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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Evolve
Date: March 11, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg

We’re back to the regular shows after a pair of special editions, but the big stuff is not over. In this case there is some kind of a major announcement, which could be a few different things. Hopefully it lives up to the hype, though there isn’t much of a history of big announcements around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Here is Robert Stone to announce the new Evolve General Manager: Timothy Thatcher. That makes sense, as he has enough credibility and can wrestle if he has to. Thatcher, in what passes for dressing up for him, is thankful but says he’s not a General Manager. Evolve is more like a worksite, so he’s the FOREMAN!

Stone gets to the point: the two Evolve champions are full time NXT stars, so Thatcher says they have to earn their way out. Both of them are going to have one more title defense, called their Final Evolution. If they win, they can vacate the title and leave as champion, but if not, we have a new standard bearer. Tonight, Kendal Grey can defend against Tyra Mae Steele, and next week, Jackson Drake can defend against….and here is Harlem Lewis to say he wants the shot. Thatcher shuts that down immediately, saying he has a match for Lewis right now.

Kendal Grey monologues about leaving Evolve and this will always be her first home. Tonight is different though and she’s staying on top. She’s ready to move on to NXT with momentum. I’m more curious about why all of the labels on the lockers were covered up here.

Harlem Lewis vs. Sam Holloway

Lewis charges at him but gets knocked down, only to put Holloway on the floor. Some hard shots stagger Holloway, who picks Lewis up and launches him at the post. Back in and Holloway’s springboard elbow gets two, followed by a shotgun dropkick for the same. The double arm crank goes on but Lewis is right back out. A middle rope elbow hits a standing Holloway’s back and Holloway misses a splash in the corner. Holloway’s spinning Rock Bottom gets two but a chokeslam is countered with a jumping knee to the face. The Boom Slang finishes for Lewis at 5:52.

Rating: C+. Lewis continues his roll and Holloway continues to look like quite the power brawler. This was two big guys beating each other up until Lewis got the win, which worked rather well for both of them. Lewis almost has to get the title match next week, as there aren’t many other options out there.

Luca Crusifino is now rather smiley and seems obsessed with dance music. He even has a bunch of friendship bracelets and talks about “vibing on the frequency of friendship and fun.” That’s…different and that’s as positive as I can be.

Tyra Mae Steele is rather excited about her title shot because she’s a different kind of amateur wrestler. She’s ready to have her name etched in the history books as the next Evolve Women’s Champion. Steele still isn’t great at this talking thing, but she’s trying.

Harley Riggins vs. Trill London

Kam Hendrix is here with Riggins and we’re told that Tate Wilder, who is not medically cleared, has been forced out of the building. London armdrags him down a few times and grabs an armbar. Riggins reverses into a wristlock of his own but gets wristdragged out to the floor. A dropkick through the ropes connects and a flip dive takes out Riggins and Hendrix. Back in and Riggins bounces him off the top rope, setting up a German suplex. London fights up and sweeps the leg, setting up some running flip dives to the back. Hendrix offers a distraction though and it’s a TKO to finish London at 3:38.

Rating: C. I love a good TKO so the finish looked great. Other than that though, this wasn’t the most thrilling match with London not getting to show much of his great athleticism. He feels like someone who they want to be a big prospect but it hasn’t happened just yet. At least Riggins and Hendrix get to stick together, which makes for a nice pairing.

Post match Hendrix and Riggins are happy with their win but Dante Chen comes out to say he doesn’t like what they’re doing. He respects the ID talent and seems to want a match.

Timothy Thatcher is blinded by a flashlight and is surprised by Aaron Rourke. He believes that opportunities are earned around here and the ID Program won the ten man tag. Rourke believes he’s earned a shot and represents the ID Program, so it’s time for him to stand up and get an opportunity. He wants the title shot to keep the title in Evolve, though Thatcher thinks Harlem Lewis makes a compelling argument. But his time can come, because Rourke gets the shot next week. I wasn’t betting on that one and it still works.

Women’s Title: Tyra Mae Steele vs. Kendal Grey

Grey is defending in her final match in Evolve. They go with amateur wrestling to start with Steele getting a waistlock. Back up and they fight over a hiptoss until settling for an armdrag out of the corner. Grey gets whipped hard into the corner and a belly to belly puts her down. A baseball slide puts Grey on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Grey getting caught in something like an STF. Grey fights up but gets taken down with a gutwrench suplex and Steele does it again. Steele runs her over and puts on the reverse chinlock, which doesn’t last as long. Back up and another gutwrench suplex doesn’t work, setting up stereo crossbodies to leave both of them down.

Grey is up out of the corner with some elbows to the face and there’s a suplex. The straps come down and Grey goes up top, where she knocks Steele back down. Steele is right back with an Angle Slam for two and they both need a breather. They trade rollups for two each until Grey grabs a quick Shades Of Grey to retain at 12:16.

Rating: B-. This match had one of the best possible aspects, as I didn’t know who was going to win. I could have definitely seen Grey taking a loss to wrap up her time in Evolve and make Steele into an instant star. At the same time, it’s clear that WWE knows they have something special with Grey and they want to protect her. Good enough main event here, as Steele is slowly starting to put it together.

Post match Grey thanks the crowd and hands the title to Timothy Thatcher before leaving.

