NXT starts 2026 with gold!

It’s a New Year, but could we see a NEW NXT Champion? Or will Oba Femi still be The Ruler after facing Leon Slater?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail w/ Jordynne Grace VS Blake Monroe; No Contest.
• Tatum Paxley VS Izzi Dame; Tatum wins.
• NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne w/ Fatal Influence VS Kendal Grey w/ Wren Sinclair; Jacy wins and retains the title.
• NXT Women’s North American Championship Open Challenge: Thea Hail VS Izzi Dame w/ The Culling; Izzi wins and becomes the new NXT Women’s North American Championship.
• NXT Championship: Oba Femi VS Leon Slater; Oba wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail w/ Jordynne Grace VS Blake Monroe!

The power of self-belief and determination made this Grown-Ass Woman into a full-fledged champion! But The Glamour will not stand for controversy blemishing her record! Will Blake wipe that loss from the history books? Or will Thea prove she’s not just a fluke?

Well damn, Blake doesn’t even wait for her own entrance! She just attacks Thea during hers! The fans boo as Blake HAMMERS Thea, then THROWS her into steel steps! Thea writhes, the ref reprimands, but Blake goes looking under the ring. Blake brings out a chair! The Woman From Hell JAMS Thea up, then SMACKS her down! The fans boo but Blake drags Thea up to THRWO her into barriers! The barriers topple over, but more referees rush out here to stop this! The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” and Blake is shrieking as she wants blood! The refs drag Blake away, did she just cost herself the title?

Ricky Saints is here!

The Absolute takes advantage of this show going off the rails by going to the ring. He revels in his own song and spotlight while the fans still torn. Ricky grabs a mic, and he says, “Well, I guess the Women’s North American Championship is gonna be put on pause. But I thought I would come out here and give everyone a very special gift. And what better way is that than kicking off 2026 by me? And I know you guys feel some type of way about me, but I thought I’d at least be honest with you since it is a New Year. Last year, I really, really needed NXT. But now, NXT needs ME, baby!”

The fans boo, but Ricky says that’s why Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams both chose free agency! Because they knew that as long as Ricky was here, you cannot compete where you don’t compare! And Ricky doesn’t blame them at all. There is only room for one star and one star only, and that is Ricky! The fans tell Ricky to STFU and even chant, “Whoop Dat Trick!” Ricky says yes, he DID whoop Trick, and he’ll whoop them, too. That reminded Ricky of the sad truth for this locker room: Ricky ain’t going nowhere! All those athletes and wrestlers in the back, you come at him, he will send you back to where you came from! While everyone is talented, they are not Absolute.

Which is what Ricky’s been saying since day one! He’s been saying he is exactly who he says he is! And he’ll keep proving that in 2026. It has been abundantly clear to him that it is the natural born stars VS the stars “they” are trying to create, and we know how this ends. Ricky ain’t been wrong for 20 years, and he damn sure ain’t gonna start now. Which then brings Ricky to tonight’s main event, Oba Femi VS Leon Slater. Honestly, both of those guys, Ricky doesn’t care about. But Leon, bruv, if it is you, Ricky will handle you in due time. But Oba, if it’s still you, then it is 1-1 and that don’t sit right in Ricky’s spirit.

Ricky is going to finish what he started because look, he slipped. He never falls. But he’ll make sure no matter who wins, NXT will be in his hands, as well as that NXT Championship! And that, as if you needed a reminder, is ABSOLUTE!

Ava Raine is reeling.

She finds Robert Stone and asks how they are only ten seconds into the New Year and this show is a mess!? Stone knows, but he asks what they’re to do about it. Ava says Tatum VS Izzi will have to go first now, but Stone needs to find Blake and talk with her. Stone heads out, Ava calls to a staff member, and she borrows his headset. She tells gorilla to get the Izzi-Tatum stuff going. Play the package!

Ava Raine is still seething.

NXT returns from break as the General Manager grumbles about Blake already messing up not just the first show of the year but the biggest show yet. THERE YOU ARE! Ava says she was helping Blake, so what the Hell was that?! Blake mockingly apologizes that she made a mistake. But Ava asked for The Glamour, and with The Glamour comes Hell. So go on, fine her and then give her back the Women’s North American Championship. Ava tells Blake that she’s not going anywhere NEAR that title. Not only is Blake NOT getting her match, she is BANNED from the building! GET OUT!

Blake is furious, but her arrogance is what cost her. What does Blake have now, now that she’s not a contender?

Tatum Paxley VS Izzi Dame!

#TuesdayAddams was betrayed and belittled, all because The It Girl is the one who twisted this story around. Izzi IS the villain, but will she show Tatum #ItIzWhatItIz? Or will Tatum make sure she humbles Izzi if it’s the last thing she does?

The bell rings and Izzi runs up to fireman’s carry Izzi! SNAKE EYES off buckles, then Izzi fires forearm after forearm! The ref backs Izzi off, and Tatum fires back! The fans fire up as Tatum fires forearms in the corner! The ref has Tatum back off, but then Tatum dodges Izzi’s boot! Izzi still mule kicks, then she gets right in Tatum’s face with trash talk. Izzi HIP TOSSES Tatum across the way, then she runs in and RAMS Tatum! The fans boo but Izzi talks more trash. Izzi whips Tatum into a corner, runs in, but Tatum goes up! Izzi POSTS herself, then Tatum has the HANGING HALF CRAB! The ref counts, Tatum lets go, but she KNEE DROPS on Izzi’s knee!

