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

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

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

Zaria vs. Lizzy Rain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTM vs. The Culling

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

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

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

Jackson Drake vs. Tate Wilder

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tavion Heights/Myles Borne vs. Darkstate

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

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

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

Post match Shuggars shows up for a staredown.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Tony D’Angelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: May 26, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s title night again as we have the Women’s Title on the line. Lola Vice is set to defend the title against Izzi Dame in what could be a rather engaging showdown. Other than that, NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo has a bunch of people coming after him and that isn’t likely to end well. Let’s get to it.

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

Kelani Jordan vs. Wren Sinclair

Non-title and Kendal Grey is here with Sinclair, who gets jumped before the bell. Sinclair wants to go and the bell rings as the fans give her a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY chant. A dropkick puts Jordan down and a snap suplex puts her into the corner. Jordan boots her in the face to limited avail so Sinclair slaps on a Fujiwara armbar. Jordan fights up and sends her into the corner, where Sinclair gets in a posting. Back in and Sinclair sends her into the ropes but the bad knee gives out, though she’s able to send Jordan outside as we take a break.

We come back with Jordan staying on the leg, including a weird standing Figure Four variation. A half crab in the ropes has Sinclair in more trouble but she fights up with strikes and a suplex. Jordan goes right back to the knee but misses the One Of A Kind. The knee gives out again though and we hit the STF, followed by a Haas Of Pain to make Sinclair tap at 11:21.

Rating: C+. This was a simple story as Sinclair is trying to get back to the ring too soon and Jordan is evil enough to cut her off. It’s a good way to make Jordan feel that much meaner and Sinclair’s comebacks were timed well enough. It also could set up Grey to go after Jordan, which would be a nice fight for both of them.

Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain are in the back talking about last week when Shiloh Hill comes in. Tristan Angels interrupts as well and complains about Hill’s petition to become the new Mr. NXT. Angels: “PAPA SHANGO?” He hopes Charlie Dempsey stretches some sense into him tonight.

Here is Darkstate (now with a red X through one of the faces in their logo) for a chat. They brag about their success in other sports, but Saquon Shuggars was just an independent wrestler. They all complain about Shuggars, while the fans sound like they’re having a dueling chant about Shuggars of their own. Lennox says there is no Darkstate without them and now they’re coming after everyone again with their sights on the titles.

Wren Sinclair gets her knee looked at and Lola Vice comes in to check on her. Kali Armstrong comes in to mock them and says she’ll be watching the title match.

Speed Title Tournament First Round: Sean Legacy vs. Dorian Van Dux

Dux starts fast and knocks him outside for a big dive, followed by a posting. Legacy fights back but misses a springboard 450, allowing Dux to knock him down again. Dux goes up but gets hurricanranaed down, followed by a dropkick to knock him out of the air. A kick staggers Legacy but he’s up with a super Spanish Fly to leave them both down as time expires at 3:00.

Rating: C+. As usual, it was fun while it lasted but you can only get so far with a match that only lasts three minutes. Dux is an impressive looking guy who can fly and do the power stuff while Legacy continues to feel like he has potential but rarely actually wins anything. That’s only going to get him so far and he’s just kind of there at the moment.

Post match respect is shown.

Nattie is pleased with Layla Diggs for standing up to Jaida Parker and will be in her corner tonight.

Jaida Parker vs. Layla Diggs

Nattie is here with Diggs, who takes Parker down to start and does a quick dance. Back up and Parker knocks her down without much effort but the Tear Drop misses in the corner. Diggs is right back with an armbar and knocks Parker down again. The moonsault (and Diggs has a great looking one) misses though and Hipnotique connects for Parker. Deja Vu finishes for Parker at 4:03.

Rating: C. Diggs getting some more ring time is good, though she got beaten up pretty easily here which might not be the best sign for her future. What matters the most is that she’s getting in the ring though and hopefully that continues. Parker winning is a good thing too, as she’s certainly someone who could be a breakout star if she gets on a roll.

Birthright isn’t worried about the Speed Title tournament but Fraxiom comes in to mock them a bit.

Video on Tony D’Angelo, who is ready for all comers.

Here is D’Angelo for a chat. There are a lot of people around here going for the title and next week he gets to face Kam Hendrix. D’Angelo is ready for him but for now, he wants Naraku out here face to face. Cue Naraku, who says he’s here to keep D’Angelo’s title safe. D’Angelo isn’t buying that but Naraku says he wants D’Angelo to be champion so they can go to war. Cue Hendrix, who says D’Angelo is running into a buzzsaw next week. D’Angelo says that Hendrix sees the title as a stepping stone to fame and it doesn’t go that easily. Naraku clears Hendrix out.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne argue a bit over last week, with Heights saying he’ll calm down. Darkstate jumps both of them and leaves them laying.

