Cook’s WWE NXT Review 10.20.26

Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest edition of WWE NXT on the CW! We’ve got the last two quarterfinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, a grudge match between Cruz Montana & Dion Lennox, and Kelani Jordan & Wren Sinclair will have a CONTRACT SIGNING! Katie bar the door!

If you already subscribe to the 411MANIA Wrestling Newsletter, earlier today you received some of my thoughts on security alerts in the Middle East, PAC’s cause of death & Anya Rune taking a step back from wrestling. If you don’t already subscribe, do so right now! Yes, before we get to the show because if you’re like me you won’t remember to do this a minute from now.

Cook’s WWE NXT Review 10.20.26

Then. Now. Forever. Together!

We open with a video package hyping Cruz Montana vs. Dion Lennox. For Cruz it’s all about proving himself & retribution. For Dion, tonight is about validation. One was from the concrete streets of the Bronx. The other was from suburban Washington. Cruz Montana is WALKING! Dion Lennox is WALKING! We’re in Orlando! Vic Joseph & Booker T are our hosts.

Tony D’Angelo’s music hits, and the Master of Fate makes his way to the ring. Anything he has to say, he can say it face to face like a man, so the champion needs to get his ass out here. Grayson Waller indeed gets his ass out there. Grayson knew it was going to end up being him & Tony. They got signed at WWE around the same time, debuted around the same time and were teammates at War Games. Grayson asks if Tony is running from him. Tony says that if it had been one on one he wouldn’t be standing there with that championship. Grayson says the result would have been the same either way. He said he would be undeniable, and he needs to go through some demons from his past. The biggest one is Grayson, who he never liked. Grayson was some indy guy nobody even knew. Grayson cared about viral moments instead of championships. Grayson resents Tony because he was chosen. He was more talented when they came up together, but Tony was chosen. That put a chip on Grayson’s shoulder and made him a champion. Tony calls Grayson a hypocrite. Grayson got better and meaner, but is still desperate for attention. Grayson claims it’s a personality, which Tony used to have. Grayson will let Tony drown himself in the deep waters. Tony says they were both thrown in the deep end. That War Games was his third match. He likes how NXT is. Look how many greats 2.0 produced. Bron, Trick, Melo, Solo, the list goes on. It all comes down to Tony & Grayson one on one. Grayson says Tony claims to be Mr. NXT, he beat Oba Femi twice but it doesn’t matter. Grayson says the title means more when he holds it. Tony says he cemented his legacy, and will rip Grayson’s head off and beat him with it. He’ll drag Grayson through hell and see if he can swim in deep eaters when there’s a shark out there. Grayson & Tony continue jaw jacking.

Izzi Dame is advised to leave Zaria alone by Skylar Raye & Layla Diggs, but she isn’t interested in all that. Diggs is confused to the point of all this, and says she still hasn’t got a North American title shot. They’ll face each other later tonight.

BirthRight has things to say. Lexis King says that everything is their birthright, including the Dusty Cup.

Chantel Monroe wants us to look at her & pay attention. The reflection of perfection is on our screen. She’s pure entertainment and the NXT Women’s Division better watch out. I, for one, will be watching! She seems to have potential, but now that I think about it don’t we already have a Monroe that can’t get on SmackDown? Never mind, Chantel cleared this up on social media:

And yes! I am related to Blake Monroe on my brothers, cousins, sister, baby daddy, uncle, brother, niece, grandmother, auntie’s side of the family.

Thank yuh🤏🏾✨

— Chantelwwe (@ChantelMonroe_) October 21, 2026

That’s good enough for me!

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinal: El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno vs. Lexis King & Charlie Dempsey (w/Uriah Connors & Ariana Grace): Vic notes that Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo was injured over the weekend and has not been medically cleared to return. Dempsey & Wagner start with some mat wrestling. Dempsey takes Wagner over with a headscissors, Wagner gets out and locks Dempsey’s leg. Dempsey with a legbar, Wagner reverses and crushes Dempsey’s knee. Dempsey lifts Wagner and rolls him over. Mexican hip toss by Wagner, then Wagner tags in Galeno. King tags in as well. Hank & Tank are looking on backstage as King chops Galeno. Galeno tosses King into the corner, runs into a knee. Galeno catches King, King slips out, Galeno with a leapfrog and sholderblock. Wagner in, Galeno drops Wagner onto King for two. King gets booted down by Galeno for two. Dempsey is sent outside, Wagner & Galeno run for the dive, Grace gets in the way! Wagner clears her and dives onto BirthRight! We go to commercial!

