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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Ethan Page vs. Elio LeFleur

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

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

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

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

We look at Keanu Carver wrecking people last week.

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Shiloh Hill vs. Josh Briggs

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

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

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

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

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

Vanity Project vs. Chase U

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look at Unreal Season 2.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

We open with a New Year’s Evil recap.

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Speed Title: Tavion Heights vs. Jasper Troy

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

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

Post match Lexis King runs in to lay Heights out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TNA International Title: Stacks vs. Shiloh Hill

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

Tatum Paxley has been ejected from the building.

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

Keanu Carver doesn’t want to talk.

IMG Credit: WWE

Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

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

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

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

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Jacy Jayne

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

North American Title: Moose vs. Ethan Page

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

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

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

The nominees for Male Superstar Of The Year are:

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

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

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

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

Kendal Grey has been attacked and Wren Sinclair wants help.

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

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

The nominees for Tag Team Of The Year are:

Hank & Tank
Zaruca
The Culling
Fatal Influence
Darkstate

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

Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Of The Year Nominees:

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

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

Swipe Right vs. OTM

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

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

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

Female Star Of The Year Nominees:

Kelani Jordan
Sol Ruca
Tatum Paxley
Blake Monroe
Jacy Jayne

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

We run down next week’s card.

IMG Credit: WWE

Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

Post match Kelani Jordan runs in and beats Vice down.

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

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

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

Video on Eli Knight and Tavion Heights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skylar Ray/Shiloh Hill vs. Arianna Grace/Stacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kelani Jordan yells at the locker room again.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTM vs. Hank & Tank

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

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

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

Ricky Saints was in the SUV.

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

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

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

Fatal Influence vs. Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII
Date: December 13, 2025
Location: Capitol One Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We have arrived. After a WWE career that started over twenty three years ago, John Cena is set for his final match, as he is going against Gunther. While there are other things taking place on the show, absolutely nothing comes close to this as it has been built up for over a year and a half now. This is going to be special so let’s get to it.

Various legends are here for Cena’s final match.

HHH narrates a video on Cena’s career, talking about how he is the greatest of all time in a variety of ways. They’re certainly pulling out all the stops with this and treating it like a huge moment.

Your hosts, Joe Tessitore and Stephanie McMahon, hype up the show.

Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi

Non-title and someone give the fan with the PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN sign a raise. Femi powers him into the corner to start and Rhodes can’t get very far with the right hands. A backbreaker cuts Rhodes down and Femi hammers away in the corner. Rhodes’ powerslam is blocked and Femi knocks him down without much trouble. A clothesline to the back of the head drops Rhodes again but he flips out of a belly to back suplex attempt.

Femi misses a charge into the post and now the powerslam works for Rhodes. He knocks Femi outside and hits the suicide dive, only to charge into a spinebuster back inside. Rhodes gets in his drop down uppercut but gets knocked outside again. Femi hits a heck of a running uppercut over the announcers’ table and Rhodes’ ear is busted open. A chokeslam gives Femi two back inside and they’re both down. Rhodes jumps over him and hits the Cody Cutter for two….and Drew McIntyre runs in for the DQ at 9:03.

Rating: B. Yeah this was the only way to go, as you don’t bring in a beast like Femi and have him lose his big debut, but you also don’t have the World Champion get pinned. McIntyre running in made sense, which thankfully came after Femi went toe to toe with Rhodes. The idea was Rhodes was trying to find his way to get around Femi but he couldn’t quite do it. This was basically a standoff until the interference and that’s a good sign for Femi.

Post match Femi isn’t happy with McIntyre interfering and drops him. Rhodes and Femi show respect to each other.

Various celebrities wish Cena well, including Peyton/Eli Manning and Snoop Dogg.

Various wrestling legends praise Cena.

We get a graphic showing Cena’s career stats. That’s quite impressive.

Bayley vs. Sol Ruca

Lyra Valkyria and Zaria are here too. Bayley works on the arm to start but Ruca backflips into an anklescissors to send Bayley into the corner. You can tell Bayley is a bit taken aback but she’s able to send Ruca outside. Back in and Bayley tries to pick her up and can’t quite get it to work, with Ruca being smart enough to reverse into a small package for two.

