In the main event of NXT, DarkState’s Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox make amends for an NXT Tag Team Championship match against Vanity Project. Plus, continuing to herald in a trademark new era, Mason Rook, Kam Hendrix, Romeo Moreno and Tristan Angels make their in-ring debuts.
Myles Borne and Tony D’Angelo vs Kam Hendrix and Mason Rook
“He’s big, he’s bad, he’ll bodyslam your dad!” Rook and Hendrix temporarily join forces in a makeshift first match. Borne and D’Angelo hit a dropkick and a takeover respectively on Hendrix before Rook tags in. Rook locomotes like the tank in his entrance video, and the opposition double-team with a back suplex before break. Vic Joseph notes Rook to be a Progress Atlas Champion, which Gunther won a record amount. NXT Champion D’Angelo makes a comeback with a spinebuster and a spear to Hendrix, eventually clotheslining Rook to the outside.
The latter sends him into the steel steps, and Borne floats over the ropes with a dive. After watching the monitors, Tavion Heights pushes Hendrix into Borne, frustrated over not competing with his former partner. Rook capitalizes by backpacking Borne into the corner and delivering a Jackhammer. But Hendrix steals the pin to the bewilderment of Rook and all of Orlando.
Winners: Kam Hendrix and Mason Rook
In the back, DarkState prepares for their NXT Tag Team Championship match tonight against Vanity Project. Dion Lennox and Saquon Shugars are on the same page, and the latter disregards his statement of “making a change” if they lose.
After defeating Kendal Grey to climb the NXT Women’s Championship ranks last week, Kehlani Jordan enters the ring. She calls herself the best “homegrown” talent, putting herself above those with greater opportunities. Contrary to that, Izzi Dame interrupts, telling her to get back in line. NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice arrives, giving Dame a championship match next week to avenge her attack. Grey appears next in the habitual multi-women promo battle before Wren Sinclair blindsides Jordan with her crutch.
Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux make friendly banter over their Speed Tournament match next week. Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar walk past, and the latter admits he’s trying to play catch-up. Moreno asks his role model to accompany him ringside, and “Super Nova” accepts.
The women’s locker room watches Nattie’s segment on “Busted Open Radio,” an apparent WWE affiliate for Bubba Ray Dudley’s takes. Jaida Parker says Nattie hides behind a mic and tells Layla Diggs her mentor is soft. Diggs accuses Parker of thinking the world is against her and accepts a match next week.
Romeo Moreno vs Tristan Angels
Hailing from Spain and England respectively, the former WWE Evolve competitors make their NXT in-ring debuts. Shiloh Hill spectates in the crowd, and Vic Joseph compares his outfit to “Family Guy’s” English character Buzz Killington. Meanwhile, Moreno connects with a no-hands springboard crossbody to the floor before break. The 6-foot-3 Spaniard hits a springboard missile dropkick for a two-count, and Angels follows with a Backstabber. Moreno hits another dropkick before Angels trips him ringside, capitalizing with a planted knee for victory.
Winner: Tristan Angels
Angels says Hill belongs with the fans, calling him the definition of a disgrace. Hill starts a campaign for “Mr. NXT,” opposed to Angel’s “Mr. England.”
The champions circle backstage; Tatum Paxley, Lola Vice, Myles Borne and Tony D’Angelo share the sentiment of a growing target on their backs. Naraku approaches D’Angelo, saying “evil will strike when you least expect it.”
Shawn Spears calls OTM vulnerable for once after last week’s backyard interview. He secures a match with them next week, but Niko Vance and Izzi Dame deem it a distraction for her title match.
Lizzy Rain vs Tatum Paxley (c) – Women’s North American Championship
Rain earns a championship match in her third week, following a tag team match with Paxley last week. They chain-wrestle through “both these women” chants, cartwheeling and criss-crossing before Rain hits a sliding dropkick to ringside. Kali Armstrong watches the monitors after break, the competitors trade strikes, and Rain hits her “make it rain” chops. The competitors trade pinfall reversals, and Paxley smoothly transitions into Cemetery Drive for the victory.
Winner: Tatum Paxley
The competitors embrace, and Zaria spears them both. She delivers an F5 to Rain and Paxley consecutively before raising the Women’s North American Championship belt. “She finally woke up,” Booker T says.
In the back, Robert Stone chastises Wren Sinclair for hitting Kehlani Jordan with her crutch. Stone and Kendal Grey don’t want to rush her clearance, but the general manager accepts a match against Jordan next week.
Keanu Carver vs Tate Wilder
Carver debuts a more fitting, harder-hitting theme song for his in-school detention gimmick. Wilder is described as a risk-taker, like tight-rope walking the ropes and accepting this match. He hits a springboard moonsault to ringside, but Carver overpowers him with strikes. Wilder bleeds under the left eye, looking like Carver took Kevin Owens’ advice about intensity on WWE LFG. The underdog hits a ringside DDT and a frog splash, but capitalizing on the overzealousness, Carver wins with a pounce and powerslam.
Winner: Keanu Carver
Jackson Drake hypes up the Vanity Project backstage, but Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes worry about DarkState’s numbers game. “I got ‘em,” the equalizer Myka Lockwood says.
OTM signs Shiloh Hill’s petition to be “Mr. NXT,” but Birthright’s “Ms. NXT” Arianna Grace says he isn’t pageant material. Tavion Heights and Myles Borne argue behind them as Charlie Dempsey challenges Hill next week.
Sarah Schreiber interviews Kam Hendrix in-ring over his win tonight. He bypasses Borne and calls out NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, but Mason Rook arrives instead. He flattens Hendrix by backpacking him into the corner, avenging the stolen victory from earlier.
DarkState vs Vanity Project (c) – NXT Tag Team Championships
DarkState doesn’t wait for Vanity Project’s entrance, where Myka Lockwood carries Jackson Drake on her shoulders. The challengers, Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox, coexist with signature intensity – one that got Orlando on their side. After break, Lennox makes a comeback with a double suplex, followed by a deadlift pumphandle to Brad Baylor. Shugars hits a smooth diving cradle on Ricky Smokes, followed by a top-rope crossbody. Drake and Lockwood jawjack with Osiris Griffin and Cutler James while Shugars makes a blind tag. He connects with an elbow drop for two to more “ref, you suck” chants, and Smokes sneaks a cradle for victory.
Winners: Vanity Project
Griffin and James stare down Lennox, but the duo instead turns on Shugars. Lennox joins the attack with a spinebuster, but Shugars fights back with a stiff smack. The remains of DarkState head ringside, throwing Shugars mid-air for an incredible triple powerbomb through the announce desk.
