyone wants to keep saying I’m the most beatable champion in history? But unfortunately for all of you and all you idiots, I’m at the top of my game.” The fans boo and Jacy says cry about it while she keeps winning. And while she’s on that subject, she’s reminded that Grace and Blake Monroe are cut for the same cloth: They think they can just walk up in here and everyone will bow down at their feet. Unfortunately for them, the Fatal Influence will always be here to remind them where they stand.

“Quick reality check, honey: At Evolution-” Grace tells Jacy to stop, and asks Fatal Influence to do everyone a favor, and shut up! The fans cheer that! Jacy shocked the world when she won the NXT Women’s Championship. But Grace won’t surprise anyone when she beats Jacy. Grace WILL become NXT Women’s- Jacy takes a swing, but Grace blocks it! Grace DECKS Jacy, then she DECKS Fallon! Jazmyn runs away but Jacy attacks from behind! Jacy & Fallon mug Grace while Jazmyn cheers and the fans boo! But wait! BLAKE MONROE IS HERE! A slam through a table won’t keep her down, and she DECKS Jacy! And she DECKS Fallon! And repeat!

The fans fire up as Blake dodges Fallon to SLINGBLADE! Grace gives Jacy a SPINEBUSTER! The Fatal Influence is in retreat, seeing their enemies united! Ava has everyone stop here, and tells Jacy to calm down already to listen. Clearly, Jacy wants something down about this, and luckily for her, Ava is two steps ahead. So at The Great American Bash, it will be Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne VS Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe! The Fatal Influence is angry, so they rush the ring again! The brawl is back on, but then Grace’s BACKFIST and Monroe’s HEADBUTT knock the Influence down! They’re in retreat again, will Jacy lose her influence on NXT with Grace & Glamour in her way?

My Thoughts:

A great NXT with a lot of great build for many events at once. For one, great opener from Hendry VS Wes, and while High Ryze getting involved was a given, great move to have Santana show up and counter that. They also went the logical route by giving us a tag match of Hendry & Santana VS Tyson & Tyriek for next week. That will be a great match, and surely Hendry & Santana win that, but that won’t be the go-home with Slammiversary not until the 20th. Dark State had a decent promo to put the NXT-TNA-Noah crossover into perspective, and I feel like they teased Dark State crashing TNA this week to perhaps get a match for Slammiversary. Mostly because it doesn’t feel like they’re getting a match for Great American Bash.

Good NXT centric story builds, such as Mr. Chase understanding Kale & Uriah are right about Chase U needing a change in attitude. I would think then that Mr. Chase coaches Kale to his victory next week so that the “school” has some momentum on their side again. Good match from Thea VS Lainey, and a little surprising Lainey had to cheat to win, but she has been acting Heelish since losing to Jacy so she might as well wrestle Heelish, too. Very good match from Myles VS King, and it seems Myles is going to integrate some Florida Gators related stuff into his moveset to help him stand out a bit more. The ZigZag could’ve been done better, but that might be more on King taking it than Myles starting it.

Good promo, and Tavion VS Dempsey is going to be a great match, but I’m torn on how this one’s going to go. If Tavion wins his way out of NQCC, NQCC might as well be done. Unless the plan is to add some new members from like Evolve, WWE ID and/or LFG, which wouldn’t be so bad. Great promo from Luca, Tony and Stacks where Luca is going out on his own. The Heritage Cup’s British Rounds don’t work in Triple Threats but I feel like there could be a non-title Triple Threat between these three to see who really runs The D’Angelo Family, only for Rizzo to return and throw her support behind who she feels is most fit.

Good promo from “last week” to give us ZaRuca VS Izzi & Tatum, and a very good match with how Izzi & Tatum put together some fun combos. The Culling winning here made sense, it gives us Izzi VS Sol for the Women’s North American Championship, which will surely be a great match but with interference from Tatum and/or Zaria. But good promo after to also help set up Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Spears & Vance, that’ll be a really good match, too. Not sure who wins that, but it’d make sense if The Culling starts grabbing up belts so that the faction actually becomes a credible threat.

Good promo from Ricky Saints with Ava, Ethan and Vanity Project. They’re kinda just copy-pasting what they did in Evolve with Sean Legacy and Vanity Project, though, with this gauntlet match idea. But unlike Legacy, Saints will win and he’ll choose something pretty wild for the North American Championship match to finally settle things once and for all. In fact, he might choose Loser Leaves NXT like I was feeling last week. That way, Saints wins and carries the title for the next stretch while Ethan heads off to Raw or SmackDown in time for a SummerSlam build.

Very good promo from Oba with Inamura to hype up the main event match, but also good promo from Troy, as well as Inamura with Briggs to set up Briggs being left backstage. Inamura VS Troy was a great match, and Troy is showing he was the right choice for LFG Season 1. Makes me wonder where Tyra Mae Steele went and if she’ll get a story on the other side of the big Atlanta weekend. But Inamura winning is great, because as we also saw, Troy VS Je’Von is a great match right there. Oba VS Inamura will be awesome, but something tells me Briggs will try and help Inamura, only to mess things up for him.

And great closing segment with Grace, Monroe & Fatal Influence. It went how I expected, with Fatal Influence trying to beat Grace up and Monroe making the save. That tag match for Great American Bash is going to be the go-home to the Evolution title match, and so with it being Monroe’s first WWE PLE show, she and Grace are going to win, sadly meaning Grace loses because Fatal Influence is a faction that loves to cheat. I could be wrong, and I hope I’m wrong, but WWE still goes with tropes and standard formulas, so it doesn’t seem likely.

My Score: 8.8/10