The Vanity Project runs into Tate Wilder, who is recovering from a motorcycle accident. Wilder is fine enough to challenge Jackson Drake for next week and it seems to be on.

Speed Title Tournament First Round: Nathan Frazer vs. Romeo Moreno

This is the de facto final after the previous match ended in a draw. The fans welcome Frazer back as he runs the ropes rather quickly to start. A running kick connects but Moreno is back with a headlock. That’s broken up so Moreno goes to the rope, where Frazer catches him with a springboard reverse Spanish Fly.

Frazer superkicks him out of the air but Moreno catches him on top with a German superplex. A double knockdown leaves them with a double breather and Moreno sends him outside. Back in and Frazer catches him in a superplex but Moreno rolls him into a small package for the win at 2:58. They certainly had the speed part right and Moreno is getting a chance to do something, which he has needed.

Izzi Dame and Nico Vance are warming up but Shawn Spears is nowhere to be found.

Clash In Italy rundown.

Robert Stone is happy Mason Rook attacked Kam Hendrix but the reality is Hendrix got the win and gets the title shot. Naraku comes in and says Rook needs to stay out of the title match.

OTM comes out for their match but Shawn Spears jumps them with a chair. So much for that.

The women’s locker room clears out to watch the main event. Kali Armstrong says she is going to be watching both titles. Thea Hail says that’s not so easy but Armstrong isn’t impressed.

Shiloh Hill is going over his voters data and thinks he needs more Aussies. Zaria isn’t interested but here is Izzy Rain to jump her from behind.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Shiloh Hill

The rest of Birthright is here with Dempsey, who gets slammed to start. Hill hits a running shoulder and goes after the arm, which doesn’t get him very far. A top rope clothesline and running clothesline put Dempsey on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Dempsey taking him down and working on the arm.

The cross armbreaker is countered into a powerbomb but Dempsey gets in a knockdown of his own for a double breather. Hill is up with an inverted standing moonsault and they knock each other down again. Dempsey tries a butterfly suplex but Hill suplexes him backwards for the pin out of nowhere at 8:44.

Rating: C+. This was a surprise as Hill beat the wrestler with some wrestling. That’s not something that a lot of people get to do and it worked well for him. The idea behind Hill is that he has quite a few surprises up his sleeves and it’s oddly succeeding. I could go for seeing where he can go, and Dempsey getting frustrated by him is a fine way to go as well.

Post match Tristan Angels is here to announce that in two weeks, it’s the Mr. NXT pageant. Oh boy.

Izzi Dame yells at Shawn Spears, who apologizes for the attack on the night of her title match.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Title: Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame

Vice is defending and gets powered into the corner to start, with Dame hitting a rather forceful clothesline. Vice fights back and grabs a rollup into a crossface, which is broken up rather quickly. A running seated senton off the apron hits Dame but Shawn Spears grabs Vice’s boot. The distraction lets Dame hit a Backstabber but here is OTM to go after the Culling.

We take a break and come back with Vice kicking away, setting up a running hip attack in the corner. Dame pops up with a boot to the face and they go to the apron, where Vice is sent into the post a few times. Vice tries to pull her into a cross armbreaker but gets reversed into a Liontamer.

That’s broken up and Vice superkicks her down but the referee gets bumped. They forearm it out with Vice getting the better of things and the spinning back fist gets a very delayed near fall. Dame grabs the title and throws it to Vice, with a big boot sending it into her face. A powerbomb is loaded up but Vice reverses into a guillotine. With that broken up, Vice hits another spinning back fist to retain at 10:56.

Rating: B. This was a good though not great main event, with Dame feeling like a good challenger for Vice to conquer. Dame is big and strong enough to look like a threat and someone who could hurt Vice, which is exactly how she should have been. Nice enough stuff here, as the challengers are lining up for Vice.

Darkstate leaves the arena and promises more chaos next week. As they go, Saquon Shuggars is shown standing on a wall, watching them leave to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show felt more about getting us ready for the next big show, whenever that takes place. You can see the bigger title matches and feuds coming together and we should be seeing some of them taking place in the coming weeks. It’s interesting to see where we go from here, with this being more of a preview than anything else. Good enough show, with bigger stuff on the horizon.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Wren Sinclair – Haas Of Pain
Dorian Van Dux vs. Sean Legacy went to a time limit draw
Jaida Parker b. Layla Diggs – Deja Vu
Romeo Moreno b. Nathan Frazer – Small package
Shiloh Hill b. Charlie Dempsey – Bridging suplex
Lola Vice b. Izzi Dame – Spinning back fist

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: May 19, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

Things have been going into a slightly new direction around here, mainly because there are all kinds of fresh names around here. Several of the have hit the ground running and that is a good thing to see. If nothing else, it makes things look like the system is working and hopefully that continues this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Myles Borne/Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix/Mason Rook

Hendrix powers Borne down to start but Borne is back up with a dropkick. A powerslam plants Hendrix and it’s off to D’Angelo, who gets to face Rook. Some running splashes in the corner crush D’Angelo, who tries a fisherman’s suplex for some reason. When that doesn’t work in the slightest, Borne comes in for a double suplex to Borne and Hendrix is sent outside as we take a break.

