Jeremy’s NXT Vengeance Day 2026 Review

Hello everyone, and welcome to our NXT Vengeance Day coverage on 411! Jeremy Thomas, back for my first live coverage in a good five months (so go easy on me). And boy, do I have a doozy to come back with. NXT presents Vengeance Day tonight as Joe Hendry defends the NXT Championship against Ricky Saints. Plus, Izzi Dame will try to put an end to her feud with Tatum Paxley with the NXT Women’s North American Championship hanging in the balance.

We also have a few of title-less grudge matches as Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan go to war in the NXT Underground and Jaida Parker faces off with Blake Monroe in a Street Fight. And finally, Tony D’Angelo’s war against DarkState continues as he battles Dion Lennox. Should be a fun little show to tide us over until NXT Stand & Deliver next month.

I’m not going to do the full Thomas HQ update since my last live coverage because five months is a lot of movies and TV! But in the last week I’ve done some eclectic watching. Among new films, I watched the true story-based thriller Dead Man’s Wire, which benefits from a committed Bill Skarsgard performance and strong attention to period detail. And The Moment is a smart little satirical mockumentary from Charli XCX that skewers the concert film and the music industry. Whistle is a delightful mix of Nightmare On Elm Street and Final Destination with a ’90s throwback feel, and The Bluff was a perfectly average but serviceable pirate action flick that had the potential to be more.

On the downside among new watches was Psycho Killer, which hearkens back to the worst impulses of ’00s horror by taking its silly serial-yet-generic killer concept too seriously. As for rewatches, they were all good: The Witch remains one of the best horror films of the 2010s, and both The Decline of Western Civilization and The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years are required viewing for rock music enthusiasts.

On the TV side, I’m watching the new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race which is one of the most talented casts in a while, and rewatching Haunting of Hill House which is absolutely stellar horror drama material.

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.

* We’re live as Ricky Saints arrives at the PC coming out of an escalator, as Joe Hendry survives the NXT Parking Lot. Tatum and Izzy (with The Culling) have also arrived. Kelani walks through the halls as Lola Vice arrives and survives the parking lot.

* The cold open said it says a day of reckoning has arrived as we get recaps of the various matches. Tatum running around with a chain saw still makes me laugh.

* We’re starting with the Street Fight!

Street Fight
Jadia Parker vs. Blake Monroe

Jadia shoves Blake and we’re right into it. Jaida leaps on Blake for some punches, then Blake gets her own shots in. Blake goes for the kendo stick but Jaida leaps onto her and they roll out of the ring. Jaida blocks a toss into the apron and reverses it, then goes under the ring — SHE GOT THE TABLE! But she takes too long and Blake lays into her. She goes for the Glamour Shot DDT, Jaida blocks it and hits a snap suplex.

Jaida goes to set up the table, Blake grabs an umbrella from the crowd and nails Jadia with it. Jaida sent into the ringpost and Blake folds the table back up, then tosses chairs into the ring. She pushes the table under the ring because the fans wanted it, that’s great.

Jaida rolled into the ring, Blake stomps at her. She grabs the chair but Jaida punches her, Blake with a neckbreaker and cover for one. Blake sets the hair into the ropes on the kendo sticks, but Jaida grabs Blake and drops her face-first onto the chair! Kendo stick shots, a pump kick and Blake to the outside. Jaida follows and gets shoved into the apron, but Jaida shoves Blake back over the commentary boot!

Jaida goes to set up another table but Blake attacks. Jaida takes over and knocks Blake against the steps, she charges but Blake moves and Jaida hits the steps hip-first! Jadia rolled in, Blake up top, missile dropkick gets two. Blake nails Jaida with the kendo stick a couple of times, hits a front facedrop with the kendo stick and covers for two.

Jaida now goes under the ring and brings a trash can in the ring but Jaida cuts her off. Shots in the corner, Blake put on top, Jaida climbs but gets nailed and Blake slides under, grabbing Jaida’s arm to pull her down into the turnbuckle. She sets up a chair under Jaida and slams her back first down into it. Blake Sets up another chair across Jaida — charging hip smash gets a nearfall!

Blake wraps the pearls around her fist, loaded punch for a nearfall and Blake goes right into a kendo stick-assisted crossface. Bit Jaida manages to push Blake back into a two-count. Jaida up and has the kendo stick! She lays into Blake with it, then snapmares her by the hair a few times. Knee strike, Blake gets Jaia in the corner but charges into a knee, blockbuster on the second rope gets two.

