WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 29

Just one week before NXT Great American Bash, the black-and-gold brand had a few more surprises in store. Top talent wanted an opportunity, and everyone was willing to step over others to get there.

The WWE NXT women's tag team champions needed challengers for NXT GAB, so a Triple Threat match was set to determine who would fight Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez battled Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon as well as Io Shirai and Zoey Stark.

MSK has weathered every storm to date, but Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher promised something different. Ahead of a certain-to-be-physical title bout, MSK would face down these veteran grapplers.

Cameron Grimes has not competed in a ring since his loss to LA Knight. Luckily, he was motivated by the recent attack of Ted DiBiase by the new champion and promised to compete again.

Tian Sha has made Mercedes Martinez's life difficult, but she found some help in Jake Atlas. The two fought Xia Li and Boa in a mixed tag match.

This show had a few more missing pieces to put together ahead of Great American Bash, so it promised to be an exciting and jam-packed show.

This turned into an all-out brawl early where the talent fought to the outside. After chaos that ended with Zoey Stark on top, the referee got control and forced the wrestlers to return to the ring. The babyface teams often worked together to eliminate Raquel Gonzalez from the action.

Ember Moon took control with a series of impactful strikes on her opponents then set up side-by-side running kicks with Shotzi Blackheart for a near-fall.

Gonzalez saved Kai by taking the brunt of Shirai's moonsault attempt. This allowed Kai to nearly take the win off a roll up on The Genius of the Sky, but Shirai kicked out and hit another moonsault on Kai for the win.

Result

Shirai and Stark def. Kai and Gonzalez and Moon and Blackheart by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Analysis

The talent in this match is among the best in the business, and everyone delivered. This was high octane and consistently engaging. It did fall into some familiar spots in moments, but the home stretch was unpredictable all the way to the finish.

Shirai and Stark were established in this match quickly. The story was that they had limited experience. Throughout, they became more and more supportive of one another until they were willing to do anything to help the other one succeed.

While this new team may not be ready to dethrone Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, it is easy to believe that the No. 1 contenders could win, especially with how short most NXT women's tag team title reigns have been.

Johnny Gargano attacked Karrion Kross on his way to the ring. When the NXT champion recovered, he stomped to the ring and demanded that Johnny Wrestling face him. While Gargano walked out alone, Austin Theory jumped Kross from behind.

The Way did not keep their advantage for long. The champion threw both men out of his way. As Kross tried to smash Johnny Wrestling's head with the steel steps, officials got involved including Samoa Joe. The champion backed off for the moment.

The Way escaped the building and appeared to drive off. As Kross was leaving, The Way attacked him from behind. However, the champion recovered and knocked out Gargano with a Kross Jacket. Kross nearly ran over the champion, but Samoa Joe pulled Johnny Wrestling to safety.

Grade

B

Analysis

Kross has had a tendency to over-talk as champion, but this was shorter and to the point. The champion called out Johnny Wrestling, who answered. It was all about continuing to build their dynamic without making a sudden change for either wrestler. Gargano remains a heel, but fans are embracing him. 

Asher Hale was not ready for the vicious backbreakers of Roderick Strong, who quickly took over and wore down his younger opponent. The rest of Diamond Mine watched intently as The Messiah of the Backbreaker worked with a new fire in his belly.

Strong knocked out Hale with a jumping knee then locked in a brand new submission, a keylock, to force the tap out. Malcolm Bivens promised afterward that this was just the beginning.

Result

Strong def. Hale by submission.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Strong did not look much different in the ring than he did when he left. The point seemed to be more about re-establishing The Messiah of the Backbreaker as a threat to anyone. That may have been unnecessary given Strong was already the biggest star in the group.

Diamond Mine will be built step by step. It seems Bivens is not interested in explaining this new group right away. Instead, he wants their actions to speak for themselves. Hopefully, the other members of Diamond Mine get their own spotlight soon.

Cameron Grimes came out on fire, using the crowd excitement behind him. Ari Sterling was not ready for the passion The Technical Savage showed. He hit the Cave-In to put himself back on the winning track.

LA Knight interrupted the celebration to taunt Grimes. The crowd booed Knight, so Grimes challenged Knight to a match for the Million Dollar Championship. The champion agreed only if Grimes became his personal butler if he loses.

Result

Grimes def. Sterling by pinfall.

