NXT 8/3/2021: InDex Prevails; Breakout Semi-Finals Set; More!
Here's what's on tap for tonight’s NXT:
Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma
Ridge Holland in action
Bobby Fish vs. Roderick Strong w/ Diamond Mine
LA Knight (Million Dollar Champion) & Cameron Grimes vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
Dakota Kai explains her actions
Breakout Tournament - First Round Match: Trey Baxter vs. Joe Gacy
Love Her or Lose Her Match: Dexter Lumis vs. Johnny Gargano
We're in the Capitol Wrestling Center and we get a recap of last week including Dakota Kai turning on Raquel Gonzalez, Kyle O'Reilly attacking Adam Cole, and Samoa Joe getting his Takeover match against Kross. We transition to what's to come tonight.
We're starting with tag action!
Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma w/ Santos Escobar
Ashante Thee Adonis and Top Dolla representing Hit Row here. A brawl breaks down right away!! Hit Row clears the ring. "Hit Row" chants from the crowd. Adonis and and Mendoza start and it's all Adonis early as he pounds on Mendoza. Mendoza turns it around in the corner but eats a DDT! Adonis goes up to the top and misses a flying crossbody. Wilde gets a tag hits a series of strikes. Adonis answers with a neck breaker Wilde is sent to the corner and Top Dolla gets a tag. Wilde's offense is no sold by Top Dolla and Top Dolla runs through him. Top Dolla lifts Wilde by the arm and puts him on the top turnbuckle before launching him. Adonis gets a tag as Wilde continues to be double teamed in the Hit Row corner. Wilde tries to fight back but Top Dolla blocks a rana off the top. Wilde charges into a clothesline by Adonis. Flapjack by Adonis and Escobar gets on the apron. As does B-FAB. Wilde uses the distraction to pull Adonis out of the ring and send him into the barricade as we go to a commercial.
We're back with Legado isolating Adonis. Wilde takes Adonis to the Legado corner and taunt Top Dolla. Quick tags by Legado as the beat down on Adonis continues in the corner. Double suplex by Legado. Moonsault by Mendoza gets a near fall. Chin lock by Mendoza. Adonis battles back and finally tags Top Dolla. Top Dolla with a big knee lift to Wilde before squashing him in the corner. A side walk slam follows! TOP DOLLA GOES OFF THE ROPS BY ESCOBAR HITS HIM WITH A CHAIR FOR THE DQ!!!
W: Hit Row via DQ @ 10:50
Post match, Escobar uses the chair again and chaos breaks out! LEGADO TAKE OUT EACH MEMBER OF HIT ROW WITH THE CHAIR!! Escobar rips out Swerve's grill and looks to Pillmanize Swerve's neck but Top Dolla pulls him out. B-FAB HITS WILDE WITH A CHAIR!! HIT ROW TURNS IT AROUND AND TAKES OUT LEGADO TO STAND TALL!
Samoa Joe is backstage when William Regal approaches him with security. Regal wants security to stay with Joe to make sure nothing happens between him and Karrion Kross until Takeover.
Highlights of Ridge Holland's return last week. Holland is in action next!
Backstage, Dexter Lumis draws a picture of he and Indi Hartwell together.
Ridge Holland w/ Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan vs. Ikemen Jiro
Lock up and side head lock by Holland. Big uppercut by Holland and it's all Holland here. Jiro escapes with a jaw breaker and then hits a series of strikes. Holland stops that and knocks Jiro out of the ring before pouncing Jiro into the plexiglass barricade! Back in the ring, suplex by Holland and he tears Jiro's jacket off. The crowd boos Holland but he's not effected as the beat down of Jiro continues. Holland hits a underhook suplex and another. Trash talk by Holland as he stalks Jiro. HOLLAND SCOOPS UP JIRO AND PLANTS HIM WITH A BRAINBUSTER SLAM FOR THE WIN!! Total squash.
W: Ridge Holland via pin @ 3:13
Post match, Pete Dunne has a mic and says people think they're bad until real bad guys step in the room. Dunne says Ciampa and Thatcher aren't as bad as they think they are. Dunne says Holland will knock out the rest of Thatcher's teeth. Dunne says they are the three baddest men in NXT.
McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Franky Monet, Jessi Kamea, and Robert Stone. Monet says last week's loss was due to Stone's interference. Monet knows Stone's a loser but claims she's not. Monet says they will do things Franky's way under Franky's rules. Take it or leave it.
A video package shows the build up for Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Fish. It's next!
A vignette hypes Trey Baxter for the Breakout Tournament.
Bobby Fish vs. Roderick Strong w/ Diamond Mine
Lock up right away and Strong goes after the arm of Fish. Clean break. Fish backs Strong to the corner but misses a kick. Strong tries a single leg but Fish with a side head lock. Shoulder tackle by Fish but runs into a knee by Strong. Strong takes down Fish but Fish is quickly up and takes Strong to the corner. Snap suplex by Fish and back to a chin lock. Strong escapes and they go into the ropes. Snap mare by Fish and a kick to the spine of Strong. Strong fires back with boots and this turns into a slugfest. Fish sweeps Strong and beats him down in the corner. Strong is sent to the corner but he goes up and over. Fish catches him with a kick as we go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, the action goes to the apron where they trade blows before Fish sweeps Strong and he falls to the floor. Back in the ring, Fish gets a near fall. Fish hits a back suplex as Diamond Mine watches on. Strong answers with a back breaker for a near fall of his own. Strong stretches out Fish with a surfboard. Fish turns it around and takes it to Strong in the corner.
We're back with both men trading blows. Strong cheap shots Fish as he was talking to the ref. That allows Strong to take control and get a near fall. Suplex by Strong and transitions to a submission. Strong hits Fish with another back breaker for a near fall. Another back breaker by Strong followed by another submission. Fish fights back and they trade rights. Fish hits an elbow and a kick. Fish takes down Strong and hits another big kick. Sliding clothesline by Fish gets a near fall. Fish wants a submission but Strong backs him into a corner. Strong plants Fish with a modified belly to back suplex. Strikes by Strong now followed by running forearms. Strong plants Fish face first for a near fall. Fish answers back with a roundhouse kick for a near fall. Fish goes to the top rope and glances at Diamond Mine. That allows Strong to knocks Fish out to the floor. Back in, Fish gets a near fall. STRONG HITS A JUMPING KNEE STRIKE AND FOLLOWS WITH THE END OF HEARTACHE FOR THE WIN!!!
W: Roderick Strong via pin @ 12:41
LA Knight and Cameron Grimes talk backstage. Grimes asks Knight what he should wear. Knight doesn't care and he just wants Grimes to have his back. Grimes gives his word but wants to know if Knight has his back. Knight guarantees it and has Grimes shine his shoes before the match. The tag match is next!
Cameron Grimes & LA Knight (Million Dollar Champion) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
GYV run them down before the match. Grimes is in his butler outfit and starts against Gibson. "To the Moon" chants by the crowd. Grimes gets in control of Gibson's arm and Knight tags in. Knight controls as he takes Gibson to the corner. Drake saves Gibson from the corner and Gibson takes advantage. Drake gets a tag and clothesline Knight for a near fall. Knight counters a suplex and hits a neck breaker. Grimes tag in and hits a flying crossbody from the top! Gibson makes a blind tag and takes out Grimes from behind. Gibson knocks Knight off the apron and the GYV isolate Grimes and hit a double clothesline. Grimes puts on the brakes and sends Drake out of the ring. Sleeper by Gibson on Grimes. Grimes rolls through and back body drops Gibson. GRIMES REACHES FOR A TAG BUT KNIGHT GETS OFF THE APRON!!! Grimes tears off his butler suit and he tees off on GYV! GRIMES WITH A RANA ON BOTH GYV AT THE SAME TIME!! Grimes is impressive!! GRIMES HITS HIS PATTEN FLIPPING CROSSBODY ON DRAKE FOR A NEAR FALL!! Grimes wants the Cave in but Gibson distracts. GYV FINISH GRIMES WITH THE TICKET TO MAYHEM!!! The right team wins and Knight continues to stick it to Grimes.
