Monday Night Raw
Date: September 14, 2026
Location: Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves

So we’re in Mexico for the first time in fifteen years, it’s two days before Mexican independence day, and Penta is challenging Roman Reigns for the World Title. That opens up one heck of a door and I’m curious to see what happens. Other than that, of course we have Money In The Bank qualifying matches. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a video on Penta vs. Roman Reigns.

Penta arrives on a freaking horse. Dang he might actually win this thing.

Here is Rey Mysterio, with Adam Pearce, and in a neck brace after Triplemania, to talk about how proud he is to be back here in Mexico and to be a luchador. He is proud to represent Mexico and is proud of another Latina wrestler, as Stephanie Vaquer won the Raw Women’s Title over the weekend in Santiago, Chile. Mysterio brings out Vaquer, who could not be happier to have won the title in her home country.

Cue Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan to interrupt, with Morgan being lived about losing the title. Dominik is booed out of the building again, with Rey asking what happened to Dominik’s title? Dominik wants a mixed tag right now but Pearce says no as Rey (who is in street clothes) isn’t medically cleared. Instead here is El Grande Americano to a ROAR, who is in for the mixed tag. Pearce: “ES OFFICIAL!” I was waiting on Americano to show up and it didn’t disappoint.

El Grande Americano/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan/Dominik Mysterio

We’re joined in progress with Americano kicking Mysterio in the face, so Morgan can come in. That’s fine with Vaquer, who catches her with a high crossbody and gets two off a rollup. Mysterio low bridges her to the floor and Morgan is livid enough to hammer away. Vaquer fights up and knocks her down, allowing the tag off to Americano. House is quickly cleaned, including a middle rope Blockbuster, but Mysterio gets in a shot to put Americano on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Morgan cutting off a tag attempt but Americano is fine enough to hit an Air Raid Crash for two. Now it’s Vaquer coming back in to take over on Morgan, including a quick powerslam for two. Everything breaks down and Morgan jumps into Mysterio’s arms. That means it’s a double 619 (Rey approves) but here is Judgment Day to jump the heroes for the DQ at 12:06.

Rating: B-. This was getting rather good before the ending and it’s kind of a shame that it had to go that way. I’m not sure why you can’t have the heroes get another win here as it’s not like it would be some devastating loss for Mysterio and Morgan. At least Americano got that entrance though and it was worth the wait.

Post match Dominik goes after Rey, with Americano trying to make the save but JD McDonagh hits the big headbutt to cut him off.

Video on the Vision going after Oba Femi and taking him out last week.

Rey Fenix gives Penta a pep talk.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Je’Von Evans vs. Austin Theory vs. Big Cass

Maxxine Dupri is here with Theory, who jumps Evans instead of going after Cass. That earns Theory a big toss from Cass, with Evans sending him outside. Evans puts Theory into the timekeeper’s area but gets chokeslammed into it as well as we take a break. We come back with Theory hitting a pretty impressive torture rack bomb to Cass but getting frog splashed by Evans. That’s enough to send Theory outside for the big no hands dive but Cass is back in with the swinging Boss Man Slam.

The OG Cutter is blocked so Evans rolls Cass up for two instead. Back up and Cass boots Evans with Theory stealing the near fall as Cass pulls him out at two. Dupri yells at Cass so Theory hits a dive, only to be thrown down as well. Back in and Evans Sliced Breads Theory onto Cass, allowing the OG Cutter to drop Cass and give Evans the pin at 9:45.

Rating: B-. That’s a surprising result, as while Evans getting the win makes sense, I wasn’t expecting Cass, the new midcard monster, to lose so soon. He hasn’t exactly been lighting the place on fire but I wasn’t expecting him to lose already. Evans going to the ladder match is great though, as he can go do some stupid dives to the big reactions, which is why he’s involved.

We look back at Royce Keys and OTM burning the Usos’ car last week.

Jacob Fatu and the Usos say the play is to stay together, even with Roman Reigns needing protection.

Intercontinental Title: Chad Gable vs. Dragon Lee

Lee is challenging and we get a show of respect to start. They go technical, with Gable flipping him into a sunset flip for two. Back up and Lee knocks him into the corner for a running dropkick to send Gable outside. Gable is fine enough to snap off an overhead belly to belly and a northern lights suplex gets two. Lee cuts off an Ultimo Dragon headstand in the corner from Gable to send him outside. That means the big running flip dive onto the announcers’ table as we take a break.

We come back with Gable getting two off a super Angle Slam to leave them both down. Gable cuts off a flip with a sitout powerbomb for two more but the moonsault hits raised boots. Lee hits a running forearm but Operation Dragon is countered into a quickly broken ankle lock. They fight on top with Gable being knocked into a Tree Of Woe over the apron, with Lee hitting the big double stomp (with the camera looking up for a great angle).

Back in and Gable suplexes him into the corner, setting up a moonsault for two more. Gable rolls some German suplexes but Lee flips out of the third and grabs Operation Dragon for a rather near fall. The Styles Clash is countered into an ankle lock but Lee rolls over into the Styles Clash for an even nearer fall. The ankle lock goes on again and Lee FINALLY taps at 15:36.

Rating: A-. The crowd carried this one even higher, as the two of them were having an awesome match that was turned into something incredible due to the reactions. Gable is just on another planet right now and it’s great to see him getting these reactions just by being himself. It’s LONG overdue and he’s making the most of it, which is great for him. Lee had the best WWE match of his career and felt like a real threat to the title, which is more than I was expecting. Outstanding.

Post match Gable immediately lets go and checks on Lee. As Gable leaves, Lee apologizes to the fans.

Bayley talks about the beating that Lyra Valkyria gave her and how she has realized what Valkyria did to her. Valkyria has called her the doormat of the women’s locker room, which suggests that nothing she has done in fourteen years has mattered. Bayley chose her path and she’s going to show Valkyria what she is all about. This was serious Bayley and it worked.

Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Jordan’s NXT Women’s Title and Rodriguez’s Women’s Intercontinental Title aren’t on the line. Jordan bails to the floor to start, leaving Vice to kick away at Rodriguez. Vice’s kicks are blocked and Rodriguez picks her up, with Jordan coming in for a dropkick. Vice and Jordan team up to knock Rodriguez to the floor, with Jordan hitting a moonsault. That leaves Vice to dive onto Jordan, only to get crushed by Rodriguez as we take a break.

We come back with Vice kicking Jordan into the corner, setting up the running hip attacks in the corner (you’ll notice a theme from Vice). Rodriguez knocks Vice to the floor and counters a top rope hurricanrana, with Jordan rolling her up for two instead. Back in and Vice gets caught with a fall away slam but pulls Jordan into a triangle choke. That’s broken up and Jordan is sent outside, leaving Vice to roll Rodriguez up for the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure why you would have two champions and a debuting star there with one of them having to take a loss but that’s modern wrestling for you. Anyway, Vice felt like a star and you can probably expect her to get a big push in the coming weeks. If nothing else, she gets to be the fresh blood in the division for a bit and that’s nice to see again.

OTM and Royce Keys do their best Shield impression and suggest that Jacob Fatu might be paranoid, but also reveal that they’re in Mexico.

We get a clip from Joe Hendry’s music video about how he should get every single belt (right now).

Stephanie Vaquer is going to leave but runs into Becky Lynch, who thinks she should get a title shot after helping Vaquer win the title (as guest referee). Lynch leaves before Vaquer can say anything.

Raw World Title: Penta vs. Roman Reigns

Penta, in a massive headdress (probably three and a half feet in all directions), is challenging and gets an absolute hero’s welcome. The bell rings and Reigns stalls a lot but Penta does the Cero Miedo, earning himself a running shoulder. Back up and Penta hits a headbutt, earning himself a glare from Reigns. Penta knocks him outside and there’s the big running flip dive as we take a break.

We come back with Reigns whipping him hard into the corner and mocking the crowd for trying to start the comeback. The big right hands in the corner have Penta in more trouble but Reigns takes too long and gets knocked away. A Backstabber out of the corner gives Penta two, as does a springboard tornado DDT. Penta Sacrifices Reigns’ arm but he’s fine enough to plant Penta with a release Rock Bottom for two as we take another break.

