Tag: WWE NXT Championship

New WWE NXT Champion crowned in ladder match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Joe Hendry is the NXT Champion.

Hendry outlasted six other wrestlers on Tuesday, climbing the ladder to win his first-ever NXT Championship. The finish had Ricky Saints shoving Keanu Carver off a ladder, sending him crashing through another ladder below. Saints, thinking he had it in the bag, did his pose then continued to climb but ran into someone he didn’t expect: Hendry. Both grabbed the title and had a brief pull-apart until Hendry clonked Saints with the title, sending him through a ladder. Hendry then unhooked the title to become champion.

The title was vacated after Oba Femi was called up to the main roster, choosing to leave the title in the ring after successfully defending it against Leon Slater at New Year’s Evil last month. Soon after, general manager Ava announced a ladder match for the vacant title.

Hendry was originally set to wrestle Jackson Drake last week in one of the qualifying matches. However, that show opened with Hendry being laid out. Ava saw Drake with a chair and later threatened to fire all three members of the Vanity Project. However, Drake convinced Ava that she couldn’t prove they were the ones behind the attack. The now former general manager relented and agreed to put Drake in the match, but also said she would put Hendry in as well if he was medically cleared.

Ricky Saints, two other wrestlers set for WWE NXT title ladder match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The first two participants in the upcoming NXT Championship ladder match are set.

Sean Legacy and Shiloh Hill both won matches on Tuesday’s show to advance to the ladder match that will determine the next NXT Champion on February 3. Shiloh Hill defeated Josh Briggs to advance, while Sean Legacy defeated Eli Knight in what was both men’s first match as a NXT-contracted wrestler.

During both qualifying matches, Tony D’Angelo came out and wreaked havoc, laying out everyone involved without saying a word. After he laid out Legacy and Knight, Ava came out with police who proceeded to arrest D’Angelo. He refused to say anything as he was taken away.

It was also announced that Ricky Saints will also be in the match, as since he was the final champion before Oba Femi, he automatically gets into the match.

The NXT Championship became vacant earlier this month when Oba Femi left it in the ring following a successful title defense against Leon Slater at New Year’s Evil. The following week, Ava announced the ladder match for next month.

WWE NXT (February 3)

  • Ladder match for NXT Championship: Shiloh Hill vs. Sean Legacy vs. Ricky Saints vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA
  • Triple threat match for NXT Women’s North American title: Izzi Dame defends against Lola Vice and Thea Hail

Oba Femi leaves WWE NXT Championship in ring following title match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Oba Femi has left the NXT Championship in the ring.

Femi’s chose to leave the WWE NXT title in the ring following his successful title match against Leon Slater at New Year’s Evil. This comes as vignettes for Femi have been airing on the main roster, indicating he will soon be a member of either the Raw or SmackDown brand.

The end of the show saw Oba Femi posing as the camera cut backstage to Ava, who was talking to Evolve talent about possible call-ups following a number of NXT stars being called to the main roster. Suddenly, Mr. Stone entered Ava’s office and asked the NXT General Manager if saw what Femi did in the ring. When the camera cut back live, Femi had left but the NXT Championship remained in the ring. Tony D’Angleo could be seen staring at the championship from the crowd as the show went off the air.

Femi’s call-up would be the latest as a number of NXT stars have been appearing as free agents on the roster. Trick Williams has been signed to SmackDown, while it was confirmed on Raw that Je’Von Evans would be a part of that brand. Jordynne Grace appeared on Friday’s SmackDown indicating she was a free agent as well, confronting Women’s Champion Jade Cargill.