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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vanity Project vs. Los Americanos

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: March 10, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Vengeance Day and that means we are on the way to Stand & Deliver. That is the biggest event of the year for NXT and it should be interesting to see what they have in store for the night. With less than a month to go, they need to start things in a hurry so let’s get to it.

Here is Vengeance Day if you need a recap.

Long Vengeance Day recap.

Here is Tatum Paxley, fresh off winning the Women’s North American Title, to get things going. For the longest time, she felt like she was doing everything wrong but she kept winding up alone. On Saturday, she won this title because of the people here. They made her want to keep going and now she has the confidence that she belongs here. She won the Women’s Title for the Culling but she won this for the people.

Cue Izzi Dame (Paxley: “Ugh GO AWAY!”) to interrupt and we see a highlight package of Paxley’s failures over the years. Dame calls Paxley painfully fake and a weirdo outcast because this is all just another mask. Eventually, that unlovable girl will come out again and Dame wants her title back. Cue the Culling for a distraction and Dame hits a powerbomb.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page are upset over Vengeance Day, with Saints saying they’re both naked now. Page doesn’t like that visual but they’re ready to get a win in tonight’s tag match against Joe Hendry and Myles Borne. Then it’s off to Stand & Deliver to become two times champions.

Jasper Troy vs. Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

Troy starts fast by throwing them both around, including pulling Knight out of the air. A chokeslam drops Knight onto Legacy but Knight gets a boot up in the corner. Some superkicks stagger Troy though, with a double shot putting him on the floor. Cue Keanu Carver to chokeslam Troy through the announcers’ table and yell at Booker T. as we take a break.

We come back with Knight dropkicking Legacy to the floor for one heck of a dive. Back in and a step up moonsault gets two on Legacy, who is right back with a reverse sitout gordbuster for two of his own. Shambles is broken up but Legacy dropkicks Troy through the ropes. Troy gets back up to run the two of them over, including a chokeslam to Legacy. A double Samoan drop connects, though Troy’s ribs are banged up. Legacy has to make a save and Knight breaks up the Black Hole Slam. A 450 from Legacy into a heck of a moonsault from Knight means a double pin on Troy at 12:06.

Rating: B. This was a blast with pretty much nonstop action throughout. Troy felt like a monster who is on a collision course with Carver, which should be a heck of a hoss fight. At the same time, Knight looked like a star out there with those dives, which he made to look effortless. Legacy finally gets a win, though he can’t even get that on his own, which isn’t a great sign. Still though, really fun match here.

Booker is ticked at the result because that’s not how it works.

Tatum Paxley recruits Shiloh Hill to help her find the Culling. Hill grabs a lug wrench and we’re ready to go.

Lexis King and company don’t like that it has come to this, but Uriah Connors’ dad (Fit Finlay) made a call and “they’re on the way”.

IMG Credit: WWE

Lexis King/Uriah Connors vs. Charlie Dempsey/Tavion Heights

Stacks and Arianna Grace are here too. Connors and Dempsey go with the grappling to start with Connors flipping over him without much trouble. Dempsey takes him to the mat for a leglock and it’s off to Heights for a gutwrench suplex. A blind tag brings Dempsey back in for a running knee to King so Connors makes a surprise tag of his own to jump Dempsey.

That’s broken up and Heights is back in for the belly to belly, with King making the save this time. Everything breaks down and they all wind up on the floor…and here are Fit Finlay and William Regal to stare. That’s enough for Dempsey to suplex Heights on the floor and send him back inside for the Coronation and the pin at 4:39.

Rating: C+. This was a case where there might as well have been a big neon countdown clock to Dempsey turning on Heights as they all but guaranteed that would be happening when the match was made. That’s not a bad thing whatsoever, as it’s the logical path for the story to take. If nothing else, Regal and Finlay making a cameo makes the team feel a bit more legitimate, which they’ve been needing.

Post match Dempsey poses with the villains.

The Culling goes to leave but their car is on blocks, with Shiloh Hill walking away holding the lug wrench. He hands it to Robert Stone and the Culling is livid.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for a chat. When he returned to NXT, he said he had two missions and the first one ended at Vengeance Day, when he finished Darkstate. They are now what he was before: broken and searching for answers. D’Angelo has buried that version of himself and now it is time for him to win the NXT Title. He has no issues with Joe Hendry, but if he has to break Hendry’s face, so be it. This is personal, because Hendry has what D’Angelo wants. That’s the simplest way to go and this worked fine.

Sol Ruca and Lola Vice praise each other and want to face off for the NXT Title at Stand & Deliver.

Myles Borne asks Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey if they have seen Joe Hendry. They take him over to a refrigerator, where they say his name and find…a cake? Hendry pops up and says he and Borne need to talk strategy. Sinclair goes to leave and Grey….is using her hand to devour that cake.