This time Ruca sends her outside for an awesome cartwheel moonsault to the floor and Bayley is rocked. Back in and Bayley sunset bombs her into the corner for two and we hit the chinlock. Ruca fights up and hits some elbows, followed by a top rope cartwheel DDT for two. Bayley gets in the Bayley To Belly and ties Ruca in the Tree Of Woe, setting up a running elbow for two more.

Ruca’s running knee gets two but Bayley blocks the Sol Snatcher (an inverted flipping cutter, which has to be seen to be believed) and hits the Rose Plant. A top rope elbow hits raised knees though and now the Sol Snatcher can connect. Bayley slides halfway out of the ring though and manages a rollup, with Ruca reversing into one of her own for the pin at 9:36.

Rating: B-. There’s your upset of the night and my goodness it’s a good sign for Ruca’s future. It’s pretty clear that she’s going to be a big deal on the main roster when she comes up, as there is only so much left for her to do in NXT. This is the kind of win that can make someone’s career and it worked well. Nice match, but a bigger moment.

Post match respect is shown again.

More wrestlers pay tribute to Cena.

Various legends pay tribute to Cena.

Other legends are in the crowd, including Michelle McCool, Eve Torres, Sami Zayn (with son) Mark Henry, Rob Van Dam and Trish Stratus.

Michael Cole thanks various commentators, who have called Cena’s matches over the years, including Tazz and Jim Ross.

Stephanie and Tessitore talk about the show and believe it or not, praise Cena.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans vs. AJ Styles/Dragon Lee

Styles and Lee are defending and the challengers (both rather talented high fliers) superkick them down to start. Evans and Slater hit big dives to the floor and a high crossbody hits Lee back inside. Evans hits a heck of a frog splash for two but Lee kicks his way out of the corner. A missed charge sends Slater shoulder first into the post and Lee grabs a heck of a sitout powerbomb.

It’s back to Evans, who sends Styles outside but misses a Lionsault. Styles drives him into the barricade and Lee hurricanranas Slater into a Styles Clash attempt, with Evans making a save. Back in and the OG Cutter knocks Styles silly, setting up Slater’s Swanton 450 (exactly what it sounds like) for two, with Lee making the save. Lee hits a big running flip dive to take out Evans, leaving Slater to escape the Styles Clash. Styles slips on the Phenomenal Forearm attempt, with Slater being smart enough to go for a quick cover for two rather than just standing around. Back up and Styles counters a top rope hurricanrana into the Styles Clash to retain at 5:23.

Rating: B. They didn’t have much time, but you had all of them going nuts out there and hitting everything they could. It made for quite the spectacle and Slater and Evans both look like future stars if they’re given the chance (which they’ll get). Styles and Lee feeling like makeshift champions gives you the slightest bit of drama to the result and that’s a nice bonus.

Some wrestlers thank Cena for his contributions.

Various celebrities wish Cena well, including Tom Brady.

Tessitore and Stephanie are all emotional about Cena.

Here is a ticked off Miz to complain about how he was ignored during Cena’s retirement tour. He beat Cena in the main event of Wrestlemania wearing this gear…and here is R-Truth, in Cena cosplay, to interrupt. R-Truth isn’t happy with how Miz cheated someone out of the tournament by switching the balls and that name is right here. Miz takes the ball and reads…..Joe Hendry, who has Miz even more annoyed. Miz comes up swinging and is promptly beaten down, allowing the good guys to pose. After a ten knuckle shuffle, Hendry hits a Standing Ovation and R-Truth counts the pin. Waving ensues.

We get a big Cena tribute, with various wrestlers paying tribute by doing a Cena pose or motion. Drew McIntyre has to be convinced, while BROCK LESNAR holds up a sign without looking at the screen. Roman Reigns does the salute to wrap up an awesome tribute.

Gunther vs. John Cena

Gunther isn’t exactly popular while Cena gets the hero’s welcome you would expect. In a great touch, the video board behind him plays a bunch of his looks from over the years. Cena also steals the camera for a shot of Stu in a great moment. He also goes over to see various legends and wrestlers at ringside, including Haku Booker T., Kevin Owens, Elijah, Trish Stratus, Sami Zayn, Rob Van Dam and Mark Henry. Oh and Nick Khan, because he’s the boss.

A lockup goes nowhere so Gunther bails to the apron. Back in and Gunther knocks him down for some early stomping, plus the hard uppercut. Cena fights up and starts knocking Gunther around, only to get pulled into a German suplex. The big clothesline puts Cena down but he pulls Gunther into the STF. That’s broken up and Gunther dropkicks him into the corner.

