What is the fate of the NXT Championship?

Oba Femi retained the title last week, only to vacate it?! That means General Manager Ava must decide how to crown a NEW NXT Champion!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Lola Vice VS Kelani Jordan; Lola wins.
• WWE Speed Championship: Jasper Troy VS Tavion Heights; Jasper wins and retains the title.
• TNA International Championship: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo w/ Arianna Grace VS Shiloh Hill; Stacks wins and retains the title.
• No Disqualifications: Joe Hendry w/ OTM VS Dion Lennox w/ DarkState; Hendry wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

The title sits in the ring.

Ava is here to say, “Last week, Oba Femi vacated the NXT Championship. And while some people might see this as a challenge, I see it as the perfect opportunity. Because now the Men’s Division is wide open. And I cannot wait to see who steps up. Because whether you’ve been grinding at this for awhile, you feel like you’ve been over looked, or you’re a new face who just stepped in then door, there is no better moment than right now.” And then RICKY SAINTS steps in! Ricky pushes past The Vanity Project and Stacks to step into the ring. The Absolute grabs a mic and says, “I just wanna say to everyone, thank you all for coming.

“And Ava, thank you for holding all of this. Before I go any further, I just wanna say, I told ya! I ran the Stand & Deliver main event right out of NXT!” The fans boo, but Ricky says, “That is what you call an Absolute Hattrick! Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Oba Femi! He didn’t want the rematch with me, because The ruler is afraid! But they are in the past. And I am the now. At the start of every show, that signature says something. Well guess what? Ricky Saints is the then, now, and forever! And together, you’ll all be watching me.” The fans boo, but Ricky wants everyone to hold on. He sees everyone here, we’re looking at great talent! Future champions!

But that’s the future. And all eyes are on Saints right now, who he can only assume is going to be a TWO-TIME Champion. But okay, he’ll stop and let Ava have the honors of handing the title over. Uh, no. Ricky, you deserve an opportunity, but no more than all these other men who came to her office and said the exact same thing! So what she was going to say before he rudely interrupted was that on February 3rd, NXT will hold a Six Pack Ladder Match for the NXT Championship! Whoever climbs up and pulls the belt down becomes the NEW NXT Champion! And qualifying matches begin next week.

Ava cannot wait to see who steps up and makes this moment their own. The fans cheer that! Saints is speechless, but Ava hangs the belt on the hook and lifts it up high. And then JOE HENDRY steps to Saints! And then it’s chaos! The fans love it, but here comes KEANU CARVER from Evolve! He TOSSES someone into the crowd! Then he CLOBBERS more would-be champions! Hendry TOSSES Saints, but Keanu gets in and POUNCES Ricky Smokes onto Vanity Project! Jensen drags Keanu out to brawl with him, and Keanu hauls him up, POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE! Jackson Drake DIVE into a forearm!

Keanu lifts the Evolve Champion to TOSS him onto everyone else! Keanu is the only man left standing, will he be unstoppable on the road to the title?

NXT returns and…

Ava is on the phone, and this person says they’re on their way. She says sounds good, see you later tonight. She hangs up, Robert Stone steps in, and he says Blake Monroe just arrived and has a lot to get off her chest. Of course she does… Will The Glamour only add to the headache that the show’s become?

Lola Vice VS Kelani Jordan!

The tension in this one has been building, and it popped off last week in a backstage confrontation! They’re about to have it out in the ring, who proves they’re the real deal and deserving of a title opportunity?

Kelani BLASTS Lola off the apron! Then she PLANCHAS! Down goes Lola and the ref reprimands, but it’s not a match yet! Lani puts Lola in, climbs up a corner, then CROSS- BODY BLOW! Lola says ring the bell, so the bell rings! Lola SPINEBUSTERS Lani, rains down fists, but Lani turns things around! The fans rally as the two scrap, and they get up to swing! Lola blocks a shot to CHOP Lani, CHOP again, then SLINGSHOT ARM-DRAG! Lola LEG SWEEPS, then she RUNS Lani over! The fans rally up, but Lani rolls Lola up! TWO, Lani dodges, drops down, then hurdles. Lani ducks a roundhouse, Lola avoids a sweep, but not the second sweep!

Lani stalks Lola to a corner, bumps her off buckles, and we get picture in picture of The Culling arriving. Lani stomps away on Lola, drags her up, and SCRAPES her face against the ropes! Lani whips and ELBOWS Lola down, then covers, TWO! Lani stomps Lola in frustration, kicks her around, but the fans rally for Lola. Lani drags Lola around to whip, but Lola reverses and KICKS! Lola whips Lani to KICK again, then whips, but Lani rolls Lola up! Lola sits on it, ONE! Lani has it, TWO! Lola has it, TWO! But into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Lani flails, reaches out, and ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Lola lets go, and Lola winds up.

