wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s WWE NXT Review 4.21.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...NXT Universe! It’s the second week of NXT Revenge, and the Tuesday Night Delight will see a changing of the guard, in a manner of speak, with three title matches and a last woman standing match.
The Women’s North American Title will be on the line, as Blake Monroe managed to get herself another shot at Tatum Paxley and her title, but this time, Tatum got to choose the stipulation. And, with help from Shiloh Hill, a casket was built, and the winner will be one to put their opponent inside the casket. Will Tatum vanquish Blake once and for all, or will Monroe win her title back for real?
Speaking of North American Titles, the Men’s version of the belt will be on the line, as Myles Borne will look to turn back the challenge from the leader of DarkState, Dion Lennox. There is a lot of strife within DarkState, so it remains to be seen if Lennox will be able to win the title without issues popping up within the group. Will Borne continue to reign, or will Lennox be able to fulfill his prophecy to bring gold to the group?
In light of the injury suffered by Elio LeFleur, the WWE Men’s Speed Title will be awarded to either E.K. Prosper or Lexis King, the finalists of the latest Speed Title Tourney. Logic would dictate that Prosper, fresh off of a name change, punctuates that with a title win, but with King, there is strength in numbers. Will Prosper become the champion and pick up the mantle for his fallen friend, or will King bring some more gold to the Birthright?
One of the best feuds in NXT looks to come to an end tonight, when former best friends turned mortal enemies in Sol Ruca and Zaria will face-off in a Last Woman Standing Match. There’s been rumors of Ruca’s graduation up to the main roster soon (alongside Ethan Page and Joe Hendry), so we’ll see if she heads out with momentum. Will Ruca get the best of her former friend, or will Zaria validate her turn on Ruca with a statement win here?
Speaking of Hendry, his concert last week was interrupted by the Human Carnage Machine known as Keanu Carver, and a result, Hendry demanded a match with Carver for tonight. Carver has been nearly unstoppable since he arrived on the scene, but he still needs a big win and a push towards a title. Can Carver continue to destroy fools, or will Hendry head out on a high note and defeat Carver? All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!
So, how is everyone doing on this Taco Tuesday? Suffice to say, I am thrilled about the Flyers 2-0 series lead over the Penguins, but the job isn’t over until we get four wins on the docket and move on. Always fun when the Flyers win since I live in Penguins Country. It surely makes up for whatever the actual shit the Phillies are doing, or rather should I say NOT doing.
Also, just a heads up, with all of the events taking place and reviews flying around everywhere, if you haven’t already read my reviews of Effy’s Big Gay Brunch and Joey Janela’s Immortal Clusterfuck, both run by the GCW and their collective series, then please check those out! I would appreciate it!
But, enough about you and enough about me, let’s get ready to chant the letter of N-X-T!
THEN!
NOW!
FOREVER!
TOGETHER!
Video package for tonight’s second night of Revenge airs to open the show!
We are LIVE tonight from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida! Vic Joseph and Booker T, the company’s true A-Team, are on the call!
Myles Borne is here to get this shit started!
NXT Men’s North American Title Match: Myles Borne (C) vs. Dion Lennox W/DarkState
Mike Rome, who I paid a compliment to during my review of Joey Janela’s Immortal Clusterfuck review, has the in-ring introductions for this match.
The bell rings and Lennox hits a spinebuster straight away but Borne kicks out at two. Lennox shoulders Borne in the corner, but Myles fires back with a lariat and a dropkick. Lennox fires back with a suplex for a two. Speaking of suplex, Borne hits Lennox with one and he, too, gets a two.
Lennox with elbows and punches to the head of Borne. Myles catches Lennox with a powerslam for a two. Lennox to the floor, and here comes Borne with a Senton Atomico, wiping out nearly all of DarkState. Borne returns Lennox to the ring, but Griffin, James, and Shugars all surround Borne. He keeps an eye on them, allowing Lennox to hit a running knee strike to send Borne to the floor. Lennox lifts up the apron on the ring and rams Borne into it, and that takes us to the show’s first break.
Lennox beats up on Borne during the break, including the use of the Champion as a human dumbbell. Borne scores a two on a roll-up and he tries to suplex Lennox, but Dion fires back with a lariat and a standing splash for a two. Lennox throws Borne to the floor and he takes the ref so the rest of DarkState can stomp on Borne. Booker is so thrilled he starts wheezing lol.
