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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

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

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

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

Blake Monroe vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT Title: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

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

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

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

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

Post match Ricky Saints runs in and lays Hendry out.

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Hank & Tank vs. Vanity Project

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

Here’s what else is coming next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Wren Sinclair/Kendal Grey vs. Sol Ruca/Zaria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT
Date: February 3, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s time for a new champion as we have a lot to cover this week. In addition to the seven way ladder match for the vacant NXT Title, Ava has announced that she is done with NXT, meaning we’re going to need a new boss around here. There aren’t many obvious candidates for the job, though one does tend to stand out. Let’s get to it.

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

Shawn Michaels names Robert Stone as the new Interim GM. Yeah that’s the most logical choice.

The opening video looks at the history of the NXT Title and what it can mean for someone’s career, both here and beyond. Tonight, another name is added to the list.

Women’s North American Title: Izzi Dame vs. Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice

Dame is defending and they trade some early rollups for two each. With Dame sent outside, Vice pulls Hail into a triangle choke but Dame is back in for the save. Not that it’s important though, as we see go split screen to see Ricky Saints arriving. Thanks for that one. Anyway, Hail and Vice hit dives to the floor and Hail bites the title to send us to a break.

We come back with Vice getting caught in a middle rope G9 but she pops up to strike away. Hail and Dame get hip attacked in the corner but Hail makes the clothesline comeback. That’s not what matters though, as instead we need to see Joe Hendry warming up. Hail’s springboard backsplash lands in a choke but she’s right back with the Kimura to Vice. That’s broken up and it’s DDT to plant Dame. Cue Kelani Jordan to crush Vice’s hand with a ladder, leaving Dame to get caught in the Kimura. That’s reversed into a sitout gutwrench powerbomb to retain Dame’s title at 11:46.

Rating: C+. They were flying through this as well as they could and it’s nice to see Dame getting another win. At the same time, it’s sad to see Hail’s accidental push erased, as she’s right back to what she was before. The fans were behind her because she won something, so now let’s have her lose all over again. At least Dame is starting to become something a bit better though, as she certainly has potential.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair praise Sol Ruca for her Royal Rumble performance, but Zaria interrupts. As usual, they’re having tensions and Zaria says she needs the win tonight, for herself.

Earlier today, Chase U was complaining about not getting opportunities but Arianna Grace, Stacks and Lexis King interrupted to mock them. A match was set up for tonight.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for his big explanation. D’Angelo hasn’t been here for seven months and he could explain the two reasons he left and call it a day, but he has a lot to say. He talks about the things he’s done here, and about a year ago he was a happy man, with his family around him. Then that was taken from him and it meant he needed to learn to stand on his own.

Darkstate ruined his life and now he needs to remember who he is. Then he came back and had people wondering what he was doing. He’s coming for Darkstate and it’s about punishment, because he’s going to take everything from them. The second reason: you’ll find out when he’s done with Darkstate. That’s a nice explanation and at least he has a simple target to start.

Shiloh Hill gives a quick rundown of his competition tonight.

Jasper Troy doesn’t care who he faces next for his Speed Title.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Elio LeFleur vs. Charlie Dempsey

They hit stereo crossbodies at the same time and LeFleur gets two off a backslide. A suplex swinging neckbreaker gets the same but Dempsey is back with a tabletop suplex for two. Dempsey breaks up a springboard as we have less than a minute to go. LeFleur knocks him down again but gets wheelbarrow suplexed for two more. Back up and LeFleur grabs a weird reverse headscissors driver for the quick pin at 2:52. Cool finisher.

Joe Hendry isn’t going to let bruised ribs stop him from winning the NXT Title. He hasn’t had a title in seven months and it’s time for him to accomplish his goals around here.

We look at the NXT stars, both past and present, in the Royal Rumble.

TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Zaria/Sol Ruca vs. Elegance Brand

The Brand is defending. Zaria decides to start with M but it’s quickly off to Ruca for a standing moonsault. M drives her into the corner though and Heather comes in, only to get suplexed down. Zaria isn’t interested in a Mega Powers elbow (makes sense as this is the anniversary of their split on Main Event II) and gets distracted on the top, allowing the Brand to take over as we take a break.

