NXT
Date: August 11, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph Booker T.

As can often be the case in wrestling, we need a new #1 contender for the title and we’ll be finding a one tonight. Cruz Montana will be facing the resurgent Grayson Waller for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Title. That’s in addition to Kendal Grey needing a new challenger so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Lizzy Rain is nervous in the back when the Culling comes up. They mock her for not having help so she’s going it alone.

Lizzy Rain vs. Culling

So there’s no Shawn Spears to team with Rain as originally planned. Rain charges at Dame to start and we get the opening bell, with Dame being dropkicked into the corner. Dame pulls her out of the other corner though and they trade forearms until Rain hits a quick elbow. Vance comes in so here is EK Prosper and we do indeed have a tag match. Vance can’t get a suplex back inside and everything breaks down with the Culling getting chopped in various corners. Dame trips Rain down onto the apron though and then drops her onto the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Rain grabbing a super hurricanrana for two on Dame as Vance makes the save. Everything breaks down again and Vance’s top rope headbutt gets two on Prosper. Rain tries Thunderstruck on Vance but gets launched into a sitout powerbomb to give Dame two more. The second Thunderstruck hits Vance and a Shining Wizard takes him down again. Prosper drops a moonsault for the pin at 10:48.

Rating: B. For a thrown together match with a replacement partner, this wound up being rather good stuff. Rain has grown on me a bit and while I’m still not big on hearing her talk, she’s getting better in the ring. Dame continues to feel like she should be ready to break through but it hasn’t happened just yet.

Last week, Tavion Heights and Myles Borne celebrated winning the Tag Team Titles and told the tag division that they were ready to defend the titles. This was rather well received.

EK Prosper and Lizzy Rain are asked about their win but Kali Armstrong takes the microphone and goes into the arena, where she says she wants her Women’s Title shot. Kelani Jordan comes in to say the same thing she always says, with Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair interrupting as well. Grey is tired of hearing from Jordan so she gives her a contract for a title shot. Jordan would use it next week but that would be a waste on these fans so we’ll do it at Heatwave. Armstrong doesn’t want to wait so the brawl is on with Grey and Sinclair being left laying.

Keanu Carver interrupts Cruz Montana over getting thrown into a #1 contenders match. They stare each other down and Carver tells Robert Stone that he hasn’t seen anything yet.

Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shuggars

Darkstate is here with Lennox. Shuggars starts fast and gets knocked into the corner but comes back with a backbreaker for an early two. A Darkstate distraction lets Lennox send him throat first into the ropes though and the chinlock goes on. Lennox’s northern lights suplex gets two and we’re right back to the chinlock. That’s broken up as well and Shuggars gets in an elbow to the back of the head but has to threaten Darkstate with the baseball bat. They send him into the announcers’ table though and that’s enough for the sitout slam to give Lennox the pin at 4:56.

Rating: C. That’s it? They’ve been feuding for months and the big finale is Darkstate interferes and Lennox gets an easy win in less than five minutes? I wasn’t expecting some Wrestlemania level match but I was expecting something a bit better than this. Shuggars’ revenge didn’t even mean anything in the end and Darkstate just wins. What a weird piece of business.

AAA GM calls Robert Stone, who announces a four way next week for a Cruiserweight Title shot in two weeks. EK Prosper and La Parka will be involved with more names to come. Interestingly Mysterio suddenly had to go, which is similar to how he had to leave last week on AAA, with no explanation.

Grayson Waller yells at at Saquon Shuggars (something about messages on a phone) and tells him to do something. Shuggars grabs his bat and limps away.

Women’s North American Title: Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair

Zaria is defending and Sinclair’s Women’s Speed Title isn’t on the line. Sinclair starts fast with some rollups for two each but gets kicked in the head in the corner. Zaria starts in on the arm but Sinclair elbows out of a choke in the corner. We take a break and come back with Sinclair getting a sunset flip out of the corner, only to walk into a spear. Cue Saquon Shuggars beating on Dion Lennox with the bat and their brawl coming into the ring. The distraction lets Zaria grab the F5 to retain at 9:38.

Rating: C+. This was a weird one as Zaria pretty much had the match won before the interference and then she won anyway. It’s not like that really changed much but it did indeed take place. Zaria retaining is fine as it evens their series and hopefully lets them move on. Either that or it’s a winner take all match, which isn’t a bad idea if they unify the belts.

Shiloh Hill sends in another update, revealing that he is healing far faster than expected and could wrestle on live events wearing a mask, and of course he has about five on at once. He also promises to find out more about the poison mist and might do some experiments.

Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix

Rook backdrops him to start but gets hit in the face, allowing Hendrix to stomp away. A nice spinebuster plants Rook for two but Rook is back up with some shots to the face. Rook’s release German suplex and Blue Thunder Bomb get two as a turnbuckle pad has been ripped off. Hendrix sends him into the buckle, setting up a Showtime Kick for the pin at 3:33.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted but it didn’t last very long. I’ve been a fan of Hendrix since he started in Evolve (all that time ago) and it would be good to see him getting a chance to showcase what he can do. If nothing else, him getting more time on the microphone would be a great thing, assuming it actually happens.

The Vanity Project want their Tag Team Titles back but Tavion Heights and Myles Borne come in. Robert Stone makes Jackson Drake the same deal: if he can win next week, he gets a North American Title shot and the Project gets a Tag Team Title shots. The Project wants both matches at Heatwave but Stone says the dates will be determined. Borne is fine with wrestling twice in one night and Drake’s opponent next week is…Shiloh Hill.

Lexis King vs. Lucien Price

Non-title and Birthright is here too. King’s right hand just annoys Price, who knocks him into the corner for a rather hard chop. Birthright’s distraction lets King (whose chest is bleeding from that chop) get in a cheap shot and go after the arm. A spinning high crossbody gives King two and he hits a running forearm to the back of the head. Price gets back up and takes out Birthright, followed by a one armed powerbomb for the pin out of nowhere at 3:27.

Rating: C. I can certainly go with OTM getting some wins of their own as they have felt like a team ready to break out for a long time now. That has to start somewhere and the show can always use some fresh blood in the bigger spots. At the same time….dang I like King but he feels like a doormat here, Speed Title or not.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey come in to see Robert Stone with Sinclair wanting to face Zaria again. She offers the Speed Title in a unification match, which is enough to get Stone to sign off. Next week, the two of them are facing Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong.

Jaida Parker and Thea Hail are happy with their win last week. They’re happy to be friends.

Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno are happy with Moreno getting a spot in the four way for the #1 contenders match next week. Tristan Angels comes in to say he’ll win the match anyway, despite never being a cruiserweight before.

Cruz Montana vs. Grayson Waller

For a title shot against Tony D’Angelo, who is on commentary. Montana tells him to bring it to start before grabbing a suplex. Waller is right back with some shots to the face and a suplex of his own as things slow down a bit. Cruz comes back with some running chops in the corner into a backsplash to send Waller outside. The suicide dive sends Waller crashing over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Montana hitting a clothesline into a sitout F5 to drop Waller again. Waller ducks an enziguri and gets caught with a rolling Buck Fifty (backflip into a cutter) for two. Montana charges into an elbow to the face and a running stomp to the back gives Waller two of his own. Waller tries his rolling cutter but walks into Spin The Block (discus lariat). Hold on though as Zilla Fatu (named as such) runs in and lays out Montana for the DQ at 12:49.

Rating: B. They were getting going by the end here and the ending is a way to get them out of having one of them get a pin. That’s a good thing, as you don’t want Waller, who has been labeled as a joke, losing so soon and you definitely don’t want Montana losing here. Good stuff here, with the ending being the smart way out.

Post match Fatu lays out both of them and hits a top rope splash on Montana. Fatu stares down at D’Angelo and says he needs that to end the show. That’s a big deal, though I would hope that they acknowledge that Montana won by DQ and don’t go with the “no contest” thing. If someone runs in and attacks one wrestler, it’s a DQ by definition. Acknowledge it.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked most of the show, though there was a stretch in the middle that felt like they were just jumping through things really quickly. There were good parts and the main event angle was a nice surprise, plus a solid opener. Heatwave is starting to come together and a four way for the NXT Title is far from the worst idea. Nice job here and it would have been even better if the middle of the show had been a big better developed.

Results
EK Prosper/Lizzy Rain b. Culling – Moonsault to Vance
Dion Lennox b. Saquon Shuggars – Sitout slam
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair – F5
Kam Hendrix b. Mason Rook – Showtime Kick
Lucien Price b. Lexis King – One armed powerbomb
Cruz Montana b. Grayson Waller via DQ when Zilla Fatu interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: June 2, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re getting closer to…whatever the next big show is going to be but first we have the NXT Title being defended as Kam Hendrix challenges Tony D’Angelo. That should at least be a good match, but we also have the issue of Saquon Shuggars trying to get revenge on Darkstate for turning on him. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Zaria vs. Lizzy Rain

Zaria goes after her to start but gets dropkicked into the corner. Rain knees her from the apron and snaps off a hurricanrana into the corner. A kick seems to annoy Zaria, who hammers Rain down and pulls her away from the ropes for the crash. Cue Tatum Paxley to taunt Zaria but she’s able to knock Rain outside as we take a break.

We come back with Rain firing off headbutts in the corner but walking into a spear to leave them both down. Back up and Rain wins a slugout, setting up a springboard tornado DDT. Zaria’s F5 is countered so she nails a discus lariat for two. Rain shrugs off some yelling and hits a cutter, only to springboard into a suplex. The F5 gives Zaria the pin at 10:34.

Rating: C+. They kept this moving and Zaria is finally starting to get somewhere with these wins. Odds are she gets a title shot against Paxley at the Great American Bash and it’s nice to see her string together some wins to make that more realistic. Other than that you have Rain, who is still trying to find something to do.

Post match Zaria loads up another F5 but Paxley comes in to offer her a title shot next week.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne suggest Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux team up. They seem somewhat interested.

Izzy Dame, in a referee top, tells the Culling to focus, as she is going to put the Women’s Title on the backburner for now.

Darkstate comes out for a match but Saquon Shuggars sneaks through the crowd and drops Cutler James with a pipe. Apparently we have a schedule change.

OTM vs. The Culling

Izzy Dame is here with the Culling, who get jumped to start fast with Spears getting elbowed in the face inside. Vance comes in to take over on Price, who avoids a charge in the corner and runs Vance over. Price gets sent outside though and we take a break. We come back with Nima suplexing Spears and getting over for the tag to Price. House is quickly cleaned, with a knee to the face getting two on Vance. The powerslam/neckbreaker combination gets two on Price, who is back up with a superkick to put Vance on the floor. The double swing into the double Angle Slam pins Spears at 9:29.

Rating: C+. It’s another perfectly nice match with the two teams getting to have some ring time. If nothing else, it was nice to see OTM actually win a match for a change. They’ve felt like they have potential to do something for a long time now but it isn’t going to matter unless they get to do this a lot more often.

EK Prosper gives Tate Wilder a pep talk but asks him to maybe let someone else have a chance. Wilder doesn’t seem interested but Kam Hendrix comes in to brag about his own success.

