NXT
Date: December 2, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re back in the regular location here and that means it’s time for the final push towards Deadline. The Iron Survivor Challenges are set and that means we get to see where things go from here. The rest of the show needs some attention of its own and hopefully that is what we get here. Let’s get to it.

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

The women’s Iron Survivor Challenge participants are in the ring with Ava to get things going. Sol Ruca thinks everyone should see her as being great, even though she’s had some issues recently. Jordynne Grace says she has experience winning and she’ll do it again at Deadline. Lola Vice tells Grace to shut up and Kendal Grey says she’s the only person who is already a champion.

Kelani Jordan (the fans DO NOT like her) doesn’t want to hear from Grey because the Challenge is innovative and electrifying, which describes Jordan as well. The other four are the stand ins and she’s the standout. Cue Fatal Influence to interrupt, with Jayne bragging about her skinny waist and then insulting the participants. Insults ensue, with Jordan and Fatal Influence being cleared out.

Joe Hendry and Thea Hail are rather happy with what’s going on around here. Stacks and Arianna Grace come in for an exchange of insults, with a match between Hail and Grace being set for later.

Ava tells security to keep Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace apart. Next up is Fatal Influence, who are going to be in a six woman tag tonight.

Thea Hail vs. Arianna Grace

Joe Hendry and Stacks are here too. Hail’s headlock doesn’t work as she gets pulled down into an armbar. Some forearms to the back and a neckbreaker have Hail in trouble but she avoids a charge. Grace crashes out to the floor and gets suplexed back inside. The guys get in a quick fight and Hail slaps on the Kimura for the win at 2:47.

Earlier this week, Chase U almost hit OTM with their car so OTM yelled at Andre Chase, who yelled at Chase U. Apparently OTM says if this happens again, it’s on sight, even if Chase doesn’t know what that means.

Je’Von Evans, Leon Slater, Joe Hendry and Myles Borne are ready for Darkstate, with Ava saying that there’s going to be a match involving Darkstate for the Iron Survivor Challenge advantage. As she’s explaining this, Robert Stone comes in with a box for Ava. It’s already been opened and it’s….coal?

Josh Briggs vs. Tavion Heights

The brawl is on outside before the bell and they come inside with Heights grabbing a spinebuster. Heights throws him down without much trouble, followed by a capture suplex for two. Briggs manages a good shot out to the floor, where Heights spears him through the barricade for the big crash.

We take a break and come back with Briggs working on an armbar before sending him into the corner. Heights shrugs that off and fires off the clotheslines so Briggs rips the chain off his own neck. The referee takes that away, leaving Heights to hit a belly to belly. Briggs gets a foot on the rope for the break so Heights yells at the referee. That’s enough for Briggs to hit a big clothesline for the pin at 11:36.

Rating: C+. Nice enough power match here and I’m liking the idea of Briggs getting reheated a bit. At the same time I’m not feeling Heights losing again, as he was starting to get somewhere. Unfortunately one of them had to lose here and hopefully Briggs gets to go a bit higher from here.

Here is the Culling for a chat. Izzi Dame gets why the fans love Tatum Paxley so much and the audio cuts off because the fans chant something negative. Dame wasn’t wild on Paxley turning her back on the woman who pulled her out of her terrible place. Paxley was known as a little weirdo freak and Dame gave her confidence.

It felt like Paxley didn’t think what the Culling gave her was good enough. Paxley won the title because Dame allowed her to and then Paxley ignored her. This week, they’ll be facing off at Deadline and Dame has one final lesson for her. Cue Paxley, who says Dame took everything from her and at Deadline, she has to make Dame feel her pain.

Sol Ruca apologizes to Zaria for not being there last week. Zaria says she won’t be here this week but the rest of the team doesn’t really care.

We get a video explaining the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Fatal Influence vs. Kendal Grey/Lola Vice/Sol Ruca

Reid shoves Vice around to start and everything breaks down in a hurry. Grey hits a big dive to the floor and Ruca adds a huge moonsault but Reid forearms her way out of trouble. The fans do the Wave as Henley comes in and gets taken down by an armbar. A basement dropkick gives Grey two but Reid comes back in with a dropkick of her own. Henley trips Grey on the floor and Jayne adds a backsplash as we take a break.

We come back with Grey flipping her way to freedom and rolling over for the tag to Vice. House is quickly cleaned, including the running hip attacks in the corner. Everything breaks down again and a springboard Blockbuster takes Ruca down. A double running knee gives Jayne two with Vice making the save. Ruca is back up with a slingshot X Factor and the Sol Snatcher finishes Jayne at 11:13.

Rating: B-. Ruca continues to feel like an absolute star and that is likely going to be the case for a long time to come. It wouldn’t shock me to see her go after Jayne’s title sooner than later as it isn’t like she has much else to do. On the other hand you have Grey, who feels like the other big prospect, which could go a long way. The future is bright and that’s a great situation to have.

Post match Zaria comes out and spears Grey, though it’s not clear who she was targeting.

NXT Anonymous shows us Je’Von Evans talking to Ricky Saints. They’re both ready to win at Deadline, though Evans does tease coming after the title.

Dion Lennox wants the NXT Title and gives his Tag Team Title to Saquon Shuggars. Oba Femi comes in and Lennox says he wants to face Femi at New Year’s Evil. Femi tells him to not get ahead of himself.

OTM vs. Chase U

Andre Chase is here with Chase U, who jump the monsters to start fast. A Swanton gives Connors two on Price, who gets chopped down in a hurry. That’s broken up and Dixon comes in to chop away. Price kicks him in the face though and the running stomp gets two, with Nima picking Dixon up. A press slam is countered into a Codebreaker though and it’s back to Connors to clean house. The tornado DDT gives Connors two and Nima gets sent outside with a springboard Stunner. Back in and the assisted sitout Alabama Slam finishes Connors at 4:38.

Rating: C+. Chase U hasn’t felt like anything for a good while now but at least they got in a nice performance here. They have to win something at some point or it won’t matter though, that point has probably already passed. At least OTM feels like they are being treated as something serious, which just needs to last.

We look at Ethan Page in a tag match against Mr. Iguana in AAA last month.

Page tries to leave but Ava stops him to say he has a title defense. Against Mr. Iguana. Who steals Page’s car.

Shiloh Hill talks about getting to eat raccoon at Thanksgiving and talks about a Thanksgiving race from when he was a kid. He got lost in the forest and went into survival mode, which changed things for him. It helped him on LFG, where Undertaker fired him up by telling him to take his opponents’ souls.

Deadline rundown.

Joe Hendry/Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans/Myles Borne vs. Darkstate

The winning side gets to pick the entry for the Iron Survivor Challenge. Griffin throws Borne around to start and it’s off to Shuggars for a cravate. Borne fights back with an Eye of the Hurricane and it’s off to Hendry for a shoulder. Shuggars slips out of the fall away slam and James comes in, earning a dropkick from Slater.

Evans’ double stomp to the back connects but James doesn’t like getting chopped. A springboard hurricanrana takes Lennox down but he pops back up with a spinebuster to plant Borne. Everything breaks down and the big slugout is on with Darkstate cleaning house on the floor.

We take a break and come back with Evans sliding between the legs and diving over to tag Hendry. That doesn’t go anywhere as Hendry gets choked on the rope and legdropped. Griffin comes back in for a shot to the face and Lennox slaps on a guillotine. That’s escaped with a backdrop and it’s Slater coming back in to start the comeback. Evans comes in for the big dives and a cutter drops Griffin for two. Everything breaks down with Hendry and Lennox brawling to the back. Borne tags himself in and it’s Slater’s Swanton 450 into Borne Again to give Borne the pin at 14:49.

Rating: B-. Well the point here was about having some issues with the good guys as they vie for an advantage in the Iron Survivor Challenge. That could have been a lot worse, though the match was about what you would have expected. Darkstate losing here is ok, but it shouldn’t happen very often. At the same time, Hendry doesn’t exactly feel hot now that he’s officially in NXT. Maybe that changes, but it’s not a great start.

Oba Femi and Ricky Saints are in the back for their contract signing. They both sign, while talking about how they promise to win. Ava tells them that they’re opening the show to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: B. They did a nice job of making me want to see Deadline, which is feeling like a more important show than they’ve had in a good while. It features the unique Iron Survivor Challenges and this show made me want to see what they’re going to do. That’s a great way to set up the new year and hopefully they can make the whole thing work. For now though, nice job of setting the table.

Results
Thea Hail b. Arianna Grace – Kimura
Josh Briggs b. Tavion Heights – Clothesline
Kendal Grey/Lola Vice/Sol Ruca b. Fatal Influence – Sol Snatcher to Jayne
OTM b. Chase U – Assisted sitout Alabama Slam to Connors
Myles Borne/Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans/Joe Hendry b. Darkstate – Borne Again to Griffin

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

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NXT
Date: November 25, 2025
Location: Theater At Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the second week of Gold Rush and that means it’s time for more title matches. This includes the usual assortment of titles being on the line, but we are also less than a month away from Deadline. In this case, that means John Cena will be announcing the participants in the annual Iron Survivor Challenges. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s show.

Evolve Title: Sean Legacy vs. Jackson Drake

Drake, with Swipe Right, is defending. Legacy starts fast with some atomic drops to send him outside, where Swipe Right offers a distraction. That lets Drake get in a cheap shot from behind but Legacy snaps off a dropkick back inside. Drake suplexes him into the corner though and we take a break.

We come back with Drake striking away but Legacy manages a missile dropkick to the floor. Legacy takes out Swipe Right and gets two off a sitout implant DDT. Drake kicks him back down and drops some moonsault knees for two of his own. They head up top with Legacy grabbing something like a tabletop superplex for two more but Drake drapes him over the top. A springboard knee to the back of the head sets up the Unaliver (running knee) to retain the title at 10:58.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine match here, though Legacy is starting to lose his charm. He felt like the one who was going to be the big breakout star in Evolve and then he keeps losing. Maybe he’s turning heel or something soon, but this is only getting him so far. Nothing bad here, but it felt like a glorified warmup match.

Earlier today, Ethan Page came up to Sol Ruca and told her to stop worrying about Zaria. Myles Borne came in and Ruca left, with Borne saying he’s ready to face Trick Williams tonight. Page says Williams only worries about himself, which is the right way to go. Sneering ensues.

Speed Title: Fallon Henley vs. Zaria

For the vacant title. Henley, with Fatal Influence, throws her down to start but a sleeper is broken up. Zaria’s sunset flip gets two and she sits down on Henley to break up another cover. The Texas cloverleaf goes on and sends Henley over to the ropes as we’re down to two minutes left. Zaria grabs another sleeper and lifts her up in the corner before sending her outside. Henley is thrown back inside and Zaria goes after Fatal Influence, with Henley using the distraction to get in a cheap shot.

Back in and Zaria’s F5 is countered into a DDT for two so Zaria fireman’s carries her again…as time expires at 5:00. Cue Ava to say not so fast and it’s now Sudden Death. Henley crashes out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Zaria firing off some clotheslines and sending her flying with a suplex. Reid offers a quick distraction though and Henley hits a Shining Wizard. The Fameasser gives Henley the title at 12:25.

Rating: C+. That’s not exactly what I think of when I hear the word SPEED but it’s nice to see Henley get a win. She’s had a long stretch of not doing much so this is a good development for her career. If nothing else, it makes her feel like something of a star rather than just a lackey on a team, which is how she has felt for a long time now.