Dempsey is on top of Wagner stretching his arms in a modified Rings of Saturn, Wagner finds the ropes. The Creed Brothers look on as Dempsey applies a chinlock. Wagner & Dempsey trade forearms. Wagner back suplexes Dempsey. Tag to Galeno & King. Galeno with knees and clotheslines in the corner. Galeno bodyslams King, runs the ropes and hits a big splash for two. Kinda surprised King kicked out of that. Big chop in the corner. Tag to Wagner. Wagner knocks Dempsey off the apron, then gets sent into King by Galeno. Cover gets two thanks to Dempsey. Wagner tries a rocking horse hold on King, but Dempsey is legal, he attacks Wagner and applies an octopus hold. Galeno is in to land some clotheslines and splashes. Wagner slams Dempsey, they get up trading fists. King superkicks Wagner into a Dempsey full nelson suplex that gets two. Galeno suplexes Dempsey out of a guillotine choke. Wagner goes up top, dives onto King’s knees. Zilla Fatu comes in and smacks Connors! Grace slaps him, then backs into the ring. Galeno wipes Dempsey out on the outside. Wagner hits the Wagner Driver! Galeno tags in, goes up top and hits a frog splash on King for the three count!

Winners: El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno (9:19 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***1/2
Dempsey & King did as nice a job of making the Wagners look good that I’ve seen since they made their way to AAA/TKO. That’s a great quality to have, but it makes me wonder if their ceiling isn’t a bit lower than fans may have hoped for them.

Zilla hits the ring and attacks all of BirthRight. Dempsey avoids the spike, but not the Samoan Drop!

A video of threats from Cruz Montana is shown on the DarkState phone. Osiris Griffin & Cutler James laugh about it. Dion Lennox says there are going to be casualties. He’ll take Cruz back to that place, and that’s why he wants to talk to his fellow DarkState members.

Vic & Booker talk about Halloween Havoc and Vic wants to know if the Boogey Man will make an appearance. Booker is not amused.

Kam Hendrix talks about how he’s got next in NXT. Nobody talks about the best all-around athlete in NXT, him. He holds up three footballs, then puts a shirt over his head and catches a ball.

Tavion Heights makes his way to the ring. Tavion asks if we all saw what happened. He had a chair wrapped around his ankle, his brother Myles was apparently apologizing for stabbing him in the back at Heatwave. Tavion believed in Myles, Myles doubled down and twisted the knife in his back. Tavion made a mistake, he doesn’t make mistakes twice. He had to come and see Myles fall in person. He watched in 4K. Myles isn’t who he thinks he is, Tavion is exactly who he says he is. He calls Myles a bitch, and that brings Myles out to attack Tavion. They fight at ringside and into the parking lot! Watch out! Security breaks Tavion & Myles up.

Chantel Monroe wants to know if The Vanity Project saw her video earlier. Ricky Smokes seems impressed with Chantel’s body of work, Myka Lockwood demands they continue heading to Robert Stone’s office. They enter and Jackson Drake wants to know why they’re there. Stone was going to book a six-man with them, but Mini Vikingo isn’t medically cleared to compete. Stone says Jackson will defend the North American Championship against EK Prosper next week! Drake and his boys aren’t excited.

Layla Diggs vs. Izzi Dame: Quite the entrance by Layla, I must say. Headlock by Dame, then a shoulderblock. Back to the headlock by Izzi. Diggs & Dame with some armwork, then Diggs is sent shoulder first into the turnbuckle. Vic says that’s the shoulder she injured to miss some time. A slam gets two for Dame. Diggs sends Dame into the corner, works her arm. Shoulderblock by Layla, a splits into a snap mare by Layla. Izzi boots Layla to the mat after Layla avoids the first one. Izzi charges and ends up over the top rope. Layla runs into a forearm by Layla, Layla kicks Izzi away, back handsprings on the apron into Izzi!

We go NXT Nonstop & Layla slams Izzi down a couple of times for two. That got snazzier than I expected. Layla hits Izzi in the corner, Izzi kicks Layla down on and up and over. Shoulderblocks in the corner by Izzi. Izzi sends Layla hard into the corner and Layla goes to the floor. Izzi rolls Layla in the ring and clotheslines her for two. Spin kicks by Layla, Izzi takes her down with an arm wringer for two. Izzi with a chinlock.

