Tonight’s WWE NXT on The CW will feature the in-ring debut of former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Naraku.
Formerly known as EVIL in NJPW, he made his promotional debut last month, and he will compete against an opponent to be named.
In a singles bout, Kendal Grey will take on Kelani Jordan in a key women’s match while NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley teams with NXT rookie Lizzy Rain against Zaria and Nikkita Lyons in tag team action.
Noam Dar will return for his first televised match since June 2025 due to an undisclosed injury when he goes one-on-one with Jackson Drake after Dar was rejected by the Vanity Project last week, and wrestled in four dark matches over the last month before returning to TV.
A trios match featuring Sean Legacy, EK Prosper & Tate Wilder vs. BirthRight’s Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Charlie Dempsey and Uriah Connors rounds out the show.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 pm Eastern.
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NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. Opening the show is a women’s tag team match.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley & Lizzy Rain vs. Nikkita Lyons & Zaria
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Lizzy Rain continues to be the best new character on NXT in my opinion. Her character is fun. Pro wrestling is best when it’s fun to watch.
This tag match culminates in an angle where Zaria turns on her tag partner, leading to Lyons dropping a fall to Rain. Good opener.
In the match, the babyface duo clean house before stereo wrecking ball dropkicks outside the ring as the show cuts to a commercial break.
Paxley in trouble after the show returns from the break, but she creates separation and crawls over for a hot tag. Rain runs wild, and she is a house of fire. Moments later, double down with Lyons and Paxley out on their feet as they crawl to tag out.
Lyons is nearly to her corner as she leaps to make a tag. Zaria pulls back her outstretched hand and jumps backwards off the apron, which leaves Lyons hanging in the ring. Lyons is alone as she takes Rain’s finisher, and Rain pins her.
Match result: Tatum Paxley & Lizzy Rain defeated Nikkita Lyons & Zaria when Rain pinned Lyons.
— In a plug for two nights of AAA Triplemania 34 on September 11 in a location TBA and September 13 in Mexico City, it is referred to as the “first-ever two-night” Triplemania. AAA ran multiple Triplemania cards in different cities during many years in the past, but whatever.
— Another plug advertises Penta, Bayley and Grayson Waller for NXT house shows this weekend.
— Speaking of special appearances, out comes Lince Dorado for a match against the wrestler formerly known as Evil.
Naraku vs Lince Dorado
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Dorado is currently a trainer in WWE, and here he puts over Naraku in a glorified enhancement match designed to get Naraku over in his in-ring debut. Dorado gets some offense, but not for long. Handspring into a cutter by Dorado, but that was the beginning of the end. Naraku eats him up and drops Dorado with a STO. One…two…three.
Match result: Naraku defeated Lince Dorado via pinfall.
— In a pre-taped skit, Nattie Neidhart is filming a promo for LFG when she is interrupted by Jaida Parker. They have words in a confrontation that clearly sets up a match between them.
Birthright (Charlie Dempsey, Uriah Connors & Stacks with Lexis King & Arianna Grace) vs. EK Prosper, Sean Legacy & Tate Wilder in a six-man tag team match
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The match goes through a commercial break and has a lot of action much of the time. To me, this match is proof that PWG has a lasting impact on pro wrestling. Wild match with high spots galore. For the finish, Wilder shrugs off a tag, much to the chagrin of Legacy and Prosper. Wilder proceeds to leap off the top with a moonsault. No water in the pool. Connors and Stacks then execute stereo kicks, and and Connors pins Wilder.
Match result: Charlie Dempsey, Uriah Connors & Stacks defeated EK Prosper, Sean Legacy & Tate Wilder when Connors pinned Wilder.
— Tristan Angels has words with Shiloh Hill in a backstage skit that also featured Lizzy Rain and Tatum Paxley. Hill is chatting with them when Angels confronts Hill and cuts a promo on him. Angels reveals his in-ring debut is next week on NXT. Judging by this skit, Angels is being programmed with Hill for a match in the near future.
— Izzi Dame and The Culling are the focus of a personality profile.
Mason Rook moonsaults and inks his NXT contract
NXT General Manager Robert Stone introduces Mason Rook for a contract signing, which leads to an interruption by NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo. First, Rook cuts a promo where he mentions wrestling overseas. He turns heads everywhere, including John Cena. He is not only the best super-heavyweight, he is the best at any weight. Try to stand up to a tank and get crushed.
Enter the champ, Tony D’Angelo. Stone pleads with him, and Tony D assures him he is not there to fight. Tony D is cutting a promo from the aisle when he is ambushed again by Kam Hendrix. They brawl at ringside as security tries to separate them. Rook capitalizes by climbing the turnbuckles and doing a moonsault to the floor on a pile of bodies. He rolls back into the ring to sign his contract and pose — while the champ glares at Rook.
— Romeo Moreno gives a pep talk to Noam Dar, who is returning to the ring in NXT for the first time in a long while. Dar doubts himself, but Moreno puts over Dar’s accomplishments.
Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drake (with Vanity Project)
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Dar fought valiantly, but he suffers from outside interference. Dar fights off Vanity Project when Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes attempt to interfere. However, Lockwood holds Dar’s trunks, allowing Drake to land a knee strike. Drake follows up with a 450 splash on Dar, and Drake scores a three count.
Match result: Jackson Drake defeated Noam Dar via pinfall after outside interference.
In a post-match angle, Darkstate enters the arena looking to confront Vanity Project. The show cuts to commercials during the foreboding entrance of Darkstate.
— NXT North American Champion Myles Borne has a disagreement with Tavion Heights after Myles informs Heights about a tag match next week. Robert Stone booked Borne teaming with Tony D’Angelo against the team of Mason Rook and Kam Hendrix. Heights is upset with Borne, as Heights perceives him as big-leaguing his former teammate. Borne tries to reason with Heights, as Borne did not lobby for the match. Heights storms off.
— Back to the ring where Darkstate wants to challenge Vanity Project for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Next comes a convoluted segment where Dion Lennox and Saquon Shugars are announced as the team challenging Vanity Project for the tag titles. The story coming into this segment involved dissension and tension between Shugars and Lennox. Osiris Griffin announces Shugars and Lennox are partners. The segment ends after the heels try to ambush Darkstate, but Vanity Project powders instead as they are dispatched by Darkstate.
— Backsatge, Stone shakes hand with Naraku. Stone then walks into his office to find Kan Hendrix and Mason Rook. They are informed they are booked as a team next week. In walks Tate Wilder, followed by Keanu Carver. This sets up another match for next week with Wilder booked against Carver.
— Kali Armstrong is interviewed backstage, which leads to a brief confrontation with Kendal Grey Wren Sinclair (as they head to the ring for the main event).
Kelani Jordan vs. Kendal Grey (with Wren Sinclair)
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WWE Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair is on crutches at ringside in Grey’s corner. The match itself goes through a commercial break. Jordan flew during the match, and Grey leaps off the top turnbuckle with a high cross to the floor before the show cuts to commercials.
Double down as the show returns from commercials. They trade near falls. Jordan goes for a springboard off the ropes, but Grey instead catches her in an ankle lock. Moments later, Grey goes for an armbreaker, but Jordan escapes. They trade more near falls before going home.
During the match, Izzi Dame is seen backstage brawling with Lola Vice, which would play into the finish of the ongoing match. Nearing the finish, Spanish Fly off the top for another near fall. They are perched on the turnbuckles setting up spot when Vice and Dame fight their way to ringside. Referees pour out in an attempt to separate them. During the melee, Sinclair is knocked down and loses her crutches.
Back in the ring, Grey is tripped up on the ropes. Jordan with a split-legged moonsaut, and she covers Grey for a three count.
Match result: Kelani Jordan defeated Kendal Grey via pinfall.
— Afterwards, Lola Vice goes to check on Sinclair. Grey is upset with Vice, and she shoves her. Vice and Grey yell at each other before Vice is ambushed by a sneak attack from Izzi Dame. She floors Vice with a running boot. Dame poses with Vice’s title as the show goes off the air.