Lola SOBATS, then she follows Lani to a corner. Lola fires fast hands, the ref count, and Lola backs off. Lani SLAPS Lola! Lola smiles, then she glares. Lani runs away! Lola pursues, they go back into the ring, but Lola avoids a stomp to trip Lani. Lani BOOTS Lola into the desk and LARIATS her down! Lani talks trash on Lola while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Lola pushes back on the body scissors for a cover! TWO as Lani lets Lola go. They both stand, and Lola mule kicks! Lani runs back up, Lola dodges, but then Lani dodge! DOUBLE BOOTS take both women down! The fans fire up again while both women stir. They cheer “Women’s Wrestling!” as both women sit up. They fire hands back and forth, then Lani BOOTS! Lola ROUNDOHOUSES! Then she ducks a kick to SNAP GERMAN! Lola fires up, and she KICKS Lani down! And KICKS her again! And SPIN KICKS! SPIN KICKS! SPIN KICKS! Lola then bobs ‘n’ weaves to fire LIGHTNING KICKS!

Lani falls into the corner, and Lola reminds us, “I’m a LATINA~!” HIP- NO, Lani bails out! Lani says she will not take that, but Lola goes to the apron! LEG LARIAT! Lola drags Lani up, puts her in the ring, and Lani scrambles to a corner. Lola runs up, HIP ATTACK! Lola gives Lani that twerk! Lani still fights the back suplex! Lani facelocks, but Lola wrenches out, ducks one kick, and blocks the other! REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Lani flails, reaches out, pushes back, and now she has a cover, TWO!! Lola lets go just in time! BUZZ- NO, Lani blocks the kick! Step-over and CALF KICK! Lani hurries to a corner, goes up, and FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO?!?

Lani is shocked and furious but the fans are loving this! Lani drags Lola to the drop zone, goes up, up, and ONE OF A KIND into the TRIANGLE!! Lani flails, reaches out, but Lola rolls her away! Lola squeezes tight but Lani fights to a stack, TWO! Lola URA- NO, Lani BOOTS the lariat! ANGLE SLAM!! Lani hurries to a corner, goes up, and 450- NO, Lola dodges! But Lani ducks a kick! Lani RAMS Lola into a corner, O’Conner Roll, and holding ropes! The ref sees that and says no! URAKEN!! Cover, Lola wins!

Winner: Lola Vice, by pinfall

Lani tried to steal one, but she got caught! The Standout is down and out, will the Latina Heat head back for gold?

Tavion Heights speaks.

“In 2025, I broke out, and I showed you exactly what I was capable of. But in 2026, bro, I’m gonna show you exactly what it looks like to reach new heights. Jasper, I’ll be coming your way shortly, winning my first title, and becoming your NEW WWE Speed Champion.”

Jasper Troy responds.

“Congrats, Tavion. You earned five minutes in the ring with me. But unfortunately, I don’t need five minutes. And whatever momentum you think you’ve gained recently hits a dead end tonight.” The MonStar is ready to face the Olympian, who will prove their bona fides in five minutes or less?

WWE Speed Championship: Jasper Troy VS Tavion Heights!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and time to put pedal to the metal!

The bell rings, the two run up, and Tavion DROPKICKS! Then Tavion runs up, but Jasper catches him! Tavion sunset flips, Jasper stays up, but Tavion avoids the fist drop! Tavion runs back up to SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Tavion hurries to facelock and squeeze, but Jasper fights around. Tavion squeezes even tighter but Jasper RMAS him into the corner! Jasper is free, he runs back in, but Tavion dodges! Tavion runs, but Jasper CLOBBERS him! And SPLASHES down! And SPLASHES DOWN! And SPLASHES again! We’re under four minutes and Tavion bails out.

Jasper waits for Tavion to roll back in, and he stomps away! Jasper stands on Tavion but the rf back shim off. The fans rally up, Jasper fires body shots, and Jasper whips Tavion into a corner. Jasper SPLASHES, then he brings Tavion around to whip corner to corner. Jasper runs, Tavion dodges and fires hands! The ref counts, Jasper BODY BLOWS, then he scoops to BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Jasper drags Tavion around to clamp on a GROUND COBRA! Tavion endures, fights around, and the fans rally up. We’re at the halfway point, but Jasper HAMMERS Tavion in the chest! And KICKS him in the side!