We come back with Reigns’ arm giving out so Penta sends him to the apron. The springboard Mexican Destroyer is countered with a backdrop though and Reigns hits a big toss powerbomb onto the announcers’ table. Back in and the Penta Driver gets two in a heck of a near fall, followed by the Superman Punch to give Reigns two more. The spear misses and Penta gets the Mexican Destroyer, only for Reigns to come back with the spear for two more as the fans die and come back to live in the span of five seconds.

Reigns gets up and hammers away again before grabbing the mic and promising to end Reigns. Another spear is countered with a superkick and the springboard Mexican Destroyer gets two in a finish I bought so hard that I have an extended warranty. The go to their knees and punch the tar out of each other with Reigns getting the better of things. Three straight superkicks cut Reigns off but he Superman Punches a springboard out of the air. Back up and another spear retains the title at 22:24.

Rating: A-. Oh sweet goodness this was awesome. You know you’re seeing something special when you actually feel the air go out of you when the fall goes down. What mattered here is that Penta went out on his shield and it was an outstanding performance, even in defeat. At the same time though, Reigns was in his glory heeling on this crowd and it made the match that much better. Absolutely a pay per view worthy match, made even better with the molten crowd. This was a moment, and that’s not something you see very often.

And for once nothing happens, as Reigns mocks the crowd to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Two phenomenal matches and a white hot crowd and my goodness what else could you want? This was Raw turning it up and letting its talented people tear the roof off the place. I had a great time with this show and even the weakest stuff was rather good. The fans alone bring this one up but the wrestlers were doing their job as well. Outstanding show.

Results
El Grande Americano/Stephanie Vaquer b. Dominik Mysterio/Liv Morgan via DQ when Judgment Day interfered
Je’Von Evans b. Big Cass and Austin Theory – OG Cutter to Cass
Chad Gable b. Dragon Lee – Ankle lock
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan and Raquel Rodriguez – Rollup to Rodriguez
Roman Reigns b. Penta – Spear

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: September 7, 2026
Location: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re past Sunday Night’s Main Event and that means we are on the way to Crown Jewel in about a month. First though, there are some big shows coming up in Mexico City, including with Roman Reigns defending the Raw World Title against Penta next week. Before we get there, the Usos are going to need to go after Royce Keys and OTM. Let’s get to it.

Here is Sunday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

The Usos arrive and they have some pipes.

We recap Bronson Reed returning at Sunday Night’s Main Event.

Here is the Vision, in full force once again, to get things going. Bron Breakker says they run WWE and Oba Femi isn’t medically cleared so he isn’t coming out here. Breakker thanks Bronson Reed for helping take Femi out and Reed says Femi ran into someone who didn’t recognize the crown. Yeah Femi is a force of nature but he ran into the TSUNAMI. But like four of them! Logan Paul and Austin Theory are ready to go after more gold, including the Money In The Bank briefcases (which aren’t gold). Akira Tozawa interrupts and Theory is ready to fight him but it won’t be against Tozawa. Someone is back.

Otis vs. Austin Theory

Otis throws him around to start but gets his throat snapped across the top rope. Theory hammers away but Otis sends him flying with a suplex. Back up and Theory knocks him into a front facelock so Otis powers up without much effort. They go outside where Otis runs him over and we take a break. We come back with Otis hitting some clothesline and faceplanting Theory down. That’s enough for Reed to come in for the DQ at 7:05.

Rating: C. Ok now can we move on from the Vision beating these guys up? We get the point now and there is nothing left to do with the Academy doing the same thing. At least they didn’t spend too much time on this and Otis, who does have something, can move on to anything else.

Post match the big beatdown is on, with a Super Spear hitting Otis. That leaves Akira Tozawa all alone and naturally he’s wrecked as well. Cue Oba Femi, who doesn’t want to hear from Petey Williams about not being medically cleared, to go after the Vision. Theory’s chair shots have no effect but a spear to the bad ribs cuts Femi off. Two more Tsunamis crush Femi, though he still tries to get up. Another spear drops Femi again.

Royce Keys talks about how he and his family aren’t leaving anyone safe. They’re from the streets and this is real life.

The Usos come up to Jacob Fatu and say they’re calling out Keys and company. Fatu doesn’t think it’s a good idea because this is what they want the Bloodline to do. The Usos actually listen, though Jimmy doesn’t seem sure.

Becky Lynch comes up to Stephanie Vaquer and offers help against the Judgment Day in exchange for the first title shot. Vaquer turns her down and Lynch isn’t happy.

A comedian named Matt Matthews is here but Miz and Kit Wilson interrupt. Miz isn’t happy and mocks Alabama, with Wilson labeling Matthews as TOXIC. Matthews is surprised that Miz is still employed so Miz pulls him over the barricade. The beating is on, even with Matthews getting in a headscissors. The Skull Crushing Finale leaves Matthews laying. Can we stop with the “celebrities”?

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Bron Breakker vs. Ethan Page vs. Rey Mysterio

During the break, Breakker speared Miz, Wilson and Matthews. Mysterio tries jumping on Breakker’s back while Page slugs away and it goes rather poorly, with Breakker knocking both of them down. Breakker’s superplex attempt to Mysterio is broken up but he escapes an electric chair to suplex Page.

Mysterio headscissors Breakker shoulder first into the post but he’s able to break up a 619. Page is sent outside for the diving clothesline onto the announcers’ table but Mysterio gets in the seated senton. We take a break and come back with Breakker pulling himself to the apron, so Page throws Mysterio into him.

Breakker misses a charge into the steps and Mysterio is up with a springboard headscissors into a sitout bulldog for two. Now the 619 connects but Mysterio has to cut Breakker off again. Page catches Mysterio on top with a fireman’s carry but Breakker is back up with the super Frankensteiner. The Super Spear finishes Mysterio to sent Breakker to Money In The Bank at 11:56.

Rating: B-. This was a good story with Breakker being the unstoppable monster who could only be slowed down. After everything that happened earlier, it would have been insane for Breakker to not move forward and he feels like a legitimate threat to win the ladder match. At the same time, Page is rather good at what he does and Mysterio should not be able to do that in his 50s, but he still makes it look easy.

LA Knight tells Adam Pearce he wants the winner of Penta vs. Roman Reigns. Pearce insists that his word is good, but Knight isn’t convinced. Solo Sikoa comes in to suggest he doesn’t trust Knight, who insists that his word is good.

Penta knows that it seems impossible for him to beat Roman Reigns, but they’re in front of his people in his city, with an entire country behind him.

Lola Vice is here next week. This time we even see her face and the graphic says “Everybody’s Got A Vice.”

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Sol Ruca vs. Maxxine Dupri vs. Lyra Valkyria

Ruca is knocked to the floor to start but comes back in with a double clothesline. Valkyria is sent into the buckle (with her eyes bugging out as she knows the pain is coming) and Ruca knocks Dupri down as well. Back up and Dupri takes over on Ruca for a kind of step up legdrop, which doesn’t seem to connect properly. Valkyria suplexes Dupri onto Ruca and we take a break.

We come back with Ruca cleaning house and sending both of them into the corners. A double missile dropkick connects, though her nip up lands on Dupri in a misstep you don’t often see. Valkyria is back up and sends Dupri outside for a dropkick through the ropes, only to get rolled up by Ruca.

A tornado DDT drops Ruca again but Dupri is back in to reverse DDT Valkyria, which makes her DDT Ruca. Back up and Ruca shoulderbreakers Valkyria (which doesn’t go smoothly either) but gets crotched up top. Valkyria hits Nightwing on Dupri….but Bayley is back to break up the pin. Valkyria panics and it’s a Sol Snatcher to give Ruca the pin at 11:13.

Rating: C+. There was a lot here, as the athleticism was very good, but it felt like they were on different pages at times, or at least not realizing where the other two were at any time. That’s something they all need to improve on, but the bigger story here is Bayley. She’s officially back and that should get rid of the AEW rumors. Bayley finishing things up with Valkyria is a good thing, and the return felt like a huge deal, partially due to Valkyria looking terrified.

