WWE World
Date: April 19, 2026
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Jeremy Borash, Jose Manuel Guillen, Roberto Figueroa, Robert Stone

Well they did this on the first day of WWE World and I guess we’re doing it again to close things out. This is basically just background noise and a chance to have some live matches while the WWE World convention is going on and this time they happen to be broadcast with commentary. Let’s get to it.

Creed Brothers vs. LWO

Brutus and Wilde start things off with Wilde teasing him with a shirt like a bull. That doesn’t work so del Toro comes in for a double knockdown and an assisted moonsault connects. It’s off to Julius, who is quickly headscissored and dropkicked. Brutus comes back in to take over on Wilde for the first time and knocks del Toro off the apron as well.

Julius slams Brutus onto Wilde for two but he crawls through the lets and gets the tag off to del Toro. House is quickly cleaned and a moonsault gets two, with Brutus making the save. Everything breaks down and the LWO hit stereo suicide dives, followed by a top rope splash for the pin on Brutus at 8:00.

Rating: C+. This has been your latest reminder that the Creeds are indeed employed and I’m a bit surprised that they got a chance here. It’s not that they’re a bad team but they haven’t gotten to do anything for such a long time that it’s easy to forget they exist. The LWO is good for your regular high flying pair and the match wasn’t bad at all.

Erik vs. Psycho Clown

This is part of a pretty hot feud in AAA. They actually go technical to start before trading the big clotheslines. The running clotheslines in the corner don’t get anywhere until Erik is knocked outside. Clown gives chase and gets cut off on the way back in, as tends to be the case when chase is give.

The reverse chinlock goes on for a bit before Erik just hammers away with right hands. That’s enough for Clown to fight up and kick him in the head in the corner, followed by an air raid crash for two. Erik is back up with a spinebuster for two but a full nelson slam is blocked. Clown knocks him outside for a suicide dive and the frog splash finishes at 8:48.

Rating: B. This was a match where they had no reason to go this hard and they wound up having a heck of a match, with both guys working incredibly hard. That’s all this could have been and it’s not a surprise that one of the biggest stars in AAA beat half of a tag team. Still though, heck of a hoss fight here that completely exceeded expectations.

Fallon Henley vs. Jaida Parker

They go with the grappling to start and Henley accuses her of pulling hair. That’s not working so Henley takes her down and sits on her back for some riding. Back up and Parker knocks her into the corner before firing off some big shots to the face. Henley fights back and mocks Parker’s high stepping pose, earning herself a slam. The Tear Drop connects for Parker but the Hipnotique is cut off. The second attempt connects though and it’s Deja Vu to pin Henley at 7:04.

Rating: C. Parker continues to feel like an absolute star in the making. She has that X factor to her and you can see the charisma in her eyes. If she can get the in-ring side of things down (and she’s getting better), the sky is the limit for her. Henley did her usual stuff here and was perfectly fine as well.

Myles Borne/Shiloh Hill vs. Los Americanos

Borne and Rayo start things off with Borne winning an exchange of shoulders. Bravo comes in for the double team striking but everything breaks down with Hill helping make the save. Rayo gets crotched against the post and Bravo gets the same treatment on the rope. Borne grabs a very delayed vertical suplex and hands it off to Hill, who actually drop Rayo.

The Americanos take over on Hill and snap his legs, with Rayo suddenly having a three foot tag rope. That doesn’t work and Bravo accidentally drops Bravo before missing a flag assisted top rope splash. The tag brings in Bourne to clean house and everything breaks down, with Hill coming back inside. The loaded up headbutt knocks Hill silly for the pin at 10:00.

Rating: B-. The fact that a mostly makeshift team had me wondering who was going to win is a good sign. Borne not taking the fall is nice to see and at least Los Americanos cheated to get the win. I’ve seen others do that hand off suplex before and it’s still rather impressive. Nice match here to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B-. This was fun to see and it more than accomplished its goal. These matches weren’t going to be anything important and there wasn’t much in the way of star power. The matches were meant to be live wrestling for the sake of live wrestling and it worked out well, with Clown vs. Erik being far better than I would have expected.

Results
LWO b. Creed Brothers – Top rope splash to Brutus
Psycho Clown b. Erik – Frog splash
Jaida Parker b. Fallon Henley – Deja Vu
Los Americanos b. Shiloh Hill/Myles Borne – Loaded headbutt to Hill

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: March 17, 2026
Location: 713 Music Hall, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re on the road for a change and there is a lot going on this week. First of all, it’s Booker T. Appreciation Night, which sounds like a way for Keanu Carver to get involved. We also have a steel cage match for the Women’s North American Title as Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame are likely blowing off their feud. Let’s get to it.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Title: Sol Ruca vs. Zaria vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is defending and steps back while the other two stare each other down. That doesn’t last long as Jayne superkicks Zaria but gets backslided to give Ruca two. Zaria is back up to choke Ruca in the corner but Jayne catches Zaria with a Codebreaker. Ruca’s top rope splash to break it up and get two, with Zaria pulling Jayne outside.

Ruca tries a dive but gets caught in the ropes, thankfully not breaking her neck on the mostly fine landing. Fatal Influence sends Zaria and Ruca into the steps though and we take a break with the champ and company posing. We come back with Ruca hitting a springboard double high crossbody but Zaria is up to kick Jayne in the face. Ruca dropkicks Zaria but Jayne is up to take both of them down. Zaria’s spear hits Jayne so Ruca spears Zaria, who is back up to crotch Ruca on top.

Jayne goes after Ruca on top so Zaria gives them a double German superplex to leave everyone down. Zaria F5’s Jayne for two, with Ruca having to make a save. Another F5 is countered into an X Factor and Zaria is knocked outside. The Sol Snatcher drops Jayne but Zaria pulls Ruca outside for an F5. Zaria throws Ruca back in but gets pulled outside by Fatal Influence, allowing Jayne to steal the pin at 10:48.

Rating: B-. They were getting somewhere with the match and I do like the ending, which is at least a bit of a twist on the steal the pin triple threat finish. I was expecting Zaria to get the title here and defend it against Ruca at Stand & Deliver, but that match could take place without the title involved. Nice opener here, with Jayne getting to brag about surviving as champion against two big challengers.

Kendal Grey fires up Wren Sinclair when the Birthright comes in. Sinclair asks Charlie Dempsey what happened and gets blown off. Lola Vice comes in to praise both of them and says she’s winning the Women’s Title at Stand & Deliver.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat, plus a slip on the ropes during his entrance. Saints talks about how he slipped but he didn’t fall. Last week, he and Ethan Page got a win over Myles Borne and Joe Hendry. They’re a great team and luckily for the tag division, they’re focused on singles gold. Page is going to be a two time North American Champion and Saints is getting his NXT Title back.

Cue Page, who sees things a bit different, but here is Hendry to interrupt. Hendry agrees that Page pinned him, which Saints couldn’t do, even if it involved smashing Hendry’s face into the title. Maybe Page and Saints should fight again like they did at Stand & Deliver to decide this. A fight is teased but they go after Hendry, who cleans house. Cue Tony D’Angelo to wreck everyone though and stand tall.

