Jeremy’s WWE NXT Review 10.14.25

Hello everyone, and welcome to our live WWE NXT coverage on 411! Jeremy Thomas here as always, and we are dealing with the aftermath of NXT vs. TNA Showdown AND TNA Bound For Glory! (Thanks to Thomas for filling in for me last week, by the way.) Trick Williams is no longer the TNA World Champion but Kelani is still Knockouts Champion. Meanwhile, the Hardys are our NXT Tag Team Champions which is a wild thing to type.

But we’re moving right along as Halloween Havoc is coming up. Tonight’s show will feature a battle royal to see who faces Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship at the event. Plus, Josh Briggs will face Matt Cardona and Zaria takes on Blake Monroe. And finally, El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. will face Lexis King. Should be a fun set of matches all in all.

Here at Thomas HQ, — well, I’ve been busy. That means I haven’t watched as many films as I would like, and I’m falling behind on my Hooptober Viewing Challenge. Over the past week I watched Good Boy, which was a great little low-budget horror film, as well as sci-fi horror Come True which was more interesting than it was good. I also watched the classic ghost movie The Changeling — well worth the watch — and the 1962 flick Night of the Eagle (or, if you prefer, Burn, Witch, Burn. It was fine for its era.

On the TV side, I’ve begun watching Dragula: Titans season two which is an absolute blast so far. I’m Team Sigourney, Jade, and Evah at this point. Hell, I’m honestly just about Team Everybody (except Dollya Black, who is too much shade for even my tastes).

Meanwhile, you can check out the latest episode in the Final Ghouls of Horror below as Holly, L and I look at the mother of all shark movies in Jaws! 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.

* I HATE TAPED EPISODES NOW. Thanks, Netflix.

* TUDUM.

* We get recaps from NXT vs. TNA Showdown including The Hardys winning the NXT Tag Team Titles, the men’s and women’s Survivor Series-style matches, and Ethan Page defeating Mustafa Ali thanks to a microphone cord.

* Lola Vice survives the NXT parking lot, as does Jaida Parker. Zaria already made it inside, as did Sol as they get all flirty and walk together.

* We’re in the Capitol Wrestling Center and RICKY SAINTS IS HERE! The NXT Champion makes his way down to the ring and does a little posing for the audience before getting a microphone. He says he never gets tired of that from the fans. He wanted to come out and show that two things were clear. One, when you stack the odds against him, he’ll fight like hell. Not just for him, but for everyone in here. And the other is that when things get tough, Trick Williams will fold under pressure like origami.

And that’s the difference between them. He says when he won the NXT Championship things became clear very quickly. But for Trick, it hasn’t been clear. For a guy who said he built this place, he hasn’t been tidying up and has gone and abandoned this place. He says Trick is crazy and stupid. But with all that being said, he wants to give Trick the opportunity to prove him wrong. A lot of people have held the title and waited for a #1 contender or battle royal. But he’s Ricky Saints and calling his shot. He’s calling Trick out at Halloween Havoc for the NXT CHampionship.

TRICK IS HERE (on the Tron). He knows Trick is mad and it’s not his fault Ricky couldn’t get the job done last week. Ricky says he’s carrying the brand, but he’s following in Trick’s footsteps and the size 1ts are too big. He says Ricky can’t stand the fact that he’s doing everything Ricky wants to do and looks better doing it. Ricky is so mad he’s putting the title on the line. But they’re going to do it on his time. See you soon, champ.

Ricky says Trick’s time is up and he probably slipped and bumped his head putting on cocoa butter. But he’s going to put Trick on notice, so let’s talk about it!

* Je’Von and Leon are backstage and Je’Von can’t believe their match at Bound For Glory was ruined. Leon says he almost got him a couple of times, and Evans says he’d be X-Division Champion if not for DarkState. THey talk about potentially going after the titles and The Hardys walk up! They say DarkState’s message was for them. Jeff says they tore the house down at BFG and Matt says it was a preview of the future of pro wrestling. They have a rematch with DarkState at HH and they will bring receipts for Je’Von and Leon.