We come back with Heather slowly hammering on Zaria, who fights up…but won’t tag. That lets M hit a Codebreaker for two as Sean Legacy is putting his vest on. Whoa man. Zaria fights up and this time Ruca tags herself in to clean house as the pace picks up. The fans would rather do the Wave as M misses a moonsault. Zaria tags herself back in and that means it’s time for some shoving with Ruca. A double spear drops the champs but the Sol Snatcher accidentally takes Zaria out. The top rope backsplash onto an elevated Zaria retains the titles at 11:26.

Rating: C+. The match was fine, but this was about Zaria and Ruca arguing again which seems to be what should be the last straw. They’ve teased breaking up so many times now that they need to get on with it already. Maybe that even means that Zaria gets two win a match already, which might be nice for a change.

Ethan Page talks to the Vanity Project, telling Jackson Drake to finish the job.

Before the show, Blake Monroe attacked Jaida Parker in the parking lot in front of the fans.

Chase U vs. Stacks/Lexis King

Connors dropkicks Stacks down to start and it’s off to Dixon for an armbar. Dixon has to flip around to get out of trouble and it’s off to Connors to start the rather quick comeback. King sends Connors into the corner as everything breaks down. Dixon comes back in to clean house but the moonsault hits raised boots. The Coronation gives King the pin at 3:38.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t much to see and that shouldn’t be a surprise. The New Chase U are just completely nothing, which is a shame as Andre Chase was red hot for a bit. In this case now though, there’s nothing to what he’s doing and he’s little more than a person who happens to exist. I don’t see that changing anytime soon, or far off, though and that’s kind of saddening.

Post match Connors walks out on Chase U. Probably a smart move.

Here is Fatal Influence for a chat. Jacy Jayne talks about killing it in the Royal Rumble but then Sol Ruca snuck up on her and eliminated her. Jayne complains about Ruca going viral all the time so it’s her time to kill the hype. Cue Zaria to say Ruca has had all kinds of opportunities handed to her so it’s time for Zaria to make her own chance. Jayne laughs it off, saying everyone loves Ruca but they just tolerate Zaria.

Cue Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair to interrupt, with Grey saying she knows she can beat Grey. They argue over who should get the shot so here is Ruca, who accuses Zaria of sneaking around on her. Zaria gets on her for going to the Rumble on her own. Cue Robert Stone to make Zaria/Ruca vs. Sinclair/Grey next week and whomever gets the pin gets the title shot in three weeks.

Kelani Jordan broke Lola Vice’s hand so she can’t knock anyone else out. There’s a logic to that.

Lexis King and company (now with Uriah Connors) interrupt Charlie Dempsey and seem to offer him a spot on the team. Dempsey doesn’t give an answer.

NXT Title: Ricky Saints vs. Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox vs. Jackson Drake vs. Keanu Carver vs. Sean Legacy vs. Shiloh Hill

Ladder match for the vacant title. It’s a brawl to start with Carver getting the better of things until a backdrop sends him onto the ladder. Saints is back in to spear Hendry but Hendry is back up with some ladder shots. Drake is up to go for the title but Hendry cuts that off rather quickly. Hendry’s dive takes out the pile at ringside and we take a break.

We come back with Carver wrecking people on the floor until Legacy hits a dive of his own. Drake and Legacy go up top and fight on the ladder so here is Hill with two pieces of a broken ladder as stilts. Carver breaks that up until Lennox springboards in for a Doomsday Device. Lennox drops Saints onto the ladder but gets his climb cut off. Drake sends Carver outside and then flip dives onto the pile as we take another break.

We come back with Hill cutting off Legacy’s climb and clearing out everyone else. Rather than climbing, he crushes Carver with a ladder on the floor, as do the rest of the competitors, who throw ladders onto Carver. A ladder is bridged into the standing ladder inside and Legacy springboard 450s Drake onto the bridged ladder. Legacy and Lennox go up top but Hill and Drake are back with a ladder of their own.

Hendry makes the save but Carver is up with his own ladder to wreck people, including a Pounce to send Legacy through a wall. Carver goes up but Saints is right there to shove him off, through a ladder bridged at ringside. Back in and Hendry and Saints go up to fight over the title, only for Hendry to knock him off and through another ladder. That’s enough for Hendry to win the title at 22:41.

Rating: B+. There were a lot of people here and quite a bit going on, but they still had a rather entertaining and energetic match. It felt like they were all trying to get the title, with the group beatdown of Carver making sense. Hendry winning is a good way to go, as the fans love him and that’s what NXT could use right now. It’s a case where NXT is going with someone the fans care about and are running with him. Now just find a good challenger and they should be fine.

