By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT Homecoming
Winter Park, Florida, at Full Sail University
Aired live September 16, 2025, on The CW Network
[Hour One] An acoustic version of NXT’s old theme played as a highlight package aired of the old NXT in Full Sail aired…
The NXT “Roar of the crowd” theme aired with current wrestlers in the graphics…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Paul “Triple H” Levesque made his entrance to his King of Kings theme. Hunter soaked in “Triple H” chants. He said he can’t tell you how much it feels to come home. Hunter soaked in “welcome home” chants. Hunter said that these three letters and this room means somethings special. Triple H said that every person that came from Full Sail and was a part of this process is something special. He said what was really special was “all of you”, everyone watching on CW is why this is special.
Hunter said everyone is why this is special. H said that NXT was a whisper, but everyone turned it into a roar. He said that everyone’s passion for this allowed NXT to Take Over. H said that it’s up to everyone to say NXT is the Future, Now, and shout that “We are NXT.” An NXT chant ensued. Hunter said that he’ll stand up to you and say, “Thank you.”
Shawn Michaels’s theme played as HBK made his entrance. Shawn thanked the crowd for singing his theme as he soaked in an HBK chant. Shawn and Hunter joked that there’s no curtain and only a video board that the wrestlers come through at Full Sail.
Shawn thanked Hunter for selling out crowds and making Billion dollar deals. Shawn said he and NXT are ready to rock this world. Hunter noted Shawn and folks for lighting the world on fire. Hunter asked, “What if I wanted to come back?” Shawn said we would have a big problem.
William Regal’s theme played as he made his entrance. Regal said there is only one way to settle this. WAR GAMES!!!
Charlotte Flair made her entrance. Alexa Bliss then made her entrance. Alexa joked that Hunter and Shawn argued more then they do. Charlotte said the women always ruled NXT, like Paige, Carmella, Alexa, and others. Alexa named additional female wrestlers and said that women always ran NXT, and if you aren’t down with that then she has two words for you. “Suck it!”…
The Culling were shown walking backstage. Lyra Valkyria hugged Tatum Paxley, who was walking with The Culling backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A fun opening. Also fun to see Triple H back in the home that he built. NXT Black and Gold in Full Sail was all his and it’s cool to see him humble himself from being on top to go back to the place that led him to what he is. Good opening segment.
The Culling made their entrance…
1. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. “The Culling” Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley (w/Shawn Spears, Niko Vance) for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Bliss and Paxley started the match, each holding their respective dolls. Izzi and Flair took the dolls away. Paxley got an early takedown. After a Spiderman show off, Alexa got a two count. Flair and Dame tagged in. Izzi slapped away Flair’s handshake. Izzi slammed Flair in the corner a couple of times. Flair came back with a chop block. Flair and Bliss hit both opponents with a Showstopper heading into break.[c]
During the break, Paxley and Dame managed to cut the ring in half on Flair and Bliss. Back from break, Charlotte fended off Dame and Tatum with kicks and woo chops. Dame hit Flair with a Codebreaker for a two count. Flair took out Dame with a Big Boot. Bliss and Tatum tagged in. Bliss hit Tatum wit a Shotgun Dropkick and strike combo for a two count. Spears got on the apron. Tatum blocked a Twisted Bliss and got a leverage pin for a two count.
Bliss gave Tatum a right hand and a Sister Abagail for the win.
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defeated Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame via pinfall in 11:09 to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Backstage, Zaria and Sol Ruca were bickering over hitting each other with moves. Lainey Reid and Candace LeRae showed up to gloat. Shayna Baszler scared away LeRae and Reid, and told Ruca and Zaria to make up…
Vic Joseph hyped the Trick Melo vs. DIY match…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Fine opening match, but given Bliss and Charlotte’s push on the main roster, the plot armor was in full effect. Fine match for the champs, but NXT’s roster is deep enough to have their own tag championships despite WWE merging them up top. At the same time, not going overboard with belts is fine as well.
Entrances for the next match took place. Tommaso Ciampa came out to his “No One Will Survive” theme. Johnny Gargano came out to his “Rebel Heart” theme (Great! But they couldn’t come out to their old classic, royalty-free, Chrome Heart theme?)…
2. Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Melo dominated early on and tagged in Trick against Gargano. Ciampa tagged in and gained control. Gargano tagged back in and hit Trick with a Suicide Dive heading into break.[c]
During the break, Booker joked that Vic wishes he had a body like Trick Williams to draw in the shawtys (but Vic’s wife is one hell of a shawty herself). Gargano rallied with an elbow and knee combo on both Trick and Melo. Melo blocked a slingshot. Gargano recovered and hit Melo with a Slingshot spear for a two count. Ciampa blocked an accidental superkick from Gargano. Trick gave Ciampa a flapjack and Ciampa a pop up punch. Mello tagged himself in and gave Ciampa a La Mistica. Trick and Melo hugged.