We come back with Hendrix chop blocking Borne and Rook hitting a splash. Rook’s Blue Thunder Bomb gets two but Borne fights out of trouble and brings in D’Angelo. House is cleaned and D’Angelo Cactus Clotheslines Rook out to the floor. Cue Tavion Heights to jump Hendrix, who is knocked into Borne. That allows Rook to Death Valley Driver Borne into the corner. Rook Big Bang Catastrophes Borne and Hendrix gets the pin at 12:06.

Rating: B-. This was a fine enough opener, with Hendrix getting to set himself up as the next challenger for Borne’s title. Well in theory at least, as it could be Rook or Heights, or some combination for the three. As for Rook…I’m not sure yet. He looks like King Kong Bundy with hair, which isn’t a terrible thing, but we’ll have to see what he does with some more time.

Darkstate are ready to get the Tag Team Titles back. Dion Lennox and Saquon Shuggars are still having issues though.

Here is Kelani Jordan, who talks about how much success she has had around here. Now though, she can’t even get a title shot, despite making the champion tap out. This brings out Izzi Dame, who says she should get the next title shot, which brings out Lola Vice, who says Jordan talks a lot and Dame dared to hit her in the back of the head. Next week, it’s Vice vs. Dame, which doesn’t work for Dame, or the interrupting Kendal Grey. Jordan complains about Grey and is promptly hit in the back with a crutch by Wren Sinclair. Dame and Jordan are quickly cleared out so the other three stand tall.

Dorian Van Dux and Sean Legacy are ready to get back on track, but Legacy reveals that they’re facing each other in the Speed tournament next week.

Noam Dar gives Romeo Moreno a pep talk. Moreno wants Dar at ringside tonight and Dar is in.

A bunch of women are watching Natalya on a podcast. Jaida Parker comes in and says she isn’t happy. Layla Diggs isn’t impressed with Parker and the match seems likely.

Romeo Moreno vs. Tristan Angels

Noam Dar is here with Moreno, who gets taken down with a spinning wristlock. Back up and Moreno hits him in the face but gets tied up in the corner. A double stomp and suplex give Angels two and a backbreaker has Moreno in more trouble. Cue Shiloh Hill (with a very tall hat) to distract Angels though and Moreno sends Angels outside for a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Moreno getting two off a missile dropkick. Angels catches him on top though and a Backstabber gets two. That earns Angels another dropkick to the floor, where he pulls Moreno onto the apron. Back in and a driving knee (basically a Stomp but with a knee) finishes Moreno at 8:59.

Rating: C+. The action was fine though I’m not exactly getting Moreno’s appeal. He’s fine, but there’s nothing about him that has made him stand out thus far. At the same time, Angels is a perfectly acceptable snooty heel. It’s a character that has been done forever in wrestling and it should work well for him if he is adequate or better.

Post match Angels says Hill belongs with these horrible fans but Hill thinks he should be named Mr. NXT. Hill puts up a photo of Angels looking rather dressed up, complete with a top hat. Angels is livid and says this won’t ruin his debut, even as Hill laughs a lot.

Lola Vice, Tatum Paxley, Myles Borne and Tony D’Angelo talk about how tough it is to keep their titles. Paxley is off for a title defense, leaving D’Angelo alone. Naraku comes in to say evil can show up at any time.

The Culling studies OTM before their match next week but Izzi Dame interrupts. The rest of the team didn’t see what happened to Dame but Shawn Spears calms things down. Well mostly as Dame doesn’t seem thrilled.

Women’s North American Title: Lizzy Rain vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley is defending and, after the Big Match Intros, grabs an armdrag to start. A headlock doesn’t get Paxley very far as Rain is up with an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Paxley dropkicks her to the floor, only for Rain to come back in for a dropkick through the ropes. We take a break and come back with the two of them hitting crossbodies for a double down.

They forearm it out and then trade kicks with Rain getting the better of things. Rain’s chops in the corner have Paxley in more trouble but she comes back with a kick to the face. Back in and Paxley bounces out of a German suplex but a rolling kick to the head is blocked. They fight over a backslide, with Paxley swinging it into the Cemetery Drive to retain at 11:40.