Layla fights out as we go back fullscreen. Izzi elbows Layla, Layla evades Izzi and takes her down. Splits & a clothesline by Layla, some kicks, an enziguri sends Izzi into the corner. Running knee by Layla. Layla with a sitout front suplex, then she goes up top and hits a frog splash for two. Layla is yanked off the turnbuckle, then Izzi hits a crucifix bomb for two. Forearms exchanged on the mat. Forearms exchanged while standing. Izzi with a backbreaker, then a DND gets two. Layla reverses a powerbomb into a rana, Izzi hits a big boot and mounts the turnbuckle. Layla kicks her on the way down kinda, Layla up top, Izzi avoids the move and ends up hitting a busiaku knee for the three count.

Winner: Izzi Dame (10:35 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
I’ve noticed that it doesn’t really matter how many women get called up to the main roster, there’s always somebody there to replace them on NXT. They’ve never had a female roster this deep, and it’s great for us fans. Lola Vice leaves, here’s Layla Diggs. Blake Monroe leaves, here’s Chantel Monroe. You love to see it.

Zaria comes out during Izzi’s celebration and tells her this has gone on long enough. Zaria doesn’t know what Izzi is searching for, but if she wants a North American title shot this isn’t the way to go about it. Zaria is done with the mind games and will give her a title match at Halloween Havoc. Izzi accepts the match, but tells Zaria not to worry about putting the title on the line. She’ll see “Princess” at Halloween Havoc. So if you’re keeping track, Zaria doesn’t want to give Izzi a title shot because of the digging into her past. Zaria does it anyway, but Izzi says she just wants a regular match, not a title match. I may need another gummy to wrap my head around this.

Up Next: Hank & Tank vs. The Creed Brothers!

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinal: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Brutus & Julius Creed: Julius & Tank start. Julius takes Tank down, Tank tries to shimmy out of a go-behind and gets clotheslined down. Brutus tags in, we see a backstabber/fallaway slam combination. Tank with a twisting shoulder tackle off the middle rope. Hank tags in and punches Brutus in the corner. Tank back in, hits a snap mare and elbows Brutus in the corner. Hank gets whipped into the corner and Brutus hits a double underhook driver for two. Hank is pounded on by Julius as we go to commercial.

Brutus gets clotheslined by Hank, and Tank makes the tag and goes crazy on Brutus. Julius comes in and receives similar treatment until he knocks Tank off the top rope. Knees to the gut by Julius. Tag to Brutus, he punches Tank and shoulderblocks him in the corner. Julius tags in and hits a gutbuster. Armbar by Julius on Tank. Julius hits a gutwrench suplex on Tank. Tank fights back in the corner, but Julius prevents the tag to Hank. Tank finally gets the tag to Hank, and Hank charges into Julius before hitting a clothesline. Brutus sent outside. Julius splashed in the corner, then elbowed down. Running shoulderblock to Brutus on the floor! Bossman slam on Julius! Tank tags in and they go for the running bellies but Brutus breaks it up. He gets taken out on the floor. Julius misses in the corner, Hank & Tank hit the powerslam/back strike combo for three in a bit of an upset.

Winners: Hank & Tank (7:00 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
Bit of a surprise here, as I think a lot of people were looking forward to the Wagners & Creeds. At least I was anyway.

King tells Stone that the Wagners should have been disqualified. Stone says both of their teams lost, and he’s not sure Zilla is medically cleared. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey talk about Wren’s upcoming contract signing and how people wanted the WrenQCC. Chantel Monroe comes in and asks Wren & Kendal if they saw her video. They act like they did and liked it, but I’m not sure I’m buying that one. Kendal wishes Wren luck with her contract signing.

Vic mentions an altercation happening backstage during the commercial, but gives no further details as Wren Sinclair makes her way to the ring with the contract. She has her shot against Kelani Jordan at Halloween Havoc. Is she wearing Angel Reese’s makeup? Wren says the Stand Out will stand down, and tells Kelani to quit hiding behind the championship and get out here.

Kelani Jordan comes out and congratulates Wren for getting a title shot. She has a present for Wren, and it’s a beaten and bloodied Kendal Grey!