Back in the ring, and Lennox gets a two off that outside abuse of Borne. Lennox cranks on the leg/ankle of Borne, but Myles fights his way free and lays in the clotheslines. Lennox fires back and clotheslines Myles to the floor. Dion heads to the floor and punches Myles, but Borne moves, and Lennox kicks the ring steps. Borne thinks he has Lennox, but Dion reverses with a back suplex onto the steps.
Back in the ring, and Lennox again scores a two off the outside abuse. Dion talks that mad shit and strikes the Champion on repeat. Myles to his feet, but he runs out of momentum. Springboard Blue Thunder Bomb from Lennox but Borne is out at two. Borne fights off Lennox and scores a DDT.
Borne gets rolling with clotheslines and a backbreaker. Knee assisted DVD, but Lennox kicks out at two. Borne to the top, Shugars is on the apron, Myles kicks him away, but here’s Lennox to cut Borne off. Lennox heads to the top and he rattles the ring with a Superplex! Lennox goes to cover Myles but Borne grabs his hand and stares intently at Dion!
Both men to their feet and here come the shots. Borne drops Lennox to a knee, but Dion with two body shots drops Myles. Both men collide in the middle of the ring, and we see DarkState planning something. James saves Lennox from Borne Again but Borne knocks him off the apron. Shugars is back, but Lennox runs into him! Borne Again, and Myles retains!
WINNER: Myles Borne (Still Champion)
TIME: 11:20
THOUGHTS: Not a bad opener. Myles did a great job fighting from underneath and competing against the numbers of DarkState.
RATING: ***1/2
The Vanity Project and Blake Monroe are in the back. Monroe is starring at herself in her title belt, and the boys prop her up. Jackson Drake is on his phone, and he says he found a baddie, but it’s too bad they have to back up Blake in her casket match. Monroe says the boys can go; she’s got this. Drake says if you need anything, just text them, they’ll be across the road. Yeah, sure.
Keanu Carver will look to murder Joe Hendry before he heads to the main roster, next!
COMMERCIALS!
Robert Stone is walking in the back. Saquon Shugars cuts him off and says that he needs to give them another chance. We see Shiloh Hill and Tatum Paxley in the back. Shiloh brags about being in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale. He cops to being the one who sent Vanity Project on their date before saying that he has a match with Ricky Saints next week. He wishes Tatum the best, and you know, someone said it best, this could be Crowbar and Daffney in the year 2026.
Joe Hendry is out to indifference from Booker.
Keanu Carver vs. Joe Hendry
Hendry ducks a lariat at the bell and chops Carver to the corner. Keanu shoves him away, but Hendry escapes out the back door. Chop block from Hendry and an elbow to the chin from Hendry gets him just a one. Carver is angry, and he takes Hendry to the corner and rams him into the buckle. Carver chokes Hendry with his boot and threatens the referee.
Hammer throw from Carver, it was so nice he did it twice. A third one follows that. Carver picks Hendry up and lifts up over his shoulder. We see Sol Ruca deep in thought somewhere in the back. Hendry escapes, and he hits a drop toehold. Carver looks angry, so he charges at Hendry and gets sent to the floor. That takes us to the break.
Hendry, stupidly, wants to fight with Carver on the floor. As a result of that, he gets thrown into the barricade and into the ring apron before being returned to the ring. Hendry rolls out the other side of the ring, as Carver gives chase and throws Joe into the ring steps. Carver returns Hendry to the ring again and lays in some shots. Hendry escapes and gets a two on the roll-up.
Hendry takes Carver over and again gets a two. Carver has had enough and he straight punches Hendry in the head. His knee buckles, but Hendry pulls out a swinging neck breaker. Hendry with a DDT for another two. Carver takes over and rams Hendry into the corner. Carver with a front face lock to Hendry, slowing down his offense for the first time.
Hendry to his feet, he tries to elbow away, but Carver throws Hendry with a German. Carver stomps on Hendry and then picks him up over his head and delivers a backbreaker. That’s good for a two. Carver with another backbreaker but stretches Hendry out over his knee. Hendry frees himself and avoids a charge from Carver, who posts himself.
Hendry with punches and a lariat. Hendry ducks a Carver clothesline and hits a discus lariat. Fallaway Slam from Hendry and he kips up! Hendry does his turnaround spot, but Carver crushes him with a lariat! Spine on the pine from Carver, who follows with grounded and mounted punches. Carver keeps going until he murders Hendry to the main roster, and the ref stops the match.
