WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 8
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Dominik Mysterio defended the North American Championship against Dragon Lee, with his father, Rey, in the challenger's corner.Credit: WWE.com.
WWE NXT promised a big night for its August 8 edition, including a major title match, an unofficial championship opportunity and big names in action.
Dominik Mysterio defended his North American Championship against Dragon Lee. Rhea Ripley watched from Dirty Dom's corner while Rey Mysterio appeared to support the man he saw as the future of lucha libre.
Noam Dar put his unsanctioned "Heritage Cup" on the line against Tyler Bate, while Von Wagner looked for revenge against the disrespectful Bron Breakker.
Mustafa Ali and Axiom both wanted the next shot at the North American Championship and fought to prove they deserved it.
Blair Davenport wanted to rebound from her difficult loss to Roxanne Perez by defeating Kelani Jordan. Kiana James hoped to keep up her momentum against Ivy Nile.
This show had a chance to blow many people away, showcasing some of the best talent in WWE.
Mustafa Ali vs. Axiom
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- Scrypts appeared on the ramp to distract Axiom after he sent Ali into the announce table with a headscissors takedown off the apron.
- Bronco Nima and Lucien Price came out to back up Scrypts, almost costing Ali the win.
- Ali caught Axiom with a jackhammer. The Superhero responded with a Canadian Destroyer and moonsault to the floor.
- After his win, Ali declared he was next in line for a title shot. The crowd was fully behind him.
Mustafa Ali and Axiom had a tough fight throughout that required The Light to get underhanded. He pulled off the mask of The Superhero and dumped him to the floor followed by a 450 splash back in the ring to win.
Even without a strong story, Axiom and Ali delivered in the opener. Luckily, Scrypts did not get fully involved, allowing the two to sell their work in the ring.
Ali has done great work selling himself as a veteran unafraid to take a shortcut without losing the fans. He is one of the most popular stars in front of this NXT crowd, even after using a cheap shot to win.
He will do well as the next challenger for North American Championship. He has proved time and again that he will deliver with the spotlight he is given. Axiom does the same but needs to get beyond his current feud before going after gold.
Result
Ali def. Axiom by pinfall.
Grade
B+
Notable Moments
Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan (w/ Dana Brooke)
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- Brooke was a vocal coach at ringside, urging Jordan to push her advantage.
- Afterward, Brooke went after Davenport with a belt and nearly attacked Jordan as well, teasing a possible heel turn.
Kelani Jordan did her best to keep up with the ruthless aggression of Blair Davenport. However, she got caught in the ropes at the wrong time, falling to a double foot stomp followed by a short-arm knee strike.
After a big loss to Roxanne Perez, Davenport needed a win in the worst way. Given the way NXT has presented Jordan, defeating her mattered even if it wasn't surprising.
The hard-hitting heel was the perfect figure to challenge Jordan to get more aggressive as Dana Brooke wanted. Jordan could not keep up, but this could be a big match in a year.
This continued the NXT rebirth of Brooke, who looks like she may turn it all around by becoming a heel at the right moment.
Result
Davenport def. Jordan by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Notable Moments
'Heritage Cup': Noam Dar (c) vs. Tyler Bate
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- For each round break, Dar was fanned by Meta-Four while Bate just focused himself.
- Bate nearly got the second pin in the third round off a big right hand, but time expired.
- The Big Strong Boi hurt his left knee on a bad landing in the third, and Dar began kicking at the injury in the fourth followed by a knee bar that shifted the pace.
- Later, Bate gave Dar back the Heritage Cup once Nathan Frazer agreed to face The Scottish Supernova at Heatwave. Frazer also agreed that he owed Bate.
After a competitive first round, Tyler Bate made a statement by hitting the Tyler Driver 98 quickly in the second round for the first fall.
After a long stretch in a knee bar, The Big Strong Boi needed to tap out in the fourth round.
In the fifth round, Bate went for the Tyler Driver, but Dar reversed it into a pinfall attempt. The Big Strong Boi reversed it into his own pin for a surprise three-count.
Few men understand the Rounds format like Dar and Bate, who are both former Heritage Cup champions. It showed in a wild five-round bout with plenty of twists and turns.
While Bate started strong and began wearing out, Dar got stronger and more confident. However, he got too co*cky in the last stretch and has lost his "baby" once again.
This has set up a complicated Heritage Cup scene. The NXT Universe still hasn't seen Nathan Frazer vs. Dar or Bate for the trophy, and both should be phenomenal.
Result
Bate def. Dar by pinfall to take Dar's unsanctioned Heritage Cup.
Grade
B+
Notable Moments
Trick Williams Challenges Ilja Dragunov to a Match at Heatwave
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- The A Champion tried to watch the Trick and Dragunov exchange, but Dijak and Wes Lee interrupted. Melo left while Dijak and Lee brawled in the locker room.
- The Mad Dragon promised that Trick's career would be done in two weeks' time.
- Trick was not afraid of Dragunov on his way out of the arena. Lee told him to tell Melo that he was next. Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey and Damon Kemp made fun of him.
Ilja Dragunov demanded Trick Williams meet him in the ring during a quick interview. The two met and agreed to a match at Heatwave on August 22.
Trick has an aura in the way he presents himself that makes him feel big-time. He is clearly a star in the making, and this Dragunov match should be the first step in separating him from his role of Carmelo Hayes' sidekick.
While Trick has always been better about talking a big game than competing in one, he has shown growth as an in-ring performer through each performance. This has to be the bout where he shows he can hang with one of the best.