The fans fire up while Izzi writhes on the apron. Tatum drags Izzi up and in, but Izzi begs for mercy. NOPE! Tatum SLAPS Izzi down! Tatum hooks up the leg in a CALF CRUSHER, then throws down elbows on Izzi’s back! Izzi endures, fights up, but Tatum SMASHES the knee off the mat! Then she ENZIGIRIS Izzi to the ropes! Tatum goes to the apron, lines up the shot, and ROLLING AX KICKS! Tatum grins as she stands up and the fans fire up! Izzi sputters in the ropes, and Tatum jumps up, only for Izzi to block the kick! Izzi YANKS Tatum into ropes! The fans boo, but Izzi DECKS Tatum! Tatum falls, Izzi scowls, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns as both women rise up. Tatum fires hands on Izzi, but Izzi ducks the kick! BACKBREAKER! Izzi storms up to get the legs while the fans boo. Izzi drags Tatum around to then CTAPULT her into ropes and let her fall onto another BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Izzi gets the legs again and drags Tatum around for a LION TAMER! Tatum endures and the fans rally up. Tatum crawls for the ropes, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Izzi lets go at 4. Izzi storms up but Tatum mule kicks! Izzi runs up, Tatum dodges, but Izzi ELBOWS her back! Izzi goes up, but Tatum ENZIGIRIS!

The fans fire up and Tatum SLAPS Izzi! Tatum ROCKS Izzi, SUPERKICKS her, then goes up the corner. Tatum SLAPS Izzi again, climbs to the very top, and brings Izzi up for a SUPER DUPER SPANISH FLY!! Both women are down but the fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Tatum and Izzi cough and sputter but they’re both able to continue. “This is Awesome!” as Tatum and Izzi crawl for each other. They go forehead to forehead, and Izzi talks trash while Tatum laughs. Izzi SLAPS Tatum, Tatum SLAPS Izzi, and repeat! The fans cheer Tatum and boo Izzi. Tatum then CRAVAT SMASHES, and she rallies with BIG forearms!

Tatum wrenches, KICKS, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Izzi staggers up, and she BOOTS Tatum down! The fans boo but Izzi runs up! Izzi fires off on Tatum in the ropes! The ref counts, but Izzi STMOPS Tatum! Izzi hauls Tatum up, DOCTOR BOMB! Cover, TWO! Tatum survives and Izzi is seething again! Izzi drags Tatum up to THROW her into buckles! Izzi then short arm- NO! Tatum ducks the lariat! CEMETERY- NO, Izzi schoolgirls and LARIATS! The fans rally for Tatum but Izzi hits the BACK SUPLEX CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Tatum survives and Izzi is furious! The fans love “Women’s Wrestling” as Izzi runs up, and she SPEARS Tatum outta the ring!

The fans are torn, but Izzi RAMS Tatum into steps! Izzi puts Tatum into the ring, then brings her up for a BIG- NO, Tatum lands out of the suplex! ROLLING LIGER KICK! The fans fire up again and Tatum goes up a corner! 450 SPLASH! Then the clinch, CEMETERY DRIVE!! Cover, Tatum wins!!

Winner: Tatum Paxley, by pinfall

The Culling tried to change her, tried to control her, then tried to expunge her, but they couldn’t do any of it! Tatum stands tall, but will she soon return to the gold?

NXT hears from Elio LeFleur.

He says in French, “Putting in more than 10 YEARS of work, I have been proving my value in more than 20 countries, since I was 16 years old. I’ve helped put French wrestling on the map, and my goal is to continue building on that momentum. The White Eagle is ready to take flight from Paris, France to the United States.” Then in English, he says, “The French Luchador, Filo Le Fleur, is coming to NXT. And I am here to slash the sky.” Just how high can the White Eagle fly in NXT and the WWE?

Jordynne Grace checks on Thea.

Thea says her arm hurts, but she’s otherwise fine. Ava steps in and says it works that they’re both here. Ava commends Jordynne for stepping to Jade Cargill over on SmackDown, that’s a big deal. Jordynne thanks Ava for that, but it’s hard to really be all that excited right now. Ava knows, she will push back Thea’s match until she’s 100% again. Thea says with all due respect, #HailNo, she is going to prove to everyone that she earned this title. Ava says the problem with that is she can’t defend the title against Blake, Blake’s already been removed from the building. Thea asks to get her back, and Ava says no, she won’t reward bad behavior.

Then can Thea do an Open Challenge? Ava says no, this is not a smart decision! Jordynne says Thea’s already made up her mind, Ava might as well let her do it. Ava says fine, Thea can have an Open Challenge. The Grown-Ass Woman gets her chance to prove she belongs, but who will step up now that Blake’s out?

NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne w/ Fatal Influence VS Kendal Grey w/ Wren Sinclair!