Jackson Drake vs. Tate Wilder

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Wilder wrestles him down to start and works on the arm for a bit. Back up and Drake swivels his hips a bit, earning himself a Sling Blade. That’s enough to send Drake outside, with Wilder hitting a quick flip dive. We take a break and come back with Drake winning a brawl on the apron but missing a 450. The TKO connects for Wilder and he powerbombs Drake out of the corner. A UFO Splash gives Wilder two but the Project gets up for a distraction. Myra catches Wilder in a pair of powerbombs and now Drake’s 450 can connect for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: B-. I still like Wilder a bit but he’s firmly in the “getting used to this place” phase. That will pass in time and Wilder hasn’t looked bad this far. On the other hand you have Drake, who is easily the best star of the Vanity Project. The whole group is working well enough thus far and I’m curious to see where they go from here.

Robert Stone is fired up about the Great American Bash but Osiris Griffin comes in to complain about Cutler James being attacked. Jasper Troy comes in to mock Griffin but Darkstate jumps Troy and leaves him laying (with the camera being taken out as well).

We look at Lola Vice retaining the Women’s Title last week.

Here is Vice for a chat. Last week, she knocked out Izzi Dame just as she promised and now she wants to know who is next. This brings out Kelani Jordan, who brags about how she’s gone to TNA to become Knockouts Champion and became a bigger star. Some people criticized her for that, but those same people praised Vice’s success. Now all she needs is one chance but here are Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair to interrupt.

Grey brags about her own success and suggests that she’ll be coming after Jordan for her attacking Sinclair. Vice is sick of this and makes a #1 contenders match between Grey and Jordan for next week (which apparently she can just do). Grey approves and Jordan goes for the belt Vice is wearing, so Vice swings the spinning elbow…which knocks Grey silly by mistake. This all made sense and they didn’t do anything illogical, even with the champ getting to pick her potential challengers.

We preview the Mr. NXT Pageant, which should be either hilarious or stupid. Or both.

Tatum Paxley knows Shiloh Hill will win the pageant. Hill leaves and Zaria runs in to lay Paxley out.

Mason Rook comes up to Tony D’Angelo and says he should be having a title shot tonight. Robert Stone comes in to say Rook can face Naraku (who is in the background) next week.

Men’s Speed Title: Lexis King vs. Romeo Moreno

King, with Birthright, is defending and Moreno has Noam Dar. It’s also a five minute time limit for the title match. Moreno snaps off the sunset flip for an early two and la majistral gets the same. King breaks up something off the top though and gets a frustrated two. They chop it out with Moreno hitting a suplex and grabbing a Rings Of Saturn. With that broken up, Moreno hits a dive onto Birthright at ringside and gets caught in a half crab back inside. With that broken up, King knocks him out again and a Coronation retains the title at 4:34.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure I get the appeal of Moreno, who is technically fine but there’s just nothing overly interesting about him. It’s WAY too early to write him off of course as he’s been in NXT for about 18 seconds, but I’m not seeing it so far. King is pretty much all he’s going to be right now, though being in a stable is a smart move for him.

Nattie and Jaida Parker argue in the back, with Nattie calling her soft. Parker responds by…looking sad. So yeah, kind of soft.

Keanu Carver comes up to the banged up Tate Wilder but EK Prosper stands up for Wilder.

Kendal Grey is worried about Wren Sinclair’s knee but Sinclair tells her to worry about Kelani Jordan.

Tavion Heights/Myles Borne vs. Darkstate

Borne slugs it out with Lennox to start and it’s off to Heights, who shoulders Griffin in the corner. Darkstate gets cleared out but comes back in to get knocked outside again. Lennox gets launched with a suplex on the floor and we take an early break. We come back with Borne in trouble as Lennox works on his leg.

Griffin hits a backbreaker and Lennox catapults Borne into a World’s Strongest Slam for two. Borne is back up without much trouble and brings in Heights to clean house. Everything breaks down and Lennox breaks up Heights’ spinning belly to belly. That means Heights is sent into the post, setting up a Doomsday Device to finish him off at 11:01.

Rating: B-. That’s a better finisher than anything I remember Darkstate doing otherwise and again, they were someone who needed a win. Heights losing is the best way to go as the champ shouldn’t be taking another fall. Darkstate has issues going on already though and that’s going to involve Saquon Shuggars, as it already has.

Post match Shuggars shows up for a staredown.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending and gets kicked in the face for two at the bell. A neckbreaker gets two more and Hendrix hammers away. D’Angelo is back with a chokeslam attempt to send Hendrix bailing out to the floor. Back in and D’Angelo snaps off some suplexes, with Hendrix heading outside again, only to run into an imposing Naraku.

We take a break and come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock but getting suplex slammed for two. D’Angelo Hulks Up and fights back, with a fisherman’s suplex getting two. A suplex toss gives D’Angelo two more but Hendrix kicks him in the face. Hendrix’s sitout powerbomb gets two, as does D’Angelo’s powerbomb. Hendrix goes for a chair but here is Mason Rook to cut him off. D’Angelo sends Hendrix onto the table and the spinebuster retains the title at 10:48.

Rating: B-. This got going a lot more at the end and it did pick up, with Rook not being a big factor. It felt like just a quick title defense before D’Angelo gets on to his bigger title opponents. At the same time, D’Angelo doesn’t really come off as the strongest champ and I’m not sure how long I can picture him holding the title. He feels more like a transitional champion, which very well may be the case.

Post match Naraku presents D’Angelo with the title. Naraku vs. Rook is officially a #1 contenders match.

Overall Rating: C. I wasn’t feeling this one as much as very little, including the main event for the NXT Title, felt overly important. The good thing is we now have the Great American Bash to build towards and there will be three weeks to get ready for the show. This didn’t do much to get us there and felt like they were just getting done with some stuff before we get to the important material going forward. Not a great show here, but they have time to kick it into the higher gear.

Results
Zaria b. Lizzy Rain – F5
OTM b. The Culling – Double Angle Slam to Spears
Jackson Drake b. Tate Wilder – 450
Lexis King b. Romeo Moreno – Coronation
Darkstate b. Tavion Heights/Myles Borne – Doomsday Device to Heights
Tony D’Angelo b. Kam Hendrix – Spinebuster

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: April 28, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re in a big period of transition around here as a bunch of stars have either been released or promoted up to the main roster. That’s going to require a lot of switching around and there is a chance that some stars will be moved over to NXT on a regular basis. Either way, they’re going to need the help so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a Revenge recap, featuring a bunch of stars who are now gone.

The bosses (Shawn Michaels, Robert Stone and Matt Bloom) go over the stars who have left, with Stone saying we need some fresh names involved. Michaels says this is what NXT does and Stone is told he can take his time and pick someone….or throw a stick of dynamite in the locker room and see what happens. Stone gets the idea.

North American Title: Saquon Shugars vs. Myles Borne

Shugars, with the rest of Darkstate, is challenging. We get the Big Match Intros and Shugars sends him into the corner. Borne is back up with a release suplex and Shugars bails to the floor, where Borne hits a big running flip dive. Back in and they fight over a backslide, with Shugars flipping him over onto the top rope. Borne gets pulled throat first into the turnbuckle (which has been exposed), followed by a dropkick through the ropes.

We take a break and come back with Shugars dropping a leg and grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up and Shugars kicks him in the back before taking him up top. The belly to back superplex is reversed into a crossbody to give Borne two and they get back up. Borne gets two off a backslide, plus an Eye Of The Hurricane for the same. Darkstate gets on the apron so Lennox grabs a chair, but Shugars waves him off, saying he wants to win. Borne sends them into each other and a slingshot Borne Again retains the title at 10:02.

Rating: B-. Darkstate’s days seem to be numbered and that’s a good thing, as there doesn’t seem to be much to them these days. Shugars got to have a good match here before dealing with the Borne stuff in the end. At the same time, Borne gets to beat Darkstate in back to back weeks, which is a nice way to make him look like a star.

Post match Borne celebrates but Tristan Angels (from Evolve) pops up in the crowd to say he’ll be around more often. Cue Kam Hendrix (also from Evolve) to jump Borne and lay him out.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair are in the back, talking about all of the incoming talents. Kelani Jordan come in to say she’s not impressed and gets mocked for her recent losses. Jordan says Grey is going to turn on Sinclair, with Sinclair issuing the challenge for tonight.

Video on Tony D’Angelo.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for a chat. He says he has been the constant around here and no one on the roster is touch enough to take the title from him. That includes whomever sent him that box last week. You have people from all over jumping stars, Europeans stepping up and Keanu Carver staring him down. He knows the box was a warning…and the lights go out.

It’s…a guy in a rather big robe with his face covered. He gets in the ring and the fans seem to think he’s (very nice, very) EVIL. The man hands him a rolled up something (appears to be a shirt) and unmasks as Evil (the former IWGP World Champion, rumored to have signed with WWE). D’Angelo unwraps the shirt, which has the same symbol as the box from last week. The unnamed Evil leaves and cue Tavion Heights to suplex D’Angelo. An unnamed (looked to be Progress’ Will Kroos) man runs in to moonsault D’Angelo.

Shiloh Hill and Tatum Paxley bury Blake Monroe, apparently ignoring that she’s due to debut on Smackdown? Paxley talks about her issues with attachments and Hill says he’s set up a simulation to find out how Ricky Saints does his moves. They seem to get along well, but he needs to go get ready. She’s going to enjoy the scenery. In the graveyard.

Here is Birthright, who show a clip of the team attacking Dorian Van Dux. Apparently he can’t be in their scheduled match, so here is EK Prosper (Van Dux’s partner) to run in on his own. That earns him a beatdown but Sean Legacy runs in for the save.

Birthright vs. Sean Legacy/EK Prosper

They start fast with Legacy kicking Connors in the back for two and it’s off to Prosper for a double dropkick. A cheap shot knocks Prosper to the floor though and Birthright hit dives as we take a break. We come back with Legacy fighting out of trouble and hitting a reverse implant sitout DDT. It’s back to Prosper as everything breaks down. Connors hits a Swanton but it’s Legacy coming back in to hit Shambles for the pin at 9:24.

Rating: B-. Another nice match here, with Legacy actually managing to get a pin for a change. I’m hoping Van Dux isn’t seriously hurt though, as I was digging what I had seen from him thus far. The same is true for Prosper, who is quite the athlete, though I’m not overly sold on Legacy. As for Birthright…well you pretty much know what you’re getting with them.

Post match the beatdown is on again but Evolve’s Tate Wilder (he’s a cowboy) runs in for the save. Wilder tries a shooting star off the apron but lands on his feet and has to settle for a double clothesline.

Jaida Parker and a bunch of the other women talk about the incoming women when Kali Armstrong comes in to say they’re all scared. She’s the difference maker around here and if that starts with Parker, so be it. Parker is not taking that sitting down and they’re held apart.

Shawn Michaels announces that the NXT Premium Live Events will be airing on the CW, starting this summer.

We look at Izzi Dame taking out Lola Vice last week.

Robert Stone welcomes Tate Wilder to NXT. Lola Vice pops in to say she’s going to call out Izzi dame.

Here is Vice in the ring and she gets straight to the point by calling out Izzi Dame. Shawn Spears pops up on the screen for a distraction as the Culling appears behind Vice. She says they got her…and Mr. Iguana (her partner in AAA) pops up for the save.

Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox are arguing again but are calmed down with talk of getting the Tag Team Titles.

Lizzy Rain vs. Nikkita Lyons

Rain is here to make sure that heavy metal never dies. Before the match, Lyons says Rain is too loud so it’s time to quiet her down. Lyons shoves her down to start but Rain is back up with a springboard elbow. Back up and Lyons kicks her in the head, followed by some forearms. The splits splash connects and Lyons grabs a cobra clutch. Rain fights up and makes the clothesline comeback, followed by a cutter. Lyons is sent into the corner for the chops (fans: “MAKE IT RAIN!”) and a pop up kick to the head (Thunderstruck) finishes for Rain at 4:20.

