On July 12, 2025, WWE NXT: Great American Bash was held at the historic Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. This marked the 13th Great American Bash under the WWE banner, the sixth for NXT, and the 27th overall. The event, which aired on Peacock in the U.S. and Netflix internationally, started at 3:00 p.m. ET, going head-to-head with All Elite Wrestling’s All-In PPV. It featured five matches, a high-profile contract signing, and significant storyline developments.
Match Recaps
Singles Match: Je’Von Evans defeated Jasper Troy via rollup
The opener featured Jasper Troy, the season one winner of WWE’s LFG reality show, against the high-flying Je’Von Evans. Troy is a powerhouse with a football background. He dominated early with his physicality by tossing Evans around. He delivered a big splash and a backbreaker. Commentary, led by Corey Graves, hyped Troy’s potential as a future star. However, Evans showcased his aerial prowess with a splash outside the ring and a frog splash. Despite a vicious chokeslam from Troy, Evans countered with a quick rollup to secure the win.
This David vs Goliath matchup effectively highlighted both competitors’ strengths. Troy’s loss doesn’t derail his momentum. His dominant performance reinforces his credibility as a rising heel. Evans’ victory solidifies him as a fan-favorite babyface with main-event potential. This is setting him up as a future challenger for Oba Femi’s NXT Championship. The match earned a respectable 3.5-star rating from fans on X, reflecting its solid execution.
WWE NXT Great American Bash: Je’Von Evans
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Sol Ruca (C) defeated Izzi Dame
This title defense saw Sol Ruca face Izzi Dame. Both were accompanied by their tag team partners. Sol Ruca had Zaria, while Izzi Dame had Tatum Paxley. The match ignited quickly with Paxley and Zaria clashing outside. It created a distraction that allowed Dame to land a Powerbomb on Ruca. The referee’s preoccupation with the ringside chaos prevented a potential pinfall. As the match progressed, spears flew freely—Ruca hit one on Dame, and Zaria leveled Paxley. Ruca capitalized with her signature Sol Snatcher to retain her championship.
The match advanced the storyline of Paxley’s new alliance with The Culling’s Izzi Dame. The distraction-heavy booking protected Dame in defeat. This maintained her threat level while allowing Ruca to shine as a resilient champion. The involvement of Zaria and Paxley hints at a potential tag team feud. Rated at 3 stars, the match was solid but not a standout.
NXT North American Championship (Falls Count Anywhere): Ethan Page (C) defeated Ricky Saints
This intense grudge match saw Ricky Saints bring the fight with weapons and a brawl through the concourse. Saints was seeking revenge for Ethan Page’s throat injury attack. Highlights included Saints throwing Page through a merchandise table and using a fire extinguisher. Page, backed by The Vanity Project, turned the tide with brutal slams onto stacked steel chairs and a guardrail. Jasper Troy’s interference (slamming Saints onto an equipment crate) added chaos. Page sealed the victory by tossing Saints through two tables from a height.
The Falls Count Anywhere stipulation allowed both men to showcase their intensity. Page’s heel tactics and Saints’ resilience shone through. The match was rated 4.25 stars by some fans on X (formerly Twitter). It was a highlight of the night for its brutality and storytelling. Troy’s interference ties into his earlier loss. Page’s retention keeps him as a dominant champion, while Saints’ performance cements his status as a top babyface.
NXT Championship: Oba Femi (C) defeated Yoshiki Inamura
The NXT Champion Oba Femi is a dominant force for 186 days. He faced Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Yoshiki Inamura in a hard-hitting clash. Inamura, supported by tag partner Josh Briggs, proved a formidable challenger. He tested Femi like few others with his raw power. Femi’s signature spinebuster was a highlight, but Briggs’ interference disrupted Inamura’s focus. Femi capitalized to retain his title, though Inamura’s performance was praised as his best in WWE.
This cross-promotional match showcased WWE NXT’s partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH. Inamura’s loss was protected by Briggs’ interference. It sparked a post-match confrontation, which could be setting up a feud between Briggs and Inamura. Femi’s reign continues to be portrayed as unstoppable, but Inamura’s showing positions him as a credible threat. Rated 3.5 stars, the match delivered on physicality but was overshadowed by the interference angle.
Tag Team Match: Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe defeated Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley)
The main event marked Blake Monroe’s televised WWE debut. She teamed with Jordynne Grace against NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley. Fatal Influence relied on distractions. Jayne landed a big boot on Grace. Then Henley speared Monroe. The match descended into chaos when TNA Women’s Champion Masha Slamovich intervened. It evened the odds. Grace’s spinning backfist set up Monroe’s double-arm DDT on Henley for the pinfall.