The fans duel as Tavion fires body shots. Jasper storms up, Tavion UP KICKS, but Jasper keeps after him. Tavion fires hands, we hit the orange phase of two minutes, and Tavion storms up. Jasper shoves, but Tavion scoops! POWERSLAM! The fans fire up but Jasper runs in! Tavion BOOTS him, then LARIATS! Tavion ducks ‘n’ dodges to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Tavion hurries up the corner, FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Jasper survives, and we hit the one minute round! Jasper guzels Tavion! Tavion breaks free, slips around, but into the BLACKHOLE!! Cover, Jasper wins!

Winner: Jasper Troy, by pinfall (still WWE Speed Champion)

With 53 seconds to spare, Troy clocks it! Who will be able to keep up and take down the MonStar? And then LEXIS KING ATTACKS TAVION! The Drama King is furious that he lost in eight seconds, so he hits Tavion with the CORONATION! The fans boo, but Lexis never leaves well enough alone. Will Tavion get back at Lexis for this?

Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair are outside Ava’s office.

The Evolve Women’s Champion wants to talk to the General Manager, because it literally took the entire Fatal Influence to keep that title. So yeah, Kendal wants another chance. But ZaRuca step in. Kendal & Wren say they’re not done with Fatal Influence? Well, ZaRuca gets next. Wait, which one? Either one of them, doesn’t matter. And is Wren really gonna let Kendal get another shot before her? Y-yeah, Kendal’s way better right now. No, Wren, Kendal wouldn’t be here without you! If Wren wants her shot, Kendal will support her. Sol says last they checked, Jacy beat both of them, so…

But then Jacy pokes her head out of Ava’s office to tell them all to keep it down, they’re having a meeting. But this lets everyone barge in. Now they’re all arguing, and Ava says okay! Since they’re all here, she’ll tell them all now. Ava was trying to figure out how to choose Jacy’s next challenger, but Santino Morella also said an NXT team can get their shot at the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships. So next week, we have a Triple Threat Tag match. They’re all excited about that, and Zaria points out that as the Best Tag Team of 2025, ZaRuca should just have that opportunity. The other two are not. Wren says they have a name: WrenQCC.

Uh, wow, just argue amongst yourselves, because it will be Fatal Influence that brings home more gold. The teams are back to arguing, but who will overcome the odds to then cross the line with The Elegance Brand?

Lexis King returns backstage.

He feels good about the drama he started, and he says it was majestic. No one embarrasses The King and gets away with it. Mr. Chase tells Uriah & Kale that this is a #TeachableMoment in what not to do. BZZ, wrong. You heard Ava: The Men’s Division is wide open, and Lexis will claim that top spot. Why? One: it is his birthright! And two: Taking charge and making opportunities is something they all should be doing. Stacks says The King is holding court dropping knowledge. This guy knows what he is talking about, because he helped Stacks win the TNA International Championship. Chase says he’s out. Kale leaves, Uriah lingers.

Lexis says those rubes will never learn. Stacks has the “Toothless Wonder,” will he be alright? Stacks says yeah, he has his exotic queen. That’s all he needs. Lexis says good man. They leave, Robert Stone walks by to reprimand Lexis, and then Stone encounters Myles Borne. Myles wants to talk real quick, and he is tense! He is not asking, he is telling, he wants a qualifier. Does Stone hear him? Yes, he will talk to Ava. Myles leaves, and NXT might end up a powder keg. But who will blow the competition out of the water on their way to the mountaintop?

Elio LeFleur speaks.

“When you look at me, it isn’t what you’d expect. A Frenchman in a mask, it’s unique. This mask tells my story. When I began training at 16 years old, I was mentored by a Mexican luchador named Nitro. He held a seminar in my hometown every year, and told us he would give a mask to his best trainee. At the end of the seminar, he awarded me the mask. I was very young, but he saw the potential in me to be his star protege. It’s one of the proudest moments in my career. Now every time I enter the ring, I represent him by wearing this mask. And with my style, I aim to prove him right and honor the lucha tradition.

“Because without him, by wearing this mask with my style, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. The French Luchador, Elio LeFleur, is coming to NXT. And I am here to slash the sky.”

Ethan Page finds Ava.

Ava sighs, and is pretty sure All Ego is gonna blindside her with Vanity Project again. Ethan says no, absolutely not. But he does want to remind her that he loves those boys. And he congratulates her that she signed those three studs. Then what does he want? Oh, to focus on the future: THE NXT Championship. “Boss, who will my qualifying match be against? And when will it be?” Oh, well, no one and never. Amazing! He’s automatically in! No, no, he’s not in the match at all. What? Why? Who here deserves it more than Ethan? Ava says she knows, he is a double champion, had the year he had, she knows.

