By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live December 16, 2025, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Highlights form WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event aired. They then aired highlights from last week’s NXT episode…
Je’Von Evans was walking around in the parking lot looking for Ricky Saints. General Manager Ava asked Evans to come inside so they can talk about this. Je’Von refused…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Entrances for the opening match took place. Mike Rome handled the formal in ring introductions for the Women’s North American Championship title match…
1. Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Thea ducked a Mafia Kick and immediately went for a Kimura. Hail then focused her strikes on Monroe’s left arm. Monroe came back with an Irish Whip and Helicopter Sidewalk Slam for a two count. Hail came back with a Snapmare, PK, and Standing Moonsault for a nearfall on Blake. Hail went back to work on Monroe’s left arm.
Hail used a dropkick to dump Monroe to ringside and followed up with a Suicide Dive. Hail hit Blake with an Exploder Suplex. Blake came back with a whip to the corner. Blake weakened Hail’s arm with a armbar over the top rope.[c]
Blake had Hail in a cravate. Joe Hendry was shown doing push ups via PIP. Hail escaped the submission and rallied with axe handles and a World’s Strongest Slam. Hail hit Blake with a springboard Trust Fall for a really close nearfall. After a bunch of weirdness with the referee, Hail somehow won the match. Looks like a botched finish.
Thea Hail defeated Blake Monroe via pinfall at 7:19 to become the new NXT Women’s North American Champion.
The show cut to The Culling backstage. All three members were confused at a Niko Vance doll on one of the stools…
All Ego Ethan Page was shown walking backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Very odd finish. It looks like they were going for something cute, but whatever it was, it was awkward. Monroe did get the shoulder up, which the replay verified. The referee also wasn’t clear on what call he was trying to kayfabe. I wonder if the referee actually counted the pin and they went with the retroactive continuity response? Maybe this was supposed to be a dirty win by Monroe with a minute or more? Who knows (by match flow, Hail doesn’t win with her trust fall and she also works that Kushida arm weaken offense which usually leads to submissions)? (I also can’t rule out that they might run this back later in the night because I assume NXT is going to tape a show afterwards for the holidays?).
According to the replay, Vic said that Blake Monroe did not get her shoulder up in time, thus the title change…
NXT North American and AAA Mixed Tag Champion “All Ego” Ethan Page made his entrance. Page said he’s appalled that people are more worried about wrestlers crying about John Cena leaving, than the man carrying WWE and the industry getting attacked last week. Page then wondered why Tony D attacked him? He wondered if it’s because he left Tony D’s title reign in the dust. Page then called out Tony D’Angelo for answers.
TNA International Champion Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and his fiance Arianna Grace made their entrance. Stacks said he doesn’t give a damn about Tony D. Stacks talked about how he’s also a champion across companies. Stacks bragged about his exotic queen Arianna Grace holding his title belt and wanting more gold. Stacks said he and Grace would like to go after the Mixed titles.
Suddenly, Quinn “Moose” Ojinaka from TNA made his entrance to his ROH “Moose” theme. Moose pointed out a NXT wrestler having a TNA title again, and the TNA roster is pissed. Page was chuckling in the background. Moose acted like he was going after Stacks, but then called out Ethan Page, saying he wants to take a NXT title to TNA. Page said they have rules in NXT and he needs to talk to Ava.
Moose said he already talked to Ava and Santino Marella. Moose said that he was granted a North American title shot on the NXT December 30th awards show. Page tried to blindside Moose, but Moose saw it coming and dumped Page to ringside. Moose stood tall to end the segment…
Leon Slater caught up with Je’Von Evans in the parking lot. Slater said he understands that Evans needs to get after Ricky, but he would love to have Evans have his back in his upcoming number one contenders match. Evans and Slater dapped it up and Evans agreed to go back in the Performance Center…
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger made their entrance…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Odd for Arianna Grace to slap Stacks as a babyface in the last segment they were in together, only to have her all over his shoulder as a heel on this show? They need to fix that weird continuity across the two shows. I’m happy that Tony D didn’t come out, as it keeps his current renegade persona up and running. Fun to see Moose back in NXT. Him being on what I assume is a taped edition has me thinking it’s a one off, but I wouldn’t mind Moose being on NXT TV more often, as he’ll have fresh new opponents in WWE while also being able to showcase his his athleticism on two bigger stages, CW and AMC.
