The John Report: WWE NXT 06/14/22 Review
This week’s WWE NXT featured the Toxic Attraction championship trio in the main event against three of their rivals, plus NXT Champion Bron Breakker was in action as well.
The NXT brand taped this show and next week’s episode on Wednesday last week, so the spoilers are out there. Usually they go live from the WWE PC on Tuesday nights. I guess they wanted to try something different and perhaps they’re going to tweak the look of where they do their regular show. The talent has also gone back to doing live events in Florida on weekends, so it could be a case of wanting to give the talent a bit of a break too.
This episode is taking place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. My WWE NXT Review archive is here. Let’s get to it.
The commentary team of Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett were at ringside to welcome us to the show. As always I go summary style for most of the matches and then play-by-play for the main event.
NXT Tag Team Championships: The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
Blade tried a couple of quick rollups, but then Brutus came back with a huge shoulder tackle. Enofe hit an impressive spin kick on Julius for a nearfall. The Creeds took control with Julius slamming Brutus onto Enofe. Enofe hit a Northern Lights Suplex on Brutus, who had control of Enofe with a front headlock. The challengers tried a double team move, Julius avoided it and Enofe hit an impressive dropkick. The Creeds hit a double back body drop leading into a break.
(Commercial)
Enofe hit an impressive jumping knee on Brutus. Enofe also hit a top rope elbow splash for a two count. Brutus hit a belly to back suplex on Enofe to break free. Julius was back in with suplexes on both guys showing off his power. Julius hit a German Suplex on Enofe, Blade tagged in and hit a cross body block followed by two dropkicks. Julius slammed Blade followed by Brutus hitting the low clothesline for the pinfall win.
Winners by pinfall: The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed)
Analysis: ***1/4 A good tag team match that went longer than I expected because I thought that the champions would win in a more dominant manner. That’s not a complaint because I like Blade/Enofe as a team. The Creeds continue to put on good matches every time they are out there.
The champions and challengers shook hands and hugged after the match.
The babyface trio of Indi Hartwell, Cora Jade & Roxanne Perez were talking about their match. Indi called herself a wily veteran, Cora said Indi is only 25 years old and Indi reminded them she won her tag team title a few years ago. Jade said that hey would take out Toxic Attraction and they were all excited about the match.
Tiffany Stratton made her entrance.
(Commercial)
A video was shown of Apollo Crews seated alone in a restaurant while writing in a notebook and he spoke about his career. Crews talked about his success in WWE so far while also speaking about how he had unfinished business in NXT. Crews heard a guy in the restaurant complaining bout his order, then Crews grabbed the guy by the head and slammed him into the table.
Analysis: That was a unique segment. I think it was just a way to show that Crews feels like he has a lot to accomplish in NXT this time around.
Fallon Henley (w/Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen) vs. Tiffany Stratton
They were throwing strikes early on with Henley decking Stratton with a hard chop. Stratton trapped Henley in the ring apron and then tossed Henley across the ring a few times. Stratton put her legs around the head of Henley and bridged back into a submission. Henley hit a corner splash. Stratton stopped Henley’s offense and got a double foot stomp for two. Stratton hit a Samoan Drop-style move. Wendy Choo showed up on a ball and tossed some confetti on distraction, which led to Henley getting an inside cradle for the win after three minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Fallon Henley
Analysis: *3/4 That’s a bit of an upset since Stratton is pushed more, but it was cheap due to Choo and the deadly…confetti. Henley threw some good strikes in the match. I like her aggressiveness. Stratton is a talented heel that keeps getting better as well.
Cameron Grimes was shown talking to some random people that congratulated him on a good match at In Your House, but Grimes said he wasn’t looking for sympathy. Bron Breakker was standing there with the NXT Title, he encouraged Grimes as well and Grimes said he wasn’t looking for sympathy. Grimes left. Duke Hudson walked up to Bron saying he had a victory over Bron Breakker, who pointed out it was a disqualification. Bron told him they should have a rematch for Bron’s NXT Title. Duke agreed to it.
Wes Lee made his entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Lash Legend talking about how she was done with Alba Fyre. Lash talked about how she was an accomplished athlete that was great at track & field as well as a basketball player. When COVID hit in 2020, she chose a WWE career instead of WNBA and she’s ready to dominate.