William Regal and Fit Finlay tell Birthright to win the tag team tournament when Robert Stone comes in. Regal thinks Stone should be the permanent GM and he’ll talk to Shawn Michaels about it.

Vanity Project vs. Los Americanos

Rayo works on Smokes’ arm to start and it’s off to Bravo, who punches him in the face. The rest of the Project runs in to clear the ring and do some dancing, only for the Americanos to come back in and clean house. Grande hits a dive of his own and it’s time to dance. The Project comes back in to take over on Rayo and we take a break. We come back with Rayo still in trouble, with Drake grabbing an abdominal stretch. Drake tries Three Amigos but gets tossed down, allowing Grande to get the tag.

Grande comes in with a double Blockbuster and it’s back to Rayo so he and Bravo can put on cowboy hats and hit some dives. Drake is back with a step up flip dive of his own, followed by a Burning Hammer for two on Grande. A dropkick from Baylor sets up Drake’s 450 for two more but Grande Americanos up. Drake is right there with a rollup but the referee catches Baylor cheating and breaks it up. A quick distraction lets Grande load up the mask and after a top rope headbutt/Russian legsweep combination, the running headbutt gives Grande the pin on Smokes at 12:43.

Rating: C+. The whole Los Americanos thing is a great example of a story that sounds like a death sentence but the people involved have absolutely ran with the thing. That’s way better than I was expecting and I’m starting to have way too much fun with whatever they do. The Project continues to be in way over their heads, but that’s a classic wrestling trope that can work very well for them today.

Sean Legacy is injured so Elio LeFleur will take his place in the tag tournament, teaming with Eli Knight. That’s fine with Robert, but here is Sol Ruca to say she wants to face Zaria next week. Stone seems to approve but looks worried.

Vic Joseph and company are in the ring for Booker T. Appreciation Night. After a nice introduction, Booker gets up from his desk to his entrance music and greets what I’m guessing are some of his family and students. We get a rather nice video on Booker’s career, with various legends, current stars and Joseph commentating on how great he has been to them over the years.

Back in the arena and Booker is in tears, as the people in the ring are indeed his students and family. Joseph presents Booker with a plaque and Booker talks about how he’s been doing this for thirty five years….and here is Keanu Carver to interrupt. He doesn’t want Booker to have a celebration and beats up the students. Cue Jasper Troy to go after Carver and knock him out of the ring. With Carver gone, the locker room comes out and praises Booker, who says someone needs to take control because this shouldn’t be happening in his city.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Speed Title: Wren Sinclair vs. Fallon Henley

Henley is defending with a five minute time limit. Sinclair starts fast with an early rollup for two. Another rollup gets two and Sinclair starts going after the arms. Henley breaks that up but is favoring her taped up shoulder. A suplex gives Sinclair two and she tries the double arm crank again. Instead Henley sends her outside but a kick from the apron is shoved away. Back in and a spinning faceplant drops Sinclair again as we have two minutes left. They trade rollups for two each but the Final Wrench goes out on of nowhere to make Sinclair champion at 3:39.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of move I can go for with the title, as Sinclair can bring her kind of weird charisma to the belt. She’s a talented star and if this is where she fits in, that’s a fine enough result. At the same time you have Henley, who has put together a nice career around here, but I’m not sure what is next for her, as she’s still just kind of there most of the time.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page complain about the attack but Robert Stone isn’t overly impressed. Page suggests that Tony D’Angelo face Saints next week, with Stone making the match. I can go with two heels trying to work together and also trying to screw each other over.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Birthright vs. Hank & Tank

The rest of Birthright is here too. Birthright jumps them to start but Hank & Tank fight back to clear Connors out. A superplex is broken up though and Connors slingshots in with a hilo for tow on Hank. The beating doesn’t last long as Hank ducks under a right hand to bring in Tank, who quickly cleans house.

Tank even flips off the apron and goes over to quickly acknowledge Booker. Back in and a superplex into a Swanton hits Stacks, with Connors making a quick save. Stacks charges into a swinging Boss Man Slam but Lexis King comes in for a distraction. That’s enough for Connors to get a blind tag but Hank & Tank take out Stacks anyway. Connors is right there with a rollup to steal the pin on Hank at 4:34.

Rating: C+. That’s the kind of a win that William Regal would approve of as they slipped in at the last second and won. Birthright feels like a strong candidate to win the tournament and that’s a lot more than some of the members have been doing to date. It’s not exactly a revolutionary idea but it’s a lot better than sitting around in the lower midcard with nothing to do.

Joe Hendry wants Tony D’Angelo next week but Robert Stone says he’s taken. Hendry wants the match at some point but we cut over to OTM brawling with Darkstate, the latter of whom use the numbers game to take over.

Thea Hail gives Tatum Paxley a pep talk. With Paxley gone, Kelani Jordan comes in to mock Hail, with Jaida Parker coming in to stand up for her.

Jacy Jayne is rather excited and Fallon Henley isn’t overly pleased with having to help Jayne take care of Kendal Grey.

Myles Borne wants a new #1 contender so Robert Stone makes a gauntlet eliminator to find a new one next week. He isn’t sure who is involved yet but Birthright comes in to say they want in on this.

Women’s North American Title: Izzi Dame vs. Tatum Paxley

Dame is challenging inside a cage and jumps Paxley before she can even get inside. A suplex drops Paxley on the floor and Dame slams the door on her. Dame throws her inside and grabs a chair and now we get the opening bell. Paxley ducks a chair shot and strikes away, leaving Dame panicking. Dame tries to escape so Paxley follows her up for a trade of rams into the cage. They do that a few times, check to make sure the other is ready, and ram each other into the cage at the same time for a crash down.

We take a break and come back with Dame in trouble and Paxley going up, with Dame catching her on top. Dame’s right hands just make Paxley smile but Dame superplexes her back down for the big crash. Paxley is back up with a Whisper In The Wind for two and they glare at each other from the mat. Dame sends her into the cage but Paxley flips out of a Codebreaker, only to get powerbombed for two. The chair to the back has Paxley in trouble and Dame powerbombs her against the cage. Another powerbomb is countered into a sunset bomb onto the chair though and the Cemetery Drive retains the title at 11:48.

Rating: B-. That’s how this should have gone, with Paxley getting to beat Dame one on one, despite the cheating before the match even started. It made for a feel good moment and Paxley continues her rather great run as of late. The fans love her and she actually wins the rivalry with Dame, which is a lot more than I was expecting. This felt important and that’s quite the trick for the lower level title.

Post match Paxley celebrates on the ramp…and a trap door opens, with Blake Monroe pulling her down. Monroe holds up the title to end the show. Makes sense and that’s a good Stand & Deliver match.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling wasn’t anything great here, but they did a good job of making me more interested in what they seem to be planning for Stand & Deliver. The show is in two and a half weeks so it’s time to start actually announcing some stuff, which should be coming up in the next few weeks. Not a must see show here, but you can see the pieces starting to come together.