Bronco Nima and Lucien Price made their entrance…
2. “Out The Mud” Lucien Price and Bronco Nima vs. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. Tank and Nima started the match with a collar and elbow, which Nima dominated. Nima hit Tank with a elbow and shoulder tackle after escaping a Standing Switch. Tank tackled Nima and tagged in Hank. Hank and Tank used quick tags to swarm Nima with holds. Nima came back with a shoulder tackle on Tank and tagged in Price.
Bronco hit Tank with a standing chest stomp to give Price a two count. Price body slammed Tank and roared a bit. Tank gave Price a boot and tagged in Hank. Hank hit Price with a tackle. Tank hit Price with a flying shoulder tackle. A Picture-in-picture showed a black Chevy pulling up in the parking lot surrounded by security guards. Hank and Tank used tags to cut the ring in half on Price.
Price caught Hank with a chest chop and tagged in Nima. Nima body slammed Hank for a two count. Tank tagged in and hit Price with a double Body Slam. Hank and Tank hit OTM with Ten Punches in the Corner, but both OTM members escaped at five into double power bombs.[c]
Hank ended up catching the hot tag and hit Price with Snake Eyes and a flying shoulder tackle. Hank hit Price with a Helicopter slam. Back from break, Tank hit Nima with a Suicide Dive. Vic joked about Booker getting hit by a dive last week. Price slowed things down after hitting Hank with a Superplex. Hank and Nima had a Fighting Spirit sequence in the center of the ring. Nima no sold a knee. Tank no sold a Judas Effect.
Tank hit Nima with an elbow right into an armbar. Price broke it up by power bombing Hank on top of Tank. Myles Borne was shown warming up via PIP. Hank broke up Price’s pin. OTM hit Tank with a double Samoan Drop for a nearfall on Tank. Tank held on the ropes to prevent being Power Bombed through the announce table. Tank hit OTM with a Cannonball from the apron. Tank hit Price with a Swanton Bomb. Hank tagged in. Hank and Tank took off their shirts and hit Price with the Honk Honk.
Nima saved Price and took down Hank and Tank with strikes. Tank hit Price with a shoulder tackle. Hank rolled up Price for the small package win.
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger defeated Out The Mud via pinfall in 13:47.
Vic Joseph hyped the number one contenders four way match main event…
The security guards opened the door to the black SUV and it was Ricky Saints…[c]
John’s Thoughts: I know they’re called the “belly bandits” due to their guts, but credit to Hank Walker in particular for actually cutting a lot of weight and having showing abdominals (which is a contrast from when he was the generic security guard character back in NXT 2.0). The crowd was cold for the early part of the match due to not really having a reason to care, but they picked up by the end of it due to Hank and Tank being really good at hyping up a crowd. Hank and Tank win handily. Is NXT giving up on OTM? (Which I wouldn’t blame them as OTM has been a long time project that has been snakebitten by injuries).
Speed Champion Jasper Troy was talking with Ava who told him a new Speed tournament was starting next week…
[Hour Two] “The Absolute” Ricky Saints made his entrance. Saints had security on the aprons. Ricky talked about how he promised to bring in the Absolute Era. He said he came to NXT to prove to the world that he’s exactly who he has said he is, the man who can carry any brand. Saints said he took a gamble on himself as a man without options. He said to move forward, he had to obsess over being number one.
Ricky talked about being the man to pin Oba Femi. Ricky said the fans enjoyed it for a minute, but they really wanted someone else like Je’Von Evans. Ricky said that they allowed Young OG to cut the line before Ricky could get his entitled rematch. Ricky said he had to remind Je’Von’s young narrow ass that he can’t be the man until Ricky says so. Ricky said he’s not getting stepped on and will get what he wants, when he wants it.
He said he doesn’t care if he has to stab people in the back. Ricky said that Je’Von is young and will have his time. Ricky talked about Je’Von not winning any titles. Ricky said when he allows Je’Von in the ring with him, he’ll remind Je’Von he’s in a class way below him. Ricky said he’s done with popularity contests. He said NXT wrestlers are in the back chasing clout, but he have the real deal, a real superstar in Ricky Saints.