Xyon Quinn vs. Wes Lee
These guys have wrestled before with Quinn as a new heel. Lee used his speed for a quick rollup. Quinn overpowered Lee by putting him on the top rope, but Lee landed on his feet after doing a flip. Quinn got a knockdown using his forearms. Quinn was in control until he charged, Lee moved and Quinn went crashing into the turnbuckle. Lee hit a jumping back kick. Lee went up top and did a twisting splash off the top for the pinfall win after three minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Wes Lee
Analysis: ** It was like their previous match except this time it was more of a decisive win by Lee. Amazing finishing move by Lee.
Joe Gacy and his Dyad are up next.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Nathan Frazer talking about is life journey speaking about how he loved soccer/football growing up, but his heart was in wrestling and chasing his WWE dream.
The Dyad (w/Joe Gacy) vs. Dante Chen & Javier Bernal
The Dyad guys dressed in their red outfits while wearing hoods. The fans chanted “take the hood off” but they did not. I don’t know what to call these guys. The first guy in the hood hit a jumping elbow smash to get some offense. The Dyad guys worked over Chen with a bunch of punches. Bernal got the tag with some offense like a legsweep along with a running clothesline. One of the Dyad guys blocked a move followed by a clothesline. The Dyad duo did a double DDT finisher where the legs of Bernal were on the shoulders of one of the Dyad guys.
Winners by pinfall: The Dyad
Analysis: 1/2* This Dyad stuff is the dumb stuff that the critics of NXT point out as being stupid and I agree with them. I like NXT and I like what the brand is, but it’s dumb to see it on a national wrestling TV show. I mean, is this the best kind of gimmick you can come up with? It’s dumb.
Joe Gacy did a promo saying that your negativity has made these two men feel inferior. Gacy said that he knows they are not alone. Gacy says there is a schism between the three of them and NXT 2.0 and it will continue until this is a place of acceptance and believes in their message. The fans booed.
They showed Sanga talking to some women wrestlers backstage. Xyon Quin walked by, Sanga said something to him, Quinn got in his face and Quinn said forget this. Quinn left while Sanga said he found his next opponent.
(Commercial)
Nikkita Lyons was featured in a video talking about how her partially torn MCL kept her out of the rest of the Breakout Tournament, but she is working out and will be back soon. They showed her training, which probably led to some fans watching with the pause button nearby. Just saying.
Let’s Hear from Tony D’Angelo
Tony D was in the ring with Stacks and Two Dimes along with the Legado del Fantasma trio that now works for Tony D. Tony said that he remembered when he first met Dimes and he had a similar story for Stacks saying they met when they were six years old. Tony said that Dimes and Stacks have given everything to the family while stepping up big for the family. They showed highlights of NXT In Your House when Tony D’s team beat Legado del Fantasma, which meant Legado had to join Tony D’s family.
Tony congratulated Stacks and Dimes for being promoted from being associates to “soldiers of the family.” Tony gave Dimes and Stacks some new watches. Tony gave Dimes and Stacks some money.
Analysis: The awkward thing about this is that this was taped last week. However, Two Dimes has been released by WWE due to some contract policy violation.
Tony reminded Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro to take orders from him, not Santos. Tony talked about the code of silence along with an oath of loyalty. Tony told Legado to never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut. That’s straight out of one of my favorite movies ever, Goodfellas.
Tony shook the hands of Wilde, Del Toro and Escobar, who was reluctant. Tony said that he had the strongest family in all of NXT. Tony said it’s also time for him to have a title of a “A Champion” in NXT, so that led to Carmelo Hayes entering with his NXT North American Title with Trick Williams by his side.
Hayes said that this “Don of NXT” thing is going to Tony’s head since he wants no problems with Melo. Tony warned him to stay out of business…or else. Tony said now Melo and that title have become his business. Trick said that the A Champion will come and get you before you get them. Tony told Melo that he is not the Don of NXT, Tony said he calls the shots and said that next week they will have a match for the NXT North American Championship. Hayes nodded in agreement. Stacks spoke up saying they look ready for a fight right now, so Trick and Hayes agreed to it.
Analysis: It was an effective way to show off Tony D’s ego as well as the power he holds over the Legado boys. They also set up a match for later in the show with the tag team match coming up later.
Duke Hudson was shown walking backstage for his title match and they showed Bron Breakker walking as well.
(Commercial)
The Toxic Attraction trio were in their “lounge” talking trash about their opponents. It was the usual heel promo bragging about how great they are while ripping on the opponents for being failures. Mandy Rose said they’ll show why they are the most dominant group in NXT.
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Duke Hudson
Hudson attacked Bron from behind with a forearm to the back and some kicks. The referees separated them, Bron hit a German Suplex along with two shoulder tackles. Bron hit a powerslam. Bron hit a devastating Spear. Bron hit the press powerslam for the pinfall win in about 50 seconds.