The powerbomb plants Cena and the big clotheslines take him down again. An AA out of nowhere gives Cena two and the fans are disappointed by the kickout. A chop to the back staggers Cena though and the sleeper goes on, only for Cena to reverse into one of his own. Gunther uses the legs to make the rope and knocks Cena outside, where he puts Cena on the steps near the announcers’ table.

Cena is back up with a quick AA through the table and they’re both down. Back in and Gunther kicks out so Cena hits the top rope Fameasser for two. The Shuffle connects (with the fans getting to say it one more time) but Gunther plants him down again. Cena catches him on top though and the super AA gets two, leaving them both down. Another AA is countered into a powerbomb and the top rope splash gives Gunther two.

The sleeper goes on and Cena fights up, only to get pulled back down. Cena gets up again and Gunther jumps on his back, with Cena driving him into the corner for the break. A quick AA gives Cena two but the sleeper goes on again, giving us a DON’T GIVE UP chant. That’s good for two arm drops but he gets up…and Gunther elbows him right back down. Cena smiles, and gingerly taps out at 23:43.

Rating: B. Here’s the thing: there was a grand total of zero chance of Cena winning this match. That was the entire point of what non-heel Cena has been talking about this year and it wouldn’t have made sense for him to win in the end. The smiling tap out was perfect too, as Cena fought with everything he had, couldn’t escape, and admitted defeat as he went out. It was similar to Shawn Michaels slapping Undertaker in the face at Wrestlemania XXVI and giving up because he couldn’t do it and was done. This was Cena saying his time is done and that’s how it should have ended.

Post match Cena lays on the mat while Gunther soaks in the booing. Gunther leaves and Cena gets up, kisses the mat, and says that he left it all for the people. Cue the locker room, with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes putting the belts on Cena’s shoulders and everyone surrounding the ring. Cena holds up both titles and HHH is booed out of the building.

We see a video on Cena’s career (and get to see him watching it), including comments from his mother (who I don’t remember seeing very often) and various wrestlers, both past and present, on what he is about. We even get an old comment from Vince McMahon to really show how special this is. With the video over, Cena takes a bow, takes off his shoes, leaves them in the ring, and walks out, with one last bow and salute.

It’s going to take me some time to let this sink in. Like him or not, Cena has been the biggest star in wrestling for most of the last twenty plus years and now he’s gone. That’s a huge deal and the fans were totally into everything he was doing here. Cena is an all time legend and that’s not something WWE has in their back pocket anymore. He went out with a good one, but dang it’s bizarre to think that he’s really gone.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a weird show where they had a bunch of stuff going on but only one match felt like it really mattered. Given that the opener was the Smackdown World Champion against the NXT Champion, that makes things all the more impressive. This show was divided in two, as you had everything with Cena, which went well (though the ending is going to have a lot of people arguing), and everything else, which went….well it went well too.

This was about saying goodbye to the past and saying hello to the future, both of which looked good on the show. Nice stuff here, but the new reality is going to take some time to sink in. What matters is that Cena is gone and he went out with a good one, which was quite the special thing to see.

Results
Cody Rhodes b. Oba Femi via DQ when Drew McIntyre interfered
Sol Ruca b. Bayley – Rollup
AJ Styles/Dragon Lee b. Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans – Styles Clash to Slater
Gunther b. John Cena – Sleeper

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

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

NXT
Date: December 9, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

Deadline has come and gone and we have #1 contenders to both top titles. In one case though, there is a new champion though as Oba Femi beat Ricky Saints to regain the NXT Title. That means he is set to face the new Iron Survivor Je’Von Evans, while Kendal Grey is set to challenge Jacy Jayne for the women’s side. Let’s get to it.

Here is Deadline if you need a recap.

Long Deadline recap.

Here is Oba Femi to get things going. Femi talks about how this title is power. Ricky Saints took the title off of him at No Mercy and knocked the Ruler off his throne, but now things are back as they should be. When you look at him you will see power and the Ruler…and here is Saints to interrupt. Saints is able to admit that Femi was the better man at Deadline, but he’s not about to just bow down.

