North American Champion Keith Lee made history by dethroning NXT Champion Adam Cole, becoming the first Superstar to hold two NXT singles titles simultaneously. Elsewhere, Candice LeRae prevailed over Mia Yim in a brutal Street Fight, Santos Escobar and the rest of Legado del Fantasma claimed a Six-Man Tag win over Drake Maverick & Breezango, and more.
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NXT Great American Bash results, July 8, 2020: Keith Lee becomes double champion
Candice LeRae def. Mia Yim in a Street Fight
Mia Yim jumpstarted this donnybrook, attacking Candice LeRae before she could even reach the ring. The action quickly spilled past the barricade and atop a nearby platform, where Yim dropkicked The Polson Pixie through a table below. But LeRae's repeated use of steel chairs was the difference-maker, and she unleashed a swinging neckbreaker onto a pile of chairs from a table balanced on the top rope in a brutal finale for the win.
Bronson Reed def. Tony Nese
The Premier Athlete insisted on disrespecting Bronson Reed by pointing out their abdominal disparity, but Tony Nese's abs couldn't save him from a massive top-rope splash by The Aus-Zilla.
Johnny Gargano def. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott
Johnny Gargano won bragging rights after last week's heated scuffle with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, but not without a fight. Two of NXT's quickest competitors exchanged a dizzying array of counters throughout. A mistimed high risk by "Swerve" proved costly as Johnny Wrestling dropped him with a poison rana on the outside before planting him with a One Final Beat DDT.
Legado del Fantasma def. Drake Maverick & Breezango
Drake Maverick was salivating at the thought of finally getting his hands on Santos Escobar, and he eventually got his wish in this Six-Man Tag Team Match after the NXT Cruiserweight Champion had dodged him throughout. But Escobar thwarted Maverick's attempt at top-rope offense, stringing him up with a thrust kick to set up the Phantom Driver.
Mercedes Martinez def. Santana Garrett
Mercedes Martinez's return to NXT was an impressive one, as she put on a clinic against Santana Garrett, finishing her off with a devastating fisherman's buster.
North American Champion Keith Lee def. Adam Cole to become the new NXT Champion
The Panama City Playboy and The Limitless One treated the NXT Universe to a back-and-forth classic in the black-and-gold brand's first-ever Title for Title Match. Both Superstars threw the best they had at the other, with Adam Cole beating a pin after a massive Spirit Bomb thanks to a pointer finger on the bottom rope. Keith Lee, too, showed resilience, surviving multiple Last Shots. Cole's bid for a second Panama Sunrise proved to be one too many as Lee countered it for another Spirit Bomb before hitting the Big Bang Catastrophe to end the longest NXT Championship reign ever while becoming the first competitor to hold two NXT singles titles at the same time. As Lee celebrated his emotional win, Karrion Kross and Scarlett observed from afar.
Who will become the first double champion in NXT history?
The stakes will be at an all-time high when NXT Champion Adam Cole meets North American Champion Keith Lee in a Winner Take All Match on Wednesday, July 8, as The Great American Bash continues on NXT.
Already the longest-reigning NXT Champion ever, Cole can perhaps solidify his claim as the black-and-gold brand’s greatest champion if he defeats Lee. The list of opponents toppled by The Panama City Playboy during his year-plus reign reads like a who’s who of NXT Superstardom: Johnny Gargano, Finn Bálor, Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle and more.
But Lee may represent Cole’s biggest challenge — literally and figuratively.
The Limitless Superstar first had to overcome Gargano and Bálor in a daunting Triple Threat Match to retain his title and get here. And as he has done so often, Lee took care of business against the two former NXT Champions. Lee’s reign has been among the most distinguished in the history of the North American Title, including victories over Damian Priest, Dominik Dijakovic and Cameron Grimes. A win over Cole would launch Lee’s star to even greater heights.
Who will leave their mark as the first double champion in NXT history?
The HBIC and The Poison Pixie take their rivalry to a Street Fight
For weeks, tensions between Mia Yim and Candice LeRae have escalated not only in the ring, but all around the WWE Performance Center. It’s only appropriate they’ll look to settle things in a Street Fight at The Great American Bash.
LeRae took aim at Yim as her first target since her unleashing her new, unapologetic demeanor. Envious of the opportunities The HBIC received at what LeRae said was her expense, The Poison Pixie ridiculed Yim for “dropping the ball.”
Yim added fuel to the fire when she eliminated LeRae from the Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match for an opportunity to challenge NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai.
Their mutual contempt reached a boiling point in a backstage brawl, and it wasn’t the first time they’ve tussled behind the curtain.
Now, with Street Fight rules where anything goes, what will these two bitter rivals have in store for each other?
Can Breezango help Maverick even the score?
Drake Maverick has tried to step to NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma by himself with a perilous result every time. Can he flip the script now that he has some reinforcements on his side?
Maverick will link up with Breezango to take on Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza in a Six-Man Tag Team Match this Wednesday night at The Great American Bash.
Despite being slammed through a table with an elevated Phantom Driver the last time he confronted Legado del Fantasma, Maverick did so again last week, and again, things began to play out familiarly with the numbers game.
That all changed when Tyler Breeze & Fandango burst onto the scene and cleared house.
Now that he has joined forces with Breezango and is longer at a three-on-one disadvantage, can Maverick finally get retribution against Escobar?
“Swerve” takes on Johnny Wrestling
After a heated confrontation, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Johnny Gargano will look to settle their issue in the ring this Wednesday night at NXT’s Great American Bash.
Gargano was with wife Candice LeRae for a backstage interview following her loss in last week’s Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match, but the situation quickly devolved into a pull-apart brawl between LeRae and Mia Yim, who are set for a Street Fight.
Also present was “Swerve,” whose attempt to break up the brouhaha was met with scorn from Gargano. Soon, the two men were involved in their own dustup as well.
The veteran Johnny Wrestling will likely look to teach Scott a thing or too, but he shouldn’t discount his opponent. After an impressive showing in the NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament, “Swerve” has been reeling off victories left and right on 205 Live. Can he obtain what would be the biggest feather in his cap with a win over Gargano?