IMG Credit: WWE

Sol Ruca vs. Lainey Reid

The rest of Fatal Influence is here with Reid. Ruca wrestles her down to the mat to start and works on the arm. A headlock keeps Reid in early trouble and Ruca takes her down for the surfing on the back. Ruca faceplants her and then pulls her outside for a dive, only for Jacy Jayne to get in a cheap shot. Reid gets in a double stomp to the back of the head and we take a break.

We come back with Ruca dropkicking her into the corner but Reid manages a springboard Stunner for two. An electric chair drop plants Reid and Ruca elbows her in the face a bunch of times. Reid grabs a sitout powerbomb for two but Ruca hits an X Factor. Something like a spinning Beach Break gets two but the Sol Snatcher is broken up. A crucifix bomb sends Ruca into the corner, where she avoids a running knee. The Sol Snatcher finishes Reid at 12:58.

Rating: C+. This was a rare lengthy Reid match, which worked out well enough. At the same time, it seems that we could, or at least should, be on the way towards winning the Women’s Title. If nothing else, a showdown with Zaria has to come sooner or later, so why not at Stand & Deliver?

Elio LeFleur talks to Robert Stone about Eli Knight or Sean Legacy getting a title shot. Stone isn’t sure what to do when the Vanity Project comes in. They want a big match for Stand & Deliver but Legacy wants to fight them next.

Blake Monroe wants a big match at Stand & Deliver. Tatum Paxley comes in looking for Izzi Dame and leaves, with Monroe saying she wants her Women’s North American Title back.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contender Tournament Final: Wren Sinclair vs. Thea Hail

Hail dropkicks her down at the bell but it’s way too early for the Kimura. They trade running shots to the head for two and go outside with less than two minutes to go. Back in and Hail misses a high crossbody but grabs the Kimura. Sinclair is right back with the Final Wrench for the submission at 1:55.

Robert Stone talks to the tag division and we’ll be having a tournament to crown new #1 contenders. Darkstate wants their rematch without the tournament and here is OTM to brawl with them.

Fatal Influence doesn’t like being reminded about their title matches next week. Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey come up to say they’re coming for the titles.

The Culling is leaving and Tatum Paxley jumps Izzi Dame. Security breaks it up so Robert Stone comes in to make the title rematch next week. In a cage.

Post break, Robert Stone hypes up the Houston show and announces that the tag tournament starts next week, but after that mess, OTM and Darkstate are not included. The Vanity Project comes in to thank Stone for the next week off, but Stone puts them in a six man against the Americanos.

Vic Joseph stands up at the desk and says he and Booker T. were only supposed to be a team for three months, but they’ve been going for over three years. Next week in Booker’s hometown of Houston, it is Booker T. Appreciation Night. Booker seems surprised.

Ethan Page/Ricky Saints vs. Myles Borne/Joe Hendry

Of note: Page and Saints have been standing in the ring for about ten minutes counting other segments and breaks. Hendry headlocks Page down to start and drops him again with a running shoulder. Borne comes in for a dropkick as Hendry has Page up in a suplex. It’s off to Saints, who takes over on Borne without much trouble. Borne is back with a swinging fisherman’s suplex but Page boots him in the face. Page tells Saints to throw in the title but Saints throws it too far, just like Page did on Saturday.

We take a break and come back with Borne still in trouble. Borne breaks out but Saints is there to pull Hendry off the apron. Saints and Page go old school with a PowerPlex for two but Borne is right back up for the tag to Hendry. House is quickly cleaned until Hendry and Saints hit clotheslines. Page throws in a title, which is quickly taken away, allowing Hendry to grab a rollup for two. Saints hits the spear but Page tags himself in, meaning it’s time to argue. Page is back up with the Twisted Grin onto the title to pin Hendry at 11:13.

Rating: B-. This was another match that went with a pretty obvious plan, as the ending sets up Page for a title shot at Stand & Deliver. After his pretty incredible North American Title reign, that makes all the sense in the world. Throw in Saints coming for the North American Title, they should be good to go for the top two men’s title matches. Not bad for one main event.

We get one more rundown of next week’s big show.

Saints and Page post, though Saints seems to realize that Page did what he couldn’t. Joseph: “Saints just realized that Page did what he couldn’t do.” Yeah that.

Overall Rating: B. There was good action and they took a lot of steps towards setting up Stand & Deliver. That’s what they needed to do here and it worked out well, though there is still a good deal of time left to fill on the way. For now though, they’re off to a good start and the opening triple threat, odd ending aside, was quite fun. Good show this week, which tends to be the case around here.

Results
Sean Legacy and Eli Knight b. Jasper Troy – Double pin
Lexis King/Uriah Connors b. Charlie Dempsey/Tavion Heights – Coronation to Heights
Sol Ruca b. Lainey Reid – Sol Snatcher
Wren Sinclair b. Thea Hail – Final Wrench
Ethan Page/Ricky Saints b. Myles Borne/Joe Hendry – Twisted Grin onto the title to Hendry

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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Vengeance Day 2026
Date: March 7, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s another special event in NXT and that should make for some interesting moments. The main event is NXT Champion Joe Hendry defending against Ricky Saints, but we also have a street fight and the return of NXT Underground. The card has been put together pretty well and hopefully it lives up to the hype. Let’s get to it.