Blake to the outside and gets a trash can, but Jaida kicks it into Blake! The table is finally set up near the booth by Jaida, but Blake nails her with a trash can lid. Blake under the ring, she gets a black bag and a BRICK! But Jaida catches her with a punch, chair shot to the back. Jaida knocks Blake onto the table, onto the apron — TEAR DROP through the table to the floor from the bottom rope!

Jaida gets Blake into the ring, Hypnotic gets thr-NO! Kickout! Blake sends Jaida into the kendo sticks in the ropes, knee strike gets two. They’re trading blows now, Blake throws Jaida into the corner. Blake goes for the bag — CUBIC ZIRCONIUM! Jaida up top, Blake throws the wannabe diamonds into Jaida’s face and then hits a Glamour Shot into the Zirconium for three.

Winner: Blake Monroe (12:58)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Perfectly fine street fight that made both women look pretty decent. It didn’t quite get into top gear but it worked for what they were trying to do well enough.

* We get a vignette for Laynie Luck for WWE EVOLVE. And one for Trill London. And another for Harlem Lewis.

* Ricky Saints walks up on Ethan Page and asks where he was on NXT when he was jumped during his Absolute Experience. Page points out that he lost his NXT NA Title and needed to clear his mind. Saints says Joe Hendry is going to pull out all the stops tonight and that includes Myles Borne, so he needs his friend to help him tonight. Page says he’s got it and will be there for Ricky. Saints says to envision it: two-time NXT Champion and Page as two-time NA Champion. Saints leaves and Page says, “Yeah… two time.”

* We start in the outside as DarkState is waiting for Tony D’Angelo. Tony pulls up and they start fighting in the parking lot. Dion throws Tony into the side of a car and they fight their way into the backstage area. Tony drops the door, locking DarkState out, and starts beating on Lennox. He goes to punch Lennox, who ducks and Tony punches through the bathroom wall. Dion goes for a chair, but Tony nails him in the gut with a piece of wood. DarkState comes in and they swarm Tony. Officials break it up and the fight keeps going, spilling into the back.

Dion tackles Tony over production crates, they both get to their feet and trade shots. Tony takes over and throws Lennox into carts. He keeps beating on Dion and drags him past a number of talent — before DarkState comes in again and take over. Dion goes for a crowbar shot — OTM blocks it!

Things are chaotic as Tony drags Lennox along. The poor ref is trying to get them to the ring and they burst THROUGH the wall under the podium!

Dion Lennox vs. Tony D’Angelo

They’re on and they’re trading blows. Lennox thrown into the corner, he charges but Lennox dodges and lays in stomps. He sets Tony throw the ropes, goes for a bot on the apron but Tony dodges. Lennox back in and wrenches on Tony’s face for four. He backs off and then lays in forearms for a four-count in the ropes. Off the ropes, big sidewalk slam by Lennox for two.

D’Angelo thrown into the corner, Lennox charges but D’Angelo dodges. German suplex, he holds on for a second, and then completes the hat trick. And a release German for good measure. He picks Dion up for another German, and Brock Lesnar is about to sue for copyright infringement. Torture rack neckbreaker by D’Angelo, he tosses Lennox out of the ring and slams him into the ring steps. Tony takes aim, charges in, and Lennox moves so Tony hits the steps shoulder first.

Lennox sets Tony’s ankle on the step and grabs the top of them, he goes to smash but D’Angelo moves. Dion beats on Tony and throws him INTO the crowd behind the booth! Lennox onto the railing and grabs Tony — SUPLEX THROUGH THE TABLE!

The ref counts, and Dion is up at three. He grabs Tony and rolls him in before following. He springboards Tony into a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Lennox is frustrated now and lies in wait — shot to Tony’s head and another. He tells Tony to stay down and hits a shot — Tony has MOBBED UP! He goes for a chokeslam, Dion escapes, Tony off the ropes for a SPEAR! SPINEBUSTER! That’s it.

Winner: Tony D’Angelo (7:08)
Rating: ** 3/4
Thoughts: The time only includes the match. This didn’t start amazing in the parking lot but they picked it up in the ring and delivered some nice action, though it was overshadowed a touch by how it started. Tony D’Angelo had to get the win here, and it’s now time to find out what Phase Two is.

* We get a recap of the Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame feud.

