Kendal Grey Retains, Layla Diggs Earns North American Title Opportunity
The July 7 edition of WWE NXT was taped following last week’s show to give the roster a well-earned Fourth of July break, but there was still plenty to move the women’s division forward. Kendal Grey defended the NXT Women’s Championship against Natalya, a new challenger emerged for the NXT Women’s North American Championship, and a fresh face officially arrived in NXT.
Kali Armstrong opened the show by declaring that Kendal Grey had become her target after winning the NXT Women’s Championship. She said she is done waiting for opportunities and plans to create her own, whether Kendal Grey or Natalya is champion.
Lola Vice interrupted to remind everyone she still wants her rematch, while Kelani Jordan once again argued that she has been overlooked for an NXT Women’s Championship opportunity. Before the conversation could go much further, Kali flattened both women with a double clothesline and shoulder tackle.
These opening promo segments are pretty much an NXT tradition at this point, but this one accomplished its goal of putting several title contenders in the same orbit.
A video package later featured Jaida Parker, who vowed to finally put Natalya behind her after admitting their rivalry had gotten inside her head.
Layla Diggs, Izzi Dame, Lizzy Rain, and Thea Hail battled in a fatal four-way to determine the next challenger for Zaria’s NXT Women’s North American Championship.
The match was exactly what you would expect from these four: fast-paced, unpredictable, and packed with near falls. Lizzy Rain continued to impress, Thea Hail brought her usual nonstop energy, and Izzi Dame looked dominant whenever she was in control. In the end, Diggs capitalized with a moonsault onto Hail to secure the biggest victory of her NXT career.
This was an entertaining match that could have gone to any of the four competitors. The final stretch was especially strong, and Diggs feels like a very believable next challenger.
Later in th
