Jeremy’s WWE NXT Review 9.9.25

Hello everyone, and welcome to our live WWE NXT coverage on 411! Jeremy Thomas here as always and we have, in the words of the immortal Ed Sullivan, a really big show lined up. Tonight will see Hank & Tank try to reclaim the NXT Tag Team Championships from DarkState while Fatal Influence, The Culling, and Zaria & Sol Ruca will compete in an elimination match for a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Plus, Faby Apache and Lainey Reid will compete in the Speed Women’s Title #1 Contenders Tournament, Tavion Heights will take on Ethan Page in a Flag Match, Je’Von Evans battles Josh Briggs, and Trick Williams plans to confront DIY. That’s a hell of a lineup; let’s hope they don’t rush through it as NXT is wont to do.

Here at the Thomas homestead, I continue to get caught up on 2025 films as I enjoyed Nobody 2 for what it was (even if it’s a step down from the first) and actually found the live-action Lilo & Stitch fairly charming. David Cronenberg’s The Shroud was too talky (never DC’s strength) for my tastes but was a step up from Crimes of the Future, while The Conjuring: Last Rites was perfectly fine and ended the very fictionalized version of the Warrens well enough. I also saw the Netflix true crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish and found it compelling, but took issue with some of the directorial choices. And finally, Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest is quite decent thanks to stellar performances from Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright (as if we’d expect less from them).

Beyond those, I did another rewatch of KPop Demon Hunters since my roommate finally sat down to watch it, and picked back up on my MCU rewatch as I made it through the one-two punch of Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War.

On the TV side, I watched stayed caught up on the brilliance that is Alien: Earth and watched HBO Max’s Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence, which was very well-done. It’s also good to watch if you feel like you have too much faith in humanity; it’ll fix that.

Meanwhile, you can check out the latest episode in the Final Ghouls of Horror below as Holly, L and I look at the 2025 sci-fi thriller Companion! You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, including YouTube.

As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s kids is still active and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.

* TUDUM.

* Sol Ruca and Zaria survive the NXT parking lot, as do The Culling and Fatal Influence.

* Je’Von Evans comes out and calls out Briggs, who comes out with Ava and an official. Evans LEAPS on Briggs, who beats on him and throws him toward the ring — Evans springboards into a moonsault! We get in the ring and have the match starting.

Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs

Evans takes Briggs down with a kick to the face, then hits a FROG SPLASH for two-plus. Evans batters Briggs and chops him against the ropes, then into the corner. Shot to the head, Briggs shoves him off and blocks a shot, then hits his own HARD right to knock Evans down. Elbowdrop and a shot to Evans. Back elbow by Briggs in the corner, body shots and a huge overhand chop.

Briggs goes for a bodyslam but Evans floats over and hits a shot. Into the ropes, Briggs with a leaping clothesline for two. Into the ropes for a Boss Man Slam for two-plus.

Briggs kicks at Evans and pulls him up into a chinlock to grind Evans down. Evans fights out of a back suplex and goes onto the ropes — rana by Evans! He springboards off the rope into a rana then hits a dropkick, putting Evans against the middle rope. He goes in but Briggs puts him on the apron.

Evans sends Briggs to the outside and goes to springboard, but Briggs pulls him down face-first into the apron. Briggs grabs Evans and goes for a chokeslam on the table but Evans counters, jumps to the apron, hits a back kick and leaps THROUGH the ropes sending Briggs over the commentary booth as we go to break.

We’re back and Briggs has Evans in a chinlock in the center of the ring. Evans to his feet and tries to get Briggs on his shoulder — Briggs with a knee and goes into the ropes, but Evans hits a knee. Evans lays in a series of rapid strikes before he gets shoved away. Evans slides in, Briggs avoids but eats a kick.

Evans with a springboard but Briggs takes him down and covers for two. Disrespectful kicks to the head of Evans as Briggs talks shit, then a slap to the back of the head. Evans is pissed and hits a BIG right that staggers Briggs! Evans with a superkick and a leaping punch — flying crossbody off the top for two! He springboards but is caught by Briggs — Evans counters a powerslam into a Stunner! Punt kick from Evans gets a nearfall.