Results
Jacy Jayne b. Zaria and Sol Ruca – F5 to Ruca
Los Americanos b. Vanity Project – Running headbutt to Smokes
Wren Sinclair b. Fallon Henley – Final Wrench
Birthright b. Hank & Tank – Rollup to Hank

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

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

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

Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cutler James vs. Tony D’Angelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Shiloh Hill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT
Date: 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 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:

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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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No Mercy 2025
Date: September 27, 2025
Location: FTL War Memorial, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s another special and the card is looking big enough. We have a nice mixture of title matches and grudge matches, which should make for a nice night. The main event is…well it could be a few different things actually, but in theory it’s Oba Femi defending the NXT Title against Ricky Saints. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is a pretty standard look at the card.

Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans

Evans kicks him in the face to start fast but misses another boot and gets sent over the barricade. With Evans favoring his hip, Briggs sends him over the barricade but Evans is back with a ram into the steps. Back in and a springboard crossbody into a springboard hurricanrana has Briggs in trouble.

Briggs shrugs off a dropkick though and starts hammering away, followed by some backbreakers for two. A hard whip into the corner has Evans in more trouble but he fights out of said corner with the right hands. An enziguri staggers Briggs but he knocks Evans off the apron for a crash to the floor. A right hand seems to wake Evans up and he springs around for a German suplex.

Evans sends him outside for a heck of a dive, followed by a frog splash for two back inside. Briggs goes simple by hitting him in the back of the head for two more. Some big boots and another backbreaker set up a knee to the area near Evans’ head for another near fall. They go up top with Evans flipping out of a super chokeslam but getting caught with the regular version for two.

It’s back to the floor, where Briggs throws him into the ropes for a right hand. Back in and a hard lariat gets two, with Evans making the rope. Evans knees him in the face but a springboard is booted out of the air. The chokeslam is countered into a cutter (ala Randy Orton vs. Undertaker) and the top rope cutter finishes for Evans at 16:24.

Rating: B. Evans has turned me around on him with some of his recent stuff and it has been very nice to see. He’s no longer just someone who does his same basic stuff and has become a high flier who knows how to use his strengths. I got into seeing him take down the bigger guy here and it was a rather nice opener.

We look at Trick Williams vs. Dominik Mysterio at No Mercy 2023. Ok then.

Last night, Kelani Jordan won the TNA Knockouts Title after Ash By Elegance had to vacate the title.

Jordan is excited to be the champion and will fight like heck to keep it.

Lainey Reid is injured but Sol Ruca is still defending the title.

Women’s Speed Title: Sol Ruca vs. ???

Ruca, with Zaria, is defending against….Jaida Parker with a five minute time limit. They start fast and Ruca knocks her to the floor, where we get a mockery of Parker’s stepping taunt. Parker rolls to another part of the floor, where she cuts off a baseball slide and hits her in the face. Back in and a falcon arrow gives Parker two but the Hipnotique is countered into….we’’ll call it a tilt-a-whirl slam but it didn’t hit clean at all.

They head to the apron, where Parker gets in a forearm as we have two minutes left. Ruca reverses a suplex into a DDT for two and they fight outside again with a minute to go. Ruca’s moonsault off the steps misses and the Hipnotique connects but Parker would rather go after Zaria. Cue Lash Legend to go after Parker but Zaria spears Legend. The Sol Snatcher connects back inside to retain the title at 4:43.

Rating: C. The Speed Title is a nice idea that doesn’t work very well with the longer match. No five minutes isn’t a ton of time, but it also doesn’t make for the greatest matches. Parker was a last minute replacement, but it’s not like Reid would have done that much better. This is something that belongs on the pre-show rather than the main card and it showed pretty badly here.

Joe Hendry was disappointed by his most recent loss when Darkstate interrupted to threaten him again. Hendry seems intrigued by what sounded like an offer to join them.

We recap Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace. They were friends for a few weeks but then Monroe turned on her, saying that Grace wasn’t good enough for her. Grace has come after vengeance and now it’s time for a weaponized cage match.

Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe

In a cage with weapons. Grace swings a chair to start but misses, allowing Monroe to come back with some kendo stick shots (Joseph: “Like the Guardians against the Rangers!”). Grace knocks her down though and puts on a Boston crab, with the chair over the back of Monroe’s neck. The chair is wedged into the corner but Monroe sends her into the cage a few times.

Monroe goes after Grace’s injured thumb and then stabs at the hand with a kendo stick. A hairdryer is used to tie Grace’s wrists to the ropes and Monroe hacks off a bunch of Grace’s hair. Grace gets out and unloads on Monroe but the powerbomb is blocked with a grab of the cage. A weightbelt is used to give Monroe a whipping and it’s time for a pink trashcan. That takes too long though and Monroe hits her with the trashcan lid for two.

Monroe pours out a bag of diamonds but Grace manages to suplex her onto them for two instead. They go to the corner with Monroe hitting a double stomp into a trashcan for two. The fans want and receive a table, before the fight heads to the top of the cage. A metal bar shot to the face rocks Monroe but she loads up a powerbomb. Grace blocks that instead and switches into an Air Raid Crash through a table for the pin at 16:48.

Rating: C. This match didn’t know what it wanted to be, as it was designed to be all about the violence and the hatred but then wound up being a lot of less than serious spots. The weapons being pink and featuring stuff like a hairdryer and a bag of diamonds didn’t exactly help either. I’m glad Grace got a bit win, but dang I was wanting something a lot different than this.

Ava announces Invasion, with TNA facing NXT on October 7 in a pair of Survivor Series matches. Also, Darkstate vs. the Hardys, winner take all.

Lash Legend comes out to mock TNA and say she should be the captain of the NXT Survivor but will be back. Lola Vice comes in to say she’s sorry Reid is hurt Series team. Jaida Parker comes out for the brawl…and that’s it.

Lainey Reid is disappointed that she’s injured when Lola Vice comes in to console her. Reid thanks her…but knows Vice is losing anyway.

We look at another No Mercy classic, with Ethan Page beating Joe Hendry in 2024.

North American Title: Tavion Heights vs. Ethan Page

Heights is challenging and rams into him to start, with neither of them going anywhere. They head to the ramp where Page hits a quick backdrop to take over, followed by some elbows to the back inside. A belly to back suplex gives Page two and a regular suplex gets the same, with Page staying on the back. Page gives him a backbreaker onto the turnbuckle (OUCH) for a crash out to the floor.

Heights gets back to his feet and makes the comeback, including something close to a Sling Blade. An ankle lock puts Page in more trouble until he makes it to a rope. The leg is fine enough for Page to hit an Ego’s Edge for two before floating straight into a Boston crab. That’s broken up as well and they go up, with Heights grabbing a sleeper. Page reverses that into a super powerslam, followed by the Twisted Grin to retain the title at 10:19.

