The fireworks were plentiful during night one of NXT's Great American Bash! Asuka returned to NXT to foil Sasha Banks and Bayley, helping Io Shirai score a victory over The Legit Boss. Elsewhere, Tegan Nox earned an opportunity to challenge Shirai for the NXT Women's Title after a hard-fought Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match, Dexter Lumis finally got his hands on Roderick Strong in NXT's first-ever Strap Match, and more!
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NXT Great American Bash results, July 1, 2020: Asuka crashes the Bash
Tegan Nox def. Dakota Kai, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match to become the No. 1 Contender to the NXT Women's Title
Mia Yim was the first to score an elimination, pinning Candice LeRae after hitting the Protect Ya Neck. The chaotic action continued with Yim teaming up with Tegan Nox temporarily for double-team offense against Dakota Kai, but The Captain of Team Kick eliminated The HBIC with a crafty Okana roll and bridge, leaving her and arch-nemesis Nox as the final two women. No love was lost between the former best friends as they exchanged hard-hitting strikes, but Nox prevailed after hitting a seated top-rope senton and the Shiniest Wizard, earning an opportunity to take on Io Shirai.
Timothy Thatcher def. Oney Lorcan
Two of NXT's best technicians put on a mat clinic to no one's surprise, going hold for hold. The bout turned predictably vicious with both men trading bombs until Timothy Thatcher forced Oney Lorcan to submit with a savagely applied Fujiwara armbar.
Rhea Ripley def. Aliyah & Robert Stone in a Handicap Match
The numbers advantage served The Robert Stone Brand well for much of the bout — until it didn't. A disagreement over whether Robert Stone or Aliyah should be the one to cover Rhea Ripley proved costly. The Nightmare rallied back and made both tap out to Prism Traps in stereo, ensuring that she wouldn't have to join The Robert Stone Brand.
Dexter Lumis def. Roderick Strong in NXT's first-ever Strap Match
Roderick Strong was extremely hesitant to be bound to Dexter Lumis with a leather strap and for good reason. Lumis dished out the punishment and nearly treated Strong to a return trip to to the trunk of a car, which was parked nearby as part of the ringside set. Not even Bobby Fish interfering could save Strong, and NXT's "Tortured Artist" unleashed a devastating Uranage and submitted Strong with Silence for the victory.
NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai def. Sasha Banks in a non-title match
The veritable dream match lived up to the hype as Io Shirai and Sasha Banks gave each other all they could handle. But Bayley's plot to distract the official backfired in a big way, as Asuka evened the odds and blinded The Boss with green mist, giving Shirai an opening to hit her breathtaking moonsault for the win.
Strong will have nowhere to run in Strap Match
Roderick Strong will no longer be able to run from Dexter Lumis.
Their psychological warfare will escalate to in-ring brutality in the black-and-gold brand’s first-ever Strap Match at The Great American Bash.
After stalking The Undisputed ERA for weeks, the enigmatic Lumis escalated his pursuits during Adam Cole’s NXT Title defense against The Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, stuffing Strong and Bobby Fish in his trunk and driving off.
Strong was especially traumatized by the incident, and Lumis’ interest in him has only increased since. After weeks of therapy facilitated by The Undisputed ERA, Strong seemed ready to face his fears — until he actually stepped in the ring with NXT’s “Tortured Artist,” then fled immediately.
With nowhere to go for Strong as the two foes are bound together by a strap, what horrors will Lumis have in store?
Who will earn the chance to challenge NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai?
Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai will collide in a No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match this Wednesday night at The Great American Bash, with the winner earning the right to challenge Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Each woman is seeking their first reign with the illustrious title, but perhaps none have come closer than Yim. Can The HBIC finally break through and reach the top of the mountain?
Meanwhile, there’s no love lost between Yim and LeRae. Transforming into the “Poison Pixie” in recent months, LeRae has vindictively called attention to the opportunities Yim and other cohorts have received at her own expense. She’d undoubtedly relish the chance to dethrone Shirai, whom she shares a tumultuous history with.
Kai, too, has taken her in-ring game to another level since her own about-face when she brutalized Nox last fall. The biggest potential wildcard in this bout is also working in her favor, as Kai’s personal enforcer Raquel González likely won’t be far from the action.
Although Nox fell short alongside Shotzi Blackheart in a bid to become WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions two weeks ago, “Lady Kane” impressed and showed she can go toe-to-toe with the best WWE has to offer.
Be sure to tune in to see who seizes the moment as NXT celebrates the return of The Great American Bash, this Wednesday at 8/7 C on USA Network!
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Will Rhea Ripley be forced to join The Robert Stone Brand?
Can The Robert Stone Brand acquire its biggest client yet, or will Rhea Ripley crush its recent resurgence? We’ll find out Wednesday night at The Great American Bash as The Nightmare faces Aliyah & Stone in a Handicap Match where Ripley must sign with Stone if she loses.
Chelsea Green left the Brand in shambles last month when she fired Stone. The once-disheveled super-agent has since pulled himself together and is making his best effort at a comeback with the signing of Aliyah.
That’s hardly been enough to sway Ripley, however. The former NXT Women’s Champion has responded to Stone’s overtures by dumping him in the trash – literally – on two occasions. The Nightmare overcome not only Aliyah, but Stone’s shoe-throwing on her behalf in a one-on-one bout last week.
Can Ripley overcome the scheming Stone and Aliyah in this unique matchup?
Will Thatcher take Lorcan to school?
Timothy Thatcher has demonstrated painful teachings in recent weeks, but Oney Lorcan isn’t deterred.
They’ll square off Wednesday night at The Great American Bash in what promises to be a hard-hitting bout.
After defeating Matt Riddle in the NXT Fight Pit, Thatcher has focused on education in recent weeks, stretching pupils in his “Thatch-as-Thatch-can” wrestling school.
Lorcan took notice, calling Thatcher out for a match.
Now NXT General Manager William Regal is giving Lorcan exactly what he wants.
Will Thatcher take Lorcan to school, or will Oney rule?
