By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live May 27, 2025, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Highlights from the NXT Battleground PLE aired…
Separate shots of Fatal Influence (Jazmyn Nyx was back) and Stephanie Vaquer were shown as they were arriving to the WWE Performance Center…
Vic Joseph, Booker T, and Corey Graves were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Security guards were surrounding the ring for the next match. NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints made his entrance. Ethan Page made his entrance with a serious look on his face. Miek Rome tried to do the formal in-ring championship match introductions, but Saints and Page jumped the gun and traded hands. Security separated both men. Rome finished the introductions while standing at ringside…
1. Ricky Saints vs. “All Ego” Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship. Page slowed things down with a side headlock takedown. Saints went for a slam, but was backdropped by Page. Saints backdropped Page to ringside. Page came back with a Irish Whip into the steel steps. Ava walked out to stop the referee from doing a countout. The referee ordered the guards to “let them fight”. Saints dominated match heading into break.[c]
During the break, the commentators were confused as to what Ava actually just did. Saints dragged Page into the crowd area to brawl with the referee allowing it to happen. Saints tackled Page over the announce table, wiping out Booker T, who couldn’t get out of the way. Security guards separate them from close quarters. The referee ordered both men to bring things to the ring.
Page took advantage of this rules distraction by hitting Saints with a sick looking Twisted Grin (Twist of Fate) onto the protruding feet of a open chair. Saints sold the move like he was sliced in the neck. The chair crossbar was broke. Page caught Saints with an Ego’s Edge for a good nearfall. Saints tackled Page into the corner to prevent another Twist of Fate. Saints had a rally, but Page stuffed that by jabbing Saints in the throat to cause him to crumple.
Saints and Page traded Yay-Boo right hands. Page won the exchange with a Superkick. Saints countered a Power Slam into a DDT. Saints gave Page a Belly to Belly. Saints hit Page with a Scorpion Death Drop for a nearfall. Booker noted he was kicked earlier. Vic joked that Booker sounds like he’s looking for Hazard Pay. Page hit Saints in the throat for a nearfall.
Page tumbled to the apron to avoid Roshambo. Page came back by jabbing the top rope into the throat of Saints. Page hit Saints with a Twisted Grin for the clean win.
All Ego Ethan Page defeated Ricky Saints via pinfall in 12:52 to become the new NXT North American Champion.
John’s Thoughts: Holy crap, that result caught me off guard (it’s rare that my finger isn’t ready to stop my stopwatch for match results). The overuse of distraction finishes in pro wrestling made the heel plucking out a clean heel win stand out here in a good way. I really like the story of this match with the crux of Saints being him selling the throat injury. Not to mention, that Twist of Fate onto the exposed feet of the steel chair looked sick, setting up the match injury nicely. Happy to see this feud continue. As I’ve said too, All Ego is really impressing me with his character range combined with his solid in-ring storytelling. He’s someone who WWE can plug into the upper mix regularly once he gets called up to the main roster (probably being a great Money in the Bank winner in a future year).
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Fatal Influence and asked Jacy Jayne about her thoughts on challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s title. Jayne bragged about taking initiative by attacking Vaquer on Sunday. Fallon said she should challenge for the title instead because Jayne lost recently to Vaquer. Jayne gloated and pointed out how Vaquer took the North American title away from Henley…
A Mike Santana vignette aired to introduce WWE viewers to Mike Santana (Formerly Santana of the Latin American XChange). Santana vs. Tavion Heights was hyped for after the break…
Josh Briggs was excited to see Yoshiki Inamura back in America. Josh asked Inamura why he’s not in Japan. He said he did go back, but he came back for Josh. Josh handed Inamura back his biker jacket and said he’s excited they can go after the tag team titles. Inamura said he’s thinking even bigger goals, which caught Briggs off guard…
Mike Santana made his entrance through the Performance Center crowd. Corey Graves compared Santana to past TNA legends from New York like Homicide and Amazing Red. No Quarter Catch Crew made their entrance…
2. Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights (w/Myles Borne, Wren Sinclair, Charlie Dempsey). Heights dominated the initial collar and elbow with his signature amateur wrestling offense. The commentators talked about Heights having a Olympic background. Heights and Santana jawed after a stalemate off a shoulder tackle. Santana caught a running Heights with a Shotgun Dropkick. Vic noted his wife (the unnamed former NXT interviewer McKenzie Mitchell) being shocked at her new company’s title being on a NXT wrestler.