Rating: B-. I liked this one a good bit more than I was expecting, though Heights was only so much of a serious threat to take the belt. Page is on a bit of a roll right now and I could see him being something of a replacement Miz on the main roster. For now though, he gets to continue his second reign as a champion and that’s going well enough.

Post match AAA Latin American Champion El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. pops up to say he wants the North American Title.

Myles Borne is glad Lexis King made him tap into a different world. NXT is his family and he’s ready to go to war with TNA. He doesn’t care who comes after NXT, because they’ll be ready to defend their house.

TNA’s Mike Santana is ready to win the TNA World Title back and he’s not the only one in TNA who is ticked off. He’ll be back on Tuesday and he’s not coming alone.

Frankie Kazarian is going to be at NXT on Tuesday too.

From No Mercy 2024, Roxanne Perez b. Jaida Parker.

Women’s Title: Lola Vice vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fallon Henley, is defending and Vice is the hometown star. We get the Big Match Intros before Jayne pulls her into a headlock. That’s reversed into a headscissors, which is reversed just as fast. Vice gets another headlock and stays on Jayne, who needs a breather in the corner. Henley offers a distraction and gets nowhere, as Vice is right back with a knockdown into a chinlock.

That’s broken up and they head outside, with Henley offering another distraction so Jayne can knock her into the steps. Back in and Vice fights back only for Henley to offer another distraction. A Backstabber gives Jayne two and we hit the chinlock with a knee to the back. Vice is able to reverse into a crossface, which is stacked up for two and the escape. Some kicks send Jayne into the corner for the running hip attack, with Jayne being sent outside. Vice’s flip dive connects (Henley seemed to take a big hit) but Jayne is back with a pump kick.

Back in and Vice’s spinning kick to the face gets two as Henley pulls the referee out. Henley is ejected but Vice misses a charge into the corner, allowing Jayne to hit a heck of a backfist for two. Vice is back up with a tornado DDT into a guillotine, which is broken up with a ram into the corner. A belly to back superplex into the running knee gives Jayne two and she’s stunned off the kickout.

The title is brought in but Vice rolls her up for two instead. Jayne kicks her in the arm but Vice kicks her in the face. They strike it out until Vice connects with a spinning backfist but falls out to the floor. Cue a woman in a hoodie to knee Vice down on the floor but she beats the count back in. The Rolling Encore retains the title at 18:40.

Rating: B-. I was thinking that Vice was going to win the title here, but at the end of the day, Jayne is in a great place as champion. It makes a lot of sense to keep the title on her, as someone is going to have to take the title from her sooner or later. I’m not sure where Vice is going from here, but she’s going to need a win to bounce back from this one way or another.

TNA’s Moose and Mustafa Ali are ready for the invasion.

We recap Ricky Saints challenging Oba Femi for the NXT Title. Saints has been around for a few months and has done well but he wants the top prize. Femi has talked about being the best of the best and is ready to make the Absolute look mediocre.

NXT Title: Ricky Saints vs. Oba Femi

Femi is defending and powers Saints into the corner to start. Saints gets a boot up to cut him off though and a rollup gets a quick two. A shot to the back has Saints in trouble but he’s up with some chops to slow it down. Saints poses a bit too much and has to slip out of a powerslam, meaning it’s a dropkick to stagger Femi. A running knee sends Femi outside but he’s back in with some Irish Curses to cut Saints off again.

Femi drops him with a clothesline out of the corner and Saints has to beat a count back inside. We hit the chinlock with a knee in Saints’ back, followed by a backbreaker to make it even worse. Saints fights up but springboards into a chokeslam for two. Back up again and Saints tries some running shots to the face, eventually managing to knock Femi down. The spear gives Saints two and it’s time for a double breather.

Femi catches him on top but Saints slips down and powerbombs him out of the corner for another near fall. Back up and Femi gets rolled up for two but he sends Saints flying for a crash. The Fall From Grace is countered into a hurricanrana for two and they knock each other down for another breather.

They go outside, with Femi loading up the announcers’ table, only for the Fall From Grace to be reversed into a DDT. A tornado DDT on the floor drops Femi again but he knocks Saints silly with a single shot. Back in and the Fall From Grace connects for two and Femi can’t believe it. Another Fall From Grace is countered into another DDT and another tornado DDT gives Saints the title at 17:23.

Rating: B. This was the story of Starks trying to fight through adversity because he had something to prove, which is exactly what he had to do. Other than spamming the DDT a bit, the match was put together well and it was definitely a big moment after a show without much in the way of title changes. Femi very well may be on his way up to the main roster too, as there isn’t much left for him to do in NXT.

Saints celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The opener and main event were both good (imagine: Shawn Michaels knowing how to book a match involving smaller wrestlers fighting monsters) but that Speed Title match and the cage match brought the show way back down. There’s nothing on here that is worth going out of your way to see but there is a good chance that this was Femi’s NXT swan song. Overall it’s a fine show, though not exactly a must see event. Check it out if you’re bored at best.

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Josh Briggs – Top rope cutter
Sol Ruca b. Jaida Parker – Sol Snatcher
Jordynne Grace b. Blake Monroe – Air Raid Crash through a table
Ethan Page b. Tavion Heights – Twisted Grin
Jacy Jayne b. Lola Vice – Rolling Encore
Ricky Saints b. Oba Femi – Springboard tornado DDT

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 23, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s time to finalize everything for No Mercy, which is taking place this weekend. In this case we have the winner take all World Title match as NXT Champion Oba Femi faces TNA World Champion Trick Williams. That does not have the rest of the TNA roster happy and they might be getting involved as a result. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a Homecoming recap.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King

Lights Out (meaning wacky lighting) and anything goes. Borne jumps King during his entrance and we’re starting fast. The trashcan and chair are thrown inside and Borne drops him with a few chair shots. King is back up to put Borne in the chair for a running knee, followed by a knee to the ribs. A suplex onto the chair gets two and we hit a crossarm choke on Borne. King sends him into the corner and kicks away as the dark lighting is already getting annoying.

Borne comes back with a powerslam and we take a break. We come back with King throwing in a table but Borne cuts him off with some belt whipping to the back. Borne catapults him into a chair in the corner but King is right back up and tries to Pillmanize the necks. That doesn’t work either and a spear sends King crashing through the barricade. King superkicks his way out of trouble but a DDT puts him onto the steps. Borne Again through a table gives Borne the pin at 11:48.

Rating: C+. The violence was fine and I liked seeing Borne win, or at least I thought I did as you could barely see a lot of this. The whole Lights Out deal can be added without actually darkening the arena but I guess they wanted to go a bit more literal. I’m not sure what is next for King, but it’s not exactly working well for him at the moment.

Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are in charge tonight since Ava isn’t here. Ava is on the phone but the reception cuts out before she can say if she invited some TNA wrestlers.

