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Ciocco’s WWE NXT Review 4.14.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...NXT Universe! Tonight, the Tuesday Night Delight will be looking for REVENGE! Everyone on the NXT brand will be looking for REVENGE! And I do mean REVENGE, as it is the name of the game!
In what will be the first of a two episodic run of NXT Revenge, tonight’s show will feature title matches with familiar faces. In his first title defense since winning the World Heavyweight Title at Stand and Deliver, Tony D’Angelo will look to keep Ethan Page from becoming a two-time champion. With phase two of Tony’s mission complete, how long can he hold on to the title, and how much longer can we deny Page the chance to move up to the main roster?
The Women’s Title also changed hands at S&D, as Lola Vice came out on top over former Champion Jacy Jayne and Kendal Grey. And tonight, Vice will put the title on the line in Jayne’s contract rematch. Will Vice prove that her title win is no fluke and continue her title reign, or will Jayne make more history and become a three-time NXT Women’s Champion?
There are three constants in life: death, taxes, and frequent Men’s and Women’s Speed Title tourneys. This time, however, it is justified, as the men’s side needs a new champion with Elio LeFleur out due to injury. Tonight, two men with new names will do battle to move on, as E.K. Prosper will face Dorian Van Dux.
In what has become one of the most intense feuds in NXT, Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker will once again do battle. At S&D, Parker defeated Jordan clean, only to get attacked in the back by Kelani. Can Miss Parker defeat Jordan once and for all, or will Jordan make this an even series?
Joe Hendry will also be in concert tonight, which clearly will go on without a hitch and will not see anyone interfere or interrupt it. All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight.
So, how is everyone on this Taco Tuesday? The Flyers have FINALLY put an end to their five-year playoff drought, and of course, they draw the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. I always look forward to these games, even if I become one of the most hated people in the area during the series lol. On the other side of that, the Pacers made sure that the tank stayed beautifully intact and ended up with the second worst record in the NBA. Clearly, this was a season to tank, according to our esteemed commissioner, and we should be back next year with a high draft pick protected by the top 5 and with Hali healthy.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to chant the letters of N-X-T!
THEN!
NOW!
FOREVER!
TOGETHER!
Night one of NXT Revenge takes place from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida! Vic Joseph and Booker T will continue to bring us the good word!
Video package to open the show. Change is inevitable. And we saw that with not just a new Men’s World Champion, but a new Women’s Champion last weekend at Stand and Deliver in St. Louis. Also, those who want Revenge will stop at nothing to get it.
Well, it looks like they put a little bit of work into making the PC look different. And I do mean a little bit.
Miss Parker is here!
Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan
Early lock-up at the bell, as both ladies fight all around the ring. A break, and we’re back at it. Jordan shoves Parker, who Jaida shoves her out of the ring lol. Jordan is back and she takes Parker to the ropes and delivers a cheap shot in the ropes. Parker gives as good as she gets and calls Kelani stupid. Side headlock from Parker, Jordan to her feet, but Parker with a headlock takeover.
Every time Jordan tries to escape, Parker continues to gator roll to keep Kelani down. Jordan finally gets back to her feet and counters Parker. Jaida bounces Jordan to the mat, but Kelani kicks her in the gut. That only pisses off Miss Parker, who hits a couple of shoulder tackles and a back body drop.
Jordan ends up on the floor, and as Parker gives chase, Kelani sweeps out her feet. They both have the idea to slam their opponent into the ring steps, but they each put on the breaks. We instead get a double clothesline as both ladies hit the floor, and that’ll take us to the first break of the evening.
Jordan takes over when both ladies return to the ring, and Kelani isolates the left knee of Parker. Jaida kicks her way free and hits some self-defense elbows, but Jordan goes right back to her bad knee. Parker tries to sneak in a roll-up, but Jordan kicks out at two and proceeds to work on the knee of Parker.
Jordan takes Parker to the ring post and raps her leg around it. Parker is able to kick her away momentarily, but Jordan gets back into the ring and goes on the attack. Parker ends up cornering Jordan and slams her head into the turnbuckle on loop. Parker hits a release German, but she can’t follow up, as Jordan kicks out Parker’s vertical base.