Speaking of titles, The Toxic Rockstar only got this one back because The Culling betrayed Tatum, but details like that don’t matter to her. Jacy wants to keep NXT under the Influence, will she make 2026 look a lot like 2025? Or will the Ice Woman of Evolve become the next Double Champion in NXT?

The introductions are made, THE title is raised, and we see who is truly top champion!

The bell rings, the two tie up, and Kendal fireman’s carries for a takedown! Kendal has the armlock, Jacy headscissors, but Kendal kips free. The fans cheer Kendal and she eggs Jacy on. They tie up, Kendal waistlocks and SLAMS Jacy down. Kendal pries at the arm, rolls Jacy, but Jacy has the ROPEBREAK! Jacy freaks out until Kendal lets go. Jacy is frustrated, The Influence says back Kendal off, and Kendal waits on Jacy. They reset, and then Jacy kicks Kendal low! Jacy ROCKS Kendal, stalks her to a corner, then CHOPS! Jacy whips corner to corner, runs in, but Kendal ELBOWS her away! Kendal then goes up, around, and slides under!

The fans cheer as Kendal keeps moving, she redirects Jacy and slides under again, to SHOTGUN Jacy out! The Influence hurries to Jacy’s side, but Kendal goes up! ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Down goes The Influence and the fans fire up with Kendal! Kendal puts Jacy in the ring, then slingshots, only for Jacy to avoid stomps! Jacy trips Kendal, drags her out to the apron, but Kendal has the ARMBAR! Jacy flails, but she drags Kendal off to THROW her into barriers! Then she CANNONBALLS! Kendal writhes, the fans boo, but Jacy smiles while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Kendal swings, but Jacy wrenches her into a NECKBREAKER! The fans boo but Jacy huffs ‘n’ puffs. She KNEES Kendal in the side, covers, TWO! Kendal is tougher than that, but Jacy has a reverse cravat to grind Kendal down. The neck is clearly her target but Kendal endures. The fans rally as Kendal fights up, RAMS Jacy into buckles, then RAMS her again! Jacy throws Kendal into the buckles, but Kendal fires back! Kendal BOOTS Jacy, then ducks a lariat! Kendal goes up and up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Kendal avoids a kick, but Jacy avoids a lariat! DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide!

The fans fire up for “Women’s Wrestling!” while both women are down again. Jacy and Kendal stir while The Influence and Wren coach them on. Jacy fires a forearm, but Kendal fires back! Jacy fires another shot, but Kendal kicks low! Jacy ROCKS Kendal, Kendal ROCKS Jacy, but Jacy mule kicks! And front kicks! And ENZIGIRIS! Kendal falls and Jacy has a sinister grin. The fans boo but Jacy drags Kendal up. Jacy says Kendal is not ready, but Kendal grabs Jacy by the face! HEADBUTT! And then an ELBOW! And ELBOW! Kendal ducks a lariat to SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up with Kendal as the straps come down!

Kendal runs, trips Jacy, and then flips her over to slingshot STOMP! The fans fire up again as Kendal runs back in, RUNNING DDT! Cover, TWO! Jacy survives but Kendal stays focused. The fans rally for Kendal as she runs at the corner again, but Jacy puts her on the apron. Kendal GAMANGIRIS, then she goes up top! But Jacy trips Kendal up! Jacy drags Kendal out for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kendal survives and Jacy shouts in frustration! Jacy shakes her head, rains down fists, but the fans rally for Kendal. Jacy runs corner to corner, but Kendal dodges the cannonball! GERMAN SUPLEX!

Jacy tumbles, Kendal is on her again, GERMAN SUPLEX! Jacy rises, and she KNEES Kendal outta nowhere!! Cover, TWO!?!? Kendal survives and everyone is shocked! Jacy crawls to a corner, “This is Awesome!” as she talks to herself. Kendal crawls but Jacy climbs. But Kendal springs up after her! SUPER ARM-DRAG! Then a wheelbarrow and- NO, Jacy powers out! Kendal avoids the knee, O’Conner Roll, TWO!! Jacy has it, TWO!! Into an ARMBAR!! Kendal keeps Jacy from the ropes, but FALLON distracts the ref! Lainey drags Kendal out! Kendal dodges the sucker punch to SUPLEX Lainey! wren DECKS Fallon! ROLLING ENCORE for Wren!

But Kendal is back, she wrenches and snatches Jacy to the ARMBAR!!! Jacy clasps her hands but Kendal pries it open!! The fans are thunderous but Jacy hurries to stack Kendal, TWO! Kendal lets go to SUPERKICK! Jacy rebounds, Fallon anchors Jacy from the Shades of Grey! ROLLING ENCORE!! Cover, Jacy wins!!

Winner: Jacy Jayne, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)

New Year, Same BS from the Influence! The Evolve Women’s Champion was at the door step, but Jacy’s friends helped her slam that door shut! Jacy dares the locker room, “Who wants next?!” Will Jacy have to be careful what she wishes for?

Ava Raine meets with…?

