Next week’s episode of WWE NXT hasn’t even aired yet, but the cat’s already out of the bag when it comes to what’s going down at The Great American Bash. WWE taped next week’s show at the Performance Center, and now fans know two massive matches that will go down at the July 12 PLE in Atlanta.
Yoshiki Inamura wasted no time stepping up to the plate on this week’s NXT. The Japanese powerhouse answered Oba Femi’s open challenge for the NXT Championship — but before he could even square off with the champ, Inamura got jumped by Jasper Troy, the same guy who ambushed Femi weeks ago. That led to a #1 contender’s match being booked for next week’s episode, and spoiler alert — it looks like Inamura came out on top.
This will mark Inamura’s first-ever shot at the NXT Championship, with Femi’s title reign clocking in at over 165 days by the time The Great American Bash hits Atlanta. Femi’s been steamrolling the competition, but Inamura, a former NJPW star, could be his toughest test yet.
Meanwhile, the NXT Women’s Title picture is heating up. Jordynne Grace punched her ticket to the Evolution PLE after winning the four-way Evolution elimination match on this week’s show. That victory guarantees her a shot at NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne on July 13 at Evolution.
But fans won’t have to wait that long to see them throw down. The NXT tapings also confirmed Grace and Jayne will be on opposite sides in a tag team match the night before at The Great American Bash. Grace is teaming with NXT newcomer Blake Monroe, while Jayne has Fallon Henley watching her back.
The Great American Bash goes down July 12 at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia — the same night WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event hits the State Farm Arena across town. Evolution will follow on July 13, also at the State Farm Arena.
What do you think about these title matches? Does Inamura have a real shot at dethroning Femi, or is this another notch on the champ’s belt? Sound off in the comments and let us know.