Shiloh Hill talks about how important his dad was to him over the years and how the Wrestlemania shirt his dad gave him is a big deal. Nothing wrong with something like this.

John Cena picks the entrants for the Iron Survivor Challenges. For the men, we’ll be seeing Je’Von Evans, Leon Slater, Joe Hendry, Dion Lennox and….the winner of Myles Borne vs. Trick Williams.

We look back at the Culling turning on Tatum Paxley last week.

TNA Knockouts Title: Lei Ying Lee vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan is defending. Grace (the crowd favorite) and Lee take turns beating on Jordan until Jordan jumps on Grace’s back. That’s broken up with a top rope Blockbuster from Lee, who knees Grace in the head for a bonus. Jordan knocks Lee outside but Grace is back up with a running Vader Bomb. Lee goes after Grace so Jordan double stomps the two of them, followed by a DDT for two on Grace. Jordan’s Asai moonsault takes both of them out and we take a break.

We come back with Jordan frog splashing Grace for two with Lee making the save. Lee takes both of them down but Grace’s German suplex drops her for two more. Jordan’s super Spanish Fly plants Grace for another near fall so Grace powerbombs both of them for two on the champ. Jordan misses a 450 and gets kicked in the face by Lee, with Grace making the save. Grace gives Jordan the spinning torture rack powerbomb but Lee kicks Grace away and steals the pin and the title at 13:59.

Rating: B. This got a good deal of time and thankfully ends the NXT star holding the TNA title deal. Lee is a nice example of someone who needed to win something to boost herself up and this is as good as anything else. There are a lot of talented women in TNA to come after the title and now they don’t have to deal with the invasion nonsense. Nice match here, with the right result.

Fatal Influence is happy with their success and they want Lainey Reid to win her title. Ava comes in to say there’s no interference.

We get a sitdown interview with Ricky Saints, who talks about how important it will be to face Oba Femi again at Deadline. Yes he beat Femi before, but now he’s not sure if he can do it again. Now he’s gotten all kinds of questions and people wondering if he can do it. What does it mean if he can’t again? All he knows is he’s going to prove that the impossible is possible again. Because he’s Ricky Saints.

Evolve Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Lainey Reid

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending and tackles her down to start the brawl fast. The early cross armbreaker attempt is broken up so Grey switches to just stomping away in the corner. Reid heads outside, where she manages to trip Grey face first into the steps (and HARD at that) as we take a break.

We come back with Grey’s top rope moonsault taking Reid down to start the comeback. Grey gets kicked outside but comes right back in, where Reid stomps her down for two. Reid’s running charge is countered into a powerslam but cue Fatal Influence for a distraction. Wren Sinclair breaks that up but gets knocked into Charlie Dempsey’s arms on the floor. The mass ejections get rid of everyone on the floor and Reid hits a superkick, only to miss a splash. Shades Of Grey (running Downward Spiral) retains the title at 10:28.

Rating: C+. It’s no surprise that WWE wanted to have Grey on a show like this as she is pretty clearly one of their bigger prospects at the moment. That shouldn’t be a surprise as she is young, talented and the fans like her. Let her develop and if it goes well enough, odds are she’ll be a big deal on the main roster one day.

Darkstate is ready to win the NXT Title to go with the Tag Team Titles.

John Cena announces the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge field: Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Jordynne Grace and Kendal Grey. That’s an interesting field.

Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Myles Borne vs. Trick Williams

Borne grabs a quick rollup for two to start before grinding away on a headlock. Williams fights out of that and puts on a front facelock, followed by a quick suplex for two. A quick Borne Again gets two and we take an early break. We come back with Williams hammering away, with a flapjack connecting for two. Borne’s small package gets two but he walks into an AA.

The Trick Shot is countered into a powerslam for two more and Borne gets fired up. A reverse DDT gives Borne two but he walks into a release Rock Bottom. They trade shots to the face before both try jumping neckbreakers at the same time for a cool spot. Another Borne Again is blocked so Williams knocks him outside for a spinning kick to the face. Borne Again connects on the floor as well, followed by another inside to pin Williams at 11:21.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t feeling this one as much as I was expecting, as the ending just kind of came out of nowhere. I’m not sure if they ran out of time or something else, but it was like they just wrapped it up in a few seconds. Borne winning is a much more interesting prospect though, as it feels like they have something with him.

Post match Darkstate surrounds the ring but Joe Hendry, Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans run in for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was focused on the Iron Survivor Challenges being set up, with the title matches not feeling nearly as important. With the NXT Title match being held back for Deadline, this show was more about the minor titles, which only made for so much interest. It’s a fine enough show, but more of a setup for later than anything else.

Results
Jackson Drake b. Sean Legacy – Unaliver
Fallon Henley b. Zaria – Fameasser
Lei Ying Lee b. Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace – Powerbomb to Jordan
Kendal Grey b. Lainey Reid – Shades Of Grey
Myles Borne b. Trick Williams – Borne Again

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

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NXT
Date: November 18, 2025
Location: Theater At Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the first week of Gold Rush, meaning we’ll be seeing title matches from multiple companies defended over the next two weeks. That should make for quite the cards and hopefully they live up to the hype. We’re also coming up on Deadline next month so it’s time to start getting ready for one of the more unique shows of the year. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video focuses on the importance of gold and looks at the matches on this week’s half. The show taking place at MSG (close enough) makes it feel even more important.

AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles: Joe Hendry/Thea Hail vs. Chelsea Green/Ethan Page

Green and Page are defending. Green kicks at Hail to start but Hail snapmares her down, with Green being forced into a Hendry style wave. Hendry comes in to headlock takeover Page, followed by a running shoulder. A delayed suplex gets two on Page with Green making the save. Everything breaks down and Green is dropkicked into Page. Hendry and Hail pose as we take a break.

We come back with Hendry slugging away on Page and grabbing the fall away slam. Green and Page are sent outside for a trust fall from Hail, who gives Green an exploder suplex back inside. Everything breaks down and the Un-Pretty-Her…I have no idea actually as we cut to a law firm commercial. We quickly cut back to Hail getting the Kimura but Hendry is shoved into them for the save. Green grabs the Un-Pretty-Her for the pin to retain at 10:43.

Rating: C+. Good, fast paced opener here and I’m not overly surprised that another company’s titles didn’t change hands at an NXT event. I’m not thrilled that Hendry and Hail, who are about as perfect of a pairing as you can get, lose so soon, as it’s not like there is anything else they can go after. Just let them stay together, if nothing else for the fun energy they bring together.

Lola Vice and Jordynne Grace are ready to take the Knockouts Title from Kelani Jordan. Cue Jordan, who says jealousy doesn’t look good on Grace and she’ll be champion for a long time. See you next week.

Ava announces that John Cena will be picking the entrants for the Iron Survivor matches at Deadline.

Tavion Heights is in the crowd for an interview about how much things have changed for him in 2025. The reality is that he’s here in New York City and he wants to be in the Iron Survivor Challenge. If John Cena picks him, he knows that’s all the validation he needs. Cue Josh Briggs for the brawl in the crowd.

Zaria isn’t sure if Sol Ruca should go through with this match but Ruca insists.

Women’s North American Title: Blake Monroe vs. Sol Ruca

Ruca, with Zaria, is challenging and takes Monroe down with an early headlock takeover. A running boot to the head staggers Monroe but she’s right back with a spinning side slam. Ruca gets out of an early half crab attempt and kicks her away, only to miss a charge into the corner. Monroe wraps the recently healed up knee around the post and we take a break.

We come back with Monroe staying on the knee but Ruca fights up and hits a missile dropkick. Monroe is sent outside and Ruca hits a step up moonsault, only to tweak her knee again in the process. Back in and Monroe grabs a half crab and even takes off the knee brace. Monroe cranks on the knee and Zaria throws in a towel, despite Ruca being pretty close to the ropes and begging her not to, as Monroe retains at 13:21.

Rating: B-. This was about the storytelling with Ruca fighting through the pain and Zaria taking matters into her own hands. It’s quite the way to go and I liked what we got, as it should finally lead to the Ruca vs. Zaria split. Monroe got a nice boost here as well, as she came off as much more sadistic and violent for the sake of retaining her title. That’s been missing and it helped a lot.

Fatal Influence is ready to leave with all of the gold.

We look at Oba Femi returning last week to stare down Ricky Saints.

Here are Saints and Femi for a face to face chat. Saints isn’t surprised that Femi has returned, because he knows that Femi was getting worn down and then lost the title as a result. Saints was fighting against TNA and then retained in Last Man Standing. Femi says he’s back and wants to be more than just best dressed.

The sun is setting on the Revolution era and Femi is the one casting the shadow. The title rematch is set for Deadline…and here is Trick Williams to interrupt. Cue Myles Borne to chair Williams from behind and say he’s going to win the Iron Survivor Challenge and come for the title at New Year’s Evil. Borne is feeling more and more like someone to take seriously and it’s rather impressive to see him come this far.

Post break Ava yells at Myles Borne and gives him a match with Trick Williams next week. She gets a phone call and seems rather annoyed.

Josh Briggs and Tavion Heights are still brawling, with Heights being chokeslammed through a table.

Tag Team Titles: Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans vs. Darkstate

Darkstate is defending and get knocked to the floor to start, with Evans hitting a big dive over the top. Back in and a powerslam gets two on Slater, with Evans having to make a save. Griffin gets sent outside and a running hurricanrana gets two on Lennox back inside. Darkstate is tossed to the floor again for stereo dives as we take a break.

We come back with Evans in trouble and Lennox’s short DDT getting two. Evans flips away from Lennox though and kicks him down, allowing the much needed tag off to Slater. Everything breaks down and a spinning kick to the head takes Griffin to the floor and Lennox is kicked down as well. Slater busts out the big running flip dive out to the floor and the frog splash gives Evans two. The rest of Darkstate offers a distraction so Slater can get double powerbombed. Evans’ save lands on Slater by mistake and a Doomsday Device finishes Slater at 11:09.

Rating: B-. Slater and Evans are able to fly around and do all kinds of impressive looking things, which is why you put them in this spot. At the same time, it’s good to see Darkstate win a match and get in a nice title defense, which is what they needed. It’s a good enough match and I could go for more of this kind of Darkstate, who hopefully get to hold the titles that much longer.

Wren Sinclair gives Kendal Grey a pep talk before her title match next week.

LFG season 2 winner Shiloh Hill is a nerd and really smart, with interests in things like the dark web and quantum mechanics. Oh and he liked hitting people in football. More on this later. At least it’s a way to get introduced to someone new.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Video on Jackson Drake defending the Evolve Title against Sean Legacy next week.

Sol Ruca is mad at Zaria for throwing in the towel, with Zaria saying it was for Ruca’s own good. Ruca doesn’t want to hear it and Zaria doesn’t seem pleased.

Women’s Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging while Paxley has the Culling with her. Paxley works on the arm to start before grabbing a rollup for two. Jayne kicks her into the corner but they switch places, with Paxley hitting a running crossbody. With Jayne sent outside, Paxley takes her down again with a moonsault and we take a break.