“You are legitimately the last person I want to see right now. What do you want?!” Ethan Page is in her office, and he says that he wishes to discuss his historic title reign as North American Champion. Especially after his very special defense against TNA’s largest and most experienced competitor, Moose, which added one more title match to the end of the year and to his winning record, giving him the record-setting TWELVE title defense victories in NXT. You’re welcome. Ava brings up how he’s not mentioning how that makes him tied with Dominik Mysterio, Oba Femi and even Stephanie Vaquer. It’s all about him, isn’t it?

Ethan says he didn’t want to embarrass Ava and mention all the defenses he was made to have during house shows, but she is clearly in a bad mood from a rough day. He’ll finish his thoughts in the ring and get out of her hair. Really? He’s not gonna throw a tantrum? Nope. He affords her the privilege of him leaving. So no catch? No strings attached? Ava senses something’s off. No, no catch. Ethan just wants to leave her office, so that his boys can come on in! Reintroducing the future of this brand: The Vanity Project! Ava knew it… Ethan says Jackson Drake & Swipe Right have about five minutes, have at it. Jackson says they really should talk 2026.

Well, The Carolina Reaper needs to remember he faces Sean Legacy in a rematch from Gold Rush. Tomorrow night, Evolve returns to work, but will Drake still be a champion? Or will the Men’s Evolve Championship finally be Super?

NXT Women’s North American Championship Open Challenge: Thea Hail VS ???

Well, let’s try this again. The Glamour got herself cut from this picture, but you can’t have an underdog story if the underdog isn’t fighting against the odds. Thea’s got bad ribs but an iron will, will that be enough to carry her through? Or will Ava be proven right when that bad arm costs Thea her gold?

Thea grabs the mic to say, “I know my win was a little controversy, we spoke about that before. And I’m devastated that Blake attacked me like that, because nobody wanted this match as much as I did. I promised the WWE Universe a championship match tonight, and dammit, I am going to give it to you! Because I need to prove to myself and everyone else here that I deserve the NXT Women’s North American Championship. So with that being said, Open Challenges are open again. Whoever wants a shot, c’mon out here. First one in the ring gets a shot at this championship!” The fans cheer Thea on, but who answers the call?

Well, just like when Blake put it out there, pretty much every woman in the back rushes the stage! Wren Sinclair, Karmen Petrovic, Kali Armstrong, Wendy Choo, and more! But who breaks free from the pack? HERE COMES TATUM WITH A CHAINSAW!!! Everyone backs off from that, but wait! IZZI sneaks in from the other side! Izzi BOOTS Thea down, and the rules are the rules: Izzi got in the ring, she’s getting the match! Will The It Girl go from bitter defeat to sweet victory in the same night? Shawn Spears shoves the ref into the ring, Niko Vance makes the timekeeper ring the bell, it is official!

Izzi stomps away on Thea in the corner, but the ref reprimands and the fans boo. Izzi TOSSES Thea away, then runs up to RAM Thea into a corner! Izzi RAMS her again and again, then stops at 4. Izzi hauls Thea up, FLAPJACK! Cover, TWO! Thea stays in the fight and the fans rally, but Izzi drags her up. Thea fires hands but Izzi CLUBS her down! Izzi whips, Thea grabs ropes, and Thea ELBOWS her! The fans either cheer on Thea or chant, “We Want Tatum!” Thea kicks Izzi’s leg, ROCKS Izzi, but Izzi CLUBS Thea! Izzi scoop SLAMS Thea, taunts the fans, then fireman’s carries. But Thea sunset flips!

Izzi stays up, YANKS Thea right back up, but Thea wheelbarrows! Victory roll, TWO!! Izzi escapes, but Thea dodges! Izz scoops Thea to RAM her into a corner, then OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO!! Thea survives and Izzi seethes. The fans boo The Culling while NXT goes picture in picture.

Izzi snarls as she stalks Thea, then stomps her around. Izzi drags Thea up, whips her to a corner, then runs in and RAMS Thea again! Izzi digs her shoulder in but stops as the ref counts. Izzi stands on Thea, then steps off to soak up heat. Izzi scuffs Thea, drags her up, and whips her into another corner. Izzi runs and ELBOWS Thea, then stomps a mudhole into her. The ref counts, Izzi stops, but then she steps outside. Izzi pulls Thea to the corner, then pulls her against the corner post! The ref reprimands and counts, Izzi stops at 4, then she pushes Thea back in. Izzi goes up the corner, and FLYING CODE BREAKERS! Cover, TWO!

Thea survives and that frustrates Izzi. Izzi kicks Thea to the ropes, CHOKES her, but the ref counts. Izzi stops at 4 to then drag Thea back up. Izzi whips and scoops Thea to BACKBREAKER! Thea writhes, but Izzi smothers her into the mat. Izzi drags Thea up but Thea ROCKS her! And BOOTS her! Izzi runs back up to KNEE Thea low! Izzi snapmares Thea, clamps on and has the chinlock stretch! Thea endures, reaches out, but Izzi pulls her back! Thea fights up, but Izzi CLUBS her back down! Izzi then clamps the chinlock back on and pulls Thea back. Thea still endures, still reaches out, and NXT returns to single picture.