NXT Women’s North American Championship Match
Izzi Dame vs. Tatum Paxley

Tatum leaps on Izzie to start! She shoves Tatum off but Tatum leaps right on her back for a sleeper! Izzi gets free but gets hit with a kick and dropkick, so she rolls to the outside — and Tatum follows! She pounds on Izzi in front of Spears and Niko, then hits a senton off the ring steps. Double arm DDT attempt, but Izzi shoves Tatum back into the ring steps and then picks her up for a Snake Eyes into the apron. Kick by Tatum, they get back in at eight. Leaping elbowdrop gets two by Tatum.

Tatum lays in punches in the corner, gets shoved back and leaps in for a splash. She goes for Cemetery Drive, Izzi blocks it but Tatum with a roll-up for two. Izzi hits a big clothesline to kill Tatum’s momentum. They trade shots once they get to their feet, Izzi with a hip shot and sends Tatum into the corner. Tatum goes to go up and over, Izzi catches her and drops her into a kick. Stomps and a basement dropkick by the champion.

Izzi puts Tatum in the corner and drops her, she sends Tatum into the ropes for a short-arm kneelift and then another. Third — but Tatum turns it into a roll-up. Messy crucifix pin gets Tatum two, but Izzi battles back and drops Tatum out of the corner for two. Abdominal stretch by Izzi now, she wrenches back on it. Tatum is fighting, she escapes and locks in her own stretch in but Izzi with a hip toss. Izzi tries to throw Tatum into the corner but she kicks away from it, then hits a couple charging forearms. Izzi blocks a knee leap, backbreaker and senton gets a nearfall.

Izzi goes for a Boston crab, she turns it into a Liontamer and locks in. Tatum eventually squirms free and kicks out of the submission — she shoves Izzi into the ropes and turns it into her own Boston crab.

Izzi grabs the ropes, Tatum goes off the ropes and gets thrown to the outside. Izzi follows, Tatum gets a shot and they come in — Tatum with a thrust kick! She knocks Izzi down a couple of times, roundhouse and a German suplex! Tatum charges in, she gets put on the apron and drops down for an enzuigiri! Flip kick gets a nearfall.

Tatum goes to the outside and up top, but Izzi with a slap to the chest to cut her off. Izzi up top, she goes for a superplex but Tatum blocks it. Tatum fighting back and kicks Izzi down — 450 but Izzi moves, big leaping kick by Izzi for a nearfall!

Izzi is frustrated now, Spears and Vance talk her up and she crawls over to lay in a shot. Tatum fires back and they trade blows. THEY CLUBBERING! Tatum gets a kick and then an I Drive! Tatum up top — 450! Cover gets two and a half.

Both women slow to get up but Tatum in control. She goes for Cemetery Drive, Izzi blocks it and puts Tatum on the apron. Tatum climbs but gets kicked in the hear, suplex into a cutter for a nearfall!

Izzi loses it and Spears talks to her. Tatum catches Izzi through the ropes — she comes off the ropes! SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB TO THE OUTSIDE! Both women are down, the ref starts to count — Tatum rolls Izzi in and then stares off at Spears. She gets in the ring JUST in time, Izzi with a pick-up spinebuster but only gets a nearfall! Izzi goes for a powerbomb, but Tatum turns it into a rana! Spears grabs Tatum, Izzi charges but NAILS SPEARS! Tatum with a roll-up. Izzie with a lungblower but TATUM FLIPS THROUGH! CEMETARY DRIVE! WIN!

Winner: Tatum Paxley (15:31)
Rating: *** 1/2
Thoughts: Great stuff by these two, with just enough drama and an absolute banger of a final sequence. Tatum gets the win to presumably end this feud and frankly, if so then it’s a satisfying conclusion.

* Kelani Jordan is prepping backstage.

* OTM is asked about why they got involved in the Tony and Dion brawl. Nima says it’s not about Tony and is about DarkState. They’ve been acting like they own everything. Lucien says it’s Stand & Deliver season. They haven’t forgotten and its time to go eat.

* Mr. Stone is in the ring and says Vengeance Day is off to a hot start. But right now he wants Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence down here. Here they come! Jacy, Fallon, and Lainey come to the ring and get their full entrance.

Jacy fakes out a handshake with Stone and gets a mic. She says Stand & Deliver is around the corner, and against all odds, this year she walks in as NXT Women’s Champion. She says it seems like just yesterday she was being called transitional champion but it’s been quiet lately and nothing brings her as much joy as watching the loser eat their words. Jacy says she knows how this business works and has been through all the ups and downs. One day you’re sitting next to someone in the locker room and then they’re gone. She’d be lying if she didn’t feel that she might be next.