Post match Bayley beats on Valkyria again but can’t put her through the announcers’ table as Valkyria escapes.

OTM and Royce Keys are in the parking lot and seem rather cocky.

The Usos are ready to go fight but Jacob Fatu calms them down again.

We get a Joe Hendry video on….JD McDonagh’s rather large head. We even meet McDonagh’s father: a giant Funko Pop.

JD McDonagh vs. Joe Hendry

Dominik Mysterio is here too. McDonagh kicks at the knee to start and gets in a slingshot double stomp. Hendry is stomped down in the corner and misses a discus lariat, allowing McDonagh to forearm him in the back. The fall away slam gives Hendry a breather but McDonagh headbutts him down. Cue Je’Von Evans with a Funko Pop head (he can barely stand up) to knock Mysterio and McDonagh misses the moonsault. The Sound Effect finishes for Hendry at 3:38.

Rating: D. Maybe Hendry can go be a milkman or something, as I’m not sure if this WWE thing is going to work for him. The fans still seem interested in him, but this is about all he’s got going on at the moment. Hendry definitely has talent and more charisma than he can handle, but if you’re just seen as a comedy guy, you’re only going to get so far and that is becoming more and more clear every week. Also, Mysterio is ready to headline TripleMania in six days and this is what he’s doing here?

Video on Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer.

Morgan runs into Becky Lynch and mocks her for not being popular, just like her husband. Morgan insists that she’s the best ever and Lynch…stands there. Then she gets annoyed after Morgan leaves.

The Vision comes up to see Paul Heyman and brags about their success. Heyman hugs Bronson Reed and says he’s impressed. Bron Breakker comes in to say Oba Femi is finished and the Vision is in charge. Heyman asks if Femi is still breathing, gives an exasperated sigh, and leaves.

Women’s Title: Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer is challenging and they’re quickly on the floor with Vaquer sending her into the apron. Back in and a headscissors spins into a rollup for two on Morgan, who is sent into the buckle a few times. A dive off the apron puts Morgan down again and we take a break. We come back with Vaquer fighting out of a chinlock but getting knocked down again. Vaquer fires back up and hits some forearms into a powerslam.

An Eye Of The Hurricane connects for two, with the kickout leaving her frustrated. Back up and Morgan is sent into the corner for the dragon screw legwhip, setting up the Devil’s Kiss. Morgan sends her to the apron, where Vaquer gets in a jumping knee for two. They go over to the announcers’ table, where Vaquer gets in another Devil’s Kiss.

Back in and Morgan reverses a hurricanrana out of the corner into a powerbomb for two and they’re both down again. Vaquer is able to catch her up top with a superplex and now the SVB can get two. Morgan is right back up with a middle rope Codebreaker but the Oblivion is cut off with a superkick.

The double underhook Codebreaker drops Morgan but here is Judgment Day to break up the Inferno. The referee isn’t fooled this time though and ejects Raquel Rodriguez, who is knocked down by an invading Becky Lynch. Roxanne Perez throws the title in so Lynch chases her off, leaving Morgan to get in the belt shot. Oblivion retains the title at 17:48.

Rating: B. This was a good match and the ending is intriguing as Vaquer can probably blame Lynch for the loss. It didn’t feel like the match where Morgan lost the title, but that is likely coming soon as Morgan could use something new. It did feel like a main event level match though and that’s the best thing you can have for this spot.

Big Cass is glad to be back and hurting people.

The Usos go to the ring without Jacob Fatu as they’re tired of waiting. And then Fatu joins them anyway. Post break, the Usos and Fatu call out OTM and Royce Keys, but they’re still in the parking lot, having beaten up security. Then they use various crowbars to break the windows of the SUV. Gasoline is poured inside and Keys lights it on fire, saying no one is safe. The fans chant for the OTC as the car blows up a bit to end the show. That’s certainly a thing that happened, as Keys and OTM successfully destroyed something that didn’t belong to the Bloodline. I’m not sure why that makes me dislike them, but it did in fact happen.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t their best show and you could very much tell it was a holiday edition. The Vision stuff was good, but some of the stuff like the Funko head and the kind of nothing ending segment felt like the old Vince McMahon days. There were good parts here, but you could absolutely tell they were taking the week off here for the most part. I had also forgotten how dull I find Money In The Bank qualifying season, as the constant triple threats to get people into a big ladder match for a title win that might not come until next year makes for a long month. Not a good show, but it had some good parts.

Results
Otis b. Austin Theory via DQ when Bronson Reed interfered
Bron Breakker b. Rey Mysterio and Ethan Page – Super Spear to Mysterio
Sol Ruca b. Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri – Sol Snatcher to Valkyria
Joe Hendry b. JD McDonagh – Sound Effect
Liv Morgan b. Stephanie Vaquer – Oblivion

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 31, 2026
Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re taped this week and in this case we have a heck of a main event. The tournament to crown a new #1 contender to Roman Reigns wraps up this week with a battle between brothers Rey Fenix and Penta. Other than that, Royce Keys and OTM are officially a thing and that isn’t going to go well around here. Let’s get to it.

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

OTM and Royce Keys pull up in the back and wreck the Usos with pipes and smash them onto their car. The Usos are busted open (I’m assuming that’s what the censoring is for) but Jacob Fatu runs up to chase the other three off.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Sol Ruca vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Rodriguez, with Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez, is defending as we keep going to a split screen to look at the bleeding Usos being tended to (the shattered window of their car is ignored). Wait hang on as we have the Big Match Intros but here is Jacob Fatu to call out Royce Keys and OTM. Fatu threatens violence but his mic is cut and Adam Pearce and the agents come in to get rid of Fatu.

With Fatu leaving through the crowd, we’re officially ready to go with Rodriguez going after the arm. Ruca flips away from a spin of the arm and clotheslines Rodriguez to the floor. The running flip dive takes Rodriguez down again but she runs Ruca over back inside. Ruca’s springboard spinning crossbody gets two but she misses the middle rope crossbody to the floor. Rodriguez runs her over again and we take a break.

We come back with Ruca hitting a running forearm against the ropes, followed by a Backstabber with her feet. They go to the apron with Rodriguez grabbing her by the head, only to get caught with a sunset bomb. The rest of Judgment Day try to get involved so Ruca hits a springboard corkscrew dive. Back in and Ruca loads up the Sol Snatcher but Lyra Valkyria runs in to break it up, allowing Rodriguez to hit the Tejana Bomb to retain at 9:13.

Rating: C+. Ruca trying to overcome the odds and getting caught in the end was a good way to go as Ruca can go after Valkyria while Rodriguez gets another opponent. The best thing about Ruca is that she is starting to feel like she belongs around here and is over her early yips. That should help carry her a long way and her star power and athleticism can get her the rest of the way.

Valkyria’s “who me?” look is rather amusing.

Video on Rey Fenix and Penta, who dominated AAA together and are now getting the biggest chance of their career.

We look back at the opening attack on the Usos.

Here is Chad Gable for a chat. Gable says he loves the energy around here and he thought that winning the Intercontinental Title was the big goal. Now though, he realizes that the real work begins and he would not be here without the Mexican people. He wants to thank them and that’s why when Raw returns to Mexico in two weeks, he’ll be defending the title.

Last week someone had a career making performance in the #1 contenders tournament and it has earned, which brings out Dragon Lee. Gable seems ready to make the announcement but Ethan Page interrupts, saying he gets what is going on around here. Page says he should get a title shot, with Gable saying that Page is on the list of challengers. Right under Honky Tonk Man.

Page tells him to stop being a charity case or he’ll become a paper champion. Lee cuts him off and Page says the adults are talking. That gets Page some yelling from Lee, who tells Page to prove that he’s the better man. Gable likes that idea and says let’s make this for the title shot in Mexico City (Page: “I’m in.”).

Ethan Page vs. Dragon Lee

For the Intercontinental Title shot in Mexico City. Lee kicks away to start fast but Page is back up with a powerslam. A heck of a big boot drops Lee again but he’s able to knock Page into the corner for the running dropkick. The big running flip dive connects for Lee and we take a break.