Stone tells Zilla Fatu that he’s not sure where he’s medically at. Zilla says he wants Charlie Dempsey and the doctor will be ok with it. Zilla suggests using the Halloween Havoc wheel to determine how he’ll kick Dempsey’s ass.

Sean Legacy tells the fellas (Noam Dar, Romeo Moreno, EK Prosper, Chazz “Starboy” Hall) that Dorian Van Dux will be back in a couple of months. Everyone seems happy to hear it and looking forward to his return. Sean then asks Saquon Shugars how long he’ll dwell on losing to Tristian Angels, as Shugars is watching the match back on a device. Shugars doesn’t want to hear it. Sean gets in Saquon’s face about it and tells him he has all the talent but is all in his head. EK Prosper backs Legacy up, but Shugars says that if Sean keeps talking he’ll have a spot next to DVD in the hospital.

Emily Agard is outside the men’s locker room hoping to get an interview with Cruz Montana. DarkState says they’ll get the scoop, and they attack Montana in the locker room. Other wrestlers break it up and Cruz is fighting mad as we go to commercial.

Naraku says he told Shiloh Hill to heed his warnings, but will not be able to hide from what’s coming for him. The red mist burns, the green blurs, the orange haunts you with visions, the blue makes you too weak to move, but there’s another mist that’s even more dangerous. When he unleashes the black mist at Halloween Havoc, darkness will fall.

Shiloh & Izzy Rain talk about how he has ten days to figure out how to counteract the black mist. Chantel Monroe comes in and asks if they saw her video. Shiloh leaves, and Lizzy asks what her deal is. She’s annoyed everyone in the last two hours. Lizzy knows who Chantel is, and Chantel can find out who Lizzy is next week.

Also Next Tuesday: Dusty Cup Semi-Finals! Drake vs. Prosper!

Cruz Montana vs. Dion Lennox: The fight starts right away, Cruz with some punches and a clothesline in the corner. Dion fires back, hits a back suplex on Cruz. Spinebuster by Dion for two. Cruz answers with a clothesline. Big chop by Cruz. One in the opposite corner. Cruz runs into a boot, then gets chopped down. Cruz sends Dion into the corner, hits the cannonball. Sitout powerbomb gets two for Cruz. Dion avoids a dive and sends Cruz into the steps. Dion starts removing padding at ringside, Cruz avoids the slam attempt and sends Dion into the ringpost.

We go Nonstop NXT and Cruz & Dion exchange strikes in the ring. Dion with a running shoulderblock in the corner. Dion pounds Cruz down. Cruz knees Dion, runs into a springboard crossbody on Dion for two. Dion fights back. Dion with a chinlock, then he takes Cruz down with a slam for two. Back to the chinlock.

Dion misses in the corner, Cruz hits a superkick. Cruz with some rights, back elbows, then a kick in the corner. Cruz backwards rolls into a Cutter for two. Dion blocks a move, Cruz with a chop. Dion takes Cruz down and hits a clothesline. Slingshot Blue Thunder gets two for Dion. Dion talks some stuff, calling Cruz a failure and says Cruz’s daughter knows he’s a bitch. Cruz is enraged and starts punching Dion on the announce table. Cruz spears Dion through the LED board and the referee counts them both out.

Winner: Nobody (9:54 via double countout)
Match Rating: **1/2
These two seemed very evenly matched here, should be a pretty good feud for both of them. Lennox especially needs something like this feud with Montana in order to get to the next level.

Cruz keeps beating up Dion. One referee can’t break it up and a bunch more come out to help. Cruz starts punching referees and slams Dion on the exposed concrete! Cruz gets the steps, then opts to stomp Dion’s head into the concrete! Cruz goes back to the steps, picks them up and drives them into Dion and an official! Some cops come out and put Cruz in handcuffs. Dion looks on as Vic wonders if Cruz went back to a dark place. So long for now!

If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on tonight’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on social media from time to time. To be honest, e-mail is a better option and you can reach me at [email protected]. I’ll be more likely to respond there.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Bit of a slower paced edition of NXT this week, which isn't always a bad thing. Loved the Chantel Monroe stuff, it's rare to see a new person appear all over the show like she did tonight. The opener with the Wagners & BirthRight was especially good, I'm a bit disappointed we won't see them against the Creeds, but that should be something down the road. Maybe even in AAA.