Rating: C. Oh…yeah I’m not sure about Rain. Thunderstruck is a great name for a finisher but the whole Heavy Metal thing feels like a weird blast from the past and not in a good way. Maybe she’ll have it tweaked a bit, but this wasn’t the best debut. Then again it’s not like Lyons has anything going for her either.

Tavion Heights comes up to Myles Borne, who wants to know what was up with Heights attacking Tony D’Angelo. That’s not the Heights he knows, but Heights asks how it’s different than Borne attacking Ethan Page. Borne backs off a bit and talks about the stars who are coming in. Heights says you can add his name to the dangerous ones. Heights leaves and Keanu Carver comes in to say there are a lot of sharks around here, but he’s the Great White.

The Vanity Project talk about how things are changing around here and Jackson Drake says he feels like he’s on top of the world thanks to Micah (the woman he met last week). Jasper Troy isn’t impressed and wants a match next week.

Wren Sinclair vs. Kelani Jordan

Non-title and Kendal Grey is here with Sinclair. They go to the mat to start with Sinclair grabbing an early leglock. Jordan has to nip her way out of a headscissors, only to get pulled into a headlock. Back up and Sinclair runs her over again, with Jordan heading into the corner. Sinclair misses a charge and gets tied in the ropes, where she avoids a springboard legdrop. Sinclair’s dropkick off the apron connects but Sinclair comes up favoring her knee.

We take a break and come back with Jordan working on the bad leg but Sinclair rolls her up for two. Sinclair fires off some rather loud chops and another rollup gets another two. Jordan is sent to the apron, where she comes back with a spinning springboard cutter. A frog splash hits raised knees though and the Final Wrench goes on, only for Sinclair’s knee to give out. Jordan puts her down and hits One Of A Kind for the pin at 10:58.

Rating: B-. This was a pretty standard story and it worked well, with Jordan working on Sinclair’s bad knee to set up her usual stuff for the ending. Sinclair was doing everything she needed to in there and it made for a good match. Jordan isn’t the most interesting star, but she’s a heck of an athlete and has the in-ring side of things well in hand.

Video on Zaria, who has ended Sol Ruca once and for all. Now she is ready to destroy everything in her way.

Video on Ricky Saints vs. Shiloh Hill.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Shiloh Hill vs. Ricky Saints

Saints jumps him from behind to start and chokes in the corner, followed by some stomping as well. Hill ducks an enziguri though and drapes him over the top to hammer away. Saints 619s him from the apron and Hill bails underneath the ring. He gets pulled out by the boot…and it’s a dummy, allowing Hill to get in a flip dive off the steps. Hill dances with the dummy (who wears a hockey mask) and we take a break.

We come back with Saints hitting a tornado DDT for two and mocking Hill. Back up and another tornado DDT is countered into a tilt-a-whirl slam but Saints pulls him into a choke. With that broken up, Saints spears him down for two and it’s time to slug it out. Hill gets the better of things and goes up but Saints kicks the referee into the ropes for the crotching.

Something like a super Jackhammer gives Saints two so he slaps the tooth out of Hill’s mouth. That just wakes Hill up so he crotches Saints down to break up the dancing Old School. Saints is knocked to the floor, where he hits a Roshambo…and goes after a chair. The referee takes that away and Hill sends him into the chair. Whisper To The Beast finishes for Hill at 12:05.

Rating: B. That’s easily the biggest win of Hill’s career and it might be the kind of step up to the next level. I’m not sure he’s ready to be a main eventer, but at least he got a win over a former NXT Champion. That’s what they need around here and it’s certainly better than nothing. Sure Saints has already been announced for Smackdown but still.

Post match Hill, with the dummy, celebrates in the crowd.

Tony D’Angelo goes to see the bosses and says he loves the chaos. Shawn Michaels says it’s time for him to prove it. Hill: “LET’S F****** GO!” I was expecting a big debut to end the show but this week was already packed.

Overall Rating: C+. Oh boy this was something else. They had A LOT of rebuilding to do and in this case they seemed to want to do it all in one night. That only works so well, but they seemed to be going with the theory of “get people on the show so fast and figure the rest out later”. That’s certainly an idea, but it’s only so interesting of a way to go for two hours. We’re absolutely resetting things around here again and as Michaels said, that’s kind of how this place works. We just need to see where it goes from here, though it was quite the all over the place start.

Results
Myles Borne b. Saquon Shugars – Slingshot Borne Again
Sean Legacy/EK Prosper b. Birthright – Shambles to Stacks
Lizzy Rain b. Nikkita Lyons – Thunderstruck
Kelani Jordan b. Wren Sinclair – One Of A Kind
Shiloh Hill b. Ricky Saints – Whisper To The Beast

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: March 24, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

The countdown to Stand & Deliver continues as we are about a week and a half away from the show. In this case we have to find a new #1 contender to the North American Title, which will be crowned in a Gauntlet Eliminator match. Other than that we have the rest of the card to put together so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Shiloh Hill asks Robert Stone if he can be the first entrant in the Gauntlet Eliminator. Stone seems interested but Tatum Paxley comes in and complains about what happened last week with Blake Monroe. Paxley wants her title back and Hill says he has an idea. The two of them leave but Josh Briggs pops in, saying he needs to talk to Stone. Hold on though as a referee comes in, saying Stone is needed.

IMG Credit: WWE

Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair vs. Fatal Influence

Jacy Jayne is here with Fatal Influence. Henley drives Sinclair into the corner to start and then shouts a lot. Reid comes in for an elbow drop so it’s off to Grey, who is headlocked takeovered. We cut to the back where Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur have been attacked. Sinclair comes back in and gets two off Grey’s dropkick. Henley manages a kick to the head and makes a blind tag to Reid, who comes in with a running Blockbuster.

We take a break and come back with Henley hitting a sliding German suplex on Sinclair. A dropkick knocks Reid away and the double tags bring in Grey and Henley. Grey hits a superkick but gets wheelbarrowed into an assisted hot shot for a rather near fall. Back up and Grey hits a spinning back elbow, setting up the cross armbreaker for the tap at 9:48.

Rating: C+. Grey and Sinclair work well together and they come off like a team who are actually friends. That isn’t something you often see but it worked well here. I could go for seeing them working together more, which is also the case with Fatal Influence. These teams feel like regular teams that isn’t something that is often the case in any women’s tag division.

Post match Grey says she’s coming for the Women’s Title at Stand & Deliver but Lola Vice comes in to say that’s her shot. Robert Stone comes out to make the #1 contenders match for next week.

Here is Sol Ruca for a chat. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say out here but she only wanted Zaria to have a chance. Zaria couldn’t get her own moment though and decided to steal Ruca’s. Ruca lists off all of the times and gets emotional as she says she’s finally seeing Zaria for what she really is. She wants to face Zaria at Stand & Deliver, which brings out Zaria, as Ruca expected. Zaria says that the only thing she wanted was the two of them, which was never good enough for Ruca.

As she stands there, Ruca is upset that Zaria cost her the Women’s Title, which is exactly what Ruca did to her last year at Stand & Deliver. It made Zaria sick to be around her and hear her name, but now Zaria is finally picking herself. The fans seem to be behind Zaria as Ruca asks what she ever got from Zaria, who is too insecure to stand beside her. Zaria says she isn’t the villain in Ruca’s story, because Ruca is the mistake. This was the big emotional moment between the two of them but…yeah Zaria still hasn’t actually won anything. That might make it easier to get behind this thing.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page talk about wanting to be NXT Champion but Josh Briggs comes in, saying he just wants five minutes with the boss. Joe Hendry comes in to say if Saints can’t deal with Tony D’Angelo tonight, Hendry will do it himself.

Kelani Jordan vs. Thea Hail

Jordan forearms her to start and gets taken down with a Thesz press. Back up and Jordan takes over, including sending Hail into various buckles. Hail fights up and reverses a reverse DDT into the Kimura. That’s broken up with a ram into the buckle and something like and X Factor drops Hail. One Of A Kind gives Jordan the pin at 2:48.

Post match Jordan stays on Hail but Jaida Parker runs in for the save.

Jasper Troy is not happy with Keanu Carver interrupting Booker T.’s appreciation night last week and wants some revenge next week in New York.

Shiloh Hill has used some computer program to find Blake Monroe. He gives Tatum Paxley the location but has to go win the Gauntlet Eliminator.

IMG Credit: WWE

Gauntlet Eliminator

This is basically a five man Royal Rumble but eliminations have to be via pin or submission. We have three minute intervals and the winner challenges for the North American Title at Stand & Deliver. Shiloh Hill is in at #1 and Jackson Drake is in at #2 with Hill missing a charge into the corner, allowing Drake to get a rollup for two. Drake’s hot shot sets up a running shot in the corner and a Russian legsweep gets two more. Hill comes back with a tilt-a-whirl slam for two and elbows him down as Dion Lennox is in at #3.

Lennox hits some running shoulders in the corner and we take a break. We come back with Charlie Dempsey having come in at #4, leaving one mystery man to enter. A quadruple sleeper leaves everyone a bit dazed (or sleepy) so Dempsey grabs a Muta Lock on Hill. That’s broken up and Lennox sends Hill through the barricade. Back in and Lennox German suplexes both of them…and here is Candice LeRae.

She’s tried everything to get Johnny Gargano out of his funk but maybe bringing him back home will help. So Gargano is in at #5 to a hero’s welcome, though he doesn’t seem overly thrilled to be here. Drake hits him in the face and Gargano lays on the ropes and Dempsey gets a triangle choke on Lennox. That’s broken up so here is OTM to go after Lennox. The beatdown lets Hill grab the belly to back neckbreaker to pin Lennox at 12:36.

We take another break and come back with Gargano still laying on the apron as Hill and Dempsey brawl on the floor. Drake dives onto the two of them but a 450 only gets two on Hill. A suicide dive hits Dempsey but Hill is back with the belly to back neckbreaker for the pin on Drake at 18:21.

Dempsey suplexes Hill a few times but Hill is back with the belly to back neckbreaker for another pin at 19:50. So it’s Hill against the basically immobile Gargano so here is Birthright to go after Hill, including sending him into the steps. Gargano stands up and LeRae shoves him onto Hill for the winning pin at 20:30.

Rating: B-. The key thing here was that Hill looked like a star and that wound up working. At the same time, Gargano was a nice surprise and I’m not sure how it’s going to go at Stand & Deliver. Either we get the return of Johnny Wrestling or it’s something like a Weekend At Bernie’s title match against Myles Borne. Either way, not a bad match, even with the screwy ending.

Post match Gargano looks shocked that he won and gets serious as he gets a staredown with Myles Borne (who TOWERS over Gargano).

The Vanity Project want to know who will be replacing Eli Knight/Elio LeFleur in the tournament. Josh Briggs comes in to try to get a talk with Robert Stone but a referee wants to speak to Stone instead. No one is willing to referee Jasper Troy and Keanu Carver so Stone will come up with something. Jaida Parker comes in and Stone gets right to the point by giving her a match with Kelani Jordan next week. Works for Parker.

Sid is going into the Hall Of Fame. He was rather high up on my “he wasn’t in already?” list.

We get the Tiffany Stratton NXT Origins video from Raw.

OTM is ready to face Darkstate next week in a six man tag. Their tag partner? TNA World Champion Mike Santana, who warns Darkstate that they’re coming to his hometown.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Culling vs. ???