Now Saints is betting on himself and undoing all the mistakes. They’re 1-1 and now Saints wants one more match for the title. Cue Je’Von Evans, who reminds us that he won the Iron Survivor Challenge. He’s locked in right now, so how about we do the NXT Title match tonight? Saints tries to talk him out of it but Evans wants to do it tonight. Femi isn’t about to back down and the match is set. This feels like a way out of Cody Rhodes vs. Femi at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Or Saints is turning on Evans.

We recap Kelani Jordan’s fall to the evil side.

Tatum Paxley is ready to take care of the Culling until it’s just her and Izzi Dame.

Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace

Grace slams her down to start but it’s too early for a Vader Bomb. Jordan kicks the knee out and starts dropping some elbows onto it to make things worse. Back up and they fight to the apron, where Grace blocks what looks like a Spanish Fly. Jordan goes back to the knee and we take a break.

We come back with Grace suplexing her down but getting dropped with a chop block. They head back inside with Jordan going after the leg again, only to get caught in a rolling Chaos Theory. Jordan rolls outside and grabs a chair, only to have them fight over a Tombstone. With that not working, Jordan is sent into the steps, followed by a Vader Bomb. Grace grabs the chair but the referee takes it away, allowing Jordan to kick her through the barricade. Back in and a 450 gives Jordan the pin at 11:23.

Rating: B-. The stuff with the chair was a bit weird and the knee injury didn’t matter much in the end. The good thing is that Jordan continues her rise up the ranks, though I’m not sure what Grace is going to be able to do. At some point she has to win something and that’s been an issue for a long time now.

Post break, Grace complains to the women’s locker room but Thea Hail gives her a pep talk. It doesn’t go so well, but she does try.

Here is Blake Monroe for an open challenge.

Blake Monroe vs. ???

Non-title. A bunch of the locker room tries to come in but Thea Hail sneaks in from behind and Kimuras Monroe for the tap. Granted the match never started but she did make Monroe tap.

Shiloh Hill gives a scientific explanation for being nervous for his first match. He does however remember to put in his teeth.

Shiloh Hill vs. Lexis King

King tries to jump him to start but gets knocked outside and into various things before the bell. They get inside to officially start things off but King fights out of trouble in the corner. Some boot choking has Hill down but he’s up with a double clothesline. Hill takes out his fake tooth and hits a hard shoulder, followed by a belly to back neckbreaker for the pin at 2:57. I’ve liked Hill thus far and he wasn’t bad here, albeit in a small dose.

Oba Femi is ready for Je’Von Evans tonight and Cody Rhodes on Saturday.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat. Page talks about how he’s been winning over and over because he made sure to learn as much as he could. Now we’re going to watch John Cena walk away this weekend and someone is going to have to take his place. Page won the NXT Title in recent time and now he’s making the North American Title that much important. He’s the biggest superstar around…but the lights go out and Tony D’Angelo (who returned at Deadline) is back to lay him out with a spinebuster. That might be the end of Page’s rather impressive reign.

Ava has Dion Lennox, Myles Borne, Leon Slater and Joe Hendry in her office. They all tied at Deadline, so they’re in a four way for the #1 contendership to the NXT Title at New Year’s Evil. Ethan Page storms in to complain about everything and gets mocked by Borne.

Wren Sinclair vs. Sol Ruca

Kendal Grey is here with Sinclair. They hit the ropes a few times to start fast with Ruca getting two off a rollup. They trade rollups for two more each until Sinclair takes her down and starts working on the leg. Ruca is back up with some running elbows and a missile dropkick. A butterfly suplex drops Ruca, who knocks Sinclair into the corner. That means the Sol Snatcher can finish Sinclair off at 3:33.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have time to do much here but anything involving the Sol Snatcher is going to work. It just looks cool and has become Ruca’s signature spot, which has helped turn her into a star. If she isn’t brought up to the main roster sooner or later, she’ll be around the NXT Title. Or getting speared by Zaria.

Post match Zaria comes out to glare and Ruca leaves through the crowd to get to her.

Post break Grey and Sinclair are still in the ring with Fatal Influence joining them. Jacy Jayne says Grey has done well but this is as good as it’s going to get. Grey’s stock is doing well but her reality is going to slap her in the face at New Year’s Evil. Then these people will move on to the next new flavor of the month. Yeah she’s won the Evolve Women’s Title but the NXT Title is on another level.

Jayne brags about herself but Grey says she’s the one with the momentum now. No one is expecting Grey to win, just like no one was expecting Jayne to win the title in the first place. The best part of being the underdog is seeing people’s faces when the underdog bites back. Sinclair suggests she’s coming after the Women’s Speed Title and the big brawl is on, with Fatal Influence standing tall.