We come back with Jayne hitting a clothesline into a super hurricanrana. Paxley is right back up with a superkick though and they’re both down. A slugout goes to the champ, who snaps off a German suplex. The running flipping ax kick gives Paxley two but Jayne pulls her face first into the corner. A cannonball hits Paxley, who is right back with a fisherman’s spinebuster (exactly what it sounds like) for two.

The Culling offers a distraction and slides Paxley a chair but she turns it down and gets superkicked. Paxley slides outside and drops Lainey Reid, allowing Jayne to get in a big running boot to the face. Back in and the Rolling Encore gives Jayne two so it’s time to bring in the belt. That’s cut off on the floor….and Dame kicks Paxley’s head off. Another Rolling Encore gives Jayne the title back at 11:27.

Rating: B-. This was one of those turns where it wasn’t so much about would it happen but rather when it would happen, as they weren’t exactly hiding it. Paxley never felt like a long term champion but she won the title clean and definitely got elevated as a result of the whole thing. This should be a good next step for her and we’ll see what kind of staying power she has as a result.

The Culling glares down at Paxley to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It wasn’t the greatest show in the world but it did what it needed to, with the big angle at the end and some stuff being set up for the next few weeks. That’s what this kind of show needed to do, as we still have more title matches coming up next week. While it didn’t exactly feel like a major event, it did feel special enough and that’s good for a pass here.

Results
Chelsea Green/Ethan Page b. Joe Hendry/Thea Hail – Un-Pretty-Her to Hail
Blake Monroe b. Sol Ruca when Zaria threw in the towel
Darkstate b. Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans – Doomsday Device to Slater
Jacy Jayne b. Tatum Paxley – Rolling Encore

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

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NXT
Date: November 11, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re coming up on Gold Rush but this week has a major match in its own right. This week features Ricky Saints defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams in a last man standing match. That should be more than enough to carry things, though next week is when things get really big. Let’s get to it.

Click on the link below for the full review.

Quick Veterans Day tribute.

Here is the Culling to get things going. Tatum Paxley is so happy with getting this far and wants to be champion for a long time. She knows she needs to listen to her friends though, especially Izzi Dame. That gets her a bit of a lecture of about how she can’t give everyone title shots, which Paxley thinks makes sense. Spinning the wheel was really fun though!

Dame says the last time she did everything for the fans, she wound up alone, which was when the Culling came in to save her. She can’t keep handing out title shots, but here is Fatal Influence to interrupt. Jacy Jayne says Paxley can prove it wasn’t a fluke at Halloween Havoc by beating her again. Dame cuts it off and Paxley thinks about it….and gives Jayne a rematch at Gold Rush. That doesn’t have Dame overly pleased.

Earlier today, Evolve Champion Jackson Drake was pleased to be given a title defense at Gold Rush. He’s less happy about defending against Sean Legacy. Chelsea Green and Ethan Page come in with Green bragging about regaining the Women’s US Title. As a result, Ava gives her a match too.

Speed Title: Jasper Troy vs. El Grande Americano

Americano is defending and gets driven into the corner for some hard shoulders to the ribs. Americano’s dive is pulled out of the air but he slips away and kicks at the chest to limited avail. Troy elbows him in the face for two as we’re already two minutes into the five minute time limit. Things slow down for a bit until Americano catches him with a running knee.

A Blockbuster connects but Troy knocks him hard to the floor. Troy grabs the chain and has to knock away Rayo and Bravo, who are ejected as a result. Americano scores with a suicide dive with about a minute left. The running headbutt connects but Americano gets caught loading up the foreign object. Troy cuts him off and hits the Black Hole Slam to win the title at 4:43.

Rating: C+. They packed some stuff in here and I was surprised by the title change so we’ll call it a success. It does seem like things are passing Americano by a bit, though it’s not like being the Speed Champion matters very much. At the same time, it could mean a good bit more to Troy so maybe this is the change he has been needing.

Joe Hendry appears next to Thea Hail and they thank each other for last week. Now they’re ready to win the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion. For tonight though, Hail is going to beat up Alba Fyre. Hendry: “Hail yeah!”

Sean Legacy is in Ava’s office when Zaria and Sol Ruca come in. Legacy wishes Ruca well in her rehab, with Ava saying Ruca is medically cleared. She wants to face Blake Monroe next week, with Ava sounding a bit skeptical but making the match anyway.

Thea Hail vs. Alba Fyre

Joe Hendry, Ethan Page and Chelsea Green are here too. Hail’s early Kimura attempt is rammed into the corner and Fyre kicks her in the back for two. Back up and Hail Thesz presses her to hammer away before a dropkick puts Fyre on the floor. Hail goes after Green though and gets taken out by Fyre’s dive as we take a break.

We come back with Hail striking away, including some ax handles to the chest. Hail misses the bottom rope backsplash though and Fyre gets two off a tornado DDT. A Michinoku Driver gives Hail two and she grabs the Kimura, which is broken up by a Page distraction. Hendry cuts him off in a hurry and Hail dives onto Green. Back in and a sunset flip dives Hail the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C+. Hail’s renewed push is nice to see as it’s certainly better than whatever she was doing over the last few months. She’s been looking for someone to bounce off of since Chase U imploded and this makes as much sense as anyone else. At the same time, it’s sad to see Fyre falling this far, but that has been the case for a long time now.

Ricky Saints is getting taped up and gives Tatum Paxley a pep talk. The Culling comes in to pull Paxley away.

Blake Monroe is rather pleased with winning the Women’s North American Title but gets in an argument with….herself, in a different outfit. The one in the different (darker) outfit says none of this matters until the real Monroe beats Sol Ruca for good. The real one can win with Darker on her side because that’s the kind of champion that the real one needs to be. That’s not cool with the real one because they won’t like it, but the Darker one says it won’t matter because she’ll still be champion. The real one agrees. This company is WAY too obsessed with split personalities.

Je’Von Evans is on the phone with Leon Slater and they have an announcement for later.

Jordynne Grace (in glasses) says Kelani Jordan isn’t an original because anyone can do it. Grace knows what it means to be the Knockouts Champion. Jordan has been blaming the world for what she is. At Gold Rush, the only one she can blame is Grace. That’s a good line.

Here is Je’Von Evans for a chat. He’s excited to be in the Last Time Is Now Tournament but a bit scared too. That’s on Monday though and now he has an announcement here. Leon Slater pops up on screen and we get the announcement: they’re challenging Darkstate for the NXT Tag Team Titles next week. Cue Darkstate in the crowd to say that they’re going to take out Evans and Slater next week. The four of them get in the ring but here is Slater to help Darkstate out with some dives.

Kelani Jordan comes up to Trick Williams and admits that he was right: it’s lonely at the top but it means being champion. Williams approves.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Skyler Raye vs. Fallon Henley

Raye is the winner of season two of LFG and is a cheerleader. Raye’s early dropkick sets up some rollups and quick near falls. Henley reverses into a crossface attempt, which is cut off with a quick rollup as we’re a minute in. A hurricanrana sends Henley into the corner and a high crossbody gets two. Henley is back with a Sling Blade though and the Fameasser finishes Raye at 2:17. Well that was qui…er, speedy.

Jasper Troy is happy with his win. Darkstate pops up and is ticked off at Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater.

Fatal Influence is ready to dominate.

Josh Briggs vs. Tavion Heights

Briggs kicks him in the face at the bell and stomps away as a villain should. Heights gets smart by wrestling him down, which is broken up without much trouble. A roll into a fireman’s carry is broken up though and Briggs knocks him down again as we take a break. We come back with Height slugging away but a cheap shot to the legs takes him down. Briggs shoves him in the face a few times and gets taken down for his efforts. Some clotheslines are cut off with a boot to Heights, who avoids another boot. The belly to belly gives Heights the pin at 9:19.

Rating: C+. I’ve been a fan of Heights for a bit and it’s nice to see him getting something. There is always room for someone who has that kind of an amateur background and it was working fine here. At the same time, I’m not wild on seeing Briggs lose again as it happens too often, but I could go for more of Heights.

Myles Borne is in Ava’s office and says he’ll be out there for the main event, but Ava warns him not to interfere. With Borne gone, Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey talk about finding one more member of the No Quarter Catch Club. Cue Lainey Reid to slap Grey and the brawl is on, likely setting up the Evolve Women’s Title match at Gold Rush.

Gold Rush rundown.

NXT Title: Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams

Saints is defending in a Last Man Standing match. Williams misses a kendo stick shot to start so Saints grabs the stick and uses it to walk the ropes. Some stick shots have Williams down and a whip sends him hard into the steps. Back up and Williams gets smart by going after Saints’ banged up ribs before tying Saints up in the ropes. That means a beating with the kendo stick, followed by a rather nasty series of chair shots.

Saints is back up at seven and he blocks a trashcan lid shot to start the early comeback. Williams is knocked outside and we take an early break. We come back with Williams being sent through the barricade, allowing Saints to give him one heck of a beating with a kendo stick. An even bigger beating with a chair gets nine and Saints’ spear gets the same. Williams (bleeding from the side of the head) is up to knock Saints back to the floor, where a running shot with the steps puts him down again.

The running knee off the steps sets up a Rock Bottom onto them, with Williams putting the steps onto him in a smart move. Saints slips away and misses a spear through the wooden wall, only to pop right back up. They fight into the crowd, with Saints spearing him off a balcony (ok not a tall one but a balcony either way) through the announcers’ table to retain at 15:32.

Rating: B. They were kind of meandering to start but then it got a lot better once it felt like a fight. Saints got violent by the end and that’s what it should have been. Williams needs to move on to something else and Saints is going to need a fresh challenger, with a spot likely waiting for him in the second week of Gold Rush.

Post match the credits roll….and Oba Femi is back to end the show. Yeah that works.

Overall Rating: B-. This was an up and down show, as I liked the main event a lot more than I was expecting, but I still can’t get into the Speed stuff. It’s perfectly fine and a nice way to keep the show moving, but I can only get so invested into a match that runs three minutes. They did make Gold Rush feel like a bigger deal though and that’s the important part. Good enough show here, but the Speed stuff is already getting a bit annoying.

Results
Jasper Troy b. El Grande Americano – Black Hole Slam
Thea Hail b. Alba Fyre – Sunset flip
Fallon Henley b. Skyler Raye – Fameasser
Tavion Heights b. Josh Briggs – Spinning belly to belly suplex
Ricky Saints b. Trick Williams when Williams could not answer the ten count

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

Halloween Havoc 2025
Date: October 25, 2025
Location: Findlay Toyota Center, Prescott Valley, Arizona
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

It’s another special and in this case we have a theme which can be quite fun if done right. In this case we have a pair of themed matches, with the Day Of The Dead match for the North American Title and a Broken Rules match for the Tag Team Titles. That’s in addition to all of the usual shenanigans so let’s get to it.

The opening video shows the Arizona desert, where things get all the creepier at night. This shifts into a standard look at the show’s card, as usual.

The set has the rather awesome graveyard theme again, which makes things look that much better.

Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans vs. Mr. Iguana/La Parka

Slater and Evans dance to Iguana’s entrance and…yeah fair enough. Evans works on Parka’s arm to start and gets hit in the face for his efforts. They forearm it out until Evans grabs a springboard armdrag. Parka sticks the landing and kicks him away, only for Evans to come back with a springboard hurricanrana. Iguana and Slater come in with Iguana being knocked down for his dead animal pose.