Jordan applies a variation of the cross face. Parker nearly grabs the ropes, but Jordan brings her back to the middle of the ring and slams her bad knee into the mat. Jordan talks that mad smack, but it earns her a slap to the face. Parker gets to her feet, but Jordan scores with an enziguri.
Jordan kips up and charges Parker, but no one was home. Parker catches a reeling Jordan with a Samoan Drop! Parker with clotheslines and a Backstabber! Parker charges Jordan in the corner, and Parker kicks out her legs and chops her. She runs the ropes and hits the corner knee drop to Jordan!
Kelani rolls out to the floor, so Jaida gives chase. Jordan catches her, though, and slams her into the ring apron. Back in the ring, and Jordan with a CUTTER! The cover, but Parker kicks out at two. Jordan has a fit and heads to the top, but Parker stops her momentum. Jordan kicks her away and hits a crossbody, but Parker rolls through! Reversals are traded, and Parker hits the Falcon Arrow! She did the deal, but Jordan kicks out at 2.8!
Parker looking Hipnotic, but Jordan moves, and she hits the exposed turnbuckle! Jordan hits a thrust kick and follows it up with One of a Kind for the win!
WINNER: Kelani Jordan
TIME: 12:20
THOUGHTS: A good opening match, and with Jordan winning this time, it will assure that these ladies will meet one more for a rubber match.
RATING: ***1/2
Earlier today, Shiloh Hill is in the men’s locker room with a hammer and a clipboard. He’s talking to himself until Ricky Saints shows up. he asks him if he is building a time machine, and Ethan Page is here. Saints wants to know why he is here, and Page says divided they are distracted, but together they are unstoppable. Page says he needs Ricky’s help tonight, and when he defeats Tony for the World Title, Saints will get the first shot. Ricky contemplates this but eventually embraces Page.
We see Joe Hendry in the back, and his concert is up next!
COMMERCIALS!
The NXT Focus is on Sol Ruca and Zaria, formerly known as ZaRuca. Narrated by Ruca, she says they entered Stand and Deliver as friends, but Sol ended up winning the North American Title. They had a chance to win the Women’s tag team titles, but Zaria speared Ruca by mistake. A couple of months later, they got another shot, but they fell short again. She even let Zaria defend her North American Title, but she lost her title. She knew there was a reason that she was eager to jump on the Knockout’s Title shot. All Zaria does is point the finger at her and blame her for why they couldn’t get the job done. So, Zaria, next week in our last woman standing match, what will be your excuse then?
I Believe, you believe, and Booker believe a little TOO much in Joe Hendry! Hendry gets into the ring, where we have a stand, a chair, and two acoustic guitars. Say his name, and he appears! Let’s call it like it is, I lost the NXT Championship. And that means, I need to ask myself some difficult questions. Is this the end of the road? Should I stop now? Should I quit? Well, I looked myself in the mirror, and I said no! So, we are going to lift everyone’s spirits with a Joe Hendry Concert!
🎵He was the Champion for all NXT, but now it’s some guy working for the Mafia.
Can I reclaim my world title, I guess we’ll have to see.
Many challengers remain, including Ethan and Ricky, who are on the same page.
(No pun intended!)
The title was my life, and I lost her, can I get her back?🎵
Uh-oh, Keanu Carver is here and he doesn’t like Joe’s music! Hendry says that we are not doing this, because the people want a Joe Hendry concert. But Carver gets onto the apron and shoves Hendry. He gets into the ring, and Hendry goes on the attack, and he hits him with his guitar, but Carver no-sells it. Carver hits Hendry so hard he falls out of the ring. Security is here, but Carver spears all of them through the barricade.
Tony D’Angelo has some words for us. Tonight, he faces Ethan Page for his World Title. You know, he picked Page because he hates everything about him. His ego, his smile, the way he acts and talks, everything about him. But Page has been at the forefront of NXT for the past two years, and D’Angelo respects that. But he will not beat Tony for his World Title.
Kali Armstrong will make her NXT debut, next!
COMMERCIALS!
Bored crowd shots! But not anymore, as we see Lola Vice in the back with her title. Stephanie Vaquer is here! Stephanie says the title looks good on her. Lola says go beat Liv at WrestleMania, and they bump booty’s.
Kali Armstrong is here!