The replacements for Knight and LeFleur are…Los Americanos. Bravo and Spears start things off as the fans are rather behind Los Americanos, as you might have expected. Spears takes him down and jiggles a bit so Bravo grabs the arm to take over. Vance comes in and clotheslines both Americanos at the same time but Rayo manages a quick rollup for two. Everything breaks down and Bravo hits a dive on Spears with Rayo hitting one on Vance, who pulls him out of the air. Bravo dives onto both of them to drop Vance and we take a break.

We come back with Spears going after Bravo’s mask, earning himself a high crossbody. It’s back to Rayo to clean house but Vance chokeslams Bravo onto Rayo to drop both of them at once. Bravo is back up with a spinning torture rack, with Vance breaking it up but knocking Vance down anyway. Spears’ running Death Valley driver gets two and Rayo loads up his mask. A quick headbutt knocks Spears silly and Bravo’s running headbutt finishes at 10:13.

Rating: C+. This makes good sense as Los Americanos are more than entertaining enough and the fans like having them around. There are worse ideas than having them win the tournament and get the title shot at Stand & Deliver. The Culling hardly mean much anyway so there was nothing wrong with the result anyway.

Post match Birthright comes out for the staredown with Los Americanos (and Bravo’s mask looks loaded as well).

Keanu Carver wants to fight Jasper Troy but Robert Stone says they need a referee. Josh Briggs comes in to say he’ll do it and that solves the problem.

Tatum Paxley goes to Blake Monroe’s hotel room and reaches for her through the locked door. Next week, there is no lock holding her back from getting her title.

Sexyy Red is back next week. She swears a bit.

Ricky Saints vs. Tony D’Angelo

Ethan Page is here with Saints. D’Angelo cuts off a boot to the ribs to start and twists the ankle a bit before wrestling Saints to the mat. Saints gets powered into the corner and goes outside for a meeting with Page. The distraction lets Saints dive off the apron, only to get pulled out of the air. Saints shoves him into the steps and celebrates with page as we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock and hitting something like an Angle Slam. Saints’ tornado DDT is countered into a suplex but he’s able to hit a dropkick into the corner. Saints gets two off a spear and whips D’Angelo hard into the corner. D’Angelo fights back and hits some overhead belly suplexes. The spinebuster is loaded up but Page comes in for the DQ at 10:17.

Rating: C+. The ending was the right way to go as D’Angelo doesn’t need to lose but they need something for Joe Hendry to do at Stand & Deliver. That feels like it is probably going to be a four way match, which isn’t the most exciting thing, but at least it does feel like the right way to go for the story they’re telling. Not a great match, though probably the logical one.

Post match the beatdown is on until Joe Hendry comes in for the save. D’Angelo gets a Standing Ovation of his own to even things up a bit though.

We run down next week’s card.

Robert Stone makes the four way NXT Title match, with Joe Hendry defending against Ethan Page, Ricky Saints and Tony D’Angelo.

Overall Rating: B-. This show did some good work for building up Stand & Deliver, which is somehow less than two weeks away. I’m not wild on some of the matches that have been set up but at least they are doing something to move it forward. Next week’s show should be a big enough card as well, and hopefully they have a pair of good shows in a row, as it could make for quite the pairing.

Results
Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair b. Fatal Influence – Cross armbreaker to Reid
Kelani Jordan b. Thea Hail – One Of A Kind
Johnny Gargano won a Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Hill
Los Americanos b. Culling – Running headbutt to Spears
Tony D’Angelo b. Ricky Saints via DQ when Ethan Page interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: March 10, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Vengeance Day and that means we are on the way to Stand & Deliver. That is the biggest event of the year for NXT and it should be interesting to see what they have in store for the night. With less than a month to go, they need to start things in a hurry so let’s get to it.

Here is Vengeance Day if you need a recap.

Long Vengeance Day recap.

Here is Tatum Paxley, fresh off winning the Women’s North American Title, to get things going. For the longest time, she felt like she was doing everything wrong but she kept winding up alone. On Saturday, she won this title because of the people here. They made her want to keep going and now she has the confidence that she belongs here. She won the Women’s Title for the Culling but she won this for the people.

Cue Izzi Dame (Paxley: “Ugh GO AWAY!”) to interrupt and we see a highlight package of Paxley’s failures over the years. Dame calls Paxley painfully fake and a weirdo outcast because this is all just another mask. Eventually, that unlovable girl will come out again and Dame wants her title back. Cue the Culling for a distraction and Dame hits a powerbomb.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page are upset over Vengeance Day, with Saints saying they’re both naked now. Page doesn’t like that visual but they’re ready to get a win in tonight’s tag match against Joe Hendry and Myles Borne. Then it’s off to Stand & Deliver to become two times champions.

Jasper Troy vs. Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

Troy starts fast by throwing them both around, including pulling Knight out of the air. A chokeslam drops Knight onto Legacy but Knight gets a boot up in the corner. Some superkicks stagger Troy though, with a double shot putting him on the floor. Cue Keanu Carver to chokeslam Troy through the announcers’ table and yell at Booker T. as we take a break.

We come back with Knight dropkicking Legacy to the floor for one heck of a dive. Back in and a step up moonsault gets two on Legacy, who is right back with a reverse sitout gordbuster for two of his own. Shambles is broken up but Legacy dropkicks Troy through the ropes. Troy gets back up to run the two of them over, including a chokeslam to Legacy. A double Samoan drop connects, though Troy’s ribs are banged up. Legacy has to make a save and Knight breaks up the Black Hole Slam. A 450 from Legacy into a heck of a moonsault from Knight means a double pin on Troy at 12:06.

Rating: B. This was a blast with pretty much nonstop action throughout. Troy felt like a monster who is on a collision course with Carver, which should be a heck of a hoss fight. At the same time, Knight looked like a star out there with those dives, which he made to look effortless. Legacy finally gets a win, though he can’t even get that on his own, which isn’t a great sign. Still though, really fun match here.

Booker is ticked at the result because that’s not how it works.

Tatum Paxley recruits Shiloh Hill to help her find the Culling. Hill grabs a lug wrench and we’re ready to go.

Lexis King and company don’t like that it has come to this, but Uriah Connors’ dad (Fit Finlay) made a call and “they’re on the way”.

IMG Credit: WWE

Lexis King/Uriah Connors vs. Charlie Dempsey/Tavion Heights

Stacks and Arianna Grace are here too. Connors and Dempsey go with the grappling to start with Connors flipping over him without much trouble. Dempsey takes him to the mat for a leglock and it’s off to Heights for a gutwrench suplex. A blind tag brings Dempsey back in for a running knee to King so Connors makes a surprise tag of his own to jump Dempsey.

That’s broken up and Heights is back in for the belly to belly, with King making the save this time. Everything breaks down and they all wind up on the floor…and here are Fit Finlay and William Regal to stare. That’s enough for Dempsey to suplex Heights on the floor and send him back inside for the Coronation and the pin at 4:39.

Rating: C+. This was a case where there might as well have been a big neon countdown clock to Dempsey turning on Heights as they all but guaranteed that would be happening when the match was made. That’s not a bad thing whatsoever, as it’s the logical path for the story to take. If nothing else, Regal and Finlay making a cameo makes the team feel a bit more legitimate, which they’ve been needing.

Post match Dempsey poses with the villains.

The Culling goes to leave but their car is on blocks, with Shiloh Hill walking away holding the lug wrench. He hands it to Robert Stone and the Culling is livid.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for a chat. When he returned to NXT, he said he had two missions and the first one ended at Vengeance Day, when he finished Darkstate. They are now what he was before: broken and searching for answers. D’Angelo has buried that version of himself and now it is time for him to win the NXT Title. He has no issues with Joe Hendry, but if he has to break Hendry’s face, so be it. This is personal, because Hendry has what D’Angelo wants. That’s the simplest way to go and this worked fine.

Sol Ruca and Lola Vice praise each other and want to face off for the NXT Title at Stand & Deliver.

Myles Borne asks Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey if they have seen Joe Hendry. They take him over to a refrigerator, where they say his name and find…a cake? Hendry pops up and says he and Borne need to talk strategy. Sinclair goes to leave and Grey….is using her hand to devour that cake.

IMG Credit: WWE

Sol Ruca vs. Lainey Reid

The rest of Fatal Influence is here with Reid. Ruca wrestles her down to the mat to start and works on the arm. A headlock keeps Reid in early trouble and Ruca takes her down for the surfing on the back. Ruca faceplants her and then pulls her outside for a dive, only for Jacy Jayne to get in a cheap shot. Reid gets in a double stomp to the back of the head and we take a break.

We come back with Ruca dropkicking her into the corner but Reid manages a springboard Stunner for two. An electric chair drop plants Reid and Ruca elbows her in the face a bunch of times. Reid grabs a sitout powerbomb for two but Ruca hits an X Factor. Something like a spinning Beach Break gets two but the Sol Snatcher is broken up. A crucifix bomb sends Ruca into the corner, where she avoids a running knee. The Sol Snatcher finishes Reid at 12:58.

Rating: C+. This was a rare lengthy Reid match, which worked out well enough. At the same time, it seems that we could, or at least should, be on the way towards winning the Women’s Title. If nothing else, a showdown with Zaria has to come sooner or later, so why not at Stand & Deliver?

Elio LeFleur talks to Robert Stone about Eli Knight or Sean Legacy getting a title shot. Stone isn’t sure what to do when the Vanity Project comes in. They want a big match for Stand & Deliver but Legacy wants to fight them next.

Blake Monroe wants a big match at Stand & Deliver. Tatum Paxley comes in looking for Izzi Dame and leaves, with Monroe saying she wants her Women’s North American Title back.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contender Tournament Final: Wren Sinclair vs. Thea Hail

Hail dropkicks her down at the bell but it’s way too early for the Kimura. They trade running shots to the head for two and go outside with less than two minutes to go. Back in and Hail misses a high crossbody but grabs the Kimura. Sinclair is right back with the Final Wrench for the submission at 1:55.

Robert Stone talks to the tag division and we’ll be having a tournament to crown new #1 contenders. Darkstate wants their rematch without the tournament and here is OTM to brawl with them.

Fatal Influence doesn’t like being reminded about their title matches next week. Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey come up to say they’re coming for the titles.

The Culling is leaving and Tatum Paxley jumps Izzi Dame. Security breaks it up so Robert Stone comes in to make the title rematch next week. In a cage.

Post break, Robert Stone hypes up the Houston show and announces that the tag tournament starts next week, but after that mess, OTM and Darkstate are not included. The Vanity Project comes in to thank Stone for the next week off, but Stone puts them in a six man against the Americanos.

Vic Joseph stands up at the desk and says he and Booker T. were only supposed to be a team for three months, but they’ve been going for over three years. Next week in Booker’s hometown of Houston, it is Booker T. Appreciation Night. Booker seems surprised.

Ethan Page/Ricky Saints vs. Myles Borne/Joe Hendry

Of note: Page and Saints have been standing in the ring for about ten minutes counting other segments and breaks. Hendry headlocks Page down to start and drops him again with a running shoulder. Borne comes in for a dropkick as Hendry has Page up in a suplex. It’s off to Saints, who takes over on Borne without much trouble. Borne is back with a swinging fisherman’s suplex but Page boots him in the face. Page tells Saints to throw in the title but Saints throws it too far, just like Page did on Saturday.