The opening video talks about how everything can change with one look. Tonight, it’s all about vengeance. So shouldn’t it be Vengeance Night? Each match gets its usual look.

Blake Monroe vs. Jaida Parker

Street fight. They slap it out to start and go out to the floor with Parker taking over. A table is loaded up but Parker takes too long, meaning she has to block a double arm DDT. The table is set up some more, only for Monroe to come back with some umbrella shots. The table leads are folded back, meaning the crowd…oh you know what they’re saying. Back in and Monroe loads up a chair in the ropes, only for Parker to drop her onto it face first.

They go back to the floor, where the Hipnotique hits the steps to give a rather angry looking Monroe an opening. Back in and Monroe grabs a kendo stick around the throat for something like a Skull Crushing Finale and a near fall. Parker fights up and slugs away but Monroe grabs her arm and uses it to send Parker face first into the buckle. A running hip attack crushes a chair into Parker in the Tree Of Woe for two, followed by a right hand with…something wrapped around Monroe’s fist.

Monroe uses the stick to grab a crossface, which is broken up rather quickly and Parker is mad. She hammers away with the kendo stick and a Blockbuster sends Monroe out to the floor. Monroe gets in a trashcan lid shot and sets up the table before grabbing a brick. Since picking up a brick takes too long, Monroe gets chaired in the ribs and sent on the table.

That means Parker can hit a middle rope Tear Drop through the table, followed by a Hipnotique for two back inside. Parker gets sent through a kendo stick though and Monroe’s knee to the chest gets two. It’s time to pour out a bag of a bunch of diamonds, with a super hurricanrana driving Parker into the pile. The Glamour Shot onto the diamonds finishes Parker at 13:00.

Rating: B-. Pretty standard street fight here, though I was expecting Parker to win as she is red hot at the moment. At the same time, Monroe certainly needed a win here as she has kind of been floundering. I’m assuming this is the end of their feud, and that could be interesting for both of them, though I’m not sure where they’re going from here.

Ricky Saints asks Ethan Page where he was to help against Joe Hendry last week. Page is sorry but he just lost the North American Title. Eventually Page agrees to help him tonight, but Page seems interested in getting the NXT Title himself.

Darkstate jumps Tony D’Angelo in the parking lot…but it’s not the real D’Angelo. Instead he pops up from behind and jumps them with a crowbar as we’re ready to start.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Dion Lennox

They start fighting in the parking lot, with Lennox being sent through a windshield. The fight goes inside with D’Angelo being smart enough to lock the rest of Darkstate outside. D’Angelo punches a hole in the restroom door but manages to knock a chair out of Lennox’s hand. Darkstate is back though, with D’Angelo and security fighting them off. Lennox almost crushes D’Angelo with a cabinet and they go back to slugging away. D’Angelo drags him back outside where Darkstate is back too.

Lennox loads up a big crowbar shot but OTM and a bunch of the locker room shows up to really get rid of them. D’Angelo tackles Lennox through a wall and they’re FINALLY in the arena. They get inside and sure let’s ring the opening bell. That means another slugout until D’Angelo is sent into the middle buckle. A big boot misses but Lennox is able to choke away on the ropes anyway. Lennox spinebusters him for two but D’Angelo is right back with a release German suplex.

The torture rack neckbreaker and a clothesline put Lennox on the floor, where he fights back again. Lennox can’t manage to crush D’Angelo’s ankle with the steps so he throws D’Angelo over the barricade instead. That doesn’t last long as Lennox superplexes him off said barricade and through the announcers’ table for a big crash. Booker: “Man.” Back in and a slingshot powerbomb gives Lennox two more but D’Angelo cuts him in half with a spear. The big spinebuster finishes for D’Angelo at 7:09.

Rating: B. Well, it certainly felt like a fight, though it’s one of those weird cases where the brawl before the match itself almost got more time. The other thing is that Lennox still doesn’t feel like a big deal. Granted he was more the last option than anything else, as D’Angelo absolutely ran through Darkstate like they weren’t even there. That’s not an awful way to go, though it pretty much ends Darkstate’s experiment as a team that matters. To be fair, they never quite clicked anyway so maybe that’s for the best.

We recap Tatum Paxley challenging Izzi Dame for the Women’s North American Title. They were friends and Paxley won the Women’s Title, only for Dame to turn on her, leaving Paxley betrayed yet again. Then Dame stole the Women’s North American Title (a chainsaw was involved), so Paxley is coming for revenge and the title.

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

Dame, with the Culling, is defending. Paxley jumps at her and hammers away, setting up a sleeper. With that broken up, Paxley dropkicks her outside and followed with some forearms up against the barricade. A flip dive off the steps takes Dame down again but she drops Paxley face first onto the steps. Paxley is right back with a jumping elbow back inside and hammers away in the corner.