Back up and a hurricanrana takes Slater down and Iguana flips up into a seated pose, which has Slater confused. Evans comes back in and helps plant Iguana, meaning it’s time for some dancing. Iguana enziguris Slater and brings Parka back in as the fast pace continues. The lizard is thrown at Slater, meaning a game of hot potato breaks out. Iguana hits a big flip dive, followed by Parka’s top rope moonsault to take all of them down.

Back in and Evans gets slammed down, setting up a Paradise Lock for Parka’s dropkick. Evans finally suplexes his way out of trouble and brings Slater back in to pick up the pace. A neckbreaker gets two on Iguana and it’s already back to Evans, who drops him for two more. Iguana’s cross armbreaker goes on but Evans powerbombs him into the corner for the break. Evans and Parka strike it out, with Parker being knocked over to Iguana for another tag.

Slater knocks Iguana into the corner so Parka comes back in, only to get knocked out of the air. A slingshot ax kick hits Parka in the ropes and Slater’s big running flip dive takes both of them out at once. One heck of a frog splash gives Slater two….but Slater and Evans are distracted by Iguana’s lizard. Slater knocks Iguana away so Iguana hits him with the lizard in a funny bit. Parka adds a kind of spinning brainbuster for two and things slow down. Iguana takes Slater down again but Evans and Iguana miss springboard cutters at the same time. Evans and Parka fight to the floor, leaving Slater to hit his Swanton 450 for the pin at 17:56.

Rating: B. This was the right choice for the opener, as they went out and got to do all of their big spots, which made for a fun start to the show. As usual, Slater and Evans can do some incredible stuff and the fans love the weirdness that is Iguana. Parka fight the Halloween theme perfectly and it worked as a result.

Sol Ruca gets to be ringside for the Women’s North American Title match tonight but she can’t wrestle. Zaria says it’s ok and promises Ruca will keep the title. Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame come in, with Dame saying she’s not convinced.

We recap El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Ethan Page for the North American Title. Page has been mocking Wagner, Wagner wanted a fight, it’s a Day Of The Dead match, which basically means street fight.

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Day Of The Dead match with Page defending. They slug it out to start until Wagner sends him outside for a dive. That means a chair to Page’s back (and a loud one at that), followed by a nice missile dropkick for two back inside. Page gets tied up in the Paradise Lock and a chair is dropkicked into his back for two. Wagner chairs and trashcans him in the back but Page is able to flip him off the top.

The Confidence Breaker with a trashcan lid gets two and Page unloads with the lid. Page sends him outside to keep up the beating, including some choking with a piece of a skeleton. Wagner is sent into a table leg and then whipped into a pair of corners with a chair each for two.

Page isn’t happy with these kickouts and starts ripping at the mask in frustration. The top half of the mask is ripped off and Wagner is shaking in anger. Wagner makes his comeback and strikes away, including a rope walk Codebreaker for two. A trashcan shot sets up a Coast To Coast for two on Page, who manages to send Wagner into a chair in the corner.

Ego’s Edge onto the trashcan gets two so Page goes up, with Wagner pulling him down with a super hurricanrana onto an open chair (YEOWCH!) for another near fall. A moonsault gives Wagner two more and the table is set up, but Page fights out of the corner. The mask is twisted around Wagner’s face to blind him so Page throws powder in his eyes for a bonus. A super Twisted Grin through the table retains the title at 18:23.

Rating: B. These guys beat the fire out of each other and Wagner’s comeback in the end worked well. This one felt like a more personal feud and rivalry and that made for a better brawl between the two of them. Page is turning into quite the player with his title reign and his status has gone up as a result.

Kelani Jordan is in her own locker room when Jordynne Grace (dressed as Velma from Scooby-Doo) comes in. She says Jordan has crossed a line and is acting like she’s untouchable but Jordan doesn’t see it that way. Grace thinks she’ll stick around and suggests she’ll come after the Knockouts Title. Jordan says her reign makes the title more important so Grace slaps her in the face.

On November 18 and 25, it’s Gold Rush, with titles from Evolve, TNA, AAA and NXT being defended in New York.

Women’s North American Title: Blake Monroe vs. Zaria

Zaria is defending in Sol Ruca’s place (with Ruca at ringside). It’s a brawl to start with Zaria getting the better of things but Monroe slips out of a slam. A choke doesn’t work for Monroe as Zaria drops her face first onto the buckle. Back up and Monroe gets in a shot of her own, allowing her to rake the eyes over the rope.

Monroe starts in on the arm but a double arm DDT is blocked. Zaria muscles her over with something like a Samoan drop and we hit a torture rack. Somehow Monroe manages to reverse into a cross armbreaker, which is broken up with the usual powerbomb. For some reason the fans start chanting for Booker T. before the women collide and crash out to the floor. Zaria’s arm is banged up so she slams it into the steps…and Ruca sends her into the post, which fixes the problem.

Back in and Zaria’s F5 is countered into a cross armbreaker. That’s escaped so Monroe hits a running knee for two. Monroe grabs her hair pick but Zaria spears her down for two more. They go outside, where Monroe trips over Ruca’s cane to knock her down. Zaria drops Monroe inside and checks on Ruca, allowing Monroe to grab a DDT on the floor. Back in and the double arm DDT gives Monroe the pin and the title at 11:05.

Rating: C+. I am still not feeling it with Zaria and that was the case again here. The result was the only logical option here as Monroe has already lost enough big matches. Let her win something for a change and throw a wrench into Zaria and Ruca’s friendship. That isn’t going to go well for the two of them while Monroe needed the win. Good storytelling, ok match.

Wren Sinclair is explaining Lash Legend’s recent actions to Kendal Grey and Karmen Petrovic. Charlie Dempsey is on the phone and asks about the No Quarter Catch Crew but Sinclair says the phone is messing up and cuts it off. Legend comes in to talk down to Grey and promises to take the title on NXT.

Women’s Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is defending and the Culling is here with Paxley. They fight over wrist control to start with Paxley’s headscissors attempt being shoved away. Paxley knocks her down and ties up the hands and legs at the same time. A step up enziguri sends Jayne outside but she’s able to catapult Paxley throat first into the bottom of the ring structure to take over.

Fatal Influence gets in some choking from the floor and a Cannonball gives Jayne two. A triangle choke goes on but Paxley breaks it up and slugs away. Jayne isn’t having that and knocks her down for two more. The chinlock goes on for a big until Paxley fights up and strikes away, with a fisherman’s suplex getting another near fall. Paxley takes too much time going up and gets crotched down, allowing Jayne to grab a super backbreaker.

Shawn Spears puts the foot on the rope though and it’s time for the groups to brawl on the floor. Everyone is ejected and Jayne isn’t sure what she’s supposed to do now. The answer seems to be knee Paxley in the face for two but the Rolling Encore misses. Paxley is back up with her own Rolling Encore, followed by a 450 for two more.

Jayne is sent outside and dropped onto the apron but comes back with a superkick. They forearm it out until they both hit running boots to leave them both down. Cue the Culling and Fatal Influence again to distract the referee. Izzi Dame loads up the belt and teases swinging at Paxley but gets dropped with Jayne’s Rolling Encore. The Cemetery Drive gives Paxley pin and the title at 16:28.

Rating: B-. I’m surprised they actually pulled the trigger as Jayne was starting to roll with her title reign, but there is something to be said about Paxley getting the shock title win. She fits into the Halloween theme and then gets to basically do the same thing Jayne did when she won the belt. Throw in the Dame drama and this was a nice packaging.

Post match Dame sits on the floor while the Culling celebrates with Paxley. Dame gets in the ring and celebrates with them.

Myles Borne complains to Ava about Josh Briggs. She’ll figure it out and is ready to give Borne a match with Briggs but Tavion Heights comes in to say he should be facing Briggs instead. Ava puts them against each other instead, and they seem to be ok with it.

Deadline is coming on December 6.

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending in a Broken Rules match, meaning all four members of Darkstate can be involved. It’s a brawl to start and a double DDT gets an early two on Griffin. Jeff’s middle rope splash gets two on Lennox but the numbers cut the Hardys off. The Hardys are back up with chairs and Griffin is sent outside, with his legs crashing into a table. Jeff puts him through the table but James and Shugars take over on Matt outside.

Some ladder shots get the Hardys out of trouble, allowing Jeff to set up more tables as Matt beats on James. Shugars and James are put through the tables but Griffin and Lennox are back up for the save. Lennox kendo sticks Matt down inside and Jeff is slammed through a trashcan. Matt is powerbombed into a ladder in the corner and a 3D gives Lennox two. Jeff comes back in for the save with a pair of kendo sticks but Lennox breaks that up.

They go outside with the Hardys being sent into the timekeeper’s area in some rather nasty crashes. Back in and it’s a Twisting Stunner into the Twist of Fate to drop Griffin. The Swanton gets two, as does the Plot Twist to Lennox and we settle down again. The Hardys go outside and set up some tables, which can’t end well.

Jeff climbs to the top of the ladder and crashes through the tables as Griffin moves. Back in and Lennox spinebusters Matt for two but Matt is back up with another table. Matt gets tied in the Tree Of Woe and it’s a Doomsday Device from a ladder on the floor through a table to pin Jeff for the titles at 19:08.

Rating: B. The Hardys can do this kind of match in their sleep and it’s nice to see Darkstate get the titles back. There was no reason for the Hardys to be long term champions and it makes Darkstate feel like a bigger deal to beat the legend. This is what it should have been, though dang it went on for awhile. Trim a few seconds down and it’s better, but it’s still good as it lasts.

Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans aren’t happy with Darkstate winning and talk about the numbers game. Evans thinks they should win the Tag Team Titles. Slater is in…as soon as he can get free.

El Grande Americano is ready to face either winner of the Speed tournament.

NXT Title: Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams

Saints is defending. Williams jumps him to start fast and hits a hard dropkick. Saints is sent outside and rammed into the announcers’ table, which Williams very slowly loads up. That’s enough for Saints to get away though and hammer on Williams back inside. Saints is sent over the top so Williams can dance a bit, allowing Saints to hit him with a running forearm.

They head outside again with Saints being sent into a variety of things, followed by a sidekick for two back inside. A flapjack gives Williams two and a Blockbuster connects for the same, followed by a front facelock. Some suplexes drop Saints until he’s able to hit one of his own for a needed breather.

Williams neckbreakers him for two more but Saints, who is busted open, grabs a flapjack. Old School into a Russian legsweep puts Williams down but he avoids a moonsault. A Boston crab has Saints in trouble, followed by a Rock Bottom for two. Back up and Saints grabs a crossface, with Williams making it to the rope.

They go outside with Williams grabbing the title but Saints kicks him in the face. Saints is quickly put through the announcers’ table, followed by the Trick Shot for two. A rebound lariat drops Williams, allowing Saints to get a breather. Saints gets something like a Stundog Millionaire, followed by a spear. The springboard tornado DDT retains the title at 16:48.

Rating: B-. Here’s the thing: it’s not a bad match and they went back and forth for a pretty long time, but there wasn’t enough of a story to make this work. They didn’t even have a recap before the match because…well because there wasn’t anything to talk about. It needed more of a story and reason for them to be fighting, as this didn’t feel important in the slightest.

