NXT Review – 12.30.25

Let’s catch up, shall we? Impact | Smackdown | RAW

NXT comes into your home on the CW and Netflix from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The announcing team for tonight’s show are Vic Joseph and Booker T on match calls and analysis, Mike Rome on ring announcements, and no one on backstage interviews and breaking news segments, apparently. This show was recorded on December 17th, so let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

Arrivals include Ricky Saints and Je’von Evans. Everyone else arrived off-camera presumably.

NXT Men’s North American Championship: Ethan Page (C) vs Moose

Mike Rome does in-ring intros and as he’s introducing Moose, Page attacks. Page pounds away in a corner and wants Twisted Grin, but Moose slips out of it and hits a huge spear. Page bails and Moose gives chase, but Page slips it and Moose crashes into the ring steps. Page gets yanked shoulder-first into the ring-post and we reset. Moose returns to the ring and eats a Page roundhouse and a swinging neckbreaker. We go to commercials.

Page is slugging away and then flies off the ropes to nail Moose with a high kick. Moose snaps off a back suplex in response. Moose hits a Euro uppercut, a one-armed body-slam, and a running senton before nipping up to a pop. Page fires off an elbow but Moose hits a sit-out powerbomb before getting two when he covers. They start slugging it out and Page ends it with a roundhouse kick. Moose fires off a high kick but Page responds with a lariat and a Codebreaker before covering and getting two. Page fires off rights as Moose tries to fire up. Moose fires off a headbutt and a high dropkick that sends Page to the floor. Moose follows him out and spears Page through the barricade. Moose hits a spear and crawls to a cover as Page gets his foot on the ropes at two. Page bails to the floor and Moose slides out in response. Moose charges around the ring and runs into a Page backdrop that sees Moose land back-first on the ring steps. Page hits a top rope splash and cannot believe it when Moose kicks out at two. Page snaps off Twisted Grin and gets three.

Whether I like him or not, the hierarchy in WWE/NXT clearly like Page a bunch and this was a showcase for that as Moose is a very credible challenger. I give Egon credit, he’s settled into this role where he gets to do his thing while others with potentially more upside fight over the main men’s title. I have no major issues with this match, quite frankly, but I also can’t tell you in good conscience that if you missed it you need to seek it out or anything. 2.5*

Winner AND STILL NXT Men’s North American Champion – Ethan Page (Twisted Grin)

Booker puts Page over as the GOAT North American champion after the match, and I’m reminded that Booker has been hit in the head a lot.

The NXT Male Superstar of the Year is Je’von Evans. Evans runs down his accomplishments for the year and seems genuinely touched by winning the award. Evans says things are going to get REAL BOUNCY in 2026.

Izzi Dame is chatting with Shawn Spears and Niko Vance and wants everyone to go confront Tatum Paxley. Spears begs off and Dame wanders away muttering about them. We go to commercials.

A camera spots Wren Sinclair trying to get help for a downed and suffering Kendal Grey.

Izzi Dame is in the ring and mentions that she never should have tried to convince Tatum Paxley of her actual potential. Dame says that if Paxley looked in the mirror she’d see the reason for all of her problems. Dame says she was the one who ended Paxley who then in turn went after Vance and Spears. Dame says Paxley cannot be fixed and that she’s spiraling and it’s pathetic. Dame says she wasn’t the villain in the story, she was the cure. Here’s Tatum Paxley emerging from the back to tell Dame that she learned a lot from her, and she was actually listening and did care. Paxley needs to tell Dame that she’s sorry that Dame is so insecure. Paxley says Dame has to feel in control to function and that she knows that Dame is too scared to admit her failings. Paxley says she doesn’t need friends like Dame, she needs friends like the NXT UNIVERSE and she’s here to end this whole thing for herself. Dame says if Paxley wants to keep playing games, Dame is up for it and wants to know what her next move is. Paxley says there will be no Spears, Vance, dolls or chainsaws at New Year’s Evil, and Dame is up for it. Dame says after that match, playtime is over. Paxley says it won’t be over until she says it is. Dame charges and Paxley snatches her up and drops her with her twisting backbreaker-driver.

The NXT Tag Team of the Year is presented by PROGRESSIVE. The winners are ZaRuca and they are thankful to have won the award. Zaria runs down their year in accomplishments and says it’s just the beginning for them.

Fatal Influence are heading to the ring as we go to commercials.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne vs Wren Sinclair

This is non-title, and Sinclair is out by herself with Grey presumably being tended to after being attacked. Jayne hits an arm drag before waffling Sinclair with a senton. Jayne bullies Sinclair along the ropes and runs into a couple of Sinclair arm-yanks. Jayne runs Sinclair into the ropes and then waffles her with a shoulder tackle. Jayne puts the boots to Sinclair in a corner before mashing her with a short-arm clothesline. Jayne’s cover gets two. Sinclair gets a quick roll-up for two, and then Sinclair starts working over Jayne’s shoulder. Sinclair kicks Jayne’s elbow and then yanks it back while torquing it. Sinclair hits a shoulder tackle and a running neckbreaker before covering and getting two. Sinclair hits a reverse thrust kick, but Henley distracts Sinclair allowing Jayne to snap off a superkick. Jayne snaps Sinclair throat-first on the second rope as we go to commercials.