Santana dumped Heights to ringside and hit him with an impressive Flip Dive. The commentators talked about Santana calling himself “The Standard of TNA” (A title he got when he won the feud with Josh Alexander, TNA’s previous flagbarer).[c]
During the break, Heights and Santana had an awesome chop exchange in the corner. Back from break, Heights caught Santana with a clothesline. Heights reversed a Codebreaker and did a Cartwheel into a Firemancarry. Santana reversed into a Sunset Flip. Heights hit Santana with a Gutwrench for a nearfall. Heights and Santana traded stiff strikes with Santana firing up the crowd with a loud stiff chop to Heights.
Santana caught Heights with a Enzuigiri. Santana caught Heights with a rolling cutter for a nearfall. A “this is awesome” chant ensued. Heights came back with a backdrop. Heights used an axe handle to take down Santana. Heights hit Santana with a Death Valley Driver. Santana caught Heights wiht a Superkick. Santana caught Heights out of the air and hit him with a sitout flapjack. Santana caught Heights with Spin the Block (discus lariat) for the victory.
Mike Santana defeated Tavion Heights via pinfall in 10:20.
Santana helped Heights to his feet and the two men dapped it up in a show of respect. Charlie Dempsey didn’t look happy…
Vic hyped a update on the Tony D’Angelo and Stacks feud for after the break…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A bit risky to put Santana in a competitive match against someone who hasn’t had a push on NXT TV yet, let alone in Santana’s WWE television debut. That said, this was a great match. Good introduction to the plucky warrior of TNA and Heights got elevated in the loss by looking very impressive (as he usually does). Coming out of Myles Borne in the main title picture, NQCC should be in line for a huge push with all of it’s members having HUGE upside. Meanwhile, I look forward to Mike Santana hopefully being featured strongly on Impact and NXT. As that hallway scene from Impact two weeks ago foreshadowed, they are setting up Slammiversary’s main event to be Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana for the TNA Championship in Santana’s hometown of New York in the huge arena.
The show cut to a Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, and Tyriek Igwe vignette. They are now known as “The High Ryze”. Wes talked about being a part of a brotherhood before, but their dreams don’t last when their goals change. Lee introduced Igwe and Dupont, talking about how they have matching convictions. Dupont said they aren’t chasing greatness, they are building it brick by brick. Igwe said that you get to the top with loyalty to a bond. Wes said you don’t sell up, you buy in.
Dupont said they don’t fit the mold. Igwe said they make the mold. Wes said they’ll only be one outcome, they rise…
John’s Thoughts: Good reframing vignette. I hope this leads to these three actually dominating instead of just being used as enhancement talent for the Stars.
Andre Chase was coaching Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon backstage. Chase talked about how they made a mistake by jumping the gun at picking fights with people bigger than them like OTM. Kale and Uriah took this the wrong way, and thought he was praising them for taking risks. They approached Ava to take more risks. Ava booked Connors, Kale, and Andre in a match against DarkState. Andre yelled at them for jumping the gun again…
Tony D’Angelo had a sitdown with Luca Crucifino. Tony D said he was confused as to why Luca just stared at him on Sunday? Luca said he’s shocked at Stacks stranding him in the desert. Tony D asked why he didn’t reach out. He said he didn’t want to put Tony D and Rizzo at risk. Tony D said this smells fishy. Tony D let it known that he doesn’t know who to trust. Luca said “you can trust me”…
TNA World Champion Trick Williams was shown walking the hallways…[c]
[Hour Two] TNA World Champion Trick Williams made his entrance with Booker doing his usual interjections. Trick took the mic and soaked in acapella whoop dat trick chants. Trick talked about how Hollywood Trick has finally arrived. A “Trick N A” chant ensued. Trick talked about it being the first time a NXT star holding TNA gold. Trick talked about also racking up championships in NXT. Trick then called out the fans for waving hands and singing along with “Average Joe”.
Trick said the fans must feel stupid. Half the crowd started chanting “Average Joe”. Trick talked about the whole “Crossing the Line” thing with TNA and said that Trick Williams is the new line. Trick said NXT hasn’t appreciated him, he’s going to take the gold to TNA. Trick talked about Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, AJ Styles and others being past champions, but none of them being as good as Trick Williams, especially Joe Hendry.
