By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT vs. TNA “Showdown”
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live October 7, 2025, on The CW Network
[Hour One] A narrated intro teaser video aired to hype up the NXT vs. TNA Showdown show. Very well produced…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome and McKenzie Mitchell were the ring announcers…
Separate shots of the male and female NXT and TNA survivor series match teams were shown…
The Hardy Boyz made their entrance to their classic “Loaded” theme. Bully Ray and D-Von Dudley were shown in the first row. Next to the Dudleys, was TNA President Carlos Silva. The camera cut to the commentary team with Vic hyping up the match and doing the Jeff Hardy dance. All four DarkState members stormed the ring.
Vic noted that only two members were supposed to be in the upcoming match. The Hardys managed to clear all of DarkState from the ring. The referee ejected Cutler James and Saquon Shugars…
1. Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy vs. “DarkState” Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox for the NXT and TNA Tag Team Championships. Jeff got a hip toss on Dion for a nearfall. Matt tagged in. Jeff hit Dion with Poetry in Motion. Griffin tagged in leading to DarkState working on Jeff with tandem offense. Griffin hit Jeff with a Body Slam but missed a leg drop. Matt tagged in. Matt hit Griffin with a back elbow and boot. Griffin caught Matt out of the air. Dion blind tagged in and saved Griffin from a Twist of Fate.[c]
DarkState cut the ring in half on Jeff back from break. A picture-in-picture showed guest referee Jordynne Grace giving some words to the female TNA survivor series match team. DarkState dominated Jeff for a few minutes. Jeff fended off both members with boots and an elbow. Jeff hit both DarkState member with a Whisper of the Wind for a window of opportunity. Matt caught the hot tag and hit Dion with a Side Effect.
Griffin blocked a Twist of Fate, but Matt adjusted into a DDT. Matt hit Dion with Delete Head Smashes into the buckles. Matt and Jeff hit Dion with the Plot Twist. Griffin broke up Matt’s pin on Dion. Griffin tagged in and hit Matt with an assisted body slam for a nearfall. Griffin dumped Jeff to ringside. Griffin put Matt in an Electric Chair. Matt used punches to escape. Matt hit Griffin with a Twist of Fate. Matt dodged and hit Dion with a Twist of Fate.
Jeff tagged in and tossed his shirt in the crowd. Jeff hit Dion with the Swanton Bomb for the victory.
Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy defeated Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin via pinfall in 10:44 to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
The Hardys posed with both titles while glaring at the Dudley Boyz…
Vic Joseph hyped the women’s NXT vs. TNA Survivor Series Style Match…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A fun Hardy’s paced match with Matt and Jeff continuing to look like they found the fountain of youth (especially Jeff, who’s no longer throwing those painful looking Crouton Bombs that he threw when he was hurting). DarkState looked solid too, especially Osiris Griffin, who I see can have potential as a singles big man. Would have liked to seen a longer title reign for DarkState, as they were finally starting to click, but circumstances made WWE have to book this show against AEW Dynamite. Having the Hardys with WWE gold does benefit WWE as they don’t have to have them under contract, but now get to book one of the biggest ticket draws in wrestling today. This also does throw TNA a bit of a bone by giving them a WWE title (even though it’s on WWE legends Matt and Jeff).
Jordynne Grace was in the ring in her referee gear. Vic Joseph’s wife, McKenzie Mitchell, was the ring announcer for the match. The TNA team made their entrance first to their individual entrance themes. Jessie McKay (Billie Kay) and Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce) made their entrance to their old WWE theme (Boooooooo!). The NXT women’s team then made their individual entrances. A graphic aired to explain the rules of an elimination match…
John’s Thoughts: Boooooo! No Harley Cameron entrance theme for the IInspiration?!? It’s legit my favorite entrance theme in all of wrestling today.
2. “Team NXT” Lola Vice, Jaida Parker, Sol Ruca, and Jacy Jayne vs. “Team TNA” Kelani Jordan, Cassie Lee, Jessie McKay, and Mara Sade in a NXT vs. TNA elimination match. Jordan hit Jayne with a crossbody and lateral press for a few one counts. Jayne hit Jordan with a huracanrana. Vice tagged in and shook her ass a bit after a shoulder tackle on Jordan. Vice avoided a sweep kick. Lee and McKay tagged in and hit Vice with double kicks. They did their IIconic pose. Vic said it’s an inspiration how Jessie and Cassie took a break to become mothers, only to come back as champions.