We come back with Page being thrown over the top and out to the floor. That’s fine with Page, who grabs a double underhook swinging backbreaker for two back inside. Lee’s tornado DDT gets the same and he knees Page to the floor for a running hurricanrana. The big running flip dive is cut off with a shot from Page though and he throws Lee into Gable. That’s enough for Page to take a turnbuckle pad off and avoid a charge to send Lee into the steel. The referee sees it though and won’t count the pin, meaning Operation Dragon can finish Page at 11:45.

Rating: B-. Page is a good choice for someone to put Lee over and set up the title match. It’s nice to have Lee win a match rather than getting the title shot coming off of a loss. Lee continues to look awesome and seeing him bust out that flip dive in Mexico is going to be great. Page needs something to do and hopefully that happens soon, as he’s a good hand as a heel.

We look back at Solo Sikoa turning on the Bloodline two weeks ago.

Roman Reigns arrives and finds Jacob Fatu, asking him about the twins. Fatu fills him in about the attack and is assigned to take out Royce Keys. Reigns will handle the rest, which includes going to the arena. In the ring, Reigns says everyone wants what he has and he should be dealing with Penta or Rey Fenix. Instead, everyone has complaints to make and that brings him to Solo Sikoa. Reigns gave him the chance to give Reigns what he earned but Sikoa picked LA Knight. He gets it: Knight reminds Sikoa of the Rock but HE’S NOT IN THE FAMILY.

Let’s talk about Knight, who is right here in person. Knight says Reigns is just reusing material from three years ago and putting things in Knight’s way. He didn’t realize that OTC stood for One Tremendous Coward and it’s time to do this one on one. Knight gets in the ring but we see Sikoa down in the back, and Fatu standing near him. Adam Pearce and company check on Sikoa (and someone else who is down that we can’t see) as Knight comes in to yell at Fatu. They’re held apart and Reigns Superman Punches Knight before telling Fatu that Fatu can handle Royce Keys while Reigns will handle Knight.

Video on Lola Vice (again unnamed but obvious) on the beach and in the gym. She’s here September 14.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Je’Von Evans

Mysterio’s AAA Mega Title isn’t on the line and JD McDonagh is here with him. This is fallout from Judgment Day jumping Evans after his loss to Big Cass last week. Mysterio jumps him before the bell but gets caught in a springboard hurricanrana. McDonagh offers a distraction though and Mysterio gets in an elbow to the face to take over. Evans isn’t having that and sends him outside for a big dive as we take a break.

We come back with Mysterio choking on the ropes, with McDonagh getting in a shot to the face. Back up and Evans kicks him into the corner and a heck of a springboard high crossbody sends Mysterio outside. Evans starts running around the ring but gets cut off by McDonagh for the DQ at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Evans is such an athletic marvel and it’s great to see him getting a chance to show that off. He can fly like few others these days and has some size to make it feel even more unique. The ending was a bit annoying but Mysterio has lost enough lately and you want him strong going into TripleMania.

Post match the beatdown is on but Joe Hendry runs in for the save. A livid Adam Pearce comes out to restart this as a tag match because he’s sick of Judgment Day.

Joe Hendry/Je’Von Evans vs. Judgment Day

The bell rings and Evans gets a running start to dive over the barricade and take the villains out. We take a break and come back with Hendry giving McDonagh a rather delayed vertical suplex for two. Mysterio gets in a cheap shot on Evans and McDonagh rakes the face in the corner.

Evans is fine enough to go up top for a spinning moonsault, because of course that’s something you can do. Hendry comes in to clean house, including a double fall away slam. McDonagh cuts him off with the big headbutt though and the frog splash gives Mysterio the pin at 9:11.

Rating: C. This was only so interesting but dang it’s hard to see what is happening to Hendry. He just feels like he has nothing to do and is only there for the sake of losing matches like this one. I get that he might not be the biggest star in the world but he was popular and should be able to do something more than this. Mysterio and McDonagh work well enough together but they’re not really the story here, as Hendry looks like nothing and Evans was getting beaten up for a lot of the match.

We look at Stephanie Vaquer teaming up with Becky Lynch to go after the Judgment Day.

Vaquer interrupts Lynch and they seem to respect each other, though Vaquer says she doesn’t owe Lynch anything. Lynch says if Vaquer wins the title from Liv Morgan, she’s first in line. Vaquer says that Lynch doesn’t deserve the title but it deserves her. This was rather tense.

Video on Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker.

Paul Heyman is asked about the match and says that it’s a match both men have to win and neither can afford to lose (the exact words he used to hype up Austin vs. Rock at Wrestlemania XVII). He knows what Femi did to Brock Lesnar but he knows what Breakker does in the gym and the work he puts in. No predictions or spoilers, because we’ll find out this Sunday.

Sunday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Judgment Day celebrates their good night and Roxanne Perez says she has Liv Morgan’s back against Becky Lynch.

We recap the Usos and Solo Sikoa being attacked.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Penta vs. Rey Fenix

For a shot at Roman Reigns in Mexico City in two weeks and Fenix’s AAA Cruiserweight Title isn’t on the line. They shake hands to start and Penta kicks away but gets rolled up for a fast two. Fenix snaps off a hurricanrana but Penta sends him to the floor for the big running flip dive. We take a break and come back with Fenix sending him into the corner for some kicks to the head. A corkscrew dive to the floor takes Penta down again and a handspring cutter does it again back inside. Penta kicks him in the face to cut things off and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets two.

We take another break and come back again with Penta knocking him down for two more. The Mexican Destroyer on the apron is blocked though and Fenix hits a moonsault press for two. Penta flips him into the air for a heck of a powerbomb and another near fall. Fenix cuts Penta off on top so Penta tries a super sunset bomb, with Fenix landing on his feet. The Mexican MuscleBuster is countered into a Penta Driver for two and they’re both down again.

With nothing in the ring working, it’s time to head to the announcers’ table, with Penta grabbing another Penta Driver for the big crash. Somehow that’s only good for two so Penta Sacrifices Fenix’s arm (Wade Barrett cringes) but Fenix snaps off a running hurricanrana for two. That leaves Penta to pop back up though and the Mexican Destroyer gives Penta the pin at 19:11.

Rating: A-. Yeah this was great, with the two of them beating the fire out of each other for a big prize. There is something about watching Fenix in the ring where you get the feeling that he is just leaving everything he has in the ring and it was on full display here. Penta winning was pretty much the only realistic result here, but they put in a heck of a match on the way there. Outstanding main event.

Respect is shown post match. Roman Reigns comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event was more than great but the rest of the show was more about setting things up for the future. That included a lot of focus on the Mexico City show, which makes sense as next week is going to be taking place on Labor Day and might not be the biggest draw. Not a must see show, but the main event is definitely worth a look.

Results
Raquel Rodriguez b. Sol Ruca – Tejana Bomb
Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page – Operation Dragon
Je’Von Evans b. Dominik Mysterio via DQ when JD McDonagh interfered
Judgment Day b. Je’Von Evans/Joe Hendry – Frog splash to Hendry
Penta b. Rey Fenix – Mexican Destroyer

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

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

We’re just over a month away from Heatwave and the big story coming out of last week was the debut of…that guy who used to be in TNA under the name of Mike Santana. That’s not going to go well with NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and it might be time for a big title showdown. Other than that, we’re coming up on Lola Vice challenging Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title in the Underground. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s main event with Tony D’Angelo retaining over Naraku and….what’s his name debuting.

Commentary is cut off by an invading Grayson Waller, who talks about the things he has done in WWE but then things changed. What happened to him in the last two years? He’s been doing nothing, carried someone for months, and then spent forever pretending to be at a funeral. He could show up to catering once a week for some salt and pepper chicken but he’s here to be the biggest star around.

That means winning the NXT Title and make it mean something again. Who is going to stop him? Cruz Montana? That would be the former TNA World Champion, with Waller loving the new name. Is Tony D’Angelo going to stop him? Waller is going to send him home to his ugly baby. Shawn Michaels needs to send one of his guys out here to get rid of him.