Rating: B. They got going near the end and that switch into the Cemetery Drive was great. Paxley is starting to feel it and that’s great to see as she’s gone from just kind of there to a featured attraction. At the same time, Rain had her best match to date thus far and that is a good sign for her future.

Post match Zaria runs in and lays them both out with F5’s.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair are in the back and Grey insists that Sinclair isn’t a liability. Robert Stone comes in to say this can’t keep happening but Sinclair says she’ll be cleared next week. Shouldn’t Stone know that already?

Keanu Carver vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder gets sent to the apron and tries a sunset flip, which doesn’t work so well. Carver gives him a backdrop and grabs a sleeper, with Wilder managing to send him outside. A big running flip dive connects to put Carver down again and there’s the moonsault to do it again. Carver is right back up to send him into the post and a toss suplex sends Wilder flying again.

Wilder’s eye is busted open as Carver hammers away but Wilder tells him to bring it. A missile dropkick and Sling Blade put Carver down and Wilder sends him into the post. Wilder’s top rope splash gets two but Carver breaks up the Wilde Ride. A spinebuster finishes for Carver at 5:40.

Rating: B-. Much like the previous match, this got going near the end with Wilder trying to get the momentum going against the monster. That only worked for so long though as Carver eventually caught him. I still like Wilder a good deal and he could go somewhere with a lot more time, but Carver is a monster right now and that could take him somewhere.

Jackson Drake gives the nervous Vanity Project a pep talk but Myka Lockwood comes in to say she has the rest of Darkstate covered. The guys don’t get it but they’ll take it.

Shiloh Hill gets OTM to sign his petition to be Mr. NXT. Birthright on the other hand isn’t so interested. This gets Hill a match with Charlie Dempsey next week.

Kam Hendrix is in the ring for a chat and is rather pleased with beating two champions in his first match. He wants the NXT Title but here is Mason Rook to interrupt. Rook wants credit for the win but Hendrix passes, earning himself a beating. I do like them putting this in the ring for a change, as this would usually be a backstage segment.

We look at some recent NXT Live shows. These people getting house show experience is a good idea.

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Vanity Project

The Project is defending and get jumped before the start. Lennox hammers on Balor to start but Smokes comes in for the cheap shot. Back up and Lennox hits a clothesline but Shuggars hits a dropkick, even as Lennox was thinking double clothesline. A shot to the throat cuts Shuggars off and it’s back to Baylor, who gets monkey flipped. Smokes gets double teamed down and Darkstate clears the ring as we take a break.

We come back with Shuggars fighting out of trouble and avoiding a charge into the barricade. Shuggars realizes that no one is covering Lennox and the diving tag is on. House is quickly cleaned but Shuggars tags himself back in for a rollup. Everything breaks down and Lennox gives Baylor a slingshot sitout powerbomb for two.

Lennox’s double clothesline puts the champs down and here is the rest of Darkstate, with Myra Lockwood getting in their way. A spinebuster looks to give Lennox two but Shuggars tagged himself in. The top rope elbow gives Shuggars two and Darkstate gets to argue. That’s enough for Smokes to get a small package to retain at 11:33.

Rating: C+. This was an interesting way to go as the Project continues to back their way into wins, which works rather well for them. That’s a good way to go for a basically pretty boy team and it’s going to be fun when someone catches them. Then you have Darkstate and…yeah I’m not sure they’re going to be a thing that much longer. At least not in this form.

Post match all of Darkstate gets in the ring…and beat down Shuggars, apparently siding with Lennox. Shuggars slaps Lennox and is put through the announcers’ table as a result. Well that was one of the ways to go.

Overall Rating: B. This was a better than usual show as they moved a good number of things forward. That’s a good thing to see as it is the kind of show that should get us closer to some big showdowns. I’m still not sold on Rook but the fans certainly seem to like him to start so maybe there’s something to him. Other than that, both Women’s Title pictures are looking interesting and I want to see where those things are going. Nice job here as the new stars are starting to feel like regulars in a hurry.

Results
Kam Hendrix/Mason Rook b. Myles Borne/Tony D’Angelo – Big Bang Catastrophe to Borne
Tristan Angels b. Romeo Moreno – Driving knee
Tatum Paxley b. Lizzy Rain – Cemetery Drive
Keanu Carver b. Tate Wilder – Spinebuster
Vanity Project b. Darkstate – Small package to Shuggars

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: May 12, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re on the way to some big show which I don’t think has been announced yet but you can see some of the stories coming together from here. This includes Tony D’Angelo likely facing Naraku, who is the new big villain on the show. Other than that, it turns out that Keanu Carver is rather smart, which he revealed last week. Let’s get to it.