WINNER: Keanu Carver VIA referee stoppage/Murder of Joe Hendry
TIME: 9:10
THOUGHTS: I mean, was there any doubt that Carver was winning here? Hendry is moving on the main roster next week, so putting over Carver VIA Death Punch is a good way to go, I guess.
RATING: ***
The Progressive Spotlight focuses on one of the company’s new signings, Lizzie Rain! She’s the girl who loves heavy metal, so he’s good in my book! She debuts next week!
I feel the need, the need for speed, up next!
COMMERCIALS!
Bored crowd shots are the best, Abner!
WWE Men’s Speed Title Match: Lexis King W/Birthright vs. E.K. Prosper
Just a reminder that, in Speed Title Matches, the time limit is bumped to five minutes.
As such, we put five on that clock! Prosper with an early backslide for a two. King takes Prosper to the mat with control of the arm. Prosper fires back with chops, so King hits back. Reversals incoming, Prosper springboard off the ropes and hits a dropkick. HELL NAH, says Prosper, who kicks King in the corner and scores a two.
Four minutes left, as King heads to the floor. EK goes to fly, but King uses Ariana Grace as a shield. Uriah Connors distracts EK, allowing King to drop Prosper in the corner and hits a running kick for a two.
Three minutes left, and both men trade chops and slaps. Prosper off the ropes and he scores with a standing Busaiku Knee for a two. King fires back with a back suplex and a front face suplex for a two.
Two minutes left and Prosper counters The Coronation with an enziguri and a drop toehold. Prosper to the top, but King drops him from the top and to the apron. King heads to the apron, and both men trade hands. King tries a Coronation on the apron but Prosper with a back body drop. MOONSAULT TO EVERYONE IN BIRTHRIGHT! Grace slaps Prosper, and he gets thrown into the ring by Connors. King with the Coronation for real and he is the new champion!
WINNER: Lexis King (And NEW!)
TIME: 4:33
THOUGHTS: EK would have been an awesome champion, but unlike with Dion Lennox, Lexis King used his numbers to great benefit.
RATING: ***
Instagram reels, and we see Swipe Right talking about Jackson Drake’s date. We find out that Drake got stood up on his date. He says that even LeBron, the greatest ever, took some L’s, so he will eat this L. We see a woman walk up to Drake, and she says she heard he got stood up. DUN-DUN-DUN!
Glamour is forever! MUAH! The Casket Match is up next!
COMMERCIALS!
DarkState are commiserating in the back. Saquon says he was trying to help, but he got a rematch. Dion says he owes him one, but Shugars says that Lennox had his opportunities, so it will be Saquon instead. Next week, he is bringing that North American Title home. Yeah, no.
We see last night on Raw, where Sol Ruca made her Raw debut. Zaria would show up and attack Ruca. That Last Woman Standing match is our main event tonight!
NXT Women’s North American Title Casket Match: Tatum Paxley (C) vs. Blake Monroe
Mister Mike Rome with the introductions for this match.
The bell rings, and Monroe removes her jacket before the slug fest starts. Tatum takes control and wants the casket opened. She throws Monroe in, but Blake says hell no and runs off. Monroe’s turn, but Tatum avoids the attempt into the casket. Monroe has her flowers, but Tatum steals them and hits Blake in the head with them.
Tatum goes under the ring, and she’s got her doll house! Yay! Tatum tries to throw Blake into it, but she throws on the breaks, so does Tatum, but Monroe manages to dropkick Tatum into the dollhouse. That’ll take us to the break.
Blake is in control during the break. She goes behind the side railing, and she brings out a fire extinguisher. Paxley doesn’t give her a chance to use it, though, so Monroe shoves Tatum into the ring apron instead. She gets Paxley into the casket, but Tatum refuses to let it close.
Both women are in the ring and they headbutt one another. Monroe with a drop toehold, but she misses Paxley with a weapon shot. Paxley gets her face rammed off the top of the casket, and Monroe hits a suplex in the middle of the ring. Tatum is put on the apron by Blake, but she sneaks back into the ring. Tatum hits an enziguri and she fires up with clotheslines, a slap, and a German. Tatum off the ropes with the rolling kick!