The Cemetery Drive is broke up so Paxley grabs some rollups, only to get hit with a hard clothesline. Dame kicks her in the face and stomps away, followed by a basement dropkick. Some Irish whips with knees to the ribs connect for Dame (it worked for Val Venis in No Mercy and it’ll work for her here) and a choke in the corner gets two. The abdominal stretch goes on but Paxley reverses into one of her own. That’s quickly broken up so Paxley goes with the forearms, only to get backbreakered.

Dame grabs a Liontamer (with Shawn Spears coaching her on how to make it work), which is reversed into a Boston crab to send Dame over to the ropes. Back up and a superkick rocks Dame, followed by a German suplex to put her down again. A flipping ax kick gives Paxley two but Dame catches her on top. Dame’s superplex is broken up but she avoids a 450, allowing Dame to hit something like a Claymore for two. They forearm it out until Dame hits a Sky High.

Now the 450 (with Paxley’s knees hitting the mat a bit too early) connects for two but the Cemetery Drive is blocked. Dame kicks her in the head and a flipping belly to back suplex into a cutter plants Paxley for two. That leaves Dame rather distraught on the apron, where Paxley gives her a sunset bomb to the floor (which only looks so great because it’s rather hard to land something like that in one motion).

Paxley sends her inside but stops for a staredown with the Culling, allowing Dame to come back with a Sky High of her own for two. Dame’s gutwrench powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana for two of her own so Spears gets on the apron. Paxley rams them together though and a rollup gets two. Dame’s Codebreaker is countered with a backflip and a rolling Liger kick knocks Dame silly. The Cemetery Drive gives Paxley the pin and the title at 15:35.

Rating: B. That’s exactly how the match should have ended, with Paxley standing up to Dame and beating her clean to win the feud. They had a good match and it got a lot of time, as Dame felt that she should have won through power and athleticism but Paxley stayed in there with pure heart. That’s a great story with the right ending and it’s easy to cheer for someone like Paxley.

OTM didn’t attack Darkstate for Tony D’Angelo’s sake but they appreciate what he’s doing. They’re coming for Darkstate and then the Tag Team Titles.

Here is Robert Stone, who brings out Fatal Influence for a chat. Jacy Jayne promises to walk into Stand & Deliver as Women’s Champion. That’s interesting because she remembers being called a transitional champion not too long ago, but now those voices are a lot more quiet. There were times where she got a bit paranoid because she thought she would be released.

Last year, she was happy to just get in a tag match on the Stand & Deliver Kickoff Show. Now she’s coming in as a dominant champion and she should main event the show. Next year, she can headline Wrestlemania against whomever their precious champion is then. Jayne brags about having Zaria beaten but cue Zaria (in a Sol’s Ex shirt), who blames her loss on Sol Ruca. Fallon Henley doesn’t want to hear this because Zaria can only blame her own jealousy for her issues.

Henley helped Jayne win the Women’s Title but that’s never thrown in her face. Lainey Reid has helped Jayne keep the title so maybe it’s time for Zaria to blame herself. Cue Sol Ruca to interrupt, with threats of snatching souls. She knows how Jayne and Zaria operate and is coming for the Women’s Title. Stone makes a triple threat title match between Zaria, Ruca and Jayne for the upcoming Houston show. Ruca gets triple teamed by Fatal Influence, with Zaria pulling them off. Zaria can’t F5 Jayne but Ruca is in with a Sol Snatcher to Zaria, only to get laid out by Reid. This was a long thing to set up one match in a few weeks.

Lexis King and company ask Charlie Dempsey for an answer and it’s going to be a no. King says it’s time for Dempsey to finally embrace his destiny and the team walks off. Tavion Heights is tired of this and wants a one night NQCC reunion to take them out. Dempsey is in.

We recap Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan in NXT Underground. They both have extensive backgrounds in other sports and Jordan eventually won the TNA Knockouts Title. Vice kicked her out of the locker room, though it’s ok for Vice to go to AAA. That’s not ok with Jordan and they kept arguing over gymnastics vs. MMA. Vice knocked her out but Jordan injured Vice’s hand and actually beat her by submission. Tonight, it’s a much bigger fight in NXT Underground.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

No ropes, wrestlers around the ring, and knockout/submission only to win (it’s basically MMA without judges), with Vice coming in with a bad hand. They go to the mat to start with Vice firing off some left (non injured) hands. Jordan gets smart by going after the hand and ramming it into the post. A release northern lights suplex drops Vice onto her hand again and Jordan stomps down onto it as well. Jordan takes the glove off the bad hand and wraps it around the post again as Vice is in big trouble.

Vice manages to send Jordan face first into the post and some strikes rock Jordan for a change. There’s a German suplex to send Jordan flying and Vice kicks her onto a pile of wrestlers at ringside. Vice goes after the lumberjacks, allowing Jordan to hit a superkick. Hold on though as Jordan goes over to yell at Vice’s father, which is never a good idea. That’s enough for Vice to catch her with one heck of a spinning backfist for the knockout at 6:40.

