NXT Review – 11.04.25

It’s a busy time in WWE, so let’s catch up: Evolve | A Very Hardy Halloween | Smackdown | Raw

NXT is ON THE AIR LIVE on the CW from the Performance Center in Orlando, FL. The presenters of tonight’s show are Vic Joseph and Booker T on match calls, Mike Rome on ring introductions, and Sarah Schreiber on backstage interviews and news updates.

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

Arrivals via the NXT Parking Lot: AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions Ethan Page and Chelsea Green, along with Alba Fyre.

NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame and Lola Vice vs Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid)

Jayne whips her ring jacket at Dame before the match has even started, which, you know….rude. Jayne and Paxley slug it out to start and Vice tags in. Vice goes to work on Jayne in a corner before Jayne fires out with a huge kick. Reid tags in and she and Jayne hit some double team elbows and forearms on Vice. Vice tries for an armbar and Reid slips it, so Dame tags in. Reid hits a cross-body but Dame responds with a clothesline and a shotgun dropkick. Paxley tags in and hits a big elbow drop. Paxley’s cover gets two. Henley tags in and she slugs Paxley a couple of times before hitting a side kick to Paxley’s head. Henley’s cover gets two. Vice tags in and hits a pump kick on Henley and that gets two. Vice and Paxley hit stereo hip attacks and then encourage Dame to do Vice’s salsa shake dance. We go to commercials.

Fatal are in charge when the show returns and Jayne hits a huge knee on Vice that gets two. Jayne misses a cannonball attempt and Vice manages to tag in Paxley. Paxley dumps Henley and then drops Jayne and Reid to the floor. Paxley misses a 450 and Henley snaps off a crucifix that gets two. Paxley gets an immediate roll-up on Henley for two. Jayne distracts the ref as Reid smashes a prone Paxley with a left. Henley hits Paxley with a sling blade and covers for two as Dame charges in. Henley rolls up Paxley but Dame rolls them both over and Paxley gets two. Paxley hits a rolling driver on Henley that gets two and everyone charges in to hit their stuff. Henley and Paxley clothesline each other as we reset. Henley and Paxley slug it out but Dame and Jayne make blind tags. Dame pushes Paxley out of the way and immediately eats the Rolling Encore from Jayne. Jayne covers and gets three.

Really fast-paced match, but I’ve noticed an uptick in tempo lately almost across the board. It was probably time for Fatal to win something because they’ve been through a bunch of losses lately. I will give credit to Fallon Henley tonight, this was as good as I’ve seen her work in awhile. Lainey Reid is coming along nicely too. This was a solid opener. 2.75*

Winners – Fatal Influence (Jayne Rolling Encore on Dame)

THE NXT SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY PROGRESSIVE shows WWE Men’s Speed Champion El Grande Americano along with Rayo and Bravo invading the NXT locker room. They want a better locker room so Josh Briggs decides to chastise them for being jerks. Americano promises to deal with Briggs TONIGHT. We go to commercials.

We look at highlights of last week when Kelani Jordan used her Knockouts title belt to blast Jordynne Grace in the face in order to win their match. Grace showed a photo of the aftermath effects of the belt shot on social media. Also taking to social media was Lei Ying Lee who threw out a challenge to Jordan for her title.

Wren Sinclair is with Karmen Petrovic, Tyra Mae Steele, and Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. Sinclair congratulates Grey on beating Lash Legend and becoming part of the WrenQCC. Sinclair announces she’s in the Women’s Speed tournament tonight and here’s TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan who tells them to go find a monitor and listen up.

Jordan comes to the ring and grabs a mic. Jordan says she kept her title by any means necessary, but she knows it was out of character for her. The crowd boos, so she tells them to pipe down while the champ talks. Jordan points out that Dom Mysterio gets cheers for cheating in AAA, and that Cody Rhodes used his title belt against Drew McIntyre on SNME and got cheered. Jordan says she’s not going to be like Trick Williams and wear the Knockouts title upside-down. Jordan is now getting booed and has been kicked out of the locker room for representing TNA in the Showdown match. Jordan says no one in the locker room can keep up with her and the fans only care about “fat asses and catchphrases”. Jordan says they aren’t fans, they’re followers. She’s not going to be handing out opportunities like Tatum Paxley, and she’ll be staying home from Gold Rush because no one has earned a shot. Jordan says Lei Ying Lee isn’t on her radar. Jordan says you can call her whatever you want, but you have to call her “champion”.