Sinclair elbows her way out of a rear chinlock when the show returns, but Jayne snaps off a running neckbreaker in response. Jayne hits a double stomp and barks at the crowd. Sinclair kicks Jayne down and then drops her neck-first on the second rope. Sinclair fires off some chops and three lariats. Sinclair hits a double-underhooks suplex and covers for two. Sinclair wants a backslide but Jayne slips out of it and waffles Sinclair with a knee that gets two. Sinclair slips a charge and runs Jayne into a turnbuckle before ascending and smashing Jayne with a cross-body that gets two. Sinclair slaps on a submission before sliding into La Mistica. Sinclair gets an inside cradle for two, but Jayne springs up and hits the Rolling Encore. Jayne’s cover is academic as she gets the three count.

Sinclair really worked over Jayne’s shoulder in this one, and given Kendal Grey’s catch credentials, that match could be good fun at NYE next week (even though this match with Sinclair happened a week before Christmas Eve, but we don’t concern ourselves with those details, right?). Sinclair was game here and worked well before eating the inevitable finish. I’m starting to wonder where they can go with Jayne after this unless they’re planning on trying to re-heat Jordynne Grace, because Blake Monroe is an uber-heel that will presumably be champion again after NYE, Grace has been jobbed too much, Kelani Jordan is a heel, and Jayne has beaten Lola Vice like three times now. I guess we’ll see. This was fun, though. 3*

Winner – Jacy Jayne (Rolling Encore)

Post-match sees Fatal attack Sinclair only to see Kendal Grey charge out to wipe out everyone in short order. Grey slaps on an armbar and Jayne screams in pain before escaping. Grey holds up Jayne’s title belt as the segment ends.

Joe Hendry is on his way to the ring after some vocal warmups. We go to commercials.

Hendry gets the crowd going as Booker sings along with his theme song. Hendry talks about his year in review and highlights his match at Wrestlemania and slamming the Miz at SNME before joining up with NXT full time. Hendry invites the crowd to clap along as he sings about NXT’s year. Hendry spends some time singing about Ethan Page before putting over being on the CW as NXT was the show to see in 2025. The next verse is about Trick Williams and Ricky Saints, and you can guess the reaction when Hendry calls Saints a “little bitch”. Darkstate is the next target while pointing out that no one knew who they were until Hendry made them famous. The lights go out, and here’s Darkstate charging down the steps and into the ring. The four of them jump Hendry and put him into the toss powerbomb spot.

NXT GM Ava asks Mr Stone to make sure the rest of the year end awards are ready to go and he scuttles away. Ava’s door is mysteriously open, and here’s Blake Monroe who wants reassurance that the results next week will be different. Ava says the Glamour needs to show up next week to regain the title, and Monroe considers it before exiting the office.

Tavion Heights makes his way to the ring as we go to commercials.

Matt Cardona says that he’s picking Leon Slater in the title match next week, as does Elijah. Stacks and Arianna both pick Oba Femi to win. Mike Santana says he’s proud of Slater and says the TNA crew is riding with Slater. Mara Sade picks Slater and says he’s got too much momentum to be stopped. Hank & Tank have a thought before trying to figure out which one they’re picking and ultimately they’re split on who’s winning.

WWE Men’s Speed Tournament Finals: Tavion Heights vs Lexis King

Heights hits an immediate belly-to-belly suplex and covers King for three.

Okay, sure. Eight seconds gets no rating, sorry. Seventeen stars because it’s always funny to see Lexis King get humiliated.

Winner – Tavion Heights (Belly to belly suplex)

The NXT Match of the Year is Oba Femi vs Trick Williams vs Je’von Evans from Stand & Deliver. We go to commercials after a shot of Ricky Saints pacing in his locker room.

