Category: NXT News

Matt Hardy on WWE NXT experience: ‘They’ve been so great to us’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Hardy is having a great experience in his return to WWE.

For each of the past two weeks, The Hardy Boyz have appeared on NXT. Matt & Jeff will be back on the show next Tuesday defending their TNA Tag Team titles against Nathan Frazer & Axiom. It’s a special Roadblock episode of NXT taking place from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

On his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt said everyone in NXT has been great to The Hardyz and has treated them with respect.

“It’s been incredible,” Matt said. “I can’t really put it over enough. I mean, they’ve been so great to us. The way they have treated us as such legends and just like — they act so honored. ‘Thank you so much for doing this. Thank you for coming out and being a part of this.'”

Matt also expressed appreciation for how NXT’s fans have responded to The Hardyz.

“It was great,” Matt said about the reaction they got on NXT this week. “I mean, we came out [on Tuesday night] and the crowd was so loud. And even right before we went out and Shawn [Michaels] came up. He said, ‘Hey, I know these people are going to be real hyped to see you and they’re going to be cheering and popping. But if you can, we’d like to keep the show on time. Just try and, you know, kind of get it going. You know, soak it in, but just kind of keep it going.’ That was great. But Shawn’s been incredible. Matt Bloom has been great. Everybody has. The whole experience has been so, so, so, so fun.”

For Matt & Jeff, this is the first time they’ve been back with WWE since 2020 and 2021 respectively. Their NXT appearances are happening because of the partnership that exists between WWE and TNA Wrestling. Matt said The Hardyz are having the time of their life in TNA. Both WWE and TNA feel like home, though Matt thinks WWE would be the right place for The Hardyz to end their career when that time comes.

We’ve only seen The Hardyz on NXT in their WWE return so far, but WWE is reportedly optimistic about them working a main roster program this spring/summer.

WWE NXT ratings down against Donald Trump presidential address

Posted on by F4W Staff

With the show going against President Donald Trump’s address to congress and being pre-empted in some markets, WWE NXT ratings took a hit on Tuesday night.

The episode averaged 698,000 viewers on The CW, down 13 percent from last week. It’s the second-lowest viewership total NXT has drawn so far in 2025.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.15 rating, which is a 21 percent decrease from last week. It’s the lowest rating for NXT since December 2024.

NXT did not air live in New York City, Chicago, and Indianapolis this week due to those affiliates airing the Trump speech. Instead, a replay of the episode was shown on Wednesday night. It’s not clear whether or not NXT’s reported numbers for Tuesday include data from viewers who were watching the Trump speech in the pre-empted markets.

There will likely be an increase for NXT ratings next week when the show airs its Roadblock special live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The announced card for the show can be seen here.

Stephanie Vaquer says WWE gave her option to start in NXT or main roster

Posted on by Ian Carey

Stephanie Vaquer says WWE gave her the option to start on the main roster, but she chose NXT.

After last night’s edition of NXT, she appeared on Busted Open After Dark and said to host Bully Ray that she initially told WWE she wanted to start on the main roster, but ended up changing her mind.

Vaquer said:

“I really like doing new things, but good. I don’t like (going) fast, and not good. So, I say, ‘Ok, I need to learn English. I need to learn TV show. I need to learn American-style, WWE-style. So, first I say, ‘Main roster’ but change and say I want to go to NXT to learn.”

“The first call when they called me and say, ‘NXT or main roster?’ I say, ‘Main roster.'” She added, “I think and say, ‘Ok, take it easy. I need to learn English, I need to learn. Ok, change, NXT.'”

Vaquer also addressed receiving offers from other companies before signing with WWE last summer. She says that while she took the offers seriously, her decision came down to WWE being her dream.

“WWE is my dream,” she said. “Many options and talks, but I say no, WWE is for me.”

She reiterated that money was not the most important factor in her decision.. Vaquer says she learned a long time ago that it’s not about money.