The women are running laps around the men of this place and mocks people who wrestle for a bit and then spend time in the medical room. Or the independent stars who show up here and go nuts in the ring but have no idea how to use a microphone. He knows Michaels is freaking out on the headset but Michaels is also smiling because Waller is speaking the truth.

Waller’s mic is cut off so he grabs the camera and says consider your cages rattled. Where in the world has this Waller been? This was one heck of a rant and if it means something from a serious Waller, I’m interested in seeing where it’s going because this was pretty awesome stuff. I’ll believe it when I see it, but this got my attention.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne are ready to fight tonight when Mason Rook comes in. Rook doesn’t like what Waller said so he’s going to beat up Kam Hendrix.

Lizzy Rain vs. Izzy Dame

Dame backs her up against the ropes to start and pulls Rain off the top for a crash onto the turnbuckle. Back up and Rain hits a spinwheel kick but a dropkick through the ropes is cut off and we take a break. We come back with Dame hitting an Orton backbreaker but Rain gives her a missile dropkick.

Rain’s springboard elbow is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb and it’s time to forearm it out. They crash out to the floor before going right back inside with a Death Valley Driver giving Rain two. Rain spears her down but Niko Vance offers a distraction. Cue Shawn Spears to scare Vance with a chair, allowing Rain to hit Thunderstruck for the pin at 12:35.

Rating: B-. This was more about the issues with Vance and Spears but it also saw Rain get a big win, which is the best thing that could have happened for her. She certainly seems to be someone NXT wants to push and it’s slowly starting to come together. Now just find something for her to do long term and she should be fine.

Cruz Montana meets Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar. Saquon Shuggars comes in and the team apologizes for the loss last week. Montana remembers meeting Shuggars and getting into it with him but Shuggars insists he’s a changed man. He hopes Montana will see that and Montana seems open to the idea. Kelani Jordan comes in to say this place is unfair and Montana just walks away as she rants.

The Vanity Project meets with Robert Stone and complain about possibly having to defend against Myles Borne and Tavion Heights. They aren’t scared, but here is Keanu Carver, who wants a match against EK Prosper next week. Stone agrees, saying that was way too easy. Grayson Waller calls and Stone wants him back here because this isn’t done.

Video on Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey in the Underground, with Vice talking about how hard she worked to get here.

Thea Hail and Jaida Parker are both happy with how things are going and Parker thanks Hail for helping her last week. They have a tag match next week against Nikkita Lyons and Karmen Petrovic.

North American Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Myles Borne

Borne is defending. They go to the mat to start and it’s an early standoff, allowing Hendrix to work on the arm. A clothesline and slam give Hendrix two but Borne is back up with a dropkick to the floor. There’s the dive to take him out again and we take a break with both of them outside.

We come back with Hendrix lifting him up for a one armed powerbomb and grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up and Borne fires away, setting up a quick powerslam for two. Hendrix cuts off a dive though and hits a running boot for two as Tavion Heights is holding Mason Rook back from interfering. Borne pops back up with Borne Again to retain at 12:01.

Rating: B-. I liked the interference/distraction as it made sense for both of them to do what they were doing. Borne continues to hold onto the title and is turning into quite the star in his own right. On the other hand you have Hendrix, who feels like he has potential but isn’t getting the chance to succeed all that often, which can be rather frustrating.

Post match Rook goes after Hendrix so here is the Vanity Project to jump Borne and Heights. That’s broken up though and the Project is cleared out.

Lizzy Rain loves KFC popcorn chicken. Tristan Angels comes in to say she needs a better role model.

Zaria wants her next title challenger and Wren Sinclair comes in to say she wants her next challenger. Sinclair can have a shot next week and if Zaria wins, she gets a future Women’s Speed Title shot.

Birthright vs. OTM

Nima throws Connors around to start and shrugs off Stacks’ right to the face. Price comes in for a hard chop but some double teaming puts Nima in trouble for a change. That just earns Birthright a double suplex and it’s back to Price to clean house. Stacks is tossed over the top onto the rest of Birthright and we take a break. We come back with Connors getting two off a Swanton but Nima hits a top rope stomp to the chest to get out of trouble. Price comes back in to wreck people but here are Los Perros del Mal. The distraction lets Stacks get in a kick to the head to pin Price at 8:54.

Rating: C+. This made perfect sense and I’m curious to see where it goes with Nima. Having different loyalties with Los Perros and OTM is going to become a problem for Nima sooner than later and that’s not something you see often. If nothing else, it’s nice to see OTM getting to do something other than the random one off matches they’ve had for years.

Post match Price is not happy with Nima.

Kendal Grey is training hard for Lola Ice in the Underground. She’s been training extra hard in amateur wrestling to get ready.

Kali Armstrong wants a title shot but Izzy Dame and Kelani Jordan come in to say not so fast.

Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels

Hill starts fast but runs into some raised boots in the corner. Hill misses a charge into the corner so Angels knocks him outside for a neckbreaker. We take a break and come back with Hill fighting out of trouble but getting crotched on top. Angels catches him on top with a superplex for two and they head outside, with Hill being sent into the steps. A powerbomb onto the announcers’ table gives Hill two back inside and he shoulders Angel in the corner. The super Thunderbreaker finishes Angels off at 10:25.

Rating: B-. There is something of a natural rivalry here but that feels like the end, with Hill getting the better of things to finish Angels off for the time being. That’s a good thing too, as Hill is becoming quite the cult favorite around here and could be moving on to bigger things. At the same time, Angels should be fine as he’s that annoying, which will always work.

Here is Cruz Montana for a chat. He has worked hard to get here and wants to be the kind of star his daughter deserves. Along the way though, he was told that he had reached his ceiling as a tag wrestler. He didn’t accept that and became the biggest star in TNA. Montana is grateful to TNA to everything he did there but now he wants to show he can do this with the biggest names in wrestling. He wants to be NXT Champion, and if he has to go through Grayson Waller, they can meet in any YMCA Waller wants.

This brings out Tony D’Angelo, who introduces himself as the NXT Champion. He’s ready to show Montana what he’ll do to keep his spot and they’re ready to go. Cue Waller, with Montana swinging for him but hitting D’Angelo by mistake. The three of them stare at each other to end the show. We didn’t get much new here, but Montana got his chance to show what he can do and promos like that will get him over around here too.

Overall Rating: B-. Montana already feels like a bigger star than almost anyone around here and that’s a great sign for him. It’s not the best sign for D’Angelo though, as his title reign feels like it is being measured in days. You also have the midcard firming up a bit and that could go a long way in keeping the division interesting. Next week will be more about the women though and that should be able to keep things going. Nice job here, with Montana looking like a big deal right out of the gate.

Results
Lizzy Rain b. Izzy Dame – Thunderstruck
Myles Borne b. Kam Hendrix – Borne Again
Birthright b. OTM – Kick to the head to Price
Shiloh Hill b. Tristan Angels – Super Thunderbreaker

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

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NXT
Date: July 14, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

Heatwave is starting to come into view but we have a good enough while to go. The big story around the NXT Title seems to be a rematch between Naraku and champion Tony D’Angelo. Other than that, we have various people coming for various titles, as tends to be the case on a wrestling show. Let’s get to it.

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

Tag Team Titles: Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux

The Project is defending. Legacy rolls Smokes up to start fast before armdragging Baylor into an armbar. Dux comes in for a nice dropkick and a belly to back suplex, setting up Legacy’s standing moonsault for two. Smokes gets chopped down in the corner and Baylor comes in off a blind tag, only to be sent outside. Legacy hits a huge dive and we take a break.

We come back with Legacy in trouble in the corner and Smoke grabbing a chinlock. Legacy fights out of a double belly to back suplex though and it’s a rolling tag to bring in Dux to clean house. Smokes trips Dux from the floor though and it’s a Codebreaker into a spear for two, with Legacy making the save.

Everyone is down for a minute until Dux crotches Smokes on top. A top rope splash and 450 combine to give Legacy two and the champs are sent outside for stereo dives. Jackson Drake is pulled in but Myra Lockwood low bridges Dux out to the floor. Legacy is sent into the steps and a top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination retains the titles at 13:09.

