NXT Great American Bash Night 1 Results, Highlights, and Grades

Oney Lorcan vs. Timothy Thatcher

Result: Timothy Thatcher wins with the Fujiwara Armbar

Grade: A, Another great match. Technical catch wrestling matches are beautiful, and the story-telling around the arm and final submission sealed it. Exceptional work.

As expected, Timothy Thatcher and Oney Lorcan were pulling out all the stops technically to begin the match. This was the technical match of NXT Great American Bash between two of the best purely in-ring wrestlers on the brand, and it was TOUGH to call who had the advantage early on, though Lorcan was being more aggressive with his offense.

Thatcher ambitiously tried to lift up Lorcan by one arm after he had yet another gorgeous counter, but he just couldn’t quite get him up.

The creativity and clean wrestling between these two men was wondrous to behold. There are few things more satisfying than great catch wrestling, and Lorcan and Thatcher were putting on an absolute show for NXT fans.

Thatcher hit Lorcan with a nasty suplex after the break, and the announcers pointed out how effectively Thatcher had been targeting Lorcan’s left arm. Not only was this another example of great limb targeting from Thatcher, but, as Beth Phoenix pointed out, it was an example of Thatcher trying to hurt Lorcan’s ability to strike him.

Lorcan tried to get out of a submission with a fishhook, but Thatcher went into the Fujiwara armbar to pick up the victory. Already suffering from a damaged left arm, Lorcan had no choice but to tap.