He said he’s turning his back on the NXT fans because they turned their back on him. He said he’s going to TNA to make changes over there. He said he’s going to change the name of TNA to Trick-N-A. Mike Santana made his entrance to confront Trick. A “Santana” chant ensued. Santana said he personally wanted to give Trick props for Sunday. Trick said Santana made his first mistake by interrupting Mike’s champion.
Mike said Trick isn’t his champion, and Trick is making a bad first impression by trying to tear down TNA. Mike said TNA has been killin’ the game and getting momentum every day. Santana said he’s not going to sit aside holding the flag seeing Trick tear things down after what he and the TNA locker room did to build that place. Trick said Santana doesn’t know how things work being a big dog because Santana hasn’t been TNA champion.
Trick said only when Santana becomes world champion, can he call the shots. Santana said Trick makes him laugh, but people like Trick piss him the hell off. Santana said he’s here to remind the Trick he’s a proud boriqua from the Bronx New York. He said he’s seen people like Trick come and go. He said Trick is a pretender. A pretend fighter. A pretend rapper with high heels and tight ass pants.
Santana said after Sunday at Battleground, Trick is a pretend ass champion. Mike said he’s the realist and illest Trick has every come across. Mike said he’s going to be the one to take the TNA title from Trick. Trick said that Mike can pop off all he wants, but he’s going to whoop Mike’s ass. TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella showed up on the big screen and said that Trick needs to be a fighting champion.
Santino said he talked with Ava and Trick will have to defend the title against Mike Santana next week. Santino’s WWE theme started playing. Mike wanted a handshake, but Trick showed disrespect. Santana dumped Trick to ringside with hands. Mike Santana posed with the TNA title to end the segment…
Stephanie Vaquer was warming up in the locker room. Ava showed up and booked a tag match between Vaquer and someone vs. Dalys and Chika Tormenta for World’s Collide. Lola Vice showed up to volunteer to be Vaquer’s tag partner…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Awesome promo exchange between two of the most skilled talkers in the business today, in an up-and-coming sense. Trick was looking good his first night as Champ and it helps that he is holding a title with such a strong linage. Mike Santana is one of my favorite talkers in all of pro wrestling with how real he comes off, and how heartfelt his promos are. He’s shown this ability ever since the LAX days when he finally got the chance to talk while Konnan was off TV. Santana is a great pick to be the main character of TNA and I’m looking forward to his journey to the top. Key word “journey” as it would make NO sense to waste that storyline potential and put the belt on him next week (which is what the booking seems to be setting up). Again, they need to time this title change to happen at Slammiversary.
Jaida Parker was already in the ring for the next match. Tatum Paxley made her entrance looking distressed and holding dolls with orange and green hair (to represent Gigi Dolin and Shotzi Blackheart)…
3. Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley. Paxley got a rollup and Double Underhook Suplex. Jaida tackled Tatum into the corner and hit her with her signature draping Banzai Drop. Jaida hit Tatum’s elbow with a booty drop. Tatum rolled up Parker for a nearfall. Tatum smashed Jaida’s face on her knee. Paxley hit Jaida wiht an enzuigiri and crossbody into the turnbuckle. Paxley hit Parker with a Liger Kick and dropkick.
Jaida went to ringside and tossed the Gigi Dolin doll into the ring. Tatum got sad, and picked up the doll. While Tatum was crying, Parker hit Tatum with Hip Notic for the victory. Booker T yelled “What!?!” (I kinda did too. That was goofballs).
Jaida Parker defeated Tatum Paxley via pinfall in 3:46.
A Jasper Troy introductory vignette aired where he talked about how he’s going to make an impact…
Jasper Troy put a chain around his neck and was shown walking backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Ok, that finish was goofy, and kinda ass; but I can’t help but say that it got a laugh out of me. I get a kick out of wrestlecrap sometimes, as long as it’s funny and botchamania worthy. Picking up a win because someone picked up a doll and started crying would have been perfect in the old school LOLTNA days of old TNA.
