NXT Review – 11.11.25

We should catch up, yes? Let’s do that: Evolve | Impact | Smackdown | Raw

NXT is LIVE AND IN LIVING COLOR 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

Veteran’s Day is recognized, and if you ever served, thank you.

Let’s see some folks arrive to work: Here’s Trick Williams and NXT Men’s Champion Ricky Saints walking to the building ahead of their big Last Man Standing main event.

Here’s The Culling lead by NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley to start things off. Paxley and Izzi Dame are given microphones, and Paxley recognizes the crowd chanting her name. Paxley says if she wants to keep hearing the chanting, she has to listen to her friends and Paxley takes the blame for losing last week. Dame assures Paxley they have her back but Paxley has to stop being so impulsive. Paxley really enjoyed spinning the wheel last week, and she really feels like it’s on her to give opportunities to people in the back. Dame says the reality is not everyone deserves a shot.

Here’s Fatal Influence to interrupt and Jacy Jayne tells Paxley she has to decide what kind of champion she wants to be. Jayne is picking up a lot of crowd heat, so she just plows ahead and tells Paxley that Dame is actually right, she has to hold out until a deserving challenger, like herself, steps up. Dame says Paxley is not going to fall for that and Paxley has nothing to prove against Jayne. Paxley says she has to be more selective about who she picks but that will start after New York and Jayne will get her rematch at Gold Rush.

EARLIER TODAY Evolve Men’s Champion Jackson Drake and Swipe Right are in NXT GM Ava‘s office, and Drake thanks Ava for a defense of the title that he will apparently have at Gold Rush against Sean Legacy. NXT Men’s North American Champion and AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion Ethan Page, WWE Women’s US Champion and AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green, and Alba Fyre join the scene and the Vanity Project kids are very excited to see them. Ava congratulates Green on winning the US title and points out their upcoming defense of the Mixed Tag titles against Thea Hail and WE DON’T SAY HIS NAME BECAUSE WE’VE LEARNED OUR LESSON. A match is made where Fyre will take on Hail tonight, apparently.

Jasper Troy makes his way to the ring, as do WWE Men’s Speed Champion El Grande Americano along with Rayo and Bravo. The Speed title match is NEXT as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s Speed Championship: El Grande Americano (C) vs Jasper Troy

As a reminder, the Speed championship matches have a five minute time limit. EGA is accompanied by Rayo and Bravo, and he seems to be in a good mood as he daps up Booker and Joseph at the announce desk. Troy works Americano over in a corner before slamming him and getting two. Americano hits a couple of kicks and covers Troy for two. Troy snaps off a clothesline and a big back elbow before putting the boots to Americano. Americano fires up but Troy cuts it off with a headbutt and a kick. Troy hits a splash and gets two. Troy goes back to stomping away but he meets a big knee from Americano during a charge. Americano hits a Blockbuster and Troy goes to the floor. Troy whales Americano with a right when he charges and then goes for the chain. Rayo and Bravo are caught by the ref holding the chain and the ref chastises both of them. Americano gets handed his mask plate and he wallops Troy with a headbutt. The ref catches Americano trying to insert the mask plate and Americano runs into a Black Hole Slam. Troy’s subsequent cover gets three!

I wouldn’t have expected that result but I think the Speed titles are going to be NXT-specific here moving forward so in that regard it makes some sense. Troy is still very much a work in progress but his basic offense works in situations like this where he’s not expected to remember or perform a ton of spots. The entire Americano crew is really very good at all of this in terms of their presentation and the current Americano is a terrific wrestler, so all of this worked within the five minutes. 2.25*

Winner AND NEW WWE Men’s Speed Champion – Jasper Troy

Here’s Thea Hail and Joe Hendry backstage discussing the end of last week‘s show, and Hendry says he couldn’t have asked for a better tag partner. Hail is fired up about facing Alba Fyre and she believes in Hendry and herself. We go to commercials.