“I was born in a country with no professional wrestling,” she continued. “I lived in Mexico many years. I lived in Japan. And sometimes in Mexico, I was hungry and (I had) no money for buying food, but I’m training and I feel happy and say, ‘Okay, it’s not about money, it’s about wrestling.’ I feel happy with wrestling. But at the same time, I sacrificed everything in my life for wrestling, so I need to protect my career. But no (it’s not) about money. For me, the life is not about money. Your passion, what you feel, it’s not about money.”

Vaquer is set to challenge Giulia in a title vs. title match at NXT Roadblock next week at the Theater in Madison Square Garden. It will be their first singles bout against each other under the WWE umbrella and their second all time. Their first bout took place almost exactly a year earlier, on March 10, 2024, at Korakuen Hall, where Vaquer defeated Giulia to win the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship.

WWE NXT Underground match set for March 18 episode

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe will lock up in an NXT Underground match.

After a promo segment between the two rivals on this week’s WWE NXT episode, Williams and Thorpe agreed to an NXT Underground match for the Tuesday, March 18 show.

Thorpe has taken part in both of the men’s NXT Underground matches in history, winning each time. In a June 2023 battle, Thorpe defeated Damon Kemp. In a December 2023 Underground matchup, Thorpe was victorious over Dijak.

Williams is a former NXT Champion, while Thorpe has yet to capture a championship in NXT.

There have been five NXT Underground matches in total, including the aforementioned Thorpe vs. Dijak and Thorpe vs. Kemp bouts. Three of the five Underground matches took place in 2024, and all in the women’s division. Al three featured Lola Vice, a former pro MMA fighter.

Vice vs. Natalya took place last April, Vice vs. Shayna Baszler last June, and Vice vs. Jaida Parker last December. Vice was victorious in all three bouts.

Undertaker appearance, new match added to WWE NXT Roadblock

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Undertaker and WWE LFG coaches will appear on next week’s NXT Roadblock special.

As revealed during this week’s show, Undertaker, Mickie James, Bubba Ray Dudley, and Booker T, the coaches on the new WWE LFG reality show, are set to appear on next week’s episode. Booker T was already slated for the event as an NXT commentator.

A new match is also on tap for the March 11 NXT Roadblock show, with Roxanne Perez taking on Jordynne Grace. That bout was set up on Tuesday’s show after a backstage angle where Perez laid out Grace. Grace was victorious over Perez’s storyline ally Cora Jade on this week’s show via referee stoppage after an injury scare. Jade later posted on social media that she was “all good.”

The lineup for the Tuesday, March 11 WWE NXT Roadblock special from The Theater at Madison Square Garden:

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Moose
  • Winner takes all double title match: NXT Women’s Champion Giulia vs. NXT Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer
  • TNA Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy defend against Nathan Frazer & Axiom
  • Street fight: Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Jordynne Grace
  • WWE LFG coaches The Undertaker, Mickie James, Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley appear

New North American Champion crowned on WWE NXT

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new North American Champion was crowned on Tuesday’s WWE NXT.

Shawn Spears defeated Tony D’Angelo in the show’s main event to win the North American Championship for the first time.

Spears worked over D’Angelo’s back during Tuesday’s main event match, with the storyline back injury playing into the finish. After avoiding a C4 from Spears, D’Angelo went for his pop-up finisher, but his back gave out. Spears then hooked D’Angelo for the cover to win the title.

For Spears, it’s the first title win in a major promotion in his career spanning three different stints with WWE and another with AEW.

D’Angelo held the title for nearly five full months after capturing the gold last October 8 on NXT. After three-plus years on the NXT brand, D’Angelo has a singles title run and two Tag Team title runs to his credit, and could be primed for the main roster post-WrestleMania, but that is purely speculation.

Our full report from Tuesday’s WWE NXT is available here.

Cora Jade match stopped on WWE NXT due to injury

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match was stopped on NXT following an injury to Cora Jade.

