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It's time for the return of the Great American Bash, NXT style! Mauro Ranallo gave credit to the show to the late great Dusty Rhodes, who was responsible for creating the Great American Bash in the first place.
The first night of The Great American Bash featured some incredible bouts. Two specifically that fans were looking forward to were Oney Lorcan vs Timothy Thatcher and Sasha Banks vs Io Shirai. They absolutely lived up to the hype.
We kicked off The Great American Bash with the NXT Women's No.1 Contender's Fatal-4-Way match!
NXT Great American Bash Fatal-4-Way Match: Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai vs Mia Yim vs Candice LeRae
Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai bailed out to the floor to let Tegan Nox and Mia Yim tear each other down. LeRae caught Yim from behind, though, sending her outside. LeRae and Kai then focused on Nox.
Kai set Nox up for the apron boot, but Nox avoided it and drove her spine first into the ring. LeRae moved in for a suicide dive but a blindside dropkick from Yim nearly sent her out of the ring. LeRae recovered, taking out Yim before smashing Kai's face on the apron with a flatliner.
LeRae followed up with a springboard crossbody, laying out Kai for the time being. Yim met her going up top. The Poison Pixie slipped through her legs and took Yim across the ring with an avalanche German suplex, and nearly got the first elimination at The Great American Bash.
Kai set up LeRae for Go To Kick but Nox demolished her with a big boot. Kai inadvertently hit LeRae with another boot, and Yim followed up with one of her own. Yim finished off LeRae with Sole Food.
First Elimination: Mia Yim picked up the first elimination on Candice LeRae at The Great American Bash.
Kai took the fight to Yim, pelting her with several chops and kicks. Going for a pinfall, she only managed to get a short one-count before Yim powered out. Kai set up to trap Nox in a leglock but Yim leapt onto her, placing her in a guillotine, setting up a double submission in the process.
Eventually everyone broke away, leading to a three-way brawl. Yim and Nox decided to focus up on Kai, with them both taking out the Captain of Team Kick with a Cannonball Senton and a Cannonboar senton. Despite both of her opponents pinning her, Kai kicked out and rolled to the floor.
Yim and Nox decided to take each other on. They were evenly matched, with both Superstars trading blows. Kai rocked Nox before she could hit a suicide dive, but she was unable to capitalize. Yim dropped her with a dragon suplex.
Yim used Kai as a stepping stone to send Nox outside with a hurricanrana. A dive took Lady Kane down. Yim did the same to Kai, sending her crashing into the barricade. Back inside, Kai kicked out of the Code Blue. Nox tried to roll up Yim with a crucifix, but was countered into Sole Food.
As Yim stared on at Nox, Kai rolled her up with an O'Connor Roll, eliminating her from the match.
Second Elimination: Dakota Kai eliminated Mia Yim via pinfall at The Great American Bash.
Kai trapped Nox in a chin lock. Slowly, No broke away and rolled up Kai for a two-count. The former best friends laid into each other with right hands. Kai won the brawl and stunned Nox with a superkick. Nox responded with a headbutt, and began building momentum. Right hands and clotheslines left Kai struggling to stand in the corner.
A trio of running uppercuts left Kai sitting the corner. The Cannonboar connected, and Nox got a near fall, using Kai's knee brace for leverage. Kai attempted to surprise Nox with a running crossbody, but was turned into a bridging fallaway slam for another close call.
As Nox moved to the top, Kai sent her back down to the mat where the Kairopractor connected. Still, Kai couldn't keep her down. Kai responded with a brainbuster but Kai refused to quit. Kai avoided the Shiniest Wizard and rolled up Nox with the crucifix.
Nox kicked out and was immediately trapped in Kai's submission. She managed to turn it into a pinfall, forcing Kai to break it. Following a headbutt, Nox landed with the Molly-Go-Round. The Shiniest Wizard finally put Kai down for good and earned Nox the first win of the night at The Great American Bash.
Results: Tegan Nox defeated Dakota Kai via pinfall to become the No.1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship at The Great American Bash.
Grade: B
Damian Priest was backstage where he called out Cameron Grimes who had, so far, slashed Priest's tires and attacked him prior to their match last month. Priest laid down a challenge. One match, no tricks. Just a one-sided beating that Grimes will regret forever. Will we get a final match at Great American Bash night two?
Knowing Grimes? Probably not, and odds are Priest won't "be able to make it" to The Great American Bash if history has taught us anything.
Timothy Thatcher vs Oney Lorcan on NXT Great American Bash
Oney Lorcan managed to wrap up Timothy Thatcher early on at Great American Bash, winning the first few takedown attempts. Thatcher managed to escape a headlock and set Lorcan up for the bow-and-arrow stretch.
Lorcan escaped, chopping Thatcher and bringing him down for a double wrist lock attempt. Thatcher held strong, refusing to give his arm to Lorcan. Thatcher, after several tries, managed to take the mount and rock Lorcan with a few shots to the head. He followed up with a wrist lock, bringing Lorcan to his feet.