Rating: B-. Dang it the Project is starting to get good at their thing and that was the case again here. They’re a team who look like they should be easily beaten but they are just good enough to get by. That’s a good place to be and it should be interesting to see which team is finally able to figure out the combination to finally beat them.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne think they could take the Tag Team Titles but Kam Hendrix comes in to say he wants the North American Title. He’s hurt for now but showtime is coming soon.

Saquon Shuggars wants OTM to be his partners against Darkstate but they remember him being a bit evil so that’s a no. OTM goes over to talk to Birthright for going after them, but Birthright brings up Bronco Nima going to AAA on his own. Maybe there are some cracks in the OTM foundation.

Here is Tristan Angels for a chat. He’s not big on Shiloh Hill, who has a family tree involving wild animals but Angels is here with Hill’s missing tooth. Angels then stomps on said tooth, so here is Hill on the screen, saying that he can fix his smile, but Angels can’t fix the fact that the fog is coming. Hill shouts that a bunch and some fog appears to scare Angels.

Nattie and company think that Nikkita Lyons should replace the injured Layla Diggs in the Women’s North American Title match. Lizzy Rain and Izzy Dame want in as well so a lot of bickering ensues. Robert Stone is sick of it and makes a four way for the title tonight.

Tate Wilder vs. Naraku

Wilder gets an inset promo saying he likes this kind of a challenge. Wilder snaps off an armdrag to start but gets sent throat first into the middle rope. Naraku is sent outside though and we take a break. We come back with Naraku throwing him into an STF. That’s broken up so Naraku grabs a chinlock, only for Wilder to fight up for a Sling Blade. A Sling Blade backbreaker gets two on Naraku and a spinning high crossbody gets the same. Wilder goes up again but gets shoved down for a big crash. Back in and Into The Abyss finishes Wilder off at 8:56.

Rating: B-. Wilder was trying here but he was in over his head and got crushed in the end. Naraku got to shake off just about everything that Wilder threw at him and wound up winning, as the match should have been. There is a good chance that Naraku is coming up on a violent rematch with Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Title so a nice win like this is a good thing.

Post match D’Angelo comes in for the brawl, with security only having so much success.

Hank & Tank and EK Prosper turn Saquon Shuggars down as well.

Women’s North American Title: Izzy Dame vs. Nikkita Lyons vs. Lizzy Rain vs. Zaria

Only Zaria is defending. They fight for some early rollups for two each until Rain springboard elbows Zaria down. Zaria is back up with a spinning clothesline to Lyons and it’s time to pair off for stereo brawls. We take a break and come back with Lyons and Rain striking it out on the apron until Zaria and Dame clothesline each other.

Back in and Rain cleans house but Lyons gives her a sitout powerbomb for two. Dame is back up with a running dropkick to break up a fireman’s carry and get two on Zaria. Rain and Lyons are knocked outside and Zaria spears Dame for two. Cue Nattie and Karmen Petrovic but here is Jaida Parker to take Nattie out. Zaria spears Petrovic and a spear into the F5 finishes Lyons to retain the title at 12:46.

Rating: B-. This was a tricky one as they went from a singles match to a wild four way with pretty much no build. That’s not their fault in this case and they did what they could here. Zaria retains the match and while it’s annoying that Lyons took the fall, at least they did everything to get out of there given the screwy circumstances.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey turn Saquon Shuggars down too, but Lola Vice comes in to say she’s not done with Grey.

Tony D’Angelo demands Robert Stone give him Naraku again and the match is set for next week. D’Angelo says he isn’t waiting and Stone chases after him.

Tavion Heights vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake, who is backed into the ropes to start rather quickly. Heights grabs a headlock, which doesn’t work very well for him as Drake drives him into the corner. Back up and Heights suplexes him into the corner and we take a break.

We come back with Heights missing some charges into the corner and getting his leg taken out. The Figure Four goes on with Heights turning it over, sending Drake crawling to the rope for the break. A big backdrop sends Drake onto the Project so Brad Baylor gets up on the apron. That’s cut off so Heights tries the belly to belly, only to get reversed into a sunset flip to give Drake the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. It’s a good night for the Project and it’s nice to see Drake get a pretty big win without much cheating. He’s the most talented of the Project and someone who could go somewhere as a singles star so why not see what he can do? At the same time, Heights continues to lose and I have no idea where he’s supposed to go in this whole thing.

Reina Volcan is a force of nature and ready to wreck people.

Saquon Shuggars, Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno….and they actually say yes! Huh, I was expecting someone from the main roster showing up.

Kali Armstrong talks trash to Kendal Grey and promises to win. Armstrong runs into Jaida Parker, who isn’t impressed. Nattie and company jump Parker.

Shawn Spears saw potential in the Culling and he’s proud of Izzy Dame. He was proud of Niko Vance for taking a step forward, but then it was two steps back. Let’s find out just how much Vance learned.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Kali Armstrong

For a future Women’s Title shot. Armstrong is clotheslined to the floor to start, leaving Jordan to roll Vice up for two. Back in and Armstrong’s charge hits the post, leaving the other two to brawl on the mat. Armstrong breaks that up with some slams, with Vice being sent outside. Jordan neckbreakers Vice who DDTs Armstrong for two but Vice sends Jordan outside.

A guillotine choke has Armstrong in trouble but Jordan is back in for the save. Vice and Jordan brawl to the floor so Armstrong takes them both out with a big dive. We take a break and come back with Vice hitting the running hip attacks in the corner. Armstrong spinebusters Vice for two but Jordan kicks both of them in the face, followed by a double Eat Defeat.

Jordan gets pulled into a triangle choke with Armstrong making the save, setting up a string of rollups for two each. A frog splash breaks up Vice’s cross armbreaker for two but Armstrong powerslams Vice. The Kali Connection sends Vice outside so she and Jordan can trade rollups for two each. Back in and Vice spinning backfists Armstrong but gets dropped by Jordan. The 450 hits Armstrong, only for Vice to kick Jordan off and get the pin at 14:20.

Rating: B-. It was almost all action, but Vice is absolutely the right choice given how strongly her first match with Grey was received. If you already have a story that good, just run a rematch because the fans are going to want to see it. Jordan and Armstrong losing again is fine as Jordan will get her big title shot down the line and Armstrong is going to be a force just because of the incredible power and athleticism.

We run down next week’s card but it’s off to the parking lot.

Tony D’Angelo and Naraku are fighting in the parking lot so Robert Stone comes in to make their title match next week a street fight.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show built around getting us ready for the pretty big TV show next week before we start the real build towards Heatwave. The good thing is that they made it work here, with pretty much everything clicking and the winners feeling like they got something out of their matches. I want to see where some of these things go next week and I’ll take that every single time.

Results
Vanity Project b. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Van Dux
Naraku b. Tate Wilder – Into The Abyss
Zaria b. Izzy Dame, Lizzy Rain and Nikkita Lyons – Spear to Lyons
Jackson Drake b. Tavion Heights – Sunset flip
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong – 450 to Armstrong

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

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NXT
Date: July 7, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re in an interesting place as the big story coming out of last week was…uh…someone we ALL know debuting and attacking Tatum Paxley. That’s going to need some follow up and preferably a name as it feels like quite the big story. Kendal Grey is defending the Women’s Title too so let’s get to it.

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

Kali Armstrong is in the ring to start and she isn’t happy. She saw everyone cheering for Kendal Grey and she had her target. As soon as she decided to go after Grey, everyone was paying attention to her. Now she wants the title and doesn’t care who she has to face. This brings out Lola Vice to say Armstrong is impatient but Kelani Jordan interrupts. She can’t believe what she’s hearing because everyone is worried about Tatum Paxley. Jordan is the one who should get a shot and the brawl is on, with Armstrong clearing the ring. As usual, Jordan is not great at talking. It’s just not her thing.

Darkstate vs. OTM vs. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux vs. Birthright

For a future Tag Team Title shot and it’s Nima and Griffin cleaning house to give us the big power brawl to start. Legacy is back up to send them into each other but Price powers Birthright around without much trouble. James kicks Price away but Legacy and Dux give him a double suplex. Birthright is back up to clear the ring though and we take a break.