YOOOOOO!!! The king of NXT Level Up! DANTE CHEN IS BACK! And unfortunately “already in the ring”. LFG Winner, Jasper got a metal entrance theme and made his way to the ring…
4. Jasper Troy vs. Dante Chen. Chen put Troy in a side headlock. Booker and Vic talked about how Troy has cut a lot of weight to get to where he is. Vic talked about Troy being a former NCAA linemen (like a lot of NIL wrestlers). Troy backdropped Chen to ringside. Troy worked on Chen with methodical offense. Booker T talked about Troy’s standout promo against CM Punk on LFG.
Chen rallied with footsie strikes. Chen hit Troy with a Tornado DDT and Yakuza Kick. Troy no sold Chen’s double chop and came back with a tackle. Troy hit Chen with a Black Hole Slam for the victory.
Jasper Troy defeated Dante Chen via pinfall in 3:37.
Oba Femi made his entrance to the Crow’s Nest. Oba talked about how he didn’t decide to jump Troy from behind like a thief. Oba said that Troy can enjoy his five seconds of fame, but when he goes against the Ruler, those five seconds will end…
A trailer aired of Cody Rhodes’s new podcast where he’s interviewing his wife Brandi Rhodes…
Charlie Dempsey approached Myles Borne and Tavion Heights and mocked them for failing as singles wrestlers. Borne took exception and said he proved himself. Wren praised Borne. Borne challenged Dempsey to prove himself. Dempsey said he’ll do that as long as it’s a round’s match. Both men agreed…[c]
John’s Thoughts: An okay debut for Jasper Troy. He’s still a bit generic at the moment. Reminding me of a lot of big men that came and go during the Ruthless Aggression era. In ring, he was a bit plodding and paint-by-numbers, but developmental is here to help iron those things out. I haven’t watched LFG (I picked watching Evolve over LFG as the new developmental show I would watch). That said, I did see Troy’s awesome promo against CM Punk where he faced Punk and called him out for betraying everyone when Punk left WWE. There might be something with this Troy guy.
New North American Champion, All Ego Ethan Page was in a suit and gloating in the center of the ring. Je’von Evans made his entrance to cut off Page. Evans said he should have been invited due to their history. Evans said he can’t think of someone more undeserving than Page. Evans said he was about to be deadass now. He said he talked to Ava and heard that Page will be defending the North American title against Je’von Evans at Worlds Collide at Inglewood.
Page said Evans doesn’t deserve a title shot, but he might deserve a mask to cover up his face. Evans talked about having hops and said he knows another brotha with hops too. TNA and AAA wrestler Laredo Kid made his entrance (apparently he’s a kid again, after being just “Laredo” in recent months on the TNA show). Kid introduced himself as the most complete luchador in AAA. He said he’s won many championships in AAA and is coming after the North American title.
Page said to stop ruining his moment. Evans said there’s one more person challenging for the title too. Rey Fenix made his entrance. Fenix said it’s going to be a fatal four way for the NXT North American Championship. Fenix said he’s going to bring the fire to burn Page up. Fenix yelled his “ANIMO!!!” catchphrase to end the segment…
Ava was chatting with her assistants Robert Stone and Stevie Turner (Stone back in babyface mode). Turner and Stone talked about Sean Legacy deserved a title shot over the three men in the ring due to him picking up a win recently. Ava said Legacy will be first in line for the title after the World’s Collide match…
Separate shots of Stephanie Vaquer and Fatal Influence were shown backstage. Vaquer was confronted by Lash Legend as Vaquer was headed to the ring…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A fire match set up for World’s Collide with a lot of great talent in there. I’ve been huge fans of Rey Fenix and Laredo Kid over the years and these guys can really set up for something fun. Page is a great counterbalance int here to work with the other three high flyers. I don’t think they’ll go this route, but Fenix’s WWE run hasn’t been strong so far (but neither was the beginning of his Lucha Underground run, but he soon became the top face of that promotion). It’ll be pretty interesting to see if they decide to give Fenix an instant boost by putting North American gold on him and have him work to his strength as a weekly workhorse television champion.
Tatum Paxley was crying and fumbling around backstage like she was a drunk mess. Zaria and Sol Ruca showed up nd told Tatum that they have her back. The Culling were shown looking creepy in the background…
The following two matches were announced for next week: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana for the TNA Championship and Myles Borne vs. Charlie Dempsey in a Rounds Match where if Borne wins he’s free from NQCC.