Kali Armstrong vs. Skylar Raye
Raye went from winning LFG season two to getting the jobber entrance. Yikes. Armstrong grabs Raye at the bell and slams her to the mat. She keeps an arm bar on before Raye gets back to her feet. She kicks Armstrong and tries to build separation, but Raye keeps her off balance. It’s not overly effective, as Armstrong corners her and hits some shoulder tackles. She takes off across the ring and hits a charging shoulder tackle.
Raye attempts to fight back, but Armstrong leapfrogs her and lands some jabs. BIG right hand floors Raye, but she kicks out at two. Kali applies a neck crank on Skylar. Raye gets to her feet, but Armstrong throws her back to the mat. Raye is able to hit a jawbreaker, which staggers Armstrong to the corner. Corner charges by Raye follows. Off the ropes, and Skye spikes Kali with a DDT for a two.
Armstrong is back to her feet with a spinebuster! HUGE shoulder tackle, and that will give Kali her first NXT win!
WINNER: Kali Armstrong
TIME: 3:55
THOUGHTS: A great showing for Kali in her debut. Skylar got in a good bit of offense, but she wasn’t winning this one.
RATING: **1/2
The Vanity Project and Blake Monroe are in the back. The dudes gas her up, and Robert Stone says that after talking to Tatum Paxley, she will give Monroe a rematch, but she gets to choose the stipulation for the match. Jackson Drake objects, and Ricky Smokes assures Blake that she is the Glamour, and she is the rightful North American Champion. Monroe pouts and tells the boys it’s time to leave. Stone tells Ricky to get the hell out of his office lol.
The Ego is here for his World Title match, coming up next!
COMMERCIALS!
Promo for the Shawn Michaels documentary that came out yesterday on Peacock, this one features him working with Trick Williams.
NXT World Heavyweight Title Match: Tony D’Angelo (C) vs. Ethan Page
Mike Rome with the in-ring introductions for this match. The bell rings, and Page wants to talk smack, but D’Angelo talks with his fists. Tony slams Ethan’s face into the corner and takes him across the ring to do the same. Scoop slam from the Don followed by a clothesline. Page fights back with kicks and chops and avoids Tony’s charge in the corner. Both men struggle to suplex each other, but Page wins out.
Hey, Ricky Saints is here! Oh no, Saints is being pulled under the ring! Did they bring Hornswoggle back? Never mind, Shiloh Hill is responsible for it lol. Page is in shock, and Tony takes advantage with a back body drop and a DVD.
D’Angelo ends up on the apron, where Page hits him with a Triple H/Harley Race knee and a kick to send the Champion to the floor. Page heads to the outside and stalks Tony as we head out for the break.
D’Angelo fights back in the ring, but Page goes back into control during the break. Page keeps the Champion grounded with a headlock. Man, he’s really selling this something fierce. D’Angelo gets to his feet, but Page takes him right back to the mat. Really long rest spot here, I’m just saying.
Tony is back on his feet, and he fights free of Page. D’Angelo to the top, but Page catches him with a powerslam for a two. We see Fatal Influence in the back in preparation of the main event tonight. Page’s strikes now don’t matter; Tony absorbs them all and he hits his own strikes. Release German followed by a corner charge and another release German.
Both men trade hands in the middle of the ring now. Page ducks a strike from Tony and hits a big boot, but Tony with a Superman Punch and float over CUTTER! FUGETABOUTIT, but Page kicks out at two. Chokeslam attempt, but Page gets a thumb in the eye of Tony, and he posts him in the corner. Page sits Tony on the top rope and heads up top. Page with an Avalanche Power Slam, but Tony kicks out at two!
Page heads to the top yet again and this time he hits a splash, but D’Angelo kicks out at two. Page heads to the floor and grabs Tony’s title! He sneaks in a cheap shot behind the refs back! The pin, but again Tony kicks out at two. Frustrated, Page heads to the announce table and starts cleaning it off.
Page throws D’Angelo on top of the announce table and he heads up with him. Twisted Grin attempt, but D’Angelo throws Page off the table onto the railing! He throws Page on the table, he heads to the barricade, and he hits an elbow drop, but I AM THE TABLE! (Dundun!) Tony returns Ethan to the ring, he hits the Dead to Rights, and that’s a title defense!