Hendry celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a case where you had a lot going on, but the ladder match was the part that mattered the most. It carried the show that much higher, with the secondary story of Ruca and Zaria finally falling apart going the rest of the way. We’re clearly still in a time of transition around here with Hendry as the champion and Robert Stone as the new boss. Hopefully they can make it work, as starting from almost scratch is quite the test. At least they did well with their big show this week.

Results
Izzi Dame b. Thea Hail and Lola Vice – Sitout gutwrench powerbomb to Hail
Elio LeFleur b. Charlie Dempsey – Reverse hurricanrana driver
Elegance Brand b. Zaria/Sol Ruca – Top rope backsplash to Zaria
Stacks/Lexis King b. Chase U – Coronation to Connors
Joe Hendry b. Shiloh Hill, Keanu Carver, Sean Legacy, Dion Lennox, Jackson Drake and Ricky Saints – Hendry pulled down the title

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

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

NXT
Date: January 27, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the week before the big show and that means we have more qualifying matches for the six way ladder match for the vacant NXT Title. Other than that, the Tag Team Titles are on the line as Darkstate defends against OTM. That should be enough to carry us to next week’s big card so let’s get to it.

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

Non-title and….non-match as the Vanity Project has attacked Hendry in the back. Ava pops up to say she has to deal with Tony D’Angelo and they’ll shuffle the schedule.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. OTM

Darkstate is defending and Shuggars is trying to get his gear on as the match starts. Price and Griffin have a big staredown with Nima coming in for some double slams to clear the ring. Back in and Price sends Shuggars into the corner but Three Amigos are broken up. OTM clears the ring and we take an early break.

We come back with Nima in trouble as Shuggars grabs a spinning toehold. Griffin and Nima hit stereo crossbodies and it’s back to Price, who Rock Bottoms Shuggars onto Griffin for two. Cue the Vanity Project for a distraction though and Price gets rolled up to retain the titles at 11:10.

Rating: B-. Good enough here, though Darkstate is only so interesting as champions. It feels like they’re just kind of there and the big impact that they had earlier in the run is gone. They’re far from bad, but they need to do something else to stand out. The same is true of OTM, who just feel like they’re kind of floating around from match to match.

Post match the brawl is on with Chase U and the Culling getting into things. The Culling lays out Darkstate.

Nikkita Lyons agrees to face Jaida Parker so Blake Monroe doesn’t have to. Singing is involved.

Jaida Parker vs. Nikkita Lyons

Parker works on the arm to start and grabs a headlock as the fans are rather approving. Lyons is back up with a spinning kick to the face and some dancing. A faceplant sets up the neck crank but Parker is up with some clotheslines. The Tear Drop in the corner and the Hipnotique sets up a kind of abdominal stretch slam (better than the Hipnotique) to give Parker the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C. Not much to see in the match, but Parker being treated as someone serious is a good thing to see. The fans love her and she has the charisma to make it work. If she can turn that into something in the ring, she’ll be a star in a hurry. NXT needs some replacements and she very well could be one of the better ones.

Post match Blake Monroe (in a different outfit than before) says she’ll see Parker soon.

Tavion Heights gives Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur a pep talk but Arianna Grace, Stacks and Lexis King interrupt. They don’t think much of Heights and a match between King and Heights seems likely.

TNA’s The Elegance brand is ready for Sol Ruca and Zaria.

Zaria isn’t happy that Ruca isn’t here yet but Thea Hail comes in. They argue about being handed title shots and a match seems likely.

Ethan Page wants Myles Borne to be ruthless instead of righteous tonight. Borne says mind his own business and Ricky Saints, who comes in as well, can shut up too.

Vanity Project comes up to see Ava and says she can’t prove they attacked Joe Hendry. Ava says she can’t but there is a spot in the ladder match and Jackson Drake is in, but if Hendry is cleared, he’s in too.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Dion Lennox vs. Myles Borne

Borne grabs a headlock to start and they go to the mat with Lennox getting caught in a headscissors. Lennox is up with some rollups for two each but Borne is back up with some running elbows in the corner. A running clothesline puts Borne on the floor, where he fights back with a whip into the steps as Ethan Page comes out to watch as we take a break. We come back with Borne fighting back until Lennox grabs a rollup, though the referee catches him cheating. Page throws Borne a belt but the referee takes it away (it didn’t seem like Borne was going to use it), allowing Lennox to hit a Michinoku Driver for the win at 10:42.