* The NXT Anonymous account shares a video of Kelani and Jordynne arguing backstage. Kelani says Jordynne was a big fish in a small pond in TNA and she’s champion, something Grace chased for a long time. Grace says Kelani is doing what she made possible and says she’ll see her in the battle royal.

Matt Cardona vs. Josh Briggs

Cardona goes on the attack at the bell and batters him into a corner, launching a series of kicks before the ref backs him up. Briggs with a kick and an elbow to the shoulders. He beats on Cardona in the corner, sends him across the ring and charges into a boot. Dropkick off the second rope, Briggs to the outside and Cardona dropkicks him through the ropes.

Briggs back in and gets kicked by Cardona, who backs him into the corner and lays in some mounted punches. But Briggs ducks under, trips Cardona up and stomps on him. Kick to Cardona on his knees, he picks Cardona up for a whip into the ropes. Cardona ducks a couple clotheslines and is hit with the third for a two-count.

Briggs yells at the fans a moment and stomps on Matt’s hand. Cardona up and sent into the corner, charging back elbow and fists to the head. Briggs backs up, takes aim and runs in — Cardona backdrops him over the top! Cardona off the ropes and DIVES onto Briggs as we go to break.

We’re back and Briggs is in control but Briggs kicks him down with a big boot, another kick for two. Briggs talks shit to Cardona, grabs him and goozles for the chokeslam — Matt counters with a DDT! Matt gets to his feet and hits a back elbow. Into the ropes, leaping clothesline. Briggs reverses an Irish whip but Cardona with a facebuster. He gets Josh in the corner and beats him down, then showboats a bit before taking aim — charging boot to the head! He goes for the Unpretty-Her and hits it! Cover gets thre-NO!

Cardona takes aim again for the Reboot but Briggs rolls out of the ring — so Cardona with a big kick to the head. Briggs back in, Matt on the apron but Briggs pulls him into a backbreaker. Chokeslam! That gets a cover for a 2.8 count.

Both men down now, Briggs goes for the chain but the ref takes it away — RADIO SILENCE! Cover gets almost three but Briggs kicks out! Cardona goes to the second rope and lies in wait — he leaps but Briggs turns it onto a powerbomb! Briggs is up now, charges into a double knee. Unpretty-Her countered, Cardona goes for the Tornado DDT but it’s countered. BIG boot finishes it.

Winner: Josh Briggs (7:53)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Perfectly solid match to kick us off. Cardona worked well with Briggs, who regularly has good matches but can’t seem to find a groove character or storyline-wise. He has the potential, and hopefully he can click in those respects because I don’t hate him

* Han k & Tank are with Chase U and Lyra, and Tank says whoever comes out of HH as Tag Team Champs will need #1 contenders. Lyra says it could be either of them but wants to know where Tatum is. Tatum runs in excitedly but Izzi stops her. She then says that Hank & Tank had their shot and Chase U lack everything. The Culling are the only choices.

Hank & Tank suggest a Triple Threat, Chase calls it a teachable moment and they go off to make the match. Izzi says that she’ll win the battle royal and become champion. Lyra asks about Tatum and Izzi says she’ll be with her every step before leaving. Lyra calls Spears a spooky man.

* We get a vignette from Jacy Jayne, who says that when they founded Fatal Influence they set out to guide and mold the deepest division in wrestling today. Fallon said to make the locker room look up to them and counts down their shocking moments and main events, saying they run the division.

Jacy says there were problems at times but they never let their problems get in the way. Jazmyn was eliminated by someone who was willing to prove herself in the way the other ever did in Lainey Reid. Lainey is there and says Jacy and Fallons are titans, and she thought in order to get in she needed to beat her, but she realized she just needed to follow in her direction. Jacy says welcome to Fatal Influence and she’s earned her spot. They say whoever wins the battle royal doesn’t have a chance.