Evans takes aim and charges in — Briggs with a huge lariat! Evans into the ropes — spinning side kick! Evans stares death at Briggs and goes up — SWANTON COAST TO COAST!

Briggs falls to the outside as Evans follows. Briggs pulls Evans into the ringpost head-first and then rolls him in. Briggs has a chair and pulls it in — SUPERKICK by Evans! He goes for the springboard cutter — BRIGGS with a shot to the head for three!

Winner: Josh Briggs (12:42)
Rating: *** 1/2
Thoughts: These two worked phenomenally together and put together a badass match. Say what you want about Briggs’ character but the crowd hates him and he can do the work in the ring.

* Oba Femi and Ricky Saints are talking shit to each other backstage with Ava. Ava says she knows they both have a lot to get off their chests next week on the Grayson Waller Effect.

Trick walks in and asks if they’re approved for what they were talking about before he goes out to confront DIY. He tells Saints it’s championship business and tells Oba they aren’t finished yet before leaving.

* DIY are already in the ring with mics as we come back from break. Ciampa says any time they step foot in an NXT ring it feels like home and special. But tonight is extra special because it marks 10 years since the first time they tagged together in NXT.

Gargano says a lot of people forget what they came from, but he has said he’s NXT for life and meant it. They may be on Smackdown now, but this place and these people will always be their home.

Ciampa says his last match in NXT, he always kind of hoped and knew it wouldn’t be his last. And that brings them to tonight because Trick Williams —

And here’s Trick! Trick cuts the music and says the greatest NXT Superstar or all time has finally arrived. He acknowledges that last week they got the best on him two-on-one, but that it all went down because they’re jealous because their NXT crew can’t hang with his NXT crew.

Gargano suggests Trick get in the ring like last week and they remind him what they did in NXT. Trick says he will, but this time he’s not along.

CARMELO HAYES IS BACK! H1M IS HERE! Melo comes down to the ring and stares off with DIY. He then stares off with Trick before the crowd chants for them to “HUG IT OUT.” Melo says that since he left, Trick said a lot of things that were true and some things that aren’t. Melo heard Trick saying that this is his house last week, and he was standing in the ring with two guys who built this house and put renovations on this house. He congrats Trick for his title but says he’s squatting in the house and rent is due!

Trick says he gets it and Melo says he isn’t finished yet so he’s gonna say what he’s gotta say. So next time Trick is standing in the ring with greats like DIY and Melo he sits down and stays quiet while the OGs are talking.

Gargano laughs and says it’s like NXT Philly all over again. Trick says he gets it and he’s been saying some things about Melo even last week, and that wasn’t right. But don’t get it twisted; he squats where he wants to squat. He wears his heels where he wants to wear his heels but it is still his house.

Ciampa asks who’s big brother and who’s little brother and Melo tells him to shut up because it’s between him and his bro. Melo points out that DIY had one of the biggest backstabs in NXT history. Gargano says there’s a lot of history but the fans want to see two generations in the biggest tag match in NXT history at Homecoming. Trick Melo Gang vs. DIY at Homecoming!

We get quick promos from Lainey Reid and Faby Apache during their entrances for the match. Natalya is in the crowd watching.

Speed Title Tournament Match
Faby Apache vs. Lainey Reid

Faby with a front dropkick to start. Irish whip reversed by Lainey buy Faby ducks a punch and ranas Lainey out of the ring, then leaps on her from the apron. Kick to Lainey’s head, she rolls Lainey in and follows right into a kick from the head. Test of strength turns itno a sunset flip for Lainey for two.

A couple more quick pin attempts, Faby slams Lainey back and charges at her in the corner, Lainey moves but is taken down for two. Double underhook by Faby countered, Lainey with a kick to the head for two. Faby with a German suplex for two and goes up top — Natalya to the ringside area to watch. Faby off the top, Lainey moves and hits a knee to the head for three.

Winner: Lainey Reid (2:37)
Rating: N/A
Thoughts: Yep, that was a two and a half minute match.