Thatcher lost the upper hand quickly, as Lorcan brought him back over with a snapmare leading to a double wrist lock, driving his head into the shoulder blades for extra pressure. Chops and elbows stunned Thatcher, but he sent Lorcan to the floor with a running European uppercut in response.
Lorcan was dragged back inside where Thatcher cut off every attempt at building momentum with various takedowns, locking up Lorcan's joins with a loads worth of submissions. A belly-to-belly suplex sent Lorcan rolling to the floor. As he tried to get back in the ring, Thatcher cut him off on the apron.
A suplex to the inside was countered, and Lorcan spiked Thatcher with the half-and-half suplex. The running European uppercut selft Thatcher staring up at the lights, seemingly putting Thatcher down for good at The Great American Bash. However, Thatcher was able to avoid the single leg Boston Crab. The Star Destroyer lit up the Toothless Stallion with chops and palm strikes, nearly knocking Thatcher out cold.
The single leg Boston Crab was locked in, but rather than work towards the ropes, Thatcher countered into a heel hook. Lorcan broke free and was dumped with a butterfly suplex. Thatcher managed to lock in the Fujiwara Armbar, earning the submission victory at The Great American Bash.
Results: Timothy Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan at The Great American Bash via submission.
Grade: A
A Karrion Kross vignette was shown, with Kross claiming that there were those around us that were "infested vermon."
Scarlett drew a tarot card meant to tell the future of the NXT brand. What she drew was Judgement, with Adam Cole and Keith Lee both flashing on the screen. Will Karrion Kross be involved in their match at Great American Bash night two?
Robert Stone has been trying to land a new client, specifically Rhea Ripley, for a while now. Tonight, aided by Aliyah, he hoped to force Ripley into a deal at The Great American Bash.
NXT Great American Bash Handicap Match: Rhea Ripley vs Aliyah & Robert Stone
Robert Stone told Aliyah to stand back, as he was confident he had this in the bag. He, of course, did not have this in the bag. A clothesline sent him to the floor. Aliyah jumped on Rhea Ripley's head for a sleeper. Ripley shook her off and she responded with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors.
Stone held Ripley's legs in the corner so Aliyah could hit a running knee. Ripley recovered, turning a Black Widow submission into an electric chair facebuster. Stone, however, broke up the pin.
Ripley chased Stone around, leading to him attempting a dive to the floor. Ripley simply walked away but was hit head-on by Aliyah. Ripley, back on the inside, booted Aliyah into the ropes and Robert Stone.
Stone eventually got inside to make the save, holding Ripley so Aliyah could lay in some boots to the sternum. They began celebrating as we cut to commercial.
Back from the break, Stone had Ripley trapped in a Boston Crab...kind of? Aliyah also had her locked in a crossface. Ripley powered out but was dropped with a double suplex. Ripley countered a second one, bringing both competitors overhead at once.
A dropkick took Stone to the corner. Ripley launched Aliyah into him, taking the air out of Stone. A massive high kick rocked Aliyah, and a wheelbarrow facebuster sent her head first into Robert's Stones.
Ripley finished the match in pretty incredible fashion, forcing both Aliyah and Stone to tap out to a pair of Prisms at The Great American Bash.
Results: Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah & Robert Stone at The Great American Bash via submission.
Grade: C
Sadly for Robert Stone, The Great American Bash didn't net him a new client.
At NXT Great American Bash, Roderick Strong hoped to rid himself of this Dexter Lumis problem once and for all. Lumis had been haunting the Undisputed Era for months now, and had seriously affected the psyche of the Messiah of the Backbreaker. Tonight, they met in a Strap Match. No running, no hiding. Who would leave Great American Bash as the victor?
NXT Great American Bash Strap Match: Roderick Strong vs Dexter Lumis
Prior to the strapping himself up, Strong took Lumis out with a surprise attack. However, the monstrous Lumis quickly recovered, rocking him with a right hand and tying him to the strap. He popped Strong up for another disgusting right hand before sending him to the floor.
Lumis yanked the former NXT North American Champion into the apron repeatedly. Back inside the ring, he continued to stalk Strong. A back body drop sent Strong sky-high.
NXT's resident psychopath pelted Strong in the corner but was caught by a kick to the chest. Strong lit up Lumis but it had no effect on the Tortured Artist. Lumis caught Strong trying to leave, yanking him off the floor and over the Great American Bash style ropes via the strap.
Lumis set Strong up cheeky nandos style in the corner. Strong yelled out for referee Drake Wuertz but was rocked with an uppercut through his legs. Lumis continued to toss Strong around the floor area with the strap, eventually making it to the ramp where a Dodge Viper was waiting.
It was (Let's make this a shirt) Trunk Time for Roddy! Well, that was Dexter Lumis's plan anyway. Strong's fight or flight instincts turned into fight, as he dropped Lumis with an Olympic Slam on the floor. Back inside the ring, Strong wore out Lumis with the strap, covering im in welts across his back and chest.