Hank & Tank have gone to Pro Wrestling Noah and won their GHC Tag Team Titles. Granted they lost them less than two weeks later, but it’s better than nothing.

Hank & Tank are back, now in Japanese robes. OTM comes in and a match is set for next week.

Blake Monroe complains to Ava about the attack by Thea Hail. Ava gives Hail a title match next week.

Sol Ruca and Zaria make peace because friends fight.

We look at Stacks becoming the TNA International Champion at Friday’s Final Resolution.

NXT Title: Je’Von Evans vs. Oba Femi

Femi is defending and powers Evans around to start. Evans’ running knee gets two and Femi is a bit rocked early on. Femi misses a boot in the corner and gets taken down by a running kick to the face. A big backbreaker gets Femi out of trouble and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Femi is sent outside, where he counters an Asai moonsault into a drop onto the apron.

Femi drops him face first onto the apron again and we take a break. We come back with Evans grabbing a hurricanrana out to the floor, followed by another on the floor. Femi Pounces Evans onto the announcers’ table (Booker takes a nice bump getting away) but Evans beats the count back in.

Evans is actually up with a frog splash to the back and another to the chest gets two. Femi is sent outside again for the big dive, followed by a German suplex for two back inside. A big elbow to the face gives Femi two more but the Fall From Grace is countered into a cutter. There’s the top rope cutter…but Ricky Saints pulls the referee. Evans takes him out and goes back inside, where he gets elbowed in the face a few times. The Fall From Grace retains the title at 13:47.

Rating: B+. These two work well together as Evans is an incredible athlete who has the size to make for an interesting challenger to Femi. They had me wondering if the title was going to change here, which granted might have something to do with the Cody Rhodes match coming up on Saturday. That aside, this was a heck of a match as Evans had the crowd wanting to see him win the big one, which is going to happen one day to a massive reaction.

Overall Rating: B. They pulled off a nice balancing act here with the fallout from Deadline, setting up New Year’s Evil and doing something this week too. That’s a heck of a thing to do and they managed to make it work in the end, with an awesome main event on top of it. I’m digging what NXT is presenting and hopefully they can keep that up, as it can make for some rather good stuff.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Jordynne Grace – 450
Shiloh Hill b. Lexis King – Belly to back neckbreaker
Sol Ruca b. Wren Sinclair – Sol Snatcher
Oba Femi b. Je’Von Evans – Sitout Fall From Grace

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

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

Deadline 2025
Date: December 6, 2025
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Point, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s NXT’s turn to have a show based on timed intervals as we have the Iron Survivor Challenges. These things can seem a bit complicated at first but once you get into the swing of them, they can be an absolute blast. Other than that, the NXT Title is on the line so let’s get to it.

Since it’s going to come up twice tonight, here are the Iron Survivor Challenge rules:

• 25 minute time limit
• Two wrestlers start with a new entrant every five minutes
• Any pinfall, submission or DQ is a fall and worth one point
• When someone loses a fall, they go to the penalty box for 90 seconds
• Most falls in 25 minutes wins a future NXT/Women’s Title shot

The opening video focuses on time, both with the Iron Survivor Challenges and with title reigns ending. The Iron Survivor Challenges actually aren’t treated as the only things that matter for a change.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Ricky Saints

Saints is defending and starts in on the arm. The armbar is reversed into one from Femi, who powers Saints down. What looks like an F5 is blocked and Saints Codebreakers the arm. Saints knocks him away and gets two off a middle rope dropkick. Back up and Femi shoves him into the corner for a forearm and a Damian Priest Broken Arrow for two. Femi unloads with some more forearms and hard shots to the head.

Saints tells him to bring it so Femi hits him in the head again. Saints is back with some running kicks to the head and a top rope hurricanrana takes him down. The spear gives Saints two and a Stunner connects for the same. A guillotine choke has Femi in trouble but he powers Saints up onto the top rope. Femi misses a charge out to the floor though and Saints knocks him down again, only for Femi to beat the count.

A Fameasser gives Saints two but Femi starts hitting him in the face. What looked like a Big Ending is countered into a crucifix to give Saints two. A missed charge sends Femi into the post and another charge sends him into the steps. Saints’ tornado DDT off the barricade drops Femi onto the steps again. Another tornado DDT gives Saints two back inside, as does Femi’s Fall From Grace. Saints charges right into a sitout Fall From Grace to give Femi the pin and the title back at 17:22.

