The John Report: WWE NXT 06/23/26 Review
This week’s WWE NXT features Great American Bash title match contract signings for Tony D’Angelo-Naraku and Lola Vice-Kendal Grey, and more.
The next WWE NXT PLE is the Great American Bash, which is this Sunday, June 28th. We know most of the lineup going into this week’s TV show, and there will likely be more matches added during this show. I’ll try to get a GAB preview posted later in the week. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll review GAB live on Sunday or review AEW Forbidden Door live, since they are both on Sunday night. NXT’s show is starting one hour earlier for the main show, so that helps.
For this review, I’ll go play-by-play for some matches and a summary-style review for others.
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 show began with NXT GM Robert Stone telling NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo that Naraku will sign the contract and that he needs Tony to stay in line. Tony said he wants the contract signed by the end of the night. Stone said it would happen. The Evolve Champion, Aaron Rourke, was walking by. Tony said he’s done a good job and wished him good luck. Rourke said thanks and right back at you. Stone told Tony no messing around tonight.
It was Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett on commentary. Wade spoke about his love for NXT while Vic mocked Wade for having more grey hair compared to when he was there in the past. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Booker T is off again this week. Corey Graves filled in last week.
Evolve Championship: Aaron Rourke vs. Tristan Angels
This is my first time reviewing an Aaron Rourke match. He’s a flamboyant guy. Angels has the Mr. NXT sash that he stole from Shiloh Hill. Rourke did an impressive backflip, followed by a dropkick and a running kick. Rourke hit a missile dropkick off the middle turnbuckle. As Angels applied a chinlock, the lights went off, and then Shiloh Hill’s laugh played to distract Angels. Rourke hit Angels with a clothesline out of the ring. Angels tripped up Rourke on the apron. That led to a break for some fans as Angels was in control.
The challenger Angels was in control with an armbar. Angels sent Rourke into the turnbuckle. Rourke made a comeback with elbows and a jumping side kick. Rourke hit a fallaway slam. Rourke jumped off the turnbuckle with a Codebreaker double knee attack for two. Angels kicked Rourke off the turnbuckle to the floor. Angels tried to grab the Mr. NXT sash, but somebody pulled Angels under the ring and the fans were singing “Shiloh” for Hill. When Angels got back into the ring, Rourke hit a spinning kick. Rourke went up top and hit the Molly Go Round somersault senton on Angels for the pinfall win after about 9 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Aaron Rourke
Analysis: *** A solid match to put over Aaron Rourke as the Evolve Champion, while also continuing the story between Tristan Angels and Shiloh Hill since Hill caused Angels to lose. I think Rourke is somebody who is going to be on NXT regularly later this year because he’s got charisma and is very talented in the ring. Angels is solid, but a guy who is still young and not that established yet.
Tony D’Angelo approached Naraku in the parking lot with NXT GM Robert Stone there as well. Naraku handed Tony the contract, then Tony opened it, and a fireball sparked in Tony’s face. Stone shouted for somebody to call 911, and Naraku was laughing about it.
Analysis: That was evil by the guy who used to be known as Evil.
(Commercial)
There was an ambulance in the NXT parking lot and Tony D’Angelo had his face covered with a towel. Tony was put in the ambulance, while NXT GM Stone was there to tell them to take care of the champ.
Face to Face: Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox
There’s a Shugars/Lennox match at Great American Bash, so now they get to talk. Dion said he’s already decided how the Great American Bash is going to go. Shugars said he got exactly what he wanted – Lennox 1 on 1. Shugars said they put him through a commentary table, and he knew he couldn’t get attacked by Darkstate again. Shugars talked about taking out Dion’s friends. Shugars said he had to make sure it was just the two of them at GAB.
Shugars wondered if he was the issue and he let them down. Shugars said no because Lennox was acting like a leader, but what NXT needs is Shugars in a position that Dion was given. Shugars said that Dion was a pretender put in Saquon’s spot. Dion said that he is a superstar. Dion said that Darkstate didn’t need Shugars, and then Shugars said that there’s no Darkstate without him. Shugars said he loved Darkstate. Shugars said that James and Griffin are lost without him. Shugars told Dion he can’t touch him. Shugars said he’s up next while Dion is up never.
Dion said that Shugars said that he has talked about how he’s up next. Dion said that everything you loved about Saquon is fake because he’s putting up a façade. Dion said that they never knew that Shugars wasn’t somebody they could trust. Dion talked about how Shugars can’t do anything on his own without second-guessing. Dion said they had to babysit him, so dropping him wasn’t a mistake – it was a correction. Dion said nothing would change. Dion said that he’ll expose Shugars, while claiming his name is signed on his death warrant, and Dion will stamp it. Dion left while Shugars was frustrated in the ring.
Analysis: It was a fine promo exchange with Saquon Shugars making the point that he loved being part of Darkstate, but now he can show them what he can do on his own. Dion Lennox took the heelish route, saying Darkstate never needed Shugars and had to babysit him. I think Shugars should win at GAB, but if Lennox wins, that’s okay because it feels like they are going to have two or three matches in this rivalry.
Hank & Tank were backstage talking to comedian Matt Mathews, who I don’t know, but he was on a few weeks ago. The Vanity Project was talking to GM Robert Stone in the background. Anyway, Hank & Tank left with Mathews.
A commercial aired for SummerSlam on August 1 & 2 in Minneapolis.
(Commercial)