WINNER: Tony D’Angelo (Still Champion)
TIME: 12:50
THOUGHTS: A really good match. Page always delivers, but D’Angelo definitely got on well with everyone’s favorite North American citizen.
RATING: ***3/4
From one champion to another, as we see Myles Borne walking in the back. We will hear from him next!
COMMERCIALS!
Shiloh Hill is still building stuff in the back as we return. Ricky Saints appears with the female referee and he is beside himself. Hill threatens him with a drill and a piece of wood, and Saints runs off. Hill cackles like a hyena.
Myles Borne is in the ring with a mic. At Stand and Deliver, he pulled the black and gold out of Johnny Wrestling, and he sent him back to Smackdown. What a feeling. He’s still the champion, and he got to celebrate with his favorite desert. But then, he got hit from behind by Dion Lennox. Now, he is deaf, but he felt and heard that chair shot. It should have been about Myles beating a legend, but instead, it was about Lennox and his boys who have to wear masks.
Say their name and they appear, as DarkState are in the arena. Dion Lennox says you may have gotten that title from EP, but you didn’t get his brains. He has been fingertips away from the title so many times, but they are breaking this slump. He is on the shoulder of DarkState right now. So, one of two things will happen. Either we beat you up, or you give me a shot at your title.
Myles says he has Option C, which is if DarkState hits the ring and attack him, then Lennox isn’t getting a title shot. Lennox is the leader of DarkState, so you have to make up your mind.
Saquon Shugars takes offense to this, saying there is no leader in DarkState. Dion says are we doing this again? Shugars hits the ring, but Borne hits Borne Again! The rest of DarkState pull Shugars from the ring, and James and Lennox are seen shoving each other and arguing.
We see E.K. Prosper and Dorian Van Dux are getting ready for their Speed Tourney match, up next!
COMMERCIALS!
We heard from Sol earlier, and now, Zaria has comments. They did enter Stand and Deliver last year and the ladder match as friends. But all that matters to Sol is gold, and she kicked Zaria off the top of the ladder and won the North American Title. She had two titles, and I had none. We finally got our tag team title shot, but Sol screwed that up. Same thing months later, Sol gets injured, and she lets us down. So, I volunteer to defend her titles, but Sol had to make it all about her. She shouldn’t have thrown the towel in, because then Zaria had to watch her get every single opportunity. You know that Zaria is better than you. No one has ever kicked out of the Sol Snatcher, except for me. And even then, it took three of them to beat me. I would have let the world burn for you, but now, I will burn you instead. Next week, she will be the last woman standing.
We got the need, the need for speed!
Men’s Speed Tourney Match: E.K. Prosper vs. Dorian Van Dux
And three minutes are on the clock, as Prosper uses his speed to keep Dux off balance. That is, until Dux picks him up and throws him out of the ring. Dux with a Tope Suicida to follow! Proper is returned to the ring, and Dux hits a splash from 3/4 across the ring for a two. Prosper knees Dux and he sends him to the floor, and this time, Proper takes flight.
Back in the ring, and Proper says HELL NO, but he misses Dux and eats a clothesline. Dux gets to running and hammers him with a clothesline but Prosper kicks out at two. EK back with a dropkick and a Rana. Shinning Wizard from Prosper for a two. Dux to the top and he comes down with a CUTTER! Dux to the top, but he misses the SSP! Prosper to the top and he hits the moonsault for the win with seven seconds left!
WINNER: E.K. Prosper
TIME: 2:53
THOUGHTS: Yeah, that was pretty good. EK won, but damn if DVD didn’t have himself a good showing there.
RATING: ***1/4
Prosper has words for Lexis King, who is at ringside starring down his challenger for the Speed Title next week.
Keanu Carver and Stone are in the back. Stone says you can’t keep attacking people, and Keanu says there will be no music. Stone implies that he is going to book Hendry in a match with Carver next week.
NXT Chronicle will highlight Kendal Grey, next!
COMMERCIALS!
Kendal is sitting down for this Chronicle. Last year at Stand and deliver, when she wanted to know if she would make the show, she wasn’t given an answer. But she didn’t take it personally, she persevered. Along with her best friend Wren, they created Wrensdays vlogs and climbed the ranks. She was honored to be picked by John Cena to participate in the Iron Survivor. I mean, she fought with her siblings when she was younger over who could be John Cena when they played around. After she completed her amateur college career, Julius Creed reached out and asked her about WWE. Yeah, totally. But she got to the Performance Center, and she kept working at it and she got better and kept learning. There is another side of her that you haven’t seen yet in NXT. To be continued!