She says last year at S&D she was in a tag match on the pre-show and felt lucky to be on the show. But this year, she’s walking in as a dominant champion and should be the main event. And mark her words — don’t be surprised when she main events WrestleMania next year. She’s coming for that too. And when it comes to beating people, she beat their favorite Sol Ruca in less than six seconds. And then Tuesday she was on her way to beating Zaria and hit the Rolling Encore but Sol couldn’t move on —

Stone cuts in and says the goal is to find the next champion —

HERE’S ZARIA! Zaria says Jacy said she had her beat last week? She’s used to Sol being selfish, but Jacy is just delusional. The only reason Zaria isn’t standing her as champion is Sol. She deserves another shot at the title.

Fallon cuts off Stone and says Zaria and Sol aren’t FI’s problem. Jacy has dealt with more toxic baggage then them. Fallon and Lainey both say they’ve helped Jacy keep the title on multiple occasions and Zaria only has herself to blame.

Zaria says that Fatal Influence is always looking for help, but they never know what the other two are going to do.

AND HERE’S SOL! Ruca says all she sees are two souls that will be hers again very soon. She says Jacy thinks she’s at the top, but how can someone in the top be so desperate to convince everyone that they’re good enough. And as for Zaria, she trusted her. But Zaria has forgotten how well she knows her. Sol says Zaria isn’t touching the NXT Women’s Champion, because it’s her.

Stone says a week from Tuesday it will be Jacy vs. Sol vs. Zaria for the title in a triple threat! Jacy then attacks Sol and Fallon and Lainey join in. Zaria pulls them off and goes after Sol. Jacy attacks Zaria, Sol comes off the ropes for a double Sol Snatcher but Fallon pulls Lacey out of the way and only Zaria gets hit. Jacy hits Sol with a Rolling Encore to stand tall over both challengers.

* Charlie Dempsey is talking with Tavion Heights when Lexis and his group come up and ask for his decision. He says no and Lexis says that their fathers paved the way for them, and for what? For influencers, athletes and failed Olympians to take their spot? He asks when Charlie is going to get wise and leaves.

Tavion says they should have a one-night only NQCC revival on Tuesday. Charlie admits they were good times, and he’s on board.

* We get a recap of the Kelani vs. Lola feud.

NXT Underground
Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

Lola charges in but gets put down by Kelani, Lola however takes over and locks in an armlock. Kelani escapes and goes for a Stretch Muffler, Lola pounds free and Kelani turns it around.

They break and circle, Kelan i charges in but is caught into a sleeper. She drops down and locks in the legs in a bodyscissors, but Kelani gets free and rolls back. She goes over Lola’s fingers, Lola gets free and hits some kicks.

Kelani backs off and manages to slam Lola’s hand into the ringpost, then lays in punches. Hammerlock suplex by Jordan, she stomps on Lola’s hand and then drops a knee onto it. Kelani tears the glove off Lola’s hand and then drops another knee onto it. She slams the hand into the mat and hits a standing moonsault.

Kelani goes after Lola’s arm, Lola fights back and takes some punches. Kelani off the apron and slams Lola’s hand into the ringpost twice. I HATE THE LACK OF LIGHTING IN THIS MATCH. Kelani goes for the hand again, but Lola yanks Kelani face-first into the ringpost.

Kelani back on the mat and Lola is striking away. Kelani goes for the hand but is battered with strikes — German suplex by Lola! Kicks to Jordan over and over! They both dodge kicks but Kelani gets kicked of the mat onto some people. Lola kicks a couple guys who were between her and Kelani, but Kelani takes over with a kick and talks trash to Lola’s dad.

Lola sends Kelani into the ring, showboats, and goes for a kick but Lola flips her over. LOLA WITH A BACKFIST! She pounces on Kelani and it’s over just like that!

Winner: Lola Vice (7:00)
Rating: ** 1/2
Thoughts: I don’t love this match style; the presentation is fucking awful and they rarely come off well. Both women worked hard and the story of the match was there, but I can’t go more than two and a half stars for a match I can BARELY SEE AT TIMES.

* Joe Hendry recaps his wrestling journey.

* Jacy Jayne is crashing out over having to compete in a triple threat in just over a week. Lainey says she’ll take care of Sol on Tuesday, but Fallon says that she also has a title match in Houston so Jacy says Lainey has to make sure Zaria doesn’t get it.