Winner by pinfall: Bron Breakker
Analysis: 1/2* That was quick. It sucks for Duke, but putting over Bron like that shows he can end a match at any time and he’s a dominant champion.
Cameron Grimes walked out to the ring to talk to Bron. Grimes said that he wanted to finish the conversation that they started earlier. Grimes said they haven’t really had a chance to talk, so Grimes got into the ring. Grimes spoke about how if Bron didn’t have that last name, he wouldn’t have that championship. (Um, Breakker is not the same name as Steiner. Just saying.) Grimes said he respects Bron while saying that Bron didn’t eat off a silver platter, but he ate better than Grimes did. Grimes spoke about how Bron’s daddy was a legend, even with a Hall of Fame ring. Grimes said everybody knows who Bron’s dad is, but they don’t know who Cameron’s dad is. Grimes said “that’s completely fine, but that’s the problem” so he contradicted himself. Grimes said that Bron’s daddy got to see Bron win the championship while Cameron’s dad didn’t get to see it because he had to look down to see it. (Cameron’s dad has passed away.) Grimes said that Bron is built like a truck while adding that Bron keeps getting better. Grimes said that Bron doesn’t have his heart, so he’ll put his heart up against anybody in this business. Grimes said he’s tired of this “who’s next” crap and the catchphrases. Grimes yelled about how he was challenging Breakker for the NXT Championship at the Great American Bash. They shook hands. Bron: “You got it.” They had a staredown.
Analysis: I liked that promo a lot by Grimes coming off as a jealous guy. That’s a great match that would also be fresh because we haven’t seen them wrestle before. Grimes was a bit heelish there. Perhaps WWE has made the decision to move Grimes to Raw or Smackdown soon, so they can make him into more of a heel again for this storyline with Bron and then off he can go. It’s like how they had Bron beat Gunther before Gunther was moved to Smackdown. Anyway, I think they will have a terrific match with Bron keeping the title.
They showed Ivy Nile talking to Tatum Paxley with Ivy telling her to keep up the good work. Roderick Strong walked up with Damon Kemp with Strong wondering why Ivy was being nice to her. The Creed Brothers walked up, Strong didn’t like their handshake after the match. The Creeds told Strong that they got him and Kemp a match for next week.
(Commercial)
They showed clips of the NXT talent in front of live crowds in Tampa and Largo. It’s just Florida shows in small buildings.
Von Wagner, Mr. Stone and Sofia Cromwell were interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell. Stone mentioned that Briggs cheated to beat Wagner. Cromwell said that next week, Wagner will beat Briggs one on one and show his dominance.
Giovanni Vinci vs. Guru Raaj
Giovanni Vinci is the former Marcel Barthel with a new name. During his entrance, there were photos taken of Vinci like he’s a model. Vinci dominated early, then he ran the ropes a few times and hit a shoulder tackle to knock Guru down. Guru hit a dropkick that Vinci didn’t sell at all. Vinci hit a springboard cross body block. When Guru tried a kick, Vinci blocked it and hit a stiff clothesline. Vinci hit a spinning Powerbomb that was like a Last Ride version of a Powerbomb with an overhead lift. That was good enough for the pinfall win after three minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Giovanni Vinci
Analysis: * A dominant win by Vinci in his “debut” even though we saw him wrestle as Aichner for years. Vinci has a lot of talent in the ring, so I look forward to seeing what he can do in the future.
Solo Sikoa was interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell with Solo talking about how he wanted the North American Championship. Grayson Waller ripped on Solo for being carried by Apollo Crews. Solo challenged Waller to a match next week. Waller said he didn’t ask for a match, but it’s fine because they can have a match.
The NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams made their entrance.
(Commercial)
The team Edris Enofe and Malik Blade were shown talking backstage. Edris tried to cheer up Malik and said they should go to the club. Cameron Grimes walked up to them telling them there won’t be more opportunities and hyped them up telling Enofe he could be the biggest star this company has ever seen, but he’s not hungry enough. Grimes told Enofe he didn’t want him to waste his talent because Grimes doesn’t waste his talent.
