– The 2023 WWE NXT Great American Bash Kickoff pre-show opens up live from WWE TV studios in Stamford, Connecticut as Megan Morant welcomes us. She’s joined by Matt Camp and Sam Roberts. They hype up tonight’s show. We see Ilja Dragunov arriving to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas. We also see NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams arriving. We go to McKenzie Mitchell with WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley outside the locker room of NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio. Ripley says Dominik is calm and collected ahead of tonight’s Triple Threat, where anything can happen such as one idiot pinning the other. Ripley wraps up and goes back in to help Dominik prepare. We go back to the panel as Camp and Rosenberg predict Mysterio will retain. They discuss tonight’s Weapons Wild match now. We see recent happenings between Blair Davenport and Roxanne Perez, including how Davenport attacked Perez at DreamCon on Saturday.
Morant hypes Gable Steveson’s in-ring debut vs. Baron Corbin. We see Steveson arriving to the arena with his Olympic gold medal around his neck. The panel looks at Steveson vs. Gable. McKenzie is with Corbin backstage now. Corbin says Gable represents everything he’s against… he walks in like he knows everything but he knows nothing about WWE. Corbin can’t take away Gable’s accolades but he can take away his will to succeed and his ambition to become a WWE Superstar. Corbin says everyone thinks this will be an easy debut for Gable and he will go on to become the next chosen one but it won’t happen. This run is all about Corbin, he is being selfish and taking what he is owed, and he will not apologize. Corbin says all eyes will be on Steveson when the bell rings, but then they will be on him after the match as he will dominate and bury his second Olympic gold medalist. Corbin says then Gable can go back to the NCAA or the Olympics, he just can’t come back to NXT. McKenzie wishes Corbin good luck and he says luck is something he will not need tonight. We get a video package on tonight’s main event, focusing on NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. Morant hypes tonight’s Kickoff match as we go back to a break. Back from the break and we get a video for tonight’s Submission Match for the NXT Women’s Title. Sam thinks Tiffany Stratton will retain, while Matt thinks Thea Hail will bring gold to Chase U.
They air another video package for the main event, this time focusing on Dragunov. We get more talk for tonight’s main event. We now see Meta-Four backstage as Noam Dar grabs his Heritage Cup. We also see champion Nathan Frazer grabbing his Heritage Cup backstage. We go to the ring for tonight’s Kickoff match.
NXT Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer, Dragon Lee, Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon vs. Meta-Four (Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson)
We go to the ring as Vic Joseph welcomes us to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas. He’s joined at ringside by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. Out first comes Dragon Lee. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon are out next, followed by NXT Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer. Meta-Four is out next – Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson.
The bell rings as Dar and Frazer go at it to start. Frazer mounts offense but Dar quickly tags out to boos. Lash comes in and so does Leon now as they go at it. Lash slams Leon face-first into the mat and barely hits a moonsault for 2.
Jakara tags in and slams Leon for 2. Leon fights back and in comes Feroz to take over. Jakara and Feroz trade shots. Jakara with trash talking in the corner but Feroz unloads for a pop. Mensah tags in, which brings in Dragon.
Dragon mounts offense and launches himself at Mensah for 2. Fans chant for Dragon now as he goes to work. They go on and Meta-Four stomps away on Lee while the referee is distracted by his teammates. At one point Frazer sent Dar to the floor, but Legend blocked Frazer’s dive. Feroz took out Lash, then sent Jackson to the floor. Feroz hit a dive onto Jackson, and Leon nailed Dar. Lee launched Mensah from the apron to the floor with a hurricanrana. Lash leveled Frazer with a big kick, then dropped Leon and Feroz with a double clothesline.
Frazer and Dar go at it in the ring now, trading close calls and more offense. The back & forth between teams went on until Lee drops Dar with a big DDT. Frazer takes out Mensah with a kick, then a springboard into a leg sweep. Dragon went on to follow up with the Asai DDT for the pin to win.
Winners: Dragon Lee, Nathan Frazer, Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon
– After the match, the babyfaces celebrate as the music hits. Meta-Four tries to regroup.
– The panel discusses tonight’s match for the NXT Tag Team Titles and that’s it for the Kickoff.
– The 2023 WWE NXT Great American Bash Premium Live Event opens up with a video package, narrated by Cody Rhodes. We’re now live from the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas as Vic Joseph welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.