W: Grizzled Young Veterans via pin @ 4:46
Post match, TED DIBIASE walks by the GYV to talk to Grimes. DiBiase says he told Grimes that Knight wouldn't be there for him. DiBiase tells Grimes that he needs to find a way out of this. DiBiase helps Grimes to the back.
Dakota Kai is up next!
A vignette hypes Samoa Joe!
Highlights of Dakota Kai attacking NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez are shown. A vignette with Dakota Kai now. Kai says Gonzalez was suppose to stand behind her and be there when she needed her. Kai says Gonzalez took out people like Ember Moon and Rhea Ripley. She says they went on to be tag champs. Then Dakota says Raquel stole her opportunity and faced Io Shirai at Takeover. That should of been Kai! All she wanted was Gonzalez to return the favor but she didn't because she got what she wanted. Since then, Kai has only been known as Gonzalez's side kick. No more! Kai says the funniest thing is Gonzalez didn't even see it coming. Kai says she brought Gonzalez into this world and now she'll take her title and take her out of it and become the next NXT Women's Champion.
McKenzie interviews Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Gargano says this is as important as a Takeover main event. LeRae say they know what's best of Indi. Gargano says he must protect Indi at all cost and he will tonight when he ends InDex for good!
A vignette hypes Joe Gacy for the Breakout Tournament. The last first round match is next!
Vic Joseph gives an update on Adam Cole and says he has a neck/spinal compression. We see highlights of the attack on Cole by Kyle O'Reilly. Next week they will go face-to-face!
Breakout Tournament - First Round Match
Trey Baxter vs. Joe Gacy
Lock up and Gacy backs Baxter to the ropes. Go behind by Baxter but Gacy escapes for a clean break. Baxter tries a sunset flip but Gacy blocks and launches him across the ring. Gacy with a clothesline and cover but quick escape by Baxter. Baxter picks up the pace and hits a kick. Baxter sends Gacy to the outside with a drop kick. Baxter dives to the outside but Gacy catches him and decks him with a forearm after catapulting him off the ropes! Back in the ring, submission by Gacy as he is in control of Baxter. Gacy lifts Baxter but Baxter locks in a sleeper. Gacy throws him off but Baxter with a kick. Hard hitting strikes by Gacy and Baxter falls to the apron. Gacy brings Baxter back in with a suplex for a near fall. The crowd is pretty split. Baxter fights back with a jaw breaker but Gacy throws him to the corner. Baxter avoids a charge and hits a drop kick from the top. Baxter hits a dive to the outside this time! Another one! Baxter hits a third one to take out Gacy on the outside. However, Gacy is up first and back in the ring. Baxter corkscrews back into the ring to land on Gacy. Sleeper by Baxter but Gacy backs him into the corner. Baxter holds on. Gacy cannon balls into the opposite corner with Baxter on his back. They battle on the top. BAXTER IS ABLE TO HIT A 450 STOMP FOR THE WIN!!! Baxter will face Odyssey Jones in the semi-finals. The other semi-final is Carmelo Hayes vs. Duke Hudson
W: Trey Baxter via pin @ 5:11
Earlier today, Zoey Stark and Io Shirai went out to lunch together for some bonding. Stark isn't crazy about the food (eel) choice but lies to Shirai and says it's good (Shirai picked it). Stark is unable to use the chop sticks. Stark says they're starting to bond. Stark goes to hug Shirai and Shirai sticks her with the bill.
McKenzie is backstage with Indi Hartwell and asks who she's rooting for. Indi says it's a tough spot. Indi hopes Gargano/LeRae can see that Lumis isn't a bad guy. Just misunderstood.
Karrion Kross is here out of nowhere and gets on the announce table with a mic. Kross can't believe Joe quit his job because he thinks he can beat Kross. HERE COMES JOE!! SECURITY IS OUT TO STOP HIM!! Kross bails as JOE DESTROYS SECURITY AND EVEN PUTS ONE GUY TO SLEEP!