Ethan Page is walking through the back when Miles Borne looks at his title. TNA’s Mance Warner and Steph de Lander are behind him but Page doesn’t seem to notice.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat. First, he acknowledges AAA’s El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and invites him to No Mercy. Wagner gets up and goes to the ring, with Page saying get a referee in here. That’s exactly what happens and Wagner makes him tap to an ankle lock in about ten seconds, though the bell never rang so I don’t think it really counts. Wagner holds up the title…and unmasks as Tavion Heights in a nice moment.

Earlier today, Jordynne Grace didn’t think much of Arianna Grace being less than serious and a match was made for later.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Lainey Reid vs. Candice LeRae

A NASCAR driver is the ring announcer. LeRae kicks her down to start but misses an early Lionsault as TNA’s Angel Warriors arrive in the back. Reid knocks her out to the apron but can’t get a suplex. Instead LeRae sends her outside and hits a springboard spinning crossbody. Back in and LeRae’s Gargano Escape is countered into a rollup for two and they trade some near falls. Reid knocks her silly with a knee to the face for the pin at 2:26.

Jaida Parker doesn’t like Lash Legend and says she can hit harder, talk louder and look better. A rematch is suggested.

Lyra Valkyria meets up with Tatum Paxley again and talks about friends possibly being strange. Paxley says nothing is ever Valkyria’s fault, with Valkyria saying she’s glad that Paxley is weird, but consistently weird. Izzi Dame comes in to say Valkyria will drop Paxley again. Of note: more TNA wrestlers were walking around behind them, with Hank & Tank following.

Chase U apologizes to the banged up Andre Chase but Chase says it’s ok. He brings in some NASCAR drivers, who tease summoning Joe Hendry. Darkstate comes in and doesn’t think much of Hendry…who has taken over the body of one of the drivers. Either way, a six man tag is set up.

Jordynne Grace vs. Arianna Grace

Arianna gets in a quick cheap shot to start but Jordynne unloads with forearms in the corner. A quick knockdown lets Arianna hit a splash, only to miss an elbow drop. Jordynne sends her into the corner a few times, followed by some clotheslines. The spinebuster into a spinning torture rack bomb finishes for Jordynne at 2:50.

Post match Stacks of all people pops up to check on Arianna but here is Blake Monroe with a trashcan full of weapons. Jordynne grabs a chair and the fight is on, with security breaking it up. The bosses come out to make a weapons cage match for No Mercy.

Lainey Reid is ready to beat Sol Ruca but Fatal Influence pops in. Jacy Jayne praises Reid but says she can handle Lola Vice by herself. The rest of the team isn’t convinced.

Here is Jayne to talk about how she’s been champion for over 100 days, like it or not. She has gotten rid of the labels people have put on her, like transitional champion. Now people are expecting LOLA VICE is going to take the title from her? Sure Vice has a million Instagram followers but she’s not ready to take the title. Jayne already shocked the world and she’s the underdog again because no one believes in her.

No one is going to ruin this for her and here is Vice to interrupt. After talking about various curves she has that Jayne doesn’t, Vice talks about growing up over the last year and being ready to win the title. At No Mercy, Vice will show no mercy but Jayne mocks Vice for wanting her family to be proud. Jayne promises to retain the title, even if it means a broken nose or jaw. Vice knocks her cold with a spinning backfist (Jayne sold that like death).

Josh Briggs is tired of being told he can’t connect with people so he’s finally giving up on doing anything but hurting people. Like Je’Von Evans at No Mercy.

Darkstate vs. Joe Hendry/Chase U

Darkstate jumps them during Hendry’s entrance until Shugars and Connors start things off. Connors ducks around Lennox and hands it off to Dixon to take over. A clothesline gets two on Lennox and it’s off to Hendry to keep the hot crowd warm. Hendry’s suplex is cut off and everything breaks down with Dixon hitting a big flip dive to the floor. Hendry and company pose and we take a break.

We come back with Dixon in trouble, with James dropping him onto the buckle so Lennox can clothesline him for two. We cut to the back where TNA’s Mike Santana is arriving and everything breaks down again. That settles back down to Dixon fighting out of the corner and bringing Hendry in to clean house. A suplex cuts Lennox off and it’s back to Connors, who manages to kick down some of the villains. Griffin and Lennox are sent into each other but a knee to the face drops Connors. The toss powerbomb finishes for Shugars at 11:39.

Rating: B-. I was expecting a squash here but Chase U managed to do a good bit better than usual, which made it a nice surprise. You’re only going to get so much out of a match with one of the lowest level teams against the champs but Chase U was working hard. I’m still not sure how much of a future they have, though they were certainly trying here.

Ricky Saints has gone back to New Orleans, in a place where his childhood home was…before the storm took it away. He’s proud to be the one who made it and he had to, because he didn’t have another choice. The reality is he believed in himself because there was no one else to believe in him. He’s back in New Orleans because it represents everything he’s done to get here. Saturday isn’t just about winning the NXT Title, but also about proving that he has gotten where he wanted to go. Good stuff here, though the Lola Vice version a few weeks ago was better.

No Mercy rundown.

Je’Von Evans knows Josh Briggs is talking about him but…and we pause because Jazmyn Nyx has been attacked. Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley don’t think much of it.

TNA World Title/NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Oba Femi

Title for title. Femi tries an early Fall From Grace but Williams slips out and jumps over him for another standoff. More power has Williams in trouble, with one shot sending him to the floor. Williams manages to pull him onto the apron as we see various TNA wrestlers watching in the crowd.

Cue Mike Santana (set to challenge Williams at Bound For Glory, the biggest TNA event of the year, next month) to join commentary as we take a break. We come back with Williams hitting a slam…and Matt Cardona is in the crowd (that gets the fans’ attention). Femi gets fired up and hits a spinebuster, followed by a flying shoulder.

A Big Ending gives Femi two so Williams kicks him in the face for the same. Back up and Femi sends him flying but the Fall From Grace is countered into a rollup for two. The second attempt at the Fall From Grace gives Femi two as more TNA wrestlers are shown. Williams and Femi slug it out and head outside with Williams going after Santana, who slaps him back for the DQ at 11:51.

Rating: B-. They were starting to cook near the end, but NXT all but guaranteed that this was going to end with someone from TNA getting involved for the DQ to avoid a title change. It was a bit of a weird way to go, but Femi vs. Williams is the kind of a match that can be saved for a big moment later on. What we got was good, but it was basically just waiting for the interference ending.

Post the TNA wrestlers and NXT locker room run in for the big brawl. Ricky Saints grabs the NXT Title, but Oba Femi grabs it as well so the staredown can end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The ending of the main event was the weakest part of the show but the rest worked pretty well. What matters the most is the fact that they made No Mercy look a lot better. The show got some good build and I’m more interested in what they have coming up this weekend than I was coming in. Good show here and one of the better NXT’s in a while.