El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Lexis King

Lockup to start, King with a wristlock that Wagner flips through. Armdrag and a legdrop, Magistral cradle for two. Wagner takes King down, then pulls him up for a wristlock that King rolls through and flips over, then kicks Wagner in the head. Into the ropes, King leapfrogs, Wagner goes down and King walks over him. Into the ropes, Wagner knocks King down and then walks over him!

Back up now, King goes for a kick that gets caught and decks Wagner. Wagner reverses a toss into the corner and chops KIng, then hits a shoulder thrust and chops in another corner. King begs off and then goes for the mask! He kicks and chops at Wagner, then goes up to walk the ropes, leaps down and slaps Wagner.

Shot to the back from King and a chop to the chest. Into the ropes, Wagner ducks a clothesline and hits a rana. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, King rolls out, Wagner onto the ringpost on the apron and hits a MOONSAULT as we go to break.

Back from break and Wagner gets King, then leaps at him on the ropes but King grabs Wagner and dumps him to the floor. Outside the ring, King throws Wagner into the ringsteps and then drops him knee-first on the apron.

Back in the ring, King kicks Wagner in the head and stomps at the knee. He kicks at Wagner’s leg and grabs Wagner, throwing him into the corner. He traps Wagner’s foot on the ropes and leaps to stomp the knee. Into the ropes, Drive-By and a cover for two-plus.

King circles Wagner and talks some trash. Wagner fires back and swings, King ducks and hits a dragon screw legwhip. King with a leg-lock to work the knee over, Wagner is trying to Wagner up but gets kicked in the head. Wagner is done and he decks King! He runs over King a couple of times, sends him into the corner and hits a step-up knee! Powerbomb gets two-plus.

Wagner lies in wait and charges but gets hit with a superkick. KIng with strikes and another dragon screw. He goes up top — Wagner rolls away as King goes for the Swanton. Shining Wizard, Michinoku Driver and that’s it.

Winner: El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. (7:41)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Perfectly fine match to give Wagner his first win on NXT TV. King made for a good first opponent and I always appreciate a little psychology.

Wagner gets a mic after the match and speaks in Spanish, telling Ethan Page to come here right now.

ETHAN PAGE IS HERE! Page comes down to the ring with his North American Title and says “Wagner, Wagner, Wagner.” He says it’s exhausting being the greatest North American of all time. Everyone is hunting him and his beautiful Canadian Championship as he has talent from Triple A, TNA, Raw and Smackdown hunting him. He says he’s handled it and Wagner will challenge him for the NA Championship. He says that no one knows what he even looks like.

Wagner speaks in Spanish and says something about the Day of the Dead. Page doesn’t know what he said and it doesn’t matter because he’s still beating him. Wagner says he spoke with Ava and they aren’t having a regular match. It’s a Day of the Dead match! And anything goes.

* Sol and Zaria are backstage and they pimp their Maybelline makeup. Zaria doesn’t get why Sol is in ring gear and she says she’s in the battle royal. Zaria asks how many titles she needs? She says she’ll take on Blake herself.

* Back from break, Ava and Santino are talking to Leon and Je’Von about their Bound For Glory match. Leon says Halloween Havoc is around the corner and wants to know if they have any teams for them to face. Stacks and Arianna walk up and Stacks says the X-Division Champion is getting comfortable and if not for DarkState he wouldn’t have the title. Santino asks if his future son-in-law has a title match and Ava’s down with it. Je’Von says he’ll have his eyes on that match.

There’s sounds of an assault and Trick attacked Saints, saying they’re doing this on their time, Halloween Havoc! He walks off as Ava calls for medical.

Blake Monroe vs. Zaria

Blake mocks Zaria being out here alone and they lock up. Zaria FLINGS Blake across the ring! Blake back up and Zaria talks shit; Blake goes under into a waistlock but gets tossed off. Zaria goes for a bodyslam, Blake slides down the back, into the ropes and tries to trip Zaria up to no effect. Zaria grabs Blake but Blake escapes and goes for the leg. She puts Zaria in the corner, wraps her leg in the second rope and kicks at it.