And look, she could put Ethan in a qualifying match, he just has to give over the North American Championship. Absolutely not. Well, if Ethan was in the ladder match and won, he’d have to vacate the North American title anyway, but Ava won’t make him do it, because again, we’re focusing on the future. Ethan says after everything he’s done as North American Champion, record number of matches in his reign, and now we’re already approaching a record number of days, he has beaten blue chip prospects, veterans, stars from all around the world, AND a bunch of zoo animals! Yes, he has had an incredible year and has taken the title to new heights.

In fact, he IS the longest standing champion as of right now. Um, is she trying to be serious? Yes, she’s serious. That title deserves all the spotlight. Which is why it’ll be defended next week. No, absolutely not! Yes, actually. Doesn’t Ethan feel it deserves all the recognition? No. Well, too bad. Because Ethan will be facing Elio LeFleur in his debut match. Okay, okay, hold on. This Elio is debuting in a title match? Yeah! Ethan knows something about that, right? Good luck! Ava heads out, will All Ego keep his reign going at the cost of not getting back to the top title? Or will it not matter when the French high-flyer brings him down to earth?

Blake Monroe goes to the ring.

The Glamour is here and blowing kisses to everyone, and she gets a mic to say, “Let’s talk about it. Last week, I came out here with every intention of reclaiming my Women’s North American Championship. Yes, I attacked Thea Hail. But so what? All I did was bring a little Hell out to play. I mean, it was a travesty I was even having to compete for MY title in the first place. It was! And instead of letting Blake Monroe rise to the occasion, they turned it into controversy. They turned it into chaos. I was exactly where I was supposed to be, right in the middle of the conversation. Then suddenly, the narrative changed.

“And instead of answers, I was walked out the building like I’M the problem!” The fans are torn on that, but Blake says she’ll let us in on a little secret. Shh… “When you’re as talented as I am, people don’t always know what to do with you.” The fans applaud, and Blake says they’ll call you controversial, debate about you, whine about everything you do wrong, but they’ll never admit the obvious: Blake Monroe IS the standard! She’s the most complete woman in NXT! Ava wants to go on and on about the future, needing something new, but no one even compares to The Glamour. She is the moment! Every move she makes is monumental and sends everyone into a frenzy!

We saw it last week! The spotlight literally only exists because Blake wants it to. And the minute you take her out of the equation, we see how fragile the system really is. Blake didn’t lose control, she just lost her patience. She lost her patience for a system that doesn’t know how to exist when things aren’t convenient. The moment Blake steps out of line, the moment she does something… Well, it is alright. Those girls can fight over the scraps of attention she left them. They can even borrow some of her shine. Because every story ends in the same truth: There are stars, and then there are women who spend-

JAIDA PARKER IS BACK!? The fans fire up for “Miss Parker! Miss Parker!” Blake sneers while Jaida steps into the ring, mic in hand. Jaida smiles as the fans chant for her. Jaida tells Blake, “All I gotta say is, Miss Parker-” Blake interrupts to ask, “Can I help you? In fact…” Blake takes a swing! But Jaida blocks it to ROCK Blake! And RAM her into the corner again and again! Jaida scoops Blake to put her in the ropes, and CHOP! The fans fire up for the TEARDROP! High step it out! Jaida says, “I’m back!” HIPNOTIC off the apron! The fans cheer Jaida on, she blows kisses, and she tells Blake to clock it.

Miss Parker is back and she don’t play games! Will Blake learn to accept that before she gets herself sidelined?

DarkState speaks.

Cutler James says, “We never wanted to compete, we came to take over. Four men, one mission. We didn’t build our way slowly to the top, we started there, slotted our way in with the best of them, NXT Champions, Tag Team Champions, main eventers, it didn’t matter! No one was safe!” Osiris Griffin says, “In 2025, we did it all. We dismantled The Family, we snatched tag team gold, we beat the greatest of all time, The Hardys, at their own game. We dropped the new age golden boys, Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater.” Saquon Shugars says, “I don’t know what’s so hard for y’all to understand, bruh. Anybody that steps to DarkState gets dropped by DarkState!”

They made NXT into their playground, and they gonna hop-scotch through the roster. You’ve seen what they have do, but you don’t know what they’re capable of. Dion Lennox says that DarkState stood over Joe Hendry, so he needs to remember he asked for what’s coming. It doesn’t matter who he has as body guards, DarkState will beat their asses, too. OTM, you wanna box for real? You’ll get get like you ain’t ever been got! When DarkState strikes, ain’t nobody safe.

TNA International Championship: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo w/ Arianna Grace VS Shiloh Hill!