Tatum Paxley and the Culling are rather pleased with their title win to wrap up the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a weird case where the action was good throughout with nothing being bad, but it could not have felt much less important. The main event felt like it belonged at the start of the second hour of a regular TV show and even the title changes didn’t come off as big deals. It’s a fine show and the Halloween Havoc theme was good, but it didn’t feel big in the slightest.

Results
Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans b. La Parka/Mr. Iguana – Swanton 450 to Iguana
Ethan Page b. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. – Super Twisted Grin through a table
Blake Monroe b. Zaria – Double arm DDT
Tatum Paxley b. Jacy Jayne – Cemetery Drive
Darkstate b. Hardys – Doomsday Device to Jeff through a table
Ricky Saints b. Trick Williams – Spear

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: October 21, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re rapidly approaching this weekend’s Halloween Havoc and some of the card has already been announced. The rest of the show should be put together tonight so we should be in for a rapid fire build here. Other than that, we have the start of the latest Speed Title #1 contenders tournament so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here is new #1 contender to the Women’s Title, Tatum Paxley, with the rest of the Culling. The fans tell Paxley that she deserves it and she says she freaking did it. Paxley talks about the lows she has achieved in the last four years but the people have always had her back. Everything is going right for her on the way to Halloween Havoc and she knows that the Culling will have her back as she wins the Women’s Title.

Cue Fatal Influence, with Jacy Jayne saying Paxley is the latest person to come after the title. Yeah Jayne was beatable to start but look where they are now. Paxley says that now she’s the one no one believes in but she keeps getting better and better. Fallon Henley says the Culling might leave Paxley after she leaves so Izzi Dame calls out Fatal Influence for turning on Jazmyn Nyx. They argue over whose friendship is stronger, with Henley calling Paxley “Tater Tot”. A challenge is issued for a tag match and Fatal Influence is cleared out.

Stacks is in the back with Arianna Grace, who apparently got him the X-Division Title shot. They’re also apparently an item.

Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans are disturbed by the new couple and want some opponents.

TNA X-Division Title: Leon Slater vs. Stacks

Stacks, with Arianna Grace, is challenging and Leon Slater has Je’Von Evans with him. They fight over wrist control to start until Stacks sends him into the corner, only to get kicked away. Another whip into the corner works a bit better for Stacks but Slater bounces up with a spinning kick to the face. Stacks is sent outside for a slingshot dive and Evans jumps on commentary to send us to a break.

We come back with Slater fighting out of an abdominal stretch but getting dropped ribs first onto the top rope. A belly to back faceplant and fireman’s carry gutbuster give Stacks two but Slater fights up. Slater kicks Grace off the apron and right into Evans’ arms, followed by the big running flip dive over the top to take Stacks down. Back in and the Swanton 450 retains the title at 10:56.

Rating: B-. Stacks is a good hand in the middle of the card (with the Heritage Cup feeling more and more forgotten every week) and putting him in a match like this is a good way to go. At the same time, I’m curious about the idea of someone using Grace to get to Santino Marella, as it’s an interesting enough idea. Slater continues to look like more of a star every time he’s in the ring and he is absolutely worth following going forward.

Post match Slater and Evans say they want a tag match and don’t care who they face. Cue La Parka and Mr. Iguana to say they have a match with Slater and Evans for Halloween Havoc. AAA is taking over Arizona.

Zachary Wentz wants the Speed Title.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Zachary Wentz vs. Jasper Troy

Wentz dodges around to start and kicks him down to the floor. A dive connects with a minute gone but another dive is blocked. That’s fine with Wentz, who hits his third dive, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Troy runs him over and grabs a Black Hole Slam for the win at 2:05.

Kelani Jordan finds her clothes thrown out of the locker room. Most of the women say Jordan chose TNA and walk off. Jordynne Grace is on Jordan’s side but Jordan doesn’t want to hear it because it’s always about Grace, who probably just wants the title back.

Darkstate brags about taking out the Hardys…and we warp to the Hardy Compound. Oh no. And yes they’re Broken again (via the Lake Of Reincarnation) and the match at Halloween Havoc will be under Broken Rules. If it’s a one off, fine.

We look at Sol Ruca being injured last week on Smackdown.

Ruca, on crutches, is coming to the ring with Zaria, who asks if Ruca wants to do this. Ruca is sure.

Here are Ruca and Zaria for a chat with Ava. Ruca is upset and says she hates to admit it but she can’t defend her title at Halloween Havoc. She’s not going to hold up the division when there are so many people coming for the gold. Cue Blake Monroe to say she’ll take the title right now. Zaria isn’t having this because we don’t give handouts around here. Ruca admits that Monroe is right but Zaria offers to defend the title in Ruca’s place. Ava agrees and Ruca signs off on it, so Zaria lays Monroe out with an F5.

Axiom wants the Speed Title.

Sean Legacy likes his chances against Axiom.

Myles Borne and Tavion Heights are upset with recent losses when Josh Briggs comes in to say there isn’t room for them while he’s around.

Speed Title Tournament #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Axiom vs. Sean Legacy

Axiom misses a running dropkick to start but slips out of the Shambles attempt. A suplex drops Axiom again and a reverse DDT gives Legacy two. Legacy’s springboard is countered but Axiom’s triangle choke is countered. Back up and Legacy grabs a running Spanish Fly as we have a minute left. A nice superkick drops Axiom, who pops to his feet for a jumping knee. Legacy kicks him down but gets caught up top with a super Spanish Fly to give Axiom the pin at 2:58. That was some nice timing at the end and they packed in a lot of stuff here.

Ethan Page is ready to take out El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. at Halloween Havoc.

Hank & Tank vs. OTM

Hank & Tank start the brawl in the aisle and hit stereo dives to take OTM out on the floor. We get the opening bell with Price avoiding a charge in the corner but choking Hank on the ropes anyway. Hank gets choked in the corner as well and a running stomp plants him again. Back up and Hank manages to get over for the tag off to Tank for the house cleaning. Nima is right back with a tilt-a-whirl slam though and the assisted Alabama Slam finishes for Price at 3:35.

Rating: C. This was all about making OTM look like a monster team again and they did it well here. That’s what you need every so often, especially with OTM having been gone for so long. Smashing through former Tag Team Champions is a good look and OTM came off as dominant in their return.

Post match OTM puts Hank through the announcers’ table.

After shilling some Maybelline, Wren Sinclair talks to Lash Legend, who isn’t impressed. Kendal Grey comes in and seems to challenge Legend, who doesn’t seem worried.

Halloween Havoc rundown.

Culling vs. Fatal Influence

Reid and Paxley start things off with Paxley charging into a boot in the corner but avoiding an elbow. Jayne comes in to miss a charge in the corner and get caught by a kind of running crossbody. Dame slams Jayne for two but Jayne is back up with a quick clothesline. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker cuts Jayne off again and it’s back to Paxley, who cleans house. Jayne manages a neckbreaker though and Paxley is down as we take a break.

We come back with Dame getting the hot tag to clean house, including a double clothesline. A chokeslam gets two on Jayne but Dame is knocked into the corner. Paxley tags herself back in to pick up the pace but Fallon Henley gets pulled in. Dame and Reid fight on the floor and it’s the Rolling Encore to pin Paxley at 10:13.

Rating: C+. That’s quite the weird way to go for the result as Paxley is already not the strongest challenger but she loses to the champion here. In theory that points to a title change on Saturday and…I could see it happening. Either that or Dame turns on Paxley, but either way, at least there is a set of options here and that’s a good sign.

Post match Fatal Influence sends Dame into the steps. Paxley gets surrounded but fights out of trouble and holds up the title.

Here is Ava for the NXT Title contract signing. Trick Williams and Ricky Saints come out, with Booker T. being quite the Trick fan. Williams talks about waiting for his moment and that’s why he’s in the main event. That’s why he made Saints wait at Showdown, because Williams is the only one who can carry this place. The only thing he is loyal to is himself, which is why he’s going to become a three time NXT Champion. Williams signs and Saints talks about how Williams was a big deal but lost the plot along the way.

Saints knows Williams was ready to move away a long time ago. Williams says he doesn’t belong on the indies and he sees someone cosplaying as champion when he looks at Saints. Then he’s winning the title back and the Absolute Era will be absolutely ever. Saints says he’s smoother and “silkier” than Williams could ever be. The fight is on but Saints F5’s him through a table.

One more Halloween Havoc rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show with a clear focus and that part worked out well. While there are issues with some of the matches at Halloween Havoc, I’m more interested in seeing the show than I was coming in. The wrestling here was only so good, but that wasn’t the point this time. It made for a good enough show here, and now we get to see what happens at the big event later this week.

Results
Leon Slater b. Stacks – Swanton 450
Jasper Troy b. Zachary Wentz – Black Hole Slam
Axiom b. Sean Legacy – Super Spanish Fly
OTM b. Hank & Tank – Assisted Alabama Slam to Tank
Fatal Influence b. Culling – Rolling Encore to Paxley

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

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NXT
Date: October 14, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Showdown and it’s already time to get ready for Halloween Havoc. The show is in less than two weeks and that means it’s time to hit the ground running here. This week features a battle royal to find a new #1 contender for the Women’s Title, which should go well enough. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of Showdown.

Here is Ricky Saints to get things going. Saints talks about how Trick Williams quit last week and that’s because Williams is soft. Williams pops up on screen to say they’ll deal with this but it’s going to be on Williams’ time. Saints wants to fight and the challenge is on for Halloween Havoc.

Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater, whose X-Division Title match at Bound For Glory was interrupted by Darkstate, want some revenge when the Hardys come in. They think Darkstate’s attack was a shot at them and they’re ready to lay in receipts in the rematch with Darkstate at Halloween Havoc. Evans and Slater say they have the Hardys’ backs anytime.

Earlier today Jordynne Grace and Kelani Jordan argued in the back, with Grace saying she would see her in the battle royal.

Matt Cardona vs. Josh Briggs

Cardona knocks him into the corner to start and the fans are rather pleased. A middle rope dropkick puts Briggs down and Cardona hammers away in the corner. Briggs sends him face first into the buckle as the fans want Briggs to go away. A running clothesline drops Cardona again but he’s able to get in a backdrop to the floor. The big running flip dive drops Briggs again and we take a break.

We come back with Cardona in trouble but Briggs is getting frustrated. Cardona sends him into the corner for a running boot to the face, followed by an Unprettier for two. A chokeslam gives Briggs the same so he loads up the chain, which is cut off with Radio Silence for another near fall. Another Unprettier and a tornado DDT are both countered so Briggs boots him in the face for the pin at 11:45.

Rating: C+. Well I’m sure this will entice Cardona to come back around here more often. He might not be a regular around here, but Cardona feels like a bigger deal than Briggs, who hasn’t been doing much in the way of importance recently. Hopefully this isn’t it for Cardona around here as it could be interesting to see what a serious version of him could do in WWE, but this isn’t a great start.

Hank & Tank talk to Chase U and Lyra Valkyria (what a group) when the Culling come in to pull Valkyria away. Izzi Dame mocks the idea of the two teams getting a Tag Team Title shot but Andre Chase seems ready to get a triple threat #1 contenders match ready. Dame promises to win the battle royal.

Video on Fatal Influence, who want to reshape the women’s division. They’re glad that Jazmyn Nyx is gone, having been replaced by Lainey Reid.