We get a long video on Grey to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: C+. The ending was the best part of the show, as Grey came off like a star, again. At the same time, Thatcher is an interesting choice for the new boss role and hopefully it works out long term. This was about setting up a new era of Evolve and also acknowledging that the point of this place is for people to move up. Grey and Drake both have to do it and that’s going to create some new openings, which is the entire point. That’s going to take some time, but they took the first steps here.

Results
Harlem Lewis b. Sam Holloway – Boom Slang
Harley Riggins b. Trill London – TKO
Kendal Grey b. Tyra Mae Steele – Shades Of Grey

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

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NXT
Date: 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:

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

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

It’s time for the last show before Vengeance Day and the pay per view card has mostly been set. Odds are this is going to be a show about furthering the stories that have already been set up, which is what a go home show is supposed to be. That’s in addition to the Women’s Title being on the line so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap, featuring last week’s three title changes and Zaria turning on Sol Ruca.

Here is Myles Borne for his championship celebration (complete with the classic red strap on the belt). He heard that announcement loud and clear but he’s not here to talk about his sob story because we’ve all been there. Instead, he wants to thank his biggest hater for doubting him: Ethan Page. All that did was unleash a demon inside of Borne, and can you hear him now?

Cue Page, who heard the thank you from Borne, meaning it’s time for a thank you. Page had one bad night but he’s had quite a few great nights. Borne is down for the rematch but here is Robert Stone to cut it off. Actually never mind as we’re getting a referee so the match is on right now.

North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page

Borne is defending and they’re both in suits. They start the brawl fast with the shirts being ripped open as they go outside. Borne drives him over the announcers’ table for a big crash and we take a break. We come back with Borne hitting a dropkick and Page pulling out something for a cheap shot and a near fall. Page loses his pants and gets caught in an ankle lock. That’s broken up as Page loses a shoe, which Borne uses for a cheap shot, setting up Borne Again to retain at 7:04.

Rating: C+. The best thing I can say about this is that it was different, which made things more interesting in this case. I wasn’t exactly expecting them to have the match in street clothes but it’s better than doing the same stuff over and over again. Borne gets to put Page behind him and while another match is possible for Vengeance Day, this very well may be it for the feud.

Zaria doesn’t want to talk about what happened last week.

Darkstate is waiting for Tony D’Angelo in the parking lot but Robert Stone says they have to go inside. As they leave, D’Angelo arrives and pulls a crowbar out of his trunk.

Here is a ticked off Blake Monroe for a chat. She was expecting to feel rage and anger when Jaida Parker kept costing her things. The reality is Parker needs her and all Parker has done is confirm Monroe’s value. People love to obsess over her and Parker is someone who is obsessed with emotions. The fastest way to relevancy is to come after Monroe, which is why Monroe is going to take care of Parker at Vengeance Day.

Cue Parker, who needs to slap the taste out of Monroe’s mouth. The Glamour is insecure, which isn’t the case with Parker. Monroe has been a supporting character all her life and the reality is she needs Parker. At Vengeance Day, Parker is going to prove that Monroe is soft. If you take away the glamour, all you have is a mediocre b****. The brawl is on with Monroe being cleared out.

The Vanity Project apologizes to not being there for Ethan page but Ricky Saints tells them to worry about the Evolve Title match tomorrow night. The Project leaves and Saints is off to prep as well. Page is annoyed but understanding.

Sean Legacy congratulates Elio LeFleur on his Speed Title win. Jasper Troy comes in to say he wants a triple threat rematch next week.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Wren Sinclair vs. Nikkita Lyons

Kendal Grey is here with Sinclair. Lyons fires off the kicks to start but Sinclair is back with a shot to the ribs. Lyons’ release fisherman’s suplex gets two so Sinclair chops away, setting up a running clothesline. A dropkick puts Lyons on the floor but she’s back in with a great looking spinning kick to the face. Lyons is sent shoulder first into the post though and a Final Wrench (Cattle Mutilation) makes her tap at 2:56.

Joe Hendry congratulates Myles Borne on his win last week, though he says listening to Ricky Saints makes him wish he was deaf too. Borne teases being annoyed by they’re fine.

Kelani Jordan is training for NXT Underground with Shayna Baszler.

We get a sitdown interview with Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame, complete with the dollhouse. Paxley brings up winning the Women’s Title but Dame talks about stealing the title. Dame blames Paxley for losing everyone because she is pathetic and incapable of being fixed. Paxley promises to win on Saturday and prove that she was never meant to be played with. She leaves, with Dame breaking the dollhouse.

Vanity Project vs. Hank & Tank/Shiloh Hill

The Project gets jumped in the aisle to start fast and we take a break before the opening bell. We come back joined in progress and Drake in trouble in the corner. Hill’s running shoulder puts him down again but Smokes comes in to take over in the corner. Cue Keanu Carver to yell at Booker T., saying keep his name out of his mouth.

Smokes gets sent into Tank’s exposed stomach and the good guys clear the ring to quite the positive reception. Baylor comes in off a blind tag and it’s back to Drake for a knee drop. That’s shrugged off and it’s back to Tank as everything breaks down again. Tank gets pulled to the floor though and crushed with the steps as we take a break.