Rating: C+. I still like Borne, though I’m worried they might turn him evil. He’s the definition of someone who would make for a good overcoming the odds story so hopefully that’s the direction they’re taking instead. If nothing else, having him take the title from Page would be a nice result. As for Lennox…uh…can I talk about Borne some more?

Post match Page tells Borne that he has to listen so Borne drops him.

Tony D’Angelo comes in to Ava’s office, where Ricky Saints is warning her about Keanu Carver. Saints leaves and D’Angelo asks Ava why she bailed him out. Apparently NXT needs him and she wants to know if he’s in or out. He’ll make his intentions clear next week, but he’s not the same D’Angelo. Ava warns him not to interfere in the ladder match.

Andre Chase isn’t happy with Chase U getting involved in the fight earlier but now he has to go get ready for his match. Lexis King comes in, asks if Uriah Connors’ father is proud of him, and rides his throne into the arena.

Tavion Heights vs. Lexis King

Heights suplexes him for two in the first ten seconds before starting in on the ribs. King manages to send him outside for a ram into the barricade as Stacks and Arianna grace come out to watch. Heights gets in another suplex back inside, only to miss a clothesline and fall back out to the floor. He comes up favoring his arm and misses a slingshot shoulders back inside. King grabs the Coronation for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what is next for either of these two as they feel like they are pretty much just kind of there. Neither feels like they are moving up the list in the slightest and that isn’t a great sign. Hopefully they find something new to do, as both of them could do more than they are currently handling.

Post match King poses with Stacks and Grace, saying that was just the beginning. Granted his promo is cut off but at least it’s something.

We get a special feature called NXT Origins, featuring a look at Finn Balor’s time in NXT. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Zaria vs. Thea Hail

Izzi Dame is on commentary. Hail’s headlock doesn’t last long as Zaria powers her into a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up and Hail sends her outside for a suicide dive. A clothesline drops Hail back inside and we take a break. We come back with Zaria’s choke out of the corner being broken up and Hail running her over for two. The springboard backsplash is pulled out of the air but she gets the Kimura to keep Zaria in trouble. That’s broken up with a backdrop and Zaria hits a spear but the F5 is countered into a DDT. Cue Tatum Paxley to go after Dame and the distraction lets Hail grab a rollup for the pin at 9:16.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what to make of Zaria but it’s starting to get less and less interesting. She’s a powerhouse and can do that well enough, but it only works so well if she keeps losing match after match. Then again it could (and likely is) leading to a feud with Ruca, which is about as good of an option as she has right now.

Post match here is Fatal Influence, with Zaria laying Hail out with an F5.

Charlie Dempsey was impressed by Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey, except for their loss. Grey is distracted by not being Jacy Jayne but Stacks and company come up to say Dempsey is one of them. Dempsey is confused, as he should be.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Keanu Carver vs. Andre Chase

Chase goes right at him to start but gets powered into the corner. Carver knocks him outside and then into the ropes back inside. A suplex gives Carver two but Chase fights back with some shots to the head. The high crossbody gives Chase two and they head outside, with Chase tackling him over the announcers’ table. Carver gets back up for a hard slam onto the announcers’ table. Back in and the spinning powerslam gives Carver the pin at 4:01.

Rating: C+. Chase was trying out there and he did what he could, but there is only so much offense to be found against this kind of a monster. It made for a nice debut for Carver, who feels like something to be reckoned with in the near future. While I can’t imagine him winning the title, I could imagine him smashing through a lot of people and that’s a good idea.

Post match Carver wrecks him again, including stomping Chase’s injured face into the steps.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Keanu Carver grabs the mic and says if anyone has a problem with him wrecking everyone, come do something about it. We cut to the back, where Shiloh Hill and Dion Lennox are heading to the ring.

Post break, Jackson Drake, Lennox, Hill, Sean Legacy and Carver are in the ring, with Hill saying all that just fired him up even more. Lennox doesn’t want to hear that trash talk because Darkstate knows how to take things. Legacy says this is the biggest opportunity of his life and he’ll take chances, which is why Drake thinks Legacy will choke. Cue Ricky Saints with a ladder, which he climbs before addressing everyone else. He is the rose who has come up from the concrete jungle but Carver is sick of talking so the fight is on. Cue Joe Hendry to join the fight but Carver powerslams him down.