NXT Tag Team Titles Match: The Family vs. Gallus (c)
We go to the ring for tonight’s opener and out first comes The Family – Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Alicia Taylor does the introductions. A brief video for Gallus airs and out comes the NXT Tag Team Champions – Wolfgang and Mark Coffey with Joe Coffey.
The bell rings and Wolfgang charges across the ring, knocking Tony off the apron and decking Stacks. Wolfgang takes Stacks to their corner for more punishment as Coffey tags in.
Stacks fights back and dropkicks Coffey. Tony tags in to a pop as he takes over. Fans chant “Tony D!” now. The Family keeps Coffey in their corner with tags. Joe distracts Stacks and he turns around to a slam by Mark.
Tony goes over to confront Joe at ringside but Wolfgang drops him with a clothesline. Gallus keeps Stacks in their corner now. Joe ends up nailing another cheap shot from the floor but Stacks kicks out. Tony finally got the hot tag and unloaded. Both teams went at it for several minutes.
At one point Tony sent Wolfgang to the floor, then launched Mark with big throws. Tony with a Spinebuster for 2 as Wolfgang breaks it up but also lands on Mark with a senton. The Family unloads on Gallus now. They hit the big double suplex from the corner on Mark but he kicks out. Tony collides with Wolfgang and all four Superstars are down now.
Mark ends up knocking Tony to the floor. Wolfgang comes in with a big tackle to Stacks, then he sends Mark into Tony. Wolfgang with a moonsault for 2. Joe gives the baseball bat to Wolfgang but the referee sees this, then takes it. Gallus with the big double team combo finisher to Stacks but Tony breaks the pin up.
Tony ends up dropping Mark at ringside, then powerbombing Mark into Wolfgang on the steel steps. Tony goes back in with his crowbar and decks Joe with it. Stacks comes in and Tony launches him out onto the other two. They go on until The Family hits the Bada Bing for the pin to win the titles.
Winners and New NXT Tag Team Champions: Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
– After the match, The Family stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Tony D and Stacks celebrate with the titles now.
– Back from a break and we see Ilja Dragunov arriving earlier today. We also see NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams arriving this afternoon.
– We get a video package for the next match.
Weapons Wild Match: Blair Davenport vs. Roxanne Perez
We go back to the ring for tonight’s Weapons Wild match as Roxanne Perez is out first to a home state pop. We see how these two fought at DreamCon on Saturday. Perez stops at ringside to greet her mother and sister in the front row. Perez keeps going but Blair Davenport suddenly attacks from the crowd.
The fight breaks out at ringside with both Superstars landing offense. Davenport brings it into the ring and goes to use a steel chair but Perez knocks her off the apron, then hits a suicide dive.
At one point Perez goes to dive out but Davenport smacks her with a trash can at the ropes. Davenport tosses weapons in the ring, and lays Perez out at ringside while talking trash and throwing chairs at her. Davenport brings it back in as Perez’s mom looks worried. Davenport puts a trash can over Perez’s body and unloads on it with a sledgehammer. Davenport with a chair shot to the ribs. Fans rally for Perez as Davenport wedges a chair into the corner, then sends her into it head-first.
Davenport blocks a counter into the chair. Perez finally mounts offense, sends Davenport to the floor and kips-up for a pop. Perez goes out but Davenport destroys her in front of her sister and mother to boos. Perez ends up getting her hands on a bull rope, then she beats Davenport with the bell as fans cheer her on.
Perez brings a table out to a big pop now. Perez with more rope shots, then she slams her into the apron. They bring it back in and Perez goes up top but crashes and burns as Davenport takes over. Perez fights back but Pop Rocks is blocked. Davenport sends Perez head-first into a trash can but she kicks out at 2.
Fans rally for Perez as they go at it. Davenport blocks Pop Rocks again. They end up fighting on the apron now. Davenport is knocked down onto the steps. Perez goes out and hits a running knee to smash Davenport into the steps. Perez places Davenport on the table, then leaps off the apron with a splash to put her through it as fans pop.
Perez brings it back into the ring and nails a heel kick, then Pop Rocks onto several steel chairs for the pin to win.
Winner: Roxanne Perez
– After the match, Perez stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Perez poses as her family and the home state crowd cheers her on now.
– Back from a break and we get a hype video on Carmelo Hayes for tonight’s main event.
– We see Thea Hail backstage warming up with Chase U. We also see Tiffany Stratton warming up.
Gable Steveson vs. Baron Corbin
We go back to the ring and out comes Baron Corbin. Gable Steveson is out next.
The bell rings and they size each other up as fans do dueling chants. It looks like Gable strikes first. They finally get going at it and Corbin is sent to the floor. Corbin rushes back in and swings but misses.