The fans rally as hard as they can for Thea, and she fights up to fire body shots! Izzi blocks the arm-drag to KICK Thea! Izzi stomps away on Thea, then claws at the taped-up ribs! The fans boo as Izzi pulls that tape away! Izzi kicks Thea, hauls her up, and scoops to- DDT!! Thea turns things around and the fans fire up again! Thea crawls away while The Culling coaches Izzi up. Izzi runs but into a mule kick! Thea KICKS away on Izzi’s legs, but Izzi ROCKS Thea! Izzi hurries to whip Thea, but Thea DOUBLE AX HANDLES! And DOUBLE AX HANDLES again! Thea whips, Iziz reverses, but Thea goes up and over to sunset flip! TWO!!

Izzi is back to her feet, she runs up on Thea and ROCKS her again! Izzi brings Thea around, scoops and SLAMS, then ELBOW FLOPS as Thea moves! Thea hurries to put Izzi in the drop zone, SOMERSAULT SENTON, and then the springboard TRUST FALL, but onto knees! Izzi hurries and BOOTS Thea back down! Cover, TWO!! Thea survives again but The Culling is furious! Izzi pops Thea up, but Thea snatches the arm! KIMURA!! Izzi endures, powers up, and she RAMS Thea into buckles! Izzi is free, runs back in, but Thea ducks under! Izzi hits buckles, and Thea clinches! EXPLODER! Thea fights through the pain while Izzi tumbles out.

Thea builds speed and DIVES! But Izzi catches her! CHOKE SLAM onto the desk! The fans boo as Thea slumps to the floor. Izzi rolls into the ring but the ring count is climbing. Izzi, it’s a title match! Izzi remembers, and she gets Thea back in the ring. Izzi climbs up, takes aim, but Thea RAMS Izzi first! Thea climbs up after Izzi, but Izzi grabs Thea. Thea fires forearms first! Thea then climbs up, but Izzi fights the armlock! Thea goes to the very top, but Izzi uses it for a SUPER DAME OVER!! Cover, IZZI WINS!!

Winner: Izzi Dame, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s North American Champion)

Sadly, Ava was right, Thea was pushing it. She was not 100%, and now The It Girl brings gold back to The Culling. What is Thea to do now that she lost what she fought so hard to get? Will nothing deflate the ego of The Culling now?

Lola Vice watches this backstage.

And needless to say, she cannot believe it, either. The Vanity Project walks by and Brad Baylor says hey to Mamacita Lola. Jackson Drake says the Carolina Reaper could use some Latina Heat. But before she can shut these boys down, Hank ‘n’ Tank step in and say to take it somewhere else. Oh, is that so? Drake has his boys calm down, they’ve got better things to do, and this vibe ain’t it. Ricky Smokes says hasta la gogo, Lola. Hank says that’s not even close. Vanity Project leaves, Tank says NXT didn’t need any more resident douchebags, but we got ’em anyway. Lola says yeah, she didn’t wanna embarrass the kids on their first day, but they were five seconds away from getting knocked out.

Anyway, did Hank ‘n’ Tank just see what happened? Oh, they sure did. Izzi Dame, new Women’s NA Champion, that is wild, but it is also opportunistic. Lola says guess who beat dat ass a few weeks ago: HER. So now, Lola’s in the title conversation. But first, she’ll take care of Kelani Jordan. Oh, yeah, especially after she jumped Lola! Haymakers and body shots! But luckily, their herrrrrmana is no stranger to kicking ass and taking names! HIYAH~! Lola says Lani will learn that being a gymnast with a bad attitude is nothing like being an MMA fighter. Lani shouts from across the room, “OF COURSE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ME BEHIND MY BACK!”

Lani is taking off the shoes, and she throws ’em, too! Lani runs up, narrowly avoids a backhand, and now Hank ‘n’ Tank and others rush in to break this up! Vanity Project returns to say WORLD STAR~! This new year is off to a bang, but will Lola knock The Standout’s lights out? Or will no one do it like Lani?

Ava meets with Joe Hendry.

The NXT GM says finally, something positive. Hendry says not really. He is usually here wearing a smile, but he’s not here to smile, sing a song, or play a guitar. Tonight, he’s looking for a fight. Ava will guess: DarkState. That’s right! They ruined his concert, beat him up, then threw him through the air, so now he is sick of their nonsense! He wants Dion Lennox in a NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH! Okay, but… Ava loves this determination, but it’s DarkState! If we go No DQ, they’ll just make it a handicap match. Hendry understands that. Then instead, what if Hendry could find himself a couple of badasses to make sure it is just Hendry VS Dion?

Ava says that could work. If he can find the backup, she’ll sign off on the match. Hendry thanks Ava and heads out. Will Hendry find himself a few good men to go to war with DarkState?

Ethan Page goes to the ring.

Just as he promised earlier, All Ego wants to speak his mind, even though the fans are still calling him “A-HOLE~!” Ethan says he added yet again another accolade to his giant list of accolades: Big game hunter! He bagged himself a Moose! HAHAHAHA! He sent that lunkhead back home to TNA emptyhanded, proving he is THE Greatest North American Wrestler Alive! Now, folks, in a few short moments, Oba Femi defends HIS championship against Leon Slater. Make no mistake about it, those men are NOT the main event, ETHAN is! The North American Championship is THE most prestigious title, not only in NXT, but in all of WWE!

