NXT Gold Rush 2023 Guide: Match Card, Predictions
Emily Bell Read update
- Week one's matches have now been and gone. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade have qualified for the Tag Title match in week two, and another two matches have been added to the card.
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UPDATE: 2023/06/22 10:20 EST BY JOSH COULSON
Week one's matches have now been and gone. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade have qualified for the Tag Title match in week two, and another two matches have been added to the card.
NXT will be getting a new event to pop on the crowded wrestling calendar, and it will be taking place across two nights. Gold Rush is an all-new addition to WWE's third brand, but it won't be a premium live event. It'll be a little more than a themed episode of the show though since, as mentioned, it will span two nights. Not back-to-back, but on consecutive Tuesday nights. Two weeks, two shows, and a lot of very big matches.
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Gold Rush night one will take place on June 20, 2023, during NXT's usual timeslot, so 8 pm EST with a two-hour runtime. It will also be free to watch on whatever network or channel carries NXT in your part of the world, so the USA Network in the US. Night two will air live at the same time a week later on June 27, again on the same channel as usual. Everything announced for both nights of Gold Rush so far can be found below.
Week One
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship
Seemingly fed up of chasing the NXT Title, and not getting a call-up for some reason, Bron Breakker has moved on to bigger prey. The former NXT Champion called out Seth Rollins, challenging him to a match for the World Heavyweight Title. Rollins has accepted and will put his newly won championship on the line at Gold Rush.
The first NXT Champion vs. a man who claims to be the greatest to have ever held the title with one of the company's biggest prizes on the line. No, this isn't going to be Breakker's night, but on the bright side for the second-generation star, this has to be his bridge to the main roster, right?
Wes Lee vs. Tyler Bate for the NXT North American Title
Speaking of wrestlers who claim to be the best holder of a certain title, Wes Lee might actually be that when it comes to the North American Championship. Holding the title for longer than anyone else in its history, at Gold Rush, Lee and Tyler Bate will finally do battle for it in singles action.
Part of me really believes Bate ends Lee's reign in this one, but Mustafa Ali as the match's special guest referee is hanging over that potential outcome. My guess is Ali ensures Lee retains the title because he wants to be the one who beats him and ends his historic run with the belt.
Malik Blade and Edris Enofe vs. Tank Ledger and Hank Walker vs. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen
While NXT's tag division still isn't what it used to be years ago, the potential for a second coming for the division is definitely there. All three of these teams have the chance to further push towards that, and the winners of this match will get a shot at the Tag Team Titles on night two of Gold Rush.
Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are not only the duo with the most name recognition in this match, but having overcome their problems to remain friends, winning a shot at the titles would really bring that journey to a satisfying conclusion. Brooks and Jensen to win and progress to night two.
Dana Brooke vs. Cora Jade
The latest WWE draft left a number of Superstars as free agents, allowing them to move freely between brands. Contrary to what you might think since she has been showing up in NXT, Dana Brooke isn't one of those free agents. She's a Raw Superstar but is allowed to compete in NXT for some reason.
Entering into the battle royal to decide a new challenger and now competing against Cora Jade at Gold Rush, no one has stopped to tell Brooke that she shouldn't be here, watering down the meaning of the draft just weeks after it took place. As for who wins, it has to be Jade.
Week Two
Carmelo Hayes vs. Baron Corbin for the NXT Championship
Moving onto night two and Superstars who actually are free agents, Baron Corbin has earned himself a shot at the NXT Title. Corbin isn't tied to a particular brand and has used that status to come back to NXT so he can win a championship that alluded him when he called the brand home the first time around.
Corbin beat Ilja Dragunov to book his spot in this match. Even though an interruption from Breakker aided that, it was still disappointing to see. Corbin won't be making two NXT Superstars look bad in the space of two weeks and while this'll be a better match than you might expect, Carmelo Hayes will retain.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Thea Hail for the NXT Women's Championship
Tiffany Stratton has had star written all over her the minute she stepped through the doors in NXT, hence her becoming Women's Champion pretty quickly. While Thea Hail might not have been tarred with the same brush, it's great to see her getting a shot, especially at the age of just 19.
This is going to be one of those matches where even though everybody watching knows Hail isn't going to win, there will be moments where we're tricked into thinking she might. Those moments will further the hype of the crowd and the backing Hail gets. A star-making performance for Hail even in defeat.
Gallus vs. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe
Although NXT's tag team division might not be where it once was, Gallus is definitely the kind of team you want to be a part of it if there is a way back to the dizzy heights experienced when the likes of The Revival and DIY were battling for the belts.
If Brooks and Jensen win on night one, I think they may well bring home the gold against Gallus a week later. Anyone else wins that triple threat match and I really don't see it. Fully expecting a returning Tony D'Angelo to get involved in this match somehow too.
Nathan Frazer vs. Dragon Lee for the NXT Heritage Cup
Of all the things I expected WWE to keep from NXT UK, the Heritage Cup wasn't one of them, but I'm glad it is. Yes, I'd have preferred a few more of the brand's Superstars to stick around instead, but at least we're getting matches like this.
Dragon Lee was framed as a huge get for NXT when he signed because, well, he is. That hasn't really been reflected on TV yet, and while he should be winning titles bigger than the Heritage Cup, he really should pick up a victory in this one.
Gigi Dolin vs. Kiana James
Gigi Dolin and Kiana James are clearly two Superstars WWE has high hopes for. Both need to spend a little more time in NXT for now though, which definitely isn't a bad thing, and all titles they could chase are currently tied up elsewhere.
With all that in mind, it makes a lot of sense to have them face off against one another on a mid-level stage. Dolin to win this one and potentially springboard herself into a position where she competes on next month's Great American Bash card.