We come back with Tank making a diving tag to Hill so he can take the tooth out. A double backsplash gets two and it’s back to Drake, who gives Hank something close to a Burning Hammer. Drake gets dropped with a Boss Man Slam and Hank & Tank hit stereo dives on the floor. Hill’s pop up neckbreaker gets the pin at 12:36.

Rating: B-. They had an energetic match here with some people who have been having some issues in recent weeks. The Project has fit in well around here thus far, even with their less than strong in-ring abilities. That’s the entire point of the team though and it’s working out well, as it’s fun to see them get beaten up.

Blake Monroe pops up on the announcers’ table, swearing to end it with Jaida Parker at Vengeance Day…in a street fight. Parker runs out and they both have to be held back.

Osiris Griffin has been attacked and Dion Lennox is going to call out Tony D’Angelo.

Lola Vice is told she still needs time to have her hand heal and she needs time off. She won’t do it, despite warnings that it could get worse, even permanently.

Here is Dion Lennox to call Tony D’Angelo out. D’Angelo pops up in the crowd, saying that Darkstate took out a dangerous man but a more dangerous man is here. The challenge is on for Vengeance Day but Lennox wants it in the parking lot. D’Angelo is in.

Jacy Jayne thinks Sol Ruca is here for the main event. The rest of Fatal Influence understands their assignment: get Jayne to Stand & Deliver.

Myles Borne thanks the No Quarter Catch Crew for their help, who say they’re spinning their wheels. Lexis King and company come in to tell Charlie Dempsey that the clock is ticking, with Tavion Heights not being happy about Dempsey even considering this.

Women’s Title: Zaria vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is defending. Zaria looks at the seconds to start and gets jumped from behind. That’s shrugged off and Zaria chokes in the corner, with Jayne rolling out to the floor. Jayne sends her into the steps and we take an early break. We come back with Zaria hitting a superplex to leave both of them down.

Zaria’s running elbows in the corner set up a suplex and clothesline for two as frustration sets in. Jayne is back with a running knee for two of her own but the Rolling Encore is cut off with a spear. Back up and the Rolling Encore drops Jayne and here is Sol Ruca to take out Fatal Influence. Ruca comes in and hits a double Sol Snatcher for the double DQ at 10:50.

Rating: B-. This was a question of when Ruca was going to interfere rather than would she debut, which is ok as it makes sense for the story they’re telling. The triple threat title match is set for either this weekend or next week, and that’s a good way to go. If nothing else, Jayne retaining the title is nice to see, as it seems a bit too soon for her to lose the belt.

The fans aren’t sure about that and sing something, even as Ruca belt shots Reid’s hands.

Vengeance Day rundown.

Robert Stone talks about…something involving the Women’s Title that I can’t understand as the feed screws up.

Here is Ricky Saints for his Experience. He’s a musician, actor and wrestler so he’s here to one up Joe Hendry’s concerts. The first song isn’t exactly great music and involves lyrics about how he believes in himself. Ah apparently that was just mocking Hendry’s style so he requests a stagehand give him a chair. Saints sings a similar song before needing his mic fixed, allowing him to sing about how you should NOT believe in Hendry.

Actually he needs an entirely new guitar so here is one…as held by Hendry himself. The Vanity Project runs in for the beatdown so here is Myles Borne for the quick save. The champions pose to end the show. This wasn’t a great segment as we got the joke pretty fast, but the closing brawl was good.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling was just ok here, but the important part was having the focus on Vengeance Day. What matters the most is that the card is set and has been built up well, which should make for a good event. I’m not sure how well it’s going to go, but they’ve laid the groundwork and that’s a good sign. NXT is still in a transitional phase and now we get to see how well that has gone with their first big test, which they very well could pass.

Results
Myles Borne b. Ethan Page – Borne Again
Wren Sinclair b. Nikkita Lyons – Final Wrench
Hank & Tank/Shiloh Hill b. Vanity Project – Pop up neckbreaker to Drake
Zaria vs. Jacy Jayne went to a double DQ when Sol Ruca interfered

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

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NXT
Date: February 24, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re closing in on Vengeance Day and that means it’s time to get the rest of the card together. Joe Hendry is already set to defend the NXT Title against Ricky Saints, which should make for a good showdown. Other than that we might gt some more title matches announced tonight so let’s get to it.

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

Robert Stone welcomes us to the show and runs down the card.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Vanity Project

The Project is challenging. Smokes runs away from Griffin to start and hands it off to Baylor, who can’t get a slam. It’s already back to Smokes, who gets caught in the corner and slammed down. Baylor comes back in and gets neckbreakered by Shuggars, with a big boot from Griffin getting two. Baylor’s rollup doesn’t get anything as Griffin comes back in off a blind tag and sends the Project outside.

We take a break and come back with Shuggars in the corner but a double suplex is broken up. Shuggars fights out and brings in Griffin for a double chokeslam. Smokes comes back in off a blind tag and gets two off a rollup. Everything breaks down and Jackson Drake puts Baylor’s foot on the rope to break up a cover. That brings out the rest of Darkstate…which allows Tony D’Angelo to toss Shuggars onto the apron. Baylor comes in and collapses onto Shuggars for the pin and the titles at 11:53.