Gable takes Corbin down into the ankle lock but he escapes and goes to the floor. Gable follows and hits a German suplex on the floor. Gable grabs Corbin but Corbin rams him back into the ring post.
Corbin takes control on the floor, then brings it back in and launches Gable into the turnbuckles. Corbin dominates now and stops to play to the crowd, and it sounds like he may have some cheers as the Peacock feed pauses.
We come back to fans chanting “Baron Corbin!” as he unloads on Gable in the corner. Gable looks to fight out but Corbin scoops him for a big TKO and a 2 count. Corbin with more offense for 2. A frustrated Corbin argues with the referee. Fans cheer for Corbin as he stands tall.
Gable fights back but Corbin shuts him down in the corner to cheers. Fans rally for Corbin again. Gable fights back and hits a few big suplexes, then a clothesline to the floor. They come back in but Gable knocks Corbin right back out. Fans boo Gable.
Corbin rams Gable into the apron and works him over. Gable launches Corbin over the announce table. Corbin comes back and leaps off the table to deck Gable for a pop. They keep brawling until the 10 count.
Double Count
– After the bell, they keep fighting and both tumble over the announce table. Fans chant “bullshit!” at the finish. They bring the fight back into the ring as security runs down to break it up, but Gable and Corbin start taking security out now. They end up back on the floor and Corbin goes through the barrier. Gable goes back into the ring and stands tall with his arms in the air as some fans boo and cheer.
– Back from the break and we see what happened on Tuesday night with Lyra Valkyria and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, and how Ripley challenged her to beat Jacy Jayne. Lyra is backstage with McKenzie Mitchell now. Lyra says the match with Ripley lit a fire under her, and proved she can hang with the best. Lyra goes on about tonight’s NXT Women’s Title match when Jayne suddenly attacks from behind. Ripley walks by with NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio, and says this is exactly what she was waiting to see.
Triple Threat for the NXT North American Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Wes Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio (c)
We go back to the ring and out first comes Wes Lee, followed by Mustafa Ali. The Judgment Day’s NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio is out next with WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. We get formal ring introductions from Alicia Taylor.
The bell rings and some fans appear to be chanting for Dominik. All three face off in the middle of the ring but Dominik retreats to the floor. Ripley walks to the timekeeper and demands the title. Ripley and Dominik go to leave but Ali gets in Dominik’s way. Ripley steps in between Dominik and Ali now.
Lee comes from behind, while Ali is still blocking them from the front. Ripley tells Dominik to rush into the ring and escape that way, but Lee and Ali rush in after him. They pull Dominik back to the middle of the ring, then stomp away to a big pop.
Lee and Ali take Dominik to the corner to work him over but they fight over who has access to the champ. They end up double teaming Dominik with big chops now. Ripley pulls Dominik to safety on the floor.
Lee and Ali go at it in the ring now. At one point they go up top but Dominik shoves them to the floor. Dominik and Ripley pose over them. Dominik brings Ali in and works him over for a close 2 count. Dominik with the Three Amigos suplexes now. Lee interrupts and Dominik shoves Ali into him. Dominik with Three Amigos on Lee now but Ali interrupts. Dominik tries for a double suplex but they block it and hit a double suplex of their own, then they go into double Three Amigos as Ripley yells out from ringside.
Ali and Lee both go for pin attempts but Dominik kicks out. Lee kicks Dominik and then drops him with a bicycle kick. Lee ends up knocking both opponents to the apron. They go on and Lee nails a Meteora on Dominik but Ali breaks the pin up. Ali knocks Dominik to the floor, then unloads on Lee. The back & forth offense continues until Ali misses a 450 Splash to the apron when Dominik and Lee move. Mysterio rolls Lee for 2.
More back & forth now. Lee sends Dominik to the floor, then nails a suicide dive. Ripley looks to attack Lee but he dodges her. Lee goes on to splash Dominik after Ripley checks on him. Ripley goes after Lee again but he gets away and brings Dominik back in. Ripley ends up pulling Lee back to the floor and laying him out with Riptide through the table. Ripley helps Dominik back into the ring but only for a 2 count.