We take a break and come back with Borne still in trouble. Borne breaks out but Saints is there to pull Hendry off the apron. Saints and Page go old school with a PowerPlex for two but Borne is right back up for the tag to Hendry. House is quickly cleaned until Hendry and Saints hit clotheslines. Page throws in a title, which is quickly taken away, allowing Hendry to grab a rollup for two. Saints hits the spear but Page tags himself in, meaning it’s time to argue. Page is back up with the Twisted Grin onto the title to pin Hendry at 11:13.

Rating: B-. This was another match that went with a pretty obvious plan, as the ending sets up Page for a title shot at Stand & Deliver. After his pretty incredible North American Title reign, that makes all the sense in the world. Throw in Saints coming for the North American Title, they should be good to go for the top two men’s title matches. Not bad for one main event.

We get one more rundown of next week’s big show.

Saints and Page post, though Saints seems to realize that Page did what he couldn’t. Joseph: “Saints just realized that Page did what he couldn’t do.” Yeah that.

Overall Rating: B. There was good action and they took a lot of steps towards setting up Stand & Deliver. That’s what they needed to do here and it worked out well, though there is still a good deal of time left to fill on the way. For now though, they’re off to a good start and the opening triple threat, odd ending aside, was quite fun. Good show this week, which tends to be the case around here.

Results
Sean Legacy and Eli Knight b. Jasper Troy – Double pin
Lexis King/Uriah Connors b. Charlie Dempsey/Tavion Heights – Coronation to Heights
Sol Ruca b. Lainey Reid – Sol Snatcher
Wren Sinclair b. Thea Hail – Final Wrench
Ethan Page/Ricky Saints b. Myles Borne/Joe Hendry – Twisted Grin onto the title to Hendry

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: February 17, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re officially in the Joe Hendry Era and his first serious challenger seems to be former NXT Champion Ricky Saints. That should set us up for a title match down the line, which could be a good one. Other than that, we have various people going after Darkstate so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

Vice charges at Jordan in the aisle during her entrance where the kicks are flying early. They get inside and Vice hammers away again before striking away with the left hand (as the right hand is still injured). Jordan is smart enough to go after the bad hand but Vice pulls her into something like a reverse Devil’s Kiss. The bad hand is sent into the corner though and a hammerlock northern lights suplex gives Jordan two.

Vice gets smart and stars striking away with the legs, including a kick to the ribs to put Jordan on the floor. Jordan is back with a running knee into the steps and Vice loses her hand protector as we take a break. We come back with Jordan still working on the hand but having to flip out of a sleeper.

Vice manages to send her throat first into the ropes though and a suplex puts Jordan down for two. They head outside, where Vice’s spinning backfist puts a hole through a wooden wall. Back in and the 450 doesn’t really come close, but thankfully Vice pulls it into a choke. That’s broken up with a stomp to the hand though and a crank of the bad hand makes Vice tap at 11:38.

Rating: B-. That was a match with a simple story and they played into it throughout. Vice started to figure out the idea of striking with the feet but eventually went back to her bread and butter, which is what wound up costing her. It was a good match though and Jordan got to show more aggression, which worked well for her in a good sign for her future.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for revenge on Darkstate, starting with Cutler James, but he wants Dion Lennox to be watching.

Joe Hendry tries to jump Ricky Saints in the parking lot but they’re held apart.

Shiloh Hill is ready for Ethan Page and has studied everything he can do. Hank & Tank come in to give him a pep talk but think he’s smarter than they are. That might not be as exclusive of a status as they think.

Here is a ticked off Joe Hendry to call out Ricky Saints for a fight. Saints pops up on the platform to say that he sees right through Hendry. The reality is that Hendry is just a song with nothing else, because we have a meme as the NXT Champion. Hendry says he deals in facts and the fact is that he’s the NXT Champion. Saints says that Hendry is great at marketing and has nothing to back up his words. Hendry still wants to fight but Saints issues the challenge for March 7 at Vengeance Day. That works for Hendry and the match seems to be made.

Izzi Dame mocks Tatum Paxley for blaming her for Paxley’s faults and is ready to beat every version of her at Vengeance Day. The rest of the Culling wants the Tag Team Titles.

Cutler James vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo goes right after him to start but gets stomped in the corner. Some German suplexes have James in trouble and a spinebuster finishes him off at 1:21. Ok then.

Post match Dion Lennox jumps D’Angelo, who drops him with a spear. James has to save Lennox’s leg from being crushed with the steps.

Ethan Page talks to the Vanity Project but Myles Borne comes in. Page says there’s no way Borne is getting a title shot, but Borne thinks he can convince him otherwise. Ricky Saints comes in to say they’ll all be champions at Vengeance Day.

OTM vs. Vanity Project vs. Hank & Tank vs. Culling

One fall for a future Tag Team Title shot. Spears circles around Price to start and gets headbutted in his chest. Nima comes in to grab Spears by the throat but Smokes tags himself in. Hank & Tank send him into the corner and a splash gives Tank two. Vance comes in and gets to face Price, with an exchange of shoulders not getting anywhere. Everything breaks down and OTM clears the ring, leaving the Vanity Project to….try a double chokeslam? As expected, they are promptly chokeslammed onto the other four as we take a break.

We come back with everything still broken down and Price wrecking people on the floor. Vance clears the ring but gets caught in OTM’s double Angle Slam for two with a bunch of people making the save. Four people are taken up top for a quadruple superplex, leaving everyone down.

OTM and Hank & Tank get up for a slugout but Baylor tags himself in. That earns him a swinging Boss Man Slam from Hank and a Death Valley Driver from Spears. Jackson Drake makes the save and OTM double stomps Spears onto the apron. Hank & Tank drive OTM through the announcers’ table but Baylor literally falls onto Spears for the pin at 11:32.

Rating: B-. The ending makes perfect sense as there was little reason to add the Project to the match if they weren’t going to win in the end. That’s a good thing too, as having a team who looks like they exist to get destroyed luck their way into a win is going to work most of the time. I’m not sure they win the titles, but they did the right thing in getting there. Throw in OTM figuring out how to be the power brawlers they were meant to be and this was a fun watch.

Post match Baylor looks stunned that he won but celebrates like crazy anyway.

Video on Keanu Carver, who grew up in Washington DC and played college football because he likes violence. No one, including his coach, could control him though and now he’s here to hurt people.

Robert Stone asks Joe Hendry to leave the building, which Hendry does. Sol Ruca comes up but Zaria cuts her off and yells at her, officially ending their friendship. That needed to happen.

Here is Fatal Influence for a chat. Jacy Jayne says she’s actually excited to face Sol Ruca for the Women’s Title next week. She’s jealous of Ruca, because no matter what Jayne does, the fans always tell her that Ruca is better. She even beat Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s Title last year! Then Ruca got Superstar Of The Year and represented NXT at John Cena’s final match. Jayne is the most underrated superstar in WWE and it’s not because she can flip a lot.

Cue Ruca, who says Jayne is more envious than anyone else and winning the title hasn’t changed her at all. Jayne wanted that match and next week, Ruca is snatching her soul and the title. The beatdown is on but Zaria comes in and, eventually, makes the save. Zaria and Ruca hug.

Sean Legacy wants Elio LeFleur and Eli Knight to tear it down in their Speed match. They both say may the best man win.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Eli Knight vs. Elio LeFleur

They both miss some kicks to the face to start until Knight counters a charge into a belly to belly to the corner. LeFleur’s suplex over the top sends them both crashing to the floor, allowing Knight to hit a quick dive. Knight comes up favoring his ankle but gets back inside for a pinfall reversal sequence.

Knight’s superkick connects but he dives into a sitout powerbomb for two. LeFleur hits a kind of springboard shoulder (Joseph: “I don’t know what the h*** that was but it knocked Knight down.”) and goes up to miss a 450. Knight hits a running knee and goes up rather than cover for some reason, allowing LeFleur to dragon superplex him down…and time is up at 3:00.

Rating: B. These things are all about just cramming in as much stuff as you can and that worked here. It’s an entertaining sprint of a showcase for both of them, though hopefully this doesn’t set up a triple threat for the title. If nothing else, hopefully it gets rid of the tournament idea, as I have no idea why that needs to be a thing.

Post match Robert Stone comes out to announce a triple threat title match for next week, with a SEVEN MINUTE time limit.

Shiloh Hill respectfully requests that Myles Borne stay out of the North American Title match tonight and offers Borne a shot when he wins the title. Borne appreciates that but says it has to be against Ethan page before suggesting that Hill will lose. A fight is teased but it’s broken up before anything happens.

Uriah Connors talks to Charlie Dempsey and tries to get him on the Lexis King team. Dempsey isn’t sure and leaves, with King, Stacks and Arianna Grace coming in. Grace is happy with her newly won TNA Knockouts Title.

Robert Stone tells Fallon Henley that he’s trying to get her a Speed Title defense set up but Blake Monroe comes in to interrupt. She’s upset about Jaida Parker, but Parker is apparently out with a neck injury. Stone puts Monroe in the Women’s speed tournament next week…against Thea Hail.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Darkstate wants to take out Tony D’Angelo and retain their Tag Team Titles.

Zaria and Sol Ruca make up again. Myles Borne walks by, saying he knows what he’s going to do now.

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Shiloh Hill

Page is defending and gets flipped over by the arm to start, meaning it’s time for an early retreat to the ropes. Hill takes him down into a hammerlock and Page grabs the rope, earning a shove out to the floor. Back in and Page starts in on the arm, only to charge into an elbow to the face. A Superman Punch of all things drops Page again and he gets knocked outside, leaving him looking rather confused. Hill hits a hard lariat but here is the Vanity Project as we take a break.

We come back with Page getting two off a big boot, followed by a swinging neckbreaker for two more. A super powerslam of all things gives Page another near fall so the Vanity Project pulls the ring mat back. The Ego’s Edge on the concrete is blocked but Page is back in with a Codebreaker. That makes Hill pull his tooth out though and Hill makes the fired up comeback. Hill beats up the invading Vanity Project but Page catches him with the Twisted Grin on the concrete. Back in and another Twisted Grin retains the title at 12:27.

Rating: B-. Hill is fitting in well around here as there is always the place for the weird guy who can still do well in the ring. It’s not something that feels like it could go a long way, but at least things are working well for his start. On the other hand you have Page, who is a good choice for a heel and can make his stuff work with just about anyone. Good stuff here, with Page setting the record for most successful title defenses.

Post match Page and the Project beats Hill down but Myles Borne makes the save. Hill gets up as well, leaving Borne to hammer on Page. Borne wraps a chair around Page’s ankle and teases Pillmanizing it while demanding a title match. Page says they can do it next week so Borne backs off, leaving Page to run his mouth again. That earns him a Pillmanization to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was the kind of show that was designed to get things going towards Vengeance Day and they made it work. A lot of the card is already set or all but ready to be set, though next week has three title matches of its own. The new stars are already fitting in well and hopefully that continues, as NXT lives on having a revolving door of talent. It worked here, and that means the future might be bright.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Lola Vice – Hand crank
Tony D’Angelo b. Cutler James – Spinebuster
Vanity Project b. OTM, Hank & Tank and The Culling – Double stomp on the apron to Spears
Elio LeFleur vs. Eli Knight went to a time limit draw
Ethan Page b. Shiloh Hill – Twisted Grin

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: February 10, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re in a bit of a new era as we have a new NXT Champion in Joe Hendry, who won the title last week in a heck of a seven man ladder match. That leaves us pretty wide open for where things go from here and that should make for some interesting developments. Other than that, we’re on our way to…whatever the next big show is going to be.  Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Here is Joe Hendry to get things going. He is the new NXT Champion but he wasn’t sure he was going to get here. Last week he was on the floor in pain but he looked up at Ricky Saints and he got up to win the title. Becoming a two time national amateur wrestling champion in England was a step, just like winning the TNA World Title and facing Randy Orton at Wrestlemania. Cue the Vanity Project to interrupt, with Jackson Drake saying he’s ready to run through a wall. Or take the title. The brawl is on with Hendry getting taken down, allowing Drake to do Hendry’s pose and hold up the NXT Title.