One more rundown of next week’s show wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the kind of show that you need to have every so often, as this was all about setting things up for next week’s really big event. It might not make for the best card but it is something that has to be done. They made it work well enough here, though you might be better off just waiting for next week instead of wasting your time here.

Results
Darkstate b. OTM – Rollup to Price
Jaida Parker b. Nikkita Lyons – Abdominal stretch slam
Dion Lennox b. Myles Borne – Michinoku Driver
Lexis King b. Tavion Heights – Coronation
Thea Hail b. Zaria – Rollup
Keanu Carver b. Andre Chase – Spinning powerslam

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

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

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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Elio LeFleur

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

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

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

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

We look at Keanu Carver wrecking people last week.

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Shiloh Hill vs. Josh Briggs

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

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

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

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

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

Vanity Project vs. Chase U

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look at Unreal Season 2.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you don’t know them, you need to get started.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/nxt-next-generation-wwe-stars

NXT
Date: January 13, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

And then everything changed. The big story of the first show of the year is all of the callups, which have left a bunch of open spots on the NXT roster. Those are likely going to be filled by Evolve stars, meaning things are going to be changing around here. This includes Oba Femi vacating the NXT Title and that is going to have to be addressed. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a New Year’s Evil recap.

IMG Credit: WWE

Ava is in the ring with the NXT Title and the roster around the ring. She says there is no better moment than right now but here is Ricky Saints to interrupt. Saints takes credit for running a lot of people around NXT but sees some future champions around the ring. He’s ready to get the championship right now…though that isn’t happening. Instead, it’s going to be a six way ladder match on February 3 for the title. Well happy birthday to me. Qualifying matches start next week and the brawl is on, with Evolve’s Keanu Carver coming in to wreck people, including tossing them around.

Post break Ava is on the phone with someone, who will be here tonight. Someone who looks like Tony D’Angelo walks behind her as Robert Stone says Blake Monroe has something to say tonight.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

Jordan dropkicks her off the apron before the bell but gets knocked out of the air back inside. They slug it out on the mat as the bell rings with Jordan rolling her up for two. Vice is back up with knees to the ribs and pulls her into something like a triangle choke, which is broken with a grab of the arm. They head outside with Vice being kicked into the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Vice winning a strike out but Jordan rolls outside before the hip attack can connect in the corner. Jordan kicks her down and gets two off a frog splash but One Of A Kind is countered into a triangle choke. A spinning Angle Slam drops Vice again and Jordan rolls her up. The referee catches the hand on the ropes (not so much the one on the tights), allowing Vice to hit the spinning backfist for the pin at 11:16.

Rating: C+. These two are suddenly some of the more established names in the division and it felt like a big enough deal to have them facing off. Either one of them winning was fine, though Vice is the one who shouldn’t be losing again. Jordan needs something else to do, even if she’s fitting into the heel role rather well.

Tavion Heights is ready to win the Speed Title, but Jasper Troy disagrees.

IMG Credit: WWE

Speed Title: Tavion Heights vs. Jasper Troy

Troy is defending and shrugs off Heights’ wrestling attempts to start. Some splashes have Heights rolling outside about a minute in and Troy gets to hammer away back inside. Heights fights out of a seated abdominal stretch and grabs a suplex for two. The comeback has Troy staggered but he grabs a Black Hole Slam for the retaining pin at 4:09.

Rating: C. As usual, there is only so much to see in a Speed Title match, though at least they’re letting Troy get a few wins. He hasn’t been around long enough to reach that level yet so this is what he needs to do. Keeping the matches short is smart too, though it would be nice to not see Heights loose so often.

Post match Lexis King runs in to lay Heights out.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey get in an argument with Sol Ruca and Zaria over who should face Jacy Jayne next. The four of them go into Ava’s office, where Fatal Influence is waiting. Ava has talked to Santino Marella, and an NXT team is getting a Knockouts Tag Team Title shot. Next week, it’s a triple threat #1 contenders match. Arguing ensues.

Lexis King talks to Chase U, who says that was a teachable moment in what not to do. Stacks comes in to praise King, with Chase U leaving.

Myles Borne really wants one of the qualifying matches for the ladder match and Robert Stone will talk to Ava for him.

Video on Elio LeFleur, the French luchador, who is coming soon.