The title Oba Femi holds? THE NXT Championship? Ethan finds it funny that Oba is the “world champion” yet only defends said title in one part of North America! Whereas Ethan has defended his title against main challengers from many countries and companies, and he finds himself to be a bit of a globe trotter. That makes Ethan, ironically, an international icon! The fans are torn on that point, but Ethan tells us that in 2026, he is just- Interrupted by the WWE Speed Champion, Jasper Troy! Jasper asks why Ethan’s pump faking like he’s the only champion that matters? Don’t get it twisted: Ethan ain’t the only one who dominated in 2025.

And now in 2026, Jasper Troy is out to prove he is not only the best big man in NXT, but that he’s the MONSTER! Ethan says don’t come in here, but Jasper steps right in. Jasper says he ran through LFG like a bulldozer to snatch the Speed title. This might be the first title he holds, but it won’t be the last. Wait, now Josh Briggs interrupts? Ethan is even more upset, but the Bullhead Brawler tells Jasper not to say such stupid stuff ever again. Jasper ain’t even on Briggs’ level! No one is! Jasper is NOT the best big man in NXT, the Man of Mayhem is! The fans boo and Jasper grins, but Briggs tells Ethan to stop wasting his time on losers like Myles Borne. It’s delusional.

Almost as delusional as the mouth-breathers in this audience! Ethan won’t let Briggs compare him to the fans! But wait, here comes Stacks! Channing Lorenzo is hand in hand with Arianna Grace, and he says he hates to interrupt the measuring contest, but there’s some unfinished business here, right? If they’re talking about importance, after all that has happened between NXT and TNA last year, Stacks is the only person from NXT carrying TNA gold. Ethan wants to say he’s an international icon? Adjust your glasses, pal! Stacks is as international as it gets being THE TNA International Champion!

Stacks says if Briggs and Jasper wanna argue about size, with his beautiful, exotic queen by his side, racking up victories both here in NXT and TNA, he is as big as it gets. HOLD ON! Shiloh Hill joins the chat! The fans fire up as the LFG Season 2 winner says that he’s glad to see Stacks is in a better mood than last time. Shiloh was worried that he ruined Stacks’ holiday spirit with the Christmas Chaos. But here’s the thing, after that win, Stacks’ father-in-law and Miss Ava had a little conversation. What? It looks like that TNA International Championship will be real short lived. Next week, it is Stacks VS Shiloh for that title!

The fans fire up for that news, but now we’re adding Tavion Heights to the mix! And he actually says way to go, Shiloh! This is Tavion’s type of party! A New Year, new champs, and if Tavion may, he loves everything Shiloh was saying. It is just missing a little bit of… Tavion! Tavion fixes that right now, because next week, Jasper! You will be flying on Air Heights. And then Tavion leaves here the NEW Speed Champion! Ethan says he has had enough of all this! He honestly is shocked that Jasper’s big ass is letting Tavion talk to him like that. Especially when the last time Tavion came this close to a title, he dropped the ball!

The fans boo, but Tavion swings on Ethan! Ethan ducks, so Tavion ROCKS Jasper! Stacks SHOVES Tavion into Jasper, Jasper shoves Tavion down, but then Briggs & Shiloh shove Ethan into Jasper! Jasper snarls, but Ethan ducks again, and Briggs BOOTS Jasper! Tavion LRIATS Jasper and himself out of the ring! Shiloh grabs Ethan, but Briggs runs up! Shiloh dodges to POUNCE Briggs! Stacks tries but Shiloh ELBOWS him, and LARAITS him out! Arianna swings on Shiloh, but he blocks! And dances with Arianna! Shiloh gives her a dip even! Arianna is oddly charmed, until Shiloh’s fake tooth falls out and right onto her!

The fans cheer but Stacks comes back, only for Shiloh to TOSS him out! Will #ToothlessAggression go right to the top when he faces Stacks for the title? What of Tavion’s chances against Jasper in their Speed match? And will Ethan feel the walls closing in up on that pedestal of his?

Joe Hendry talks with OTM.

He asks Bronco Nima & Lucien Price for help handling DarkState to keep things 1v1 between him and Dion Lennox. Price says nah, that’s got nothing to do with them. They haven’t said word one to Hendry their whole life, and now Hendry wants something from them? Nima says Hendry’s real funny for that. Sorry, but OTM is about two things in 2026: those tag titles and themselves, you understand? Hendry knows, but he’s also here for two reasons: OTM are badasses, and they’re also intelligent. If they step to DarkState, they are one step close to the tag titles. OTM and Hendry all win, and that gives OTM a direct line to the NXT Tag Team Championships.

OTM sees his point, and says they’ll see him next week. Will Price & Nima help Hendry get out the mud with DarkState? Meanwhile, in walk Fatal Influence, feeling so good about how they screwed Kendal Grey over. But then they see #ZaRuca and mockingly congratulate Female Superstar of the Year, Sol Ruca~! Zaria points out they’re also NXT Tag Team of the Year. Yeah, whatever, we get it! Everybody loves Sol Ruca. Uh, ZaRuca. Both of them. Jacy says they may have two trophies, but Sol have two belts anymore. Or even one, for that matter. Too bad, so sad. Oh, but Jacy isn’t Double Champion, either. Sol is coming right for Jacy and that title this year.