Rating: C+. I never know how to rate these things as they’re so different than usual matches. It told a good story with the hand being hurt but Vice fighting through the pain and using the hand to knock Jordan out cold. The finish looked great as anyone scoring that kind of a knockout is a great way to go. Awesome finish and Vice looked like a killer in the end.

Stand & Deliver is coming to St. Louis on April 4, two weeks before Wrestlemania Weekend.

Jacy Jayne is panicking over the triple threat so Lainey Reid offers to take out Sol Ruca. Works for Jayne.

We recap Ricky Saints challenging Joe Hendry for the NXT Title. Hendry won the vacant title in a ladder match and Saints is livid, as he doesn’t think Hendry is a true main eventer. They’ve been brawling ever since and it’s time for the title match.

NXT Title: Ricky Saints vs. Joe Hendry

Hendry is defending. Saints slaps away at Hendry’s back to start, earning himself a beating out to the floor. Back in and Saints knocks Hendry into the ropes, with Hendry’s ankle getting tied up. That lets Saints kick him out of the ropes before taking Hendry back inside to keep up the beating. Hendry fights back and grabs a delayed vertical suplex for two before spinning out a suplex attempt.

A neckbreaker puts Saints down but he gets in a shot of his own and tries the strutting Old School. That takes too long as well and Hendry kicks him down for the crotching. They head outside, with Saints sending him hard into the steps for the big crash. Saints’ neckbreaker and a shot to the shoulder gets two and we’re off to the chinlock. With that broken up, Saints hammers away in the corner and sends Hendry outside for an ax handle from the apron.

A belly to back suplex gives Saints two and a slingshot rollup of all things gets the same. Saints puts him in the corner for a running basement dropkick and the kickout has the frustration mounting. The fall away slam and nip up let Saints do the mocking pose, but that’s enough for Hendry to pop up with a spear. Hendry’s fall away slam sends Saints flying and Hendry gets to spin around.

Saints’ hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb for two and now it’s Hendry’s turn to be frustrated. Saints slugs his way up and grabs an Air Raid Crash for two, followed by the crossface. Hendry rolls around enough that Saints has to settle for a guillotine choke and Hendry is on trouble. That doesn’t last long as he powers up and tries a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up as well and Saints scores with a superkick, only to walk into an AA for two. Saints is sat up top for a super fall away slam for two and Hendry is running out of ideas.

Back up and Saints manages a jumping knee into a hammerlock DDT for two of his own. Cue Ethan Page to pick up the title, which distracts Saints enough that Hendry gets two off a rollup. Saints spears him down for two more so Page throws the title in, with the referee taking it away. A low blow and springboard tornado DDT drop Hendry for another near fall so a ticked off Saints just hammers on him. The referee almost gets bumped and Hendry gets in a low blow of his own, allowing the Standing Ovation to retain the title at 16:18.

Rating: B. These guys were trading bombs here and having Page out there made it feel that much more likely that Saints might actually steal the title. At the same time, it lets Hendry get in a big time title defense, which should help make him feel like a more legitimate champion. At the same time, Page feels all but guaranteed for the Stand & Deliver title shot, where we really could see him get the title back. Solid main event here, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Hendry celebrates as the villains leave to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was another solid show with a bunch of grudge matches, some of which happened to have titles on the line. That’s the point of a show like this, as a bunch of the feuds are cleared out on the way to Stand & Deliver next month. That is the clear big goal from here and this did a good job of getting things ready. Nice work here, as NXT is starting to find itself, as it has to do so often.

Results
Blake Monroe b. Jaida Parker – Glamour Shot onto a pile of diamonds
Tony D’Angelo b. Dion Lennox – Spinebuster
Tatum Paxley b. Izzi Dame – Cemetery Drive
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan via knockout
Joe Hendry b. Ricky Saints – Standing Ovation

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

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

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

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

Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cutler James vs. Tony D’Angelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Shiloh Hill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. OTM

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

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

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

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

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

Jaida Parker vs. Nikkita Lyons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Dion Lennox vs. Myles Borne

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

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

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

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

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

Tavion Heights vs. Lexis King

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

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

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

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

Zaria vs. Thea Hail

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Keanu Carver vs. Andre Chase

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Elio LeFleur

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

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

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

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

We look at Keanu Carver wrecking people last week.

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Shiloh Hill vs. Josh Briggs

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

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

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

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

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

Vanity Project vs. Chase U

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look at Unreal Season 2.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Moose vs. Ethan Page

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

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

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

The nominees for Male Superstar Of The Year are:

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

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

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

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

Kendal Grey has been attacked and Wren Sinclair wants help.