During Tuesday’s show, Jordynne Grace and Jade were wrestling when Grace took Jade into the corner. Jade told the referee something as Grace backed off. Soon after, the referee stopped the match. Announcer for the night Lilian Garcia then announced that Jade was unable to continue, and Grace was awarded the victory due to referee stoppage.

Later, Jade posted on social media that her knees are all good, and ‘got rocked for a sec’ during the match.

Jade spent most of 2024 injured after suffering a torn ACL during a NXT live event that January. She returned in October, helping Roxanne Perez retain the NXT Women’s title against Giulia. Most recently, she took part in a fatal four-way match for the NXT Women’s title at Vengeance Day where she came up short against new champion Giulia in a match that also featured Perez and Bayley.

In recent weeks, Jade had been making appearances in TNA, building to a match between herself and Masha Slamovich for the TNA Knockouts title at their Sacrifice event on March 14. Slamovich was seen in the crowd during Tuesday’s match.

WWE NXT live results: North American title on the line

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight, Shawn Spears has the chance to win the first championship of his WWE NXT career.

The Men’s North American title will be on the line as Spears challenges Tony D’Angelo for the belt. They have been at odds recently with Spears leading a new faction — consisting of Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Izzi Dame — against the D’Angelo Family.

With one week to go until Roadblock, The Hardy Boyz will make an appearance tonight. Matt & Jeff are coming off a victory over Tavion Heights & Myles Borne — and they have a TNA Tag Team title defense lined up against Nathan Frazer & Fraxiom on next Tuesday’s special NXT episode from The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Chelsea Green & Piper Niven are in NXT tonight for a tag match against Sol Ruca & Zaria. Also confirmed for the episode is a singles bout pitting Kelani Jordan against Jaida Parker.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Interestingly enough, a commercial for AEW Dynamite aired on the CW affiliate in the Houston market just before NXT went on the air.

NXT is back at the sound stage at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, and NXT is taped before a live studio audience.

Opening the show this week is a women’s tag team match set up by a skit on the previous episode.

Sol Ruca & Zaria defeated WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Ruca pinned Green to win the match. So, Ruca scores a pinfall on the US champ, likely setting up a match. This was a good opener. They all worked well together, and there were possibly some seeds planted for an eventual turn. Green got a bloody nose in the match.

Early on in the match, Zaria against Niven was a battle of two powerhouses. Ruca does a wild dive over the ropes to the floor, but Green responds with a senton. The heels take control as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.

The heel duo gets heat on Ruca, building to a hot tag. Zaria runs wild. Somewhere along the way, Green gets her nose busted open. Green is lifted on Zaria’s shoulders, and Ruca does a moonsault for a modified Doomsday Device. Zaria lifts Niven and gives her a F5 on top of Green. Ruca then executes a Sol Snatcher on Green, and Ruca covers Green for a three count.

Ruca runs around the ring celebrating the win, and Zaria briefly glares at her. Is that foreshadowing an eventual turn, or am I reading too much into it?

Trick Williams is talking with NXT GM Ava when they are interrupted by Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon. They have a gift basket of office supplies for Ava. How thoughtful of the young lads. Trick shoves the gift away, and Trick tells them to come back later with their package. Dixon tells Trick to call down, and Trick and shoves gift into Dixon’s chest.

Trick then tells them to go bother Mr. Chase. Dixon remarks that Trick was the reason Chase U was put on line in the first place. Trick then snaps and shoves Dixon against a roll-up door (likely for the sound effects it makes). Ava orders Trick to let him go as Trick tells Dixon he will find out tonight. This appears to set up a match tonight between Trick and Kale Dixon. Yes, the dude is named Kale. Same as the leafy member of the cabbage family.

Jaida Parker defeated Kelani Jordan

Parker pinned Jordan after a hip attack. The outcome would seem to conclude the program between Parker and Jordan, and what a match to end the feud if this is it. The match goes through a commercial break, so they were given plenty of time to deliver. And they delivered with a good match.

