The John Report: WWE NXT 07/07/26 Review
This week’s WWE NXT features Kendal Grey facing Nattie, a 4-team tag team match, a 4-way women’s match, and more.
This episode was taped after last week’s show to give talent and staff some time off around the Fourth of July holiday and just a bit of a summer break.
They were at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando for this week’s show. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport and check out my NXT TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
The Netflix version of this episode runs 1:19 with no commercials.
Let’s Hear from Kali Armstrong
Kali Armstrong was in the ring doing a promo, saying she had something to say. Kali said she saw Kendal Grey finally win the NXT Championship. Kali said she heard the chants and that the fans said she deserves it. Kali said that she became her target. Kali said that she’s heard it all in the locker room and heard chicks complaining about not getting opportunities. Kali said she will create her own opportunities. Kali claimed it’s not a matter of whether she runs this division; it’s a matter of when. Kali said she didn’t care if it was Kendal or Nattie because he has something for both of those “raggedy heifers.”
Lola Vice interrupted to say that just because Kali Armstrong dumped Kendal Grey doesn’t mean she is up next. Vice said that she still hasn’t gotten her rematch. Vice said she doesn’t care who wins tonight because she’s getting her title back. Kali said she’ll be watching the match and she’ll be next in line for a title shot.
Kelani Jordan interrupted to do her usual promo about how she deserves a shot at the NXT Women’s Title. Jordan said Vice lost her title and Kali attacked Grey from behind, but she’s not entitled to a title match. Jordan said last week she beat Tatum Paxley and proved why she’s the standout. Jordan talked about how she’s deserved an NXT Women’s Title shot for three years. Vice said she was sick and tired of her, so Jordan and Vice exchanged strikes. Kali hit a double clothesline and a double shoulder tackle to knock both women down.
Analysis: We get these kinds of promo exchanges nearly every week on NXT, or maybe every other week, where everybody makes the same points about how they deserve a title shot. It’s obviously going to set up a match between the women. Jordan has said the same thing for months and still doesn’t get a title shot, but maybe it’s coming soon. I doubt Vice wins the title back. Armstrong is a talent on the rise, and I’m excited about her future.
Nattie was shown talking with her allies in the locker room, while Kendal Grey was shown walking with Wren Sinclair.
It was Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary as usual. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.
NXT Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Match: Darkstate – Osiris Griffin & Cutler James vs. OTM – Lucien Price & Bronco Nima vs. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux vs. Birthright – Uriah Connors & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (w/Lexis King, Charlie Dempsey & Arianna Grace)
The winners will get a shot at the NXT Tag Team Titles. The first pinfall or submission wins. No countouts and no disqualifications in a Fatal 4-way match.
There were four guys legally in the match while the other guys had to wait on the apron, so it was chaos. Legacy hit a superkick on Nima and a body slam on Stacks. DVD tagged in with a slingshot leg drop on Stacks. Nima knocked two guys out of the ring and hit a backbreaker on Stacks. Price nailed DVD with a knee strike. Prince slammed Stacks onto DVD for a two count because James broke up the pin. James and Price hit pump kicks on eachother. Connors and Legacy each kicked Price to knock him out of the ring. James hit a clothesline on Connors and an uppercut on Legacy. Griffin hit a boot on Legacy for a two count because the pin was broken up. Birthright was in control of Legacy as the show went on a break for some fans.
The match continued with the powerhouse Griffin running over Stacks and Darkstate tossed Legacy into Stacks. Price sent Griffin out of the ring and superkicked James. Stacks superkicked Price. Price hit a forearm to Stacks’ back and Legacy hit a DDT on James. There were four tags at around the same time so DVD, Connors, Nima and Griffin went after eachother. DVD hit an impressive springboard moonsault and a spinning kick. Nima flipped over Connors for a slam into the mat. Nima hit a forearm smash on DVD. Nima slammed DVD off the shoulders for two because Connors broke up the pin. Connors with a Cutter and Stacks tagged in with an elbow drop off the top for two because DVD broke up the pin. OTM knocked both Darkstate guys out of the ring. Stacks hit a springboard back elbow on DVD. Stacks suplexed DVD into a sitout Powerbomb by Connors for a two count. Stacks went after DVD on the turnbuckle and Stacks slipped to the floor. Legacy and DVD hit top rope moonsaults at the same time. Connors hit a Swanton dive onto a bunch of dudes. Griffin ran the ropes and hit a dive over the top, leading to a cross body block on the other guys. Griffin is a 300-pounder, so it’s an impressive leap. Saquan Shugars tried to go to the ring, so Dion Lennox showed up to stop that. OTM sent Darkstate into the steel steps. OTM hit a double sitout slam on Connors. Dempsey and King fought with Price and Nima, so they went fighting to the backstage area. DVD jumped off the top with a Superfly Splash. Legacy tagged in and hit a springboard 450 Splash on Connors for the pinfall win after about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux
Analysis: ***1/4 It turned into a really good match, especially in the second half, with a lot of nearfalls later in the match. Since Birthright fought with OTM to the back, it opened things up, and Legacy/DVD capitalized to get the win. I figured a babyface team would win since the champions, Vanity Project, are heels, but I figured it would be OTM winning. Nope. I don’t mind Legacy & DVD together, though. They are fun to watch.