Zaria and Sol Ruca are still having tension, with Zaria asking why it can’t be her time. Ruca: “Good talk, I guess.”

Jaida Parker is ready to give a beating. The fire she has in her eyes is great.

Keanu Carver wants the next shot at the NXT Title but Robert Stone says Jackson Drake is getting it, as Shawn Michaels wants chaos. Carver is fine with delivering chaos but Stone tries to stop him. A glare cuts that off really fast.

Blake Monroe vs. Jaida Parker

Parker jumps her to start but Monroe throws part of her gear. That doesn’t get her very far though as Parker is back with a German suplex. A waistlock puts Monroe in trouble and Parker knocks her out to the floor. Monroe manages a trip into the announcers’ table though and we take a break. We come back with Parker blocking a kick to the ribs and elbowing Monroe in the face. The Teardrop connects in the corner and Parker knocks her outside, where they brawl to a double countout at 9:02.

Rating: C. Well that wasn’t much. Parker continues to feel like a star in the making but instead she’s going to a double countout in a so so match with Monroe. At least Parker feels like she has something going for her though, but Monroe is just kind of there. That’s going to need to change, as she’s needing something else to do. Like pairing her with someone perhaps.

Post match the beatdown stays on, with Parker taking out both Monroe and security. Monroe bails into the crowd.

Tatum Paxley talks about how it felt like she was drowning and struggling to breathe around Izzi Dame and the Culling. She tried to become what Dame wanted her to be but had to let go. It let her become what she knew she was and become the version of Tatum Paxley she needs to be.

Kale Dixon yells at Uriah Connors for walking out on Chase U last week. Connors says Chase held them back and here are Stacks, Arianna Grace and Lexis King, who seem to want Connors on their side. Wasn’t he on the team last week?

The title character from the movie Psycho Killer is behind commentary. Make your own Tommaso Ciampa reference.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Josh Briggs vs. Eli Knight

Knight ducks boot in the corner to start and gets in a high crossbody. An enziguri sends Briggs outside for a running dive but he clotheslines Knight in the back of the head for an early two. Knight knocks him back down and hits a moonsault for the fast pin at 2:06. Well they got the speed part right, but that’s about all they had here.

Elio LeFleur comes out to shake hands with Knight but Jasper Troy comes in to lay them both out.

Lola Vice gets her hand looked at and is ready to face Kelani Jordan next week. Cue Jordan to jump her from behind.

Keanu Carver has wrecked a bunch of people, including Sean Legacy and Andre Chase.

Here is Darkstate for a chat. Dion Lennox wants the NXT Title but Cutler James isn’t sure what Tony D’Angelo was thinking last week. They haven’t forgotten about the Culling either, but here is the Culling on the platform to say they aren’t charging into this kind of a disadvantage. The lights go out and OTM say they’re here for the titles as well. Hank & Tank pop up to say they want the belts too but here is D’Angelo to run through Darkstate.

Post break Robert Stone makes a three way #1 contenders match for next week with OTM, the Culling and Hank & Tank. Stone runs into Shiloh Hill, in a hockey mask for some reason, but Ethan Page comes in to say Hill needs to leave. Hill does that and Page tells Stone that he wants to set the record for the most title defenses. Page says he’s already beaten everyone around here and from TNA but Hill comes back in to get his machete, which gets him a title shot next week.

NXT Title: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

Only Hendry is defending and Drake (with the Vanity Project) dropkicks him into the corner to start. An early Swanton gives Drake two and a running shooting star press connects, only for Hendry to roll through into a fall away slam. They go outside with Hendry blocking a ram into the apron and then hitting a slam back inside.

Hendry rams him into the corner a few times and gets two off a suplex, with the fans approving. The Project gets caught sending Hendry into the steps though and get ejected as we take a break. We come back with Hendry fighting out of a cravate and grabbing a quick neckbreaker.

Hendry makes his comeback but the Standing Ovation is escaped, meaning Hendry has to settle for two off an Angle Slam instead. A German suplex and the Unaliver (running knee, not even named by commentary) gets two on Hendry but he counters a hurricanrana into a powerbomb. The Standing Ovation retains the title at 11:14.

Rating: C+. This was about getting Hendry’s first title defense out of the way and that’s not a bad thing. What matters the most is establishing him as champion, which kind of hast to be done since he won the title in a ladder match. I’m not wild on a champion losing, but it does help when the Evolve Title is clearly further down the ladder than the NXT Title, so this is far from an upset.

Post match Ricky Saints runs in and lays Hendry out.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair fire each other up before their main event.

Darkstate is ready for whomever comes after them next. Cutler James is ready to take out Tony D’Angelo next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Hank & Tank vs. Vanity Project

Hank chases after Baylor to start but gets taken into the corner for the tag off to Tank. A Smokes distraction lets Baylor get in a dropkick though and Smokes comes in for a chinlock. That’s broken up in a hurry with Hank working on the arm. Smokes gets sent face first into the buckle but Baylor gets a blind tag so Tank can get stomped in the corner.

We take a break and come back with Tank getting away and diving over for the tag back to Hank. A wheelbarrow Edge-O-Matic (that was cool) drops Smokes but Baylor comes in off the top with an elbow to cut Hank off. Everything breaks down and they all knock each other down but here are OTM and the Culling to brawl for a distraction. Cue Jackson Drake to knock Tank into a rollup to give Baylor the pin at 11:20.

Rating: C+. I’m assuming this will result in the Vanity Project being added to the #1 contenders match (which is fine) but the best thing is that it makes the team look like a bit more of a threat. The idea of the team isn’t that physically imposing but they’re clever. That’s something that has worked for years and it’s probably the best option for the team.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Sean Legacy wants Keanu Carver in two weeks. Yeah Carver will beat him up, but Carver will know he’s been in a fight.

Robert Stone does indeed put Vanity Project in the #1 contenders match next week (Simple and logical. That’s all I ask for. Well a lot of it at least.). Myles Borne comes in and isn’t happy about not getting the North American Title shot. Stone tells him it’s time for him to do something out of character.

Here’s what else is coming next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Wren Sinclair/Kendal Grey vs. Sol Ruca/Zaria

Whomever gets the pin gets an NXT Women’s Title shot. Grey rolls Ruca up to start fast so Ruca throws her into the corner for a break. It’s off to Sinclair for a basement dropkick but Ruca flips out of a wristlock. Zaria comes in to take over but shoves Ruca for a tag, only to break up Ruca’s cover. Zaria’s blind tag lets her get back inside, where Grey hits a superkick from the apron.

A double suplex gets Zaria out of trouble and it’s back to Ruca for a Mega Powers elbow. Ruca and Zaria argue with each other though and get dropkicked together for a crash out to the floor. Sinclair and Grey hit a dive apiece and we take a break. We come back with Grey escaping Zaria’s torture rack and both of them being knocked down.

Ruca tags herself back in and missile dropkicks Sinclair, followed by a running knee for two. Zaria makes her own tag back in and has to fight out of a cross armbreaker. Grey superkicks Zaria into Ruca, which counts as a tag but Zaria doesn’t notice. The spear hits Grey and an F5 takes out Sinclair, only for Ruca to come back in with the Sol Snatcher (which didn’t come close, with Grey falling down before the contact) to pin Grey at 12:25.

Rating: B-. That ending really didn’t work as there was no way to hide how far off the Sol Snatcher really landed. At the same time, it’s another issue between Ruca and Zaria, as I try to figure out why they’re still together. It’s one case after another of Zaria getting screwed over (often by herself) and they should have pulled the trigger on their split already. Sinclair and Grey work well together too and hopefully their split is a good time off in the future, as it doesn’t need to happen anytime soon.

Zaria is furious and here is Fatal Influence to yell at Ruca to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was about trying to take some steps into the future, as we have a lot of new stories that need to come together. It also helped with the idea of giving some of the fresh names something to do. NXT was needing some fresh blood and thankfully their early steps went fairly well. That being said, they still have a long way to go so we’ll have to see where it goes from here.

Results
Jaida Parker vs. Blake Monroe went to a double countout
Eli Knight b. Josh Briggs – Moonsault
Joe Hendry b. Jackson Drake – Standing Ovation
Vanity Project b. Hank & Tank – Rollup to Hank
Sol Ruca/Zaria b. Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair – Sol Snatcher to Grey

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: January 20, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re coming up on the big February 3 show, which will feature the six way ladder match for the NXT Title. That should make for some big moments here, as the qualifying matches start this week. Other than that, we have the North American Title is on the line, which has some interesting potential. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Ava talks to security, telling them to watch out for Tony D’Angelo.

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Elio LeFleur

Page is defending against the debuting LeFleur. A running shoulder drops LeFleur to start but he’s back up with a springboard headlock. Page takes him down but LeFleur backs to his feet and pats Page on the head in a nice touch. They head outside with LeFleur hitting a running hurricanrana off the steps, only for Page to backbreaker him onto the turnbuckle. We take a break and come back with Page ramming him face first into the mat.

LeFleur fights up with a springboard spinning crossbody into a swinging suplex for two. A 450 misses though and Page’s pump kick gets two more. Page kicks him down but LeFleur is back up with a spinning DDT. A springboard knee to the head gives LeFleur two and he goes Coast To Coast for the same. Another 450 hits raised knees but the Ego’s Edge is countered with a hurricanrana. Page powerbombs him out of the corner though and grabs the trunks to retain at 10:14.

Rating: B-. It was a nice debut from LeFleur, though I’m a bit surprised to see him lose in his first match. While I get the idea of not wanting to change the title out of nowhere, there is something weird about putting LeFleur into the title match right off the bat. Still though, nice job from both, as Page’s title reign manages to continue.

Post match here is Ricky Saints for a quick reunion with Page before joining commentary.

We look at Keanu Carver wrecking people last week.

We look at Carver and Booker T. getting into a big argument on LFG. Booker has no comment.

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Shiloh Hill vs. Josh Briggs

Hill knocks him down to start but gets kneed in the head for his efforts. A swinging neckbreaker puts Briggs down for a quick two and Hill drops a leg on the apron. Briggs sends him outside, where Hill is back with a running flip dive off the steps. Another knockdown drops Hill on the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Hill being sent into the corner, with a running elbow giving Briggs two. Hill runs him over with a shoulder and an inverted flipping backsplash gets two more. One heck of a chokeslam gets two, with Hill’s tooth flying out on the impact. Briggs’ moonsault misses though and it’s a belly to back neckbreaker (always liked that move) to give Hill the pin at 10:41.

Rating: C+. Well, they’re certainly trying something new with Hill, though the results are still to be determined. He’s a weird guy, and that might not have the longest shelf life. At the same time you have Briggs, who has been in the same place for so long now that you can almost guarantee what you’re getting with him. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly a good thing.

Post match Tony D’Angelo comes in to lay them both out before looking at Saints…and leaving.

Zaria and Sol Ruca are still upset over the former losing at Genesis. Zaria’s shoulder is banged up and she doesn’t want to be blamed if they lose tonight. That sounds harsh.

