NXT Television Report Card - July 25, 2018

The first episode of the most recent NXT television tapings aired last night. For the first time since May 23, 2013, the NXT Championship changed hands on a regular edition of NXT at Full Sail Arena when Tommaso Ciampa defeated Aleister Black.

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It was over five years ago when Bo Dallas defeated Big E for the title to become the third ever NXT Champion. Seth Rollins was the first ever NXT Champion when he defeated Jinder Mahal in the championship tournament in July of 2012.

Much like SummerSlam, NXT Takeover: Brooklyn is a major night for the brand. This will be the fourth year in a row that Takeover will be at the Barclays Center, and the next few weeks of NXT television will shape that card.

While Shayna Baszler v. Kairi Sane for the NXT Women's Championship is the only thing set in stone, for now, we have a good idea on most of the card after this week's episode.

As always on my report card articles, the best grade a match or segment can earn is an A+, with an F being the worst grade one can earn. Also on the final slide, I will include my overall grade for last night's show.

This week, we kick things off with the Panama City Playboy, BAY-BAY!

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#4 - Adam Cole and The Undisputed Era get more than they bargained for

Watch your backs Undisputed Era...

The evening kicked off with NXT North American Champion Adam Cole taking on former Cruiserweight Classic competitor Sean Maluta. You may remember that Maluta was the one who faced Kota Ibushi in the first round.

Cole made quick work of Maluta, but the greatness of the opening segment is what happened after. Cole got on the mic to brag about how great of a champion he is when Ricochet's music hit.

The NXT Universe went nuts at Full Sail because they just realized that we are probably getting Adam Cole v. Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship at Takeover.

Cole backed away from Ricochet's challenge saying he wasn't worthy, and the rest of The Undisputed Era came to his side only for the War Raiders to come out and stare the Era down. The Era tried to escape through the crowd only to get cut off by Moustache Mountain.

Looks like we might get a triple threat for the NXT Tag Team Championships too! Great opening segment.

GRADE: A

#3 NXT Women's Championship contract signing

Regal tries to keep the peace between Baszler and Sane...

Some tense words were said in this contract signing between NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler and No.1 contender Kairi Sane. Baszler called Sane a phony because she is holding onto the past when Sane beat her in the finals of the Mae Young Classic.

Baszler insisted that Sane lacks the killer instinct to be able to defeat her; while Sane said over and over that she knows she can beat Shayna. It's going to be a good match at Takeover, but I'm pretty sure that Baszler is retaining.

Decent contract signing, but nothing mind-blowing to note out of it.

GRADE: B-

#2 Lacey Evans takes on newcomer Tenilla Price

Lacey Evans makes quick work of her opponent this week...

There is no doubt that Lacey Evans is one of the fastest rising stars in the women's division alongside Bianca Belair. Evans would take on newcomer Tenilla Price is a rather quick match.

I will give it to price though, I liked her look and energy inside and out of the ring. Hopefully, we get to see more of her in the future.

Unfortunately, the price wasn't right (pun intended) as Tenilla was going for a springboard elbow in the corner and ran right into a devastating Women's Right.

GRADE: C

#1 A Takeover worthy main event on NXT television / overall grade

This. Was. Good.

After disposing of Johnny Gargano at NXT Takeover: Chicago II, Tommaso Ciampa set his sights on the NXT Championship by brutally attacking Aleister Black. Ciampa got his shot this week on NXT and it was an instant classic.

It is an understatement to say that Ciampa and Black beat the crap out of each other. It was a hard-hitting match and the tide turned when referee Drake Wuertz was knocked to the outside and landed on the concrete exposed by Ciampa.

With Drake down, Gargano came out looking for another piece of Ciampa. While he was prying the championship belt away from Ciampa, Gargano inadvertently hit Black with the title belt and that was what Ciampa needed to become the new NXT Champion.

This was truly an amazing match that could have easily main-evented any Takeover special, and now the stage is set for a triple threat match for the ages in Brooklyn I believe.

GRADE: A+

The show was carried by a great confrontation in the open of NXT and closed with an NXT Match of the Year candidate. While it wasn't perfect from top to bottom, the main event definitely weighs heavily into the overall grade.

OVERALL GRADE: A-