Jaida Parker was featured in a video talking about how Nattie has gotten into her head. Parker said she quit while in the Sharpshooter. Parker said she fought back to get the W against Karmen Petrovic. Parker said it’s not about being soft, it’s about being this close to where she wants to be. Parker said Nattie came to NXT to make her stale ass relevant again and she has done that. Parker said that she has to put Nattie down, and she promises that she will.
Analysis: I think Jaida Parker beating Nattie in the future is very likely, but it’s important to build up to it.
They showed Tank Ledger and Keanu Carver walking backstage split-screen since their match is next.
Saquon Shugars was interviewed by Emily Agard, saying he thinks Darkstate learned from him. Shugars said that all he had to do was show up and they were shaking in their spandex. Shugars said it’s 3 against 1, so he can’t pick them off as he did before. Shugars said he might need to find some friends. Shugars said he needs to show the world he’s changed and he’s up next, while Darkstate is up never.
Keanu Carver vs. Tank Ledger
The story is Keanu Carver knocked Hank Walker off a platform and through a table at the Great American Bash, so Tank Ledger is fighting on behalf of his partner. Tank cost Carver his match with EK Prosper last week.
Carver hit a boot to the face early on. Tank was able to come back with a clothesline that sent Carver out of the ring. Tank hit a suicide dive on Carver on the floor. Back in the ring, Carver pounced on Tank and hit a Spinebuster. Carver hit Tank with two forearms to the face. Carver hit a short arm clothesline. Carver connected with a Powerbomb while his knee buckled as he hit the move. Tank fired up with a lefty lariat. Tank jumped off the top with a Swanton Bomb for two. Tank hit a belly-to-back suplex, but Carver was back up with a dropkick. Carver hit an Alabama Slam-style power move for the pinfall win after 5 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Keanu Carver
Analysis: ** Keanu Carver needed a win after losing to EK Prosper twice, so it was a decisive victory for the big man. Tank managed to get some offense, but Carver winning the match was the right result.
A video package aired about Naraku, who spoke in Japanese about his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Great American Bash. Naraku said that Tony escaped with the win, but Naraku claimed he crushed Tony’s spirits. Naraku kept talking about how there is more torture and pain in Tony’s future. Naraku talked about being the next NXT Champion and laughed to end it.
Analysis: It sounds like Naraku is still going after the NXT Title and
Kam Hendrix and Tate Wilder were shown talking backstage. Tate said he’ll challenge Naraku. Kam had a brace on his knee, so he couldn’t wrestle. Kam said that when he’s at 100%, Mason Rook is cooked. Mason Rook walked in, saying that if he put Kam on the shelf, Kam wouldn’t get back up. Kam backed away.
Nattie spoke with her buddies Karmen Petrovic, Nikkita Lyons, and Layla Diggs, who said she can do this match on her own. Nattie told her friends to come out there with her, so Karmen and Nikkita said they would be there.
NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contenders Match: Layla Diggs vs. Izzi Dame vs. Lizzy Rain vs. Thea Hail
The first pinfall or submission wins. No countouts and no disqualifications in a 4-way match.
There was a spot with Rain, Diggs and Hail exchanging pin attempts for two counts. Dame connected with a double clothesline on Hail and Rain. A charging Hail was sent out of the ring. Rain hit a springboard back elbow to knock Dame down. Rain chopped Diggs and Dame repeatedly so the fans could chant “Make It Rain” for her. Diggs hit a sitout front suplex Gordbuster. Rain dove onto Dame on the floor. Diggs hit a slingshot cross body block on two women. Hail went to the middle turnbuckle and hit a backward dive (like a Darby Allin Coffin Drop) onto three women on the floor. That’s where the break was in the match.