Results
Myles Borne b. Lexis King – Borne Again through a table
Lainey Reid b. Candice LeRae – Knee to the face
Jordynne Grace b. Arianna Grace – Spinning torture rack bomb
Darkstate b. Chase U/Joe Hendry – Toss powerbomb to Connors
Trick Williams b. Oba Femi via DQ when Mike Santana interfered

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

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NXT
Date: July 29, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re just under a month away from Heatwave and that means it is time to start putting the show together. We already have a few hints at what to expect, which very well may include Trick Williams defending the TNA World Title. Odds are we get a bit more of the card announced this week so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a ten bell salute to Hulk Hogan and the tribute video from this week’s Raw.

Long recap of last week in Houston.

Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx

The rest of Fatal Influence is here with Nyx. Parker gets kicked down to start but blocks a kick to the face. Back up and Parker sends her into the corner and shouts down at Fatal Influence, allowing Nyx to get in a shot of her own. Something like a standing Last Chancery has Parker in trouble, which doesn’t last long as they’re back up for the slugout. Parker hits a Samoan drop, followed by a quick Hipnotique for the pin at 4:11.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time to work here but it was nice to see Parker getting a win. She might be on the way towards the title picture and that is not a bad idea. Parker has all of the charisma she could ever need but it’s going to take some success in the ring to make that happen.

Je’Von Evans runs into High Ryze, who don’t impress him. After that, Evans runs into Chase U, with Andre Chase telling the team to go after the big dogs. Evans is going to do the same right now.

Here is Evans in the arena for a chat. A Hall of Famer told him to go after the biggest dog so let’s do this. Cue Trick Williams, who says the big dog is here. Williams says Evans should watch who he talks to, with Evans bringing up the chokeslam from Undertaker last week. Evans was actually talking about Oba Femi, which doesn’t mean much to Williams. Cue the High Ryze, who says Williams is on a different level from Evans. Lee doesn’t think Evans is making a smart move but Evans tries fighting all of them anyway. The brawl is on and Evans is quickly beaten down.

Chase U goes after Hank & Tank…but can’t decide if it’s 1-2-3 go or go on 3. The result is a standoff, with Hank & Tank giving them the match anyway. Andre Chase comes in and says that’s not what he meant.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights

If Heights wins, he’s out of the No Quarter Catch crew. Heights takes him down a few times to start but Dempsey is back with an armbar. We get a random Joe Hendry shot (I’m assuming that was a glitch) before Heights is back up with a quick leg trip into a headlock takeover. Back up and they collide with stereo crossbodies and we take a break.

We come back with Heights suplexing his way out of trouble. They go outside where Dempsey starts going after the leg, setting up a half crab back inside. Heights rolls out and gets two off a small package, followed by a Death Valley Driver for two more. The belly to belly gives Heights the win at 10:11.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure why it took three weeks to get there but at least Heights is free of the team and he did it with a clean win. Now all that matters is that they do something with him now that he’s out of the team. There is always room for an Olympic wrestler who can do well enough in the ring so see what he can do after a bigger win.

Santino Marella comes in to see Trick Williams and the High Ryze. Marella tells Williams to not get too comfortable with the TNA World Title because it’s coming home soon.

Here is Blake Monroe for a chat. After getting on Booker T. for getting her name wrong, Monroe moves on to Jordynne Grace. Monroe has seen protein shakes with more personality than Grace and we see various shots of Grace looking as “gym material” rather than “championship material”.

On the other hand, Monroe has star power but here is Lola Vice to interrupt. She doesn’t understand how Monroe can be so beautiful on the outside but so ugly on the inside. Vince made a moment by dancing with Nikki Bella at Evolution…and here is Jaida Parker to interrupt. Parker doesn’t need anyone else to make her into a star but here is Kelani Jordan to interrupt. Jordan doesn’t like Monroe, who challengers her to a match next week. Vice and Jordan clear the ring in a hurry.

Tatum Paxley tells Izzi Dame that she wants to challenge Sol Ruca. Dame isn’t sure but the rest of the Culling comes in to say Paxley is indeed getting the title shot. With the team gone, Luca Crusifino pops in to say no family lasts forever.

Lash Legend is ready to beat up Fallon Henley and go after the Women’s Title.

Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley

The rest of Fatal Influence is here and Henley backs behind Legend for some early posing. Legend hammers away in the corner and drops down onto Henley’s back. Henley sends her throat first into the ropes and stomps away for two. We get another Hendry glimpse so the glitch theory seems to be wrong. A springboard bulldog into a hurricanrana have Legend down but she’s right back with a fall away slam. Legend goes outside and beats up the rest of the team…but gets dropped by Nia Jax of all people. Back in and Henley hits her Fameasser for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what to think of that, but I’m glad Henley didn’t take another fall. At the same time, Legend looks to be getting into a bigger feud, which might be her path up to the main roster. Legend was a star in the Evolution battle royal against the main roster talent and it’s great to see her possibly getting the chance to do it again.

Post match Jax gives Legend the Annihilator.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura have to be held apart. Stacks comes in and doesn’t think much of Inamura, who is ready to face him next week.

Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of High Ryze is here and Trick Williams is on commentary. Evans dives onto Lee to start the brawl in the aisle and they head inside for the opening bell. A springboard high crossbody hits Lee for two but he gets in a knockdown of his own. Lee strikes away until a chop drops him in a hurry. Back up and Lee sends him into the corner for a trip out to the floor, setting up the big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with Lee holding a front chancery. That’s broken up and Evans kicks him in the head, followed by a German suplex. Some kicks to the face, including the springboard variety, give Evans two but Lee knocks him back as well. A brainbuster gives Lee two but Evans ties him in the Tree Of Woe. Evans flips into a Coast To Coast for two, only for the High Ryze to offer a distraction. One heck of a no hands dive takes them out but Lee hits the Cardiac Kick…for two, as Evans’ foot is in the ropes. Evans is back up with a jumping cutter, followed by the top rope cutter for the pin at 13:03.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a match, with Evans getting to look like a star. He not only beat a former long term champion but he took out Lee’s goons on the way there. That’s a good way to give Evans a nice rub and it looks like he’s going after some gold of his own. Evans can wrestle that fast paced style very well and it worked well here, especially with an opponent like Lee.

Post match Evans and Williams have a staredown but Oba Femi pops up on the platform for the three way staredown.

We get a sitdown interview with Myles Borne, who talks about his health issues as a baby which led to him losing 90% of his hearing. Communication isn’t easy for him but he knows how to read lips and use non-verbal cues. Now he’s blocking out people like Lexis King.

Ava’s assistants update her on Ricky Saints’ and Jordynne Grace’s health issues. Lexis King comes in to call Myles Borne a phony. Ava makes Borne vs. King for next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Nia Jax interrupts Fatal Influence’s interview and says that’s what Lash Legend gets when she messes with the most dominant force in WWE. Legend just doesn’t measure up.