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

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

The nominees for Tag Team Of The Year are:

Hank & Tank
Zaruca
The Culling
Fatal Influence
Darkstate

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

Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Of The Year Nominees:

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

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

Swipe Right vs. OTM

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

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

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

Female Star Of The Year Nominees:

Kelani Jordan
Sol Ruca
Tatum Paxley
Blake Monroe
Jacy Jayne

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

We run down next week’s card.

IMG Credit: WWE

Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

Post match Kelani Jordan runs in and beats Vice down.

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

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

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

Video on Eli Knight and Tavion Heights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skylar Ray/Shiloh Hill vs. Arianna Grace/Stacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kelani Jordan yells at the locker room again.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT
Date: December 16, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re in a bit of an interesting place with NXT, as there isn’t a pay per view anytime soon but we are fresh off of Saturday Night’s Main Event, which had a big NXT presence. That should be something to build on for at least tonight if not the upcoming few weeks as we close out the year. That’s in addition to the annual End Of The Year Awards, which get some people rather emotional around here. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of the NXT involvement with Saturday Night’s Main Event, as well as what seemed to be Ricky Saints going evil last week to cost Je’Von Evans the NXT Title.

Evans is waiting for Saints but Ava tries to calm him down.

IMG Credit: WWE

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

Monroe is defending. Hail goes right to the armbar to start but gets taken down with a rather spinning side slam. Back up and Hail kicks her down for a standing moonsault, followed by a running dropkick to send Monroe outside. An exploder suplex has Monroe in more trouble but she armbars Hail over the ropes as we take a break. We come back with Hail hitting a World’s Strongest Slam and the springboard backsplash…for the pin and the title at 7:24? If that was planned, they’re better actresses than I thought.

Rating: C. The match barely had enough time to get anywhere but it seems like the ending didn’t exactly go as it was supposed to. There’s a chance that we got some really screwy booking to change the title, but it feels a lot more like Monroe didn’t/couldn’t kick out in time. Either way, Hail absolutely needed to win something at some point and this checks that box, even if it might not have been supposed to.

Everyone seems REALLY confused as Hail is awarded the title. It looks like Monroe was trying to get her shoulder up but couldn’t, as that definitely seemed like a mistake.

The Culling seems happy with what they’ve done to Tatum Paxley….but Niko Vance seems to be having second thoughts.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat. Page complains about being attacked by Tony D’Angelo and claiming that he can carry an industry on his back. He doesn’t care why D’Angelo attacked him, but D’Angelo needs to get out here right now. Cue Stacks and Arianna Grace, with Stacks saying grace wants some more gold. Like the AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles.

Cue TNA’s Moose of all people and he gets straight to the point: TNA is ticked off and wants something done about Stacks. Therefore it’s Stacks’ lucky day, because Moose wants Page and the North American Title. The match is already set for December 30 and Moose clotheslines him the floor.

Leon Slater wants Je’Von Evans at ringside for his #1 contenders match tonight but Evans is focused on Ricky Saints. Evans eventually agrees.

OTM vs. Hank & Tank

Nima shoves Tank into the corner to start and it’s off to Price, who kicks Tank down. A running stomp gets two but Tank gets over for the tag off to Hank…as an SUV arrives in the back. Nima gets sent into the corner though and some running splashes have Price in trouble. OTM is right back with a double powerbomb and we take a break.

We come back with Tank and Nima trading big shots to the face. Tank’s seated armbar is broken up and a double torture rack slam drops him for two. Tank manages to avoid being sent through the announcers’ table and Swantons Price but Nima is back in for a save. Hank is back in as well and a small package gives him the fast pin at 13:48.

Rating: C+. Well, at least it wasn’t Hank & Tank being Japanese stereotypes like I was worried it might be. The team still doesn’t do much for me but the fans seem to like them and there are worse options. Granted I could still go for OTM getting a push for a change but that’s not going to happen at the moment.

Ricky Saints was in the SUV.

Jasper Troy is fine with Ava’s announcement of another Speed tournament.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints isn’t here to apologize, because he promised to usher in the Absolute Era. He could carry any brand but he wasn’t happy with Je’Von Evans jumping the line to get a title shot. That’s why he had to cut Evans off, because he is tired of being stepped on. Saints told Evans to wait for his turn and now we’re supposed to believe that Evans is better than him? Cue Evans for the brawl but Saints sends him into the steps. Saints lays him out with the Roshambo through the announcers’ table.

Ethan Page complains to Ava about everything going on right now and Chelsea Green comes in to complain as well. Ava says nothing that happened to Green is her fault and gives her a Women’s US Title defense against Sol Ruca (also there, along with Zaria).

Fatal Influence vs. Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair

Jacy Jayne is on commentary. Grey gets sent into the corner to start as Jayne impersonates Booker’s commentary. Sinclair fights back and it’s back to Grey for a front facelock to slow Reid down. It’s back to Sinclair for a butterfly suplex but she goes outside to yell at Jayne. That earns her a quick posting and we take an early break.