Rating: B. This is what it should have been, as Saints went at Femi with everything he had but ultimately couldn’t handle the monster. Femi is someone who feels like he is the biggest and most dominant star in a good while around here and him winning the title back is a logical move. I’m just not sure who is supposed to take the thing from him.

Post match, respect is shown.

Kendal Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is ready to shock the world and she is strategizing for the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge

For the Women’s Title shot at New Year’s Evil. Kelani Jordan is in at #1 and Kendal Grey is in at #2. Jordan takes her to the mat to start but Grey is back up to knock Jordan into the corner. Grey grabs a front facelock and they trade small packages for two each. Jordan’s northern lights suplex gets two and they trade running faceplants to leave them both down. Jordan knocks her down in the corner and hits a handspring spinning Fameasser. Grey snaps off a powerslam for the pin at 4:57.

Grey – 1
Jordan – 0
Ruca – 0
Grace – 0
Vice – 0

Jordynne Grace is in at #3 and immediately takes Grey down for a Vader Bomb. Grace sits her down and cranks on both arms, only for Jordan to escape and make the save. Grey and Jordan trade rollups for two each until Jordan gets a fall at 7:17.

Grey – 1
Jordan – 1
Ruca – 0
Grace – 0
Vice – 0

Grace is back in to run Jordan over and things slow back down a bit. Jordan is knocked down into the corner and Grace is smart enough to run Grey over as she gets out of the box. A slingshot dive drops Grace and it’s Lola Vice in at #4. Vice wastes no time in striking away, including the spinning backfist to pin Grey at 10:25.

Grey – 1
Jordan – 1
Vice – 1
Ruca – 0
Grace – 0

Vice sticks up with the striking and sends Jordan and grace into the same corner for the rather enthusiastic running hip attack. Neither of them are good enough for a fall but Grey is out for a cutter and the pin on Grace at 12:27.

Grey – 2
Jordan – 1
Vice – 1
Ruca – 0
Grace – 0

Grey belly to back superplexes Jordan into a running knee from Vice. A superkick on the apron rocks Jordan again but Vice can’t lock up Grey’s ankle. Grey can’t get the cross armbreaker either as Grace kicks the penalty box door into Jordan’s face. Back in and Grace package powerbombs Grey for two. Jordan’s high crossbody is rolled through though and Grace gets the pin at 14:58.

Grey – 2
Jordan – 1
Vice – 1
Grace – 1
Ruca – 0

Sol Ruca is in to complete the field but Jordan takes her out on the way to the ring. Ruca has to be taken out and it’s Grace loading up a Five Knuckle Shuffle. The free Jordan breaks that up and stomps on Grey as Ruca is in with a double Sol Snatcher to pin Jordan at 18:24.

Grey – 2
Jordan – 1
Vice – 1
Grace – 1
Ruca – 1

It was a double so Ruca pins Vice at 18:26.

Grey – 2
Ruca – 2
Jordan – 1
Vice – 1
Grace – 1

Ruca and Grace go after Grey as Vice chokes Jordan on their way out of the box. Grey grabs Shades Of Grey on Grace but Jordan makes the save with a splash to steal the pin on Grace at 20:58.

Grey – 2
Ruca – 2
Jordan – 2
Vice – 1
Grace – 1

Vice goes after Grey on the floor but Ruca moonsaults onto both of them. Jordan Asai moonsaults onto Ruca and then throw Vice back inside. Something like an Angle Slam drops Vice but Grace is back in to plant both of them. A spinning torture rack bomb finishes Jordan at 22:55.

Grey – 2
Ruca – 2
Jordan – 2
Grace – 2
Vice – 1

Vice kicks Grey down for the fall at 23:04.

Grey – 2
Ruca – 2
Jordan – 2
Grace – 2
Vice – 2

Vice chokes Ruca on the floor so Ruca drops back onto her as we have a minute left. A Sol Snatcher off the steps drops Vice on the floor as Jordan is out of the box. Jordan kicks Ruca’s bad knee out and hits a 450 on Vice with Grace making the save. Grey is in with a top rope Shades Of Grey to Vice as time expires at 25:00.