Rating: C+. The point here is that the Project is pretty terrible in the ring but keep escaping with wins, including this one for the titles. That’s something that has been done for years and it works again here. Again, the point of a lot of this stuff is to bring in some fresh names to NXT and a pretty boy tag team has worked for years.

Myles Borne talks about how he has always overcome the odds and he’ll do it again when he wins the North American Title.

IMG Credit: WWE

Keanu Carver vs. Sean Legacy

Legacy starts fast by knocking Carver outside, where Carver cuts off a suicide dive with a forearm to the face. Back in and Carver hammers away, including a big right hand to drop him again. A backbreaker and gorilla press toss have Legacy down again and it’s time to head outside. Carver charges into a superkick though, allowing Legacy to hit a springboard 450 for two. Sliced Bread is shoved off though and Carver gives him a Pounce. That and something like a Jackhammer finish Legacy at 4:16.

Rating: C. The point here was to make Carver look like a monster and that was exactly what happened. He absorbed everything Legacy threw at him and won in dominant fashion. That’s all it needed to be and Carver looks like a monster. Legacy looks like someone who should be a star but almost never wins anything, which is pretty on point for him thus far.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey agree to support each other when Kelani Jordan comes in to brag about making Lola Vice tap. Cue Vice for the pull apart brawl.

Speed Title: Elio LeFleur vs. Eli Knight vs. Jasper Troy

Troy is defending and there is a seven minute time limit. Both of the challengers are sent outside to start fast so Troy can throw them back inside. That doesn’t last long as it’s already back to the floor, where Troy is sent into the steps. Back in and Knight’s dropkick into a top rope moonsault (with Knight jumping from the floor to the top) for two on LeFleur.

Troy is back up to drop both of them again, including a toss powerbomb to send LeFleur into Knight. A chokeslam gives Troy two on LeFleur but he and Knight go up top to knock Troy out to the floor. Back in and Troy gets knocked off the top, followed by a DDT to send Knight into the apron. A 450 gets two on Troy, with Knight making the save. LeFleur’s hurricanrana driver plants Troy and Knight adds a moonsault, with LeFleur stealing the pin and the title at 5:50.

Rating: B-. The speed part was right and I liked this more than most of the speed matches. The problem with the usual matches is you just don’t have enough time, which wasn’t exactly the case here. I like LeFleur getting the title as well, as he has stood out in his few matches thus far. Go with someone new and see what he can do, which is what we’re getting here.

Ricky Saints brags about his acting debut on Wildcards but he’s worried about Ethan Page’s ankle. Page is fine for tonight and the Vanity Project come in to celebrate their title win. Saints promises to help Page retain.

We get a video on Joe Hendry, where he talks about how hard he worked to get here, including building himself up with his music video parodies. Then the world changed with Covid but he never gave up and became what you see today. These are good bio videos, as they give you a more personal connection to the people.

We get a similar video on Damian Priest, who learned how to be a star in NXT, which helped prepare him for the main roster. This works as well, with the idea of showing that the people you’re watching here can be the WWE stars of the future.

Darkstate is ticked off but Lola Vice comes in to steal the camera and storm into Robert Stone’s office. Vice wants an NXT Underground match with Kelani Jordan and it’s on for Vengeance Day.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Title: Sol Ruca vs. Jacy Jayne

Ruca, with Zaria, is challenging and Jayne has the rest of Fatal Influence in her corner. We get the Big Match Intros…and Zaria jumps Ruca before the bell. The spear and F5 leave Ruca laying but she says she can go, meaning the Rolling Encore retains the title at 6 seconds.

Post match Zaria F5’s Ruca onto the announcers’ table. That’s a good turn, as they did it in the big spot where Zaria cost Ruca the most. The post match beating made it even better so nice job here.

Tatum Paxley, in the crowd, talks about twisting herself into knots to find love and she got so close to making someone stay. Then the people took her in and accepted the real her, which is why she’s going to win the North American Title for them. She wants to face Izzi Dame one more time so here is Dame for another argument, which is cut off by an entrance.

Women’s Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail

Monroe clothesline her down for an early two but Hail is back with the World’s Smallest Slam (that’s adorable). Monroe is knocked outside and cue Jaida Parker with a Hipnotique to knock her silly, allowing Hail to hit a running neckbreaker for the pin at 1:07.

We get more of the Joe Hendry video, as he rises up the TNA ranks, gets the #1 song on iTunes in UK, and starts making appearances in WWE. This includes wrestling at Wrestlemania last year and then he came here full time to become the NXT Champion.

Uriah Connors vs. Kale Dixon

They slug it out to start fast and Dixon misses a dive to the floor. He’s fine enough to cut off a dive but Connors knocks him down for an early two. Dixon rolls him up for two and they slug it out in the middle. A Stundog Millionaire stuns Dixon for two but he sends Connors outside for a crash. Back in and a twisting top rope splash gives Dixon two but Connors knees him in the head for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: B-. Now this felt like a match between two people who were given a chance and made the most of it. That’s nice to see, as they were working hard throughout the match and made it work pretty well. I’m not sure what’s next for either of them, but there is nothing wrong with trying something like this for a change.

We look back at Zaria turning on Sol Ruca.

Zaria tells Jacy Jayne that she wants a title shot next week, with threats of violence being enough to make it happen.