* Zaria asks Sol where she’ll keep the third title and Sol has silly ideas. Zaria says she needs the win tonight, needs to be at Homecoming and win the title. Hank and Tank walk up calling them their favorite tag team. Sol asks how they’re doing, they have butterflies but say they will surprise DarkState tonight. Zaria says it smells like victory and Hank & Tank walk off as Sol and Zaria chest bump.

* We get a vignette saying that The Glamour isn’t done with Jordynne Grace and Grace made a big mistake. We see Blake Monroe in a darkened room in her tub and saying she wanted to be clean and untouchable, but the Glamour was never supposed to be clean and untouchable. She says Grace made her feel something last week when she busted her open and she thought those days were done, but she just got better at accessorizing. She has been awakened and she’s hungry, and she’s going to show Grace how The Glamour can even make the devil blush. “See you in hell, JG.”

NXT Tag Team Championship Match
DarkState vs. Hank & Tank

Osiris starts off with Tank and Tank knocks Dion off the apron, then hits a springboard back elbow to Osiris. Hank is in, pancake, they hit their finisher and cover but Dion breaks it up.

Tank and Dion knocked out of the ring, Osiris reverses an Irish whip into the corner and tags in Dion — double spinebuster and a cover but Tank breaks it up. All four men in the ring, we get a full-on brawl. Dion tossed out and Tank clotheslines Osiris out of the ring — Hank and Tank set up and dive THROUGH the ropes onto the champs as we go to break.

We’re back with Darkstate in control but Tank trying to fight back. Dion sends him into the corner and charges into a boot. Irish whip but Tank with a modified Sling Blade. Tank off the ropes into a spinebuster for two from Dion. Dion tags in Osiris, double chokeslam for two.

Osiris locks in a sleeper in the center of the ring. Tank battles to his feet and elbows out but takes a knee to the gut. Powerslam off the ropes for two-plus. Osiris mocks Tank and shoves him down to the mat, talking shit. Tank battles back and goes for the tag but is blocked, so he lays in punches and goes again — but Osiris decks him and goes for the punch. Both men trying to tag while holding their opponent back — the tags are made and Hank is in hot!

Hank lays in punches and bodyslams Hank, then hits a splash. Bulldog to Osiris sends him into Dion. Alabama Slam attempt, Dion blocks it but is spun around into an inverted sidewalk slam for two-plus.

Hank sets Dion on the top rope and Tank tags in, Hank goes for the superplex and hits it — Tank with a SWANTON! Cover gets two-plus. Hank tagged in, they set up for the pancake — but Shugars is on the rope and Darkstate goes for the distraction! Cutler says Joe Hendry isn’t coming tonight —

SAY HIS NAME AND HE APPEARS! He chases Cutler into the ring and the official backs him out of the ring as one of DarkState pulls Hank into a pinfall.

Winner: Darkstate (10:48)
Rating: *** 1/4
Thoughts: Fun match. This is doing a lot for DarkState and a dominant title reign will help overcome their RETRIBUTION-ness.

* We get a vignette explaining the Flag Match and featuring quick promos by Tavion Heights and Ethan Page.

* We see an NXT Anonymous video with Ethan Page confronting Myles Borne and trying to give him advice. We then go into the locker room where Lexis says that was good advice and says Charlie Dempsey’s advice probably went in one ear and out the other.

Dempsey says Myles doesn’t get his advice anymore and Lexis crows about beating Borne while blind. Myles comes in, turns off the lights and takes Lexis down, saying this isn’t over.

Flag Match
Ethan Page vs. Tavion Heights

Page goes for his flag before the bell and is pulled down by Heights. The bell rings and Page goes for the flag again to no avail. Tavion sends Page into the ropes, Page slides out of the ring. Tavion follows but gets pushed into the apron.

Page goes for the flag again but gets slammed onto the apron. Heights goes into the ring and sees Page climb in, so he tackles Page THROUGH the ropes to the floor! Tavion beats on Page on the ringside floor, then sends Page into the ring and follows. Into the ropes, standing Sling Blade from Tavion and he goes for the US flag — but Page cuts him off.