Ethan Page asks Ava about the NXT Title qualifying match but she says he’s not in one. She’ll change her mind but it would cost him the North American Title. Page brags about his success, with Ava agreeing….before saying he’s defending against Elio LeFleur next week.

Here is Blake Monroe for a chat. Last week, she was ready to get the Women’s North American Title back but instead, she attacked Thea Hail. Everything was changed like she was the problem, but the reality is that someone as talented as she is always gets the narrative changed.

No one compares to her and everything she does has everyone in a frenzy. There are all kinds of stars…and Jaida Parker is back to interrupt. The fans go absolutely nuts for her and the brawl is on in a hurry. Parker sends her into the corner, high steps a bit, and Hipnotiques her to the floor. Parker continues to have all of the potential imaginable.

Shiloh Hill talks about bringing a bunch of flying squirrels into his house. Oh and he wants the TNA International Title.

Video on Darkstate, who brag about their dominance and insist that no one is safe. Does that include Darkstate? Would they beat themselves up? They might want to clarify that.

TNA International Title: Stacks vs. Shiloh Hill

Stacks, with Arianna Grace, is defending. Hill jumps him to start but gets sent into the corner but Stacks fights back. Stacks misses a charge into the corner and the armbar goes on. An elbow sends Stacks outside, where Grace saves him from being sent into the barricade. Hill hits the flipping dive off the apron and we take a break.

We come back with Stacks running him over for two more but Hill pulls him into a tilt-a-whirl for a double down. Hill takes the tooth out and it’s time to start the real comeback. A release butterfly slam gives Hill two more but Stacks is back with a fireman’s carry gutbuster for the same. Hill is back up and goes outside to put his arm around Grace ala Shawn Michaels. Back in and Hill grabs a small package but Grace kicks it over to give Stacks the pin at 10:36.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t expecting much coming into this but it worked rather well. It was nice to see Stacks getting to do something, though I’m not wild on what he does in the ring. At the same time, having another midcard title around here doesn’t do much good and hopefully it winds up back in TNA sooner than later.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Izzi Dame, with the Culling, for a chat. She welcomes us to the new reality of the division but she won’t give us the same tired story about stumbling into success. This was all calculation and outsmarting everyone else. What did you think she was going to do with that loss last week?

The Culling has always been about getting rid of the worst and that is what she did. We hear about some people coming for the title but Dame isn’t interested in any of them. If you come for the title, you’re walking into a trap…and here is Tatum Paxley for the brawl, with Dame running.

Ricky Saints has cooled off and is already in the ladder match and doesn’t even have to win a qualifying match. He mentions Shiloh Hill getting a qualifying match, which doesn’t sit well with Stacks. Lexis King comes up to Stacks and says they should talk.

Tatum Paxley has been ejected from the building.

The Vanity Project is officially part of the NXT roster and they’re ready to win.

Keanu Carver doesn’t want to talk.

IMG Credit: WWE

Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox

Anything goes and OTM/Darkstate are here too. They fight over a lockup to start with Hendry getting the better of things and sending Lennox outside. Lennox fights back and gets two off a backbreaker, meaning he can go up. Hendry is right there with a superplex to bring him back down and we take a break.

We come back with Hendry fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the corner a few times. Saquon Shugars puts a chair in the corner so of course Lennox goes into it instead. OTM throws Hendry some brass knuckles for a right hand and a near fall so Darkstate throws in a kendo stick. Lennox beats on Hendry, who gets the stick for a beating of his own. The Standing Ovation gets two, with Darkstate making the save.

OTM and the rest of Darkstate get into it and they all brawl to the back. That means a table can be set up in the corner, while Lennox spinebusters Hendry onto a chair. Hendry shrugs it off and hits a Standing Ovation for two of his own. A spear sends Hendry through the table in the corner…and Tony D’Angelo cuts off Lennox’s chair shot. D’Angelo lays out Lennox and then does the same to Hendry, though he lays Hendry on top for the win at 13:20.

Rating: B-. Well, it certainly wasn’t boring and I’m curious about what they’re going to do with D’Angelo. Granted I’m also scared that they’re going to screw him up, but I’ll take the interest over nothing. Lennox still doesn’t quite feel like a main event star, but at least he’s getting some time in prominent spots.