Not only was the former Underboss humiliated during the Christmas Chaos Mixed Tag, but he got clobbered in that free-for-all, and Miss NXT was even charmed by the LFG Season 2 Champion, until his false tooth fell out right onto her chest… Will Stacks get revenge for them both tonight? Or will #ToothlessAggression make an impact in the New Year?

NXT returns as Shiloh makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who crosses the line with it!

Stacks dips Arianna, kisses her, then swings her out so she can SLAP Shiloh! Shiloh just grins and fires hands on Stacks! The bell rings and Shiloh puts Stacks in a corner. They scrap, Shiloh THROWS Stacks across the ring, then storms up again. Stacks BOOTS Shiloh, UPPERCUTS, then fires hands. Stacks bumps Shiloh off buckles, talks trash, then whips corner to corner. Stacks runs up to BODY BLOW! Stacks BELL CLAPS, then he mocks the fans. Stacks whips corner to corner, runs in again, but Shiloh dodges! Roll-up and TWO!! Stacks narrowly escapes and even he has to check! Shiloh says it was that close.

Shiloh scoops, Stacks slips free, and Stacks ROCKS him in the back! Stacks hammerlocks an arm to RAM Shiloh into buckles! Stacks wrangles Shiloh with a wristlock and he cranks the arm. Shiloh endures, the fans rally up, and Shiloh stands. Shiloh uses the ropes to flip through and he clamps onto Stacks’ arm! Stacks flails and fights around, but Shiloh SWINGS Stacks to bring him down! The fans cheer but Stacks fights up and puts Shiloh oh the ropes. The ref counts, Stacks fires a body shot, then whips. Shiloh ELBOWS Stacks, then DUMPS Stacks out hard! The fans fire up and Arianna is worried. Shiloh storms out after Stacks to SMACK him off the apron!

Stacks kicks low in return, then whips. Shiloh uses a tiger feint to come back and LARIAT! The fans fire up for Shiloh, he aims at Stacks, but Arianna YANKS Stacks outta the way! Shiloh slides through the corner! Stacks thanks his exotic queen, but Shiloh comes back! CANNONBALL! Down goes Stacks and the fans fire up again while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and Stacks stomps away on Shiloh in a Tree of Woe! Stacks JUMP STOMPS Shiloh down, but the fans still rally up. Stacks runs up, but Shiloh ELBOWS him away! And fires hands! Shiloh whips, Stacks reverses, and Stacks kitchen sink KNEES! Then SLIDING SHOULDER! Cover, TWO! Shiloh stays in this but Stacks slaps him around. Stacks brings Shiloh up to slap him around, then UPPERCUT! Stacks runs, but into a scoop and POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down! Shiloh and Stacks stir, rise up, and go to ropes. The fans fire up as Shiloh TAKES OUT HIS TOOTH!

The fans cheer for “Toothless Aggression!” but Stacks is furious! Stacks storms up, but Shiloh blocks a punch to ROCK Stacks! And ROCK him again! Then HEABDUTT! Shiloh ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Stacks! Shiloh SLAPS away on Stacks’ back, then hits a BUTTERFLY SLAM! Then Shiloh sits up for a IMPLODER SENTON! Cover, TWO! Stacks survives but Shiloh still smiles. Shiloh brings Stacks up, but Stacks fights the suplex with body shots! The fans boo, but then Stacks YANKS Shiloh into ropes! And he BACK ELBOWS Shiloh down! Stacks fireman’s carries, GUT BUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!! Shiloh survives and the fans fire up again!

Stacks looks to Arianna, she coaches him on, and Stacks runs up again, but Shiloh ducks the wizard! Kick to a leg, then Shiloh runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then slides out? He puts his tooth back in and puts his arm around Arianna’s shoulders. She smiles, thinking it’s Stacks, but then freaks out when it ain’t! Stacks hurries out, Shiloh slides back in, and Arianna calms down. Stacks hurries back in, he DUMPS Shiloh out, but Shiloh RAMS Stacks! And he avoids Arianna’s sweep! Sunset flip, but Stacks stays up! Stacks and Arianna hold hands! The ref reprimands, she lets go, but then the ref KICKS Stacks’ arms from the ropes! Shiloh sunset flips Stacks, TWO!!

Stacks rebounds, Shiloh reels him into a cradle! But Arianna kicks it over to Stacks’ favor! STACKS WINS!!

Winner: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, by pinfall (still TNA International Champion)

Shiloh is shocked and the fans are disappointed, but Arianna made sure to stack the deck in Stacks’ favor! Will they both continue make an impact on NXT?

Izzi Dame is here.