Jordan is currently on a losing streak, and the announcers played it up on commentary. Nothing gets someone over like a losing streak. Jordan still had a mean streak, but she still does all of her babyface spots. They build to Jordan executing a Spanish Fly off the top rope.

Moments later, Jordan tries to follow up with a 450 splash. No water in the pool. Parker moved out of the way, and Parker catches Jordan with a Parker’s hip attack finisher. Parker then covers Jordan for a three count.

NXT Champion Oba Femi is at a kayfabe press conference. This builds up the upcoming title defense against TNA X-Division Champion Moose at NXT Roadblock.

TNA Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy enter the sound stage for an in-ring promo. Jeff says it is good to be in NXT, and it is great to be “home” in WWE. They talk about beating No Quarter Catch Crew. Hardy Boyz were over with the studio audience, which should be no surprise.

Out comes Hank Walker & Tank Ledger to interrupt the promo. Tank apologized for interrupting them, and he says they wanted to get advice from two GOATs. Matt & Jeff put them over, and Jeff says to get noticed they need to take it to the extreme. He was not talking about high spots, but about the hungry and whatnot.

They are all soon interrupted by Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura. Those two cut promos on Hank & Tank. Briggs & Inamura want a title shot. Hank asks Tank if he is thinking what he is thinking, and then they both dive through the ropes on Briggs & Inamura. The two teams brawl to the back.

Suddenly, in the ring with The Hardy Boyz is Fraxiom. NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazier & Axiom are there to confront Matt & Jeff, but in a respectful way. They plug their match in a couple weeks Roadblock. Fun segment, albeit a bit long in the tooth.

Jordynne Grace defeated Cora Jade via referee stoppage

The referee stopped the match when Jade apparently suffered an injury. Jade is backed into a corner during a commercial break, and the ref moves in to break them up. The ref backs Grace away as medical staff get into the ring to check on Jade. This all happens before the show returns from the break.

When the show does return from commercials, Jade gets up and is escorted out of the ring. Grace smirks as she is announced as the winner via referee stoppage.

Ethan Page and Je’Von Evans argue and cut promos on each other in a segment where they are on separate satellite feeds. This was similar to the old “Face-to-Face” segments on WWF Superstars of Wrestling, except this was far more serious. Evans cuts an impassioned promo on Page.

Trick Williams defeated Kale Dixon via referee stoppage

Williams smashes Dixon in a squash match, and the referee stepped in to stop the match. Trick rocked Dixon with a flying punch soon as the bell rang to start the match. Trick began to pummel Dixon, and the ref stops the match.

After the match, Trick calls out Eddy Thorpe. This all led to setting up a gimmick match. Thorpe appears on a perch overlooking the ring, and Thorpe challenges Trick to have their match under NXT Underground rules. Trick agrees, so the match is not set with new stips.

Roxanne Perez apparently attacked Jordynne Grace in a backstage angle.

TNA X-Division Chamion Moose is present for a fake press conference. This is for hyping Moose against Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at Roadblock. Moose vows to leave Roadblock as a dual champion.

Ava steps in to announce Roxanne Perez will face Jordynne Grace a Roadblock. Ava says they will take one more question at the press conference. Fatal Influence then crashes the press conference, and Fallon Henley asks Ava why Fallon has not gotten for rematch for the Women’s North American title. Ava says they can talk about this later, and Fallon yells they can talk about it right now. Ava then walks out of the presser. Is that somehow spoofing US politicians at town halls in recent weeks?

Ricky Saints is backstage when he runs into Ridge Holland. Saints and Holland briefly have tense words after Holland says Saints does not belong here. Saints then runs into Shawn Spears, who is heading to the ring for the main event.

Shawn Spears defeated NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo to win the title

Spears pinned D’Angelo to win the championship. Stacks crashing into D’Angelo during the match played into the finish, which furthers the growing rift between Stacks and “The Don” himself.