We come back with Darkstate firing away until Price forearms Stacks out of the air. Dux gets the tag and fires off the kicks into a moonsault until Nima gives him a spinning Big Ending for two. A bunch of people go outside and Stacks suplexes Dux into Connors’ sitout powerbomb. Legacy and Dux moonsault onto the floor and Griffin hits a dive of his own. Cue Saquon Shuggars in the crowd but Dion Lennox chases him off. A bunch of people brawl to the back and Legacy’s springboard 450 finishes Connors at 14:17.

Rating: B-. This was a bunch of people going all over the place and the problem comes down to there just being so many people out there. The match didn’t have much in the way of a flow or structure as everything was about getting stuff in against each other. Also, it showed how unimportant a lot of these teams really feel, with Legacy and Dux being even weaker.

Jaida Parker isn’t happy with Nattie making her give up, especially when Nattie is here to revitalize her dead career. Parker is coming for her.

Saquon Shuggars knows he needs help to fight Darkstate but no one likes him. It’s time to shake hands and kiss babies to show people he has changed.

Keanu Carver vs. Tank Ledger

Ledger jumps him to start and knocks Carver outside. Back in and Carver gets in a shot of his own to cut that off, followed by quite the clothesline. A powerbomb gives Carver two, with his taped up knee giving out at the end. Ledger strikes away and even gets in a Swanton for two but a full nelson is blocked. Somehow Carver is back up with a dropkick and an Alabama Slam for the pin at 4:46.

Rating: C+. They were smart to keep this short as Carver is all about power and devastation. He absorbed everything that Ledger threw at him and fought through the injury to win. That’s a good way to make Carver feel like a monster and I’m curious to see where he’s going next, as he’s an effective smashing machine.

Naraku talks about how he isn’t done with Tony D’Angelo and asks how far D’Angelo is willing to go, because Naraku will do anything to win the title.

Tate Wilder wants to fight Naraku and Kam Hendrix, whose knee is still banged up, doesn’t think much of Mason Rook. Cue Rook, who scares Hendrix off.

Nattie is ready for her match and offers to be there with Layla Diggs, but Diggs wants to do this on her own. Works for Nattie, who does want her friends out there for the title match.

Lizzie Rain vs. Thea Hail vs. Izzy Dame vs. Layla Diggs

For a Women’s North American Title shot. Dame takes over to start but gets dropped by Rain. Some rollups for two each are exchanged until Rain backdrops Hail out to the floor. Rain’s springboard elbow drops Dame but Diggs is back up to elbow both of them. Hail is up with a middle rope dive onto all three of them and we take a break.

We come back with Hail and Diggs hitting stereo frog splashes for two each. Hail superkicks Diggs into a standing moonsault for two and a springboard backsplash gets two more. Rain is back up with a double cutter, followed by a single cutter to a diving Diggs. Dame chokeslams Diggs for two and a middle rope Codebreaker hitting Rain. Hail’s Kimura is broken up and everyone is down again. Rain elbows Dame into the corner and gives Hail Thunderstruck, only for Diggs to hit her perfect moonsault for the pin at 14:28.

Rating: B-. This was similar to the opening match but it was rather nice to have half of the people involved overall. It helps so much, just for the sake of having less going on and fewer people flying around. Diggs winning is an interesting choice for the win, but it’s a good way to give her a quick move up the charts.

The woman who debuted last week talks about wanting to attack anyone and calls herself a force of nature. Her name: Reina Vulcan.

Here is an upset Tavion Heights for a chat. He doesn’t like the things that he said before the Great American Bash and he wants to apologize to Myles Borne. This brings out the Vanity Project, who say they deserve some apologies of their own. Jackson Drake doesn’t think much of Heights’ statements so the brawl is on, with Heights clearing the ring.

Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar run into Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux and seem interested in a match. Legacy and Dux are more interested in figuring out which of their names comes first.

Shiloh Hill vs. Niko Vance

Hill charges into a boot in the corner to start but avoids a middle rope headbutt. Hill’s top rope clothesline gets two and it’s time to stare at each other, followed by Hill hitting another clothesline. Vance is back with a gutwrench faceplant and a middle rope headbutt for two of his own. Back up and Hill snaps off a DDT before striking away and getting two off a backsplash. Cue Tristan Angels for a distraction, allowing Vance to hit a running elbow for the pin at 4:41.

Rating: C+. It was fairly intense while it lasted but this was more about Angels vs. Hill continuing than anything else. That’s a fine enough way to go as a culture clash is always going to work. Hill has certainly gotten some interest from the fans as well and that’s a good sign. It also shouldn’t be surprising as he’s rather oddly charismatic and it’s working well thus far.

Post match Vance poses and here is Shawn Spears to chair him in the back.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Nattie

Grey is defending and all of their respective friends are here too. They grapple on the mat to start with Grey getting the better of things. A shot to the face drops Grey so she wrestles Nattie down again. Nattie tries her belly to back drop but Grey picks the ankle into an ankle lock. That’s broken up and they fight outside with Grey getting distracted, allowing Nattie to get in a cheap shot. The seconds get in a big fight and we take a break.

We come back with Nattie holding an abdominal stretch but getting small packaged for two. Nattie pulls her into a rear naked choke so Grey grabs a failed cross armbreaker attempt. Back up and a middle rope dropkick is countered into the Sharpshooter. Grey makes the rope and they fight over a rollup, only for Grey to snap off Shades Of Grey for the pin to retain at 12:19.

Rating: B-. Well at least we should be done with Nattie as a challenger. That’s a good thing to see, as the idea of Grey feuding with her for the long term is almost depressing. The match was the perfectly fine technical display but Nattie wasn’t going to end the big new title reign and certainly not this soon. For a one off TV main event, it worked perfectly well.

Post match Jaida Parker comes out for a staredown with Nattie. Kali Armstrong, Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan surround Grey to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show about moving stories forward, but it made you realize how a lot of these people haven’t been developed all that well yet. The thing to remember is a good number of these people are freshly moved up to NXT from Evolve and haven’t had the chance to grow yet, despite being put in these spots. That is making for a tricky situation and NXT is handling it as well as they can, which is impressive enough. The show was busy but good enough and held my interest so we’ll call it acceptable this week.

Results
Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux b. OTM, Darkstate and Birthright – Springboard 450 to Connors
Keanu Carer b. Tank Ledger – Alabama Slam
Layla Diggs b. Thea Hail, Lizzie Rain and Izzy Dame – Moonsault to Hail
Niko Vance b. Shiloh Hill – Running elbow
Kendal Grey b. Nattie – Shades Of 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:

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NXT
Date: June 23, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s the last show before the Great American Bash and that means we’re in for a big one this week. Actually two, as it’s a DOUBLE CONTRACT SIGNING, with both the NXT and Women’s Title matches officially being signed. That’s about all you could ask for in a single show, with the wrestling being a bonus to TWO, count em TWO contract signing. Let’s get to it.

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

Tony D’Angelo isn’t happy that Naraku hasn’t signed the contract for the Great American Bash but Robert Stone tells him to be on good behavior. Aaron Rourke comes up and D’Angelo wishes him good luck tonight. An appreciative Rourke wishes D’Angelo the same.

Evolve Title: Aaron Rourke vs. Tristan Angels

Rourke (who is rather flamboyant) is defending. They trade headlocks to start with Angels switching over to a cravate (how English of him). Rourke flips over him out of the corner and hits a quick dropkick but Angels gets in a forearm to the back. The nerve hold doesn’t last long and Angels misses a charge to the floor. Angels trips him down onto the apron and we take an early break.

We come back with Angels working on the arm but Rourke fights up and strikes away. A fall away slam puts Angels down again as we see D’Angelo looking for Naraku. Rourke hits a middle rope Codebreaker for two but takes too long stealing the Mr. NXT sash, earning him an enziguri out to the floor. Angels seems to be pulled underneath the ring though and comes out looking terrified. The Molly Go Round retains the title at 8:53.