Blake goes for a whip out of the ropes but Zaria blocks it and tosses Blake. She toes to the second rope but Blake nails her. Blake tries to take it to Zaria, but she grabs Blake and pulls her into an elevate sleeper for two!

Blake escapes to the outside, Zaria follows and beats on her before rolling her in. Blake right to the apron, Zaria grabs her over the turnbuckle and goes for a suplex but Blake blocks it and knows Zaria to the floor as we go to break.

Back from break, Blake locks in a sleeper and jumps on her back. Zaria down to her knees, but Zaria grabs her hand and backs her into the corner to break the hold. Blake dodges a charge, nails Zaria and covers for two.

Blake right into the sleeper again, Zaria fights to her feet with Blake on her back. She drops down on Blake to break the hold. Zaria swings away and Blake fires right back! Blake with several shots and Zaria is PISSED! Big clothesline and another, pump kick. Blake into the ropes but holds on, she kicks Zaria who roars and goes into the ropes for a SPEAR!

Zariua gets Blake on her shoulders but Blake holds onto the ropes and gets to the apron. Double headbutt, Blake on the floor and Zaria in the ring. Blake goes under the ring for a chair! She tosses it in and follows — Sol is here! She grabs the chair away! The ref is arguing with Sol but Blake hits a hair pick to the throat of Zaria! Beauty shot finishes it.

Winner: Blake Monroe (6:21)
Rating: ** 3/4
Thoughts: Decent match between these two that never kicked into a higher gear. A win over Zaria still means something due to her mystique and it’s nice to see Blake pick up the win.

* Ava appears in a vignette and announces that the Men’s Speed Tournament kicks off next week. Axiom will battle Shawn Legacy while Zachary Wentz will take on Jasper Troy. The winners go to the finals and then challenges El Grande Americano for the title.

Hank & Tank vs. Chase U vs. The Culling

Hank, Niko and Connors start off and Niko with a boot to Hank that leads into a series of roll-ups. Connors with a sunset flip to Niko that goes nowhere, which turns into more rollups. Niko gets a double kick from Hank and Connors as Spears tags in and hits a lungblower to Tank.

Hank with a sidewalk slam to Spears, Tank wioth a shoulder tackle off the ropes and they Honk Honk before going out to flatten Spears and Niko before Chase U dives on them. The Culling take out Chase U and roll Hank in, Niko goes for mounted punches on the mat. Gutwrench suplex, cover but Dixon breaks it up.

Niko kicks at Dixon and knocks down Hank. He goes back to Dixon, who tries to battle back but is set up on the top. Headbutt from Niko, he goes up but Dixon fights him off and kicks Spears away. Niko goes for the superplex again but is knocked down and Hank & Tank dump Niko! Rock-A-Bye to Spears, Chase U then DIVES onto Hank and Tank!

OTM are out here and attack! They lay everyone out!

Winner: No Contest (3:32)
Rating: ** 1/4
Thoughts: Not much of a chance for this to do anything, it was about OTM’s return.

* Sol asks Zaria if she’s okay and apologizes, she should have been out there from the beginning. Zaria says she’ll always be out there. She says she wants Zaria to have her opportunity and is giving Zaria her spot in the battle royal.

* Saints is backstage asking where Trick Williams is. Ava says he’s gone. Ricky says how convenient. He goes off on Trick attacking him from behind and says he’s going to stand up to that smug sonuvabitch. Ava says their contract signing is next week and he needs to stay cool through it. Saints says for her, he’ll do it.

* Vic runs down Halloween Havoc:
– NXT Championship Match: Trick Williams vs. Ricky Saints
– NXT North American Championship Day of the Dead Match: Ethan Page vs. Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
– NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Hardys vs. DarkState
– NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne vs. ???

* Backstage, DarkState has laid out The Hardys and talk shit as officials tend to them. Okay.