Not a bad promo, but the crowd felt like it was slipping towards go-away heat. Maybe I’m reading it wrong, I don’t know, but I thought Jordan did well for a solo spotlight heel promo. As always, the proof is in the pudding and I’m wondering if Santino and Ava might have something to say about Gold Rush.

Sarah Schreiber is backstage with OTM. Nima is not apologizing for ruining the the triple threat tag, and Price promises that they are coming for everything. Chase U come into frame and Andre Chase makes sure no fisticuffs break out before chastising Connors and Dixon for angering Nima and Price.

Josh Briggs vs El Grande Americano

What a random match this is. Americano gets a big reaction from the PC crowd even with being announced as being from the “Gulf of America”. Americano shakes hands with Booker, who is very excited and compares Americano to Pancho Villa. Booker does the “Ole” chant with the crowd as the bell rings.

Briggs trucks Americano but Americano responds with a big leg lariat. Americano hits a deep armdrag and then works an acrobatic submission. Americano drops an elbow and then whales Briggs with a kick. Americano ascends and then points out Jasper Troy in the crowd. Briggs uses the distraction to hit a big pump kick. We go to commercials.

Americano breaks out of a headlock with a flurry, but Briggs cuts it off and hits a splash for two. Americano fires up with some chops but Briggs again cuts it off before hanging Americano in the Tree of Woe. Briggs goes to work with kicks and then tries for the mask. Rayo and Bravo jump on the apron to break that up, so Briggs dumps them to the floor. Americano hits a flying tackle on Briggs and they start slugging it out. Americano hits some flying headbutts and then a discus chop. Americano hits a Blockbuster that sends Briggs to the floor. Americano follows with a tope suicida and then he stops to celebrate with Rayo and Bravo. A quickly recovered Briggs uses Americano’s cape to distract him before Briggs trucks Americano off the ropes. Tavion Heights charges into the ring and while that is happening the Americanos hit a double team Backstabber on Briggs. They run Briggs back in and Americano slaps on a Backstabber submission that causes Briggs to immediately tap.

Okay, so the point of this clearly was to continue the build for Troy-Americano and Heights-Briggs, so I guess it is what it is. Americano really did work 98% babyface tonight, which was odd, but at least they cheated to win to KEEP THAT HEAT. Briggs once again looks like a goober, which I’m fine with because I’m pretty sure he’s going over Heights the next time they tangle. This rating is NOT because of Americano. 2.5*

Winner – El Grande Americano (Backstabber submission)

Wren Sinclair is warming up for her match with Kendal Grey when Kelani Jordan wanders in to check if they watched her promo. Grey takes the high road since Sinclair is up next, and they leave. NXT GM Ava wants a word with a huffy Jordan in her office. Jordan says spit it out, and Ava reminds Jordan that she can’t just sit out of Gold Rush. Jordan pushes back that Ava actually doesn’t call the shots around TNA’s titles and here’s Tyra Mae Steele to bark at Jordan about disrespect. Jordan fires back, so Ava makes a match between the two of them for tonight.

NXT Men’s Champion Ricky Saints is on his way to an interview when he bumps into Myles Borne. Borne playfully asks Saints to leave a piece of Trick Williams after their Last Man Standing match and Saints says “say less”. They dap it up and we go to commercials.

Highlights are shown of Chelsea Green and Ethan Page winning the AAA Mixed Tag titles on Sunday night.

A conversation happens between Trick Williams and Ricky Saints. Williams says Saints can’t handle being champion, so Saints points out that he beat Williams cleanly at Halloween Havoc. Saints says Trick’s ego can’t handle being second best. Trick says Saints doesn’t know anything about carrying the brand, so Saints says Trick’s had one foot out of the door since Saints arrived. Saints says he wants to take NXT to new heights. Trick says Saints looks like a fan so he should go to WWEShop.com and buy a title belt. Trick promises to be the Last Man Standing next week, and they want to fight right now. Both go off camera and quickly find each other. Trick uses a pipe on Saints and then barks at him while holding the title.

A pretty decent heat sequence to build for Last Man Standing. Let’s hope it lives up to the billing.