Oh, but aren’t they a tag team? Interesting. Fatal Influence leaves, Sol says they’re just jealous of ZaRuca’s friendship. But does Jacy have a point? Can Sol really be THE NXT Women’s Champion if she and Zaria want to also be WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions?

Ethan Page returns backstage.

He spots Myles Borne talking with Evolve’s Tate Wilder, and then he asks Myles where he was. Myles says all that out there was none of his business. Ethan tells Myles not to turn around when he’s talking to him! Tate steps in but Ethan tells him to shut up! Ethan knows just who Tate Wilder is, and he might be “fantastic” in Evolve, but this is NXT! Ethan will take a wild guess and say Tate wants to be on NXT, but he’s NOT! So keep your mouth shut and learn a thing or two, unlike Ethan’s “good pal,” Myles, who IS in NXT, but refuses to take a lick of advice! Maybe Ethan will listen to Myles tonight instead!

So yeah, all that out there wasn’t Myles’ business. Because that business was for champions and challengers, and Myles is clearly neither! Can you hear him now, Myles? Ethan leaves, Tate tells Myles not to let that get to him, but Myles says, “Too late.” Will Myles at least take some of All Ego’s advice about doing what he has to for his own success?

NXT Championship: Oba Femi VS Leon Slater!

The first NXT of 2026 ends with a defining moment! The Ruler lost this title to Ricky Saints but then took this title back from Ricky Saints. Je’Von Evans used his Iron Survivor opportunity early and Ricky screwed him over for it, allowing the TNA X-Division Champion this opportunity. But will Leon truly become the Youngest In Charge when he becomes a double champion? Or will Oba never give up the throne again?

NXT returns as Oba makes his entrance. The introductions are made, THE belt is raised, and we see who leads NXT into the future!

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and Oba powers Leon to a corner. The ref counts, Oba TOSSES Leon across the way, and the fans fire up! Leon gets to his feet, shakes it off, but he’s still wary. They tie up again, and Leon waistlocks. Oba smirks as he SLINGS Leon off and has the wristlock. Leon fights up, rolls, handsprings, and wrenches, but Oba wrangles Leon again. Leon pries at the hold but Oba puts on the pressure. Leon kips up, but Oba THROWS him back down! Oba stalks Leon, ROCKS him with a right, then wrenches to wristlock. Oba YANKS the arm, then CLOBBERS Leon!

Oba drags Leon up and CLUBS the arm. Leon goes to ropes, Oba storms up to BODY BLOW, but Leon CHOPS! The fans rally and duel as Leon CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Oba CHOPS Leon right down! The fans fire up for the sound alone, and Oba clamps on a chinlock. Leon endures, fights up, and the fans continue to duel. Leon stands, fires body shots, but Oba BODY BLOWS again. Oba scoops, Leon slips free, and Leon kicks. Oba blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but not the REWIND HEEL! Leon runs up, whips, but Oba blocks! Oba whips, Leon handsprings, but Oba catches him! BACKBREAKER!

Oba then whips Leon hard into a corner! Leon tumbles up and out and to the floor! The fans go nuts while Leon writhes, and Oba smirks as NXT goes picture in picture.

Oba steps outside to fetch Leon, and SMACKS him off the apron. Leon sputters, and Oba hits an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Leon flounders, Oba pushes him into the ring, but Leon fires hands! Oba staggers, but he comes back, only for Leon to kick a leg! Oba still whips corner to corner hard! Oba runs in, blocks a boot, and he short arm LARIATS! Leon sputters again while Oba paces. Oba drags Leon up, brings him around, and clinches for an URENAGE BACKBREAKER! Oba bends Leon’s back but Leon endures. Leon powers up but Oba powers him back down! Leon still throws elbows and forearms, and he’s free!

Leon fires haymakers, but Oba THROWS Leon at the corner! Leon tumbles off the buckles and to the mat. Oba makes the pecs dance, then he KICKS Leon in the back! Oba sits Leon up to clamp on the chinlock again, then squeezes tight. Leon endures, even as Oba grinds him down. Oba doesn’t even have to do more than lean on Leon, but Leon still fights. NXT returns to single picture as Leon rises, but Oba BODY BLOWS! Oba back suplexes, but Leon lands out! CODE BREAKER! Both men are down, but Oba quickly gets back to his feet. Oba storms over to Leon at the ropes, YANKS him up, but Leon RANAS Oba out!

The fans fire up again as Leon goes to a corner. Leon aims from the apron, but Oba CHOPS him back down! The fans go nuts again, and Oba drags Leon around. Oba tells Leon he is nothing, then he fires knees! Oba puts Leon against the post for more knees, then he winds up, only for Leon to slip away! Oba KNEES the POST! Oba falls, clutches the leg, and Leon runs up to KICK that leg! And KICK! And KICK! But Oba blocks another kick to pop Leon up. But Leon lands safe on the apron! And he goes Matrix to avoid the chop! Leon kips up to SHOULDER TACKLE Oba into steel steps! Oba flounders and the fans fire up!