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

Tatum Paxley/Lizzy Rain vs. Nikkita Lyons/Zaria

Zaria and Rain start things off with Zaria easily shoving her down. A sunset flip doesn’t work for Rain either and Zaria hits a hard clothesline. Paxley comes in and gets to face Lyons, who makes a blind tag. Lyons puts her down but misses a splits splash and everything breaks down. Rain and Paxley hit stereo dropkicks through the ropes and we take a break.

We come back with Rain fighting out of a chinlock but getting caught in a tiger bomb for two. Zaria misses a charge though and it’s back to Rain to make the comeback. Lyons punches her down though and it’s back to Paxley, whose Cemetery Drive is reversed into a spinning kick to the head. That’s enough for Lyons to get over to the rope…and Zaria walks out. Rain comes back in for Thunderstruck for the pin at 9:24.

Rating: C+. Rain seems to be sticking around and while I’m not big on her thus far, she’s at least someone unique enough to stand out and that’s a good start. At the same time, Lyons took the pin here as she should have and I can’t blame Zaria for walking away from her. Paxley can get ready for whomever is next for her, which very well may wind up being Zaria anyway.

Kendal Grey insists that Wren Sinclair isn’t a distraction to her, despite Sinclair’s injury. Lola Vice comes in and Grey is ready to show her that wrestling is better than MMA. Tempers flare.

Naraku vs. Lince Dorado

Naraku starts in on the arm to start and grinds away on a headlock. Dorado slips out and hits a springboard spinning crossbody but gets suplexed into the corner. A hard clothesline puts Dorado down again and we hit the chinlock. Dorado gets up and hits a Golden Rewind, only to get caught in a release fisherman’s suplex. The Abyss (STO/Everything Is Evil) finishes for Naraku at 4:32.

Rating: C. This was a debut and Naraku looked good enough, with Dorado’s offense not getting him very far. It wasn’t exactly a squash but it did what it needed to do, as Naraku looks like he could be a threat to some top stars. He has a long way to go, but at least he started off fairly well.

Post match Naraku says he is pure evil.

EK Prosper is glad to have Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy there to help him. Wilder is still trying to find his spot around here. Dorian Van Dux comes in and is ready to go as well.

Jaida Parker interrupted Natalya’s LFG video earlier today and they got into it again.

EK Prosper/Tate Wilder/Sean Legacy vs. Birthright

Wilder takes Stacks into the corner to start and gives him an armdrag, followed by a dropkick. A shot to the throat allows the tag off to Dempsey, who gets to uppercut Legacy. Prosper comes in for a dropkick and does the same thing to Connors, who crashes out to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Legacy kicking Connors in the corner, allowing Wilder to get the tag. Everything breaks down and Wilder gets caught on top and butterfly superplexed back down.

Prosper makes the save and we get a rather loud NXT chant. Wilder hits a TKO for two more as Stacks makes the save. That means Wilder gets to hit a big running flip dive but looks at Legacy rather than tagging him in. Wilder’s frog splash gets two but Wilder STILL won’t tag. Instead, Wilder misses the Wilde Ride (moonsault), allowing Stacks and Connors to come in with a pair of running boots for the pin at 12:58.

Rating: B. This got wild in the middle and it was rather entertaining, with Wilder getting the chance to stand out. At the same time, it’s interesting to see him not wanting to tag and instead going for everything he could. That’s a curious way to go for him and hopefully it leads to something, as he’s grown on me a lot during his time in Evolve.

Tatum Paxley is so happy with the win earlier tonight that she’ll give Lizzy Rain a title shot next week. Shiloh Hill comes in and says he’s been researching Tristan Angels. Cue Angels, who doesn’t like Hill suggesting he could outclass him.

The Culling wants to get rid of some people, with Izzi Dame focusing on Lola Vice.

Here is Robert Stone to bring in Mason Rook to sign his NXT contract. Rook talks about turning heads around the world, including getting John Cena’s attention. That’s not enough for him though because he’s about to crush people but here is Tony D’Angelo to interrupt. D’Angelo is paying attention to Rook…and here is Kam Hendrix to jump D’Angelo from behind. Rook dives onto them all and then signs his contract as the fans sing about him being big and bad (though it might have been “fat” instead of bad) and something about a hat.

Romeo Moreno praises Noam Dar’s abilities as Dar is ready for his match.

Emily Agard’s newest assignment is to get to know OTM, who are having a cookout. They have some hot dogs and talk to Lucien Price’s brother. Price and his brother had to work to get here and both know how to put in the effort. Apparently Nima plans things out and is also quite the artist. These little vignettes/interviews are a REALLY good idea as they’re letting fans get to know some of these wrestlers who have never had a chance before. That’s great to see and hopefully they keep going.