Ava is with Sean Legacy who thanks her for the title shot at Gold Rush. Sol Ruca and Zaria enter and Legacy says he misses seeing Ruca in the ring. Ruca is cleared medically and she wants Blake Monroe at Gold Rush, and after being warned about the potential dangers, Ava makes the match to Ruca’s delight.

Thea Hail vs Alba Fyre

Joe Hendry is out with Hail, and Ethan Page and Chelsea Green are with Fyre. Hail immediately tries for a Kimura but Fyre fights back and goes to work on Hail in a corner. Fyre stands on Hail’s hair while yanking her arm. Hail gets a quick roll up for two, and then Fyre gets one of her own for two. There’s a standoff and Hail fires up with a Thesz Press and some right hands. Hail hits an armdrag and her subsequent dropkick sends Fyre to the floor. Hail hits a moonsault and then gets distracted by Green. Fyre comes flying out with a tope suicida to send Hail to the floor and everyone gathers as we go to commercials.

Fyre is smacking Hail around when the show returns. There’s a headbutt battle and then they fire off forearms at each other. Hail hits an armdrag and a couple double sledges before walloping Fyre with a clothesline. Hail misses a Coffin Drop and Fyre runs her into a corner before firing off a tornado DDT that gets two. Hail gets an inside cradle for two, and then snaps off a Michinoku Driver that Fyre barely kicks out of at two. Hail ascends and Green once again tries to distract. Hail gets the Kimura on and Hendry charges around to dump Page off the apron as he tries to distract the ref. Green accidently slaps Page and then Green gets crushed by a Hail tope suicida. Fyre snaps off a superkick when Hail returns and that gets two. Hail rolls through a Gory Special attempt and gets the three count.

Damn, Thea Hail hasn’t really lost a step even without being on NXT television in a wrestling capacity for some time, and I’m happy for her. This was a terrific contest and I will say it again, Alba Fyre deserves better than this role she’s currently in. There were heel shenanigans, and the babyfaces overcame it to get the big win. I think this might telegraph the result of next week’s mixed tag title shot a bit, but that’s something to worry about next week. 3.5*

Winner – Thea Hail (Roll-up)

Tatum Paxley is backstage chatting with Ricky Saints, who’s getting taped up in medical. Saints tells Paxley to not let anyone tell her what type of champion to be. The Culling come in to gather up Paxley and Saints says Paxley is kind of weird but he likes it. We go to commercials.

Blake Monroe is in the NXT SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY PROGRESSIVE. As I suspected she’s interviewing herself. The Glamour Monroe tells The Woman From Hell Monroe that she worked very hard to get here and no one is going to take her title. Monroe calls herself the “total package” and she’s confident and polished. Monroe tells Monroe that there’s only one way she can beat Ruca and that’s by breaking her and reminding Ruca what she’s lost. Monroe entertains the idea of breaking Ruca and says the fans will hate that so Monroe tells her that’s why they need each other.

Here’s Je’von Evans talking to Leon Slater on the phone and Evans has a special announcement to make so Slater will be appearing via Face Time, apparently. We go to commercials.

Here’s Sarah Schreiber with Jordynne Grace and Grace tells Schreiber that cheating isn’t original, and she’s fired up about the TNA Knockouts Title match at Gold Rush. Grace reminds everyone that she’s a three time Knockouts champion and she can course correct and become a four time champ in two weeks. Grace vows to win the title and that Kelani Jordan will only have Grace to blame at that point.

Je’von Evans is fired up about facing GUNTHER in the Last Time Is Now tournament, but he’s also nervous about wrestling in MSG at the age of 21 on Monday. Here’s Leon Slater appearing on-screen and he and Evans are delighted to announce that they will face Darkstate for the tag titles on Gold Rush. Evans promises to make magic and take the titles, but predictably here’s Darkstate to interrupt. Dion Lennox promises to end Evans and Slater in NYC. Saquon Shugars threatens to beat on Evans right now and as it turns out Leon Slater is in the building! I AM SHOCKED. Slater and Evans hit gigantic topes on Darkstate that includes Slater coming completely out of his shoe. Refs rush out and everyone yells at each other. Sidenote: I’m getting kind of tired of Booker yelling “WHAT THE HELL?” every time something happens.