WWE Women’s Speed Tournament: Zaria vs Wren Sinclair

Zaria is accompanied by Sol Ruca, and Sinclair is seconded by Kendal Grey. As a reminder, Speed matches have a three minute time limit. Sinclair hits a roll-up for one and then gets another for two. Zaria smashes Sinclair and then hits a backbreaker that gets two. Sinclair has a short flurry and starts working Zaria’s shoulder. Sinclair gets another roll up for two. Sinclair smashes Zaria’s shoulder but Zaria fires up with clotheslines and a pump kick. Sinclair slaps on the Fujiwara armbar but Zaria rolls out of it and hits a big spear. Zaria hits the F5 and covers Sinclair for three.

A million miles an hour, but no glaring flaws. I’m inclined to be more generous than I usually am with Speed matches. 2.5*

Winner – Zaria (F5)

Post-match sees Zaria tell Sinclair she’s going to get the Speed title back as a sad Grey looks on at Sinclair. Zaria will take on the winner of Fallon Henley versus Skyler Raye, who won LFG Season 2, in the Speed tournament finals.

Je’von Evans is warming up backstage. Kelani Jordan makes her entrance as we go to commercials.

TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan vs Tyra Mae Steele

Jordan works a wristlock and talks some smack. Steele reverses and then everyone goes to acrobatics. Steele drives a shoulder into Jordan from the apron and then tries for a sunset flip. Jordan counters and tries to use the rope but the ref sees it and breaks the count. Jordan gets another roll up for two. Steele trips up Jordan and then there’s another series of roll-ups and reversals that culminates in a Jordan superkick to Steele. Jordan runs Steele into the ring post and then starts working Steele’s left arm. Jordan clubbers away and covers for two. Jordan drops elbows and then slaps on a reverse arm lock. Steele slugs her way out of it but Jordan catches Steele with a big forearm. Steele fires up with a clothesline and a sling blade before lofting Jordan and dropping her on her face. Steele uses her posterior as a weapon when Jordan charges. Steele hits a sort-of reverse Angle Slam and covers for two. Jordan runs Steele into a turnbuckle and then drops her with a bodyslam. Jordan hits the split-legged moonsault and covers Steele for three.

Just a quick showcase for Jordan and her new heel persona. She hasn’t gone full evil yet but it’s getting there. Steele is getting better with each rep and this will help, even though it was kind of a sprint. Nothing you have to go out of your way to re-watch or anything, but nothing actively terrible here either. 2*

Winner – Kelani Jordan (Split-Legged Moonsault)

Post-match sees TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella join the proceedings via video to let Jordan know she will be defending the title at Gold Rush in a triple threat match against Jordynne Grace and Lei Ying Lee. Jordan is predictably not happy.

Sol Ruca and Zaria are in Ava’s office and Ruca lets Ava know that the doctors are saying she’s progressing nicely. Ruca wants Blake Monroe at Gold Rush but she’s still a month away from being cleared. Fatal Influence charges in and Jacy Jayne wants her rematch for the Women’s title at Gold Rush. Ava kicks everyone out so she can consult with Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce about the Last Time Is Now tournament entrants from NXT.

Je’von Evans makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Je’von Evans vs Saquon Shugars

Evans goes flying over the top rope onto all of Darkstate before the bell sounds. Evans dumps Shugars in as the bell sounds and hammers him with a huge knee and covers for two. Shugars fires up and they slug it out a bit. Evans wants a rana but Shugars catches him and turns it into an inverted atomic drop. Shugars fires a forearm into Evans’s back as Joseph points out that Leon Slater is not in the building tonight. Shugars smashes Evans with a backbreaker. Evans fires up and hits a big chest drop on Shugars. Shugars hits another backbreaker in response and that gets two.

Evans hits a reverse thrust kick and then snaps off a couple of ranas and a dropkick that sends Shugars to the floor. Darkstate fires Shugars up and he charges back in to pound on Evans in a corner. Evans responds by back-bodydropping Shugars to the floor before hitting another tope con hilo on him. Evans gets distracted by Cutler James and that allows Shugars to wallop him in the back with a knee. Darkstate celebrate as we go to commercials.