Jackson Drake vs. Noam Dar

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Dar chops him away to start but Dar is back with a shove into the ropes. That just earns him a trip to the floor, where Dar hits a running boot as we take a break. We come back with Dar getting crotched on top and Drake adding a handspring cutter.

Dar grabs a suplex though but enziguried into a fireman’s carry gutbuster. They go to a pinfall reversal sequence until Dar gets two off a European Clutch. Back up and they trade forearms until Dar kicks him in the ribs to break up a handspring. Myka Lockwood offers a distraction though and Drake gets in a kick of his own. The 450 finishes Dar at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Drake needed a win like this just for the sake of building himself up a bit. He hasn’t done much on his own since showing up in NXT so a simple win is a good way to go. Dar is still finding his footing after his return and now we get to see what he can do after his long absence. I like him on his own a lot more and hopefully we get to see how it goes for a bit.

Post match here is Darkstate to stare at the Vanity Project but they don’t come to the ring.

Myles Borne comes up to Tavion Heights and talks about a tag match next week. Heights thinks he and Borne will be teaming together but it’s actually with Tony D’Angelo. Heights takes this as Borne thinking he’s not good enough as a partner anymore, even if Borne denies it. Either way, heights storms off.

Back in the arena and Darkstate is in the ring while the Vanity Project is in the aisle. Darkstate want a title shot but get shot down, with Brad Baylor bragging about taking the titles from Darkstate in the first place. That’s fine with Darkstate, because they’ve already gotten the match made. Hold on though, as Darkstate has a huddle and say the team has to get the title back or it might be time for a change. Either way, the Project runs in from behind and are quickly dispatched.

Robert Stone meets Naraku, who gives him a very intense handshake. Stone leaves and runs into Kam Hendrix and Mason Rook, who aren’t happy with the tag match. They’re basically told to get over it, but here is Tate Wilder, who wants a match next week. Keanu Carver comes in to say he wants one too so Stone makes Wilder vs. Carver. Simple enough.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Kali Armstrong wants to scout the women’s division around here. Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair pop up for a staredown. For you non-fans, Grey beat Armstrong to win the Evolve Women’s Title.

Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan

Wren Sinclair is here with Grey. They fight over a lockup to start until Grey double legs her down. The threat of a cross armbreaker sends Jordan bailing over to the ropes. Back up and Jordan misses a charge into the corner, allowing Grey to hit a dropkick. They head out to the apron, where Grey sweeps the legs and hits a slingshot double stomp back inside

The ankle lock is broken up though and Grey is sent outside, with Jordan hitting a dive. An apron 619 gets Grey out of trouble and she hits a big dive to the floor as we take a break. We come back with an exchange of shots to the face leaving both of them down. An overhead belly to belly drops Jordan again and Grey strings together some suplexes. A hurricanrana out of the corner gives Grey two but Jordan is back with a powerbomb for the same.

Grey snatches the ankle but can’t get a cross armbreaker. Back up and a powerslam gives Grey two as we see Izzi Dame attacking Lola Vice backstage. Jordan catches her up top with a super Spanish Fly as Vice and Dame fight to ringside, with Sinclair being knocked down. That’s enough of a distraction for Jordan to knock Grey off the ropes and hit One Of A Kind for the pin at 12:48.

Rating: B. They were going a bit better before the bell but it was nice to see these two getting a chance to showcase themselves. Grey more than hung in there with the established Jordan and already feels like she belongs in this division. That’s hard to do but she’s making it work rather early on in her NXT run.

Post match Grey and Vice argue but Dame takes Vice out to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The most impressive thing that NXT has done in recent weeks is introduce these new stars and turned them into regulars that fast. That’s hard to do and they’ve managed to make it work this well. These new names still have a long way to go, but they’re off to a good start and that is more than I was expecting. That was on display here, as there were a lot of new names on the show and it didn’t feel out of place. It’s far from the days of NXT 2.0 when everyone was just thrown in there with no particular idea. This feels more planned out and that is helping quite a bit.

Results
Lizzy Rain/Tatum Paxley b. Nikkita Lyons/Zaria – Thunderstruck to Lyons
Naraku b. Lince Dorado – Abyss
Birthright b. EK Prosper/Sean Legacy/Tate Wilder – Double boot to Wilder
Jackson Drake b. Noam Dar – 450
Kelani Jordan b. Kendal Grey – One Of A Kind

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: May 5, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We don’t exactly have a big show coming up around here but we do have a bunch of people showing up in a hurry. Last week was one debut after another and that could make for some interesting changes. Hopefully we can find something for them to do though they’re all getting their feet wet. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Tony D’Angelo says he isn’t waiting and charges at Tavion Heights for a quickly broken up brawl.

Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong

They shove each other around to start, followed by an exchange of grappling. Parker gets a chinlock before sending Armstrong outside. That means a ram to send Armstrong into the apron and then being sent back inside. A double clothesline leaves both of them down and we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong sending her into the corner and stopping for some pushups. Armstrong drives in some knees and fires off the shoulders in the corner. The mocking of the high steps just wakes Parker up though and she hits the Tear Drop in the corner. Armstrong snaps off a powerslam to cut that off and the Kali Connection (running shoulder) finishes Parker at 9:57.

Rating: C+. This was about presenting Armstrong as a threat and it worked out rather well. At the same time, it’s a bit annoying to see Parker lose again. She’s turning into the latest star who gets start and stop pushes without getting anywhere. Hopefully that isn’t the case, as she has far too much potential otherwise.

Tony D’Angelo comes in to yell at Robert Stone, saying he wants Tavion Heights tonight. Sure.

Video on Jackson Drake vs. Jasper Troy.

Birthright is not happy with what happened last week. Fit Finlay comes in to say they’re not doing well and William Regal, by phone, says he’s sent Charlie Dempsey back to the Snake Pit before they have a six man tag next week. The team sounds more ready.

We look at not Evil debuting last week. Not Evil says that was a proclamation to Tony D’Angelo and they will battle for the NXT Title. His name is Naraku and he debuts next week.

Jasper Troy vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project are here with Drake. Troy fires off some shoulders in the corner to start but gets caught with a jumping enziguri. The Project offers a distraction and Drake hits a top rope Meteora and we take a break. We come back with Drake grabbing a tornado DDT but Troy nips up and gives him a chokeslam. Troy goes outside to yell at the Project though and here is Myka Lockwood to slam him on the floor. Back in and Drake’s 450 connects for the pin at 7:18.

Rating: C+. I for one am shocked that a Shawn Michaels run promotion would have a muscular female woman as a heater for a young, disrespectful team. That being said, sure why not, as it’s an idea that has worked before and it can work again. The Project needed one more person and this is better than some big silent brooding man as the enforcer.

We look back at Tristan Angel’s debut last week. Angels talks about being better than a bunch of people on the roster.

We get a Rhea Ripley Origins video.

Here is Zaria for a chat. She says it feels different around here and for the first time, there is no one holding her back in the women’s division. Now she has a clear path to the Women’s North American Title. That title is what finally woke her up but here is Tatum Paxley to interrupt. Paxley knows how the title came between Zaria and Sol Ruca but that has nothing to do with her.

Cue Lizzy Rain to say she was the talk of the town last week and it’s time to add some heavy metal to the title. Cue Nikkita Lyons, who takes credit for fans caring about Rain. Paxley will fight everyone and the brawl is on with Zaria standing tall. If Zaria is the challenger then fine, but this just made me even less interested in Rain and Lyons.

The Vanity Project meets Evolve’s Romeo Moreno, who isn’t impressed with them. Noam Dar returns and wants to fight Jackson Drake next week. Myka Lockwood shows up to scare Dar a bit but the match seems set. With the Project gone, Moreno says he is a huge Dar fan.

Kam Hendrix jumps Tony D’Angelo.

Post break Robert Stone grabs a headset and shakes up the card because D’Angelo can’t wrestle at the moment.

Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice vs. Culling

The former’s AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and it’s Izzi Dame/Niko Vance for the Culling. The men start things off, with Iguana being shoved into the ropes. The dead iguana pose has Vance confused but he picks Iguana up in a Gory Stretch. That’s broken up as Vice tags herself in, allowing Dame to come in and kick Iguana in the head. Dame hits a running shoulder in the corner but Vice chops away and grabs a springboard armdrag. Everything breaks down and the Culling are taken down with back to back seated sentons

We take a break and come back with Vance dropping a headbutt for two. A heck of a discus right hand puts Iguana down again and a tilt-a-whirl faceplant gets two. Iguana manages a tornado DDT though and the women come back in as everything breaks down again. Vice’s running hip attack in the corner gets two on Dame and a spinning kick to the head knocks her silly. Vance breaks up the count but Iguana and Vice grab stereo triangle chokes. Both of them are broken up pretty quickly and Dame’s running knee finishes Vice at 11:30.

Rating: B-. Iguana and Vice are a mostly silly team but they still feel important enough that beating them still means something. What matters is that Dame is now primed to get the next title shot and that should work. Dame is a big, strong star who can give Vice a good challenge. That’s how it should have gone and it’s a nice story to set up.