Ricky said the revolution is televised because you’re living it. He said there ain’t nobody willing to go through the lengths to keep that top spot like Ricky Saints. Je’Von slipped in the non attended hard camera apron to jump Ricky Saints. Security held back Je’Von which allowed Ricky to clock him with a right hand. Ricky tossed Je’Von into the steel steps. Ricky hit Je’Von with one of his better looking Roshambos through the announce table. Ricky stood tall to end the segment…
Separate shots of Fatal Influence and Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey were shown…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Ricky’s time in NXT has been marred with mid crowd reactions. This was a good clean slate promo for Ricky to establish himself as a heel. I don’t think it was Ricky’s fault that he didn’t get too over as a babyface. They just didn’t allow him to cut his stellar inspired promos on the regular. This was one of those signature inspired promos. I also liked it in the past when Ricky would hide behind security and treat himself like a final boss. Je’Von Evans is NXT’s shonen protagonist and should have a good program with Ricky where both guys can find a way to get over.
Ava was chatting with Sol Ruca and Zaria. Ethan Page stormed in the ring to rant about getting jumped all the time. Page joked about how he advised Sol not to hang out with Zaria. Page said a Moose was on the loose. Chelsea Green barged in to complain about all the GMs in WWE. Ava told Green that she’s not the reason for Green’s troubles. Ava then booked Green in a match against Sol Ruca for the WWE Women’s U.S. Title for two weeks from tonight…
Entrances for the next match took place. Jacy Jayne joined Vic and Booker on commentary…
3. Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley (w/Jacy Jayne) vs. Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair. Fatal Influence dumped Wren to ringside and put the boots to Grey. Grey rolled up Reid for a two count. Grey slipped away and gave Wren a blind tag. Wren and Grey hit Reid with the MCMG combo for a two count. Grey gave Reid a Bridged German for a two count. Grey worked on Reid with a Front Chancery.
Wren tagged in and got a two count on Reid. Henley blind tagged in. Wren hit Reid with a Dragon Suplex. Jayne got in Wren’s face and called her a child. Henley hit Wren with a Tiger Feint Kick from the ring post.[c]
Fatal Influence cut the ring in half on Wren. Leon Slater was shown vibing backstage via PIP. Grey caught the hot tag and cleaned house. Wren hit Reid with a Slingshot Stomp. Reid slammed Grey on the buckle and hit her with a Blockbuster. Henley hit Grey with a facebuster for a two count. Grey hit Henley with a Power Slam. Reid broke up the pin. Wren hit Reid with a body slam. Grey put Henley in a armbar.
Jayne got on the apron for the distraction. Grey dumped Jayne to ringside. Wren hit Reid and Jayne with a dive. Grey put Henley in a Juji Gatame. Henley tapped out.
Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair defeated Fatal Influence via submission in 9:36.
John’s Thoughts: A solid formula tag match and it looks like they are going to do a formula babyface chase for the title (which is why they rushed the title back on Jayne so Grey can be fast tracked to her first real title program). Nothing wrong with going with the formula here as the formula works and Kendal Grey is getting over with the audience.
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Thea Hail about her title win. Hail was her usual energetic self, talking a mile a minute about how excited she is to be the new champion. Jordynne Grace showed up, continuing to wear large glasses, to congratulate Hail. A sobbing Blake Monroe showed up to beg for her title back. Grace told Blake to cry somewhere else. Blake said she’ll get her rematch later and she told Thea to enjoy her new muscle muffin Jordynne. Blake left and Hail hugged Grace awkwardly…[c]
Izzi Dame was in the women’s locker room talking to Shawn Spears on the phone worried about Niko Vance being missing. Izzi assumed that Tatum was behind Niko’s disappearance. Lola Vice talked trash to Izzi. Lola then talked trash to Kelani Jordan, who was loading back up her locker…
Vic Joseph hyped NXT Live event tickets…
Shiloh Hill and Skylar Raye were chatting backstage. They are both LFG winners. The camera panned over to Stacks and Arianna Grace arguing about Moose interfering in their segment. Shiloh Hill cut in and talked about how he’s a fan of the animal mooses. Stacks and Grace challenged Hill and Raye to a match next week. The camera then followed DarkState who were bragging about things…
Vic Joseph and Booker T checked in on commentary…
The following segments were advertised for next week’s NXT: Chelsea Green vs. Sol Ruca for the Women’s United States Championship, Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame, and the Men’s Speed Tournament…
Myles Borne, Leon Slater, and Joe Hendry made their separate entrances…
John’s Thoughts: I brought up the muted crowd reaction during the Hank and Tank match, but it seems like the crowd is a bit duller this week compared to how the Performance Center usually is. I can tell that due to Joe Hendry being a litmus test and them being oddly less hype than they usually are.
