It is not a surprise anymore that an episode of NXT is full of exciting action. NXT has finally gotten into a great rhythm since the Superstar Shake-up, with every week featuring something important and enticing. Tonight’s episode features Ember Moon taking on Ruby Riot, a physical brawl between Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, and a #1 Contender’s Match between Drew McIntyre and Killian Dain with the winner facing Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
Ember Moon vs. Ruby Riot
Outside of Asuka, Ember Moon and Ruby Riot are the two biggest names in NXT’s women’s division. At NXT TakeOver: Chicago, Ember Moon was supposed to be involved in the Women’s Championship match featuring Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot, but she couldn’t compete due to injury. Moon believes that she should have the next championship opportunity against Asuka, but Riot has not received a one-on-one championship match against Asuka, while Moon and Cross already have. Both women want to see who deserves it more through this match, but this is technically not a #1 Contender’s match at all.
Riot puts on an incredible performance, but she is unable to put Moon away. Moon hits a combination of unique moves before putting Riot away with the Eclipse. Winner: Ember Moon
Announcement
Next week, Kassius Ohno will face Hideo Itami. Itami has been showing a newfound aggression over the past few weeks and Ohno decided that he needed to “take action” by requesting for this match. Itami interrupted an interview with Ohno
Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch
Both of these competitors are very similar. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are hard-hitting technical brawlers who don’t pull any punches. While they always put on impressive performances, they rarely find success. Lorcan’s last match was against Hideo Itami, where he broke Itami’s nose but lost. Burch was last seen on NXT competing against the current United Kingdom Champion, Pete Dunne.
Lorcan manages to break Burch’s nose as well, but Burch fight through the injury. Burch attempts a running clothesline, but Lorcan rolls through and forces him to tap out to the single leg Boston crab. After the match, both men shake hands and Burch challenges him to a rematch. Since Lorcan is a fighter, of course, he accepts. Winner (via submission): Oney Lorcan
No Way Jose vs. Cesar Bononi
It feels like No Way Jose has barely been on NXT since WrestleMania. He returned a couple weeks ago to help Roderick Strong and Kassius Ohno fight off SAnitY, but since then, Jose hasn’t really done anything. Cesar Bononi, on the other hand, competed just a few weeks ago and picked up a surprising victory over Andrade “Cien” Almas.
Bononi’s Muay Thai background leads to him getting some offense in, but Jose takes advantage quickly. After a Pop-Up Forearm, Jose picks up the victory in his returning match. After the match ends, Andrade “Cien” Almas rushes the ring and stomps a downed Bononi. Almas motions for a fight with Jose, but he walks away by the time Jose gets back to the ring. Throughout this entire moment, Almas is with an “unknown woman” (Thea Trinidad) who has been with him for the past couple weeks. Winner: No Way Jose
Drew McIntyre vs. Killian Dain – #1 Contender’s Match (NXT Championship)
NXT has been having huge main events week after week, and this is no different except for the fact that there is no title directly involved. Bobby Roode retained the NXT Championship against Roderick Strong two weeks ago, so there is an open spot for a new #1 Contender. With NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III just a couple weeks away (airing August 19 on the WWE Network), Roode needs a challenger for what could be the biggest event in the brand’s history.
#1 Contender’s matches are always important and exciting, but there is another layer of excitement when two undefeated wrestlers are involved. Killian Dain debuted as part of SAnitY earlier this year when Sawyer Fulton was injured and he has dominated the competition ever since. Drew McIntyre debuted after TakeOver: Chicago and has won every match he has been in, being more physically aggressive than ever.
McIntyre hits Dain with the Claymore (running Yakuza kick), but Dain doesn’t stay down. McIntyre then hits one more while Dain is down to become the new #1 Contender and to give Dain his first defeat. Winner, and NEW #1 Contender: Drew McIntyre