This match served multiple purposes: debuting Monroe (formerly Mariah May in AEW), building momentum for Grace’s NXT Women’s Championship challenge against Jayne at Evolution, and highlighting the WWE-TNA partnership with Slamovich’s appearance. Monroe’s performance was a statement, while Grace’s dominance kept her credible as a challenger. Jacy Jayne avoided the pin. Fatal Influence’s loss protects her title reign while hinting at cracks in the faction’s unity, especially with Jazmyn Nyx’s absence from the match. Rated 3 stars, the match was entertaining but chaotic.
Promos and Segments
TNA World Championship Contract Signing (Trick Williams, Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana)
The segment featured Trick Williams. He is the first WWE-contracted wrestler to hold the TNA World Championship. He signed the contract for his triple-threat title defense at TNA’s Slammiversary on July 20th against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana. Williams taunted his challengers. They responded by putting him through a table. The segment ended with the surprise emergence of Dark State. They laid out Hendry and Santana while Williams watched from the ramp.
This segment effectively hyped the Slammiversary main event while advancing the WWE-TNA partnership. Williams’ heel persona adds complexity to his character. Dark State’s involvement introduces a new faction, potentially tied to Williams, adding intrigue to the storyline. However, critics noted the segment felt disconnected from NXT’s core narratives.
NXT Great American Bash Contract Signing
Post-Match Promos and Fallout
After the NXT Championship match, Oba Femi and Yoshiki Inamura shared a respectful exchange. Inamura apologized for Josh Briggs’ interference. Femi promised a rematch, but Briggs’ subsequent attack on Femi led to a brawl. The Femi-Inamura-Briggs angle adds layers to the NXT Championship picture, with Briggs’ heel turn providing a fresh antagonist.
Storylines and Character Development
Fatal Influence’s Struggles and Jacy Jayne’s Title Reign
Jacy Jayne, the NXT Women’s Champion, leads Fatal Influence (with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) but faces mounting pressure from challengers like Jordynne Grace and the debuting Blake Monroe. The group’s loss at WWE NXT Great American Bash and Jayne’s comments blaming Nyx suggest internal friction. Masha Slamovich’s involvement escalates the cross-promotional stakes.
Jayne’s heel persona is effective, but her “beatable champion” narrative risks undermining her credibility. Monroe’s debut as “The Glamour” establishes her as a polished performer with star potential. Grace’s dominance reinforces her as a top-tier talent. The potential dissolution of Fatal Influence could lead to solo pushes for Henley or Nyx.
TNA World Championship and Dark State’s Emergence
Trick Williams’ historic reign as TNA World Champion is complicated by his heel turn and the challenge from fan-favorite Joe Hendry and hometown hero Mike Santana. The contract signing and Dark State’s attack introduce a new faction, potentially aligned with Williams, setting up a chaotic Slammiversary buildup.
Williams’ heel persona contrasts with his lingering fan support. It creates a compelling dynamic. Hendry’s charisma and Santana’s intensity make them strong babyface challengers. Dark State’s debut adds a wildcard element to NXT’s landscape.
Sol Ruca, Izzi Dame, and the Women’s North American Title Scene
Sol Ruca’s title reign is tested by The Culling’s Izzi Dame, with Tatum Paxley’s new alliance adding complexity. Zaria’s presence as Ruca’s ally hints at tension. Ruca’s athleticism makes her a standout champion, but her partnership with Zaria needs further development to avoid feeling forced. Dame’s aggression and Paxley’s emotional arc as a lost soul finding purpose in The Culling add depth to their characters. This sets up potential tag or singles rivalries.
Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Jasper Troy’s Interconnected Feud
Ethan Page’s NXT North American Championship reign, won through nefarious means, is challenged by Ricky Saints’ quest for redemption. Jasper Troy’s interference in their match ties into his earlier loss to Je’Von Evans. It is creating a web of rivalries that could extend to the main roster.
Page’s “All Ego” persona is a perfect heel fit. It is enhanced by his alliance with The Vanity Project. Saints’ resilience makes him a sympathetic babyface. Troy’s aggressive involvement positions him as a wildcard with main-event potential.
Overall Verdict
The 2025 NXT Great American Bash was a solid but not spectacular PLE. It delivered strong in-ring action but lacked the defining moments of past NXT events like Heatwave or Stand and Deliver. The event’s strengths lay in its character introductions (Blake Monroe’s debut), cross-promotional storytelling (Inamura, Grace, Slamovich), and high-energy matches (Page vs. Saints). However, the head-to-head scheduling with AEW’s All-In diluted its impact. The TNA contract signing felt more like a promotional detour than a core NXT storyline. As noted by critics, little happened to justify the event’s existence, with minimal storyline advancement outside the main event and contract signing.