Ripley tries to slide the title belt to Dominik but the referee catches it and hands it off to a crew member. Dominik hits Lee with Ripley’s title belt for a close 2 count. Dominik tries for a Frogsplash but Ali dropkicks him off and he gets hung up. Ali goes up for a 450 Splash on Lee for the pin but Ripley pulls Ali to the floor and now he’s down as Dominik goes back up top. Dominik hits the Frogsplash on Lee for the pin to win and retain.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
– After the match, Mysterio stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Mysterio and Ripley celebrate and back up the ramp while talking trash. Dominik says The Judgment Day is taking over WWE. Ali and Lee look on from the ring, seething and trying to recover while still down.
– Back from a break and we get a hype video on Ilja Dragunov for tonight’s main event. McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Trick Williams now, asking about the issues with Ilja. Trick recalls how Ilja said he respects the friendship between Trick and NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes, but Trick thinks that’s “cap” or a lie. Trick says Ilja may respect the friendship but he can never relate. Trick goes on about how he and Hayes go way back. Trick says but tonight, Carmelo will show why he is him. Trick puts his cowboy hat on and walks off.
– We get a video package for the next match.
Submission Match for the NXT Women’s Title: Thea Hail vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
We go back to the ring for tonight’s Submission Match as Chase University comes out first – Thea Hail with Duke Hudson and Andre Chase. Hail comes out busting through a Chase U banner held up by the Chase U students, and she is fired up. NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is out next. We get formal ring introductions from Alicia Taylor.
The bell rings and fans chant “you tapped out!” at Stratton. They go to lock up and Hail tries for an early submission. They tangle and Stratton goes for a takedown. Stratton pounds on Hail, then they break. Stratton with offense and an early Surfboard submission.
Hail gets out of the Surfboard and goes for the armbar. Stratton fights back but misses a double stomp. Hail escapes from a Boston Crab. Hail mounts offense now. Hail with a dropkick. Hail goes on but Stratton counters and rams her into the turnbuckles. Stratton wraps Hail around the ring post with a Bow & Arrow. Stratton with more offense and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Stratton goes on to hit the handspring back elbow in the corner.
Stratton keeps control and hits another backbreaker. Hail turns it around and mounts offense of her own now. Hail rocks Stratton and hits the Exploder suplex. Hail hits a big senton and goes on but Stratton catches her in mid-move and traps her in a body-scissors. Hail gets back up but Stratton nails a shot to the back of the head. Hail keeps fighting and kicks Stratton to the floor, then she hits a suicide dive.
Hail unloads at ringside and sends Stratton into the ring post. Hail goes for a top rope crossbody but Stratton catches her and stands up with Hail in her arms. Hail counters with the Kimura Lock attempt but Stratton nails a fall-away slam into the turnbuckles. Stratton with a big slam. Stratton goes up for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Hail blocks it and ends up hitting a superplex.
Hail finally locks in the Kimura but Stratton gets the bottom rope and the hold is broken. Stratton goes out and Hail ends up flying off the apron but Stratton catches her and sends her into the barrier, then the steel ring steps. Stratton brings it back in and hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, then goes into a Boston Crab. Hail tries to escape but Stratton tightens the hold.
Hail reaches out to Hudson and Chase but they encourage her. Stratton briefly lets up on the Boston Crab but then re-positions and tightens the hold as Hail screams out. Chase is looking at the towel, and at Hail. Chase ends up throwing in the towel to end the match.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
– After the match, Stratton celebrates with the title as her music hits and we go to replays. Duke is shocked at Chase throwing in the title.
– Back from a break and we get a SummerSlam hype video.
– We see how NXT Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer, Dragon Lee, Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon defeated Meta-Four on the Kickoff pre-show. The winners are backstage now talking about the win. Dragon walks off and runs into NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. Ripley calls Dragon a wanna-be version of 2023 WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. Lee says Rey is a hero and a legend, but he has his own story, and you know who Dragon is. Dominik says, as he said on Tuesday, he made the Mysterio name relevant, and his dad is just a hypocrite who only likes to help people that look like him, not an original like his son. Dominik walks off with Ripley as Dragon looks on, saying something about Dominik disrespecting his father.
– The announcers plug NXT No Mercy on Saturday, September 30 from Bakersfield, CA.
– We see video of The Schism arguing backstage over the apparent wolves in sheep’s clothing that have caused them problems as of late. The Dyad thinks it’s two of the masked followers but Ava disagrees. Ava says she will not let this break up The Schism, so there will be an interrogation held on Tuesday’s NXT, and they will make them all remove their masks until they find out who these two wolves are.
– We see the competitors for tonight’s main event walking backstage.
