Credit: WWE.com

WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Highlights and Reaction from August 7

Erik Beaston

The penultimate stop on the road to TakeOver: Toronto rolled through the WWE Network on Wednesday night when NXT presented the final hype for the hotly anticipated live-event special.

Sprinkled in between the build to Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano and Shayna Baszler vs. Mia Yim was in-ring action pitting Matt Riddle against Killian Dain and Joaquin Wilde against Shane Thorne.

Who emerged victorious from those bouts and was any furniture demolished when The Street Profits and The Undisputed Era signed the contract for their NXT Tag Team Championship match?

Find out now with this recap of the August 7 broadcast.

NXT Tag Team Championship Contract Signing

General manager William Regal officiated the contract signing between NXT tag team champions The Street Profits and Undisputed Era's Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly.

Fish and O'Reilly mocked the idea of Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins as tag team champions, calling them a joke and claiming the titleholders are not on their level.

A fired-up Ford said they only have one option, and that is to win!

At "TakeOver: Toronto, The Street Profits gonna beat that ass, and that...is undisputed," Dawkins said, putting an exclamation point on the promo.

        

Grade

A

       

Analysis

The Street Profits have so frequently been labeled a fun-loving tandem of good guys that the idea of them being serious and really selling a feud may seem somewhat foreign.

Here, they answered the mockery of their hard work and dedication to the sport with fire and realness that served as a perfect final emphasis on the build.

The Street Profits have always been a team that had the potential to be a breakout act but needed an opportunity. They got it and have since been a revelation.

Joaquin Wilde vs. Shane Thorne

After a disappointing loss to Angel Garza in the Breakout Tournament, Joaquin Wilde sought his first televised win in NXT as he battled Shane Thorne in singles competition.

Thorne grounded him, working over Wilde as commentators Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness reminded fans of the intestinal injury that threatened the babyface's life a couple of years back.

The resilient competitor fought back and delivered a tope through the turnbuckles. He built momentum as Thorne narrowly avoided a count-out.

The Aussie and former one-half of TM61 fought back and delivered a picture-perfect running knee to the head for the pinfall victory.

        

Result

Thorne defeated Wilde

            

Grade

B

             

Analysis

The announce team really put over Wilde, talking about his journey to WWE and overcoming an injury that nearly led to his demise, only for him to lose. It is questionable storytelling, to say the least.

Thorne winning is great for his character but only if there is a direction NXT officials are heading with him. Given their treatment of TM61, confidence that will happen is not at its height.

Matt Riddle vs. Killian Dain

Before Matt Riddle could make his way to the ring, Killian Dain appeared from out of nowhere, wiping out The Original Bro with a cross-body block.

He followed by throwing Riddle into the steel steps and then delivered a cannonball.

Dain casually walked to the back as Riddle struggled to his feet.

      

Result

No match

       

Grade

C

        

Analysis

Bait-and-switch booking is a big no-no. It alienates fans and frustrates audiences who tuned in to see a specific match.

It felt too early to book this match anyway, so having it not happen because of another Dain attack feels like a misstep that could have been avoided simply by not announcing the match and letting the assault go on as planned.

For a match billed as the main event, this left a sour taste at a time when NXT is hitting on all cylinders elsewhere.

   

Read 0 Comments

Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation

Install the App
×
Bleacher Report
(120K+)