Grey – 3
Ruca – 2
Jordan – 2
Grace – 2
Vice – 2

Rating: B. These things work so well and they have the whole thing figured out rather well. This was all about the drama and trying to keep track of everything at once and they managed to pull it off. Grey winning is one heck of a moment for her, as it seems they’re ready to run with her. If she’s ready, it’s certainly worth a shot as she checks a lot of boxes at once.

Blake Monroe is going to issue an open challenge for the Women’s North American Title on Tuesday. Ava thinks this is a bad idea but approves it anyway.

Myles Borne is ready for Oba Femi again and has decided he’s entering the Iron Survivor Challenge third. A brawl between Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace cuts him off.

North American Title: Mr. Iguana vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending and shoulders him down to start, leaving Iguana to do his dead pose. Page spins him around and accuses Iguana of being dead, earning himself an armdrag. Iguana rolls him up for two and grabs the stuffed iguana, earning himself a DDT. A high crossbody gives Iguana two and they head outside, with Iguana hitting a dive. Page sends him into the steps though and they head back inside, with Page getting a bunch of green paint on his chest.

The stuffed iguana bites Page’s fingers but he pulls a rope walk out of the air into a powerslam. Page spits on the stuffed iguana and throws it to the floor, which has Iguana rather angry. Iguana gets crotched on top but a super Ego’s Edge is countered into a hurricanrana. Iguana’s diving hurricanrana over the top takes Page down on the floor and a flying headbutt gets two back inside. Page is able to slam him off the top though and grabs the Twisted Grin to retain the title at 8:40.

Rating: B-. This got rolling in the middle and the fans were into what Iguana was doing. At the same time though, it was hard to imagine a glorified comedy wrestler being the one to end Page’s rather impressive title reign. Page is a good choice for a heel and he could move up the card in a hurry once he loses the title, whenever that finally happens.

Kendal Grey can’t believe she won but Sol Ruca comes in to say she would have won if she wasn’t hurt. Wren Sinclair says that sounds like an excuse, as Grey got speared out of her boots by Zaria on Wednesday but won anyway. Ruca says she and Zaria are still friends.

Oba Femi and Dion Lennox have a staredown, with Femi hoping Lennox wins so they can fight again.

We recap Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame. Paxley needed a friend and Dame tried to do so, but then Paxley wouldn’t listen to her. Dame cost her the Women’s Title and now it’s time for revenge.

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

Paxley is all shaken up and doesn’t want to do this. Dame puts her hand on Paxley’s cheek but Paxley gets angry and the fight is on. Paxley knocks her outside and we get a hug but Dame sends her knees first into the steps. A fireman’s carry faceplant drops Paxley back inside and Dame slowly hammers away.

Paxley’s sleeper has Dame in trouble but she rams Paxley into the corner for the break. The Boston crab goes on and Dame turns it into a Liontamer but Paxley slips out. A rebound German suplex puts Dame down and Paxley’s elbow drop gets two. Dame is able to dropkick her out of the air and a fisherman’s neckbreaker connects for two more.

They fight to the floor with Paxley grabbing a German suplex and loading up the announcers’ table. The Psycho Trap sends Dame into the table….but Shawn Spears pops up with the dolls. She takes them from him and Spears ribs the head off of one of them. That earns Spears a slap to the face but Paxley charges back inside, where it’s a big boot to her face. The chokebomb gives Dame the pin at 12:40.

Rating: B-. This was more about the emotions and the storytelling than anything else, as Paxley is going to find a friend sooner or later. That should make for an interesting twist in everything, though it’s hard to say who that will be. Other than that, Paxley is definitely feeling like more of a star than she was coming into this, so that’s a success.

Ricky Saints is upset by his loss but Je’Von Evans tries to give him a pep talk.

Shiloh Hill is back with his final chat before….I have no idea actually. One time he watched squirrels playing and wanted to know what it would be like to communicate with them. Then he chased one of them and finally caught it, but the high school football coach saw him and asked him to play. Then he tells a story about getting in a fight when he was a kid and losing a tooth. Then we see that he’s talking to a machine, which says it’s time for everyone to wake up. Apparently he’ll have his first match on Tuesday. Ok then.