El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Lexis King

Wagner works on the arm to start and drops him with a shoulder. That lets Wagner casually walk over his back before striking away in the corner. King comes back up to walk the ropes, only to drop down and slap him in the mask. Wagner sends him to the floor, where King is nice enough to stand right in place for the moonsault as we take a break.

We come back with Wagner being sent outside, allowing King to send him knee first into the apron. A dragon screw legwhip sets up a leglock but Wagner is able to fight up. The knee is fine enough to kick King in the corner, followed by a Shining Wizard. The Michinoku Driver finishes King at 11:41.

Rating: C. I try to like King, but there is only so much to get out of him at this point. It just isn’t working and that is becoming more and more obvious. Maybe he’s better as a talker or something, but at this point he’s just kind of there and putting others over, which isn’t a great way for him to go.

Post match Wagner calls out Ethan Page, who comes out to say how tiring it is to be North American Champion. The match seems to be set for Halloween Havoc, but Wagner says it’s going to be a Day Of The Dead match where anything goes.

Sol Ruca and Zaria are talking about makeup until Zaria can’t believe that Ruca is in the battle royal tonight. How many titles does Ruca need? Zaria was hoping Ruca would be in her corner but apparently not.

Santino Marella and Ava are in the back with Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater. They want a tag match at Halloween Havoc but Stacks and Arianna Grace (Where the heck have they been?) come in. Stacks gets an X-Division Title shot. We hear a commotion and Trick Williams has attacked Ricky Saints. Apparently that counts as “his time”.

Blake Monroe vs. Zaria

Zaria backs her into and then throws her out of the corner to start. Another toss out of the corner has Monroe in trouble but she manages a facebuster. Zaria’s leg gets tied up in the ropes but she’s able to get in a lifting choke. Monroe knocks her outside and we take a quick break.

We come back with Zaria fighting out of a chinlock but getting kneed right back down. The chinlock goes on again so Zaria jawbreaks her way to freedom. A shot to the face just wakes Zaria up but Monroe headbutts her away. It’s time for a chair but here is Sol Ruca to take it away. The distraction lets Monroe hit Zaria in the neck with a hair pick, setting up a DDT for the pin at 9:47.

Rating: C. The issues between Zaria and Ruca are going to continue and that’s not likely going to end well for either of them. Zaria could use the change of pace as her time around here hasn’t exactly been thrilling thus far. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Monroe getting a win as she hasn’t had much going on lately either.

Ava announces a Men’s Speed Title #1 contenders tournament. Who is asking for these things to continue?

Hank & Tank vs. Chase U vs. Culling

Tank, Vance and Connors trade rollups for two each to start. Spears comes in with a Codebreaker to Tank, sending him over for the tag off to Hank. Tank is right back in with a middle rope elbow to Spears but Chase U is right there with stereo dives to the floor. Back in and Vance takes over on Connors but Hank & Tank send Vance outside. Everyone but Connors collides in the ring…and OTM is here to jump them all for the no contest at 3:34.

Rating: C+. As usual, the action was certainly there, but you’re only going to get so much out of such a short match. The ending adds another team to the mix, which is a good sign as the tag division only has so much quality. There are multiple teams, but most of them are basically warm bodies, which isn’t a great sign for the division’s future.

Post match OTM wrecks everyone, with the fans approving.

Sol Ruca and Zaria make peace, with Ruca giving Zaria her spot in the battle royal.

Ricky Saints goes looking for Trick Williams but Ava says Williams is gone. They’ll see each other next week at the Halloween Havoc contract signing.

Halloween Havoc rundown.

Darkstate has attacked the Hardys.

Battle Royal

Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, Lei Ying Lee, Xia Brookside, Victoria Crawford, Jaida Parker, Kendal Grey, Tatum Paxley, Wren Sinclair, Karmen Petrovic, Zaria, Mara Sade, Kelani Jordan, Cassie Lee, Jessie McKay, Arianna Grace, Kali Armstrong, Izzi Dame, Heather By Elegance, Thea Hail, Lola Vice

For the Halloween Havoc Women’s Title shot. Paxley is sent to the apron to start but manages to save herself. Petrovic is out and Paxley saves herself again, as does Arianna. Crawford and Arianna team up on the apron and are promptly knocked out by Jordynne. Armstrong gets rid of Lee as the ring is starting to clear out a bit. Sinclair is eliminated and McKay has to save Lee, who is tossed out immediately thereafter.

Legend and Sade (former partners) have a reunion with Legend saving her, only for Zaria to deck Legend, who crashes into Sade for the elimination. Armstrong knocks Brookside out and Legend boots Parker in the face to get rid of her as well. That doesn’t work for Parker, who beats up Brookside as everyone gets together to toss Legend.

We take a break and come back with Hail (who eliminated Heather during the break) being eliminated, along with Armstrong. Cue Blake Monroe to jump Sol Ruca (at ringside, not an entrant), which is enough for Zaria to eliminate herself for the save. Vice is tossed in a bit of a surprise and Grey gets rid of McKay. Jordan tries a sunset bomb to the floor to get rid of Jordynne…and then walks on her hands (Vic: “Kofi Kingston-esque!”) towards the apron. She gets her feet in the ropes and starts to pull herself up, where Jordynne casually stomps her down for the elimination (that was oddly hilarious).

We’re down to Grey, Dame, Jordynne and Paxley, with Jordynne and Grey skinning the cat to avoid eliminations. Jordynne plants everyone but doesn’t get any eliminations, leaving Grey to grab a diving tornado DDT onto Dame. Paxley is sent to the apron again and Dame gets rid of Grey to get us down to three. Paxley holds Jordynne for a running clothesline from Dame, which causes the two of them to crash out to the floor, leaving Paxley as the surprise winner at 15:28.

Rating: B-. I liked this more than I was expecting, if nothing else due to the twist ending. That’s something that works in a battle royal (just like we saw earlier in the year with Myles Borne) as Paxley basically won by accident. It makes things a bit more interesting and lets us have a fresh title match, which is always welcome.

Fatal Influence comes out for the staredown and Lyra Valkyria is here to celebrate with Paxley to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was kind of all over the place, with none of the matches standing out and all kinds of stuff happening throughout. In this case though, it wasn’t exactly a great show with a bunch of stuff dragging along. Halloween Havoc was set up fairly well, but I could have gone with a better way of getting there.

Results
Josh Briggs b. Matt Cardona – Big boot
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. b. Lexis King – Michinoku Driver
Blake Monroe b. Zaria – DDT
Hank & Tank vs. Chase U vs. Culling went to a no content when OTM interfered
Tatum Paxley won a battle royal last eliminating Izzy Dame and Jordynne 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:

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

We’re done with No Mercy and there was a surprise title change as Ricky Saints defeated Oba Femi to win the NXT Title. That’s a big enough story, but at the same time, we have a week to go before the next event, as TNA is coming for Invasion. That show’s lineup will be announced this week, which should be rather important. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last week’s TNA invasion, which set up next week’s TNA Invasion.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints talks about how he wanted to bring reality around here and the reality is he is your new NXT Champion. Did he do it? Did WE do it? He bet everything on himself and that title is the proof that it works…and here is Jacy Jayne to interrupt. She brags about having the gold and now it’s time to deal with TNA. Cue Ava to interrupt, saying that Jayne is right, which is why the two of them are the captains for Invasion.

Cue Santino Marella, who says you can’t trust a man named TRICKY to be your captain so Mike Santana will be his captain instead. At the same time, NXT’s Kelani Jordan will be the women’s captain for TNA. They’re ready for a summit later but Jayne has no idea how Jordan makes sense as a captain. Saints says he’ll see Santana later tonight.

Je’Von Evans runs into TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, who he is set to face at Bound For Glory. They’re cool with each other and ready for their title match. The Culling comes in to say they don’t approve of this and a match seems to be made for later. Lyra Valkyria comes in and has a present for Tatum Paxley: a new doll! Screaming for joy ensues.

Jaida Parker vs. Lash Legend

Legend jumps her in the corner to start fast and a suplex drops Parker. A running shoulder puts Parker on the floor, where she gives Legend a Samoan drop. We take a break and come back with Legend grabbing a half crab, which is broken with a grab of the rope. Parker scores with a quick Blockbuster but Legend grabs the tights to cut her off (with the fans approving). The hip attack connects in the corner, only for Legend to pop up with a pump kick. Legend’s backbreaker faceplant is broken up though and the Hipnotique (more a running shoulder this time) finishes for Parker at 9:08.

Rating: C+. They were just starting to get going at the end but I can go with Parker picking up the win. She’s been needing that for a good while now and beating Legend clean feels like an important moment. At the same time, Legend losing isn’t great to see, but I’d be stunned if we don’t get another match between these two.

Trick Williams talks to the NXT roster and says he should be co-captain with Ricky Saints. That’s not quite cool with Saints, who says there are two spots left on his team and Je’Von Evans (next to him) is getting one of them. The other spot is going to Myles Borne, who impressed Saints at No Mercy. Williams, who seems to have some authority here, picks Josh Briggs, which makes Evans walk off. Saints says he’ll deal with Evans, and tonight it’s Briggs vs. Borne for a spot on the team. They really did not make this clear and I shouldn’t be this unsure of who is in and who isn’t.

Here is Ethan Page to brag about his title defense on Saturday, as he turned away an OLYMPIC level threat. Now it’s time to go south of the border and deal with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Page calls him out but instead he gets TNA’s Mustafa Ali, who is greeted with a WELCOME BACK chant.

Ali gets right to the point: two years ago he earned a North American Title shot but he was released before he got his shot. Page says cry to someone who cares, but Ali says he’ll be politicking for it. That’s why he’s talked to Ava and Santino Marella and the title is on the line next week at Showdown (not Invasion). Page isn’t happy but says bring it. The brawl is on and Page is cleaned out.

Fatal Influence is here to pick the women’s Survivor Series team. First up: Sol Ruca, who agrees. Lola Vice wants to be on the team but Fallon Henley says she’s getting the final spot. Lainey Reid comes in to say don’t trust Henley and the big argument is on. Jayne calms things down and makes Henley vs. Vice for the spot on the team. Zaria asks to talk to Ruca in private.

Video on the Hardys, who are back in a title vs. title match against Darkstate next week. They’re ready to win the only WWE titles they’ve never won and DELETE Darkstate.

Myles Borne vs. Josh Briggs

For a spot on the NXT Survivor Series team. The fans don’t like Briggs, who shoves away an early headlock. Borne knocks him down and hits a sliding forearm before sending Briggs outside. The big running flip dive connects but Briggs knocks him down back inside to take over. Briggs sends Borne into the corner but stops to acknowledge the fans chanting about him. A crossbody takes Borne down and a chokeslam gives Briggs two as we take a break.

We come back with Briggs fighting out of a chinlock and going up top. Briggs catches him though and hits a pair of backbreakers for two. Borne gets in a belly to back suplex but walks into a boot. That’s enough for Briggs to load up his chain but cue Matt Cardona to cut off the big swing. The distraction lets Borne hit Borne Again for the pin at 10:15.

Rating: B-. Borne has come out of absolutely nowhere and turned into a rather solid star. I’m not sure how far he’s ever going to go, but for someone who was little more than an extra hand in a stable, he’s come an incredibly long way. You can see the confidence in him and that’s an incredible sign for his future.

Jordynne Grace congratulates Kelani Jordan and wants to be on the TNA team but makes the mistake of mentioning Joe Hendry. Mike Santana comes in and wants to talk to Jordan, leaving Grace and Hendry to want in on next week.

