Generation NXT - NXT recap for August 15, 2023

Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo retain the NXT Tag Team Championships against The Dyad (Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid) after Ava, Joe Gacy and the rest of Schism block Ivy Nile's path when she shows up, allowing two of the masked men to attack The Dyad and allow the tag champs to retain.

We hear from Eddy Thorpe, who says that NXT is moving forward and that he cannot be left behind, and that he will move forward without fear.

Backstage, Wes Lee meets with Carmelo Hayes as he signs autographs and makes it known to him that once he beats Dijak, the next thing Carmelo will sign is a contract for a championship match against him.

Backstage, Andre Chase tells Duke Hudson that he has gotten Thea Hail a match with Jacy Jayne to get some of her anger out and get back on the winning track. Thea Hail shows up and is not impressed with Andre thinking he knows what is best, and tells him not to throw in the towel this time.

Blair Davenport beats Dana Brooke. During the match, Dana tries to use the ring bell as a weapon, but Kelani Jordan does not let her do it.

Backstage, Dijak confronts Carmelo Hayes as he signs autographs, telling him to save a picture for himself. Carmelo says him to focus more on Wes Lee, but Dijak tells him it will only be a matter of time before he comes for his title.

Trick Williams beats Drew Gulak after Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen attack Charlie Dempsey and Damon Kemp.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Baron Corbin, who implies that he is saving what he has to say for the ring.

We hear from Dabba-Kato, who says that he has fought his way out of the shadows, and that when he returns, he will cast his own shadow upon NXT.

Baron Corbin is in the ring. Corbin says the best thing about being him is that he can say what he wants in NXT without consequence, and that he ran Gable Steveson out of WWE and nobody has seen him since. He then says everyone in the locker room is a bunch of "soft-ass little bitches" and that he is ushering a new era for himself where he puts himself back in the main event where belongs. Von Wagner and Mr. Stone show up and disagree with Corbin, then Mr. Stone says he knows what Corbin wants and has the qualifications to do so, and that Von Wagner is standing in his way. Mr. Stone then tells Corbin that Von Wagner is just getting started, then Corbin wonders why he is talking to Mr. Stone when he should be talking to Von Wagner. Corbin tells Wagner that he has to "learn how to talk on the stick" if he wants to succeed. Corbin then brags about how he went to toe-to-toe with The Rock and made the big bucks afterwards, and suggests that Von Wagner follow him unless he wants to stand in the shadows. Wagner says he may not have talked enough, but that may be because Corbin talks too much, then says he and Mr. Stone are tired of Corbin's sob story and that he will put him through a table at Heatwave. Corbin punches at Wagner, but Wagner fights back. Wagner then goes for a powerbomb through the table, but Corbin rams him into the ring apron, and security and officials get between both men.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio talk about how Dominik is the greatest North American Champion ever. She then says Lyra Valkyrie should have been happy with her endorsement, but she had to kick her in the face, and hopes that Dragon Lee and Lyra can work as a team against them at Heatwave.

We hear from Mustafa Ali, who says that the North American Championship has been carried by individuals who do not represent North America the way it should be represented it. He says the people of North American deserve better and deserve someone who is champion in and out of the ring, and that he is the North American Champion the people need. Mustafa says he will elevate the title to new heights and inspire people to do incredible things the right way, and that the time for a new North American Champion is now.

Wes Lee beats Dijak to become #1 contender for the NXT Championship after Eddy Thorpe distracts Dijak on the outside.

Backstage, Dragon Lee meets with Lyra Valkryia. Dragon Lee says he would be a champion if it were not for Rhea Ripley, but Lyra says she will kick Rhea so hard that Dominik Mysterio will feel it. She then says they have to be on the same page if they want to win. Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Tyler Bate. After seeing some video from "NXT Anonymous" where Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang) confronts Tyler Bate at a live event, Tyler Bate says that he does not react to anger and make it his own when it comes to his match with Joe Coffey.

We hear from Ilja Dragunov, who tells Trick Williams that fantasy will not become reality for him, and while he expects him to bring his confidence and swagger, he is bringing his raging fire, for next week will be a fight.

Backstage, Wes Lee leaves Shawn Michaels' office with a contract for an NXT Championship match at Heatwave.

Tyler Bate vs. Joe Coffey ends with Dabba Kato showing up and attacking Tyler Bate.

Backstage, Baron Corbin is met outside of the arena by Bron Breakker, who says he is not finished with Von Wagner. Corbin says he looked pretty finished when Wagner put him through a table, and tells Bron that he does not intimidate him.

It's time for Nathan Frazer's Hard Hitting Home Truths. Nathan Frazer talks about the matches on Heatwave, one of which involves him defending the Heritage Cup against Noam Dar. Suddenly, The Meta-Four (Naom Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson) take over the show. Frazer, knowing that this would happen, shuts down Noam Dar's attempts of accusing Frazer of making up conspiracy theories about him, then produces a button that calls Noam Dar a fraud every time Noam Dar lies. Unsurprisingly, the button gets plenty of exercise before Noam Dar tells Nathan Frazer that he will take back the Heritage Cup.

Jacy Jayne beats Thea Hail after Jacy removes a turnbuckle cover only for Andre Chase to get on the apron and cover it up, which gets Thea Hail angry at him. The unintentional distraction allows Jacy Jayne to beat Thea Hail with a roll-up.

We see a video package of what is going on with Los Lotharios, in which their grandfather Humberto Garza advises them to tear away their past and start a new beginning with no more games or distraction, reminding them that if one loses, the other loses.

Wes Lee meets with Carmelo Hayes, this time with the contract for their NXT Championship match this week. Carmelo tells Wes he will see him next week, but Wes says he is not waiting and takes the autograph table with him to the ring.

We hear from Tiffany Stratton, who says that she will see everyone next week at Heatwave.

After the commercial break, Carmelo Hayes heads to the ring, and Wes lee tells him to hurry up and sign the contract. Carmelo tells Wes Lee that he is about to turn back into his old self and tells him to chill. When Wes Lee mentions Carmelo having a luxurious life as NXT Champion, Carmelo tells him that is not the case and that his reign came with responsibilities much like Wes' reign as North American Champion. Carmelo says Wes' shot is next week, but he does not know if Wes will be "Him." Wes tells Carmelo that he was one of the chosen one while he had doubters his whole life and career that he proved wrong, even having beaten Carmelo for the North American title. Carmelo says Wes won the title, but he did not beat him, and that without him, nobody would give the North American title the time of day. Carmelo says he agrees with just about everything Wes is saying, but next week, Wes cannot beat him. Wes says he has turned doubters into believers and that his biggest doubter is himself, for doubt always resonates with him, but he will not fail anymore. Wes signs, then demands Carmelo does the same. Carmelo tells Wes he earned this shot, but tells him not to chase waterfalls and stick to the rivers and the lakes he is used to before signing the contract, saying that next week is not "Melo Don't Miss," but "Melo Can't Miss." Wes Lee stomps the table in half and tells Carmelo he will see him at Heatwave.

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