WWE NXT Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for August 30

Show Opener

Drew McIntyre makes his triumphant return to Full Sail as the new NXT Champion.  He talks about his sacrifices and how the championship is what it’s all been for.  He makes a point to mention that if anyone wants a shot all they have to do is ask him to his face.  McIntyre then explains that Cole, Fish, and O’Reilly are cowards for attacking him from behind.

Roderick Strong makes his way down the ramp to do just what McIntyre asked him to do.  Roddy made it clear that after Roode, he has his sights set on McIntyre and the championship.  This was a great way to open the show proper as it not only set the tone of the seriousness of the episode but also opens multiple avenues for McIntyre to go down.

Ruby Riot vs. Peyton Royce w/Billy Kay

Result: Peyton Royce defeats Ruby Riot by pinfall

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

In what was a fun first match of the night the women got the crowd fired up.  There wasn’t much downtime at all during the match.  Throughout, both women would have a strangle hold on the momentum but to only be thwarted by the other.

For a majority of the match, Billy Kay was a nonfactor, mostly just heckling Ruby.  In the later moments of the bout, Billy would change the tide as she nailed Riot with a big boot.  Moments later Royce would put an end to Riot with a beautiful Fisherman’s Suplex into a bridged pin.  It’s clear that this rivalry is far from over as it’s now 1-1.  I expect Riot to find a partner to even the odds.

We see William Regal backstage where he is joined by Kassius Ohno.  Kassius claims he has been cleared by the training staff and now he wants revenge against Hideo Itami.  After some pleading, Regal gives in and grants Ohno his wish.  Next week we will see Kassius Ohno vs. Hideo Itami in a No DQ Match.