Fallon Henley vs. Lola Vice

Vice starts fast but gets elbowed in the face, setting up a dropkick to the back for two. Henley sends her throat first into the ropes for a right hand, followed by a running elbow for two more. The comeback starts fast with some suplexes and Henley is quickly knocked outside. The spinning backfist finishes Henley at 3:50.

Rating: C. This was about all it needed to be as Vice shrugged off everything Henley threw at her (which granted wasn’t much) and then pinned her clean. Vice is still someone who can be around the title picture so putting her onto the team over Henley is a good move. I’m glad they didn’t extend this one out as there was no need for it to go any further.

Darkstate is ready for the Hardys.

Jacy Jayne says that was her fault as Fallon Henley wasn’t ready. Lainey Reid comes in to say she attacked Lola Vice and Jazmyn Nyx, who never belonged in Fatal Influence. The team is stunned.

Je’Von Evans/Leon Slater vs. The Culling

Slater headlocks Spears to start and hits a running clothesline in the corner. Vance comes in and gets his arm worked on, including Evans’ top rope ax handle. A spinebuster gets Spears out of trouble but he sees Izzi Dame yelling at Tatum Paxley for playing with the doll she got earlier. The Culling is sent outside and taken down by dives and we take a break.

We come back with Slater fighting out of a full nelson and kicking Spears away. A kick to the face drops Vance and the tag brings in Evans to pick up the pace. Vance manages to Alabama Slam him out of the corner for two and it’s already back to Slater. That means the big running flip dive over the post can drop the Culling but Spears knees Slater out of the air. Slater is back up with a double Lethal Injection and the Swanton 450 (exactly what it sounds like and it’s awesome) pins Spears at 10:51.

Rating: B-. Pretty standard tag match until it all went nuts at the end, which is where Slater took over. Slater is one of the most exciting stars going today and it would not surprise me at all to see him getting on a much bigger stage. His time in TNA has gone well so far and he needs a lot more experience, but dang he is fun to watch.

Team TNA is here (in a CYBERTRUCK of all things) and they’re confronted in the parking lot. We come back from a break with the big summit in the ring, with Trick Williams declaring himself co-captain. Ricky Saints shuts that down immediately and names the men’s NXT team: Saints, Williams, Je’Von Evans and Myles Borne (who has suited up since his match). Mike Santana says TNA has a locker room full of men ready to turn this place upside down. The TNA team: Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose and Leon Slater (no Hendry oddly enough).

Jacy Jayne doesn’t buy Kelani Jordan being loyal to NXT and picks herself, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker and Lola Vice. Jordan counters that with herself, the IInspiration (apparently the new Knockouts Tag Team Champions) and “Jak…I mean Mara Sade!” (formerly known as Jakara Jackson). The huge brawl is on with Shawn Michaels coming out to watch to end the show. The only thing I got out of this: Jordan isn’t great with a live mic. Oh and the women’s match is looking like a total squash on paper.

Overall Rating: B-. They were in a very tricky spot here as they had to build to No Mercy in the previous weeks before turning all of their attention to Showdown. The invasion still feels a bit out of nowhere, but they’ve turned it into a pretty big deal in short order. I’m wanting to see the show, even if the build was pretty much done in the span of one night. It’s a one story show so if you don’t care about the invasion then you won’t care, but it walked a thin line fairly well.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Lash Legend – Hipnotique
Myles Borne b. Josh Briggs – Borne Again
Lola Vice b. Fallon Henley – Spinning backfist
Je’Von Evans/Leon Slater b. The Culling – Swanton 450 to Spears

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

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NXT
Date: September 16, 2025
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s a special show this week with Homecoming, meaning a bunch of stars of NXT’s past are back around. That’s the kind of thing you kind of have to do when the show is back in its old stomping grounds. We’re also getting pretty close to No Mercy and the show is likely going to get some build here. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a history of NXT at Full Sail, dating back to the HHH with long hair era. The idea was that you were seeing the future, including stars like Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, the Four Horsewomen and several others. There are all kinds of highlights included here, as NXT has been around for a very, very long time with some great moments.

We get a modernized version of the opening, set to The Roar Of The Crowd. Oh dang that’s a flashback.

Here is HHH to get things going for a special moment and yeah the fans seem to like him. He’s glad to be home and that’s good for a WELCOME HOME chant. This place is something special and for every talent who walked through that….video board (HHH: “I was going to say curtain but there isn’t one.”). He thanks everyone who has helped make this place work, including the fans at home.

The people turned this from a whisper into a roar. They are the ones who said NXT is the future and then they said the future is now. Those same people then shouted WE ARE NXT so HHH is here to say thank you…and here is a dancing Shawn Michaels to interrupt (with the fans singing his song). Michaels: “As I came walking out of that…video board is it?” He thanks HHH for the billion dollar deals and says his current NXT stars are ready to take over. HHH asks what would happen if he wanted to come back to NXT.

Michaels says that would be a very, very big problem….and here’s William Regal to interrupt. After saying there is one way of doing this (and calling out a fan for saying the line before he can, with Regal saying to edit that out), Regal says this means WARGAMES. Cue Charlotte and Alexa Bliss to interrupt, with Charlotte saying it doesn’t matter who is in charge because the women have always run NXT. Charlotte talks about some great women of NXT’s past. And Carmella. Anyway, they have a title match for tonight and if you have a problem with the women, they have two words for you. Very fun opening segment.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: The Culling vs. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte

Bliss and Charlotte are defending. Paxley and Bliss start things off with a doll showdown until Paxley takes her down by the head. They trade poses before Paxley has to escape a quick Sister Abigail DDT attempt. Charlotte (thankfully she’s healed up) comes in but Dame slaps her handshake away. A jawbreaker staggers Charlotte but everything breaks down with the champs hitting stereo running faceplants.

We take a break and come back with a facebuster putting Charlotte in trouble again. She chops away but Dame is right there to cut her off. Stereo big boots leave them both down though and Charlotte gets over for the tag off to Bliss. A running Blockbuster gets two on Paxley and a choke shove puts her down again. Shawn Spears offers a distraction though and Twisted Bliss hits raised knees. Paxley’s rollup with feet on the ropes gets two and the Psycho Trap connects, with Charlotte having to make a save. That means Bliss can hit the Sister Abigail DDT for the pin at 11:21.

Rating: B-. It was interesting to see someone who could match Charlotte in size but this was just about having a pair of former NXT stars making a special return. There was no way the Culling was getting the titles here, but it was nice to have the reunion with the NXT fans. Nice match too, as the pairings made good sense.

Zaria and Sol Ruca argue in the back over their lack of success as a team. Lainey Reid and Candice LeRae come in to argue about which of the two of them will be getting a shot at Ruca’s Speed Title…but Shayna Baszler comes in to tell Ruca and Zaria to fix this. And that’s that.

Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams vs. DIY

Gargano and Hayes miss rolling kicks to the head to start and the fans are VERY into this. Ciampa (with his face painted) comes in to knee Williams to the floor and Gargano adds a big dive as we take a break. We come back with Ciampa giving Williams a reverse DDT, allowing the tag off to Gargano for the house cleaning. Gargano and Hayes go to the ramp until Gargano sends him back inside for the slingshot spear.

Back in and Williams runs through Ciampa and loads up the Trick Shot but Hayes tags himself in. Hayes hits a spinning faceplant and Williams teases going after him but hits a diving clothesline on Gargano (who seemed to be his target). A springboard Doomsday Device gets two on Ciampa, who is right back with Project Ciampa for two on Hayes.

Williams grabs the title but Ciampa grabs the Fairy Tale Ending. Hayes breaks up Meet In The Middle but gets caught in the Shatter Machine. Meet In The Middle connects with Williams making the save…and the Miz runs in for a Skull Crushing Finale to Gargano on the floor. Back in and Nothing But Net gives Hayes the pin at 10:39.

Rating: B. This was a match that felt big coming in and then it wound up being able to live up to most of the hype. Later in the match was was thinking Miz shouldn’t be happy with his partner doing this kind of thing on his own so points for having the stories come together. It’s also nice to see the newer generation of NXT stars getting a win, as you don’t want a show like this to be dominated by the old guard.

Sami Zayn is glad to be back here and likes what he sees in Je’Von Evans. Josh Briggs interrupts to say Evans is nothing but here is Evans to brawl with Briggs. With that broken up, Zayn tells Evans that the sky is the limit for them and they have to fight.

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Tyler Breeze

Page is defending and drops Breeze with a running shoulder to start. That lets Page do Breeze’s pose on the ropes so Breeze hits a dropkick and poses himself. Back up and Page hits a heck of a right hand as we take a break. We come back with Breeze fighting out of the Twisted Grin and hitting a running forearm. Page is right back with an Ego’s Edge for two but Breeze wraps his leg around the post and grabs a Hartbreaker.

Back in and a half crab sends Page to the ropes, followed by the Supermodel Kick for two. The Unprettier is broken up so Page goes to the corner, where Breeze pulls him into a Cheeky Nandos Kick. Breeze goes up again but Page cuts him off and hits a hanging Twisted Grin for the pin to retain at 10:33.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Breeze come back, as having him put into this kind of a spot is a great flashback, even if it seems like a one off. That’s a nice way to bring someone back and have them put a current champion over. The fans were still in for what Breeze was doing and he didn’t look like he had lost a step.

Post match AAA’s El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. shows up for a staredown with Page.

Tavion Heights is annoyed but Damian Priest comes in to give him a pep talk. He sees a lot of himself in Heights, who is very appreciative. Priest says he’s here for advice too, which Heights seems to want.

It’s time for the Grayson Waller Effect, with Ricky Saints and Oba Femi already in the ring. Waller mocks both of them to start but Femi brushes it off. Femi says Saints can carry as many bags as he likes but he won’t be carrying the NXT Title. Saints asks who Femi is without the title, because all he sees is a pampered athlete. Years ago, Saints gave everything in a tryout to get an automated email saying no, so he’s coming back to get the title, but here is Trick Williams to interrupt.

Femi has something that belongs to him, and he means the title. Waller thinks he’s going to get a winner takes all match set for next week with Femi and Williams, with the winner facing Saints. Waller says TNA wrestlers won’t like it but no one cared about the company until he said the letters. Femi cuts him off and says he’s ready to win both of them.

Wren Sinclair has some ideas to help the No Quarter Catch Crew but Charlie Dempsey says the solution is….he goes to Japan for a month. Bobby Roode pops in to do his pose but Joe Hendry’s name is mentioned and Roode says it was great to see the TNA World Title at Wrestlemania.

Here is Lexis King for a chat. He doesn’t think much of Myles Borne so next week they’re facing off in a Lights Out match…and here is Finn Balor to interrupt. Cue Borne to jump King from behind and the Coup de Grace leaves King laying. Balor was going to be over like almost no other here so there was zero reason to try to make the fans boo him.

Darkstate is here when Montez Ford (on his own) interrupts. Ford mentions the team having targets on their backs and they aren’t happy as he leaves. Kind of an odd segment.

Bianca Belair is here.