The match continued with Dame superplexing Rain off the top. That led to Diggs and Hail each hitting top rope splashes for two counts. Hail knocked down Diggs with a kick and hit a standing moonsault for two because Dame made the save. Hail hit multiple suplexes and slams. Hail hit a cross body block on two women and Hail hit a back splash on two women. Dame hit a senton on two women. Diggs dropkicked Hail in the back to knock her down. Rain hit a spinning kick on Diggs. Rain hit a double Cutter on Dame and Hail. Diggs hit a jumping back kick on Rain. The fans were chanting “NXT” for them. Diggs jumped off the turnbuckle and Rain hit a Cutter for two because Hail broke up the pin. Dame hit a running boot on Hail. Dame hit Rain with a boot to the face for two. Dame hit Diggs with a Chokeslam for two because Hail broke up the pin. Dame hit a double knee attack on Hail. Rain hit a running uppercut on Dame. Diggs hit a running knee on Diggs. Diggs got out of a Kimura Lock submission by Hail. Dame hit a boot to the face on Hail for a two count because Rain broke up the pin. Dame and Rain exchanged strikes. Rain hit a running headbutt to knock Dame into the turnbuckle. Hail rolled up Rain for two. Hail sat on top of Rain for another two count. Rain hit her step up kick called Thunderstruck. Dame hit a running knee on Rain. Dame rolled out of the ring after that. Diggs went up top and hit a moonsault on Hail for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Layla Diggs
Analysis: ***1/2 They got time and had a very entertaining match that could have gone to any of these four women. The unpredictability made it better. The final five minutes were especially great. I didn’t like the spot with Dame hitting the knee on Rain and then Dame bumped to the floor as if hitting a running knee would send her out of the ring because of the momentum. I’d rather see somebody knock Dame out of the ring in that spot. Anyway, it’s the biggest win of Diggs’ career, so good job by her. All four women were terrific in the match.
A video package aired about newcomer Reina Volcan (formerly Nikki Blackheart), who said she was there to dominate. She said she’s a natural disaster with purpose. She told us to remember her face because she’s the first, the future and the force of nature, Reina Volcan.
Analysis: I think Reina Volcan is somebody who could stand out as a physical force. I like her potential.
Let’s Hear from Tavion Heights
Tavion Heights said he was thinking about the things he said before the Great American Bash. Heights said he’s been a bad brother, but he can admit when he’s wrong. Heights said when he came through the doors of NXT three years ago, he thought he was the baddest man in the room, but this place humbled him and he hasn’t had the success he wanted to have. Heights said he saw Myles Borne climbing and Heights felt jealous and forgotten, so he let that fear blind him. Heights wanted Myles Borne to come out there to apologize man to man.
The Vanity Project’s Jackson Drake, NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes arrived with Myka Lockwood. They trashed Legacy and DVD for thinking they had a shot at The Vanity Project. Drake trashed Heights for fumbling his title shot at Great American Bash. Drake said that Heights’ biggest victory was a total fluke. Drake said that Heights only beat him because of Myles Borne’s help. Heights suggested they have a rematch. Heights said he was a weapon in human form. Vanity Project attacked Heights with punches and kicks, so NXT North American Champion Myles Borne made the save. Borne cleared the ring and Heights suplexed Drake over the top onto other Vanity Project guys. Heights and Borne celebrated.
Analysis: I thought they were building to Tavion Heights going heel since he lost to Myles Borne, but it appears that Heights is still a babyface, at least for now.
The team of Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno was shown talking backstage. Sean Legacy and DVD walked up to them. Moreno said that they can become tag team title contenders like that. Dar said that Legacy & DVD have known eachother for years, so Dar said this team has to build chemistry. Legacy said they can work at it. DVD put his name in front of Legacy’s when he mentioned the team name, so Legacy questioned that. Dar said that they all have work to do.
Shiloh Hill made his entrance for singles action before the break. After the break, it was Niko Vance in the ring with Izzi Dame.
Niko Vance (w/Izzi Dame) vs. Shiloh Hill
Vance hit a spinning powerslam on Hill for a two count to start the match. After Vance hit a headbutt off the turnbuckle, Hill jumped off the top with a clothesline. Vance hit a headbutt, and Hill bounced off the ropes with a clothesline. Hill connected with a running shoulder tackle. Hill took too long going to the top, so Vance hit the ropes to knock Hill down. Vance hit a spinning gutwrench suplex. Vance dove off the middle turnbuckle with a headbutt to the shoulder for two. Vance hit an Explex (suplex into a slam) for a two count. Hill came back with a DDT. Hill hit a back body drop. Hill connected with a forearm and a punch. Hill hit a cannonball splash for two. Tristan Angels showed up to grab Hill’s tooth that was in the ring. Vance hit a belly-to-back suplex and a running back elbow for the pinfall win after about 5 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Niko Vance
Analysis: **1/2 This was an average match. It could be the start of Niko Vance as a singles heel, but I’m not sure if he’s good enough to advance all the way. Vance feels like a generic heel at this point, but I hope he does well in the future.