Sade and Parker tagged in. Vice and Parker hit Sade with a double ass smash for a two count. Sade rallied with right forearms. Sade hit Jaida with a Sling blade for a two count. Lee and McKay saved Sade from a double suplex. All eight women entered the ring and traded hands. The IInspiration hit Vice and Parker with crossbodies. Sade hit Jayne with a Suicide Dive. Jordan hit the pile of wrestlers at ringside with a Triangle Moonsault. Ruca hit the pile of wrestlers with an impressive front flip into a Fosbury Flop heading into break.[c]
The NXT team dominated most of the break, but team TNA took control once McKay tagged in. Team TNA cut the ring in half on Sol Ruca. Sol reversed a double suplex from the IInspiration into a double DDT for a window of opportunity. Jayne and Jordan tagged in with Jayne hitting Jordan with a neckbreaker. Jayne attacked all four women with kicks. Jayne hit McKay with a Superkick. Jayne hit Jorday with a Cannonball and a diving Senton. Jordan kicked out at two.
Jordan rolled up Jayne for two count. Jordan hit Jayne with a split legged Stunner. Sade and Parker tagged in with Parker dominating. Parker tackled both IInspiration members in the corner and stacked them on the 2nd buckle. Jaida hit both IInspiration members with the draping Banzai Drop. Sade hit Jaida with a reverse X Factor. Sade (mostly missed but) “hit” a moonsault. Referee Joe Hendry was coaching the NXT team backstage.
Jaida hit Sade with a suplex. Kelani broke up the pin with a splash. The women took turns alternating strikes. Jaida dumped Lee to ringsdie with HipNotic. Mara Sade rolled up Parker to eliminate her. While Sade was celebrating Sol Ruca hit Sade with a Sol Snatcher and picked up the elimination.[c]
Team TNA was cutting the ring in half on Jayne with the show cutting back in about 18 minutes into the match. Vic noted that Booker T was a part of the WWF vs. WCW Invasion back in 2001. Vice caught the hot tag and took down the TNA team with Tae Kwon Do Kicks. Vice hit Jordan and McKay with her I’m a Latina ass smashes. Vice hit Jordan with a Saito Suplex. Vice and Lee avoided kicks. Vice hit Lee with a Spinning Backfist to eliminate her.
McKay tapped out to Lola’s Rear Naked Choke. Vic noted how it’s 3 on 1 now. Jordan hit Jayne with a One of a Kind, but Grace was distracted with the brawling at ringside involving the eliminated IInspiration. Jordan got a two count. Jayne rolled up Jordan for a two count while Jordan was arguing with Grace for the late count. Vice tagged herself in while arguing with Jayne. Jordan shoved Vice into Jayne. Jordan hit Vice with an Angle Slam for the elimination at around 21 minutes.
Sol backdropped Jordan and hit her with a Backpack Stunner for a nearfall. Jordan reversed Sol into a Victory Roll for a nearfall. Jordan hit Vice with a Sitout DDT for a nearfall. Sol and Kelani brawled ot the top. Jordan hit Sol with a Super Spanish Fly. Sol used the knees to block a 450. Sol hit Jordan with a Sol Snatcher. Jayne tagged herself in and stole Sol’s pin over Jordan for the win.
Team NXT defeated Team TNA via pinfall in 23:11 to win the Women’s NXT vs. TNA Elimination Match.
Mustafa Ali was shown walking backstage and wearing a cool looking gold necklace. Ethan Page was shown walking backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A fun elimination match that was given a lot of time with minimal errors (a few slip ups, but those happen in any match given this amount of time). Mara Sade had a great showing, which adds more to my confusion as to why WWE let her go (especially since she was also looking good on her and Lash’s trial run on the main roster). They gave NXT the decisive victory by having them tear through eliminations. So TNA wins the men’s version in the main event slot? Even though I don’t see it too likely, but not impossible, given how many times fate has screwed over Mustafa Ali for huge championship and money in the bank pushes in WWE, I’d throw him a bone here to turn his fate. I’d also sign Ali back to WWE whenever his contract runs out because he’s doing some wonderful work as the leader of Order 4 in TNA with complex and layered character work.
Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder) was chatting with NXT GM Ava. Ava berated him for interfering in a match last week. Matt said he only wanted to help out TNA even though he couldn’t be on the team. He said he’s “Always ready”. Josh Briggs barged in the room and Cardona hid behind the door. Briggs demanded a match against Cardona next week. Ava granted it. After Briggs left, Cardona thanked Ava and said he likes how they do things in NXT…
[Hour Two] Mustafa Ali’s 205 Live “I’m a Go Hard” theme started playing, and then transitioned into Ali’s Order 4 entrance theme. Mustafa Ali made his entrance. Vic and Booker talked about Ali’s various bouts with bad luck and how he might be “cursed”. “All Ego” Ethan Page made his entrance. Mike Rome was the ring announcer for the match and handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions…
3. “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Mustafa Ali for the NXT North American Championship. Page pressured Ali to the corner with a Collar and Elbow. Page hit Ali with a knee to the gut. Ali took down Page with a shoulder tackle. Ali got a two count after a Sunset Flip. Ali got another two count after a backslide. Ali slipped out of the corner and hit Page with a Gamengiri. Ali got a two count after a Standing Shooting Star. Referee Joe Hendry was giving words to Team TNA backstage.