Fatal Influence made their entrance…
John’s Thoughts: A lot of people think Nyx was taken off of TV due to an idiotic livestream her boyfriend did. Her boyfriend was walking with her in Disney World. Not only did the boyfriend make fun of disabled people at Disney World, but he was also pulling an old school Logan Paul by being racist and making fun of the Asian people and Asian culture at the park. Screw that guy! (Hopefully Nyx doesn’t share the same mindset as that butthole).
Jacy Jayne jumped Vaquer during her entrance and the ref rang the bell…
5. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne (w/Jazmyn Nyx, Fallon Henley). Jayne escaped Booker T’s favorite wrestling hold early on. Graves said that Booker looked conflicted between one of his favorite wrestlers Jayne and his favorite move in the horny hump move. Booker gave a honest sounding agreement. Vaquer went for a meteora on Jayne, but Chika Tormenta and Dalys appeared on the apron. Jayne tried to use the distraction and got a two count off a rollup.
Vaquer hit Jayne with a 619 and dropped a dime for a nearfall.[c]
Jayne countered a Sunset Flip into a PK. Vaquer came back with a slingshot axe handle. Jayne came back with a Slingblade. Vaquer came right back with a duo of Tilt a Whirl Backbreaker. Jayne got a moment of respite after a Facebuster to the mat. Vaquer hit Jayne with Sole Food. Vaquer paintbrushed Jayne with boots and followed up with a meteora for a two count.
Jayne surprised Vaquer with a knee strike for a good nearfall. Vaquer hit Jayne with her signature Dragon Screw in the corner. Jayne tripped Vaquer on the apron. Vaquer put Jayne into a Electric Chair and gave her Snake Eyes on the apron. Vaquer tossed Jayne into the steel steps. Vaquer hit Jayne with an innovative Implant Buster into a Codebreaker. Henley got on the apron but was accidentally knocked off by Jayne.
Nyx tried to keep the peace between Henley and Jayne. Henley and Jayne shoved Nyx aside. Vaquer hit Jayne and Henley with a top rope dive. Nyx abandoned Henley and Jayne to the back. Vaquer gave Jayne a back suplex and followed up with Booker T’s favorite horny wrestling move, the hip thrust into the mat by Vaquer on Jayne. Henley used a 619 to break a rope hung cross armbreaker while Nyx distracted the referee. Jayne hit Vaquer with a discus forearm. And then? Jacy Jayne pinned Stephanie Vaquer for the 1-2-3!
Jacy Jayne defeated Stephanie Vaquer via pinfall in 13:12 to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.
The camera cut to Mike Rome looking frozen with his jaw dropped. Rome finally announced Jayne as the new NXT women’s champion. Fatal Influence posed with the title belt to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: The hell!?! Well then. That was truly shocking! Mike Rome’s face sold it well. My mind was already a mile ahead in terms of Vaquer’s future opponents. They even had Vaquer and Lash Legend do the NXT UK hallway thing that Shawn Michaels likes to foreshadow future matches with. Jayne has been pretty much enhancement for a long time, even losing matches on TNA TV in recent months. Abruptness aside, I like it (for now, as long as they capitalize on the shock value by using it as a catalyst for a story).Yes, it could be another Jinder run, but here’s hoping it doesn’t.
Where do they go from here? Is Stephanie called up. She’s been ready for the main roster, and has said herself that she’s only in NXT because she told WWE to keep there there to improve on her English promo delivery in front of live crowds. Maybe she gets the title back to continue her Asuka-like buzzsaw run? Who knows, this is NXT.
Two huge and unexpected title changes on this week’s NXT along with some good promo segments to move things forward in multiple feuds. My guess is this is the big show they had planned for the Yuengling center where this show was supposed to take place. This show even had that wonderful Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights match that wow’d the crowd. On one hand this should have been a big or themed show, but on the other hand I like the random “anything can happen” type of show keep viewers hooked onto WWE’s episodic television. Let’s see how they follow up with this huge shakeup.
Jasper Troy looking like a member of DarkState.
You know what? I’d swap out Cutler James in favor of Jasper Troy. Troy has a big enforcer look that fits better with that new faction.
Yeah Cutler’s another LFG guy too.
I can tell you that my face matched Mike Rome’s. That was a king sized upset, especially after what turned out to be a swerve with Jayne and Fallon arguing and then shoving down Jazmyn to back it up. Kudos to the booking there. It caught both of us, John. And goodness knows who else.