Trick teased hitting Melo, but hit Ciampa with a crossbody. Melo got a two count after an assisted clothesline on Ciampa. Ciampa gave Melo a big knee and Project Ciampa for a two count. The referee took the TNA World Championship from Trick, who tried to use it. Melo shoved Trick away from Meet in the Middle. DIY hit Melo with a Shatter Machine. DIY hit Melo with Meet in the Middle. Trick broke up Gargano’s pin.
Miz showed up and gave Gargano a Skull Crushing Finalé at ringside. Gargano made his way back to the ring and hit Nothin’ But Net for the victory…
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams defeated “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa via pinfall in 10:39.
John’s Thoughts: Fun filler tag team match while it lasted. “Melo Don’t Miz” can work, if it weren’t treated as a mid-card side show (Miz is more talented than people give him credit for). If they want to boost the Melo Don’t Miz tag team a bit, feud them with DIY. But even that is messy with DIY randomly showing up as babyfaces in NXT, while they are chickenshit heels on the main roster.
The NXT “Roar of the crowd” theme played while Tyler Breeze was warming up backstage…[c]
Vic Joseph hyped WWE Wrestlepalooza…
Kelly Kincaid interviewed U.S. Champion Sami Zayn backstage. Zayn said he was hyped to be back in NXT. Zayn said Je’Von Evans reminds him of himself. Josh Briggs showed up and called Evans a bum. Evans threw hands at Briggs. Security dragged Briggs back. Zayn said that Evans has heart, and things don’t come easy for guys like them. Zayn said that the sky is the limit for him and Evans. Zayn dapped it up with Evans before leaving…
[Hour Two] Tyler Breeze made his old Zoolander entrance. Ethan Page’s entrance followed. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. was in the crowd. Wagner defended his AAA Latin American Championship in a multi-man match against Page at Worlds Collide last Friday. Vic noted that Page, Breeze, and the referee were all Canadian…
3. “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Tyler Breeze for the NXT North American Championship. Breeze got a takedown and did his laydown pose in the corner. Page came back with counters and a right hand on Tyler. Page mocked Tyler heading into break.[c]
Page got a two count off a Yakuza Kick. Breeze countered a Twisted Grin into an Enzuigiri. Tyler hit Page with a flying Forearm. Page used a leverage sit-down for a two count that the ref saw. Breeze came back with a Victory Roll for a two count. Page hit Breeze with an Ego’s Edge for a nearfall. Page gave Breeze hands in the corner. Breeze ducked outside and slammed Page’s leg into the ringpost.
Breeze gave Page an illegal Figure Four on the ring post. Breeze then gave Page a single leg crab in the middle of the ring. Page broke up the submission with a rollup for a two count. Breeze got a two count of his own. Both men traded finisher counters. Page hit Breeze with a high front kick in the corner. Breeze hit Page with a Cheeky Nandos and Beauty Shot for a two count. Page crotched Breeze on the top rope and hit him with a draping Twisted Grin for the victory.
Ethan Page defeated Tyler Breeze via pinfall in 10:38 via pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship.
John’s Thoughts: Maybe it would have helped to give Breeze’s cameo return two weeks to build rather than just one, but this was fine. I’m all for heels getting clean wins to build their credibility. Breeze looked great in his return, and I wouldn’t mind him being a good hand regularly if he can still strap the boots up, especially since he’s a Paul Levesque guy. Not sure what they have planned for the North American Title, as they have Page feuding with both Tavion Heights and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. currently…
Tavion Heights was sulking backstage when Damian Priest approached him. Priest talked about how he came from behind and ultimately became NXT North American Champion, and even had a hot tub celebration. Priest said he talked to NXT General Manager Ava, and her to give Heights a championship match against Page at NXT No Mercy…
Grayson Waller was shown walking backstage…[c]
Grayson Waller was in the ring for his Waller Effect talk show. Waller pointed out that he never hosted his talk show in Full Sail since he was in 2.0. Ricky Saints and Oba Femi were on the set with him. Waller asked if “Obarated” or “Ricky Soft” would win at No Mercy. Oba said that Ricky isn’t special with his flamboyant poses and presentation. Oba said that he eats, sleeps, and breathes this brand, while Ricky looks ahead to the main roster to carry the bags of Cody Rhodes. Oba said Ricky will not carry this title.
Ricky said Oba was scouted and sponsored by WWE, and asked who is he would be without a title. Ricky said Oba is just a pampered athlete. Ricky talked about how he poured his heart into the PC years ago, only to get a denial email. Ricky said he understood that a delay is not a denial, and he’ll always gamble on himself. Ricky said he’s absolute and Ricky Saints.
TNA World Champion Trick Williams showed up and said that the NXT Title belongs to him. Trick told Ricky to shut up while grown folk were talking. Trick said Ricky was only there because Trick and Oba made NXT hot up in here. Waller cut in and said he’d talk with Santino Marella about booking Oba vs. Trick in a title vs. title match, and the winner will face Ricky Saints at No Mercy. Oba snatched the mic from Waller and said he’ll take the title from Trick and then defend the title against Saints at No Mercy…
John’s Thoughts: A standard segment until they set up the title vs. title match. NXT has been good with not overbooking things, but I think overbooking would be fine here. I’m curious to see what they do with this. Oba picking up both titles would be a big deal, but I wouldn’t pull it since Trick has done such a great job as the crossover champ. Personally, I think Oba should drop the title to Ricky to have Ricky as the fresh new champion.