Tatum shoves Blake into the casket, but Monroe smacks her one. Both ladies fall into the casket, the refs close the casket, but realize that there has to be a winner, so they re-open it. Tatum laughs like a hyena, and Blake slaps her. The casket is closed, allowing for both ladies to fight on top of the casket. Blake screams like a Hellion, and looks for the Glamour Shot DDT, BUT TATUM WITH A SPANISH FLY OFF THE TOP OF THE CASKET AND TO THE FLOOR!
We see Zaria pacing in the back, as both ladies crawl up the ramp towards the fire extinguisher. Blake gets to it first and sprays Paxley with it! Monroe with the Glamour Shot DDT on the floor! Tatum is shoved into the casket, the lid is closed, and Blake thinks she has won, but Tatum has Blake’s title keeping the lid from being closed! Monroe grabs the title belt as Tatum crawls into the ring, and Monroe proceeds to whip Paxley with it.
Monroe goes for the pillow that was in the casket, and she pours out “diamonds” on the mat. Monroe looking for another DDT, but Tatum scores with the Cemetery Drive! Tatum looks possessed, as she kicks Monroe into the casket and slams the lid shut!
WINNER: Tatum Paxley (And still)
TIME: 11:40
THOUGHTS: Hell of a lot of fun, and easily the best thing going so far tonight. Then again, I (along with a lot of the peeps on this very site) have said that the ladies are the best thing going on this show. No surprise that it would be here, either.
RATING: ***3/4
We get more on Jackson Drake’s date. Apparently, she was an assistant mortician. Drake says he is glad that he got stood up on this date, and he shows her the “woman” he was going to be set up with. She says that is an AI bot, and Drake is dumbfounded. Smokes and Baylor deduce that Shiloh was behind this, and the woman says they should go get dinner. Oh, and bring your cute friends. Oh, the suspense!
Lola Vice is walking with her two titles in the back, she’ll speak to us next!
COMMERCIALS!
Vice City is in full effect, as Lola is here to talk to us! Hola, NXT! Last week, she didn’t just beat Jacy Jayne, she made a statement. In her first title defense, she showed us the champion that she will be. Jacy elevated this title and made herself into a star, Vice will in her own way. The hardest part of being a champion isn’t winning the title, it’s keeping it. She sees all those eyes on her in the locker room, and last week, they showed her that they weren’t waiting. Kendall, Kali, Izzi, Zaria, they aren’t just women, they are threats. But she likes it, and holding this title means that you could be a WrestleMania main eventer someday. It’s the most important title to hold as a woman looking to prove themself in WWE. This title deserves woman who is willing to step up and take their shot. She was that girl, and she still is. She gets it and she understands it but understand that you don’t step into Vice City. You are stepping up to a fight. You can step up, you can try, but you will get knocked out and danced on.
The Culling are here. Izzi thinks it’s cute that Lola thinks she vanquished the entire division after she beat Jacy. Izzi hears that she called her a threat, and she likes that. The voices in the locker room are getting louder, and everyone wants that title. But she is watching and waiting, and she is learning, so she can step up when the time is right. She isn’t stepping into her city, she is stepping into her zone, and she will rip her apart. And when it’s over and she is the Women’s Champion, you won’t curse her name, you will thank her for it.
Lola laughs and says it sounds like hesitation. If you want to come for her title, then step up to her. Izzi says don’t threaten her with a good time, Mama Cita! Spears and Nico surround Lola, but it is a decoy allowing Izzi to boot Vice in the face. She holds up her Women’s Title as she stands over her.
Sarah Schreiber has The Birthright in the back. She congratulates Lexis on winning the Speed Title, but it seemed to be under dubious circumstances. King questions this, but EK Prosper is here. They need to run this back without his clowns. Darion Von Dux is here, and he says they don’t fight fair. He wants to team with EK against any two of Birthright. Ariana says that they can make that happen later, but they have to celebrate tonight.
The second part of Kendal Grey’s Chronicles series is up next!
COMMERCIALS!
Bored crowd shots set to a country guitar twang! Nice!
We get highlights from the matches that took place tonight.
Time for NXT Chronicle with Kendal Grey! She was a three-time undefeated champion prior to coming to WWE. She doesn’t like to brag, but amateur wrestling was her life. She competed against the guys in high school, and she always beat them. She grew up with a brother, and they would play until someone passed out. She grew up a tomboy thanks to her mom; she never wore makeup or dressed up. Kendal got hit by a foul ball at a Mets game. At age 12, she got bit on the mouth by a dog. She got her head split open in high school. She’s a magnet for pain.