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams vs. Stacks & Two Dimes (w/Tony D’Angelo, Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro)
Hayes was in control of Stacks after a dropkick. When Hayes went for a springboard move, Tony distracted and Stacks knocked Hayes out of the ring. Stacks and Dimes made quick tags as they worked over Hayes in their corner. Hayes hit a clothesline, but he couldn’t tag out. Hayes avoided a double team move, Williams got the tag and unleashed a kick along with a clothesline. Williams avoided an attack by Del Toro, who took out Stacks with cross body block. Hayes tagged back in and hit a leg drop to the head of Stacks for the pinfall win. It went about five minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Analysis: **1/4 The match was okay with a bit of a weird dynamic since they were both heel teams, but this was worked in a way where Hayes & Williams were the faces. The idea with Tony’s family is that they weren’t getting along and their mistakes cost them the win.
The six women in the main event tag team match were shown walking backstage for their match up next.
(Commercial)
Tony D’Angelo was shown backstage talking to his “Family” while yelling at Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro to be better next time. Tony said next time is next week when he beats Carmelo Hayes for the NXT North American Championship.
Next week on NXT:
* NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D’Angelo.
* Alba Fyre vs. Lash Legend.
* Solo Sikoa vs. Grayson Waller.
* Von Wagner vs. Josh Briggs.
The entrances took place for the main event with Indi Hartwell out first along with Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. They smile and have a lot of energy as a babyface team.
Toxic Attraction was next with my personal favorite NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose along with NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne. They got the usual close up shots for the entrance. That’s not a bad thing. Vic was funny mocking Wade for winking at the monitor. That was good.
Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) vs. Cora Jade, Indi Hartwell & Roxanne Perez
It’s the main event, so I’ll go play by play for this match. Rose backed away from Jade instead of locking up with her, so Jayne tagged in. Jayne with a shoulder tackle, Jade with a trip into a pin attempt. Jayne came back with a neckbreaker for two. Jade with a forearm. Rose tagged in with Jade taking her down with an armdrag. Hartwell tagged in with an armbar on Rose, then they exchanged armbar holds and Hartwell hit a sidewalk slam on Rose for two. The Toxic trio regrouped on the floor. All six women went into the ring at the same time with the faces kicking the heels out of the ring. That led to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Jayne battled against Perez with some nearfalls coming for Perez until Jayne stopped that with a forearm smash to the face. Jayne hit a senton splash for a two count. Perez and Jayne exchanged strikes including a couple of loud chops. Perez hit a knee to the face and Rose tagged in against Hartwell. Indi with a clothesline, then she blocked a kick and came back with punches for a two count on Rose. Jade was back in with a jumping hurricanrana along with a double stomp on Rose to the back for two. Jade had to deal with the other Toxic ladies on the apron, then Jade ran the ropes and Rose hit a spinebuster for two. Jayne suplexed Cora for a two count. Dolin tagged in with a kick to the body and Rose back in with punches on Cora. Rose and Jade did a double clothesline spot. Indi made the tag, but the heels distracted the referee so it wasn’t official. Dolin back in with an armbar on Jade. Dolin with a kick to the body, Jade tagged out and Perez tagged in with a forearm smash on Dolin. Perez tackled Dolin followed by punches, a corner uppercut and a legsweep for two as Jayne broke up the pin. Hartwell punched Rose and tossed Rose out of the ring. Hartwell knocked Jayne out of the ring. Rose pulled Hartwell out of the ring and Hartwell decked Rose with a clothesline. Perez with a superkick on Dolin. Jade went up top and jumped off with a senton splash on Dolin’s ribs. That’s where Dolin suffered a legit injury as reported by PWInsider last week. Perez tagged in, covered Dolin gently and that was good enough for the win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Cora Jade, Indi Hartwell & Roxanne Perez
Analysis: ***1/4 A pretty good match that was given a lot of time. The babyfaces getting the win makes logical sense since the heels are the champions, so when you put over the challengers it makes them look like they can compete. Dolin was apparently hurt legit with an injury like the ribs or something like that, but she did appear in the second part of the tapings, so hopefully it’s not that serious. Maybe they were going to go another minute or two after Dolin got hurt, but it looked like they were at the end of the match. The finish should lead to a title shot for Perez against Rose I assume since Roxanne has the guaranteed title shot and maybe Hartwell/Jade can get the Tag Team Titles as well.
The faces celebrated the win. End show.
Three Stars of the Show
- The Creed Brothers
- Cameron Grimes
- Cora Jade, Indi Hartwell & Roxanne Perez
The Scoreboard
This week: 6 out of 10
Last week: 6.5
Final Thoughts
It was mostly an average show. I liked the Cameron Grimes promo about as much as anything else that was on this week. The opening and main event tags were pretty good. The rest had a lot of mixed bag content where some was solid while other parts were bad. That’s NXT most weeks.
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John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter @johnreport