Post match Ava sends security in so D’Angelo beats them up to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. It’s an understatement to say that we’re in a transitional period around here and that is going to be the case for a good while. With so many people moving here and there, you’re going to see a lot of changes taking place. That’s going to make things tricky, but it’s the kind of thing that has to happen in a place designed to help people get out of here. I’m curious to see what happens, though more than a bit worried about there it might be going.

Results
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan – Spinning backfist
Jasper Troy b. Tavion Heights – Black Hole Slam
Stacks b. Shiloh Hill – Small package
Joe Hendry b. Dion Lennox – Spinebuster

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

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

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

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

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Jacy Jayne

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Moose vs. Ethan Page

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

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

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

The nominees for Male Superstar Of The Year are:

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

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

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

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

Kendal Grey has been attacked and Wren Sinclair wants help.

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

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

The nominees for Tag Team Of The Year are:

Hank & Tank
Zaruca
The Culling
Fatal Influence
Darkstate

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

Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Of The Year Nominees:

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

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

Swipe Right vs. OTM

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

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

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

Female Star Of The Year Nominees:

Kelani Jordan
Sol Ruca
Tatum Paxley
Blake Monroe
Jacy Jayne

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

We run down next week’s card.

IMG Credit: WWE

Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back when things were different.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-nxt-takeover-r-evolution-review/

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

We’re taped for one of the last shows of the year but things are picking up around here. There are a few big matches coming up, as New Year’s Evil is just a few weeks away. Hopefully we get a solid build up this week, as we have a good bit of build left to go before the show. Let’s get to it.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame

Shawn Spears is here with Dame. Vice (described by Booker as a “spicy meatball”) strikes her up against the ropes to start and pulls Dame into a triangle choke. That’s enough to send Dame outside for a running seated senton off the apron. Back in and Dame grabs a slam but Vice jumps on her back for a choke. Dame sends him flying with a suplex and we take a break. We come back with Vice striking away and hitting the running hip attack in the corner. Spears trips Vice…and none of that matters as here is Tatum Paxley with a chainsaw. The distraction (chainsaw variety) lets Vice hit a spinning backfist for the pin at 9:57.

Rating: C+. Vice was basically squashing her here and it was a bit of a surprise, but the only thing that matters here is the chainsaw at the end. Paxley is making it clear that she’s not done with Dame and is going to go to the extreme to get revenge. That’s an interesting way for Paxley and it should lead to a big blowoff match sooner than later.

Post match Kelani Jordan runs in and beats Vice down.

Thea Hail thanks Jordynne Grace for having her back last week.

Ethan Page comes up to mock Myles Borne for not making the right changes to fix his career. Borne needs to think about his future, because if he can survive here, Monday and Friday are easy. Watch his title defense next week.

Here is Thea Hail for a chat. She looks like she’s about to cry as she talks about how she never knew it would feel this good. The people here have watched her grow up and now she is here. She talks about the lessons that Andre Chase taught her and everything she has lost and now she is the youngest Women’s North American Champion in history. Now she finally feels like a grown a** woman…and here is Blake Monroe to interrupt. Monroe calls last week a mistake that she has to deal with, though Hail doesn’t want to hear it. If Monroe wants a rematch, it’s on for New Year’s Evil.

Video on Eli Knight and Tavion Heights.

Sol Ruca is ready to get back on the waves and win the Women’s US Title tonight. Zaria promises to have her back.

Speed Title #1 Contender Tournament First Round: Eli Knight vs. Tavion Heights

Knight knocks him to the floor to start and hits a big frog splash back inside. Heights powers his way up but it’s a dropkick to put him back down. A split legged moonsault gets two but a regular moonsault misses. Height belly to bellys him for the pin at 2:01.

Blake Monroe runs into Jackson Drake, who introduces her to Swipe Right. They have presents for her because she should still be Women’s North American Champion. Ricky Smokes suggests Monroe might lose so she sends them off. Leave the gifts.

Leon Slater and Oba Femi have a sitdown interview in the back. Femi talks about being the ruler of NXT but he wants it known that he’s the ruler of WWE. In two weeks, Slater is going to feel the shift that is taking place. Slater talks about how wrestling has turned him into a different person because it filled a void in his life. He’s not going to trash talk because his actions speak for him, and we’ll see who speaks louder. We get a tense yet respectful handshake.