Shugars has Evans in a Gory Special position when the show returns but Evans slips out of it and rolls up Shugars for two. Evans hits a double stomp to Shugars jaw that sends spit flying. Evans goes to the apron and tries a springboard but Shugars side-steps it and kicks Evans down. Evans hits a short dropkick and covers for two. Shugars bullies Evans as Lennox and James bark at him from the floor. Evans fires up and hits a rope-assisted release German. Evans fires off some punches and forearms and then kicks Evans down in a corner. Evans hits a huge tope suicida that barely catches Shugars. Evans then goes up top for his huge springboard cross-body and then hits the ropes for his 360 kick. Evans covers and gets two.

Evans slowly ascends in a corner which gives Shugars enough time to hit the ropes sending Evans crotch-first onto the top turnbuckle. Shugars hoists Evans and hits a sit-down facesmash. Shugars misses a top rope move and a resurgent Evans snaps off a cutter. Evans hits a springboard cutter and Osiris Griffin breaks up the cover by yanking Shugars to the floor. Evans charges out and wipes out all of Darkstate. Evans climbs back in and wallops Shugars with a superkick before ascending and hitting a springboard torneo. Evans covers and gets three.

Saquon Shugars is decent enough but he needs a bunch of reps in terms of his offense. He sells very well, and his movements within the ring show promise. Evans is what he is at this point, but I give him credit for the gains he’s made over the last year and a half or so. A lot of his presentation has really come together. This was fine for the “plucky babyface overcomes an incredible numbers disadvantage” trope it portrayed. 3*

Winner – Je’von Evans (Springboard Torneo splash)

Joseph and Booker run down the card for next week’s card which includes two title matches. The Men’s Speed title will be up for grabs as will the NXT Men’s title in the Last Man Standing battle.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe is with Ava and she wants a match in New York City. Ava promises that Sol Ruca would be that opponent if she’s cleared. Monroe gets a call and tells Ava that her “better half” has asked for an exclusive interview next week. She’s going to interview herself, isn’t she. Sigh. We go to commercials.

The Culling are backstage and Tatum Paxley is very upset and blaming herself for the earlier loss. Dame forgives her and tells Paxley she can’t keep riding her emotions so hard. Dame reminds Paxley how hard she’s worked and that she’s risking losing the title too quickly with wanting to be a fighting champion. Paxley says she’s going to be selective about who gets title defense, except for maybe next week. Paxley charges off as Dame is left aghast.

Here’s Ethan Page and Chelsea Green with Alba Fyre for the “Muy Grande Campeon Celebracion”. Page knows they don’t have many fans around the world because they say things and they come true. Page says they told everyone they’d win the AAA mixed tag titles and here they are as champions. Page says that title and his NA title make him the greatest North American of all time. Green says she’s taking the Women’s US title on Friday night, and they will both be double champions. Page says they’ll defend the mixed tag titles against anyone and everyone. Green says everything is ready for the celebration and almost says Joe Hendry’s name…as Page says DON’T SAY IT. The crowd chants “Say his name”. There’s a giant cake in the ring and Fyre is ordered to say the name. Joe Hendry does not pop out of the cake, he just marches out from the back. Page knows Hendry wants a title shot at Gold Rush but Hendry actually wants a mixed tag title match. Green points out that Hendry needs a partner and here’s Thea Hail to pop out of the cake dressed exactly like Hendry. There’s a bunch of cake smashing and Hendry and Hail stand tall as Green and Page are covered with icing. Hail and Hendry wave their arms in conjunction with the delighted crowd.

The credits roll and we’re out.

If you told me I’d give thumbs up to a show with someone from Darkstate in the main event I’d have told you were nuts, but that ending segment was just Pro Wrestling Nonsense at it’s finest. The truth of the matter has been that I’ve been a bit down on this show lately for various reasons (personally, not here, because I need to be objective with reviews). I’m trying to embrace some folks that don’t really connect with me while recognizing that they might be connecting in a big way with others. I don’t want to be a grumpy old fart reviewer, is what I’m saying. So, with that in mind, I’ll tell you that I am looking forward to Last Man Standing next week even though I’m sure it’s going to be some overbooked nonsense, I am looking forward to the Men’s Speed finals because EGA is a hell of a performer at this point, and I am very much looking forward to Gold Rush. The shows have gotten me excited about upcoming matches and that’s the entire point of wrestling. Also, I need to shout out the PC crowd a bit, because they really have embraced the sometimes wacky and chaotic style that NXT likes to use from time to time. Like I said, thumbs up from me for tonight.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Please go give some love to the other show recappers! Have a good week and I’ll see y’all for Smackdown on Saturday morning.