The fans boo as the NEW NXT Women’s North American Champion walks to the ring. Izzi holds up the belt and soaks up the heat before she grabs a mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, and everyone who thought they understood how this division works, welcome to your new reality.” The fans boo more, but Izzi says, “I am your NXT Women’s North American Champion. NOT Tatum Paxley, NOT Thea Hail, and certainly not Blake Monroe. Me.” The fans boo more, but Izzi says she won’t give us “the same tired story” about making the most of an opportunity. That is what people say when they stumble into success.

And let her be clear: This was not a stumble, this was calculation, timing, and simply outsmarting everyone else. She will talk about how funny it is how happy everyone was over Izzi losing to Tatum. The fans do cheer that. Now, can she ask why? What exactly did they think she was gonna do after that loss? Cry, go to the back and hide in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity? Because that is all of you would’ve done. One thing about Izzi, she doesn’t waste losses, she studies them. And while every other woman in the back sits there and feels sorry for themselves, she is watching, learning, figuring out exactly how this place runs.

She sees who panics, who folds, who is delusional enough to think that emotions are strength instead of weakness. All that loss did for her last wee was bring her clarity. The fans chant, “Turn The Mic Off!” Izzi says The Culling has always been about removing weakness, exploiting mistakes, and making sure that when moments come, every other person is already outta place while she is standing exactly where she planned to be all along. Every step, every move, every second, have always been part of the plan. And last week proved that she is always three steps ahead. Izzi engineered her opportunity, she designed the outcome, and because of that, she is now a champion!

The fans boo more, but Izzi says everyone wants a piece of her. Let’s not act like Izzi didn’t hear Lola earlier, already wanting her shot at the title. Well, wanting something and getting it are two very different things, mamacita. And Thea, she must be back there running around, convincing herself that the louder she whines, the better chance she gets at getting a rematch. But crying doesn’t change the fact that this title is Izzi’s now, and she is in control of when and how anyone gets close to it. Just ask Tatum! They all love Tatum so much, but apparently love isn’t enough to keep someone on top. Izzi didn’t become champion from how beloved she is.

Izzi is champion because she thinks faster, plans longer, and pulls the trigger without hesitation. The fans chant, “We Want Tatum!” but Izzi says if anyone thinks they’re gonna get close to the title, they need to understand what they’re signing up for. Cuz you’re not fighting for a title, you’re walking into a trap, a game that you didn’t realize has already begun. And- Tatum is here! The fans fire up as #TuesdayAddams goes to the ring, but refs stand in the way! Tatum just pushes through to get at Izzi! The fans fire up as Tatum rains down fists on Izzi! The refs drag Tatum back and Izzi slips away. Tatum HEADBUTTS a ref!!

The fans are stunned, Tatum shouts at Izzi that she will get the title! Izzi is nothing but a snake!! Will Tatum cut the head off that snake soon enough? Or will Izzi just poison Tatum with her venom again?

Backstage interview with Ricky Saints.

Kelly Kincaid is with The Absolute and brings up the NXT Championship Ladder Match set for February 3rd, and that Ricky seems to be of the opinion that the title should’ve just been handed to him. Ricky took exception to the news, but has he had a chance to cool off? Ricky asks what happened to unbiased journalism around here! Yes, he cooled off. He had a conversation with Miss Ava, and they talked about what he was owed, and that was a title rematch. They reached a compromise, and that is Ricky Saints does NOT need to qualify! Ricky is IN the ladder match! So guess what? Breaking news: He will be front and center for next week’s qualifiers!

Ricky says one of them will be Sean Legacy VS Eli Knight, and another being Josh Briggs VS Shiloh Hill. Ava said that if we’re talking new, this is brand new. We’re talking triple-double-title brand new! Stacks steps in and asks if Ricky just mentioned Shiloh. Stacks just beat that trailer park chief, and now SHILOH gets the qualifier? Yeah, bro, your girl helped you win! But you still have the title and the girl, so c’mon! Ricky heads out, will he like what he sees when he watches the future of NXT unfold? As for Stacks, Lexis pats him on the shoulder and says time to talk. Is there about to be more drama between NXT and TNA?

NXT returns and…

Blake Howard is on the scene as Tatum is being escorted out of the building for assaulting the referee. Vanity Project steps in and says that’s a shame. But Drake says let’s walk this way, he’ll love this. Howard will get a real scoop, because in case you haven’t heard, The Vanity Project signed their NXT contracts! BOOM! Ricky Smokes can’t wait to see what crazy girls they run into now that they’re here. Drake says yes, it is a dream come true for all three. But he must know, since he is still Evolve Champion, he’ll of course be in the NXT Championship Ladder match qualifiers, right? Right? Brad Baylor says yes, of course he will.