Vanity Project vs. Chase U

It seems that Swipe Right is no more as this is the former team but under the name Vanity Project. Jackson Drake and Andre Chase are both here too and it’s Smokes shouldering Connors down to start. Dixon comes in to take over on Baylor, including a standing moonsault. Connors takes too long going up though and gets slammed down, followed by a big boot to give Smokes two.

The villains keep Connors down but he rolls out of the corner, allowing the tag off to Dixon. House is quickly cleaned with the Project being sent outside for the big running flip dive. Back in and a twisting top rope splash gets two on Smokes, followed by a springboard Stunner for the same. Everything breaks down and a top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination finishes Hill at 6:38.

Rating: C+. Nice fast paced match here, though the Project isn’t exactly known for what they can do in the ring. That was on display here, as the match was pretty generic throughout. You can only get so much out of a match like this, with neither team meaning much, but at least the Project is off to a nice start.

Ava is calling the cops on Tony D’Angelo but Lola Vice interrupts. She wants a title shot, as does Thea Hail, who comes in to argue. Ava makes a triple threat for February 3, which has them both happy.

Earlier today, Keanu Carver sat down with an interview, where he says he’s here because he has to be and doesn’t want to answer any dumb questions. He’s asked about some disciplinary issues and walks out.

Here is Jaida Parker to quite the reception for a chat. She knows things have been changing here but she certainly hasn’t changed. There are some people who deserve flowers, like Kendal Grey and Lola Vice, but she didn’t return in a hurry because she wanted to prove herself. She is here because she is the standard that refuses to bend and everyone has opinions about her.

There is always someone telling her how to do something better and she knows she is making people feel pressure. She deserves the attention she gets but she isn’t going to be put in a box. She isn’t dimming her lights because….and the lights go out. Here is Blake Monroe in the balcony, saying Parker made a grave mistake last week. Parker says she’s standing right here and hits her catchphrase to wrap it up. Parker is on fire right now and giving her a big win over Monroe is a good idea. Just follow up on it.

Myles Bourne is with Ava when Elio LeFleur comes in. He thanks Ava for the opportunity and Ava says it was a tough loss. Bourne welcomes him to NXT when Ricky Saints comes in, with Bourne saying he’ll be in the ladder match. Ethan Page pops up to say Bourne is the one who always loses and says he has a choice.

We look at Unreal Season 2.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

Legacy is new on the NXT roster and Ricky Saints is on commentary. They both block kicks to the ribs to start and set the boots down, giving us an early standoff. Knight is sent outside and it’s an early suicide dive to take him down. Back in and Knight hits a dropkick to send Legacy outside instead for another dive.

We take a break and come back with both of them getting up to slug it out. Legacy hits a clothesline and gets two off a sunset flip. A Spanish Fly into a springboard 450 gives Legacy two more but Shambles (a complicated swinging neckbreaker) is blocked. Knight suplexes him into the corner for two as the fans certainly approve. They trade rollups for two each until Knight hits a Sliced Bread. Knight’s moonsault hits raised boots though and Shambles gives Legacy the pin at 10:51.

Rating: B-. It was a good start for Legacy, but he has made a career out of starting well and then never really doing much. There is a good chance that will happen again here, but at least he is getting the chance. It is clear that WWE sees something in him, and now he’ll have a shot. Knight will get a chance as well, as he looked good in there too.

Saints is impressed and Legacy shows respect…and Tony D’Angelo takes both of them out. Legacy is even chokeslammed onto the announcers’ table. The cops come out to take D’Angelo away.

Izzi Dame calls her title win the reason the Culling was started. The rest of the team wants the Tag Team Titles, starting with beating OTM.

Tony D’Angelo is put in a car and has nothing to say. The car leaves and OTM pops up to say they want Darkstate next week.

The Vanity Project is happy to be here, with Jackson Drake being told he has a qualifying match against next week with….Joe Hendry. Cue Hendry, who thinks he’ll win.

Darkstate is ready for everyone who wants to come for them.

Fatal Influence vs. Zaria/Sol Ruca vs. Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair

For a future TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles shot. Ruca, Reid and Grey start things off and trade rollups for some early near falls. Ruca’s backsplash gets two each and it’s off to Zaria to run people over. A double belly to back suplex drops Zaria though and Fatal Influence takes over on Sinclair. Ruca comes in and tries an assisted top rope splash but Zaria’s shoulder gives out. Reid dives onto Zaria on the floor, only for Grey and Sinclair to hit dives of their own.

We take a break and come back with Zaria choking Grey in the corner until Henley turns it into a middle rope Doomsday Device. Ruca, Sinclair and Reid come in to strike it out, with Sinclair suplexing her way to control. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Reid two but Grey has to take out Jacy Jayne on the floor.

Ruca dives in with a top rope splash for two and everyone is down. Grey kicks Reid down but walks into a slingshot X Factor from Ruca. Zaria is back in to clean house but walks into Shades Of Grey for two, with Jayne breaking it up. That leaves Reid to crucifix bomb Zaria and it’s Henley coming back in with a Blockbuster for two. Ruca is back up with a double Sol Snatcher to Fatal Influence and Zaria hits the F5 to pin Henley at 12:24.

Rating: B-. Another nice match here and they didn’t go with what felt like the expected result of Zaria costing her team the win. At some point Zaria is either going to have to win something or turn, as this has been going on for a bit now. It seems like we might be seeing it coming up here, but that could go either way.

Overall Rating: B-. Nothing really stood out as great on its own, but this show did a very good job of making me want to see the February 3 show. They’re turning it into a big deal and I’m wanting to see where things are going. If nothing else, the title match feels like it could go in a variety of directions and that’s the appeal of a big ladder match. They have to pay that off in the right way, but at least they’re starting it off right.

Results
Ethan Page b. Elio LeFleur – Rollup with trunks
Shiloh Hill b. Josh Briggs – Belly to back neckbreaker
Vanity Project b. Chase U – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Hill
Sean Legacy b. Eli Knight – Shambles
Sol Ruca/Zaria b. Fatal Influence and Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair – F5 to Henley

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: January 6, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s New Year’s Evil and we’ve got a bunch of title matches this week. The (likely) main event will see Oba Femi defending the NXT Title against Leon Slater. Other than that, Evolve Women’s Champion is challenging Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Title and Thea Hail is defending the Women’s North American Title against former champion Blake Monroe. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the highs and lows of 2025. This switches into a preview of tonight’s start to the year.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s North American Title: Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail

Hail is defending but Monroe jumps her from behind before the bell. The beating is on, with Hail going through the barricade, and referees break it up. No match at the moment.

With that being settled, here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints says he really needed NXT last year but now NXT really needs him. He’s the reason Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams picked free agency, because they know they can’t hang with him anymore. He knows how this ends and he hasn’t been wrong for twenty years so he isn’t starting now. Tonight’s main event is for the NXT Title and he wants the winner, especially if it’s Oba Femi, because they’re 1-1. In case you needed a reminder, that is absolute.

Ava is panicking in the back and throws us to the package on Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame. They were friends and Paxley had success, but Dame didn’t like that she stopped listening, meaning it was time for a fight.

Post break, Ava yells at Blake Monroe, who is willing to accept a fine and then get her title shot. Ava throws her out instead. I’m curious if Monroe will ever be back.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

Dame powers her into the corner and fires off forearms to start fast. Something like a half crab in the corner gets Paxley out of trouble and a big slap drops Dame again. A running flipping ax kick in the ropes connects but Dame forearms her right back down. We take a break and come back with Dame hitting some backbreakers for two and grabbing a Liontamer.

That’s broken up so Dame goes up top, where Paxley grabs a super Spanish Fly to leave both of them down. Paxley snaps off a German suplex but gets kicked in the face. A doctor bomb gets two but Dame has to break out of the Cemetery Drive. Dame spears her through the ropes, only for Paxley to come back with a kick to the head. A 450 knocks Dame sillier and the Cemetery Drive gives Paxley the pin at 11:37.

Rating: B-. That’s a big win for Paxley, as she beat Dame clean and in theory wins the feud. That comes after Paxley already won the Women’s Title, which is quite the promotion for her. It’s nice to see the hero win like this for a change and the fans certainly like Paxley, so nice job here.

Elio LeFleur (a masked French wrestler, better known as Aigle Blanc on the independent scene) is coming and describes himself as the French luchador. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Thea Hail is told her title match is going to be pushed back but she wants Blake Monroe tonight. Ava tells her about the ejection so Hail says it’s open challenge time. That sounds dumb.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Jacy Jayne

Only Jayne is defending (as Grey’s Evolve Women’s Title isn’t on the line) and Wren Sinclair and the rest of Fatal Influence are here too. Grey takes her down by the arm to start but the attempt at a cross armbreaker sends Jayne over to the ropes. A dropkick sends Jayne outside and Grey hits a big moonsault. Jayne sends her into the barricade though and adds a running cannonball as we take a break.

We come back with Jayne hitting a basement superkick and grabbing a cravate. That’s broken up and Grey hits a spinning middle rope crossbody for two, followed by stereo crossbodies to leave both of them down. Grey makes the comeback and takes the straps down, setting up a DDT out of the corner for two.

Jayne catches her on top though and a hanging swinging neckbreaker gives her two of her own. A big boot cuts off some German suplexes to give Jayne two more but Grey grabs the cross armbreaker. That brings in Fatal Influence for the distraction, with Sinclair getting knocked off the apron. Another armbreaker attempt is blocked but Fallon Henley blocks something like Oblivion. The Rolling Encore retains the title at 12:36.

Rating: B. This match told a nice story as Grey was clearly able to beat Jayne but couldn’t overcome the numbers game. That’s a nice way to keep Grey safe, and that is something that they should definitely do. Grey is pretty clearly going to be something around here, and beyond, so keeping her protected like this is a smart idea. Also, while Jayne might not be the greatest in-ring star ever, she can more than hold her own out there and deserves praise.

Ethan Page annoys Ava by bragging about his North American Title reign and goes to continue bragging in the ring. First though, he brings in the Vanity Project, much to her annoyance. Off-screen chattering ensues.

Women’s North American Title: Thea Hail vs. ???

A banged up Hail is defending and says the first woman in the ring gets a shot. The locker room comes out, with Tatum Paxley clearing the way with a chainsaw (fair). As that’s being put down though, Izzi Dame runs in from behind and boots Hail in the face so the bell can ring. A flapjack drops Hail for two but she gets the same off a rollup. Dame’s powerslam gets two and we take a break.

We come back with Dame stomping away but Hail manages a desperation DDT. The springboard backsplash misses though and Dame kicks her down again. Dame Over is blocked but Hail can’t get the Kimura. She can however exploder her out of the corner and out to the floor, where Dame cuts off a dive and plants her hard. Back in and Hail catches her on top, where Dame hits a super Dame Over for the pin and the title at 10:02.

Rating: C+. Well, the short title reign isn’t shocking as it was never supposed to happen in the first place. I do like that they went in another direction rather than having Monroe get the title back, as it should also set up something else between Dame and Paxley. That might not be necessary, but Dame stealing the title was a nice touch.

Post match the Culling celebrates with the new champion, as you might expect.

The Vanity Project hit on Lola Vice but Hank & Tank cut them off. With the Project gone, Vice says she’s going to beat up Izzi Dame and Kelani Jordan. Cue Jordan and the fight is on/quickly broken up.