North American Title: Santino Marella vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending. Marella wrestles him down to the mat to start and gets some early near falls. Page fights back as we get another Joe Hendry blip. Another rollup gives Marella two and Page bails to the floor, where he takes Marella down. A big boot drops Marella again and a neckbreaker gives Page two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as Marella lifts him up into an airplane spin. The Twisted Grin is countered into a Stunner and the saluting elbow gives Marella two. Page’s kick to the head gets two more but a top rope splash hits raised knees. Marella sends him outside for a slingshot dive but Page uses the referee to avoid the Cobra. That lets Page grab the Twisted Grin to retain at 7:01.

Rating: C. Well that’s a sigh of relief. The match was about all you’re going to get out of Marella, who thankfully did nothing but play the hits here. Page gets to beat a popular star and NXT gets a win over someone from TNA. That’s all this needed to be, even if it doesn’t feel like the biggest main event.

Tony D’Angelo is dining alone at his restaurant, where he tells the server to call him Tony rather than Don…but someone we can’t see is behind him to end the show. That could be interesting.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t the biggest show but they seem to be planting the seeds for some things down the line. That includes Evans getting a choice to go after one of the two top titles and the ending, which could go in a few ways. Next week should be the build towards Heatwave, as they’re only going to have so many weeks left to get ready. Not a bad show this week, but it didn’t feel like their biggest offering.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Hipnotique
Tavion Heights b. Charlie Dempsey – Belly to belly
Fallon Henley b. Lash Legend – Fameasser
Je’Von Evans b. Wes Lee – Top rope cutter
Ethan Page b. Santino Marella – Twisted Grin

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

Battleground 2025
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s another big show and we have quite the interesting card this time. Not only is Myles Borne getting an NXT Title shot against Oba Femi, but the TNA World Title is on the line as Joe Hendry defends against Trick Williams. That’s quite a doubleheader and now we get to see what else they have set up. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the show’s major matches as battle lines have been drawn.

Women’s North American Title: Sol Ruca vs. Kelani Jordan

Ruca is defending and has Zaria in her corner. Feeling out process to start with neither of them getting anywhere until Ruca takes her down. Ruca surfs on her back before tripping Jordan into an STF. That’s broken up so Ruca hits a suplex into a standing moonsault. They trade rollups for two each until Jordan plants her down in the corner. Something like a powerbomb looks to set up a half crab but Ruca kicks away.

Jordan kicks at the leg and gets the half crab, which is reversed into a rollup to escape. They both climb up and it’s Ruca with a super X Factor to plant her down for a double breather. Back up and Jordan sends her to the floor, setting up the Asai moonsault. Jordan glares at Zaria and they head back inside, where Ruca blocks a super hurricanrana. A Backstabber (with feet instead of knees) sends Jordan to the floor and a big handspring flip dive drops her again.

Back in and Jordan knocks her down for a change, setting up a frog splash for two. They both head up top again and Jordan tries a super poisonrana, with Ruca flipping out and landing on her feet. A spear gives Ruca two so she goes up, where Jordan gives her a super Spanish Fly for two. Back up and Zaria pulls Ruca away from One Of A Kind, which is enough for an ejection. Jordan baseball slides Ruca down and breaks up the Sol Snatcher but Ruca goes up anyway. A top rope Sol Snatcher retains the title at 12:58.

Rating: B-. That Sol Snatcher is something else and WWE seems to know what they have with the thing. It’s making Ruca feel like a bigger star every time she puts someone away with it and this time it came at the end of a good match. Jordan is starting to find herself more, while Zaria continues to feel irrelevant. Odds are this is setting up Ruca vs. Zaria, and that’s feeling like a downgrade for Ruca at this point.

We recap the Culling attacking Josh Briggs, with Hank And Tank making the save.

Shawn Spears gives the Culling a pep talk before the six man tag. The team can rely on him to face a formidable challenge.

AAA’s Dalys and Chik Tormenta are here.

TNA’s Mike Santana is coming for the TNA World Title so he needs to see who walks out tonight. For those of you who don’t know who he is, he’s a proud man from the Bronx and he wants the winner of tonight’s title match. The No Quarter Catch Crew come in and say they don’t like these outsiders. Tavion Heights wants a match on Tuesday and Santana is game. As this is going on, two women (I believe Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne) can be seen arguing in the back.

The Culling vs. Hank And Tank/Josh Briggs

Izzi Dame is here with the Culling and Vance gets caught in the wrong corner to start. Some dives take Vance out on the floor but Hank gets sent hard into the post. The villains take turns beating on Hank, with Spears stomping away. Hank gets in a right hand for a breather and kicks Vance away, allowing the tag off to Tank to clean house.

Vance gets in a headbutt, only for Briggs to come in with a top rope moonsault for two. A double stomp Dominator hits Hank and the referee has to stop the count due to a late save. Spears grabs Briggs’ hand and Dame gets in a big boot so Jensen can roll him up for two. Briggs hits a heck of a lariat and hands it back to Hank for the powerslam/neckbreaker combination and the pin at 9:28.

Rating: C. This felt like a way to get the Tag Team Champions on the show and they probably should have a better way to go than that. I’ll take it over a forced title defense, but this was easily the weakest built match on the show. The tag division isn’t overly strong at the moment and I’m not sure who is going to be next to come after the belts, save for maybe Darkstate.

Post match the Culling jumps the winners again but Yoshiki Inamaru returns for the save. Great. Now he can be uninteresting all over again.

Ethan Page is ready to win the North American Title on Tuesday by finally finishing Ricky Saints. Ava comes in to say the winner will defend the title at Worlds Collide on June 7.

We recap Stacks vs. Tony D’Angelo. They were the leaders of the D’Angelo Family and grew up together. Stacks started making some moves that D’Angelo didn’t like and put a stop to them, which led to Stacks turning on the team. Now it’s time for revenge and to find out the real force of the team.

Stacks vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo takes him straight down to start and hammers away but Stacks hits a kick to the ribs. Some heavy forearms to the back of the head rock D’Angelo and they head outside. Stacks gets rammed into the apron and tries to go over the barricade, earning himself a ram into the post. A little too much trash talk lets Stacks knock him into the steps though and a running dropkick makes it worse.

Back in and Stacks stays on D’Angelo’s ribs with a seated abdominal stretch as Booker goes on a weird rant about how it’s “Channing Stacks Lorenzo” rather than “Stacks”. Cement Shoes gives Stacks two but D’Angelo fires off some more uppercuts to the body. Stacks goes back to the ribs but misses another Cement Shoes. A delayed German suplex drops Stacks and D’Angelo hits a powerbomb before raining down right hands.

Hold on though as D’Angelo stops and looks around before they both stand up. Stacks tells D’Angelo that he’s weak and drives him ribs first into the post. A cannonball only hits post though and D’Angelo hits Forget About It for two. D’Angelo’s ribs give out again and Stacks drapes him over the ropes for a top rope double stomp.

Stacks goes to get his crowbar but D’Angelo has taken it away. A spear cuts Stacks down and D’Angelo hammers away with forearms. Stacks begs forgiveness but gets spinebustered for his efforts. Cue Luca Crusifino to stare at D’Angelo, allowing Stacks to kick D’Angelo low. A running knee to the back of the head finishes for Stacks at 15:17.

