WWE NXT August 29th, 2023 (WWE Performance Center Orlando- Florida/ USA)

NXT kicks off this week with a graphic in memory of Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt.

This is followed by a look back at NXT “Heatwave”, which was the highlight of the summer at NXT. The camera then switches to the arena, where Schism is already waiting inside the steel cage for their opponents. The Creed Brothers, ready to compete in their first match since late June. Julius Creed gets in the ring to Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler, but before Brutus can follow his brother, he is attacked by the masked followers of Schism. Joe Gacy takes the opportunity to close the cage door while his followers kidnap Brutus Creed backstage.

Meanwhile in the ring the match is announced, where Julius Creed now has to fight off the superior number.

•Steel Cage Match – If The Creed Brothers win, they will be reinstated to NXT.
Diamond Mine: The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed & Julius Creed) def. Schism: The Dyad (Jagger Reid & Rip Fowler, w/ Joe Gacy & Ava) via double pin by Brutus Creed on Jagger Reid and Julius Creed on Rip Fowler after synchronized Unnecessary Clotheslines•

After 9 minutes, Brutus Creed returned to the arena and threw the Schism pendants around. However, Joe Gacy held the key to the cage, so Brutus unceremoniously ripped the door off its hinges. This was followed by an absolute show of strength from the two brothers.

-Roxanne Perez talks about the respect she had for her opponents today. Though in the meantime, she doesn’t care what she has to do to win back the NXT Women’s Championship. If necessary, she wants to leave three bodies behind her to regain what she never lost.

-Vic Joseph and Booker T announce the start of the NXT Global Heritage Invitational, which is followed by an interlude introducing the participants as well as the rulebook.

Axiom, Tyler Bate, Charlie Dempsey and Butch will compete in Group A, while Group B consists of Duke Hudson, Joe Coffey, Akira Tozawa and Nathan Frazer. Over the next few weeks, all competitors will face off against each opponent in their own group to earn as many points as possible. Then, on Sept. 26, NXT will pit the respective group winners against each other to determine Noam Dar’s challenger at NXT “No Mercy” on Sept. 30.

Matches in the group stage will take place with a time limit of 12 minutes, a win earns two points on the account, a draw one point.

-Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo talk backstage, before Carmelo Hayes joins them. The three talk briefly about their titles before being joined by Street Profits, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins. They greet the three warmly before asking Hayes what’s next for the NXT Champion. The latter remains focused on removing the footnote from his reign and getting an outright victory against Ilja Dragunov. With those words, he leaves the area.

D’Angelo and Stacks compliment the Street Profits, as they set the tone for NXT a few years ago. The Street Profits are setting up a possible challenge for the Tag Team Titles when loud boos interrupt the segment. In the background, Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan brawl with Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice.

-NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson take their seats in the Meta-Four Lounge and watch the following match from there.

•NXT Global Heritage Invitational – Group A – Singles Match:
Butch (2) def. Charlie Dempsey (0) (w/ Drew Gulak & Damon Kemp) via Pinfall after the Bitter End•

With that, Butch cashes in the first two points of the tournament, and then doesn’t hesitate to verbally tangle with Noam Dar and the rest of Meta-Four.

-McKenzie Mitchell now stands by with Dragon Lee, who proudly speaks of his victory alongside Lyra Valkyria over Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. By getting the win over the reigning NXT North American Champion, he now sees himself back at the front of the line when it comes to challenging the title holder. Mustafa Ali steps in and interrupts, saying Lee better get back in line.

After all, the latter had his chance and lost, while he himself never got a fair shot at the title. Lee understands Ali’s arguments, but has no confidence that he has what it takes to be NXT North American Champion.

-Now Ilja Dragunov is in the ring. He has only positive words for his opponent from the previous week, Trick Williams. He proved that he is not only an entertainer and sidekick, but he gave everything in the ring and pushed the “Mad Dragon” to his limits. But now, with Williams in his rearview mirror, Dragunov wants to refocus on his goal and destiny: the NXT Championship. He is interrupted by Noam Dar, who speaks from the Meta-Four lounge.