Tavion Heights still wants to fight Tony D’Angelo and Robert Stone comes in to say the match is tonight’s main event. Stone goes over to Zaria, who wants the Women’s North American Title. She’s not happy about being in a tag match next week, but Stone says that’s what she has to do if she wants a title shot.

Jaida Parker is livid about her loss. Nattie comes in to say Parker has gone soft. End of segment.

Hank & Tank vs. Darkstate

The rest of Darkstate is here with…uh, Darkstate. James elbows Hank in the face to start and it’s off to Tank to grind away on a headlock. Griffin comes in and gets caught in the wrong corner but comes right back with a delayed vertical suplex. A running bulldog out of the corner gets Tank out of trouble as everything breaks down. Darkstate knocks them down on the floor and Dion Lennox grabs a chair, which Saquon Shuggars takes away. The argument ensues and we take a break.

We come back with Tank fighting out of a chinlock but getting caught with a gutbuster. Griffin sends him back into the corner but Tank escapes a gutwrench and brings Hank in to clean house. A double tackle gets two on James, who is back with a spinning backbreaker. The Vader Bomb gets two, with Hank having to make the save. Hank is slammed on the floor and the diving Tank is pulled out of the air for the same result. Back in and an assisted spinning powerbomb finishes Hank at 12:00.

Rating: B-. Oddly enough this wound up being a pretty hot match, with Darkstate finally getting a win to stop their losing streak for the time being. The fact that Lennox wasn’t involved with the result isn’t the best sign for his future, but the team needed to be shaken up. Hank & Tank continue to exist and that’s about as much as I can think of them most of the time.

Kelani Jordan mocks Lola Vice and says she’s coming for the title too. Kendal Grey comes in to say she’s coming after Jordan, who isn’t worried.

Commentary…has tech issues and we can’t hear anything they say. A production worker comes in to try to fix it and we go to a video instead.

New correspondent Emily Agard gets to meet Keanu Carver on her first assignment. He doesn’t want to talk so they put the camera down…which films them anyway. Carver says he’s here to get paid and comments don’t help him take care of people counting on him. He’s told Robert Stone to give him a chance or cut him. Carver knows they’re still filming him so she can ask one last question on the record.

Agard asks about Carver knowing the symbol of war given to Tony D’Angelo last week. Carver says he played college football…but he paid attention in class too. Carver: “The thing about me that y’all don’t know is that I’m smart as s*** for real.” Well that’s a different way to present someone. I like it though, as Carver has been presented as this big brute but having a brain with that kind of force is interesting.

Hey the audio is better.

Backlash rundown.

Shiloh Hill is walking around in the dark and he’s happy about beating Ricky Saints last week. He also finds Tristan Angels to be a bit ridiculous and hopes he’s allergic to sheep.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tavion Heights vs. Tony D’Angelo

Non-title. Heights wrestles him down to start and they trade waistlocks. A fireman’s carry faceplant drops D’Angelo and he realizes the amateur stuff isn’t going to work here. Instead D’Angelo hits a John Cena Throwback for two but gets driven into the corner for a beating. Heights throws him down with a suplex but D’Angelo is up for a shove off the top as we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock, only for Heights to gutwrench suplex him for two. A pretty impressive top rope splash gives Heights two…and makes D’Angelo Hulk Up. Some German suplexes put Heights down but his capture suplex gets two more. Forget About It gives D’Angelo two of his own and they forearm it out. A spear drops puts Heights down again but he’s back up with his spinning belly to belly. Cue Kam Hendrix for a distraction so Heights beats him up, with Myles Borne running in to give Hendrix a running flip dive. They brawl off and D’Angelo chokeslams Heights for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. They got rolling near the end here and were trading one big shot after another. The Hendrix and Bourne stuff didn’t really help, but D’Angelo gets to beat someone on the way to his next big challenger. That could be a few people, though Naraku seems likely. Heights still feels like he has potential, but this came off more as him just being someone for D’Angelo to beat.

Post match respect is shown but the big guy from last week runs in again and lays them both out. He introduces himself as Mason Rook and says he has arrived.

Overall Rating: B. This was the follow up to last week’s show with all of the people debuting and this week seemed to be more about them pairing off and getting settled into their new spots. That’s good to see and it’s something that has to happen around here, as it’s the nature of NXT. The wrestling was more good than bad and the show accomplished enough so I’ll call it a good show.

Results
Kali Armstrong b. Jaida Parker – Kali Connection
Jackson Drake b. Jasper Troy – 450
Culling b. Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice – Running knee to Vice
Darkstate b. Hank & Tank – Assisted spinning powerbomb to Hank
Tony D’Angelo b. Tavion Heights – Chokeslam

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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