Backstage, Charlie Dempsey told Wren Sinclair that he’ll be in Japan for a month. Bobby Roode showed up and posed. Say his name and he appears, I believe in Joe Hendry. Joe Hendry showed up. Roode said as a former TNA Champion, he’s proud of Hendry. Roode said he’s rooting for Hendry to be a NXT Champion down the road…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Again, things are very odd with Joe Hendry these days. In TNA, he’s middling in the mid-card, while in WWE, they’re treating him like a debuting new wrestler, despite being on NXT for a year as a main event talent.
Lexis King was in the ring. He claimed that he was the Homecoming King of NXT. King said NXT Black and Gold was overrated. King said the stars of the past don’t care about you, but he does. He said he cares and was beaten by a vile, deaf man in Myles Borne, in the dark, last week. The lights went out.
WWE Tag Team Champion Finn Balor made his entrance to his old entrance theme. Myles Borne hit King with a Zig Zag while King was distracted by Balor, who followed up with a Coup de Grace on King. Balor and Borne posed to Balor’s theme…
Vic noted that TNA wrestler Steve Maclin had been active on Social Media…
Vic said that Oba vs. Trick in a title vs. title match was official, and Candice LeRae will face Lainey Reid for a shot at the WWE Speed Championship at No Mercy on next Tuesday’s NXT television show…
Fatal Influence made their entrance…[c]
Kelly Kincaid interviewed DarkState, who said they weren’t worried about Joe Hendry. Montez Ford pulled up and said that he sees the NXT Tag Championships and sees a lot of memories. Ford also said they needed to worry about the target on their backs. Cutler James was about to say something (I’m assuming about butts), but he was dragged away by the rest of DarkState…
Bianca Belair was shown in the crowd, and then the babyface trio made separate entrances for the main event…
4. Lyra Valkyria, Stephanie Vaquer, and Rhea Ripley vs. “Fatal Influence” Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx. Fatal Influence jumped the babyfaces before the bell. Vaquer rolled up Jayne for a two count followed by a jackknife nearfall. Lyra tagged in and caught Jacy with a crossbody and the other two with a kick combo. Rhea gave Nyx a Razor’s Edge to ringside. Vic kept cutting in that the TNA locker room wasn’t happy about the title vs. title match booked, and a tweet from Mike Santana was shown on the screen.[c]
Back from break, Fatal Influence cut the ring in half on Lyra. Tweets with complaints from Moose, Mustafa Ali, and Matt Hardy about the title vs. title match were displayed. Vaquer caught the hot tag and hit Nyx with a Suplex. Vaquer hit Henley and Jayne with meteoras. Nyx hit Vaquer with a jump kick. Fallon rolled up Vaquer after a Nyx Kick for a two count. Rhea tagged in and hit Falloon with a dropkick. Rhea hit Jayne with short-arm lariats and a Fallaway Slam. Rhea and Vaquer suplexed Fallon and Jayne.
Lyra dropkicked Nyx out of the ring and hit her with a wrecking ball kick. Vaquer and Rhea hit Jayne and Henley with Booker T’s favorite horny move, the Devil’s Kiss. Jayne rolled to ringside, but Lola Vice showed up and gave Jayne a backfist. Rhea gave Jayne a Riptide for the victory.
Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer, and Lyra Valkyria defeated “Fatal Influence” Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx via pinfall in 10:26.
Lola tapped buttcheeks with Rhea after the match. The babyfaces posed over the heels…
The show cut to TNA Champion Trick Williams and NXT Champion Oba Femi staring at one another. William Regal and Ava spoke in the background while Robert Stone and Stevie Turner stood by. Ava said her phone was blowing up. Regal said he didn’t envy her. “May the best man win,” Oba said. Trick responded by saying, “He will,” to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A decent close to the Homecoming show. Lyra swapping out for the injured Tiffany Stratton didn’t really hurt the main event. They went with a fan-friendly finish that didn’t really affect the overall storylines. They didn’t drop their usual line about NXT having the best women’s division in wrestling. Rather, they shifted to women being the backbone of NXT, which is a good line to drop given NXT’s history.
The only big storyline segment tonight was the impromptu title vs. title match booked between Oba Femi and Trick Williams. While not mostly playing into storylines, this was a fun throwback show to Black and Gold NXT. Of course, they can’t bring back wrestlers such as Adam Cole or Kyle O’Reilly, but at least they had Rhea Ripley and Bobby Roode still on hand. The show had nothing earth-shattering, but it was a fun look back at the good ol’ NXT days. Even bringing back Finn Balor as a babyface for a minute was fun.
I thought Shayna Baszler got released?