Swipe Right (Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor) vs OTM (Lucien Price and Bronco Nima)

Swipe Right are seconded by Evolve Men’s Champion Jackson Drake as always. Baylor starts with Price who just tosses him and and a charging Smokes around. Nima charges in and they truck Smokes before clotheslining him down. Nima tries to shake off a Smokes headlock as Baylor tags in. Nima hits a sort-of gutbuster, and Price tags in to continue pounding on Baylor. OTM hit some double-team stuff and Smokes breaks up a Nima cover at two. Nima drags Jackson Drake in, but that allows Smokes to clip Nima’s leg. Baylor gets a cover for one and starts pounding away. Smokes tags in and he hits a big boot that sends Nima down. Baylor tags in and hits a splash for one before dropping a bunch of elbows on Nima’s neck. Baylor gets tossed head-first on the mat and Smokes and Price tag in. Price wipes out both guys with clotheslines and then drops a charging Drake with a side slam. Nima tags in and they hit their double team finisher before Nima covers Smokes and gets three.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. This went a million miles an hour and no one sold a thing. I literally yelled SLOW THE EFF DOWN at the television while this was going on. Anyway, Swipe Right should have a future on this brand as part of the Vanity Project moving up after some folks go to the main roster. I like their act and their cocky bullshit works in this frenetic NXT tag style. OTM continue to be kind of a one-note act for me but we’ve got what we’ve got right now in terms of a tag division. I never thought I’d say this but I miss Inamura and Briggs as a tag team, to be honest. Anyway, this was just a sprint and you didn’t miss a thing if you didn’t see it. 1.5*

Winners – OTM (Double team backdrop finisher on Smokes)

Here’s Jordynne Grace with NXT Women’s North American Champion Thea Hail who tells her she can’t focus on the negative. Hail wants Grace to be in her corner for New Year’s Evil because she knows that Grace wants to see Monroe cry again. Hail pulls Grace in for an awkward hug after she reluctantly agrees to be in her corner as we go to commercials.

The NXT Women’s Superstar of the Year is Sol Ruca. Ruca is thrilled to win the honor and also mentions her partnership with Zaria and all the successes they have had.

Joseph runs down the card for New Year’s Evil. Je’von Evans makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Je’von Evans vs Ricky Saints

Evans attacks prior to the bell, and Saints fires up to smash Evans down. They slug it out and Saints hits a big back elbow. Evans hits a back suplex and a superkick before covering and getting two. Saints kicks out at Evans knee and hits his pose. Saints works over Evans leg as I notice, probably much to Kevin Nash’s chagrin, that Evans is still in his cut-off t-shirt. Saints drops Evans leg-first against the ropes and then clips him from behind. Saints ascends but runs into Evans boots when he lands. They slug it out again and Saints dumps Evans to the floor. Saints follows Evans out and runs him through the barricade. Saints smashes Evans into the announce desk several times and then runs him back in. Evans fires up and sends Saints to the floor before hitting his huge tope dive. Evans runs Saints back in and Saints bails on the opposite side. Evans goes out to run Saints into the barricade before smashing him a bunch of times off the announce table. Evans starts dropping bombs while barking at Saints. Evans runs Saints back and hits a huge flying clothesline. Evans cover gets two. Saints drops Evans over the second rope and then yanks him out to the floor. We go to commercials.

Evans fights his way out of a guillotine as the show returns. Evans hits a superkick and a Superman punch. Evans eyes up Saints with a bouncy Pele kick and covers Saints for two. Saints misses a tornado DDT and eats an Evans superkick. Evans hits his own tornado DDT and a big kick before covering Saints for two. Evans ascends but meets Saints knees when he tries his top rope move. Saints hits a double underhook sit-out powerbomb and covers Evans for two. Saints goes outside and Evans flies out to smash him over the announce desk. Evans runs Saints back in and hits a massive frog splash before covering and getting two. Evans FINALLY REMOVES HIS SHIRT and this gives Saints a chance to interfere with his second rope springboard move. Evans eats a Saints spear and Saints covers for two. Saints hits a tornado DDT and covers for two. A frustrated Saints whips his elbow pad at Evans and wants Roshambo but Evans hits a cutter in response. Evans goes for his top rope cutter and Saints pushes the referee into it. Saints takes advantage of the ref being down to low-blow Evans. Saints hits Roshambo as another ref charges in to count three.

I’m okay with this finish because as much as Ava wanted this to be over, you just knew it wasn’t going to be the ending. Saints gets a tainted victory while Evans keeps his babyface heat. The crowd was kind of weirdly subdued for this so I wonder just how burnt they were after a long taping. This was good but it never approached great. 3.25*

Winner – Ricky Saints (Roshambo)

Joseph once again runs down the card for New Years Evil, while Saints celebrates. The credits roll and we’re out.

This wasn’t horrible for a taped show, but if you didn’t see it, you’ll be okay for jumping back in when New Year’s Evil happens next week. I feel like the results for that show might not be as predictable as one might think just based on some main roster things that are happening, but as always, keep an open mind when it comes to NXT. Thumbs in the middle as you have to balance the Speed “match” (all eight seconds of it) and the OTM-Swipe Right match with the main event and the Sinclair-Jayne bout.

Thanks for reading and commenting. 2025 was a very good year for NXT and I’m looking forward to 2026’s first big event next week. Please be safe, and have a wonderful New Year’s celebration while staying hydrated. Seriously, eight ounces of water and an Advil before bed will do wonders for you if you’ve had a bit to drink tonight. Trust me.