Rating: C+. This was fine as a way to do something of an Evolve showcase. Angels has been around for a bit before so this was more about Rourke, who did well enough. Rourke is someone who takes some time to grow on you but he definitely has the talent to get somewhere. Let the fans get to know him a bit more and it could work out rather well.

D’Angelo finds Naraku in the parking lot (uh oh) and Naraku presents him with the signed contract. D’Angelo opens it…and a fireball explodes in his face. Robert Stone panics while Naraku laughs.

Post break an ambulance arrives and D’Angelo is taken away as Stone is still worried.

Here is Saquon Shuggars for a face to face meeting with Dion Lennox. Shuggars cuts him off to talk about Darkstate throwing him through a table five weeks ago. Lennox was the one acting like the leader and calling Shuggars an independent wrestler. Shuggars is indeed a wrestler but Lennox says Shuggars wasn’t supposed to be on the team. Darkstate got what they needed out of him and then moved on, with the final beating coming on Sunday

Shuggars insists that there is no Darkstate without him. Shuggars says the other two are lost without him and if Lennox put on Shuggars’ jockstrap, it would be a bad fit. Lennox says Shuggars is a facade and he would disappear just before it was go time. Dropping Shuggars wasn’t a mistake because it was a correction. Lennox is ready to finish him off at the Bash. This was an intense showdown but it’s still members of a not so interesting team fighting.

Hank & Tank talk to comedian Matt Matthews, who might be ready to get in the ring. The Vanity Project is in the background.

Myles Borne talks about being someone who has always been uncomfortable but he has grown to live with it. He started to get comfortable in the No Quarter Catch Crew and got even better. Tavion Heights talks about their time together and now they’re fighting for the title on Sunday.

Wren Sinclair can’t calm Heights down because he doesn’t have a title. Kendal Grey comes in and gives the now healthy Sinclair a pep talk. Cake is teased.

Birthright vs. Hank & Tank

The rest of the team and Matt Matthews are here too. Hank works on Connors’ arm to start and Stacks gets armdragged down as well. A cheap shot puts Hank into the wrong corner though and the villains go to stomping. Hank clotheslines his way to freedom and a double slam sends Connors flying for two. Everything breaks down and Matthews has to be saved, meaning Hank & Tank can hit stereo dives as we take a break.

We come back with Hank getting powerbombed out of the corner for two but he ducks a clothesline. The diving tag brings in Tank to clean house and it’s back to Hank, who gets Stunnered over the top rope. Stacks adds a top rope elbow for two as everything breaks down again. Hank plants Stacks but Connors hits a big Swanton. Matthews manages to take out the rest of Birthright on the floor and the powerslam/running neckbreaker combination finishes Stacks at 12:02.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the appeal of Hank & Tank, but I really hope they drop this comedian sooner than later. Matthews isn’t particularly funny or memorable and he’s been on the show for a few weeks now. Odds are it’s just some mandate from the CW because otherwise, what in the world are they thinking? If nothing else, what does the rest of Birthright do now that they got beaten up by a rather tiny non-wrestler?

Shiloh Hill says he’s healthy, both in body and mind, and wants to beat up Tristan Angels at the Great American Bash.

We look back at Tony D’Angelo being burned.

We go backstage for the Women’s Title contract signing. Kendal Grey says she hit Lola Vice by mistake but Vice doesn’t want to hear it. She has Grey’s style figured out but Grey talks about her own amateur wrestling style. Grey is going to raise the bar even higher on Sunday, though Vice doesn’t think Grey is doing anything Vice hasn’t done in the first place. Vice promises to retain and they both sign.

Keanu Carver vs. EK Prosper

Carver runs him over to start and gives Prosper a big throw out of the corner. Prosper is back up with a springboard missile dropkick, only to get gorilla pressed down. A springboard moonsault connects on Carver, who knocks Prosper hard to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Carver pulling him out of the air for a hard slam. Quite the release German suplex puts Prosper down again but he gets in some kicks to the head. The Shining Wizard rocks Carver again and Prosper hits a heck of a springboard moonsault to the floor. Carver isn’t having that and blasts him with a clothesline, followed by the Pounce. A powerbomb is…reversed into a sunset flip to give Prosper the big upset pin at 9:53.

Rating: C+. I’m not wild on the idea of having Carver lose like this but points for giving another of the newcomers a big win. Prosper is a heck of an athlete and there’s always room for a high flier like him, though getting a better name would help him a lot. Carver losing is a bit of a risk, but they did at least try something with Prosper and I’ll take that.

Post match Carver lays him out with a running clothesline and a powerbomb puts Prosper through the announcers’ table.

Zaria is ready for Tatum Paxley, who couldn’t let Zaria enjoy her own success. Their title match is set for the Great American Bash.

Robert Stone tells Naraku that he might have just cost himself the title shot. Keanu Carver comes in and gets yelled at but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Izzi Dame vs. Arianna Grace

For the Women’s Speed Title shot and their respective friends are here too. Dame kicks her in the face at the bell and a Sky High gets two. Grace gets in a kick to knock Dame out of the air though and goes up, only to take too long. Another shot to the face gives Grace two as we have a minute left. Dame gets in a knockdown of her own but Shawn Spears insists on a hand slap, allowing Grace to get the small package pin at 2:19.

Wren Sinclair comes out for the showdown as Dame doesn’t want to hear it from the Culling.

Robert Stone says there are going to be some AAA stars at the Great American Bash and we’ll get an update on the NXT Title match before the end of the night. The Vanity Project comes in and want to be part of the Great American Bash. Stone doesn’t seem to have time for this.

NXT Origins video on Alexa Bliss. I believe this is the third time this has aired in a week.

Jaida Parker is upset but doesn’t seem to want to talk to OTM about it. Lucien Price seems to be fine with Bronco Nima joining Los Perros del Mal in AAA.

The Culling vs. Dorian Van Dux/Sean Legacy

Spears takes Legacy into the corner for the hard chop, only to get caught with a double stomp to the back. It’s off to Dux to stay on the arm, who gets forearmed in the jaw for his efforts. Vance comes in and gets sunset flipped for two, with Dux going off to his arm for a change. Legacy gets taken down but kicks Spears in the head without much trouble. Everything breaks down and the Culling takes over as we take a break.

We come back with Vance taking a shot to save Spears, allowing Dux to come back in and wreck the villains. Everything breaks down and an assisted swinging DDT gets two on Legacy. Dux moonsaults onto Vance on the floor and it’s Legacy’s 450 into Dux’s shooting star press to pin Spears at 11:33.

Rating: B-. Not too bad here, though I still don’t get the appeal of Legacy. He’s just kind of there for the most part, with Dux at least looking like a monster who could do a lot of damage. At the same time you have the Culling, who haven’t exactly done anything in a long time, which doesn’t seem likely to be changing.

Post match Vance turns on Spears and chokeslams him through the announcers’ table. Izzi Dame approves.

Great American Bash rundown.

Here is Robert Stone to explain the NXT Title situation. He brings out Naraku, who says if Tony D’Angelo is out, he’ll just take the title. Cue Mason Rook to say he’ll fight Naraku for the title. Now it’s the Vanity Project to interrupt, saying they want in on the title match. Rook takes the Project out so Naraku says give him the title. Stone says it was always going to be someone else for the title match…and here is D’Angelo to clear Naraku out.

One more Great American Bash rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. They definitely did a bunch of to set up the Bash here, even if it felt like a last ditch effort. They added in a few more matches to pad the show out a bit, though it still feels like it’s missing a big match to really carry things. Hopefully the show lives up to the hype, which did get stronger here, though it was starting fairly low in the first place. Good stuff here, with the D’Angelo vs. Naraku ending being a relief over what they were teasing just a few moments before.

Results
Aaron Rourke b. Tristan Angels – Molly Go Round
Hank & Tank b. Birthright – Powerslam/running neckbreaker combination to Stacks
EK Prosper b. Keanu Carver – Sunset flip
Arianna Grace b. Izzi Dame – Small package
Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux b. The Culling – Shooting star press to Spears

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

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NXT
Date: 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