WWE NXT holds its latest premium live event with tonight’s No Mercy from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In the main event, WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against former North American Champion Ricky Saints. Femi has defended the title ten times since winning it in January while this is Saints’ first shot at the top prize.
NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne puts her title on the line against Lola Vice who is looking for her first title run.
In a weaponized steel cage match, the rivalry between Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe will continue.
The men’s NXT North American Championship will be on the line as Ethan Page defends against Tavion Heights while WWE Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca defends against Lainey Reid.
The show is rounded out by Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans, fresh off challenging WWE U.S. Champion Sami Zayn on SmackDown.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 6 PM Eastern.
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Welcome in friends and I have some great news! All the wrestlers working tonight made it to work OK and I know this because camera crew met them at the door as is legally mandated and the footage was shown to open NXT No Mercy!
Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs
The show kicked off with one of my personal NXT favourites, Evans taking on Josh Briggs. What I know about Briggs is this: he’s a bad friend and has a Green Lantern tattoo. Aside from that though, Briggs had a definite size advantage over Evans, but Evans fought Oba Femi to a standstill at Heatwave, so he can bring it with the biggest of them.
Evans opened the match by kicking Briggs square in the face and punching him repeatedly. That upset Briggs, who grabbed Evans a threw him over the ropes. Briggs went to charge Evans, but he moved and Briggs ended up hitting the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Evans had Briggs on his heels, hitting high-flying moves and hurricanranas. Once Briggs got himself back together though, he grabbed Evans and threw him into the corner a few times. He then stood on Evans, working his heels into the small of his back.
Evans was favouring his hip during this mask due to an attack from Briggs on Smackdown last night. Briggs worked this with a series of backbreakers. Evans flopped like wet spaghetti, but managed to get to his feet. Briggs continued the assault with a few more throws into the corner.
Evans began fighting back, but Briggs overpowered him again. Evans tried to use the ropes to springboard but Briggs got to him first and sent him flying off the apron into the barricade, further injuring that hip.
Back in the ring, Briggs hit a side slam but whiffed on the splash afterwards. He began stomping Evans, but then stopped to mug for the crowd. Evans got to his feet and they began throwing hands, with Evans turning it into a snap suplex.
Evans tried a couple of lariats to get Briggs off his feet and the third one connected. Evans hit a series of spinning heel kicks and sent Briggs reeling into the corner. Evans brought the scrap from there, raining down punches on Briggs. He then went up top, but Briggs saw it coming and rolled out of the ring.
Evans changed his aim and hit a big dive anyways. Tossing Briggs back into the ring, Evans hit a frog splash from clear across the ring and got a 2.5 count before Briggs kicked out.
Briggs began clubbing Evans, including a huge lariat that flipped Evans clear over. Evans came back with a bunch of flying forearms and Briggs nailed a big boot to keep the back and forth going. Briggs hit a flipping knee and tried for a cover but only got a two count.
Briggs pulled Evans into the corner and went to climb to the top turnbuckle. He dragged Evans up with him and tried for a chokeslam, but Evans flipped right over it and sent Briggs to the mat. He kicked him in the face and went for a spingboard, but Briggs caught him with a chokeslam.
Briggs charged Evans who pulled the rope down and dove after him. Briggs caught him in midair with a lariat, then put him back in the ring for another one. It was almost a three count, but Evans got his foot on the rope and the ref called it off.
Briggs tried to go up top again, but Evans grabbed his ankle and began slapping him. Briggs went to chokeslam Evans again, but Evans turned it into a cutter and went up top for another fast frog splash. That got to Briggs and Evans made the pin, 1-2-3.
Match Result: Je’Von Evans defeated Josh Briggs
Great opening match. It was fast-paced and went as long as it needed to. Briggs has real potential as a Kevin-Nash style big man and Evans is the best underdog since Sami Zayn. Good stuff all around.
-Footage was shown of Trick Williams beating up Dominick Mysterio in a match for the North American Title at No Mercy 2024. Dragon Lee was the ref. Trick won. I have no idea why they showed this. (EDIT: Later I figured out they were showing these during international commercial breaks. I’m smart that way.)
They then showed some footage of the TNA incursion (we don’t say “invasion” in WWE. Too many bad memories) of NXT last Tuesday, which made more sense. Footage was also shown of Kelani Jordan winning the TNA Knockouts title at Victory Road last night.
Women’s Speed Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Jaida Parker
Lainey Reed was originally scheduled for this match, but declared not medically cleared earlier today. Ruca wanted to defend the title anyway, so NXT GM Ava found a new opponent in Jaida Parker.
For those that don’t remember or couldn’t bring themselves to download X, the Speed titles were created as an X-exclusive title. The matches would be released on X and they were subject to a five-minute time limit. Now, once you get all the jokes about lasting long enough out of the way and put aside the horrible X promotion, it’s kind of a fun deal. So, it was great to hear that the titles would be moving to NXT after everyone realized the X was a cesspool of misery and broken dreams.
Ruca won the Women’s Speed title from the inaugural champion, Candice Le Rae April and this will be the first NXT defence of the title at a PLE. Incidentally, the Men’s speed title is currently held by El Grande Americano, who won it in May and it hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
The match started and the clock started ticking. The two traded quick pin attempts, and Ruca hung Parker up on the ropes before flipping her out of the ring. Parker tried to regroup, but Ruca dove off the steps onto her.
Ruca tossed Parker back into the ring, but Parker rolled back out. Ruca went for a baseball slide, but Parker caught her and hit her in the throat at 3:32.
Ruca hit a back stabber, but Parker recoverd and set Ruca up for some offense in the corner. She hit a falcon arrow, but Ruca kicked out at 2:47. Parker didn’t waist time and went for a tilt a whirl, but Ruca reversed it and planted a big knee in Parker’s chest.
Parker tried to go up the entrance ramp, but there was only two minutes left. Back in the ring, Ruca hit a DDT, but only got a two count at 1:43. They got to their feet and Parker caught Ruca in a Samoan drop. Ruca rolled out and pulled Parker with her at 1:03.
Ruca started wasting as much time as possible and went for another dive, but Parker dodoged it and threw her back into the ring. Lash Legend arrived and that distracted Parker before she rolled back into the ring just in time to get caught by Ruca for a pin. Ruca wins and retained the Speed Title with 0:11 on the clock.
Match Result: Sol Ruca defeated Jaida Parker
-Footage was shown from last week’s NXT of Joe Hendry being interviewed. He was interrupted by the DarkState who told him that they were going to give him a 4-on-1 beatdown if he doesn’t back off. They said he’s either with them or against them and left, leaving Hendry pondering that.
Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe
These two have been at each other’s throats for months and this would hopefully be the big blow off of their feud. They made a big deal about the cage being “weaponized” which I assumed meant that it was going to be used later in a argument or something.
Instead though, it meant that there were kendo sticks, garbage cans, Official Slim Jim Tables and chairs (painted pink) attached to the cage that the participants could use. So it wasn’t the cage that was weaponized and more the… weapons, that were weaponized.
The bell rang and they charged each other with Grace sending Monroe into the cage first. Monroe grabbed a kendo stick though and beat Grace with it. Grace got it away from her and returned the favor. She then hit a spinebuster on a chair. Grace set the chair up and put Monroe in a boston crab, setting the chair over her so Grace could have a seat for more torque.
Grace set up a chair in the ropes and picked up Monroe. Monroe bit Grace and sent her shoulder first into the chair and then face first into the cage. Monroe worked Grace’s wrist into the chain link, wrenching the already injured joint. She then pulled down a pink garbage can and clobbered Grace with it. There was a curling iron and hair dryer in the can, but they got ignored.
Monroe worked the hand of Grace again, then hit an inverted Russian leg sweep onto the kendo stick. Monroe then went to the aforementioned hair dryer and used the cord to tie Grace to the middle rope. Monroe pulled a bag off the cage that held a pair of scissors. Monroe then started cutting off chunks of Grace’s hair, with Grace powerless to stop it.
Grace freed herself from the hairdryer cord and threw a Thez Press to beat the heck out of Monroe. She hit a series of lariats and went for a powerbomb, but Monroe got out of it and started scaling the cage. Grace pulled her down onto the top rope and hit a samoan drop from way up high.
Grace took a moment to mourn for her curly locks and then grabbed what looked like a wieght belt from the cage and beat up Monroe with it. She set up a trash can, but Monroe reversed it and sent Grace face first into the metal. Monroe grabbed the lid and hit a dropkick with it, sending Grace into the cage.
Monroe pulled another bag off the cage and emptied it’s contents which were diamonds. She grabbed Grace and tried to slam her, but Grace reversed and slammed them both onto the diamonds.
Grace got to her feet first and grabbed a garbage can. Setting Monroe up on the top turnbuckle, Grace climbed up, but Monroe slipped out and hung Grace up in a tree of woe. She put the garbage can over Grace’s head and then double stomped it from the top rope.
Monroe then grabbed the Official Slim Jim Table to the crowd’s delight. She tried to jam Grace’s face into the table leg, but Grace reversed it and sent Monroe into the cage like a battering ram. Grace finished setting up the Official Slim Jim Table and put it in the corner. She grabbed Monroe, but Monroe punched her and scaled the cage. Grace met her up there and got her into an electric chair position.
Monroe wormed out of it and the two climbed to the top of the cage where they traded punches. Monroe produced a bag with powder and threw it into Grace’s eyes. Grace slunk down to the top rope, and Monroe tried for a powerbomb, but Grace turned it into an air raid crash and put both women through the table.
Grace landed on top of Monroe, so the ref counted 1-2-3 and gave her the victory.
Match Result: Jordynne Grace defeated Blake Monroe
Dang! That was a cool cage match. Silly name, but awesome match none the less. I’ve never seen that hair spot in a cage match which was awesome. The diamonds instead of tacks was a great touch. That was really, really fun.
-Next, NXT GM Ava addressed the situation between TNA and NXT. She announced that NXT and TNA will compete in two 5-on-5 Survivor Series style matches (one Men’s one Women’s) and a Tag Team Title match between The Hardy Boys and DarkStake (winner takes all). There must be a finish in that match as everyone will be banned from ringside. It will all happen on October 7th on NXT TV and yes, it will be called “Invasion.”
-Then Lash Legend came out from the back. She cut a promo on the recently announced Invasion. She lobbied hard to lead Team NXT in the Women’s match. Jaida Parker took exception to that and jumped her from behind. They fought and were pulled apart.
-Lainey Reed was interviewed in the back about how she had to give up her shot at the Speed Championship. It was an ankle injury that took her out, but she will be back. Lola Vice interrupted the interview to tell her that sucks. Reed said that Vice had no chance to win her match tonight and Vice said she was bringing the title to Vice City.
NXT North American Championship Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. Tavion Heights
So, if Tavion wins the title here, does he have to pay the tariffs on it? Or if Page wins, does he have to pay them to get it back over the border? Just asking.
Off the bell, the two locked up and Heights brought some real agression to Page. Page responded with a headlock and Heights sent him into the ropes as “USA” chants broke out. The two started throwing shoulders with neither getting the advantage.
Heights kept coming at Page though, dodging kicks, dropping punches and then dropkicking Page out of the ring. On the entrance ramp, Page hit a big backdrop on Heights, leaving him writhing in pain. He dragged him back into the ring and dropped some big elbows before playing to the crowd.
Heights scrambled to the corner and Page landed a big back body drop. He continued the beatdown, working Heights into the corner and charging, but Heights moved and went for a suplex. His back gave out though page capitalized with a waist lock, wrenching his back. This went on for a while.
Heights finally shook page off and sent him into the corner. Heights went up, but PAge climbed the ladder and hit a backbreaker over the steel of the turnbuckle. Heights landed on the outside and was checked on by the official.
Page went outside and sent Heights back into the ring. He yapped at the announce team and turned his back on Heights, who found his second wind and hit a bunch of big lariats and high kicks. Heights locked in an ankle lock, but Page was able to get over to the ropes.
Heights tried a backslide, but Page kicked out. He picked up Heights in the Ego’s edge and then put on a an Olympic Boston Crab. Heights made it to the ropes though and it seemed like Page’s ankle gave out. Heights went up top, but Page clocked it and joined him. He went for a suplex, but Heights put on a sleeper hold. Page countered and sent him to the mat.
Page hit a twisted grin in the ring and got the pin, retaining the North American title.
Match Result: Ethan Page defeated Tavion Heights
Heights looked really impressive here, but as a Canadian I am legally mandated to be excited that Page won. I’m serious though, Heights looked great in this match.
-After the match, the AAA Latin American champion, El Hijo De Dr Wagner Jr appeared on the big screen, challenging Page.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Lola Vice
Jayne arrived doing her best 1994 HBK impression for her 4th defence of the NXT Women’s Championship. Also, Fallon Henley was there. Booker T could barely contain his excitement.
The crowd was clearly behind hometown hero Vice, chanting for her as the match started. Jayne slapped on a headlock and Vice worked it into a head scissor. Jayne went back to the headlock, transitioning to a wristlock. Vice tried to flip out of it, but Jayne put on a third headlock then started throwing shoulders and sentons.
Vice managed to catch Jayne with an armbar before moving into a headlock of her own. She threw Jayne into the ropes and kicked her back to the mat. Jayne whispered something in Henley’s ear before booting Vice in the stomach. She sent Vice to the corner and stomped her.
Jayne set Vice up for some chops and then threw her into the ropes. Vice came off them with a shot to the stomach followed by a suplex. Vice put on a chinlock and wrenched the neck of Jayne. Jayne turned it into a chinbreaker to make some space and the two traded pinning attempts.
Vice sent Jayne into the ropes and kicked her in the stomach as she bounced back. On the third, one, Jayne left the ring and Vice followed, smacking Jayne’s face on the announce table. Henley got involved, distracting Vice enough that Jayne could throw her into the steel stairs. She followed that up with a cannon ball and tossed Vice back in the ring.
Jayne hit a slingblade and went for a pin, but only got a two count. She suplexed Vice and delivered some hard kicks to the back, working the body part that took the brunt of the stair shots. She went for another kick, but Vice caught her leg and delivered a few of her own.
Henley got up on the apron and Vice charged her, but that just left her open for Jayne to deliver a backstabber. Jayne put her knee on Vice’s back and pulled her up in a chinlock in the middle of the ring. Vice managed to stand up and back Jayne into the corner. Jayne came right back out and went for a pin, but Vice reversed it into an arm submission.
Vice began throwing kicks, sending Jayne into the corner. Vice, the spiritual sucessor of Rikishi introduced some Butt-based offense, but Jayne rolled out of the ring where Henley was. Vice dove through the ropes to take out Henley, but that exposed her to a pump kick from Jayne.
Jayne tossed her back into the ring but missed with a discus elbow and Vice landed a big kick. She went for the pin, but at two, Henley pulled the ref out of the ring. He ejected her from ringside and when he got back, Vice had the Squeeze locked in on Jayne.
Jayne rolled through, avoiding the submission and the two traded chops. Jayne got a backfist in, but Vice kicked out at two. Bothe women lay on the mat as the “this is awesome” chants rained down on them.
Jayne got up first and kicked Vice in the head, sending her to the corner for some back elbows. Jayne yapped at Vice’s family at ringside and when she turned, Vice grabbed her for a DDT into a guillotine choke. Jayne got up though and sent Vice to the corner.
Vice responded with her feet and climbed to the top turnbuckle. A high kick from Jayne stopped her in her tracks and Jayne grabbed her for a suplex from the top followed by a big running knee. Vice kicked out at two though, to the surprise of Jayne.
Jayne left the ring and grabbed the title belt, presumably looking for the DQ. The ref pulled it away from her and Vice rolled her up for two. Vice hit a superkick and Jayne hit some high strikes. A flurry of kicks and backfists from Vice sent JAyne to the mat, but Vice’s momentum took her out of the ring.
Suddenly, someone in black jumped the guardrail and flattened Vice on the outside. Jayne writhed in the ring and Vice made it back in at 9, just beating the count. Jayne hit a rolling encore to the dazed Vice and got the pin to retain the title.
Match Result: Jacy Jayne defeated Lola Vice
I really liked this match. It was hard hitting and fast with a ton of near falls. Jayne makes a terrific heel champion and Vice has star power to spare. Great work here.
NXT World Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints is an excellent professional wrestler. So is Oba Femi, but Femi has the advantage of also being a murder monster who has dominated NXT for months now. Saints (200lbs) has a 110lb size difference from Femi (310lbs), but see the aforementioned “being really good at wrestling.” This should be an excellent match.
Femi went for Saints off the top, but Saints had it scouted and hit a few jabs to the face. Femi grabbed him and threw him at the ground for a few minutes before sending him to the corner. Saints put a big boot up and sent Femi staggering, but Femi was right back and pressed him against the ropes.
Femi started throwing European uppercuts and dropped Saints down into a headlock. Saints got his leg up though and across the throat of Femi to break the hold. Femi slammed Saints then started clubbing his back. Saints ducked underneath and threw some chops. Saints hit a boot to the gut and then a kick to the face to knock Femi off his feet.
Saints went up top, but Femi caught him on the way down. Saints wriggled out and hit a dropkick, stunning Femi momentarily. He sent him outside then charged for a dive, but Femi was waiting and hit a massive shot to Saints through the ropes that echoed through the arena.
Femi got back in the ring and slowed the tempo down. He hit a big backbreaker on Saints, followed by another and then a third. Saints kicked out at two though. Femi put him in the corner and laid some shots into Saints stomach, followed by a big clothesline that sent Saints through the ropes.
Femi pulled Saints back in then punched him so hard he flew back out, seemingly knocked out on the entrance ramp. Saints got back in at 7, beating the count, but Femi used that the drop him on the top rope and hit another European uppercut. Femi put his knee on Saints’ back and pulled him up in a chinlock.
Saints got out of it and went for a crossbody, but Femi caught him and hit a backbreaker before laying him out over the turnbuckle and pressing down, folding him in half. Saints snuck a shot in and Femi staggered back. Saints went off the ropes, but got caught again and chokeslammed into next year.
Femi charged, but Saints moved and tried a rollup. Off of that, he hit a high knee and then charged in with a forearm and a few more for good measure to get Femi into the corner. Saints tried to pick up Femi and on the second try got him up for a samoan drop. Femi kicked out at two.
Saints went for a spear, but Femi swatted him out of mid air and hit another big uppercut. They ran the ropes again and this time, Saints landed the spear, but Femi kicked out at two.
Saints went up top, but Femi ran over an punched him. He climbed the ropes and Saints clubbed him, slid underneath and landed a big powerbomb. He fell on top of Femi and got a near fall.
They both got to their feet and began trading shots. Femi powered up and Saints collapsed in the middle of the ring before he could touch him. Femi got close and Saints popped up. He laid in a few shots, but Femi threw him off. Saints charged and Femi grabbed him and threw him across the ring. He tried to pick up Saints, but Saints turned it into a rollup and got a two count.
Saints wearily rolled out of the ring and Femi followed. He pulled everything off the announce table and picked up Saints. He threw him onto the table and set him up for a powerbomb, but Saints countered and DDT’ed Femi on the table. Somehow it did not break.
Saints hit a tornado DDT and crawled back into the ring. Saints charged Femi on the ring apron, but Femi swatted him down like a fly. Back in the ring, Femi hit a Fall From Grace, but Saints somehow kicked out.
Femi went for another Fall From Grace, but Saints turned it into another DDT followed by a fourth spinning DDT and pinned Femi 1-2-3! Ricky Saints is the new NXT Champion!
Match Result: Ricky Saints defeated Oba Femi
Wow! I did not see that coming! Saints won and won clean over one of the most dominant champions NXT has ever had. Absolutely stunning. Maybe WWE has bigger plans fo Femi, but Saints earned the hell out of that title.