NXT Title Match: Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes (c)
We go back to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first comes Ilja Dragunov. A banner drops down next and we hear WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes say, “Get a dream,” then those words appear on the banner. The next banner is “Hold onto it,” and the third banner is, “And shoot for the sky.” A final banner drops down and says “Him.” The music then hits and out comes NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes with Trick Williams. Alicia Taylor does formal ring introductions now.
The bell rings and they lock up and go at it, trading holds and counters. Dragunov goes to work on Hayes’ arm. Hayes ducks a shot and arm drags Dragunov to ground him. Ilja ends up coming back with a hip lock slam for a quick 1 count. They trade strikes until a big chop wakes Dragunov up.
Dragunov unloads with big strikes of his own now. Hayes comes back with a springboard clothesline from the middle rope. Hayes sends Dragunov to the floor. Dragunov comes back to the apron but Hayes knocks him back to the floor with a pump kick as fans pop. Dragunov is down at ringside, sitting up against the announce table while Trick talks trash.
Fans chant “Melo!” now. Dragunov finally gets back to his feet at ringside, yelling some trash talk back. Dragunov rolls back in but Hayes stays on top of him. Dragunov with a big kick. Hayes with a clothesline but Dragunov is still up. More back and forth now. Dragunov blocks a punt kick. Hayes with forearms but Dragunov nails a jumping kick and the champ goes down. Trick looks worried at ringside.
Fans chant “NXT!” as Dragunov and Hayes go at it. Hayes springboards back into Dragunov but Dragunov catches him in mid-air with a big German suplex. Hayes comes right back up but Dragunov drops him. They go on and end up trading more big strikes in the middle of the ring. Dragunov drops Hayes with the diving forearm.
The back & forth continues as fans chant “this is awesome!” now. Dragunov slams Hayes and works him over, then goes on to hit another German suplex. Hayes resists but Dragunov hits another German, this time holding the bridge for a close 2 count.
Dragunov with more offense and a big senton for 2. More back and forth between the two. Dragunov with big chops in the corner. Hayes rocks Dragunov but this just angers him. Dragunov beats Hayes down with a flurry of offense now but Hayes ends up kicking out just in time. Hayes is down clutching his chest when Trick yells encouraging words in his face. Vic points to how you can see Dragunov’s hand print on Hayes’ chest.
Hayes ends up getting back to his feet and they go at it but Dragunov chops the champ down. Dragunov goes on to hit the Constantine Special but Hayes kicks out at 2. Trick and Dragunov are both shocked at the kick out but fans chant “NXT!” again.
Dragunov ends up trapping Hayes in a body-scissors on the mat. Hayes starts to fade but he gets the ropes. More back and forth between the two now. Hayes with a big kick to the face but Dragunov drops him for another 2 count. They trade huge kicks now. Hayes tries to take Dragunov down into the Crossface but Dragunov slams him. They go on as fans continue with the “NXT!” chants.
The back and forth continues for several minutes as a “this is awesome!” chant breaks out. Hayes ends up going to the top but Dragunov kicks him and slams him to the mat. Fans pop as Dragunov goes to the top now. Dragunov with a flying senton for 2. Dragunov goes for a Coast 2 Coast but Hayes meets him in mid-air with double knees. Hayes goes back up for Nothing But Net but Dragunov catches him in mid-air with a powerbomb. Dragunov drops the big forearm on Hayes but he kicks out just in time.
Everyone is shocked now as a “Fight forever!” chant starts up. Dragunov goes to the top but Hayes counters with a big Cutter on the way down. Dragunov kicks out at 2. Fans chant “NXT!” as Trick grabs the title and brings it over while Hayes is down. Trick hypes Hayes up, asking if he’s a champion or a fraud because this is the fourth quarter.
Hayes and Dragunov trade more big strikes on their feet now. They collide with kicks and both go down. Hayes rolls to the floor and Trick hypes him up with the NXT Title belt again. Fans chant “this is awesome!” while they’re standing there. Dragunov suddenly flies out with a big Torpedo Moscow but Hayes moves and Dragunov knocks Trick down, and lands on him. Vic says Trick may have sacrificed himself for Hayes. Hayes brings it back into the ring and hits Nothing But Net on Dragunov for the pin to win and retain.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes
– After the match, the music hits as we see Trick still laid out at ringside. Vic points to how fans are giving them a standing ovation. The referee hands Hayes his title while he’s still down. We go to replays while Hayes and Dragunov are still down in the middle of the ring. We come back to Hayes raising the title. He hits the corner to pose with the title as Trick joins him to celebrate. NXT’s The Great American Bash goes off the air.
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