Leon gets Oba in the ring, goes up the corner, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Oba survives and Leon is frustrated but the fans rally up again. Oba rises, Leon runs up, and Leon KICKS the leg! Oba hobbles, but Leon KICKS the leg again! Leon winds up, runs in, but Oba LARIATS him first! The fans fire up as Oba guzels Leon for the CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Leon is tougher than that and the fans fire up! Oba aims from a corner, runs corner to corner, and UPPERCUTS! Oba keeps moving, and he UPPERCUTS again! Oba tries again, but the leg buckles! CALF KICK from Leon!! The fans fire up, and Leon scoops!? And he SLAMS Oba!!

The fans are thunderous as Leon covers, TWO!! Oba survives and Leon is shocked! “This is Awesome” as Leon goes for legs. Oba BOOTS Leon away, then bails out to the apron. Leon triangle jumps, but into a guzel! But Leon ENZIGIRIS free! Oba goes to the floor, Leon builds speed, and Leon FLIES over the corner! Down goes Oba and the fans are fired up again! Leon drags Oba up, which is a lot of dead weight, and he puts Oba in the ring. Leon goes up, up, and SWANTON 450 onto knees!! Double-edged for Oba, but he manages to cover, TWO, and GHOST PIN! TWO?!?! Oba escapes, but even he has to double check!

Leon SUPERKICKS Oba! Leon runs, but into a POP-UP FALL FROM GRACE!! Oba covers, Oba wins!

Winner: Oba Femi, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)

Leon came a lot closer than most, but he still fell from the mountaintop to crash and burn! Oba is still The Ruler of NXT, but who will be next to challenge for his throne?

Ava talks with the Evolve roster.

She promises them all that there will be a lot of great opportunities for them in NXT in 2026. Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, and now Jordynne Grace have all officially signed with Raw & SmackDown, and Ava is sure there will be more to come. With that said, that opens some space for some potential call-ups to NXT. They have all been impressive on Evolve and- Stone interrupts with apologies, but asks if Ava just saw what Oba just did. Wait, what? No, what’d he do? Oba won the title, and now he’s PLACED IT ON THE MAT? The Ruler has VACATED the NXT Championship, and Tony D’Angelo is watching! What does this mean for NXT in 2026?!

My Thoughts:

A great NXT, a great New Year’s Evil, and with some rather wild developments. Not to make lemonade back into lemons, but there’s a bit to these moves that feel like NXT from a few years ago, where main roster needs are prioritized over NXT stories. As I said last week, Je’Von Evans should’ve lost a Loser Leaves NXT match instead of going into “free agency,” adding more heat onto Ricky Saints. Ricky still had a good promo to address Je’Von and Trick Williams moving on from NXT while also calling out Oba and Leon, but I feel like Ricky “banishing” Je’Von would’ve been a great detail.

Jordynne Grace is the other example here, where she moved up to SmackDown without ever having a title here in NXT. She didn’t even get to be part of the Women’s North American Championship story. Blake instead attacks Thea, gets herself sent home, and then they make a pivot to give Izzi that title. Tatum VS Izzi was a great match and a great win for Tatum, but since that makes them 1-1, Izzi taking the title off Thea might mean Izzi and Tatum fight over it in the tiebreaker. Maybe it means Thea can also go after the top title again? Jacy VS Kendal was a great match, but I figured Kendal wasn’t winning while still Evolve Women’s Champion. And of course it was through cheating.

Fatal Influence had a good promo with ZaRuca backstage to push on the dysfunction still between Sol & Zaria. Maybe this is when they break ZaRuca up and have them feud. Lola had a very good promo with Vanity Project and Hank ‘n’ Tank, as well as with Lani. This segment was actually a great bit for “bad attitude” Lani because she was immediately over the top with her anger. Lola VS Lani will be an awesome match, the winner surely going for a title. Hendry had a good promo with Ava and a good promo with OTM, and that is a logical move since OTM can start on a tag title feud with DarkState. Hard to say if OTM gets those tag titles, even though they should.

Great promo from Ethan to bring Vanity Project around, but also a great promo from him and pretty much everyone in the midcard. All great stuff to set up next week’s title matches, but I feel like the champions all retain. I’d love if Jasper VS Tavion went to the time limit, keeping both guys strong while keeping the title on Jasper. Shiloh is already great, the fans already love him, but I don’t think he’s at the level to take another promotion’s midcard title. And even then, I feel like the six guys in this promo could end up in the classic North American Championship Six Pack Ladder Match to finally take that title off Ethan.

Another interesting thread throughout the show was Evolve stars showing up, and then we get pretty much all of them at the end there. Evolve is back with tomorrow’s episode, and I personally hope Sean Legacy wins to move things into the next phase. Then Vanity Project can just be on NXT full time, going for titles up here. Oba VS Leon was an awesome match, and part of me expected Oba to win. But just like Jordynne and Je’Von, they’ve already been hyping Oba Femi up on main roster, so they do this surprising and perhaps even disappointing title abdication angle. I would think that means we’re getting a tournament to crown a new champion, and maybe that’s how Tony D finally wins the top title and completes his grand slam. Or is it Triple Crown because Heritage Cup is defunct? Is anyone ever going to fish the Heritage Cup out of the bay?

My Score: 8.9/10