Generation NXT - NXT recap for August 31, 2021

Sarray beats Mandy Rose by count-out after Sarray drop kicks Mandy out of the ring and Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne carry Mandy to the back with a towel across her face.

We hear from Tommaso Ciampa in backstage footage from earlier today, who says that Ridge Holland did what he was expected to do, but after Timothy Thatcher was put on the shelf, it did not sit well to him, and tonight, he dedicates tonight's match to Thatcher. He says that Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland picked a fight with the wrong man and that a focused Ciampa is a dangerous Ciampa.

Kyle O'Reilly beats Duke Hudson with the heel hook following a top rope knee drop to the back of Hudson's knee.

Ilya Dragunov heads to the ring. Dragunov limps to the ring, still feeling the effects of his match with Walter for the NXT UK Championship from NXT TakeOver 36. Dragunov tells the fans that he wants them to know that he is still alive before he goes back home, and says that he feels more alive than he has ever felt before. Dragunov says he feels like a man who has survived the most fierce and intense battle of his life, then says that he likes it here and that the fans will see him again, as he has shown the world what it is like to be NXT UK Champion. He then asks who is willing to go through everything to take the title away from him.

In footage from earlier today, Arash Markazi interviews Kay Lee Ray, who says that she makes an impact wherever she goes and that she thrives in the biggest moment, so she used the biggest moment to state that she is in the United States now. She says the women's division needs a boost and a new top player, but when told of some of the big names in the division, Kay Lee Ray says she does not care about them and that Zoey Stark is lucky to have Io Shirai to hide behind. She also calls Ember Moon "yesterday's news" and is one step away from a broken hip, and that General Manager William Regal knows what she is capable of: whatever she wants. She says she has dominated the United Kingdom, and now, she will dominate the United States.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Carmelo Hayes, who says he feels like a champion already with a shot at any title he wants. As he entertains his options, Electra Lopez says that the North American title is Santos Escobar's to win, not his. Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) shows up, and Escobar gives him a one-time pass to allow him to walk into his title opportunity before telling him to stay out of his business.

Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) beat Grayson Waller and Drake Maverick after Grayson tags himself into the match.

Backstage, Indi Hartwell asks Johnny Gargano to give Dexter Lumis a chance. Gargano says he'll think about it, then gets scared out of his wits by Dexter's sudden appearance and tells him to stop doing that.

We hear from Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan. Danny Burch says five months is a long time to be on the shelf, and Oney Lorcan demands an answer from MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) on when they will get a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. Pete Dunne says that tonight, it is time for Tommaso Ciampa to prove he is a bad man. Ridge Holland says that if Ciampa wants to dedicate his match to Timothy Thatcher, he will send Ciampa to the hospital along with him.

In backstage footage from earlier, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are revealed to have attacked Sarray in her dressing room.

LA Knight beats Johnny Gargano after Gargano and Dexter Lumis attempt a high-five across the ropes. During the match, Lumis catches Gargano when Gargano gets hit out of the One Final Beat, and soon pushes Gargano out of the way when Knight charges at him from behind.

Backstage, MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) head to General Manager William Regal's office to give Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan an NXT tag team title shot. Regal said he considered taking that title shot away from Burch and Lorcan, but he will allow it, as MSK wants the match.

We hear from Boa, who says that he let Mei Ying down and that Mei Ying will show the true strength of Tian Sha (Xia Li, Boa, Mei Ying). Mei Ying will debut next week.

Raquel Gonzalez beats Jessi Kamea.

Backstage, Ember Moon says she was trying to enjoy her birthday backstage when Kay Lee Ray wanted to run her mouth, and while she cannot take away her championship reign, she can take away her ability to talk crap, and challenges Kay Lee Ray to a match next week.

Backstage, Wade Barrett interviews Samoa Joe. Joe says that his expectations lie in redefining what it means to be NXT Champion, and that he planned this out before he won the championship and that the precedent needs to be set. He says that his third reign with the NXT Championship has taught him that legacy is important and that it needs to be upheld, and that the path that he paves will be the way to championship gold. He then wants to know who will step up to challenge him for the championship.

Roderick Strong beats Ikemen Jiro.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Io Shirai, Zoey Stark, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter, who will all be in a match for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships next week. Kacy says she and Kayden are an established team. Stark says she would take a bullet for Io Shirai, who says she does not like any of them and that she and Stark will win.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Cameron Grimes, who says there is only one "Million Dollar Man" and only one Cameron Grimes, then Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) show up to mock Grimes and the Million Dollar Championship. Grimes takes the title from Zack Gibson's hands, then drops it on his foot when he realizes it's heavier than the replica Ted DiBiase gave him before tossing him and James Drake a dollar bill.

Next week: Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs. MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) for the NXT Tag Team Championships! Ember Moon vs. Kay Lee Ray! Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter vs. Io Shirai and Zoey Stark for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships!

Tommaso Ciampa beats Ridge Holland. After the match, Pete Dunne attacks Ciampa, and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch join in. Before they can do anything, MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) show up, brawl with Burch and Lorcan and come out on top before chasing Dunne and Ridge out of the ring.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!