We come back with Reid grabbing a Stunner for two on Sinclair but she kicks Reid away. The needed tag brings in Grey to clean house but Shades Of Grey is broken up. Reid’s Blockbuster into a running faceplant from Henley gets two but everything breaks down. Grey gets a cross armbreaker but Jayne gets up for a distraction, earning herself a right hand. Sinclair hits a dive to take the villains out and the cross armbreaker makes Henley tap at 9:36.

Rating: C+. Grey is still establishing herself but it’s pretty clear that she’s going to be a big deal if she can live up to even some of her potential. Having her make Henley tap out is a nice moment and now we get to see if Grey can pull off a miracle win. Other than that, Sinclair getting to be on the winning side is nice to see as well, though that might not last very long.

Thea Hail is very, very excited about her win and says it’s going to say THEA HAIL very soon. Jordynne Grace comes in to congratulate Hail but Blake Monroe comes in to say she kicked out and wants her rematch. Grace doesn’t like the disrespect but Hail is rather excited anyway (shocking I know).

Izzi Dame finds a doll in her locker and knows it’s from Tatum Paxley. Lola Vice tells her to watch out but gets annoyed at Kelani Jordan moving back into the locker room. Vice warns Jordan that gymnastics is nothing like MMA.

Shiloh Hill meets Skylar Raye but Stacks and Arianna Grace come in to complain about earlier. They argue and a mixed tag is set for next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Leon Slater vs. Myles Borne vs. Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox

For the NXT Title shot at New Year’s Evil and Slater’s TNA X-Division Title isn’t on the line. Lennox takes Slater down for an early two before uppercutting Borne in the corner. A powerslam out of said corner gives Borne two but Hendry is back up with a double clothesline. Hendry’s DDT gets two on Slater, who is back up to send Hendry outside for a running flip dive.

A high crossbody gives Slater two on Lennox and Slater rains down some right hands in the corner. Another high crossbody gives Slater another two but he misses a dive to the floor and hurts his knee. Borne is back in with a dropkick to Lennox before Slater is back in, where he’s caught in a powerbomb/top rope clothesline combination. Everyone is down for a breather and we take a break.

We come back with Slater’s leg still banged up but he manages a kick to Borne anyway. Lennox catches Slater on top but Borne breaks it up, leaving Slater to get the best part of a Tower Of Doom for two each. Hendry is back up but can’t hit the Standing Ovation. Slater’s knee is banged up so he somehow manages a one legged Swanton to Lennox. Hendry makes the save and fall away slams Borne and does the same send Lennox flying. Slater is tossed over the top onto Lennox before Hendry plants Borne for two. Hendry and Lennox brawl to the floor, leaving Slater to hit the Swanton 450 to pin Borne at 16:27.

Rating: B. Slater winning (despite his knee injury suddenly being fine at the end) is an interesting choice as he and Oba Femi could have a heck of a fun match. Hendry is another interesting situation, as not only is it odd to have him in developmental, but also that he’s just kind of floating around ala Jordynne Grace. Borne needs something else to do and Lennox is still trying to find himself as a singles star. I’m just not sure if Lennox can find that kind of spot.

Oba Femi comes out for the staredown with Slater to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was one of the shows designed to set up things for later, though it seemed to include a non-planned title change. I’m not sure if that’s what was supposed to happen (if so, well done), but it seems like they’re following up on what they have. I liked what we got here well enough and the next few weeks are starting to come together. Granted I’m not wild on even more TNA/NXT invasions, at least it gives us some fresh matches, which does make for something fun.

Results
Thea Hail b. Blake Monroe – Springboard backsplash
Hank & Tank b. OTM – Small package to Price
Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair b. Fatal Influence – Cross armbreaker to Henley
Leon Slater b. Myles Borne, Joe Hendry and Dion Lennox – Swanton 450 to Borne

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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Evolve
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We’re back to the title picture again as there is a #1 contenders match between PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong for the next shot at Kendal Grey. Well next after next week’s Gold Rush edition of NXT but close enough. Other than that, Jackson Drake has to get ready for Sean Legacy next week so let’s get to it.

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

Kali Armstrong says she’s going to remind PJ Vasa show the real star is around here.

Opening sequence.

Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. OTM

OTM are a surprise set of opponents, as chosen by Timothy Thatcher. Price slams Riggins down to start so it’s quickly off to Presley vs. Nima. An exchange of shoulders goes to Presley, who takes Nima into the corner. It’s back to Riggins for a middle rope ax handle to the shoulder but Nima gets over to Price to fight back. A shinbreaker cuts Price off and it’s time to start kicking at the banged up leg.

Price tries to use one leg to get over for the tag, which works as well as you would expect. A shot to the back cuts him off again but a missed charge allows the needed tag off to Nima for the house cleaning. The running knee gives Nima two with Presley makes the save. Presley is sent outside and Paid In Full finishes Riggins at 6:53.