Page climbs up with Tavion and they battle on the top — Page down to the mat and pulls Tavion into a double knee! Page is back up and grabs Heights, going for an Ego’s Edge — but Tavion backs him up and kicks him away.

Tavion goes for the flag and is cut off again. Page goes for a power bomb but gets knocked down, Heights goes up but Page climbs up with him. They battle on the top, Page grabs Tavion by the hair and they both fall to the mat.

Tavion and Page trade shots in the middle of the ring now, they get back to their feet and nail each other with punches. Into the ropes, big kick by Page but Tavion into the ropes and hits a big forearm. Both men down and slow to get up.

Heights goes for his flag, Page goes for his — Page charges in but is sent into the ringpost! Tavion climbs up but Page is able to get to the apron and trips Tavion, who falls to the floor. Page tosses Heights into the ringsteps and climbs to the apron.

Page now climbing for the Canadian flag and Tavion catches him — he’s elbowed down but Page gets crotched on the ropes! He gets up but Tavion with a super belly-to-belly! He struggles to the corner, then climbs — he’s got the flag!

Winner: Tavion Heights (6:55)
Rating: ** 1/4
Thoughts: They were fine but this is the inherent problem with flag matches, they are too start-stop as they have to be built around that climb to get the flag.

Post-match, Tavion gets the Canadian flag and drapes it over Page. He waves the flag — AND TYLER BREEZE IS HERE?!?! Tylor enters the ring and takes a selfie next to a downed Page.

* We get the second part of the “This Is Lola Vice” package where she talks about her martial arts and her dad. She heads into her dad’s martial arts academy and hugs him. Her dad Frank talks about her and Lola says she wasn’t just born for this live, she was bred into it. Her whole family have black belts and her sister talks about witnessing all her viral moments live and her dances.

She talks about defying expectations in MMA and proving that she was more than a pretty face. At No Mercy, this is for herself and her sister can’t wait to see her knock out Jacy Jayne. Lola says it’s not just a fight; it’s her moment. Her dad is hyped for her and she says she’ll become NXT Women’s Champion in Vice City.

* Fatal Influence laugh about the video and they say they’re ready for tonight. They’ll win, Fallon and Jazmyn will win the tag titles and they’ll hold all the gold. Jazmyn puts on more makeup and they head out.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Title #1 Contender’s Elimination Match
Fatal Influence vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. The Culling

Nyx, Tatum and Zaria start off with Nyx and Tatum double-teaming Zaria and sending her to the outside — and Tatum and Jazmyn trade two pin attempts each. They collide in the ring and Zaria is back in for a double clotheslines. Kick to Nyx and backdrop to Tatum. Zaria grabs Nyx and pulls her up into an elevated sleeper, Tatum with a tackle to them both and then Izzi with a tackle to Zaria. Fallon is in now, counters a powerslam and gets a near-fall.

The ring is cleared down to Izzi and Zaria who trade blows in the center in the ring — double headbutt. They trade kicks and go into the ropes — double clothesline takes both women down. They’re back up and Fallon with a high crossbody. She tags in Nyx who trips Izzi, Fallon holds Zaria’s leg and Nyx with a crossbody.

Izzi in now, she catches Fallon and Sol tags in for a springboard dropkick to them. Chaos in the ring, Sol springs Jazmyn around to knock Tatum down and then knocks Nyx down — double surfing moment. She goes into the ropes but Fallon pulls her out and goes up top — dive onto Niko Vance and Zaria with a SPEAR to Spears off the apron! Everyone is taking out The Culling, all culminating in Sol with a moonsault off the top to all four Culling members! And we’re on break.

We’re back and it’s Izzi, Sol and Fallon in the ring, all down. They slowly get to their feet and trade strikes, with Fallon taking over but getting kicked in the gut by Izzi. Sol put onto the apron and goes for a springboard but Jazmyn trips her up. Zaria goes after FI on the outside but gets sent into the ringsteps. Blockbuster to Dame by Fallon, Nyx is in and they drop Sol onto Izzi. Cover by Nyx on both women get two each.