Plus, Stone just let Swipe Right know, they’re gonna be facing Chase U, and they will learn what everyone else learned in 2025, and that- Oh no, Keanu’s coming! RUN! Vanity Project bails and Howard asks the One Man Demolition Crew for a word. Keanu says get out his face, bruh! Get this camera out his face, too! Keanu shoves the cameraman and the feed goes out. Will Keanu simply carve a path through NXT like he did Evolve?

No Disqualifications: Joe Hendry w/ OTM VS Dion Lennox w/ DarkState!

The Prestigious Joe Hendry has been going back and forth with these four ferocious feral dogs calling themselves as faction, but the WWE Universe still believes. And while Bronco Nima & Lucien Price were reluctant to get involved, they saw that this could help them get at those NXT Tag Team Championships. Will Nima & Price help Hendry get out the mud? Or will they see firsthand that #NoOneIsSafe?

The bell rings, Hendry and Dion circle, and they tie up. They go along the ropes, in a corner, and along more ropes. They end up in another corner, then back on the ropes. They keep going and going, Dion RAMS Hendry into the corner, then RAMS him again. Dion ROCKS Hendry, HAMMERS away, then drags him up. Dion TOSSES Hendry out, Hendry slips back in before DarkState can swarm, and Hendry kicks Dion low. Hendry SMACKS Dion off buckles, CHOPS him, then CHOPS again! The fans “WOO~” as Hendry CHOPS again! Hendry TOSSES Dion out, Dion slips away before OTM can swarm, and Dion dodges a lariat.

Dion comes back, ducks again, but Hendry ELBOWS him down! Then kick and underhooks, then a swing and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Dion stays in this and shakes out the stars. Hendry storms up on Dion, UPPERCUTS him, then whips him to a corner. Hendry storms up but Dino body blows! Dion UPPERCUDTS Hendry down, stomps him, and stomps again! Dion drags Hendry up, BACKBREAKER! Hendry writhes, Dion covers, TWO! Dion clamps on with a facelock to turn Hendry and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Dion snarls, goes up a corner, but Hendry ROCKS him first! Hendry climbs up to throw hands!

The fans rally, but Dion fights back! They brawl, Dion ROCKS Hendry, but Hendry ROCKS Dion! Dion DECKS Hendry, adjusts, but Hendry kips up! Hendry springs up the corner to SUPERPLEX! Both men are down but the fans fire up while NXT goes picture in picture.

Dion and Hendry both crawl, and Dion goes to a corner. Hendry rises first, storms his way over, then UPPERCUTS! Hendry runs Dion side to side to bump off buckles! Then to more buckles! Then to a third corner! Hendry winds up to complete the lap! Dion stumbles but Hendry brings him up to suplex hard! Cover, TWO! Dion toughs it out but Hendry stays cool. Hendry storms over to Dion, snapmares and clamps on for a half nelson chinbar combo! Dion endures while OTM watches DarkState closely. Dion rises up to fire body shots! Hendry staggers, runs back in, but gets a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT for it!

Dion then throat chops Hendry down! Dion stomps Hendry, KNEE DROPS, then drags Hendry up to whip and LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Hendry toughs it out but Dion clamps on with a chinlock! Hendry endures, but NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Dion has Hendry in the chinlock again. Hendry fights up, but Dion wrangles him back down. The fans rally, Hendry stands, and he CHOPS! CHOPS! CHOPS! Dion kicks low, whips Hendry to the corner hard, and Hendry falls to his knees. Dion whips the other way just as hard, and Hendry drops to his knees again. Shugars then sets up a chair in the corner! Dion likes it, and he whips Hendry! Hendry reverses, and Dion is sent hard into the chair, which also knocks Shugars down! The fans fire up while both Dion and Hendry are down, too! Hendry rises, he fires shots on Dion, then DECKS him!

The fans rally up, and Nima says turnabout is fair play: He gives Hendry a knuckle duster of sorts! Hendry loads up, he dodges Dion, and he DECKS Dion with that right hand! Cover, TWO!! Dion survives and the fans are a bit stunned, but Hendry whips him and scoops him, and FALL AWAY SLAMS him! Then the kip up and… TURN! The fans cheer and Hendry starts up the stomp stomp clap! Guzel and- NO, Cutty passes a kendo stick to Dion! SMACK on Hendry’s back! And then SMACK on the side! And again! And again! Dion fires off on Hendry, then SMACKS him one more time! But Hendry blocks one!

The fans fire up as Hendry snatches the stick to SMACK away on Dion! Then a CRACK across the chest! The fans fire up as now Hendry guzels and STANDING OVATION!! Cover, but DarkState YANKS Hendry out! They mug Hendry, put him back in, and Dion its the SLINGSHOT BOMB! Cover, OTM YANKS Dion out! They mug Dion now! The fans fire up as now OTM and DarkState shout at each other! They step into the ring, and it is on 3v2! But then Price TOSSES Shugars so now it is 2v2! The fans cheer on TOM but DarkState TOSS them out! So OTM just drags them out! The brawling continues up the ramp, leaving it up to Dion and Hendry!