Ali dragged Page to ringside and slammed his face into the apron. Vic noted that Ali is looking for “Retribution” in getting his first WWE championship (which is kinda wild, given that he didn’t even win the Cruiserweight Championship). Ali hit Page with a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Page tripped Ali off the top rope with a sweep kick. Page slammed Ali’s face into the ringpost to hurt hit jaw (which Ali, as he usually does, sold like a million bucks).[c]
Back from break, Ali reversed Page into a Sunset Bomb. Ali pulled himself to the top rope. Page hit the top rope to crotch Ali on the top. Page hit Ali with a Super Snake Eyes and Big Boot. Ali kicked out with him shooting to his feet before falling. Ali hit Page with a dropkick. Page came back with a Yakuza Kick. Ali flipped out of the corner, but was slammed into the bottom buckle face first for the nearfall. Ali escaped Ego’s Edge and hit Page with a chop to the back.
Ali hit Page with a Springboard Tornado DDT for a great nearfall. Ali went to the top rope. Page dodged a 450. Ali rolled up Page for a two count. Page and Ali traded strikes. Ali reversed Ego’s Edge into a Poison Rana for a nearfall. Ali hit Page with a Superkick. Page punched Ali out of the air off the crossbody. Ali reversed Twisted Grin into a Jackknife for a nearfall. Ali hit Page with a Huracanrana to dump him to ringside.
Ali hit Page with a strong Suicide Dive to send Page across the announcer table, with Booker and Vic clearing. Ali accidentally took off Booker’s headset, which prevented him from doing a dive. Page shoved Ali off the top rope to the barricade. Page hit Ali with Twisted Grin for the victory.
Ethan Page defeated Mustafa Ali via pinfall in 14:19 to retain the NXT North American Championship.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed El Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. Wagner noted that Page keeps arguing about Wagner stealing his win at Worlds Collide. Lexis King showed up and claimed that Tavion Heights was under the Wagner match. King said there is no such medical professional named “Wagner” in Mexico. Wagner said some words in Spanish and walked away. King said bye to “Tavion”. Tavion Heights showed up and told King to keep his name out of his mouth. King wondered what was going on around here…[c]
John’s Thoughts: An awesome match with Ali working as the de facto babyface for the night (HBK still won’t allow Ali to work that politician gimmick. And I don’t blame HBK, because that’s the one weak part of Ali’s awesome act right now). Ali continues to show why he might be the best seller in the business. He always looks like he got shot with a gun every time he takes a big move. Ali and Page seem to be wrestlers who like nuance, so I can see both of the coming up with that creative finish by using Booker’s headset. Once Ali’s TNA contract is up, and WWE is clearly okay with featuring him on TV, I’d sign this guy back to seven figures. He’s the best seller in the business, an amazing overall wrestler, a good talker, and an even better character worker who really puts in effort to introduce complexity to character work. Once I sign him back to seven figures, I’d also come up with a story to end his “curse” which has cost him several world title runs in WWE (KofiMania and Brock Lesnar’s MITB win are two of Ali’s curse moments that come to mind. That and Ali getting fired leading Trick Williams from being a manager to Trick’s huge singles push).
Vic plugged WWE’s podcast lineup…
The NXT Women’s team celebrated backstage. Zaria then showed up to talk with Sol Ruca, who said they’ll be tag team champions soon. Blake Monroe showed up and said that Sol is greedy like Jordynne Grace for wanting three championships. Blake said Sol is just using Zaria. Zaria said that she’s not falling for her stirring the pot. Blake said she’s just going after the championships. Blake then smirked, saying she wonders how long Zaria and Sol’s friendship will last?…
Josh Briggs vs. Matt Cardona and Lexis King vs. El Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr was advertised for next week…
Team TNA made their individual entrances through the crowd…[c]
An ad aired for NXT’s Halloween Havoc PLE…
Say his name and he appears! I believe in Joe Hendry! Clap Clap! Joe Hendry made his entrance as guest referee…
Team NXT made their entrance through the entrance ramp. Team NXT had matching NXT Basketball jerseys. Vic wondered if Hendry will pick sides given how he’s in both companies…
4. “Team NXT” Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne, and Je’von Evans vs. “Team TNA” Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater in NXT vs. TNA Elimination Match. Trick hit Kazarian with a strike. Borne tagged in and hit Kaz with a neckbreaker. Vic noted that Kazarian tag teamed with Booker when Booker first joined TNA. Booker noted Kazarian was a kid back then (2007). All eight men stormed the ring to trade hands. Borne dumped Kazarian to ringside last and hit the pile of wrestlers at ringside with a flip dive. Borne hit Kazarian with a Ushigoroshi for a nearfall. Kazarian hit leg drop. Kazarian pinned Borne for the first elimination after a cutter.[c]
Back from break, TNA cut the ring in half on NXT. Trick tagged in and traded footsies with Slater. Trick surprised Slater with a Uranage and High Roundhouse for a nearfall. Trick hit Slater with a chops in the corner, while also jawing with Ssntana. Slater escaped and gave Trick chops. Slater escaped a Death Valley Driver and hit Trick with a bounce back Enzuigiri. Slater hit Trick with a cutter for a nearfall that Evans broke up.