After the match, Shiloh Hill chased after Tristan Angels to the backstage area.
Shawn Spears went into the ring and attacked Niko Vance with a chair to the back. Spears stared at Dame to end it.
Analysis: That should lead to Spears against Vance in a feud. I think Vance should win.
Next week on NXT:
* #1 Contenders Match For the NXT Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice vs. Kali Armstrong
* NXT Tag Team Championships: Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux
* NXT Women’s North American Championship: Zaria vs. Layla Diggs
* Naraku vs. Tate Wilder
Analysis: That’s a good lineup with two titles on the line, and the women’s triple threat should be awesome.
Nattie made her entrance for the main event, joined by her buddies Karmen Petrovic and Evolve Women’s Champion Nikkita Lyons. The main event is next.
The NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey made her entrance, joined by Wren Sinclair, the Women’s Speed Champion. The fans were solidly behind Grey as usual.
NXT Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey (w/Wren Sinclair) vs. Nattie (w/Karmen Petrovic & Nikkita Lyons)
They exchanged some technical wrestling moves early on. Nattie hit a body slam and then slapped Grey, so Grey slapped back. Grey charged, Nattie slammed her off the top rope and into the mat. Nattie tried the “walk over the back” spot, but Grey was back up with an Ankle Lock. Nattie countered it by sending Grey out of the ring. Grey got in the face of Petrovic and Lyons, so Nattie hit Grey with a forearm to the face. Wren Sinclair tried to go after Petrovic and Lyons, but it didn’t last long because Lola Vice showed up to fight and they went to the backstage area.
The match returned with about 7 minutes left in the show as Nattie applied an abdominal stretch. Grey hit an armdrag to break free, but Nattie came back with a clothesline. The crowd was trying to figure up Grey, so Grey hit some body punches. Grey kicked Nattie down and Grey hit a missile dropkick. Grey pulled the straps down and hit two overhead suplexes in a row. Nattie did an STO trip into a two count. Nattie went for a submission, Grey slipped out of it and went for an Ankle Lock, but Nattie sent Grey face first into the mat. Nattie kicked Grey to knock her down. Nattie applied a Sleeper, Grey got out of it and Nattie went for an armbar, but Grey countered it. Grey went for an armbar, Nattie turned it into a pin and Grey let go. Grey hit a spinning back elbow to knock Nattie down. Grey jumped off the top with a dropkick, but Nattie caught her and applied the Sharpshooter. Grey got close to the ropes, so Nattie pulled her to the middle of the ring. Grey managed to crawl to the ropes to force a break. Grey rolled up Nattie, so Nattie countered for a two count, and Grey got another rollup for two. When they got back up, Grey hit Shades of Grey (a jumping flatliner) for the pinfall win after about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kendal Grey
Analysis: ***3/4 I enjoyed that match. They are both great technical wrestlers at very different stages of their careers. Wrestling Nattie is the kind of thing that will help Grey improve because of how talented Nattie is and how able she is to work different styles. The finish was done in a way where it was sudden, and it puts over Shades of Grey as a deadly finisher because Grey really only hit that move, and that was enough to put Nattie away to win. The result didn’t surprise me.
After the match, Jaida Parker confronted Nattie and had a staredown. Petrovic and Lyons tried to attack Parker, so Parker knocked them down with punches. Parker told Nattie this isn’t over.
Analysis: I assume Parker will beat Lyons and Diggs in matches before getting another match with Nattie, and that’s fine. Parker already beat Petrovic last week.
Kendal Grey was in the ring and she was surrounded by Kelani Jordan, Lola Vice and Kali Armstrong. Grey held up her title to show she was ready. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I think Jordan facing Grey makes a lot of sense, but they could save that for Heatwave next month.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Kendal Grey
- Layla Diggs and Sean Legacy/DVD
- Nattie
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.25 out of 10
Last week: 7
2026 Average: 7.11
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
A pretty good show with some entertaining matches throughout the episode. The main event with Kendal Grey beating Nattie was probably the best match, and I liked the two 4-Way matches too.
I think the promo segments were okay, but nothing really stood out. I do think they do a nice job of building matches for the future, and it’s nice to see title matches and contenders’ matches because then the matches have stakes that mean something. That always helps.
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John Canton
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