Video explaining the Iron Survivor Challenge again.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge

For the title shot at New Year’s Evil. Leon Slater is in at #1 and Je’Von Evans is in at #2. Evans’ springboard cutter is blocked early on and they circle each other for a bit. They both catch kicks to the ribs and then put their feet down, only for Evans to hold on a bit longer. Slater kicks him in the face but Evans is back with a springboard hurricanrana. Evans gets in a kick to the face before they trade rollups for two each. Another springboard cutter misses so Evans settles for a jumping Stunner. Slater breaks up another springboard but charges into a hurricanrana to give Evans the pin at 4:44.

Evans – 1
Slater – 0
Hendry – 0
Lennox – 0
Borne – 0

Myles Borne is in at #3 and clotheslines away at Evans, followed by an Eye of the Hurricane for two. An Angle Slam gets two on Evans as Slater is back inside. Borne slugs away at both of them in the corners but Slater is back with a nasty chop. Evans helps Slater kick Borne in the head before knocking Slater down for two.

Dion Lennox is in at #4 and gets two off a northern lights suplex to Borne. Evans is back up to slug away at Lennox until Slater is in to help stomp Lennox down in the corner. Borne is back up to catch Slater in an electric chair, with Lennox adding a top rope clothesline. Lennox’s Air Raid Crash pins Evans at 12:40.

Evans – 1
Lennox – 1
Slater – 0
Hendry – 0
Borne – 0

Borne plants Slater for two and then punches away at him in the corner. A running corner splash hits Lennox but Slater kicks Borne in the face. Evans is back in with a heck of a springboard clothesline to Borne, followed by a dive to Slater. Back in and a frog splash gets two on Borne as Joe Hendry is here to complete the field. A double fall away slam drops Evans and Slater, allowing Hendry to strike his pose. Lennox breaks up the Standing Ovation so Hendry sends him outside for the big dive. Back in and Hendry’s spinning fireman’s carry slam finishes Borne at 17:40.

Evans – 1
Lennox – 1
Hendry – 1
Slater – 0
Borne – 0

We get an exchange of rollups until Slater and Evans kick each other in the head to leave everyone down. Borne’s time is up but Lennox kicks the door into his face. Evans is back up with a Swanton Coast To Coast to Lennox but Slater drops Evans and hits the Swanton 450 to pin Hendry at 20:12.

Evans – 1
Lennox – 1
Hendry – 1
Slater – 1
Borne – 0

Borne Again hits Slater but Lennox makes the save at two. Borne again hits Lennox as well though and Borne gets the pin at 21:11.

Evans – 1
Lennox – 1
Hendry – 1
Slater – 1
Borne – 1

Hendry is back up to beat on Lennox in the box as the other three slug it out from their knees. Slater is back in to clean house and everyone outside of the box is down. Lennox is out but he throws Evans in, with the door being locked because…I have no idea really. Since there is no roof on the thing, Evans climbs out and dives onto Lennox, only for Slater to hit his over the post flip dive.

Evans is back in with the top rope cutter to Slater for two, with Borne making the save as we have less than a minute to go. A super Borne Again drops Evans but Lennox makes another save. There’s the Swanton 450 to Evans but Hendry powerbombs Slater to the floor. Evans small packages Borne for the pin as time expires at 25:00.

Evans – 2
Lennox – 1
Hendry – 1
Slater – 1
Borne – 1

Rating: B. It didn’t have quite the drama as the women’s edition but Evans winning here ties into what happened last year when he came just short of winning. Evans is at the point where he has to win something and there is a chance that he pulls it off against Femi. It was another action packed match and the dive off the box was great. Another solid match here with the right winner.

Post match Evans shows respect to everyone, with Lennox not being interested. Oba Femi comes out for the staredown to…not end the show, as we see a video of someone walking on a bridge, though we can’t see his face. Femi and Evans aren’t sure what happened but Tony D’Angelo is back with a spinebuster to Evans. He drops some black…something on Evans (the same thing Ava saw this week) to really end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Another good show here, with the three big matches more than holding their own. Nothing on here is an all timer but they did a good job with pushing some new stars. I’m curious to see where some of these things go, including the deal D’Angelo at the end. Solid show here, as the Iron Survivor Challenge continues to be one of the best fresh concepts in a long time. Now just follow up with it as we get to the title matches next month.

Results
Oba Femi b. Ricky Saints – Sitout Fall From Grace
Kendal Grey won the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge
Ethan Page b. Mr. Iguana – Twisted Grin
Izzi Dame b. Tatum Paxley – Chokebomb
Je’Von Evans won the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge

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