NXT Great American Bash: Io Shirai pins Sasha Banks

Asuka made the save to help Io Shirai win in the main event at NXT.

The WWE pulled a show out of their bag of shows as NXT has transformed into the Great American Bash for the next two weeks. This event is comprised of several big matches with all the titles on the line.

The night started with a fatal-four-way elimination match featuring Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, Mia Yim and Dakota Kai. The women were battling for more than bragging rights as a shot at NXT women’s champion, Io Shirai, was on the line. LeRae and Kai tried underhanded tactics right from the start, but it did not bode well for LeRae, who was the first woman eliminated when Yim sent her packing. That put Kai firmly in the sights of Yim and Nox, who teamed up on her.

The partnership would break down and all three women would go back to brawling. That allowed Kai to roll Yim up from behind, secure the pin and even things up to a one-on-one match with Nox. Kai and Nox were former tag team partners, now bitter rivals. They brawled in such a way, delivering big shots back and forth. It looked like Kai was going to find a way to win, but a Nox counter and the Shiniest Whizzer led to the pin fall.

Timothy Thatcher and Oney Lorcan were the next match up. These two guys are grapplers at heart and that is exactly what they gave viewers in their match. With the number of holds exchanged in this match, a viewer would think they were watching a submission grappling match rather than professional wrestling. The match would break down into a striking affair with both men exchanging blows to see who would be the first to fall. Thatcher found a way to ground Lorcan and lock on his armbar finish for the victory.

Former women’s champion Rhea Ripley had two individuals in her sights. She was ready to battle both Aliyah and Robert Stone in a two-on-one match. The stipulation was that if Ripley loses, she must join them as the next member of the Robert Stone Brand. Ripley toyed with them both until a mistake let them get the momentum on their side. Ripley had her trouble but forced Aliyah and Stone to submit at the same time with the Prison Trap, securing her victory and individuality for the foreseeable future.

Dexter Lumis continues to haunt Roderick Strong

Roderick Strong has been trying to avoid Dexter Lumis for weeks. Unfortunately for him, they were bound at the wrist for a strap match at NXT Great American Bash. Strong tried a sneak attack, but Lumis got the upper hand and the punishment began. For a moment it looked like Lumis was going to lock Strong in the trunk of one of the cars on the stage, but Strong took that moment to turn the tide and start his assault. Bobby Fish came down to the ring to give Strong support, but even he would get taken out by Lumis. Lumis locked on the Silence and forced Strong to tap out.

The main event of the evening featured a highly anticipated match between Io Shirai and Sasha Banks. Shirai got off to a very hot start against Banks, beating the former NXT women’s champion to the punch. Thanks to Bayley, Banks got a bit of an advantage, but that would not last long before Shirai took control once again. Bayley tried to make her presence felt again, but it would backfire once Asuka came from under the ring to assist with the green mist. Shirai hit the moonsault from the top rope and pinned Banks in the middle of the ring.

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Night one of Great American Bash is over, but there is a wealth of action set for night two in seven days. In the main event, Keith Lee looks to become double champ as he faces Adam Cole for the NXT championship. Shirai proved her dominance as NXT women’s champion and much more went down at the WWE Performance Center.

July 1 NXT Great American Bash Full Results

• Tegan Nox won the women’s elimination match for a shot at the NXT women’s championship
• Timothy Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan via submission
• Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah and Robert Stone via submission
• Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong via submission
• Io Shirai defeated Sasha Banks via pin fall