Joe Hendry comes in to see Ava and requests a No DQ match with Dion Lennox next week. Oh and he’ll find some people to help deal with Darkstate. The last bit is enough for Ava to agree.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat. Last week he became a big game hunter by bagging a Moose. The main event is coming up but make no mistake: the North American Title is the real title in NXT and WWE. He has defended the title against everyone from around the world and that makes him an international icon.

Cue Jasper Troy to interrupt (Page looks confused) and say that he’s the dominant force around here. Before he can finish though, cue Josh Briggs to interrupt, with Troy getting in his last line over Briggs’ music, which really doesn’t work. Briggs calls Page delusional, just like the fans. Page doesn’t like being compared to THEM but here are Stacks and Arianna Grace to interrupt.

Stacks doesn’t like Page calling himself the International Icon when Stacks is already the TNA International Champion. Cue Shiloh Hill, who is facing Stacks for the title next week. Tavion Heights comes out to say this is missing him, so he’s challenging Troy for the Speed Title next week. The big brawl is on, with Hill dipping Grace back…but his tooth falls out. To call this a mess would be insulting to other messes.

Joe Hendry recruits OTM to help him against Darkstate next week. The tease of a possible Tag Team Title shot gets them in.

Fatal Influence runs into Sol Ruca and Zaria, who won awards but don’t have any titles. Ruca and Zaria aren’t impressed.

Ethan Page runs into Myles Borne and Tate Wilder (a cowboy from Evolve). Page isn’t sure why Borne wasn’t out there but Borne says that wasn’t his business. That doesn’t work for Page, who yells at both of them and leaves. Wilder tells Borne to not let this bother him but Borne says it’s too late.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater

Femi is defending (Slater’s TNA X-Division Title is not on the line). They circle each other to start, with Slater’s waistlock not working in the slightest. Femi works on the arm instead and chops him down, setting up an early chinlock. Back up and Slater handsprings into a backbreaker, allowing Femi to throw him outside as we take a break.

We come back with Slater hitting a Codebreaker for a needed breather. Femi is knocked outside, where he chops a standing Slater on the apron for quite the loud impact. A running knee hits the post though and Slater sends him knees first into the steps in a smart move. Back in and a high crossbody gives Slater two but Femi’s chokeslam gets the same.

Slater gets in a running knee though and manages a slam for two. An enziguri sends Femi outside and there’s the big running flip dive over the post. The Swanton 450 (which was overlaunched anyway) hits raised knees to give Femi two more but Slater superkicks him. Femi is right back to catch him with the Fall From Grace to retain at 11:10.

Rating: B+. This was a case of Slater having one of the biggest chances of his career and going for it with everything he had. Slater is someone who can do some great things in the ring and will absolutely be on WWE’s radar. At the same time, Femi is quite the monster force and got to win a good main event here. That being said, he’s on his way to the main roster and the title reign is going to have to end sooner or later.

Ava tells the Evolve locker room that there are a lot of spots available at the moment, as Je’Von Evans, Jordynne Grace, Trick Williams and Lash Legend have all moved up. Robert Stone runs in to ask if we saw what Oba Femi just did.

We cut back to the ring, where the title is sat on the mat with Femi gone (and Tony D’Angelo looking on from the crowd). So I guess that’s how they get the title off of him. Smart move.

Overall Rating: B. They were in a VERY tough spot with this show, as so much of the roster is going away all at once. There are at least four people signed up to the main roster, with Femi and Monroe looking likely. That leaves a bunch of changes that need to be made and this show did what it could to make that happen.

NXT’s cupboard isn’t bare, but this felt like a season finale when a lot of the main cast had left. Hopefully they have some fresh ideas for some new names as they’re certainly going to be needed. Call ups are what NXT is designed to do, but they have their work cut out for them. They did well here, but the hard part is just beginning.

Results
Tatum Paxley b. Izzi Dame – Cemetery Drive
Jacy Jayne b. Kendal Grey – Rolling Encore
Izzi Dame b. Thea Hail – Super Dame Over
Oba Femi b. Leon Slater – Fall From Grace

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: December 30, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show of the year and that means it’s time for the End Of The Year Awards. These are an annual tradition around here and that usually winds up being worth the look. If nothing else, seeing the choices that are made can make for some interesting options and we also have a title match. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Moose vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending and jumps him to start fast. That earns him a spear from Moose and the crash sends Page outside. Another charge only goes into the steps though and Moose’s arm is banged up. A neckbreaker puts Moose down and we take a break. We come back with Page kicking him in the face but Moose grabs a suplex. A release Rock Bottom into a backsplash sets up a chokebomb to plant Page for two. They strike it out with Page going after the arm and he hits a big clothesline.

A Codebreaker gets two on Moose, who sends him flying on the kickout. Page is sat on top for a dropkick out to the floor and there’s the spear through the barricade. Back in and another spear gets a delayed two as Page has to put his foot on the rope. The threat of another spear sends Page bailing out to the floor. Moose’s charge is backdropped onto the steps for a nasty crash and a splash gets two back inside. The Twisted Grin retains the title at 10:47.

Rating: B-. Nice stuff here, with Page’s rather long title reign continuing. He’s getting into striking distance of Oba Femi’s record for the longest title reign in the belt’s history and him getting to the top spot isn’t a bad idea. If nothing else, beating a former World Champion/powerhouse like Moose is a good look for him, as Page is pretty clearly seen as a big deal around here.

The nominees for Male Superstar Of The Year are:

Je’Von Evans
Ricky Saints
Trick Williams
Ethan Page
Oba Femi

The winner is….actually Evans, which is rather surprising as he hasn’t actually won anything. That being said, it’s a popularity vote so it’s hardly some big issue.

Evans talks about the things he has done this year and promises that the next year is going to be even bigger. The fans are thanked as well.

Izzi Dame is ready to deal with Tatum Paxley, though the rest of the Culling doesn’t think that’s a great idea.

Kendal Grey has been attacked and Wren Sinclair wants help.

Izzi Dame is in the ring and says Tatum Paxley is going nuts after one bad day. Dame doesn’t like Paxley going so nuts and wants to deal with it once and for all. Cue Paxley, who thinks Dame is the real weak one because she’s too scared to deal with Paxley herself. Dame says if Paxley had listened to her, she would still be the Women’s Champion.

Paxley says when she’s in the graves and bugs are eating her brain, they’ll see the memories of what Paxley is going to do to her next week. Dame says playtime is over but Paxley says it’s not over until she says it is. Dame jumps her from behind but Paxley is ready because she knows Dame that well. Nice segment here.

The nominees for Tag Team Of The Year are:

Hank & Tank
Zaruca
The Culling
Fatal Influence
Darkstate

And the winners are….Zaruca, who don’t team together very often but they promise more victories.

Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair

Non-title and the rest of Fatal Influence is here with Jayne. A running shoulder drops Sinclair to start but she’s back up with some arm cranking. What looks like a Fujiwara armbar is blocked so Sinclair settles for a kick to the arm. Fatal Influence offers a distraction though and Jayne kicks her down as we take a break.

We come back with Jayne hitting a neckbreaker and stopping to pose but getting sent throat first into the middle rope. A butterfly suplex gives Sinclair two but Jayne’s running knee gets the same. Sinclair’s high crossbody sets up Cattle Mutilation (or “this unique submission” according to Vic) before Sinclair gets some rollups for two each. Back up and the Rolling Encore finishes Sinclair off at 11:08.

Rating: C+. This is something that needs to happen on occasion, as the champ gets to prove that she can beat someone with a bit of status around here. It helps that Sinclair was fighting on her own thanks to the attack on Grey so she’s even protected a bit. The match had some nice back and forth stuff too, which fits well for Sinclair.

Post match the beatdown is on until the injured Kendal Grey runs in for the save. She even gets a cross armbreaker on Jayne for the tap and gets to hold the title.

Here is Joe Hendry for his concert. Hendry recaps his year and then…plays a song to recap the year in NXT. As he sings, you can see Tony D’Angelo watching from the crowd. This involves saying he made Darkstate famous and cue the team to beat Hendry down, including the toss powerbomb.

Ava comes into her office and finds Blake Monroe, who is still rather depressed. Ava’s advice is for the Glamour to show up next week.

Various people pick between Oba Femi and Leon Slater next week.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Tavion Heights vs. Lexis King

Heights hits the belly to belly for the pin at 8 seconds. Well that works.

Match Of The Year Nominees:

Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams – Stand And Deliver
Sol Ruca vs. Kelani Jordan – Battleground
Ethan Page vs. Ricky Saints – Great American Bash
Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice – No Mercy
Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans – Heatwave
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge – Deadline

And it’s the Stand And Deliver match. Eh fair enough.

Swipe Right vs. OTM

Swipe Right (with Jackson Drake) takes Price into the corner to start but Price is right back with some very loud chops. Nima comes in and starts on Baylor’s ribs but Smokes gets in a shot to the leg. That’s enough for Baylor to grab a chinlock, which is broken up so Price can come back in. The assisted Alabama Slam finishes Smokes at 3:37.

Rating: C. It wasn’t a squash, but OTM got to showcase their power against the pretty boy tag team. That’s what should have happened here, as OTM needs to get some wins going after a rather up and down run in NXT. They have the potential to do something and hopefully this was a start on that road.

Jordynne Grace offers some praise to Thea Hail so Hail asks for Grace to be in her corner next week. Grace agrees, but has to be talked into a hug.

Female Star Of The Year Nominees:

Kelani Jordan
Sol Ruca
Tatum Paxley
Blake Monroe
Jacy Jayne

Ruca wins, which makes sense as she’s insanely popular. Jordynne Grace not even being nominated isn’t a good sign.

We run down next week’s card.

IMG Credit: WWE

Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints

Evans jumps him during the entrances and the brawl is on fast. Saints fights back and blocks a German suplex but gets knocked into the corner. A stomp to the knee cuts Evans off and Saints punches him down. They go outside and Evans is sent hard into the barricade. Evans is able to get in a shot to the face though and the big dive connects. Saints is sent into the barricade and Evans unloads with right hands on the announcers’ table.

Back in and Saints sends him face first into the apron and teases sending Evans into the ring structure as we take a break. We come back with Saints grabbing a guillotine choke until Evans suplexes his way to freedom. A spinning kick to the head gets two and a standing kick to the head rocks Saints again. Back up and Saints grabs a tiger bomb for two so it’s time to load up the announcers’ table.

That takes too long though as Evans is back up with a big dive to cut him off. The frog splash gets two back inside but Saints breaks up a springboard. The spear gives Saints two and a tornado DDT gets one. Evans cuts off another spear with a cutter but the OG Cutter hits the referee by mistake. That’s enough for Saints to kick Evans low and hit the Roshambo for the pin at 15:28.

Rating: B. Another good main event here, as Evans has a reason to either go for revenge or possibly move on. Odds are it’s the former though, as someone cheating to win is hardly the way to wrap up a feud like this. Evans continues to look more and more comfortable out there though and that’s what matters the most, as he has quite the potential future in front of him.

One more New Year’s Evil rundown wraps us up.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show that was getting things warmed up for next week’s really big show. That’s where the awards helped a bit, as they padded things out just well enough to keep the show from getting long. The main event worked well too, as Saints is already doing a nice job in his new role. Next week is the show that really matters, but at least the wrapped up the year with something good enough.

Results
Ethan Page b. Moose – Twisted Grin
Jacy Jayne b. Wren Sinclair – Rolling Encore
Tavion Heights b. Lexis King – Spinning belly to belly
OTM b. Swipe Right – Assisted Alabama Slam to Stokes
Ricky Saints b. Je’Von Evans – Roshambo

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6