Here’s TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan approaching Trick Williams to tell him he was right about being a TNA champ in the NXT locker room. Jordan says she’s picking Trick in the LMS tonight, and Williams says you have to be selfish sometimes. Trick promises to win tonight and expects Kelani to be HER next week in NYC in a cute nod to Jordan’s real-life partner and Trick’s ex-buddy but occasional tag partner. We go to commercials.

WWE Women’s Speed Tournament Finals: Skylar Raye vs Fallon Henley

Henley is seconded by Jacy Jayne and Lainey Reid. Raye hits a dropkick and rolls Henley up for one. Raye gets another rollup for one, and then they exchange crucifixes that both get two. Henley whales Raye with a big chop and then tries for a submission. Raye rolls through and Henley gets another crucifix cover for two. Raye hits a splash and then smashes Henley with a cross-body for two. Raye hits a tornado DDT and that gets two. Henley drops Raye over the top rope and then hits a sling blade. Henley hits the Fameasser and that gets three. Henley will face Zaria for the Women’s Speed Championship at Gold Rush.

Raye looked sloppy. It was her first televised match, it was a sprint, and they tried to get in everything they could so I didn’t expect anything else. Henley pretty much carried her through it which she should do, but I got the impression that Henley getting busted open towards the end did not please her. 1.25*

Winner – Fallon Henley (Fameasser)

Jasper Troy says that winning the Speed title was cool, and everyone is going to bend the knee. Darkstate come pouring out into the evening to scream about Evans and Slater and what they’re going to do to them at Gold Rush.

Josh Briggs makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Fatal Influence talks up their opportunities at Gold Rush, and Lainey Reid heads off to have a chat with someone. Did you know that Sheamus will be at the mid-west house shows that NXT is putting on? WELL NOW YA DO, PAL.

Josh Briggs vs Tavion Heights

Briggs wallops Heights with a big boot immediately and then goes to work with forearms and right hands. Briggs puts the boots to Heights and then fires off a big back elbow. Heights fires up with a fireman’s carry and then dumps Briggs to the mat with a waist lock. Heights ragdolls Briggs around a bit so Briggs pulls Heights hair to break out of it. Briggs smashes Heights with a sidewalk slam and that gets two. Briggs drops an elbow and covers Heights for two. Heights fires up and Briggs cuts it off with an elbow. Heights dumps Briggs and then hoists him up. Briggs runs the ropes and smashes Heights with a huge lariat as we go to commercials.

Heights is fighting out of a headlock when the show returns. Briggs clips Height’s knee and then goes to some ground and pound. Briggs covers Heights for two. Heights fires up and dumps Briggs with some clotheslines. Briggs cuts it off with some big boots but he misses a third attempt at it while crotching himself on the top rope. Heights snaps off a belly-to-belly suplex and covers Heights for three.

I legit try to not be too harsh on Josh Briggs but my GOD he’s an annoying wrestler. Heights is coming along nicely but he still needs work on selling. Unfortunately, with Briggs cutting literally everything off until the finish, Heights was forced to sell a bit more than he usually does. He’ll get there. I’m not sure Briggs ever will as Joseph actually continues to mention how long Briggs has been in NXT with no upward movement. 2.5*

Winner – Tavion Heights (Belly-to-Belly suplex)

Ava is with Myles Borne who tells Ava that Trick Williams has a receipt coming, but he also agrees to not interfere in the Last Man Standing match. Wren Sinclair enters and the former NQCC teammates dap it up as Borne exits. Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey enters and her and Sinclair confer. Lainey Reid enters and slaps Grey and that causes a brawl, so apparently all of Fatal will be having title matches at Gold Rush.