The Vanity Project praises Ricky Saints on his acting debut. Saints has a concert planned for next week and leaves to prep. The Project wants to help Ethan Page retain tonight but Hank & Tank and Shiloh Hill come in, apparently having stolen the Project’s steering wheel. A brawl is on and quickly broken up.

Video on Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page for the latter’s North American Title. Borne is trying to get his first big win and Page convinced him to get a bit more physical. This involved Pillmanizing Page’s ankle after the title match was made.

Robert Stone runs down next week’s card. Izzi Dame comes in to say she’ll go face to face with Tatum Paxley next week as well.

North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending and comes in favoring his ankle. They slug it out to start with Borne getting the better of things, including a DDT on the bad ankle. A shinbreaker and suplex get two on Page, who kicks out of an ankle crank. Page grabs a neckbreaker but gets sent outside for a baseball slide. Back up and Page grabs the Ego’s Edge onto the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Borne getting two off a fisherman’s buster, followed by a Nightmare On Helm Street for the same. Page superkicks him into another Ego’s Edge for two and frustration is setting in. Borne is knocked into the corner and taken up top for the top rope superplex and a near fall.

As usual, Page takes too much time and gets caught in the Borne Again, which brings out the Vanity Project. A belt shot gives Page a very close two as Hank & Tank and Shiloh Hill come out to take out the Project. Cue Ricky Saints, which brings out Joe Hendry to cut him off. Page pulls a turnbuckle pad off and tries the Twisted Grin, only to get sent into the buckle. Borne Again gives Borne the pin and the title at 13:40.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here, with Borne overcoming the odds and finally reaching his goal. That was where Page’s rather impressive title reign should have ended and the whole thing worked out. Page is probably on his way to the title picture, or the main roster, and he has certainly earned it by this point. On the other hand you have Borne, who got to have his great moment which did work well. He’s an easy star to like and this went well enough.

Overall Rating: B. Well that was a lot. This show was absolutely packed up and down the lineup and that made it feel extra special. The key thing here was that it was basically throwing a bunch of stuff/names out there and giving them their chance to shine. Given the amount of star power the promotion lost in the last few months, that is something that needs to happen. It worked here, but you can’t do this kind of show very often. I liked the frantic nature, but we’ll have to see how it goes when things settle down. For now though, nice all over the place episode.

Results
Vanity Project b. Darkstate – Spinebuster onto the apron to Shuggars
Keanu Carver b. Sean Legacy – Suplex slam
Elio LeFleur b. Jasper Troy and Eli Knight – Moonsault to Troy
Jacy Jayne b. Sol Ruca – Rolling Encore
Thea Hail b. Blake Monroe – Running neckbreaker
Uriah Connors b. Kale Dixon – Running knee
Myles Borne b. Ethan Page – Borne Again

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

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

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

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

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

Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cutler James vs. Tony D’Angelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Shiloh Hill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

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

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

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

Blake Monroe vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT Title: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

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

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

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

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

Post match Ricky Saints runs in and lays Hendry out.

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Hank & Tank vs. Vanity Project

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

Here’s what else is coming next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Wren Sinclair/Kendal Grey vs. Sol Ruca/Zaria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shiloh Hill gives a quick rundown of his competition tonight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chase U vs. Stacks/Lexis King

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hendry celebrates to end the show.

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

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

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

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Genesis 2026
Date: January 17, 2026
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

It’s the first pay per view of the year and it’s coming off the heels of a less than well received Impact debut on AMC. The main event was made that night, as new World Champion Mike Santana will defend against Frankie Kazarian in a Texas Deathmatch, with Nic Nemeth as guest referee. Granted that announcement didn’t make air, but that’s what social media is for these days. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: International Title: KJ Orso vs. Eric Young vs. BDE vs. Stacks

Stacks, with Arianna Grace, is defending and you might know Orso better as an unmasked Fuego del Sol. Stacks jumps BDE to start fast and Young follows BDE outside. That leaves Orso to take over in the corner, including a slingshot to send Stacks to the floor. We pause for Young to yell at some fans but BDE jumps him from behind. Stacks decks BDE and steals his phone for some live streaming, only for BDE to take Stacks down with a dive.

Orso gets in a knockdown of his own and stops to pose with BDE, with Rehwoldt not being pleased. The villains get hammered in the corner but fight back without too much trouble. BDE forearms his way back and Codebreakers Stacks, much to the fans’ delight. Orso is back up to cutter BDE as a handful of fans try a THIS IS AWESOME chant. The Orso Driver gets two on BDE with Stacks getting back up. BDE’s springboard cutter drops Stacks, only for Young to come back with a neckbreaker. Young piledrives Orso, only for Stacks to toss him outside and steal the retaining pin at 6:22.

Rating: C+. This was pretty by the book, with the ending being about what I was expecting with the story of Stacks having the deck, uh, stacked against him. That’s a fine way to go and this was a perfectly acceptable way to get the fans warmed up. Unfortunately it’s part of the battling authority figures, which doesn’t exactly bode well.

Santino Marella isn’t pleased but Daria Rae comes in to tell him to shut up. If Marella is going to make a match based on emotion, Rae might have to do something similar.

Here is the Personal Concierge to introduce the Elegance Brand, including Mr. Elegance. The Concierge does not think much of the way the fans around here smell. The Brand will not be wrestling tonight, but they will be sitting in the front row for this next match.