Nyx with a kick to Dame and a fisherman’s suplex for two. Ruca comes back with a kick to the head, she gets put on the apron but kicks Nyx and goes up top. Kicks by Jazmyn who climbs, Izzi comes over — she grabs Nyx and Sol hits a Super Blockbuster!

All three women crawl to make the tag, and the fresh women come in. Zaria with a German suplex to Fallon, then to Tatum. She catches Nyx in a springboard and hits a spinning back suplex, then LAUNCHES Tatum! Cover but Izzi breaks it up.

Sol and Zaria hit double spears on Izzi and Tatum, but FI is in now. Sol Snatcher ACCIDENTALLY HITS ZARIA! Fallon tosses Sol and Nyx pins Zaria! We’re down to Fatal Influence and The Culling!

Tatum with a dropkick to Fallon, Izzi with a super lungblower to Nyx, cover gets two-plus. Fallon pulls Izzi to the outside as Tatum with a standing switch, cover and a two-count. Jacy nails Tatum into a roll-up for two-plus. Catapult into a Nyx Kick, cover but Izzi breaks it up.

Izzi and Nyx go to the outside, chokeslam onto the apron from Izzi. Fallon takes out Izzi but Tatum nails Fallon. She goes up, Fallon avoids the splash. Counters back and forth and Fallon gets taken out with a Psycho Blade and Power Bomb for the pin!

Winner: The Culling (15:02)
Rating: *** 1/4
Thoughts: Damn good effort here by the competitors. That Sol Snatcher moment was a thing of beauty. It looks like we might actually have the Fatal Influence tensions come to a head which is about time, and I’m happy to see Izzi and Tatum get a shot at the champs.

Jacy gets on the mic and berates Fallon and Jazmyn, saying they both failed her. She runs the division and how dare her!

A bunch of black cars show up on the outside mid-promo and…we’re on break?

* We’re back and Jacy is still losing her shit. She says there’s no way Fatal Influence isn’t going to be part of Homecoming and Fallon and Jazmyn’s failures are on them. She’s tired of carrying them on her back and she didn’t get to where she is due to anyone. She’s the greatest NXT Women’s Champion of all time and —

STEPHANIE VAQUER IS HERE! Stephanie walks down and says she’ll give Jacy credit for beating her for the NXT Women’s Championship, but she had both titles at the same time and she did it for herself. And you know what? At Wrestlepalooza, she’s going to become champion again.

Jacy says there’s three of them and only one of her. Steph has a question for her? Does she know what time it is?

IT’S FUCKING TIFFY TIME! Tiffany Stratton is here! Stratton asks NXT what time it is and says it feels so good to be home. She says hi to Jacy and said last she checked, she’s the WWE Women’s Champion and the longest champion in the company. She runs down her victories and says she’s beaten Fallon before too. And she’s been NXT Women’s Champion so she doesn’t think Jacy is the best Women’s Champion ever.

Jacy calls them the Super Seniors who graduated and Tiffany says Mami isn’t going to like that…

RHEA MOTHERFUCKING RIPLEY IS HERE! MAMI HAS ARRIVED! Jacy is terrified and trying to beg off as Jazmyn and Fallon freak out. Rhea says the greatest NXT Women’s Champion of all time? She doesn’t think so. And if she wants so badly to come to Homecoming? There’s three of them, and three of “us.” So she’ll see them at Full Sail.

Rhea, Steph and Tiff charge the ring and quickly eject FI!

Set For Next Week:
– DIY vs. Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes
– Grayson Waller Effect with Oba Femi & Ricky Saints
– NXT North American Title Match: Rhean Page vs. Tyler Breeze
– Stephanie Vaquer, Tiffany Stratton & Rhea Ripley vs. Fatal Influence

And with that, we’re done for the night!

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

I was concerned going into this week's NXT that it was going to be a rushed episode, but the tonight's show was a great mix of both in-ring action and big reveals. As usual, when the brand is focused on the build to a big show they deliver. And it's not just about the surprise appearances (though that's certainly part of it); they had some very good matches and did some decent storyline progression here and there. This show fired on just about all its cylinders, making for a strong set-up for Homecoming.