NXT Review – 10.28.25

Oh some things have happened lately, haven’t they: Smackdown | Halloween Havoc | Raw

NXT comes to us on the CW from the Performance Center in Orlando, FL. The presenters of tonight’s show are the usual suspects – Vic Joseph and Booker T on match calls, Mike Rome on ring introductions, and Kelly Kincaid on backstage interviews and news updates.

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

Highlights of Halloween Havoc are shown to start the show. Arrivals are next and they include: Jordynne Grace and TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan prior to their title match this evening. Here’s an irate Trick Williams in the control room berating that staff before stomping down a hallway while continuing to bark about Ricky Saints to everyone he meets along the way. Trick marches into the PC and grabs a mic before sliding into the ring. Trick correctly points out just how much he whooped on Saints at Havoc and says he’s not leaving until he gets another match. NXT GM Ava joins the proceedings to point out that she told Trick they could have a real conversation about another match but throwing a tantrum isn’t the way to go. Trick runs down his NXT resume in response. Here’s NXT Men’s Champion Ricky Saints charging into the ring and fisticuffs ensue. Security pours out to break things up.

THE NXT SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY PROGRESSIVE is on the Speed Men’s Tournament final. Axiom and Jasper Troy will fight it out for a shot at current men’s Speed champion El Grande Americano.

WWE Men’s Speed Tournament Finals: Axiom vs Jasper Troy

As a reminder, Speed matches have a three minute time limit. Axiom snaps off some kicks to start and then connects with some slaps. Rayo and Bravo Americano are in the crowd scouting. Troy catches Axiom’s cross-body attempt and drives him into a corner. Troy hits a backbreaker over his knee and then smashes Axiom down with some forearms. Troy’s headbutt drives Axiom to the floor but when Troy tries to follow him out Axiom catches him with a Dragon Screw leg whip on the apron. Axiom ascends and hits a top rope dropkick. Axiom hits a jumping knee lift but Troy trucks Axiom when he charges. Troy hits a big clothesline and a Vortex slam and covers Axiom for three. Jasper Troy will face El Grande Americano for the Speed title.

Jasper doesn’t have a lot in his offensive arsenal just yet but him whomping on little guys is always a good visual. There was actually more selling in this than most Speed matches, so we’re all good with this one. 2*

Winner – Jasper Troy (Vortex slam)

WWE Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria are with Ava in her office and Ruca mentions she’s still in her knee brace but off the crutch as of now. Ava mentions that Ruca needs to make a decision about the Speed title and Ruca says she’s going to relinquish the title instead of having someone defend it for her. Zaria leaves in a huff as Ruca tells Ava the division needs a fighting champion and she’s going to focus on her rehab.

Here’s The Culling being lead by new NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley heading to the ring as we go to commercials.

Paxley gets a big pop from the crowd and a “You deserve it!” chant. Paxley says she’s dreamt about the moment she could stand in the ring as the new champion. Paxley says the title represents the heartache she went through to get to this moment and how she made the most of her opportunity. “If this creepy little weirdo can be NXT champion, anyone can.” Paxley says she wants to be a fighting champion but Izzi Dame interrupts to say that she doesn’t think Paxley should be like that. Dame says she’s happy for Paxley but people should have to earn shots at the title. Paxley mentions that they didn’t have the wheel for Havoc, and she is bringing it back. There’s a bunch of contenders names on the wheel and Paxley is going to spin it and give a title match to whomever’s name it lands on. Shawn Spears points out that Dame’s name is not on the wheel and Paxley says that she and Dame would never fight for the title because of their bond. Paxley spins the wheel and it lands on Lola Vice. Dame seems put out.

Trick Williams is still stomping around backstage looking for Ricky Saints. Wren Sinclair is making sure that Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey is good to go before facing Lash Legend. Grey says she’s putting herself on the map tonight. Grey invites Sinclair to second her and Sinclair is delighted at the suggestion as we go to commercials.

Evolve Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey (C) vs Lash Legend

Grey tries for an ankle lock but Legend goes to the ropes. Legend trucks Grey but Grey shakes it off and tries to work Legend’s leg. Legend grabs a headlock and swings Grey around a few times before dumping Grey in a corner. Grey springs up and runs the ropes but Legend catches her and tosses Grey to the floor. Grey sidesteps some punches and rolls up Legend for a quick two. Grey hits a crucifix and gets two. Legend bullies Grey around but misses an elbow drop. Grey tries a springboard double stomp but Legend catches her and dumps Grey over the top rope to the floor. Legend hits a pump kick that staggers Grey as we go to commercials.