Set For Next Week:
– TNA X-Division Championship Match: Leon Slater vs. Stacks
– OTM vs. Hank & Tank
– WWE Speed Men’s Championship Tournament Match: Axiom vs. Shawn Legacy
– WWE Speed Men’s Championship Tournament Match: Jasper Troy vs. Zachary Wentz

NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal

We get the brawl to start it off and they divide into the various corners. Sol Ruca is watching from the outside as Lash Legend picks up Tatum and goes to drop her over the top but Tatum holds on. SHe’s on the apron and decks Victoria Crawford, Lash is trying to get Vix over the top.

Karmen Petrovic tries to eliminate The IInspiration but they team up and toss her. Lash chops Jordynne Grace as The IInspiration beat on Victoria in the corner. Xia Brookside is stomping at Jaida Parker as across the ring, Victoria Crawford and Arianna Grace are on the apron. They back into each other and prepare to hit each other and shake hands — but Grace knocks them off the apron and Arianna blames Vix.

Lei Ying Lee gets knocked out and eliminated by Kali Armstrong, which leads to Xia pummeling Kali. The Iinspiration put Wren on the apron and she goes to avoid them — but she slips and falls to the floor! Not sure if that was intentional. Kendal Grey attacks The Iinspiration as Izzi and others try to eliminate Kelani. Cassie Lee is nearly eliminated, Jessie saves her.

Zaria is on the apron as well against Mara Sade — and Kendal eliminates Jessie! Kendal goes after Cassie but Sada is on the apron! Lash goes to save her — and does it! But Zaria nails Lash and Mara is knocked to the floor!

Zia Brookside is trying to rana Kali Armstrong to the floor but gets eliminated in the process. Jaida is put on the apron and Lash boots her! Parker is out of the match! Parker is pissed and attacks Xia Brookside until security breaks it up — and the other women toss Lash out of the ring in the process!

Back from break and Thea is going wild! Suplex to Tatum! She ducks as Cassie attacks, Cassie to the apron and Tea locks in a Kimura! They’re in the ropes and they get knocked out, both eliminated.

Zaria has someone up in the sleeper — and Blake Monroe attacks Sol! Zaria eliminates herself to go save Sol as Blake runs away. True love. Kelani is on the apron and Lola Vice has her — but Kelani does the splits and Cassie pushes Lola over the top to the floor! Cassie tosses Kendal to the apron — but Kendal eliminates her! And Tatum goes after Kendal.

We’re down to five: Kelani, Tatum, Jordynne, Kendal, and Izzi. Jordynne gets Kelani over the top and uses her hands to escape elimination! She walks on her hands — and Jordynne kicks her down! Final four are Izzi, Tatum, Jordynne, and Kendal. Izzi and Tatum toss the other two, who skin the cat and come back in. They knock the Culling duo down and then go to each other. Suplex by Jordynne to Kendal! Spinebuster to Tatum! She plants Izzy and then pushes Tatum to the apron. Izzi comes over and chokeslams Grace, takes out Kendal, and tries to push her over the top! She beats on Grey, but Grey battles back and leaps for a fallaway slam — CAUGHT! Izzie goes to slam Grey — turned into a DDT!

German suplex by Kendal to Grace, belly to belly to Tatum. She throws Tatum over the top, Tatum holding on — Grace is over and tries to push Grace over the top. Tatum manages to catch Grace and hold her as Izzi eliminates Grey!

Three women left, Izzi charges at them — Jordynne moves! Izzi is clotheslined to the floor and Grace goes too!

Winner: Tatum Paxley (12:52)
Rating: *** 1/4
Thoughts: Fun enough battle royal. Nothing was bad in it and the result was very solid; I’m glad to see Tatum get the title shot.

Izzi is not happy to see she lost and Fatal Influence comes out to stare off with Tatum as Lyra comes out to celebrate with Paxley! Izzi is beside herself.

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

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Tonight saw a pretty great episode of NXT all in all. We had good in-ring action, a strong finish to the main event and the build came on strong for Halloween Havoc. Not everything hit; I don't know how much OTM's return is going to add much-needed heat to the tag division, for example. But otherwise it was another enjoyable two-hour show.