Rating: C+. This was a pair of hoss teams having a fight and that’s what it should have been. OTM getting the win here is fine as they’re certainly the bigger names of the four, though I could go with Riggins and Presley not losing as often. They’re the kind of big guys who shouldn’t be taking many losses so hopefully they can pick things up a bit.

Post match Timothy Thatcher comes out to point and talk some trash.

Video on PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong.

Zena Sterling vs. Karmen Petrovic

Sterling is from LFG and rather young. She’s trained in a lot of ways, including 24 straight hours on a Stairmaster. She speaks a bit of Ukrainian and we’re ready to go. Hang on as Petrovic says she’s ready and NOW we can get started. Petrovic wins a test of strength to start and grabs a headlock, which is reversed into a wristlock. A suplex sends Petrovic flying and Sterling grabs a chinlock. Back up and Petrovic reverses a tilt-a-whirl slam into a crossbody for two. Eat Defeat staggers Sterling again and a running kick against the ropes connects. The Petrifier finishes Sterling off at 4:58.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one and while Sterling isn’t exactly a seasoned veteran, there wasn’t much to see here. It was a dull match with little in the way of emotion and just kind of came and went. Petrovic is someone who has some cool stuff but it needs something to pull it together.

Tate Wilder is talking to Trill London and wants to be in the Evolve Title picture. They’re ready to go after Swipe Right. Sean Legacy comes in to ask why he wasn’t the partner, but Wilder says London wanted in on things around here, with Legacy saying he understands. With the other two gone, Legacy says he’s going to watch in the VIP section.

We look at Kendal Grey and Lainey Reid getting in a brawl last week on NXT, setting up their Women’s Title match next week at Gold Rush. We also see Sean Legacy being announced as the #1 contender for the Evolve Title.

Tate Wilder/Trill London vs. Swipe Right

Sean Legacy is watching in the VIP Lounge. London jumps over Smokes to start and takes him down with a headlock takeover. Wilder comes in with a slingshot ax handle to Baylor’s arm, followed by the arm being snapped over the top. It’s already back to London, who stays on the arm before a dropkick gets two. Smokes gets in a cheap shot to take London off the top though and Baylor gets to hammer on the chest.

A boot to the face gets two on London and Baylor pounds him down in the corner. London gets an elbow up in the corner though and it’s back to Wilder to clean house. The villains cut him off with a dropkick Hart Attack as everything breaks down. With Swipe Right on the floor, London hits a big flip dive and Wilder adds a top rope trust fall onto all three of them. Back in and the Wildest Ride finishes Baylor at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Wilder seems to be getting a push up the ladder and while that’s a bit of a strange way to go, at least they’re doing something with someone. At the same time, you have the Legacy factor, which is starting to lose a lot of its impact. He doesn’t win much in the way of big matches and that’s going to need to change or having him around isn’t going to mean much for very long.

Arianna Grace is in the VIP Lounge and is here to watch the main event while giving the fans a thrill.

Kali Armstrong runs into Kendal Grey in the back and they seem cool, with Armstrong saying she’s winning tonight and then coming for the title. Works for Grey.

Drake Moureaux is from the swamps of Louisiana and is coming to Evolve.

There’s no show next week but we’ll be back on December 3.

Timothy Thatcher hopes that Harley Riggins and Jax Presley will respect the Evolve talent after what happened earlier. Those guys go out there and work hard, which is what Riggins and Presley will see in two weeks in an ID showcase.

Kali Armstrong vs. PJ Vasa

For a future shot at Kendal Grey, who is in the VIP Lounge with Carlee Bright, as Arianna Grace leaves. They fight over the lockup to start until Vasa runs her over with a shoulder. Armstrong anklescissors her out of the corner and a dropkick sends Vasa outside as we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong hitting a running shoulder to the ribs in the corner, followed by quite the powerful suplex. Vasa drops her again for a quick two and it’s a Samoan drop into a chinlock. Armstrong fights up and strikes away, setting up a powerslam for two. Vasa gets backed into the corner but walks into a poke to the eyes. Something like an AA powerslam finishes Armstrong at 6:20.

Rating: B-. It worked in 2014 with Kevin Owens as Vasa, Pac as Armstrong and Jerry Mathers as Kendal Grey. Vasa is the new force who took out the former champion on her way to a title match. Now just let Grey find a way around the monster and it should make for a nice situation for everyone.

Post match Kendal Grey glares at Vasa but gets jumped by Chantel Monroe, who is challenging her in two weeks.

Jax Presley and Harley Riggins aren’t happy with what happened and make a phone call to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This is starting to feel like one of those older shows as they set things up week to week and find a way to keep you coming back. They’ve got something going here and I continue to enjoy this show more than just about any other weekly series. Now just keep that going with all of the people they have available and it should work for a good while.

Results
OTM b. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins – Paid In Full to Riggins
Karmen Petrovic b. Zena Sterling – Petrifier
Tate Wilder/Trill London b. Swipe Right – Wildest Ride to Baylor
PJ Vasa b. Kali Armstrong – Fireman’s carry powerslam

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

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