Prime Target now hypes NXT UK Champion WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov. This is awesome and I highly recommend it checking it out. All of the Prime Targets are great.
Kushida vignette where he tells Roderick Strong he can have a NXT Cruiserweight Championship match.
Commentary hypes next week! What's scheduled is listed below!
Love Her or Lose Her Match
Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis
Who else thinks this should of been on Takeover to pay off this long storyline? Anyways, trash talk by Gargano to begin and he gets Lumis in a side head lock. Lumis sends Gargano to the corner and Gargano goes up and over and keeps control. Arm work by Gargano and Lumis escapes. Arm drags by Lumis followed by a drop kick. Lumis stalks Gargano and Gargano backs out of the ring. Gargano suckers Lumis in and pounds on him outside the ring. Gargano suplexes Lumis on the floor outside. INDI HARTWELL COMES TO RINGSIDE! Gargano tosses Lumis in the ring and then tells Hartwell to go to the back. "InDex" chants by the crowd! Back in the ring, Lou Thesz press by Lumis and he takes control. Back elbow by Lumis but he charges into a boot from Gargano. Gargano avoids a dive by Lumis and Lumis goes out of the ring. Lumis goes under the ring and HARTWELL FOLLOWS HIM!! CANDICE LERAE COMES OUT NOW! LeRae and Gargano pulls Hartwell out from under the ring and that brings Lumis out. Gargano sends Lumis into the steps and plexiglass barricade as we go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, Gargano remains in control and hits a sling shot spear from the apron back into the ring. Gargano keeps control as Hartwell looks concerned. Snap mare and low drop kick by Gargano for a near fall.
We're back now with Gargano still in control. Lumis fights back but Gargano cuts him off. Uppercut by Lumis and he follows with a spine buster!!! Rights by Lumis now sends Gargano to the corner. Clothesline by Lumis then a bulldog. Back suplex by Lumis and he gets a near fall. Lumis stalks Gargano and he wants Silence but Gargano blocks and sends Lumis to the outside. Suicide dive by Gargano and he throws Lumis back in the ring. Gargano says it's all Beth Phoenix's fault. Lumis counters another sling shot spear and LUMIS HITS A FALCON ARROW!! 1........2.....NO!!! Lumis goes to the top and jumps but Gargano moves. GARGANO HITS A SUPER KICK!!! 1......2........NO!!! More "InDex" chants. They trade blows now. Gargano runs into an uppercut! Gargano answers with a super kick! Lumis responds with a knock down. Lumis and Hartwell lock eyes. Lumis goes to the apron. Lumis misses a spring board elbow drop. GARGANO LOCKS IN THE GARGANO ESCAPE IN FRONT OF HARTWELL!!! Hartwell gets on the apron to help push the rope towards Lumis and he makes it to the ropes!! GARGANO GETS IN THE FACE OF HARTWELL!! LERAE GETS IN HARTWELL'S FACE!! Lumis rolls up Gargano for a near fall. GARGANO PROPELS LUMIS INTO HARTWELL WHO FALLS OFF THE APRON. GARGANO DIVES TO THE OUTSIDE AND PLANTS LUMIS WITH A DDT!! Back in the ring, GARGANO HITS LUMIS WITH ONE FINAL BEAT TO GET THE WIN!!! Gargano finally gets what he wants now.
W: Johnny Gargano via pin @ 12:53
NEVER MIND!! Post match, Hartwell looks upset as Gargano and LeRae walk her away from ringside. Hartwell keeps looking back. Lumis is up in the ring. HARTWELL RUNS BACK TO THE RING AND JUMPS ON LUMIS!!! THEY MAKE OUT!!! Gargano and LeRae can't believe it as Hartwell and Lumis continue making out!! End Show.
Next Week:
Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole go face-to-face
Raquel Gonzalez breaks her silence
Ember Moon vs. Sarray
Ilja Dragunov will be live
Thanks for taking the time to read this!! If you enjoy what you've read, don't hesitate to follow our Facebook page and get updates when new content is posted! Also, any comments or feedback is greatly appreciated!