The latter wants to schedule an edition of the “Supernova Sessions”, but Dragunov doesn’t want to give up the stage just like that. Dar is amused by the pathetic way Dragunov wants to secure another shot at the NXT Championship, while they already have the trip to California secured.

Dragunov envies Dar’s luck, saying it’s only luckiness through it all, and a lot of support that he can keep getting his hands on the Heritage Cup trophy. Dar sees this differently, saying he doesn’t need luck, he is simply the best. He wants to compare Dragunov to something when Oro Mensah whispers something to Dar. Dar wants Mensah to rather say this statement towards Dragunov himself, whereupon the latter tells Dragunov to shut up with the words “Just shut the f**k up, you victim”.

Dragunov is amused by the childish insults before threatening to visit the Meta-Four lounge. The four have no interest in this, however, and prefer to continue making fun of Dragunov’s put-downs, whereupon he takes off his jacket and starts to leave.

Dar steps in, however, and “calms” Dragunov down, preferring to schedule a match instead. Dragunov is interested and Dar elaborates as they both seem ready to fight. Dar challenges Dragunov to stand in one ring corner next week and the other… that’s when Oro Mensah steps in again and names himself as an opponent for Dragunov.

The latter does not deserve to be in the same ring with the Heritage Cup Champion. He dedicates this fight to his brother Noam, before Ilja Dragunov accepts the challenge and promises Mensah: “I’ll break you, you victim!”. Mensah enters the ring and engages in a short brawl with Dragunov, the latter goes for the Torpedo Moscow, but Mensah retreats in time.

-Von Wagner issues a challenge in the direction of Bron Breakker. “Come Tuesday” Wagner will bring the hard wood as he wants Breakker in a No DQ Match!

•Tag Team Match:
Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez def. Dana Brooke & Kelani Jordan via pin by Lola Vice to Kelani Jordan after a spinebuster/roundhouse kick combo•

-Gigi Dolin believes that none of the other three ladies facing her in the main challenger match today have what it takes to defeat her. She will get the win today and then turn her attention to Tiffany Stratton.

-In the locker room, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams talk about the next steps. Hayes, still focused on beating Dragunov fairly, and wants to silence the voices that claim he was only able to defend his gold with the help of Williams. Williams tips Hayes not to listen to those voices, after all, he never did and he doesn’t have to justify himself.

Hayes now demands to know from Williams whether he trusts him to defeat Dragunov in a matchup man against man. The latter begins his answer with “I don’t think so…”, whereupon Hayes interrupts him and states that he has heard everything he needed to hear. He leaves the area angrily before Williams completes his sentence. “I don’t think so, I know so!”

•Singles Match:
Dijak def. Eddy Thorpe via Pinfall after a Spinning Big Boot•

During the match, Dijak tried to land a punch, wrapping his belt around his fist. Thorpe, however, was able to dodge.

Later on, Dijak then tried to pull a chair over Thorpe’s head, but the latter was able to disarm him. Thorpe himself did not get the opportunity to use the chair, as the referee then disposed of the weapon from the ring. This momentarily distraction was enough for Dijak to wrap his belt around his fist again and knock Thorpe out with it.

-Kiana James stands for success. She doesn’t make excuses, she measures her success in actions. In today’s Main Event she is ready to do everything to stand victorious at the end.

-Baron Corbin is messing around with a co-worker backstage when Von interrupts Breakker and demands, thanks for protecting Corbin from Von Wagner, last week.

Corbin doesn’t see it that way and says Breakker should mind his own business. That’s exactly what he plans to do next week when he finally ends the feud with Von Wagner. Corbin better not interfere, but he has no intention of doing so. He is not interested in Wagner or Breakker, which Breakker is only too happy to hear. Nevertheless, he threatens Corbin that it will be the end of days for him if he interferes in his affairs.

Corbin laughingly leaves the area and gives Breakker the advice not to get thrown through a table.