Grey drops Legend to a knee with some strikes and a kick as the show returns. Legend wallops Grey with a huge forearm and covers for two. Legend grabs a guillotine and then pulls Grey into a giant lariat. Grey fires up with a a forearm and a dropkick but cannot follow up. Legend rises first but Grey fires up with an elbow and a German. Grey SWEEPS THE LEG and then hits a springboard double stomp on a prone Legend. Legend bails to the floor and Grey slides out to hit a big DDT. Grey ascends but Legend catches her cross-body attempt and drops Grey over the top rope. Legend misses another pump kick and Grey hits Shades of Grey. Grey covers and gets three.

Well, that is indeed a big result for Kendal Grey in her first title defense. Lash really doesn’t have anything left to prove at this level and putting some people over on the way out and up is a decent usage of her, plus she could use the reps. Grey is improving and has the look of someone who’s not counting their steps anymore, which is good. This was solid as heck. 3*

Winner AND STILL Evolve Women’s Champion – Kendal Grey (Shades of Grey)

Post-match sees Grey celebrate with Wren Sinclair and make the NQCC hand symbol! Charles has a new friend, hooray.

Myles Borne cuts a promo on Instagram regarding Tavion Heights and says that no matter what happens, he’ll always be Heights brother. Tavion Heights is fishing but has time to respond to Borne saying that he’s got something to prove to Borne. We go to commercials.

Tatum Paxley runs into Lola Vice backstage and Vice congratulates Paxley on winning the title. Vice says she’s going to win the title tonight, and Paxley says she worked her ass off to get to where she’s at and won’t lose the title that quickly. Izzi Dame slides in and Vice leaves quickly.

Tavion Heights vs Myles Borne

This match was made at Halloween Havoc when both of these guys were complaining to Ava about wanting to fight Josh Briggs. Ava decided they should fight to see who gets Briggs. They fist bump after the bell and we’re off. Heights drops Borne to the mat and works a side headlock. Borne reverses and eventually grabs a roll-up of Heights that gets two. Heights rolls up Borne for two in response. Borne grabs a crucifix and gets two. There’s a reset and Heights grabs another side headlock. Borne escapes a few times but Heights keeps working the hold. Borne hits a cross-body for two. Heights fires off a big clothesline and covers Borne for two. We go to commercials.

Josh Briggs is on commentary when the show returns. Borne hits a moonsault and covers Heights for two. Heights fires up with a sling blade and grabs an ankle lock. Borne rolls out and hits a snap powerslam on Heights that gets two. Heights gets a big back body drop and covers Borne for two. Heights barks at Briggs who jumps on the apron to have more words. Heights drops Briggs with a right but then gets immediately clotheslined over the top rope to the floor by Borne. Borne hits a big cross-body on Briggs and Heights before running Heights back in. Borne reverses a belly-to-belly into a short DDT and gets three.

It was back and forth and there wasn’t a lot of selling, per se. These two are very much part of the future of the brand, I’d say, so a showcase like this is good for both of them. Heights loses a bit more than I’d like to see but this was a good outing for both guys. The PC needs to start teaching some more psychology to these folks, though. 2.75*

Winner – Myles Borne (DDT into a roll-up)

Post-match sees a show of respect between Borne and Heights which Briggs immediately ruins by pulling Heights out to fight. Trick Williams heads into the ring and smashes Borne with a chair from behind. Williams grabs a mic and starts barking about Ricky Saints, who sprints out of the crowd to fight with Trick. Security cannot break it up. Joseph talks about some live events as order is apparently finally restored.

Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame make an entrance as we go to commercials.

Chelsea Green is chatting with NXT Men’s North American Champion Ethan Page when the show returns. Alba Fyre is hanging behind in her Slaygent role. Page and Green are challenging for the AAA Mixed Tag championships this upcoming weekend. Green says she’s scouring the globe but she cannot give the open Slaygent position to any “Average Joe”. Thea Hail walks by and says she believes in Joe Hendry….and Joe Hendry pops out of a trashcan to scare the bejesus out of Green. Page says he doesn’t take advice from people who pop out of garbage cans, so Hail comes to collect Hendry and they leave.

NXT Women’s Championship: Tatum Paxley (C) vs Lola Vice

Vice takes the early control with a side headlock as Booker and Joseph debate whether or not this match is a good idea. Vice works some head scissors and then transitions into an armbar attempt. Paxley fires up with a dropkick and a running splash on a prone Vice. Vice slips another Paxley charge and snaps off an armdrag and a shoulder tackle. Paxley reverses a wristlock and we see Fatal Influence making their way into the building in an inset window. Vice misses a roundhouse kick attempt and here’s Jacy Jayne to drive Izzi Dame into the ring steps. Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley then run Dame into the barrier. Fatal surround the ring and then start the numbers game on Vice and Paxley as the ref calls for the DQ. Fatal go three on one with Paxley and Jayne hits the Rolling Encore to leave Paxley in a heap.