Rating: B. That’s the right way to go as it leaves the door open for something else while Stacks losing here would have been a death sentence. The Crusifino deal is something else on its own, as he didn’t actually attack anyone and just stood there. That’s likely going to be explained soon, as this story feels like it has a long way to go.

Post match D’Angelo gets up and Crusifino (who did not get physical) offers a hug but gets shoved away.

We recap Jordynne Grace challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s Title. Vaquer is the new star and Grace beat Giulia to get a title shot. This is a major showdown and that’s what it should be.

Women’s Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer is defending. We get a handshake to start and Grace picks her up without much trouble. Grace works on an armbar but Grace is back up with a headscissors into a rollup for two. They go outside and Grace is sent over the announcers’ table, leaving commentary to mock Booker for being such a huge Vaquer fan. Back in and the Boston crab sends Vaquer over to the ropes so Grace slams her down. The Vader Bomb misses though and Vaquer gets in the Devil’s Kiss.

Back up and Grace hits a spinebuster into a sitout package powerbomb for two as they’re both getting tired. Vaquer hits a DDT for two but Grace takes her into the corner for a superplex into a Jackhammer for two more. Back up and the SVB and Juggernaut Driver are both countered, setting up a fight over a tombstone.

With that not working, they go outside and Vaquer powers her through the barricade for a big crash. Back in and the SVB connects…for two, leaving Vaquer stunned. Another SVB is broken up and Vaquer takes out the leg with a dragon screw legwhip out of the corner. Vaquer goes up and hits a Spiral Tap to retain at 16:09.

Rating: B. Another good one here, as Vaquer felt like she defeated Grace for good here. Busting out the Spiral Tap felt like a big way to go and it was Vaquer needing to go big to beat a top opponent. I’m not sure who is next for both of them, but this was a big time title match and that’s what it was supposed to be.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. He is ready to face Ethan Page because he doesn’t get what people see in Page. The thing is Page is like the guy at the party but no one knows why he is there. The reality is Saints can put the title on the line because he knew Page’s greed would get in his way. If he has to start this week’s show to beat Page up, so be it. As for Worlds Collide, Saints is ready to go to Mexico if he has to…and here is Page to try and jump him from behind. Saints cuts that off and security breaks it up, with Saints diving onto all of them to get at Page.

We recap Myles Borne challenging Oba Femi for the NXT Title in the form of Borne having a sitdown interview in an empty arena. Borne wasn’t sure if he was ready when he came here but now he’s doing as well as he ever has before. He was ready at the battle royal and he’ll be ready to come after the title.

It’s true that he was given a 15% chance of living when he was born but now he wants people to know about his disability so that kids who are struggling can know that nothing can hold them back. He’s been fighting the odds since birth and he’ll be fighting the odds against Femi, who has everything over him. The only thing Borne has over him is heart. Sweet goodness this guy is likable.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Myles Borne

Borne is challenging. Femi backs him into the corner to start and sends Borne flying, though Borne does stick the landing. A nice dropkick staggers Femi but he’s back up with a suplex for one to take over. Some forearms to the back have Borne in more trouble and a big one puts him down. An Irish Curse plants Borne again and Femi slams him head first into the mat.

Back up and another great dropkick puts Femi down again for a needed breather. A big clothesline rocks Borne but he grabs a sleeper to put Femi in some trouble for a change. Borne can’t suplex him and Femi gets in a kick to the ribs, setting up a reverse chinlock. That’s broken up and Borne manages to send him outside for a heck of a flip dive. Back in and a powerslam out of the corner gives Borne two as the fans are getting into this.

A double stomp into a standing moonsault…is countered into a chokeslam for two as Femi is looking a bit shaken. Borne is back up with a DDT before countering the Fall From Grace with a hurricanrana. Back up and Femi rocks him with a forearm to the face, only to get caught with a German suplex. A frog splash gives Borne two and he hits another dropkick but walks into a pop up uppercut. The Fall From Grace…gets two and the fans are right back into this. Borne rolls him up out of the corner for two but gets turned inside out with a clothesline. Back to back Falls From Grace retain the title at 16:51.

Rating: A-. I had a grand total of no expectations coming into this and they MORE than pulled me into the whole thing. While I wasn’t completely buying that Borne was going to win, they had me feeling the Rocky style story here of someone who had no business hanging in there with the monster champion. I loved this and it’s one of the best things I’ve seen NXT do in a long time.

Post match, respect is shown.

We cut to the back where Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley are STILL arguing (for an hour now). At the same time, Stephanie Vaquer is arguing with the two women from AAA. Jayne comes in to slap Vaquer and they have to be held back.

We recap Trick Williams challenging Joe Hendry for the TNA Title.

TNA World Title: Joe Hendry vs. Trick Williams

Hendry is defending and we get the Big Match Intros. Hendry wants to fight so they start the brawling, with Hendry grabbing a headlock. Back up and Williams hits a fall away slam for two, followed by a Rock Bottom for the same. They trade rollups for two each until Williams drops him again. Williams tries a Spinarooni (yes we look at Booker) but he walks into a Rock Bottom for two.

A side kick drops Hendry but he muscles Williams into a fireman’s carry slam for two more. Williams is back up and they go to the floor, where Hendry is whipped into the steps. Back in and Hendry fights up again, this time with a fall away slam. Hendry hits the pose but the Standing Ovation is blocked. Williams misses a kick and gets Standing Ovationed for two with a foot on the ropes making the save.

Back up and Williams kicks him down and they head outside, with a Rock Bottom through a table planting Hendry. Back in and a Trick Shot gives Williams two and frustration is setting in. Williams grabs the belt and gets it taken away, only to walk into a Standing Ovation attempt. That’s broken up with a rake to the eyes, allowing Williams to flapjack Hendry down onto the belt. Another Trick Shot drops Hendry for the pin and the title at 15:04.

Rating: B. This is what the crossover story has been needing, as otherwise it’s just been midcarders trading wins. Hendry gets cheated out of the title and there is a reason to see a rematch, possibly with Hendry winning the title back at Slammiversary to avenge his company. Williams has been needing a win of his own too and it came at the end of another solid match.

Overall Rating: A-. That six man is the only thing close to bad on the show and it’s absolutely nothing terrible. Other than that, it was one good match after another with Femi vs. Borne tearing the house down. This was a good looking show coming in and they knocked it out of the park with a great night. NXT has been needing a show like this for a bit and dang it was worth the watch. Awesome stuff here.

Results
Sol Ruca b. Kelani Jordan – Super Sol Snatcher
Josh Briggs/Hank And Tank b. The Culling – Powerslam/neckbreaker combination to Jensen
Stacks b. Tony D’Angelo – Running knee
Stephanie Vaquer b. Jordynne Grace – Spiral Tap
Oba Femi b. Myles Borne – Fall From Grace
Trick Williams b. Joe Hendry – Trick Shot

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