The match plods through a commercial break. In the closing moments, Spears locks in a sharpshooter. D’Angelo escapes and delivers a fisherman’s buster. Izzi Dame at ringside grabs Spears’ foot. Not sure if she was supposed to put the foot on the rope, but Spears was too far away. So he kicks out instead. Adrianna Rizzo then jumps Dame for interfering, and all hell breaks loose.

The D’Angelo Family and Spears’ faction start brawling around ringside. During the melee, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo is shoved by Spears into D’Angelo. “The Don” takes a Nestea Plunge off the apron on and lands on a folded chair laying on the floor. Spears screams “SO MUCH FOR FAMILY” as he rolls D’Angelo back into in to the ring. Spears with a C4 for a close near fall, as D’Angelo kicks out.

For the finish, D’Angelo goes for a his pop-up finisher, but “The Don” buckles as his back gives out. This plays on an earlier spot in the match, and Spears hooks a leg to cradle D’Angelo for the deciding pinfall. And new…

The Hardy Boyz appearance added to WWE NXT

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy will appear on Tuesday’s WWE NXT.

WWE revealed during Monday’s Raw that The Hardy Boyz, the current TNA Tag Team Champions, will appear on the Tuesday, March 4 episode of NXT.

The Hardys will defend the TNA Tag Team titles against Fraxiom (NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom) on the Tuesday, March 11 NXT show from New York City.

Three matches are also set for this week’s NXT, with North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defending against Shawn Spears, Kelani Jordan vs. Jaida Parker, plus WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green and Piper Niven taking on Sol Ruca and Zaria in tag team action.

The announced lineup for the Tuesday, March 4 WWE NXT:

  • TNA Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy appear
  • NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defends against Shawn Spears
  • Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria
  • Kelani Jordan vs. Jaida Parker

Ricky Saints relinquishes Defy World title following WWE NXT debut

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following his WWE NXT arrival, Ricky Saints has had to relinquish Defy Wrestling’s World Championship belt.

The Seattle-based indie promotion announced today that their World Championship is now vacant — and a new champion will be crowned in their Super 8XGP tournament on Saturday, March 15. Participants and matchups for the tournament have not been announced yet but will be soon.

The former Ricky Starks sent in a video announcing the news, which he called “bittersweet.”

“I wanted to give a quick message to the fans of Defy. It is an honor and privilege to be your Defy World Champion, and it was a big goal of mine to do just that when I defeated KENTA,” Saints said. “But, unfortunately, when opportunity knocks — I must answer. And as everyone probably knows by now, I definitely answered that knock. And it is bittersweet because I have to relinquish the Defy World title.”

Saints only had a three-week reign as champion, winning the belt from KENTA on February 7 and making no title defenses. He was released from his AEW contract on February 10 after several months of questions about his status amid an absence from AEW programming.

Just one day after being let out of his AEW contract, Saints debuted for WWE on NXT. His first match then happened on NXT this past Tuesday with Saints & Je’Von Evans defeating Wes Lee & Ethan Page.

“While my reign and my time at Defy may have been short-lived, I hope and I pray that the memories to come will long supersede that,” Saints said. “So, until next time, stay Absolute.”

WWE NXT ratings up for Hardyz return, Ricky Saints debut match

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 799,000 viewers on The CW. That’s up 16 percent from last week and is the fourth-largest audience total for the show since October 8.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.19 rating. That’s up 11.8 percent from last week and ties the third-best number the show has done in that category since the October 8 episode.

The show went head-to head with TNT’s coverage of a Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic NBA game that averaged 934,000 viewers and drew a 0.27 rating in 18-49, as well as a college basketball game on ESPN that averaged 672,000 viewers and a 0.14 demo rating.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the show still aired on USA Network, NXT’s overall viewership was up 40.2 percent while its 18-49 rating was up 18.8 percent, so the audience is skewing much older this year.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was up 6.1 percent in viewers and 5.6 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Reason WWE booked Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer double title match for NXT Roadblock

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On Wrestling Observer Live today, Bryan Alvarez explained why WWE has booked a Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer double title match for NXT Roadblock.