Kickoff Show: Indi Hartwell/Vicki Venuto vs. Mila Moore/Tessa Blanchard

The Elegance Brand is at ringside and Robert Stone/Victoria Crawford are here with the villains. Blanchard allows Venuto to grab a headlock to start and doesn’t like how aggressive things get. It’s off to Hartwell for a suplex so Venuto can get two, only to have her get taken into the wrong corner. Moore works on Venuto’s leg and the pace slows way down, with Moore and Blanchard taking turns with knees to said leg.

Back up and Blanchard slaps her in the face in the corner. That’s enough for Venuto to fight out of trouble and bring in Hartwell to clean house. Everything breaks down and Stone offers a distraction, allowing Crawford to crotch Venuto. Hartwell goes after them but gets into it with the Brand, leaving Blanchard to hit the Buzzsaw DDT for the pin at 7:51.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one, as there were so many people floating around and a lot of it was just slow motion work on Venuto’s leg. It doesn’t help that Venuto is brand new and Hartwell is only so good on her best day. Moore has a great look and putting her with Blanchard isn’t a bad idea. I’m curious to see where that winds up going so it’s certainly a start.

And now the show proper.

Romeo Vaughn sings the National Anthem.

The opening video is mainly a recap of the AMC debut, which serves as a preview for the pay per view.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling/Darryl Stewart

AJ Francis vs. Rich Swann

Swann has to fight out of an early Down Payment attempt and knocks Francis into the corner for some right hands. Francis gets knocked to the floor, where he can’t hit a Down Payment onto the apron. Back in and Swann’s handspring elbow is chopped out of the air and a crossbody is countered into a toss AA to send Swann flying.

Francis knocks him outside again for nine and the frustration is clearly setting in. Swann grabs a jawbreaker so Francis kicks him in the face for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Swann fires off his own kicks, setting up a cartwheel splash. A 450 gives Swann two so Francis knocks him down, only for a moonsault to be broken up. Swann bites him in the face to knock Francis back down but Francis Pounces Swann out of the air in a big crash.

Another Down Payment attempt is blocked so Francis grabs a Styles Clash for two more. Somehow Swann is back with a Canadian Destroyer into a splash for two of his own as Francis is in trouble. Another handspring is cut off though and a reverse Down Payment sets up the regular version for the pin on Swann at 12:14.

Rating: C+. This was a good example of a match where they didn’t make things too complicated. Swann wanted to put Francis out and used his speed but couldn’t get around the size and power. That’s a fine way to go as it’s about as classic of a wrestling story as you’ll get. Francis might not be the top star in the company, but he’s good at what he does.

We run down the card.

We look at Mike Santana regaining the World Title.

Mike Santana hopes Frankie Kazarian is coming for the fight of his life, because that’s what Santana is bringing this week. His daughter is glad he’s back and tonight he’ll show why he is the realest to ever do it.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling, Darryl Stewart

Elijah vs. Mustafa Ali

Order 4 is here with Ali, who is mad that Elijah tied him to a horse and rode away. Elijah takes out the Great Hands to start and goes after Ali, sending him hard into the corner. Ali tries to pick up the pace but walks into a sitout powerbomb for an early two. They go outside with Elijah chopping away before taking out the Great Hands again. This time it’s enough of a distraction for Ali to get in a cheap shot to take over for the first time.

Back in and Ali cranks on the arm but gets leveraged out to the floor. Ali is right back with the rolling neckbreaker and they slug it out until Elijah shrugs off a superkick. One heck of a clothesline drops Ali, followed by a jumping knee for two. Back up and Ali grabs a Death Valley Driver for two of his own but Elijah hits a quick Highwayman’s Farewell.

Ali bridges out before he passes out, which is a bit of a stretch but at least it looked cool. Elijah loads up a super Highwayman’s Farewell but Ali slips out and hits a dropkick. That’s fine with Elijah, who hits a super chokebomb but Special Agent Zero pulls the referee. The Great Hands are ejected as well, leaving Tasha Steelz to grab the guitar. Elijah goes after her but gets guitared in the back by Ali for the pin at 9:35.

Rating: C+. Ali’s push continues and I’m wondering what the next step is for him. It wouldn’t be out of the question to have him move into the main event scene, though I’m not sure I can imagine TNA pulling the trigger in that direction. Elijah fighting against a group of villains isn’t a bad thing, though in theory he’s going to want revenge.

We recap Eddie Edwards vs. JDC. They’re old friends but it’s JDC’s last match and he has requested to face Edwards, who accepted.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling/Darryl Stewart

JDC vs. Eddie Edwards

They come out at the same time to the same music in a nice touch. JDC (in Terry Funk style tights) tries an early rollup to start fast and Edwards applauds him. They fight over arm control to no avail so it’s time to run the ropes, with JDC hitting a dropkick. The armdrag into an armbar doesn’t last long as Edwards is back up with a clothesline. JDC’s snap powerslam gets two but Edwards catches him with an enziguri on top.

A super hurricanrana sends JDC outside and there’s the required suicide dive. JDC is back up with a drop onto the apron, followed by a nice spinwheel kick back inside to put both of them down. A running boot to the face sends Edwards outside and JDC is back up with a running flip dive to drop him again. Back in and a slingshot legdrop gives JDC two and a Falcon Arrow gets the same.

