Commentary opens tonight’s episode of NXT, sounding like Vic Joseph has a cold until Ricky Saints reveals himself on color. Meanwhile backstage, Ava finds Evolve Champion Jackson Drake with a steel chair over Joe Hendry, who Joseph later announces is taken to the hospital. She rearranges the match card, and cameras cut to Tony D’Angelo entering the building surrounded by security.
The next-up tag team match doesn’t work for Saints, but he promises an address after his fellow participants are revealed tonight. Next week, a multi-man ladder match featuring Saints will determine the new NXT Champion following Oba Femi’s relinquishment earlier this month.
DarkState (c) vs OTM – NXT Tag Team Championships
The animated Saquon Shugars gets manhandled by the challengers, who forge on past Cutler James’ numbers advantage at ringside. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger watch the monitors for OTM’s invincible first segment, where Lucien Price tosses Shugars over the ropes and into commercial. Price makes a comeback with multiple lariats and a Uranage to Shugars onto Osiris Griffin.
Backstage, Walker and Ledger run after The Vanity Project, who interfere on the apron. Shugars capitalizes with a rope-leveraged pin for victory, and a brawl including Chase University’s Uriah Connors ensues. As foreshadowed last week, The Culling blindside the champions, and Shawn Spears and Niko Vance stand tall.
Winners: DarkState
Footage from last week shows Nikkita Lyons leading a chant for Blake Monroe in the locker room. “The Divine Feline” offers to face Jaida Parker for Monroe tonight, only asking to be called “Nikkita the Sage” in return.
Jaida Parker vs Nikkita Lyons
Lyons is evidently going through an identity crisis, but Parker’s personality continues speaking to Orlando. Lyons misses a roundhouse kick and much of her offense. After she lands a sitout powerbomb though, Parker recuperates with a spinebuster and her signature hip drop. She connects with Hipnotic and finishes with a pumphandle bomb for victory – her first match since returning from injury. Monroe appears on-screen, in her home, vowing to see Parker soon.
Winner: Jaida Parker
Footage from earlier shows Tavion Heights congratulating newcomers Elio LeFleur and Eli Knight backstage. They’re interrupted by TNA International Champion Stacks, Arianna Grace and Lexis King, who argue for their birthright opportunities in NXT. Heights threatens to beat King in eight seconds again before the two are separated.
In a purple-lit room, TNA’s Elegance Brand tries wedging between challengers ZaRuca, who are accused of being fake friends. The Personal Concierge says the brand will be keeping the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships forever.
Zaria hangs up on Sol Ruca, who isn’t in the building, and Thea Hail attempts to console her. The former claims Hail stumbles upon opportunities and hints at a match tonight.
North American Champion Ethan Page finds Myles Borne, telling him to be ruthless against Dion Lennox. Borne barks back at Ricky Saints’ attempt to do the same, and the latter and Page share their amusement.
On the phone, Ava boasts her women’s division in regards to the Royal Rumble on Saturday. She berates The Vanity Project for their actions but can’t prove they attacked Joe Hendry. So Jackson Drake receives a bye, but if Hendry is cleared, so will he.
Dion Lennox vs Myles Borne – Qualifier Match
The winner advances alongside Saints, Shiloh Hill, Sean Legacy and Drake as of now. Running the ropes, an apparent miscommunication sends Borne, who ducks, into the midsection of Lennox. The DarkState leader capitalizes through their mat-based exchange, where their cardio and athleticism shine. Borne throws Lennox into the steel steps as Page appears and coaches at ringside.
After break, Borne comes back with a second dropkick, and Lennox attempts a rope-leveraged pin. He’s caught but secretly thumbs the eye before Borne recuperates with a lariat. Page throws in the North American Championship belt to weaponize, the referee catches it, and Lennox connects with Emerald Flowsion for victory. “You can’t pull the trigger,” Page says before Borne whacks him with the belt.
Winner: Dion Lennox
Security escorts Tony D’Angelo into Ava’s office, where Ricky Saints instructs the general manager to keep interference out of next week’s ladder match. D’Angelo finally speaks: “Why’d you bail me out?” Ava admits that NXT needs D’Angelo, who says his intentions will be revealed next week.
Uriah Connors argues his case for brawling earlier, saying that Chase University’s way has gotten them nowhere. “I’m glad you’ve been listening. Your father should be proud,” says Lexis King. “I know mine would be.”
Tavion Heights vs Lexis King
Heights attempts another quick win with a belly-to-belly, but King takes control with a toss into the barricade. TNA International Champion Stacks and Arianna Grace appear, Heights hits a gutwrench suplex, and King sends him over the ropes. King sidesteps a dive and connects with the Coronation to a mild reaction. “This is just the beginning,” he says alongside Stacks and Grace.
Winner: Lexis King
In an NXT Origins package, alumnus Finn Balor says NXT turned him from a wrestler into a superstar. Footage from 11 years ago brings some bittersweet nostalgia with it.
Zaria vs Thea Hail
Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame joins the booth, and Booker T insists that Vic Joseph stands up. Booker T says Dame’s triple threat match next week isn’t fair, as the champion defends against Hail and Lola Vice. After break, Hail makes mean faces while making a comeback, but Zaria catches her springboard senton with a back suplex. Zaria hits a spear, Hail reverses the F5 with a DDT, and the competitors connect with headbutts.
Meanwhile, Tatum Paxley jumps on Dame from the barricade, brawling through the ring and giving Hail a roll-up victory. The victor offers a handshake that Zaria smacks away as Fatal Influence arrives on the apron. Hail tries working together until Zaria connects with the F5, and Fatal Influence retreats.
Winner: Thea Hail
Charlie Dempsey isn’t impressed with Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey’s loss last week, but the latter still believes she can beat Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship. Lexis King, Stacks and Arianna Grace pull Dempsey aside; “You’re one of us,” Grace says.
Andre Chase vs Keanu Carver – Qualifier Match
The final ladder match qualifier result is a given, and Vic Joseph wonders if Chase can survive. “Carver’s gonna kill you” chants ring as Carver rips off Chase’s protective face mask. The professor lands a tornado DDT and top-rope crossbody for a two-count, eventually spearing Carver over the announce desk. Carver pounces back with a back suplex on the table, hitting a running powerslam in-ring for the victory.
He continues bashing Chase’s face into an exposed turnbuckle and stomps it onto the steel steps. Referees attend to the bloodied professor, where Kale and Dixon are absent. “Ya’ll really thought that cornball teacher was gonna stop me?” Carver says like a delinquent in detention as the other participants watch the monitor.
Winner: Keanu Carver
An NXT Championship package highlights staples like Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano, Bron Breakker and more. The ladder match participants have an opportunity to join the lineage: Dion Lennox, Shiloh Hill, Jackson Drake, Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver, Ricky Saints and Joe Hendry.
In-ring, sans Saints and Hendry, the competitors stake their claims. Hill shows optimism, Lennox threatens to break another tooth, Legacy calls it the biggest opportunity of his life, and Drake vows to pour one out for Hendry.
Saints arrives with his own ladder, speaking on top from the entranceway, predicting he’ll become a two-time NXT Champion. Carver’s had enough talking, beginning a five-man brawl in-ring. Saints topples him with his ladder and begins climbing until Hendry’s music hits. He appears with injured ribs and delivers Standing Ovation to “we believe” chants. But Carver steals his spotlight, connecting with a running powerslam and instinctively going for a cover.