The Mad Dragon can use this match to make a statement to Melo, possibly even turning heel. It should be interesting to see what goes down. Melo vs. Dragunov II is absolute money.
Grade
B
Notable Moments
Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner (w/ Mr. Stone)
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- In an interview, Wagner promised to put Breakker through a table in their match. The former NXT champion was not impressed on his way to the ring.
- The crowd was more interested in getting tables involved than the actual action, though that was because Wagner kept teasing sending Breakker through it.
- Eddy Thorpe talked about refocusing himself in nature before a rematch with Dijak.
Von Wagner did his best to match up to Bron Breakker but eventually fell to a Spear.
Afterward, the former NXT champion tried to attack Mr. Stone. Wagner saved his manager and powerbombed Breakker through the announce table.
Wagner tried his best against a man who is far more credible than him. However, this was the most competitive he has looked with Breakker, and this was their best match. But that isn't a high bar.
This did not quite have the same crowd investment as recent segments in which Wagner destroyed his opponents, though the NXT Universe did pop big when Breakker went through the table.
If this is leading to Breakker vs. Wagner in a Tables match that the latter can actually win, it may all be worth it.
Result
Breakker def. Wagner by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Notable Moments
Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen (w/ Fallon Henley) vs. Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey
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- Schism promised to get The Creed Brothers even if they needed to turn NXT upside down. Later, they attacked Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. They threatened The Family as well but backed down before attacking them.
- Gulak and Dempsey made fun of Hank and Tank until Jensen and Briggs challenged them. Kemp was ignored by the heels when offering help.
- Myles Borne lowered the ropes for his teachers and stood in their corner. Gulak sent him to the back after he said he did not have water.
Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey had a tough time matching the power and speed of Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen. Damon Kemp saved them by suplexing Jensen outside, setting him up for a bridging dragon suplex to take the win.
This was a fine display by all, but the match was too short for the talent involved. The ending was obvious but sets up Kemp to work with the established heels. Hopefully, this can get all three back to winning matches.
Briggs and Jensen have lost some steam recently after being one of the hottest tag teams at the time of Stand & Deliver in April. NXT cannot afford to lose track of them.
Result
Dempsey and Gulak def. Briggs and Jensen by pinfall.
Grade
C
Notable Moments
Ivy Nile vs. Kiana James
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- James started fast, throwing her bag at Nile and attacking her with focus. This included sending her left shoulder into the steel post.
- Schism appeared with a group of masked men to surround the ring. They then began pounding on the apron in unison.
- McKenzie Mitchell tried to figure out what was next for Tiffany Stratton, but the champion was more focused on her next outfit than her next challenger.
Ivy Nile fought through a one-sided start to the match with Kiana James, but Schism's arrival distracted her. Nile locked in the dragon sleeper, but Ava grabbed her leg. This allowed James to hit a new finisher, the Deal Breaker, to win.
Afterward, Schism grabbed Nile and demanded she told them where The Creed Brothers are. Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo made the save.
This was a solid match that showcased the growth of both James and Nile in the ring. If not for the Schism interference, this could have reached a much higher level.
For the story, though, it made sense. Schism continue to demand the Creeds' location, but Julius and Brutus Creed should soon be back. For the moment, The Dyad will get an NXT tag team title shot out of this.
Result
James def. Nile by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Notable Moments
NXT NA Title: Dominik Mysterio (c) (w/ Rhea Ripley) vs. Dragon Lee (w/ Rey Mysterio)
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- Rey congratulated Roxanne Perez and gave Thea Hail a pep talk backstage. Valkyria called out Ripley for manipulating her into doing what The Eradicator wanted.
- The Master of the 619 talked up Dragon before he headed to the ring.
- While Ripley and Rey stared each other down, Dragon caught Dirty Dom with a baseball slide.
- Without hesitation, Dominik tried to rip off the mask of the luchador.
Dragon Lee fought hard against a game Dominik Mysterio and nearly took the win with a powerbomb.
However, after Rhea Ripley blasted Dragon with her Women's World Championship, Dirty Dom hit a Michinoku Driver to retain the title.
Afterward, Ripley got in the face of Rey Mysterio until Lyra Valkyria sent The Eradicator packing.
WWE has Dirty Dom working overtime lately, and it's paying off. He gets better with each big match. While the challenger helped, Dominik looked like more of a true champion than he ever has so far.
Especially in NXT, he looks like a world-beater, working main event angles with the rising stars of the brands to elevate them. Dragon got his biggest match in NXT yet. This may not be the end of this story.
It also looks like Ripley vs. Valkyria is far from over, which is really valuable for The Valkyrie. If this can get her on WWE Raw in a title match, it will instantly build her credibility.
Result
Dominik def. Dragon by pinfall to retain the North American Championship.
Grade
B
Notable Moments
Overall Show
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While nothing on NXT was truly earth-shattering, this was a much better showcase of the roster than last week. From the opener to the main event, everyone worked hard.
Mustafa Ali vs. Axiom was probably the match of the night, though both Noam Dar vs. Tyler Bate and Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee weren't far behind.
Stories have kicked off for the build to Heatwave, which means there is forward momentum again on the brand. Promised matches such as Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams, and Nathan Frazer vs. Noam Dar have serious potential.
The Judgment Day continue to bring more eyes to the product, particularly Dirty Dom and Rhea Ripley. It is important right now that the product feels hot and worth watching each week.
This show gave off that feeling without delivering anything that can be done again next week.
Overall Grade: B-