JDC charges into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two and we hit the chinlock. With that broken up, Edwards dives into a Liontamer, followed by a Codebreaker to give JDC two. They go up top with JDC grabbing a super Air Raid Crash for two more. Edwards is back with the Boston Knee Party for two, setting up the Diehard Driver. Another Boston Knee Party (with JDC telling him to do it) finishes JDC’s career at 17:12.

Rating: B. I’m really not sure what to say here, as the match was good enough, but it was just kind of a match. There was little in the way of heat or anything beyond two friends having a pretty good match. JDC isn’t exactly someone you think of getting a big sendoff, so while it was entertaining, it gets more of a “well, ok then” reaction.

Post match the System comes out to give JDC the big sendoff. JDC thanks the fans and commentary before leaving.

We recap Mara Sade vs. Ryan Nemeth in an intergender match. Well kind of as we’re told there is an issue and then go to the intros. Basically Sade keeps superkicking him, including after Nemeth hit on her.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling/Darryl Stewart

Ryan Nemeth vs. Mara Sade

Nemeth shoves her into the corner to start and quickly flips her away to escape a sleeper. The threat of a superkick sends Nemeth outside and Sade is right there with a dive. Back in and Nemeth sweeps the leg out so Sade slaps him in the face. Nemeth gyrates a bit and threatens a right hand, earning himself a tornado DDT. Nemeth counters a sunset flip into a rollup and grabs the rope for two, with the referee catching the cheating. Sade goes up but Nemeth dropkicks her down and grabs the rope for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C-. Uh…ok then. I’m not sure what that was, as Sade got in a bit of offense but then got beaten with a quickly dropkick and some cheating. That’s all there was going on here and it wasn’t even entertaining. This felt like it should have been a big comedy match but instead it just kind of came and went. Weird choice here.

Stacks and Arianna Grace aren’t worried about Santino Marella and tell him to worry about losing his job instead.

Knockouts Title: Zaria vs. Lei Ying Lee

Lee is defending with Zaria serving as a replacement for Dani Luna, who had visa issues, and Sol Ruca/Xia Brookside are here as the seconds. Zaria goes with the power to start but Lee is back with a few kicks. Some choking in the corner drops Lee for two and it’s off to something like a Texas Cloverleaf.

Lee reverses into an STF, which is broken up so Lee strikes her into the corner instead. Some right hands in the corner have Zaria in more trouble but she’s able to block Warrior’s Way. Lee loads up a choke but Zaria reverses into a cannonball into the corner. They head out to the apron to strike it out, with Zaria driving her back first onto said apron.

Cue the Elegance Brand to watch as Zaria hits a spear into an F5, with the referee getting bumped. The Brand runs in so Brookside and Ruca cut them off for a brawl into the back. With them four of them gone, Zaria goes up top but gets caught with a super hurricanrana. They slug it out until another F5 is countered into a DDT. The Warrior’s Way retains the title at 14:23.

Rating: B. They were in a very tough spot here with a cold match (not their fault, as Zaria was a last minute replacement) and managed to turn it into something pretty good. While I usually don’t like all of the shenanigans, it makes sense to have the interference this time, as there was nothing else going on with the match. Zaria needs to win something sooner than later, though a heel turn doesn’t feel crazy either.

Post match Elayna Black comes out to suggest she’s next in line for the title.

Nic Nemeth talks about how his ten count decides who walks away with World Title.

We recap the Righteous challenging the Hardys for the Tag Team Titles. The Righteous came in acting like they were really friendly but it seems they want to take/replace the Hardys. Then they got violent on Impact (including a chain through Jeff’s gauge) to make it a bit more traditional.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling/Darryl Stewart

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Righteous

The Hardys are defending and pull the Righteous outside to start the brawl on the floor. They fight until Matt and Vincent start things off with Matt taking him down and hammering away. Jeff comes in with a slingshot legdrop and Poetry In Motion makes it worse. Matt adds the Side Effect for two but Dutch grabs him from the apron.

Dutch comes in for some elbows in the corner, setting up Vincent’s running Downward Spiral for two. Matt manages a desperation Twist Of Fate to Dutch, allowing the tag off to Jeff. That means something like a weird reverse full nelson twist (it’s hard to describe), followed by the Plot Twist for two. Dutch trips Matt from the floor though and the villains take over again.

A Twist Of Fate into the Swanton gets two on Jeff, with Matt making the save. Dutch’s apron legdrop to the floor misses Jeff for a big crash, leaving Matt to go after Vincent. Hold on though as Vincent backs away, with Dutch saying this is what they wanted: to hurt. Matt has had enough of this and it’s the Twist Of Fate into the Swanton to finish Vincent and retain at 12:40.

Rating: C+. The Righteous feel like another team of wannabe cult guys and that’s only going to go so far. While they might stick around, this feels like the height of what they’re doing, though odds are we’ll get a violent rematch. At the same time, someone has to take the titles from the Hardys and I have no idea who is supposed to do that at this point.