A step-up enziguri rocked Lumis, who began to show some pain, which is something we haven't actually seen from him in his NXT tenure. Strong battered Lumis in the ropes, but he bounced off for a devastating lariat.
A clothesline/bulldog combo in the corner earned Lumis a two-count. He continued to tear at Strong's face, leaving the Messiah of the Backbreaker writhing in pain. Strong avoided Silence and dazed Lumis with a leaping knee strike. A superplex from the very top put Lumis down for a two-count.
Strong used the strap for a modified version of the Stronghold, but Lumis was able to crawl through the ropes using the Great American Bash apron to escape. Bobby Fish came in for a kick, though, giving Strong enough time to rock Lumis with a running single leg dropkick.
Fish attempted to interfere but was nearly decapitated by the strap. Lumis launched Strong into Fish, sending his old tag team partner into the barricade. Strong was then planted with the Uranage and used the strap to lock in a more vicious version of Silence, picking up the win in the Great American Bash Strap Match.
Results: Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong at The Great American Bash via submission.
Grade: B-
That's one member of the Undisputed Era down. Could we see Dexter Lumis stalk Adam Cole next week at Great American Bash night two?
We were given a great video package setting up the Champion vs Champion winner take all match on The Great American Bash next week. Keith Lee will put his NXT North American Championship on the line, as will Adam Cole and his NXT Championship.
El Legado del Fantasma came out on The Great American Bash next, with Santos Escobar thinking back to a time when wrestlers were legends. Bigger than celebrities and movie stars. This tradition of Lucha Libre, however, was turned into a carnie sideshow. Escobar said they were going to restore honor to Lucha Libre in his image.
They're going to right the wrongs of those who tarnished this business. Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Drake Maverick who came out in a neckbrace. He removed it, though, and rushed the ring. Try as he might, he couldn't get to Escobar. Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza served as a perfect barrier between the two.
Escobar set up to finish Maverick off, but El Legado del Fantasma was sent packing instead by Breezango. Fandango challenged the trio to a match next week at Great American Bash night two.
Cameron Grimes refused Damian Priest's challenge, instead challenging the winner of the Winner Take All match on Great American Bash next week. It's Grime Time!
The second night of The Great American Bash was filled out a bit more tonight. Candice LeRae will battle Mia Yim in a Street Fight. The six-man tag between Breezango & Drake Maverick and El Legado del Fantasma was also made official.
Tonight, though, we finished up The Great American Bash with the incredible bout between Sasha Banks and Io Shirai!
NXT Great American Bash Main Event: Sasha Banks w/Bayley vs Io Shirai
Io Shirai quickly took to the sky, sending Sasha Banks to the floor with a missile dropkick and following up with a suicide dive. Back inside, a corner dropkick earned Shirai a two-count.
Shirai took Banks to the top but was distracted by Bayley, who honked the horn of the car near the stage. Banks took advantage, bouncing her face-first off the turnbuckle. Running double knees nearly put Shirai away. As Banks moved to the top, Shirai ran in to take her out.
Banks wrapped her legs around the head of the NXT Women's Champion, bouncing her off the middle turnbuckle. However, Shirai stunned her with a shot to the jaw and took her across the ring with a hurricanrana. Following a pair of shoulder tackles, a flapjack sent Banks into the ropes for the 619. A springboard missile dropkick nearly gave Shirai the victory at Great American Bash.
Shirai avoided the Bank Statement and launched Banks overhead with a German suplex. Banks would eventually lock in the Bank Statement but was rolled up for a two-count. Shirai rolled her up again with a victory roll, following that with a double stomp.
Some running knees in the corner rocked Banks, but she cut off Shirai before she could hit a moonsault. Left tied up in the tree of woe, Shirai was forced to withstand some serious trash talk. Banks, though, missed the dropkick. Shirai moved up and went for the moonsault.
Banks escaped, and following a boot to the jaw connected with the Meteora. It wasn't enough, though, and the Joshi Judas kicked out. Banks avoided another 619, leading to the two competitors trading elbows between the ropes.
As Shirai leaped onto the Great American Bash colored ropes, Banks stopped her with a roundhouse to the head. Following that, a diving sunset flip powerbomb bounced Shirai off the plexiglass.
Banks missed the Frog Splash on the inside and was wrapped up in a crossface. Bayley tossed the tag titles in the ring to distract the referee before rocking Shirai.
As the ref was distracted, though, RAW Women's Champion Asuka appeared, preventing Banks from using the other belt and spraying her with the poison mist. The moonsault put The Boss away and earned Io Shirai a huge victory at The Great American Bash.
Results: Io Shirai defeated Sasha Banks at The Great American Bash via pinfall.
Grade: A
Asuka's brief return to NXT served as a great way to cut off Sasha Banks' momentum before their match at Extreme Rules.
At the end of night one of The Great American Bash, Io Shirai stood tall.
Episode Rating: A
Asuka's return made The Great American Bash even more special while Thatcher and Lorcan put up a clinic. Night two is surely going to be awesome.