Dion sets up the table his boys brought out, and he puts it in a corner. Then Dion gets a new chair, but so does Hendry! The fans fire up as these two stare down! They CLASH chairs, both men are disarmed! Hendry kicks, whips, but Dion reverses, SPINEBUSTER on a chair! Cover, TWO!! Hendry survives, the fans are thunderous, but now Dion aims for the table! But Hendry guzels! STANDING OVATION on the chair!! Cover, TWO!! Dion survives now and the fans rally up. Hendry looks to the table, he eggs Dion on, and Dion fires hands! Hendry and Dion go back and forth, then Dion SPEARS Hendry through the table!! The fans go nuts, Hendry covers, TWO!?!

The fans are thunderous as Hendry survives! Dion grabs the chair and he tells Joe to just stay down. Hendry does not, he sits up. TONY D SMACKS DION!! The fans fire up as Tony then gives Dion a SPINEBUSTER of his own! The fans fire up, and Tony helps Hendry up. BUT THEN SPINEBUSTERS HIM, TOO!! Tony still puts Hendry on Dion for the cover, Hendry wins!

Winner: Joe Hendry, by pinfall

Don no more, but Tony might still be calling the shots. Is this Tony’s way of saying that he will be the NEW NXT Champion, no matter who he has to fight through? Ava rushes out here with security, and they tell Tony to stand down. Tony just TOSSES guys around instead! Tony SPEARS a guy, but the others drag him up. Tony fires hands on them, and he POSTS one! GERMAN SUPLEX for another! Then SPINEBUSTER for the third! Tony snarls as he moves past Ava, does D’Angelo still run NXT?

My Thoughts:

A very good NXT here to follow up Oba Femi vacating the NXT Championship, and to essentially address the roster turnover with Oba, Trick, Je’Von, and Jordynne going to main roster. NXT is at the whims of main roster, which also means that Evolve is affected by those same moves. Keanu Carver and Vanity Project moving up to NXT is great for them, but it’s still disappointing that Sean Legacy didn’t win the Evolve title off Jackson Drake. For that matter, Keanu didn’t win that title when he certainly should have by now, but if Keanu can get in the NXT Championship ladder match, that’s a pretty good tradeoff.

Naturally, Ricky Saints thought he was automatically a champion, but obviously not. And just as naturally, he’s automatically in that ladder match. I thought it was gonna be a tournament but having the top six stars fighting it all out at once is just as good. Ricky will certainly be a strong choice for new champion, but I feel like he shouldn’t win the ladder match. He can feud with whoever does win, but let’s freshen things up a bit. Myles is certainly heading towards Heel territory with how forceful he was, who knows what happens there. And great Speed title match from Jasper and Tavion, with a solid win for Jasper.

Lexis going after Tavion was a logical move for him, and that can be a very good rematch in a full, no-time-limit match. Shiloh VS Stacks was a great match, even with Arianna helping Stacks cheat that win. From Ethan’s promo with Ava, it seems A) she isn’t letting guys who are already champions into the ladder match series, and B) she’s limiting double champions for a similar reason. Ethan VS Elio will be a great match, and it’d be pretty wild if Elio won a title right from day one. At the same time, Ethan could try and spin it that he should have a chance at the NXT title after losing, only to be denied anyway.

Great match from Lola VS Lani, and I was a little surprised Lola won. But Lola calling out Izzi and Izzi even responding to it, maybe we see them have a match as a way for Izzi to avoid Tatum. In the end, I would think Izzi VS Tatum Part 3 happens and with the title on the line. Good promo from ZaRuca, WrenQCC and The Fatal Influence to set up the tag team match, as well as tease some possibilities for the top title. And very good promo from Blake to then get interrupted by Jaida Parker. Also, great return for Jaida Parker, because I feel like everyone was wondering what happened to her. Blake VS Jaida will be a great match, and I would think winner gets a title match while loser moves to main roster.

Great main event from Hendry VS Dion, though I really expected more overbooking than that. But it still went about as expected where the others brawled all the way to the back. I didn’t expect Tony D to be the difference maker, but he did need to do something this week, so here it was. Tony certainly wins his way into that ladder match, and he might actually be the one to win it. He hasn’t even said a word as this new, more vicious Tony D, so I hope he gets a chance to reveal what happened to him, because that’s an automatic feud right there.

My Score: 8.8/10