Grade

B

Analysis

While the squash match could have been more than it was, the focus was the post-match promo. Grimes has won the love and support of the NXT Universe. It is clear who the fans are rooting for, but it is likely to be a long road before he can dethrone Knight.

The stipulation setup is reminiscent of the original story surrounding the Million Dollar Championship. Grimes will likely be forced to play the Virgil to Knight's DiBiase. This is a story NXT can run with for months.

Kyle O'Reilly promised to bring his best to a match with Adam Cole just as he did against Kushida. The former NXT champion walked out to pick a fight, and Samoa Joe walked out with officials to make sure this did not get physical early.

Cole tried to bait O'Reilly, even bringing up his wife. KOR didn't rise to it and called Cole pathetic. The former champion took a swing at Joe on his way out, and O'Reilly locked Cole in the heel hook. Joe waited a little longer than expected to get officials to break up the submission.

Grade

B+

Analysis

While we have heard most of this before, Cole and KOR sold it as fresh. It was nice to see both committing fully to their roles. Cole intentionally did not try to overshadow O'Reilly as he has in the past, allowing KOR to look like he had moved past his former friend.

Joe vs. Cole has to be an eventual plan. The story has been engaging with no immediate promise of resolution. It will be special moment when Joe finally snaps and demands a chance to face Cole.

A palm strike early from Boa took Jake Atlas out of the action, but Mercedes Martinez got the tag and took advantage. She planted Xia Li with a superplex that nearly took the win.

Mei Ying then rose up from her throne at the top of the ramp. Martinez was distracted, allowing Li to hit her with a suplex and a spinning heel kick. Martinez kept her shoulders up instinctively, but the referee had to call the match.

Result

Li and Boa def. Martinez and Atlas by referee stoppage.

Grade

C

Analysis

As a story, this was perfect. Martinez was motivated but too distracted by the hope of fighting Ying. Tian Sha remains dominant in a way fans rarely see in NXT. The group has not lost a step along the way through this push.

The problem was the in-ring work. This was sloppy throughout. It ended with a kick that landed far too hard. The reaction of Martinez with the finish indicated she could have been concussed. Li remains a work in progress in the ring.

Tommaso Ciampa put himself and Timothy Thatcher over as the men best suited to hold the NXT Tag Team Championships, while MSK demanded respect from the veterans.

Nash Carter punched Ciampa in the face to almost start a brawl, but The Blackheart told Carter he got that one for free. Ciampa promised next week to take the gold.

Sarray told William Regal backstage that she wanted a match with Toni Storm as Regal was reviewing the Great American Bash card.

Grade

A-

Analysis

NXT should have given more time to building this match, but this segment did some great heavy-lifting. The two teams brought a fire for this coming title match that makes it must-watch.

No matter which team wins next week, it should steal the show. It would make sense for the veterans to dethrone the rookies. However, it would make just as much sense for Carter and Wes Lee to earn the respect of Ciampa and Thatcher.

The future of the tag team division is in the balance with the result of this contest. It is one of the most exciting matchups in the division in years.

NXT announced the return of the NXT Breakout Tournament and highlighted the talent brought to the company through the tournament. Bronson Reed talked about the tournament until Hit Row arrived. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott wanted a North American Championship match, and The Colossal One accepted.

Hit Row watched closely as Scott tried to find an early edge against the power and strength of Reed. However, The Colossal One was too much for him early. A splash off the ropes dazed Swerve, forcing him to escape to the apron.

Swerve thought he could powerbomb the NXT North American champion, but instead he got squished on the apron. Scott and Reed traded backhand strikes, but The Colossal One planted the challenger with a Samoan drop to take over again.

Ashante Thee Adonis attacked Reed behind the referee's back. The Colossal One responded by sending both Top Dolla and Adonis through the screen at ringside. The distraction allowed Swerve to hit the House Call followed by a 450 splash for the win.

Result

Swerve def. Reed by pinfall to become the new NXT North American champion.

Grade

A-

Analysis

Reed and Swerve have never had perfect chemistry, but there was a clear story to this match that has lacked in their previous encounters. Swerve walked in confident and never lost his edge, knowing he would be outmatched physically.

Hit Row did not get involved until late, and it was only a small distraction that opened the door for Hit Row to gain gold. Swerve has been waiting a long time for this moment, so while it feels like a fast move to give him the title, he has more than earned it.

NXT has protected Hit Row as a major faction. This was the final step to solidify this group as one to truly watch. NXT will be dominated by Hit Row for a long time to come.