Ava is in the ring with security to bring out Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints for a chat. Evans isn’t happy with him but Saints says Evans doesn’t have the emotional control to lead a brand. Evans accuses Saints of not being the man he thinks he is, though Saints says that Evans can’t string two sentences together. That makes Evans laugh, because he can do well enough for John Cena to put him on his last show and for him to be on Raw and Smackdown. Meanwhile, there’s Saints who…isn’t mentioned. Violence is teased but it doesn’t happen thanks to security not being terrible for a change.

Fatal Influence comes up to Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair for some general insults. The result is Jacy Jayne vs. Sinclair next week.

Skylar Ray/Shiloh Hill vs. Arianna Grace/Stacks

Christmas Chaos, meaning themed street fight. Stacks and Grace share a kiss underneath some mistletoe to start and the fight starts outside. They get inside for an atomic drop to Stacks, who almost falls on Grace. Hill throws Ray onto the two of them outside and it’s time to fight over the Singapore candy cane. Said fight continues even when the women are on the men’s shoulders until Grace and Stacks get tied in the Tree Of Woe. Cane shots bring them back down and we take a break.

We come back with Stacks whipping out a bowling ball, which he hands to Grace, who swings it back….and hits him low. Then drops it on his foot, drawing a YOU DESERVE IT chant. Ray hits a missile dropkick and it’s time to throw cookies to the fans. A table is loaded up and Hill covers it with pine cones of all things. Ray’s frog splash finishes Grace at 11:37.

Rating: C+. This is the definition of harmless fun, as an annoying team loses to some newcomers in a themed holiday fight. It was all in good fun and they gave the new stars a chance at the same time. It’s not like Grace and Stacks are going to fall through the floor as a result so this was a nice use of time.

Darkstate meets Joe Hendry, but violence doesn’t ensue. Instead, Hendry is willing to give a concert next week. Ava agrees.

OTM is looking forward to a better 2026 but the Vanity Project interrupts, now offering their gifts to Kelly Kincaid. OTM doesn’t approve and a match seems likely.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Andre Chase vs. Lexis King

Chase, wearing a face shield after a nasal injury, fires off some running forearms to start, followed by a neckbreaker to send King outside. Back in and King superkicks him for two and a running forearm gets the same. The Russian legsweep into a Black Widow has King in trouble but he gets out and hits Chase in his bad nose. The Coronation finishes for King at 2:47.

Kelani Jordan yells at the locker room again.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne agree that something has to change but Hank & Tank come in to give them a pep talk.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s US Title: Sol Ruca vs. Chelsea Green

Ruca, with Zaria, is challenging and Alba Fyre/Ethan Page are here with Green. An early drop toehold takes Green down to start and Ruca grabs a front facelock. A spinning belly to back faceplant sets up the surfboard, followed by a faceplant. Fyre tries to help Green and the distraction lets Green get in a cheap shot. Ruca knocks her outside anyway and hits a good looking moonsault for the big knockdown.

We take a break and come back with Green holding a full nelson with her legs until Ruca stacks her up for two. Ruca is back up with a German suplex, setting up a running knee for two. Green’s Rough Ryder gets two and another German suplex sends Ruca flying. She’s right back up with the cartwheel DDT but Page puts Green’s foot on the rope. Cue Moose to brawl to the back with Page, leaving Fyre to break up the Sol Snatcher. The Un-Pretty-Her retains the title at 10:33.

Rating: C. I wasn’t digging this one as much as I expected to, as they seemed to be having too many things going on at once. You had multiple people interfering and while green should need help to win a match like this, there was too much going on. I’m also not wild on Ruca taking another loss, though at least it was to a main roster star.

Post match Zaria hits a double spear, setting up a double Sol Snatcher to leave the villains laying.

We run down next week’s show to end the night.

Overall Rating: C. Much like this week’s Raw, this wasn’t their best effort, as it felt more like a show that was just there to set things up for the bigger shows. That’s not a bad thing either, as we’re in the middle of the holiday season and there are probably going to be people doing other things. Setting it up to start off the new year in a big way makes sense, but it doesn’t make for the most thrilling show. This wasn’t bad, but it’s definitely a skippable week.

Results
Lola Vice b. Izzi Dame – Spinning backfist
Tavion Heights b. Eli Knight – Spinning belly to belly
Skylar Ray/Shiloh Hill b. Arianna Grace/Stacks – Frog splash to Grace
Lexis King b. Andre Chase – Coronation
Chelsea Green b. Sol Ruca – Un-Pretty-Her

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