The wrestlers took turns alternating signature moves. Trick and Santana faced off in the center of the ring. Trick tagged Evans in. Evans caught Slater with a superkick. Evans hit Moose with a Sprinboard Hruacanrana. Evans hit Kazarian with a dive at ringside. Evans followed up with a dive on Santana. Evans went for a flip dive on Moose but Moose caught him out of the air. Evans reversed a power bomb with a Hurancanrana. Evans hit Kazarian with a PK. Slater hit Evans with a Springboard Crossbody for the elimination.[c]
Back from the break, Team TNA was cutting the ring in half on Trick. The show cut back with ten minutes left at the top of the hour. Trick hit Moose with a Savate Kick and neckbreaker. Saints tagged himself in because Trick wouldn’t Saints hit Slater with running kicks. Saints hit Slater with a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Slater hit Saints with a Release Blue Thunder Bomb. Trick dropped off the apron to prevent Saints from tagging out.
Trick walked out to boos. Kazarian rolled up Saints for a good nearfall. Kazarian hit Saints with a CQC combo while Trick walked to the back. Kazarian hit Saints with a modified backdrop for a nearfall. Saints blocked a Crossface Chickenwing into a pin for the elimination. Slater took down Saints and got a nearfall. Saints came back with a chop. Slater hit Saints with a Crescent Kick for a nearfall. Slater hit Saints with a dropkick in the corner.
Saints used knees to block the Swanton 450. Saints hooked the leg for the elimination on Slater. Saints hit Moose with a boots. Moose hit Saints with his signature dropkick to the top rope on Saints. Moose hit Saints with a Uranage and running Senton for a two count. Saints reversed a Power Bomb into a DDT. Santana broke up Ricky’s pin. There was three minutes left at the top of the hour.
Santana tagged in and rallied with right hands. Saints crumpled and ate a boot from Santana. Santana hit Ricky with a running chop and flapjack slam for a nearfall. Saints escaped a Bucklebomb attempt and hit Santana with a superkick to leave both men lying. Santana blocked a Tornado DDT. Moose accidentally hit Santana with a Spear. Saints got a two count on Santana.
Moose hit Ricky with a Pop Up Power Bomb. Santana hit Ricky with Spin the Block (Discus Lariat) for the victory.
Team TNA defeated Team NXT via pinfall in 22:49 to win the Men’s NXT vs. TNA Elimination Match.
Backstage, NXT GM Ava congratulated TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella for TNA winning the men’s elimination match. Santino congratulated Ava for the NXT women winning their elimination match. Ava said she’s happy that TNA and NXT look to be on better terms (I guess?). Ava then said that she would be happy to have TNA women wrestlers at NXT next week to compete in a battle royal to become number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. Santino said he’d be happy to have TNA wrestlers in that match. NXT closed…
John’s Thoughts: A good match with an expected parity finish to give TNA the show closing win. A bit overbooked by having Trick walk out on Ricky, but I do get that NXT would want to protect their new top champion in his first match after defeating Oba Femi. So have him look good in a 3 on 1 situation. Santana got a chance to look strong by both pinning the NXT champion and kicking out of Moose’s accidental spear. Expect Santana to be the next TNA World Champion as that is the only logical next step for Santana.
A solid and worthwhile standalone theme show. NXT did a good job building to this show and they gave the wrestlers time to shine with plenty of time in their matches. All four matches are worth going out of your way to see as they all offer something different. Having the Hardys and Mustafa Ali back on WWE Television is also fun for longtime WWE viewers. Now that they got the head to head against Dynamite out of the way, I’m curious to see next week’s reset show as they make their way towards Halloween Havoc. They don’t even have a clear challenger for Ricky Saints at the moment (might they go with Trick after what Trick pulled tonight? Who knows?).
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