A replay aired of that possibly botched opening match finish. They also aired Ricky Saints hitting Je’Von Evans with a Roshambo through the announce table. Vic then mentioned that voting was open for the NXT EOTY awards…
Dion Lennox dapped it up with DarkState as they headed to the back while he made his entrance…
4. Myles Borne vs. TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater vs. Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox to become number one contender to the NXT Championship. Dion hit Borne with a big boot and dumped Hendry to ringside. Dion hit Slater with a Tilt a Whirl Slam. Borne broke up Dion’s pin on Leon. Hendry took down Slater and Borne with clotheslines. Hendry turned Leon inside out with a clothesline. Hendry hit Slater with a DDT for a nearfall. There was 15 minutes left at the top of the hour at this point.
Joe rolled up Dion for a two count. Slater hit Dion with a reverse enzuigiri. Slater hit Joe with a handstand into an elbow. Slater hit Hendry with a Molly Go Round at ringside and hit Dion with a guillotine leg drop. Leon hit Dion with a diving crossbody for a two count. Dion worked on Slater with Uppercuts. Slater came back with a running chop. Slater worked on Dion with ten punches in the corner.
Slater hit Dion with a springboard crossbody for a two count. Dion dodged a Plancha and tweaked his knee. Slater shook out his leg and reentered the ring. Dion sent Slater into the corner. Borne rallied with right hands on Dion and Hendry. Borne went for a Power Bomb on Leon, but Dion hit Leon with a Doomsday Device. Hendry and Borne took each other out to leave all four men lying.[c]
Slater was cleaning house with kicks while selling his injured leg. Dion grabbed the leg to crotch Slater on the top rope. Borne, Slater, Dion and Hendry all met together on the top rope. Slater hit all of them with a Tower of Power. Slater got a two count on Hendry, Borne, and Slater. Slater worked on all three opponents with Kickboxing roundhouse kicks. Borne hit Slater with a back Suplex. Dion hit Borne with a Spinebuster. Hendry hit Dion with a Delayed German Suplex.
Slater hit Hendry with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Slater hit Dion with a Tiger Feint at ringside. Slater got on the top rope and hit Dion with a long distance Swanton Bomb. Borne dropkicked Slater to ringside. Hendry hit Borne with a suplex. Joe rallied with right hands. Joe hit Borne with his signature Fallaway Slam. Hendry hit Dion with the Fallaway Slam. Hendry hit Borne with an Angle Slam.
Hendry hit Borne with a Standing Ovation. Hendry caught Slater and Military Pressed him on Dion. Hendry hit Borne with a Standing Ovation. Dion dragged Hendry to ringside. Dion and Hendry brawled to the back. Leon Slater hit Borne with the Swanton 450 for the win.
Leon Slater defeated Myles Borne, Dion Lennox, and Joe Hendry in a four-way via pinfall in 16:28 to earn an NXT Championship match at New Year’s Evil.
Vic talked about it being shocking to see the TNA X Division Champion win the number one contender’s match. NXT Champion Oba Femi made his entrance to confront Slater. The camera then zoomed to the top of the bleachers to show Tony D’Angelo aura farming on the top row. NXT closed…
John’s Thoughts: A well worked four way with a fun surprise winner with WWE putting over the TNA X Division Champion. I was about to actually give WWE credit for showcasing Slater a lot during this match, making him the focal point, giving him the injury out and have him not factor in the finish. They’ve actually also done a good job making Dion Lennox feel like NXT’s Roman Reigns to the point where he was the logical winner. Slater is definitely the best pick of the four though for match quality. Curious to see if this will lead to Slater and Evans being at odds somehow?
NXT has done a solid job over the last few weeks with Tony D’Angelo’s return as this renegade character. I’m happy they mixed it up this week with him looking ominous in the end rather than run the bridge video into the ground. I was wondering where he’d show up, so it’s a good show hook to have him looming around unpredictably. Maybe he’s NXT’s crow Sting? A decent episode of NXT this week. Far from NXT’s best days, but I like that they are putting in some effort to rebuild a bit of a broken depth chart and storyline universe.
I think that was a botch by Blake! She was supposed to get her shoulder up but didn’t until it was too late! And the referee did the right thing! Let’s see what happens after that!
Actually – strike that because I just said something when I myself cancelled a three in a match when the shoulder popped off the mat very close. I knew he’d got the shoulder up but not in time to prevent me hitting the mat – so I cancelled the count. So in fact the referee did the wrong thing.
Correction – I should have shut up. Another look at the replay says it was indeed a botch by Blake. I’ll leave now…..
That was an absolute botch of a finish.