We look at Leon Slater not being able to win the US Title on Smackdown. Slater can’t be here due to visa issues (fair) but he wants to thank Joe Hendry for taking his place in the triple threat. He’ll defend the title as soon as he can get back.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling/Darryl Stewart

Joe Hendry vs. Moose vs. Cedric Alexander

Hendry is replacing Slater so it’s just a triple threat with nothing on the line. Moose starts fast to clean house but Hendry snaps off a hurricanrana. Hendry gets knocked outside for a dive from Alexander and Moose is backdropped HARD onto the steps. We pause for the medics to check on Moose, leaving Alexander to roll Hendry up for two. A dropkick to the back of the head keeps Hendry in trouble and a Michinoku Driver gives Alexander another near fall.

Moose is still down and the other two hit stereo clotheslines for a double down. Somehow Moose is able to get up (while holding his back) and takes over on both of them, including quite the chop to Hendry. Moose superplexes Hendry, who rolls through into a suplex, only for Alexander to frog splash Hendry for two. Alexander goes up but Moose chokebombs him back down for two but Hendry’s pop up powerbomb drops Moose for another near fall.

Hendry’s spinning pose lands him in a Death Valley Driver from Alexander, who grabs a crossface for a bonus. With that broken up, Alexander Styles Clashes Moose for two and everyone is down, with the fans approving. Moose spears Alexander for two but his back gives out. That earns him a Lumbar Check from Alexander, only for Hendry to grab the Standing Ovation to pin Alexander at 15:20.

Rating: B. Well that’s a choice. You have the former TNA guy, who has moved on to WWE, come back and show that he can beat two TNA stars at once. I get that Hendry hasn’t been gone from TNA for long and the fans still love him, but maybe don’t have the #1 contender to the X-Division Title get pinned before the title match?

Santino Marella brings out the Kickoff Show panel to make predictions for the main event. Everyone picks Mike Santana and it’s up to Tommy Dreamer but Daria Rae interrupts. Well she’s a hero as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, she says we don’t have time for this so let’s get to the video package.

We recap the main event, with Mike Santana defending the World Title against Frankie Kazarian in a Texas Deathmatch with Nic Nemeth as guest referee. Santana won the title but Kazarian used his Call Your Shot title shot to take it away. Then Santana won it back on Thursday so it’s rubber match time. Nemeth has his own Call Your Shot as well.

TNA World Title: Mike Santana vs. Frankie Kazarian

Santana is defending, Nic Nemeth is guest referee, and it’s a Texas Deathmatch, which is basically Last Man Standing but you have to score a fall before the ten count begins. Kazarian bails to the floor to start but Santana catches him coming back inside with some kicks. A big boot misses though and they fight to the floor, where Santana hits a dive off the steps.

It’s time for a table, but first Santana uses a chair for a step up cannonball against the barricade. The fight heads into the crowd with Kazarian sending him into some walls but a superplex off a balcony is blocked. Instead Santana hits a dive of his own and they fight into a back hall. Kazarian trashcans him in the back and a slam on the floor gets two. They come back to ringside, where Kazarian grabs a suplex but sets up some weapons rather than covering.

Some chairs to the back have Santana in more trouble and the fans tell Kazarian that he’s not overly popular. Fade To Black onto some open chairs is broken up and Santana piledrives him onto the chairs for the pin at 9:32. Kazarian beats the count at nine and he has to fight out of another piledriver from the apron. Santana goes up but the bleeding Kazarian cutters him down through a table at ringside for the pin at 12:04.

Santana beats the count as well so Kazarian knocks him into the steps and grabs a ladder. That takes too long and Santana is back up with a barbed wire baseball bat. A shot to the head makes Kazarian bleed even more and Santana plants him with a Samoan driver. Santana puts him on the table and hits a frog splash from the ladder for…two? Ok then. Santana yells at Nemeth but the replay shows that it was the right call. Back up and Kazarian spits at Santana, who wraps his arm with the barbed wire for Spin The Block. Kazarian is pinned 18:29 and Santana retains at 19:11.

Rating: B-. It was a fine brawl, but Nemeth changed absolutely nothing and Santana has already had his big moment twice now. I get that they wanted the title change for the AMC debut but it sucked the life out of the title change here. It was good enough though and Santana standing tall to end the show is absolutely the right call at the moment.

Post match Nemeth tries to cash in with a Danger Zone but Santana drops him with the Spin The Block. Santana celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. They were in a weird spot here and some of the results showed it. The biggest issue was they had their major show two days ago and this show was little more than follow up. It’s not a show that you need to see, but it is miles better than the disaster that was this week’s Impact. The problem though is a lot of the damage has already been done and I’m not sure how they can really make up for it anytime soon. This helped, though it only had so much impact.

Results
Stacks b. BDE, KJ Orso and Eric Young – Piledriver to Orso
Mila Moore/Tessa Blanchard b. Indi Hartwell/Vicki Venuto – Buzzsaw DDT to Venuto
AJ Francis b. Rich Swann – Down Payment
Mustafa Ali b. Elijah – Guitar shot
Eddie Edwards b. JDC – Boston Knee Party
Ryan Nemeth b. Mara Sade – Rollup while holding the rope
Lei Ying Lee b. Zaria – Warrior’s Way
Hardys b. Righteous – Swanton Bomb to Vincent
Joe Hendry b. Cedric Alexander and Moose – Standing Ovation to Alexander

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