Just an angle disguised as a match, which I was expecting when the wheel landed on Vice’s name since she was Jayne’s last challenger prior to Paxley winning the title at Havoc. I’m guessing there might be a six woman tag next week, but I guess we’ll see. No rating due to the DQ finish.

No winner – Match thrown out when Fatal Influence interfered

NXT Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe cuts a pre-taped promo on winning the title at Havoc. Monroe, who’s in a bath, says she can take everything from people and make it her own. Monroe will defend her title for the first time in New York City. Booker is ecstatic about this promo, and Joseph mentions the Gold Rush programs coming up on November 18th and 25th.

NXT Anonymous catches a phone call between Je’von Evans and TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater. Darkstate enter to berate Evans and after some back-and-forth I think a challenge is agreed to for next week.

The WWE Women’s Speed tournament will start next week. As I predicted, there’s also a six woman tag match between Fatal Influence and Dame/Paxley/Vice.

Jordynne Grace makes her entrance as we go to commercials. The new Wrestlemania commercial starts things off.

Sol Ruca and Zaria run into Kelly Kincaid and Zaria says she’s going to enter the Speed tournament. Fatal Influence immediately interrupt as Jacy Jayne barks at the camera saying she’ll see Dame, Paxley and Vice next week. Highlights are shown of the ongoing fights between Trick Williams and Ricky Saints.

TNA Knockouts World Championship: Kelani Jordan (C) vs Jordynne Grace

Mike Rome does in-ring introductions and we’re off. Grace works a headlock to start but Jordan breaks out and after a flurry from both Jordan slaps Grace’s face. Grace hits a Thesz Press and goes to ground and pound. Jordan fights her way out of that and works over Grace along the ropes. Jordan hits a splash on Grace’s legs that sends Grace to the floor. Jordan hits a moonsault and puts the badmouth on Grace. Jordan slams Grace’s knee into the ring steps as we go to commercials.

Grace hits an Alabama Slam as we come back but Grace is still hurting and cannot make a cover. They slug it out and Grace slaps Jordan before slamming her twice. Jordan counters a third attempt with a chop block. Grace catches Jordan and wallops her with some clotheslines. Grace hits a spinebuster and Jordan kicks out at two. Jordan counters a driver attempt with a roundhouse back kick that staggers Grace. Grace catches a cross body attempt but can’t dump Jordan over. Jordan snaps off a split-legged cutter and covers for two. Grace catches Jordan with a back elbow but she slips when ascending. Jordan scampers over and hits a double stomp before stacking Grace up and getting two.

Grace hits a jackknife powerbomb out of nowhere and gets two. Grace hoists Jordan but Jordan grabs a roll-up and gets two. Jordan hits a superkick but Grace goes to the apron and slaps Jordan. They slug it out on the top rope and Jordan fires off a Spanish Fly that gets two. Here’s Trick Williams and Ricky Saints fighting out of the back in the aisle. Jordan grabs the the title but doesn’t use it and Grace rolls up Jordan for two. Saints and Trick fight into the ring, and then out. Jordan grabs the title and smashes Grace with it as the ref is watching the fight on the floor. Jordan covers Grace and gets three.

Well, that’s an interesting TURN of events right there. Jordan getting a full on heel turn suggests they really like her as a talent because that’s usually one of the bell-weathers for “we think this person has a real future with us”. Sometimes it works (Roxanne Perez) and sometimes it doesn’t (Cora Jade) but they don’t do it unless they want to see how the talent handles working the other way. Jordynne Grace has to win a big match at some point, she feels kind of stuck right now to me. I obviously wasn’t a fan of the way this finished but if it seals Kelani’s heel turn, then I’m okay with it as a prop. 3.5*

Winner and STILL TNA Knockouts World Champion – Kelani Jordan (Belt shot on Grace while the ref’s back was turned)

Post-match sees Saints and Trick continue to fight and Saints eventually drives Trick through the bottom of the NXT Roost. Saints crawls out as does Trick, so here’s Ava charging out to say there’s going to be a Last Man Standing title match in New York City. Saints and Trick continue to fight as the credits roll and we’re out.

The women got the shine tonight, albeit with some wonky finishes. Given how NXT always has to rush builds these days, the show moves along at breakneck speed just to get the cards built. The Paxley open challenge thing could be a fun thing if they decide to run with it as a gimmick. Overall I’m good with tonight’s effort.

Thanks for reading and commenting, you all are the best. Enjoy your Wednesday.