Stone finds Tatum Paxley hanging out in the loft. She says that since Blake wants a title shot again, she has found the perfect stipulation for the rematch. Shiloh Hill is here, and we see what he was working on, and it’s a casket! Tatum says that she is going to send Blake to hell!
Vic runs down the matches on tap for night two of Revenge next week, with the Casket Match between Tatum and Blake being official.
Fatal Influence are here for Jacy’s Women’s Title rematch, next!
COMMERCIALS!
DarkState continue their argument in the back. Shugars and Lennox keep bitching at one another. Griffin says to calm down, and Lennox says they need gold in the group, so why ruin this for him? Shugars says yeah, sure, and walks off.
NXT Women’s World Title Match: Lola Vice (C) vs. Jacy Jayne
Mike Rome with the in-ring introductions for this one. I just noticed that we’re only going to get about ten minutes for this match. I also wonder if this is the turning point for Henley and Reid.
The bell rings, and we get a tentative start. Lock-up, and Jayne takes Vice to the ropes. Lock-up again, and Vice takes Jayne to the mat. Jacy captures her in between her legs, but Vice escapes. A third lock-up, and again Vice is taken to the ropes. Jayne sneaks in a cheap shot, so Vice responds in kind.
Leg sweeps and quick pins follow. Jayne takes down Vice and does her pose and finger guns Vice. Lola says nah and looks for the arm bar submission, but Jayne quickly escapes. Vice with kicks, the last one sends Jayne to the floor. Vice heads to the apron, and she catches Lainey with a seated senton. Jayne attacks from behind, as all of Fatal Influence stand over Vice as we head out for the final break.
Jayne is in complete control during the week, as she uses her legs and leverage to choke out Vice against the bottom rope and in the corner. PK, thrust kick, and a back senton from Jayne, but Vice kicks out at two. Jayne screams about being a three-time champion and has Vice by the head. Lola fights free, only to eat a back elbow from Jayne. Jacy with stomps and she applies a grounded headlock. Vice to her feet and she tries to back Jayne off. Jayne with a chop to the throat of Vice, but Lola fires back with strikes. Double clothesline, and we reset.
Both ladies trade strikes. Jayne wants to kick Vice, but I fear she won’t win that battle. Vice scores with a release German, and here comes the real kick demon! Jayne ends up in the corner, and Lola is setting up to introduce that booty to the face of Jacy! It was so nice, she did it twice! Half and half suplex and a seated senton from Vice for a two. Jayne stacks up Vice for a two, but Vice with a roundhouse kick, sending Jacy to the floor.
Vice heads to the floor to return Jayne to the ring. Reid gets in Lola’s face, but she doesn’t touch her. Jayne does, however, as she meets Vice with a pump kick as she re-enters the ring. Corner back splash from Jayne, and she puts Lola up top. That backfires when Vice applies the arm bar over the top rope! But Lainey distracts the ref, and Fallon hits a 619 around the ring post to Vice! Jayne with the Rolling Encore, but Vice kicks out at two!
Vice fires back with a guillotine, but Jayne is back to her feet. Vice won’t let go, though, so Jayne rolls through to escape. Vice with a roll-up for a two, and she gets sent to the ropes, and Lainey slaps her behind the ref’s back! Rolling Encore, NO, Lola ducks and smacks Jacy with the Back Fist, and Lola with her first title defense!
WINNER: Lola Vice (Still Champion)
TIME: 10:35
THOUGHTS: Lola overcomes the odds in order to obtain her first title defense. There should be no shortage of challengers for her title now.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Lola celebrates with the title. Lainey and Fallon help Jacy up the ramp, but Kali Armstrong is here and she takes them out with a flying clothesline! She gets on the apron and stares down Vice! Kendal Grey is here! We see Izzi Dame and the Culling on the balcony! Zaria’s music plays, but Sol Ruca intercepts her in the aisle, and they fight to the back! It’s pandemonium!
And with that, we are done!