Fatal Influence vs. Lyra Valkyria/Rhea Ripley/Stephanie Vaquer

Valkyria is substituting for an injured Tiffany Stratton. Fatal Influence jumps them before the bell to start fast, with Vaquer being sent into the wrong corner. A backsplash gives Nyx two but Vaquer dropkicks her way out of the corner. Valkyria comes in to clean house and for some reason Nyx goes after Ripley. That earns her a superkick from Vaquer as we get some reactions from various TNA wrestlers, who aren’t happy with the lack of respect NXT has been showing TNA. That sounds invasionish as Ripley tosses Nyx onto the other two as we take a break.

We come back with Nyx cranking on Valkyria’s neck, followed by a kick to the chest for two. A double flapjack into a double Natural Selection has Valkyria in more trouble and Ripley is knocked off the apron. Jayne’s running knee gets two on Valkyria and we get more TNA reactions to the title match. Valkyria fights up and brings Vaquer in to wreck the villains. The SVB is broken up and a catapult sends Vaquer into a Nyx Kick for two.

Vaquer fights out again and brings in Ripley so destruction can ensue. Everything breaks down and Valkyria dropkicks Nyx through the ropes. That leaves Vaquer and Ripley to point at Booker and then do stereo Devil’s Kisses (Vic Joseph fans Booker down in a hilarious bonus). Jayne tries to leave but Lola Vice cuts her off and sends her back inside for Riptide and the pin at 10:27.

Rating: B. This was the kind of fun main event that it should have been, as Fatal Influence had as much chance of winning as I did of being Miss Nevada 1972. The double Devil’s Kiss bit was great and the fans loved it, with Booker making it that much better. I had a great time with this and it was exactly the kind of non-serious match match, even with Vice getting involved, that it should have been.

Vice and the winners celebrate together.

Trick Williams and Oba Femi have their staredown, but William Regal thinks the TNA stars are going to cause trouble next week. Williams and Femi don’t seem to mind.

Overall Rating: A-. Excellent show, as they did a very nice job of not making the modern NXT stars look weak. You had the NXT legends show up and help boost up some of the current roster while giving them some wins here and there. This was treated as a big celebration of the history of NXT while also boosting things up. The TNA stuff is an intriguing bonus, so this couldn’t have been much better.

Results
Alexa Bliss/Charlotte b. The Culling – Sister Abigail DDT to Paxley
Trick Williams/Carmelo Hayes b. DIY – Nothing But Net to Gargano
Ethan Page b. Tyler Breeze – Hanging Twisted Grin
Lyra Valkyria/Rhea Ripley/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence – Riptide to Jayne

Remember to follow me on Twitter @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: September 9, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are closing in on both Homecoming and No Mercy, with Oba Femi set to defend the NXT Title against Ricky Saints. The big story for this week though is about the Tag Team Titles, with Hank & Tank getting their rematch against Darkstate. The big question might be about who shows up as a surprise before Homecoming though so let’s get to it.

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

Here is Je’Von Evans to call out Josh Briggs for a brawl. Ava comes out to make the match and let’s go.

Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs

Evans hits a frog splash for an early two but Briggs is back up to hammer away in the corner. Briggs’ crossbody gets two as the fans are making their dislike of Briggs rather known. Evans fights out of a chinlock and strikes away before low bridging Briggs to the floor. That earns Evans a face first drop onto the apron but Evans flips out of a powerbomb and lands on the apron. A big dive sends Briggs crashing over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Briggs having lost his vest and Evans hammering away in the corner. Briggs sends him throat first into the top rope before demanding respect. That’s enough to trigger the comeback but Briggs pulls him out of the air. A flipping Stunner rocks Briggs and a big kick gets two. Briggs lariats him down but Evans flips into a kick to the head. A flipping Coast To Coast hits Briggs, who grabs a chair but has it taken away. Evans goes up and gets punched out of the air to give Briggs the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This was about the big brawl, though the ending came out of nowhere. Evans fighting against these monsters is showing a lot of heart and I could go for seeing him get the big win down the line. For now though, Briggs really needed the win to establish himself as someone who matters, as that has been missing for a long time.

Post match replays show that Briggs had wrapped a chain around his hand. Ah that makes sense.

Ava puts Oba Femi and Ricky Saints on the Grayson Waller Effect next week. Trick Williams comes in to allude to something with Eva and says he hasn’t forgotten Femi. Saints wouldn’t understand the championship business.

Here is DIY, who are celebrating ten years since their debut as a team in NXT. They may be on Smackdown now, but NXT will always be their home. Ciampa knew that his last match in NXT wasn’t really his last match in NXT. He brings up Trick Williams, who of course comes out to interrupt. Last week they got the better of him because it was 2-1 so now it’s time for his NXT crew to even things up.

Cue Carmelo Hayes, who looks at Williams and talks about how Williams has said a lot of things that are true and a lot that are false. DIY built this house and Hayes did the repairs on the house, but Williams needs to learn that rent is due. The next time he gets in the ring, he needs to take his high heels off, sit down and listen while the OG’s talk.

Williams says he wears his heels where he wants to but Ciampa asks which one is the little brother. Hayes wisely points out that Ciampa and Gargano are hardly the ones to talk about friend stabbing each other in the back. That’s shrugged off and the tag match is set up for Homecoming.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Lainey Reid vs. Faby Apache

Apache dropkicks her down to start and sends her to the floor for a dive. Back in and Reid gets in a kick to the head as we’re already a minute in. Something like an Edge O Matic drops Reid but a double underhook is broken up with two minutes gone. A dragon suplex gives Apache two but Natalya (in the crowd) offers a distraction, allowing Reid to hit a running knee for the pin at 2:38.

Zaria and Sol Ruca are ready for the #1 contenders match tonight when Hank & Tank come in. Stereo pep talks ensue.

Blake Jordan is in a bathtub and talks about how Jordynne Grace has ruined everything. The Glamour can bleed and come back so now Grace has awakened her.

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Hank & Tank

Darkstate is defending. Griffin gets crushed to start and the powerslam/neckbreaker combination connects, with Lennox having to make a save less than a minute in. The big double brawl is on and Hank & Tank clear the ring, setting up the double dives. We take a break and come back with Lennox giving Tank a spinebuster for two.

A double spinebuster gets the same, followed by Griffin hitting a powerslam. Tank finally fights out of trouble and it’s off to Hank to clean house. A spinning Downward Spiral gets two on Griffin but the rest of Darkstate gets involved. James says Joe Hendry’s name so Hendry appears, only for Lennox to grab a rollup pin to retain at 10:50.

Rating: B-. This was the match we needed to get out of the way so Darkstate can move on to fresh challengers. Despite Hank & Tank holding the titles for over four months, they didn’t feel like the most serious champions. Darkstate already beat them so now it’s time to move on to someone new, which should be covered here.

Video on the Flag Match, which is basically a game of capture the flag. Tavion Heights and Ethan Page are ready.

Ethan Page seems to recruit Ridge Holland’s help.

Lexis King thinks Myles Borne is blind but Borne comes in, turns off the light, and jumps him with a chair.

Tavion Heights vs. Ethan Page

Non-title. There are flags in the corner and you have to retrieve/wave your country’s flag. Heights powers him into the corner to start and they go outside. Some stomping has Page down but he’s able to catch Heights on top. Ego’s Edge is broken up but Page cuts him off on top again.

They crash down to the mat for a double breather until Page kicks him in the head. Heights gives him a crossbody and they both go for the flags until Page makes a save. That means Heights crashes onto the ropes and out to the floor so Page goes up. Heights crotches him down and hits the belly to belly though, which is enough to get the flag for the win at 6:48.

Rating: C. This was little more than a way to give Heights the win over Page, which should set him up for a title match in the near future. That would be a good thing to add to No Mercy, which very well may be where we’re going. The wrestling wasn’t the point here, so it was nice to keep things moving as there was only so much for them to do.

Post match Heights gets the Canadian flag and drapes it over Page. Then Tyler Breeze of all people shows up for a selfie with the downed Page.

Lola Vice talks about growing up shy and going to see her dad at his tae kwan do school. Everyone in her family is a black belt and has college degrees. She’s ready to win near her hometown. After their videos, she’s going to have to.

Fatal Influence is ready for the triple threat so they can hold all of the titles.

Big preview of Homecoming, including Tyler Breeze getting a North American Title shot.

Zaria/Sol Ruca vs. Fatal Influence vs. Culling

For a future Women’s Tag Team Title shot and under elimination rules. Paxley, Nyx and Zaria start things off, with the former two kicking Zaria down. They trade rollups for two each but Zaria is back in to clean house. Dame comes in but gets hurricanranaed by Henley, leaving us with Dame vs. Zaria. The slugout goes to Zaria but they crossbody each other for the double down. Henley is back in to forearm Dame and Nyx drops her for two more. Ruca comes in with a springboard missile dropkick, setting up her surf spot.

Henley cuts Ruca off though and dives onto Nico Vance, leaving Zaria to dive onto Shawn Spears. Ruca’s twisting moonsault drops the Culling and Ruca poses with Zaria on the barricade as we take a break. We come back with the fans doing the Wave and Nyx breaking up Ruca’s springboard. Zaria gets sent into the steps and Nyx fisherman’s suplexes Ruca for two.

Dame pulls Nyx off the ropes though and it’s a powerbomb/Blockbuster combination to plant her down. Zaria comes back in to clean house, including a nasty Alley Oop to Paxley. Ruca and Zaria are back up with double spears but the Sol Snatcher takes Zaria out by mistake. Nyx steals the pin for the elimination at 12:39. Jayne gets in a right hand to Paxley for two and a catapult sends her into a Nyx kick for two more. Dame and Nyx brawl to the floor, where Henley kicks Dame in the head. Back in and Paxley misses a 450 but Dame hits a powerbomb to pin Henley at 15:02.

Rating: C+. This got some time and the elimination rules made it a bit more interesting. I wasn’t feeling all of it by the end though as it did start to drag, but at least they had a surprise ending. Zaria and Ruca aren’t having the best luck, though I wasn’t expecting the Culling to win here. It’s nice to see someone other than Fatal Influence win here, and it came in a good enough match.

Post match Jayne yells at the rest of the team. We cut to the back where a bunch of cars arrive.

Post break, Jayne keeps up her diatribe, saying the loss is NOT on her and she does not need anything from the fans. She says she’s the greatest Women’s Champion of all time but here is Stephanie Vaquer to interrupt. Vaquer lists off her own success but Jayne points out that there are three of them and one of her.

Cue Tiffany Stratton to talk about what she’s done and how long she has been Smackdown Women’s Champion. Jayne says they’re like the seniors who come back to high school. Stratton doesn’t know if Mami is going to be happy with being called a senior to here is Rhea Ripley. She doesn’t buy what Jayne is saying and the challenge is on for a six woman tag next week. Yeah that’s a big way.

We run down the Homecoming card to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a weird show, as it was about getting us to Homecoming next week while also having some guest stars this week. It made for a good enough show, with the big trio coming in at the end working well. Next week is really starting to feel bigger than No Mercy, though hopefully it winds up evening out a bit. Either way, nice enough preview for next week’s show, which should be a huge one.

Results
Josh Briggs b. Je’Von Evans – Punch with a chain
Lainey Reid b. Faby Apache – Running knee
Darkstate b. Hank & Tank – Rollup to Tank
Tavion Heights b. Ethan Page – Heights pulled down the flag
Culling b. Zaria/Sol Ruca and Fatal Influence – Powerbomb to Henley

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

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