-Angel Garza wakes up with a bloodstained wound on his chest. There is a knock at his door and there he finds Humberto Carrillo. Garza tells of his dream and Carrillo also reports a similar experience. Addressing the question about the obvious wound on Garza’s chest, Carrillo opens his shirt and presents an identical wound. The two recognize this as a sign of their deceased grandfather Humberto Garza and want to rekindle the fire, with which he always climbed into the ring.

They tear a “Los Lotharios” shirt together before subsequently announcing their return to NXT for the coming week.

-A video package looks back at the career and life of Bray Wyatt, who passed away much too soon last week at the age of 36. Afterwards, the fireflies light up the arena and Wyatt’s signature rocking chair is probably on stage for the last time. “Thank You Bray” chants and Wyatt’s first theme song “Live In Fear” break the silence.

-Blair Davenport wants to take advantage of tonight’s opportunity and take out three competitors before she can finally earn her shot at becoming NXT Women’s Champion.

-Via Instagram, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio are speaking out. The two enjoyed how Mustafa Ali and Dragon Lee couldn’t agree on which one of them gets to be the next challenger for Dirty Dom. Although it won’t matter in the end since neither of them will be the next champion, they suggest that the two will face each other and the winner will get a chance against Dominik at NXT “No Mercy”.

•NXT Global Heritage Invitational – Group B – Singles Match:
Joe Coffey (2) (w/ Gallus: Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) def. Nathan Frazer (0) via Pinfall after All The Best For The Bells•

Gallus also subsequently messed with Noam Dar and Meta-Four.

-In Chase University, Thea Hail is missing a lesson for the first time, in which Andre Chase explains the rules of the NXT Global Heritage Invitational tournament to the class. Duke Hudson in particular is taking notes carefully, as he is known to be part of the competition. The hour ends and Thea Hail enters the room. A brief discussion ensues between Chase, Hudson and Hail about whether today’s lesson was too important to miss.

Hudson wants to avoid further argument and go off with Hail to learn. But Hail already has other plans when Jacy Jayne walks in the door. The latter grabs Thea Hail and together the two disappear, leaving Duke Hudson and Andre Chase perplexed.

-A playback shows us Myles Borne sweeping the ring, which was done to him by Drew Gulak. Fallon Henley comes in and wants to make Borne an offer. So Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen are looking for a partner to take on Gulak, Charlie Dempsey & Damon Kemp. Borne seems surprised to be chosen, but gladly accepts the offer and thanks them for their confidence.

-Wes Lee speaks in an Instagram post. So he had lost the NXT Championship Match against Carmelo Hayes, but not against Hayes, but rather against himself. He therefore took time off for the time being, but promises that a possible further clash between them will end differently.

-McKenzie Mitchell now has Tyler Bate as a guest. He talks about his competition in the NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournaments. He is especially looking forward to a duel with Butch, because the two have a long history of friendship and rivalry. Possibly, this clash is the opportunity to finally end their feud. But next week he has another goal. He will wait in the ring for Dabba-Kato, who attacked him last week, and show him that even a David can win against a Goliath.

-The #1 Contender Match for the NXT North American Championship is official! Mustafa Ali and Dragon Lee will clash next week, with Dominik Mysterio serving as special guest referee. Von Wagner and Bron Breakker will compete in a No Disqualification Match, while Tyler Bate has issued a challenge towards Dabba-Kato. Earlier in the evening, Ilya Dragunov and Oro Mensah got into it, and that rivalry will also be played out in the ring. Last but not least, Tiffany Stratton’s NXT Women’s Championship is on the line. Her opponent will be determined in tonight’s Main Event!

•Fatal-4-Way Match: for the NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender Spot
Kiana James def. Roxanne Perez, Gigi Dolin and Blair Davenport via pin to Gigi Dolin after a Knee Facebreaker•

Tiffany Stratton then enters the ring to face her challenger. The two exchange a few words before Stratton raises her title.

-Carmelo Hayes wanders the aisles backstage, watching the video of Wes Lee that was shown earlier. He arrives at Shawn Michaels’ office and enters without knocking. He demands to talk, but that’s all we learn as the door closes and tonight’s episode of NXT comes to an end.

-Lenny Wrestling

*Photo courtesy of Cageside Seats