* Vic Joseph runs down this week’s episode of NXT.

NXT Championship Match
Joe Hendry vs. Ricky Saints

Brawl to start, with Saints nailing Joe across the back. Joe stares at Saints and batters him out of the ring, gives chase but Saints goes in the ring, comes off the ropes and nails Hendry. Hendry’s foot caught in the ropes! Saints takes advantage and beats on Hendry until he gets free, sends him into the ring and hits a chop in the corner. Hendry turns it around but Saints with a kick and then pounds on Hendry in the corner.

Into the ropes, Hendry runs over Saints and then chops him in the corner. He chucks Saints across the ring, then hits more corner chops before stomping Saints down. Another toss by Hendry, who grabs Saints and goes for a suplex — Saints floats over, but gets sent to the apron. Hendry with a punch and then a delayed vertical suplex for two.

Euro uppercut by Hendry, Saints into the ropes but he catches Hendry ducking and hits a swinging neckbreaker for two. Shot to the back of the neck by Saints and another. He goes for a suplex, Hendry blocks it and hits a Rude Awakening. Hendry charges into the corner but Saints gets the foot up, he goes up to walk the ropes but Hendry kicks the foot out and crotches him on the ropes! Saints to the outside, Hendry follows but gets punched in the throat. Saints sends Hendry into the ringsteps, then rolls him in and covers for two.

Saints beats on Hendry and hits a neckbreaker, kick off the ropes for a nearfall. He locks in a chinlock to wear the champion down. Hendry gets to his feet and headbutts out, he goes into the ropes but gets punched down. Hendry put in the corner, Ricky climb s for punches ending with an uppercut, then boot chokes him all the way to the outside. Double axehandle off the apron onto Hendry, and Saints slams him into the booth before rolling him in.

Punches in the corner by Saints, followed by a back suplex for two-plus. Hendry reverses a whip into the ropes, Saints goes up and over to the apron. He comes back in and takes down Hendry, puts him in the corner and drops him before hitting a front basement dropkick for two.

Saints with a knee and picks him up for a fallaway slam, then a mocking Hendry spin — right into a SPEAR! Hendry tees off on Saints and sends Saints into the ropes, he catches Saints for a fallaway slam and then spins. He charges into an elbow, Saints leaps off the top but is caught into a powerbomb for two-plus.

Hendry up and lays in punches, Saints fights back and they go back and forth in the center of the ring. Saints counters an uppercut into a backslide, air raid crash for two right into a crossface from Saints! Hendry rolls through but Saints turns it into a front facelock with bodyscissors! Hendry fades a bit but he fights out and hits a big slam to power out!

Hendry is up and he charges into a knee, Saints goes for Rochambo but Hendry escapes. Saints dodges an AA and hits a kick — but Hendry with an Attitude Adjustment for two-plus! Hendry moves in but gets kicked in the face, Saints up top and Hendry follows — Super Fallaway Slam! Cover gets almost three.

Saints up — Standing Ovation, countered into a roll-up by Saints for two. Jumping knee and DDT from Saints, cover gets a nearfall. And here comes Ethan Page! Page is staring at the NXT Title and picks it up, walking toward the ring. Saints goes to get the title but Hendry rolls him up for two! Saints off the ropes, hits a spear for two. Page slides the title in but it goes to Hendry! Page looks apologetic and Hendry and Saints fight for the title — Saints with a low blow kick! Revolution DDT, cover for thre–NO! Kickout by Hendry!

Saints beats on Hendry and shoves him in the corner. He beats on Hendry — Hendry goes for the Standing O! Saints nearly hits the ref escaping! Hendry charges and nearly hits the ref too! Saints charges in — HENDRY with the back low blow! Standing O! That’s it!

Winner: Joe Hendry (16:15)
Rating: *** 1/2
Thoughts: Good, solid match here. Hendry and Saints worked hard and click well in the ring, the Ethan Page drama was fun and it’s nice to see a babyface who will give what he’s given. No complaints about this finish.

Hendry celebrates in the ring as Saints is helped to the back by Page.

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

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was a very solid, if not fantastic, NXT PLE. None of the matches were awful, even with that horrible lighting for NXT Underground, and a couple of bouts really popped. Hendry vs. Page vs. Saints (or some iteration thereof) seems likely for Stand & Deliver and honestly, I really like whatever they decide out of that. Decent to very good stuff for the most part in a show that flew by quite nicely.