It was announced last night that Giulia and Vaquer will face off against each other on the Tuesday, March 11 Roadblock episode of NXT. Both the NXT Women’s Championship and Women’s North American Championship will be on the line with one woman leaving New York City with both title belts.

Alvarez discussed the reason for the matchup this afternoon, reporting that one of the competitors is banged up and will be taking time off after Roadblock.

“Now, when this first happened, I was like, ‘My god, what? What is going on? Why is this happening here?’ And without spoiling it — because if I spoil it, I spoil the match — one of these women is banged up, needs time off,” Alvarez said. “And so they’re doing the match, and then she’s taking time off. So that’s what happened.”

Vaquer wrestled on NXT last night, retaining the Women’s North American Championship over Karmen Petrovic. It was Vaquer’s first title defense since dethroning Fallon Henley at Vengeance Day.

Giulia won the NXT Women’s Championship from Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil this January. Both Giulia and Vaquer are recent additions to the NXT roster, having signed with WWE in 2024.

Roadblock is being held at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 11 and will air live on The CW as a special NXT episode. Oba Femi vs. Moose for the NXT Championship is also official for the show, along with TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys defending their belts against Nathan Frazer & Axiom.

Ricky Saints: NXT in-ring debut was ‘a love letter to all the people that rode for me’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tuesday night was an emotional experience for Ricky Saints.

The former Ricky Starks made his official WWE in-ring debut in the main event of NXT last night, teaming with Je’Von Evans in a victory over Ethan Page & Wes Lee. The finish of the match was Saints earning his first NXT pinfall over lee.

In a backstage promo after the show, Saints reflected on how much this moment meant to him. He admitted to being emotional and called this a fever dream that he never wants to wake up from.

“Wild, absolutely wild,” Saints said about the reaction he received from the NXT crowd. “You know, my story isn’t that ‘not told’ as they say. It’s pretty well known at this point, and I think I’ve overcame a lot of things just to make it in this moment. My first time that I came here, I didn’t know what I was going to expect. The second time I showed up at NXT, didn’t know what to expect. But this time was different. I knew what was going to happen. Old Ricky never died. While I thought I put him to bed, guess what? He woke up on his own two feet and he was ready to go — energized, charged up, like a 100 percent iPhone, you know what I’m saying?

“If there was ever any doubt about me, tonight proved otherwise. If you have been sleeping on me for the past 14 years, we might as well call you a Tempur-Pedic [mattress]. One thing’s for certain, I always show up and show out. I deliver every time… And I thought tonight was probably more appropriate for where I’m at in my life. And I am an emotional man, I’m not afraid to admit that. But tonight felt like a fever dream that I don’t ever wish to wake up from.

Continuing his promo, Saints expressed how honored he is to be in NXT. He reiterated that his goal is to be “the man” in NXT and headline every PLE.

“I don’t think that I ever envisioned my life ending up this way, but, damn, at least I can freaking say that I made it through. Every sh*t that was out there — and I’m sorry to curse, but I made it through,” Saints said. “I stood there with my head held high and my chest puffed out because I knew what I wanted and I knew who I was. And that will never change. And there will be no man nor woman that makes me forget that. Tonight was a love letter to all the people that rode for me. And most importantly, tonight was a memory — a reminder should I say, to the old Ricky. And more of a letter of what’s to come to the new Ricky, and the future Ricky. And I think you’ll like that guy too, as well.”

Just one day after being let out of his AEW contract, Saints debuted for WWE on the February 11 episode of NXT. There was then a contract signing last week where his new NXT name was revealed. The contract signing was interrupted by Page and Lee, setting up last night’s main event.

The full match can be watched below: