A new NXT Champion will be crowned on tonight’s WWE NXT from Orlando, Florida, as the post Ava era begins.
After Oba Femi relinquished the title on the way to the main roster, Ricky Saints, Shiloh Hill, Sean Legacy, Jackson Drake, Dion Lennox, Keanu Carver and Joe Hendry will compete in a seven-way ladder match to determine the new champion.
In a three-way, NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame will defend against both Thea Hail and Lola Vice who made her women’s Royal Rumble debut this past Saturday.
The TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Elegance Brand (M by Elegance & Heather by Elegance) will defend against ZaRuca (Sol Ruca & Zaria). This comes days after Ruca’s impressive performance in the women’s Royal Rumble.
Tony D’Angelo will also make an appearance to finally address why he’s back in NXT and what’s next for him.
Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.
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NXT is on the air in front of a live studio audience on a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
The show begins with Shawn Michaels making Robert Stone the new interim general manager of NXT. Stone enters the office formerly belonging to Ava, as HBK wanted to see him. HBK remarked how Stone always does whatever is asked of him, and Stone replied he did it because he loves NXT.
Michaels then informs Stone he is the interim GM. Michaels says he knows this place can be crazy, but he likes it like crazy. With that, HBK wished Stone luck before leaving the office set.
No mention of Ava.
After the skit, a video package hypes the men’s championship ladder match later on. Opening the show from the sound stage is a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. On commentary, Vic Joseph noted is the first time this particular version of the North American title is ever being defended in a triple threat.
Izzi Dame (with The Culling) vs. Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice in a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship
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The title bout goes through a commercial break. Thea Hail and Lola Vice shine before the show cuts to commercials, with Hail first jumping off the ring steps with a flying head scissors on Shawn Spears at ringside. Hail ducks a kick from Dame, and Vice leaps off the ring apron with a meteora on Vice. Hail circles back to drop Vice with a tope suicida. The title belt is on a pedestal at ringside, and Hail runs over to bite the title belt as the show heads into the break.
The show returns from the break with combo where Dame has Vice on her shoulders as Hail leaps off the ropes with a neckbreaker on Vice as Dame falls back like a Samoan drop. Vice then fires up with a series of kicks and hip attacks. More tandem spots, leading to several near falls.
Hail with another rally as she shakes the ropes like Ultimate Warrior before springboarding off the middle rope into the waiting arms of Vice, who catches Hail in sleeper hold. Dame breaks up the hold and they fight on. Hail went for a Kimura lock a moment later, but Vice escapes and is able to again apply a sleeper. Dame breaks up the sleeper, only to take a DDT from Hail.
Kelani Jordan suddenly ran down to ringside and attacked Vice. Jordan pulls a ladder partially out from underneath the ring, and Jordan uses the ladder to smash Vice’s right hand. Vice sells big as referees pour out to eject Jordan from ringside.
Meanwhile in the ring, Hail as Dame locked in a Kimura. Dame escapes the submission hold, and Dame with a gutwrench Liger bomb on Hail. Dame then pins Hail for a three count. Good opener in a match that appeared very choreographed at times. And still…
Match result: NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame defeated Thea Hail and Lola Vice in a triple threat match to retain her title.
— In a locker room skit, Zaria was upset at Sol Ruca for not telling her about being in the Royal Rumble. Ruca wants to tell Zaria everything, but Ruca was told not to say anything. Zaria is understandable, and she switched focus to their upcoming title bout.
— As the show heads into a commercial break, Tony D’Angelo is headed to the ring for a monologue.
— Back from commercial for a skit that sets up a tag team match for later on. Chase U’s Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon are confronted by Lexis King & Stacks, along with Arianna Grace, and a match is made for tonight.
Tony D’Angelo explains his actions
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Tony D’Angelo is in the ring to “clear the ring” after seven months of him talking to the audience. The studio audience starts chanting for him before D’Angelo briefly runs down his history in NXT. He had family, friend and people that had his back — but that was taken from him.
D’Angelo goes on to say he needed to regroup after Darkstate ruined his life. He had to set in a dark room but himself to remember who he was, which is a National Champion and Division I All-American. He also remembered he was good at bouncing people off the mat.
D’Angelo talks about the mystic after his recent return, where no one knows what he is doing. Tony calls this a selfish time in a selfish business, and that aligns exactly with his plans. He came back for two reasons. One reason is he wanted Darkstate to know he was coming for them. This is about punishment, not revenge. The second reason we will see when he is done with Darkstate.
— “NXT Focus” is the sponsored personality profile where Shiloh Hill takes about the championship ladder match that headlines tonight’s card.
— WWE Speed Champion Jasper Troy cuts a promo on his prospective challengers ahead of the upcoming tournament to crown a top contender. No matter who wins, Troy vows to destroy them in Atlanta.
Elio LeFleur vs. Charlie Dempsey in a first round match in the Speed tournament
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This was great for a three-minute match. The closing minute was especially good with them trading counters and near falls. LeFleur delivers a tilt-a-whirl Rocker Dropper, and he hooks a leg to cover Dempsey for a three count with seconds remaining in the time limit.
Match result: Elio LeFleur defeated Charlie Dempsey via pinfall to advance in the Speed tournament.
— Kelly Kincaid interviews Joe Hendry, and he talks about going into the ladder match with an injury. His smile has been hiding frustration and disappointment because the last seven months have been without a championship. Hendry goes to vow he becomes the new NXT Champion.
— NXT’s presence in the Royal Rumble was the focus of a video package.
The Elegance Brand (Heather by Elegance & M by Elegance with Ash by Elegance & The Personal Concierge) vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship
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TNA authority figure Daria Rae (who is formerly Sonya Deville in WWE) returns to NXT as she watches the title bout near ringside.
The story of the match was dissension between Zaria and Ruca. Zaria refuses to tag out, and they trade blind tags, while also arguing and shoving each other. Their future is in question, especially after the finish.
The match goes through a commercial break. Ash by Elegance jumps on the apron to cause a distraction, which allows The Elegance Brand to gain the upper hand as the show cuts to a commercial break. When the show returns from the break, heat on Zaria as she is worked over and separated from her corner. Zaria comes back and refuses to tag out.
For some reason, Sean Legacy is seen getting ready in the locker room ahead of the main event ladder match in a split-screen in the middle of the match. Why?
Double down in the ring and Zaria uses the ropes to pull herself to her feet, which allows Ruca to make a blind tag. Ruca then runs wild and gets a few near falls. Meanwhile, the studio audience is doing the wave.
Heather by Elegance with a moonsault press, and M by Elegance goes for her own moonsault. No water in the pool, though. Ruca rolled out of the way, and Ruca struggles to her feet. Zaria makes a bling tag, leading to her and Ruca getting into a shoving match.
The challengers argue as they both deliver stereo spears on the champs. Ruca signals for their finisher, so Zaria hoists M by Elegance on her shoulders. Ruca went to follow with a Sol Snatcher, but M escapes their clutches. Ruca then inadvertently catches her own partner, Zaria, with a Sol Snatcher. Ash by Elegance pulls Ruca out of the ring and sends her crashing into the ring steps.
Bow and arrow hold on Zaria by M as Heather leaps off the top rope with a double foot stomp. Heather then covers Zaria for the deciding pinfall.
Match result: Heather by Elegance & M by Elegance defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria via pinfall when Heather covered Zaria to retain their titles.
— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page cuts a promo where he gives The Vanity Project a pep talk of sorts.
— In a skit from social media, Jaida Parker is attacked by Blake Monroe at a merchandise booth outside the building.
Chase U (Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors with Andre Chase) vs. Lexis King & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (with Arianna Grace)
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Dixon & Connors got their time to shine, but this match was more about getting King & Stacks over as a team. Dixon & Connors looked great in the ring, but they drop the match to the new heel team. Dixon fires up in the closing moments. He goes for a moonsault off the top rope, but Stacks gets his feet up to block it. King tags in and delivers a V-trigger, and King follows with The Coronation. King pins Dixon to win the match.
Connors backs away and apparently quite Chase U in an angle after the match. He leaves Chase U and exits just behind the heels.
Match result: Lexis King & Stacks defeated Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors via pinfall when King pinned Dixon.
— The trio of Fatal Influence are in the ring for a promo where NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne talks about her time in the Royal Rumble. Jayne cuts a promo on Sol Ruca, who eliminated Jayne in the Rumble match by tossing her out. Jayne is cutting her promo on Ruca when she is interrupted by Zaria.
Zaria gets in the ring to confront Jayne and Fatal Influence. Zaria says Ruca had plenty of shots at the title, and this was Zaria’s turn. They are all soon interrupted by the team of Wren Sinclair & WWE Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. Everyone is bickering in the ring when Sol Ruca joins the ongoing argument.
Ruca makes a crack at Zaria about not being friends anymore, and they briefly bicker. Eventually, out comes Robert Stone for his first announcement and ruling as GM. In his first act at interim GM, he books a tag match for next week with Sinclair & Grey against Ruca & Zaria. Whomever scores the winning fall also earns a title match against Jacy Jayne in Atlanta.
— Kelly Kincaid interviews Kelani Jordan, who boasts about breaking Lola Vice’s hand in an injury angle from earlier tonight.
— Ricky Saints gets a full entrance before a commercial break. Other participants for the ladder match get their entrances during a split-screen as commercials run.
— After the commercial break is a skit where Lexis King, Stacks and Grace approach Charlie Dempsey to ask if he thought about their recent offer to join the new faction.
— Joe Hendry also gets a full entrance after the break.
Ricky Saints vs. Shiloh Hill vs. Sean Legacy vs. Jackson Drake vs. Dion Lennox vs. Keanu Carver vs. Joe Hendry in a ladder match for the vacant NXT Championship
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Keanu Carver starts off strong, and ladders soon come into play with several taking bumps on the ladder from the opening moments onward.Many ladders of various sizes are set up around ring for easy access.
Joe Hendry uses the ladder as a battering ram before he spins around with it to do his pose. He tries to climb towards the title belt hanging above the ring, only for Hendry to get tripped up by Jackson Drake. Time for Drake’s turn to take a bump off the ladder as Hendry tips it over. Hendry then powerbombs Drake over the ropes into the arms of the other participants on the floor. Hendry follows up by hurdling the top rope for a dive outside the ring. The show cuts to a commercial break with a slow motion replay of Hendry’s hurdle over the ropes.
Carver rips a gimmicked ladders apart in a feat of strength in the middle of the match. The ripped apart ladder would play into another stunt moments later. Sean Legacy and Dion Lennox get their chances to shine in spots after the show returns from the break. They are fighting on a ladder when Shiloh Hill uses the two sections of the gimmicked ladder as a stilts. Hill would go on to take a Doomsday Device at the hands of Carver and Lennox.
Lennox is climbing the ladder when Saints tries to stop him. Saints takes a spinebuster on a ladder. Hendry thwarts Lennox and give him a chokeslam on a ladder. Hendry climbs and Drake again stops him. Legacy takes a wicked swanton from Drake, and Drake climbs he ladder. Saints goes to stop him, only for Carver to enter the ring and mow down Saints.
Carver stumbles over the ropes in a spot. Drake then does a tornillo splash off the top turnbuckle to the floor, just before the show cuts to its final commercial break. They continue running through high spots during a split-screen.
After the show returns to full screen, Carver is using a ladder to smash everyone. Hill leaps off the ring steps for senton that sandwiches Carver in the ladder. In a bizarre spot, Hill celebrates by taking out this false teeth and throwing them on the ground, which apparently similar to a Southern babyface pulling down the straps on is singlet.
Hill follows up with a running knee strike on Carver, and Hill smashes him with the ladder. Everyone works together to pile ladders on top of Carver. They bury Carver underneath ladders. Hill does the Terry Funk spo of airplane spinning a ladder in a crazed manner while other wrestlers bump into the ladder. Hill eats a shining wizard from Drake, and Drake builds a ladder bridge. That backfires on him as Legacy springboards into a 450 splash that drives Drake into a ladder.
Legacy and Lennox are fighting on one ladder when Hill sets up a second ladder to climb. Hill and Drake climb the second ladder. Hill and Drake takes bumps off the ladder, while Lennox and Legacy remain on the other ladder. Legacy hangs from the ladder like its Ultimate-X before taking a bump off the ladder. Hendry breaks up Lennox’s climb with Lennox fingertips away from the title belt.
Hendry and Lennox end up fighting outside the ring, where Carver awakens from his slumber under the pile of ladders. Carver mows down wrestlers with shots from the ladder and spears on the floor. Carver sends Drake over the barricade into the arms of plants in the front row. In another stunt, Legacy is shoulder tackled through a gimmicked section of wall by a charging Carver.
Ricky Saints rushes to climb a ladder in the ring as Carver rushes back inside the squared circle. Two ladders are still side-by-side from earlier in the match. Now, Carver and Saints climb opposing ladders. They fight atop the ladders.
Saints kicks over the other ladder, and Carver takes a big bump on a ladder bridged between the ring apron and the broadcast booth. Carver crushes the ladder as Saints smirks atop the ladder in the ring. Saints senses victory, only for him to be surprised by Hendry shooting up the other side of the ladder.
Saints and Hendry are fighting over the title belt as they unhook from the hanger. Tug-of-war with the belt as he hangs above ring. They each tease falling off the ladder until Hendry lightly hits Saints with the belt, and Saints does a Nestea Plunge off the standing ladder to a ladder bridge. Nasty bump for Saints as his head snaps on the top rope as he takes a hard bump on the ladder.
Hendry grabs the title belt, and new…
Match result: Joe Hendry wins a ladder match to capture the NXT Championship
The Joe Hendry era of NXT has begun. He is your new champion of the men’s division. All hail the king.
