The July 1, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from the Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University.
WWE NXT Results (7/1)
- Tegan Nox def. Dakota Kai, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae – Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
- Timothy Thatcher def. Oney Lorcan
- Rhea Ripley def. Robert Stone & Aliyah
- Dexter Lumis def. Roderick Strong – Strap Match
- Io Shirai def. Sasha Banks
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Handicap Match
The fallout from Rhea Ripley no longer being in the hunt for the NXT Women’s Title continued she has been booked into a feud with Aliyah. The stipulation heading into this contest was the fact that Ripley must join Robert Stone’s faction if she lost.
Yes, the same Robert Stone who had been drinking because of sadness after being dropped by Chelsea Green, who was supposed to be headed to the main roster only to be forgotten about on NXT television and not called up yet.
The match was a fine comedy match with Ripley going over.
Heading into the contest, most fans didn’t think that Ripley, who is a much bigger star and arguably the second biggest star on the NXT women’s roster right now, would lose to Aliyah in this contest.
Not only for the fact that Aliyah hadn’t been built up as a serious player in the division up until this point, but also because Stone has been booked as a comedy figure since losing his client in Green.
Oney Lorcan vs. Timothy Thatcher
The most random yet somewhat hyped up bout on the card was Oney Lorcan vs. Timothy Thatcher in a singles match.
It was set up on Twitter after Lorcan, who hasn’t done much as of late, randomly went on a rant about Thatcher for his submission school videos that have been airing on NXT TV as of late. This led to NXT GM William Regal making the booking.
The match was fine but stiff. Rightfully so, Thatcher, who needs something to happen aside from those videos, wentover with his armbar finisher.
While it was the clear outcome, it was the right call by the NXT creative team.
Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
There was a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match between Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai. The winner of this match would become the number 1 contender for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship.
As expected, a fun yet chaotic filled contest with all women hitting some cool spots and a few near falls. LeRae was first eliminated and followed by Yim.
In the end, it was Knox who ended up winning the contest to become the new #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Title currently held by Shirai. The finish of the match saw Knox hit a shining wizard for the win.
This was an interesting match booking as it came on the same show as Shirai vs. Sasha Banks in a non-title bout. Obviously, Knox will challenge Shirai down the line, but it will be interesting to see when the contest actually takes place.
Strap Match
Just one week after their first match, WWE booked Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong in a Strap Match on this show.
Last week’s NXT saw Lumis win their singles match by count-out, which set up this interesting contest. WWE had hyped it as the first of its kind in the history of the black and yellow brand. And clearly due to the outcome of their previous match, it made sense although the two stars had their work cut out for them.
So how was the match? It was interesting. Not the most exciting thing you’ll ever see especially due to the Michael Myers’ like personality in which Lumis works, but Strong made it interesting and had to do so in order to make this match some kind of entertaining.
Lumis went over in the contest that opened the second hour.
Sasha Banks vs. Io Shirai
One of the biggest matches booked on this show was WWE Women’s Tag team Champion Sasha Banks taking on current NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in a non-title match.
Clearly, Banks hasn’t done anything as a singles competitor in NXT as of late so it did make sense as to why this was a non-title match.
The match was very good but you could tell that these two stars could put on an even better match should they go again. The finish saw Asuka come out from nowhere to spray mist in the face of Banks. This allowed Io to hit a moonsault off the top rope for the win.
This match was booked after Shirai attacked Banks and Bayley two weeks ago following them successfully defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart.
It was an interesting match booking especially with NXT crowning a new #1 contender for the title on the same show. the clear outcome, it was the right decision on the part of NXT creative.