She was obsessed with the technique of amateur wrestling, and she is obsessed with having her hand raised, and she still is. She said she hates talking about herself, but she says loves telling the NXT Universe about it. Watch what is yet to come for her in NXT!
We see Stone checking on Lola Vice in the back. She says she is okay, and he has a plan for a match for her, but we hear commotion in the back. Stone runs off, and we see Ricky Saints beating up Shiloh Hill! Officials take Ricky away as he screams at Hill.
Surfs up for a last woman standing match, dude!
COMMERCIALS!
Stone is walking in the back. Sarah tries to get a word on Hill’s status, and he is going to find out. He approaches Tony D’Angelo, but a stagehand gives Tony a box. Keanu Carver is here, and Tony wants to know if he did this. Carver says if he wants something, he’ll take it. Stone says his phone has been blowing up.
Last Woman Standing Match: Sol Ruca vs. Zaria
The rules of this match are simple: to be the last woman standing and beat the count of ten from the referee.
Zaria enters from behind during her entrance, and the fight is on! Thesz Press by Sol to the floor, as Zaria rolls away. She grabs a trash can and smacks Sol with it. Ruca has a kendo stick, but Zaria catches it and kicks Ruca. Sol grabs the trash can and fires it at the head of Zaria.
Zaria kicks Ruca and grabs the cable cord and proceeds to choke out Sol with it. She steps up onto the apron and keeps the choke applied before dropping Ruca to the floor. The referee counts, but Ruca grabs a trash can lid and smacks Zaria one. In the ring, Zaria swings and misses with the kendo stick, and Ruca hits the X-Factor.
Zaria gets to her feet at the count of six, and Ruca tees off on Zaria with the kendo stick. The ref counts as the fans chant one more time. Ruca has another idea in mind, which was to put the kendo stick in the teeth of Zaria, and she stomps her head into the mat! The count is on, as Zaria rolls out to the apron and gets up at eight.
Ruca looking Sunset Flip Bomb, but Zaria fights it for a minute. She losses her grip, but Zaria saves herself from catastrophe and kicks Ruca in the face. The fans chant TABLE, and Zaria SPEARS Ruca through the wall next to commentary! Both women get to their feet at the count of eight, and that’ll take us to our final break of the night.
Ruca clears off the announce table during the break, but Zaria sends Ruca up and into the crowd. They fight up and down the steps. and Ruca sends Zaria over the rail and back towards the arena floor. They both get onto the barricade and trade shots. It breaks into a hockey fight, there is a break, and the fight continues. Zaria cuts off Ruca’s kick, picks her up on her shoulders, F-5 THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!
HOLY SHIT chants as the count begins. Ruca beats the count at nine, as Zaria stalks off screen for something. Zaria has the SLIM JIM table! Ruca takes advantage with a German to Zaria and a big kick to the face. Zaria breaks the count at nine, as Ruca takes the SLIM JIM table and sets it up on the floor. Zaria pulls out a second SLIM JIM table! OHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAH!
THIS IS AWESOME chants, as Ruca smacks Zaria with a piece of the broken announce table. Sol sets Zaria onto both SLIM JIM tables and she climbs up to the loft above the crowd! Zaria is no longer on the table, as she has climbed up to the very top behind Sol. Zaria charges, but Ruca with the Sol Snatcher!
Both ladies get to their feet at nine. They trade shots, and again, a hockey fight breaks out. Zaria teeters from the ledge, but Ruca holds onto her! Zaria is begging off and says she loves Sol! They hug one another! Aw! They both look at the tables down below and they laugh. Another hug! IT’S A TRAP, AS ZARIA SCOWLS, AND SHE SHOVES SOL OFF THE TOP AND INTO ONE OF THE TABLES! The ref heads to the floor and counts Ruca, and she cannot make the count!
WINNER: Zaria
TIME: 15:55
THOUGHTS: Holy crap on a cracker, Batman! This match had it all; great action, tense build-ups, plenty of eight/nine counts, destruction of an announce table, high drama with the possible nice ties being made, and finally, the chaotic fall of grace for Sol. Hendry put over Carver by getting his ass kicked, but Sol put over Zaria in such a magnificent way that it truly defied expectations. Cliche as it may be, this WAS awesome.
RATING: ****1/2
Zaria stares menacingly down at her former best friend, who lies broken through a table. And with that, we are done!