Joseph runs down the Gold Rush cards as they stand right now. I’m looking forward to those shows.

Trick Williams, kendo stick in hand, makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

NXT Men’s Championship – Last Man Standing: Ricky Saints (C) vs Trick Williams

You can watch this whole match here, and you should do that with the quickness. Trick misses a bunch of kendo swings and then Saints catches the kendo and walks the ropes. Saints gets ahold of the stick and whales Trick a bunch of times before Trick bails. Saints pulls out some plunder and he and Trick swing chairs at each other. Saints sends Trick into the ring steps and then pulls out more plunder. Saints runs Trick in and then tries a springboard. Trick smashes Saints with a trash can and then drops Saints face-first on a second trashcan. The ref’s count reaches eight and when Saints makes his feet Trick immediately crushes Saints with a leg lariat. Trick throws some chops and then ties Saints in the ropes. Trick breaks the kendo stick over Saints taped ribs and then picks up a chair. Trick wallops Saints with the chair and then sets it up in the ring. Saints makes his feet at eight again. Saints grabs a trashcan lid and goes to work with it. Trick goes to the floor and we go to commercials as we see that Saints is bleeding from his mouth.

Trick hits a spin kick on Saints when the show returns. Trick charges Saints who slips it and sends Trick flying into the barrier, which breaks. A “holy shit” chant breaks out as Saints grabs another kendo stick. When Trick returns to the ring, Saints just hammers Trick with the kendo stick. Trick is also bleeding as Saints smashes him with the chair over and over in the back. Trick rises at nine only to get immediately crushed by a Saints spear. The ref’s count reaches nine before Trick rises. Trick fires up and sends Saints into a mounted chair in a corner and Saints collapses on the floor. Saints crawls around as Trick picks up the ring steps. Trick wallops Saints with the ring steps and the ref begins to count again. The count reaches eight before Trick crushes Saints with a running knee off the ring steps. The count reaches seven so Trick picks up Saints and drops him on the ring steps. Saints pushes Trick off the steps and his head hits the ring bell. Saints charges Trick who sends him through the bottom of the NXT Roost. Saints comes flying out at the nine count and they go into the stands. Trick hits the Trick Shot and gets an eight count, but as he’s posing Saints flies off with a spear that sends both of them through the (thankfully cleared off) announce desk. Saints pushes a stricken Trick back to the floor and the refs count reaches ten.

If you read my reviews regularly you will know that I’m not a fan of plunder brawls, but this one was damn good because both guys went out there with the agreement that they were going to beat the shit out of each other. They absolutely accomplished that goal as both guys got hardway color from the intensity of the brawl. Listen, if you’re going to agree to kendo sticks, chairs, trash cans and whatnot, just go the whole nine yards and really kick it into another gear to get the crowd going. This was really good and for me, match of the night. 4*

Winner and STILL NXT Men’s Champion – Ricky Saints (Ten count after a spear through the announce desk)

Post-match sees a green light fill the Center and here’s a returning Oba Femi as the credits roll. We don’t actually get to see Femi because I’m guessing the match ran long and they have a hard out for the 10 PM news on the CW. Ah well, at least the big fellow is back.

The first hour was very talky, but at least the Hail-Fyre match kicked ass. The second hour was better but the show was entirely saved by the WILDLY intense main event. I mean, FOR REAL they kicked the crap out of each other in maybe the most crazy brawl since some of the Ciampa-Gargano dust-ups. It was something else. They did a good job of setting up what should be two fun shows at MSG (they’re taping night two after night one, so let’s hope the crowd isn’t too burnt by the end) and Joseph did mention that Ava has started scouting for my favorite NXT match, the Iron Survivor Challenges. I’m good with tonight’s show in general but I could go for a month without seeing Josh Briggs and not miss him at all.

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