By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live May 5, 2026, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Highlights from last week’s NXT show aired…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
The show started with Tony D’Angelo all up in the camera backstage, saying he isn’t going to wait any longer. Tony D saw Tavion Heights hanging out with a bunch of wrestlers. Tony D tackled Tavion and attacked him. Developmental wrestlers pulled both men apart…
Jaida Parker made her entrance. Kali Armstrong made her entrance wearing Los Angeles Lakers colors (she’s billed form Inglewood, CA, which is the original LA county home of the Lakers, via the Kia Forum)…
1. Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong. Parker tossed Kali around with Belly to Belly suplexes. Jaida put Kali in a side headlock takedown. Kali got to her feet and rallied back with kicks. Jaida ended that rally with a shoulder tackle. Jaida got a nearfall after a suplex. Jaida dumped Kali to ringside.
Kali tackled Jaida into the apron, but Jaida quickly turned the table back by tossing Kali into the apron. Kali and Jaida took each other out with clotheslines.[c]
Back from break, Jaida and Kali were 50-50, trading counters and trash talk. Kali caught Jaida with an impressive Slingshot Crossbody. Kali worked on Jaida with a strike combination, followed by falling knees. Kali smothered Jaida with strikes until the referee pulled her away. Jaida rallied back with backdrops and a pump kick. Jaida set up and hit Kali with her signature draping Banzai Drop.
Kali and Jaida traded CQC. Kali escaped a Fireman Carry with a thumb to the eyes. Kali hit Jaida with a Power Slam. Kali ran the ropes and hit Jaida with a move she calls the Kali Connection (Shoulder tackle with multiple runs of the ropes). Kali picked up the pin.
Kali Armstrong defeated Jaida Parker via pinfall in 9:53.
John’s Thoughts: Smart to give Kali Armstrong, who they’ve been high on in Evolve, a win on her first match in NXT; but I wouldn’t have picked Jaida Parker to be her first opponent after getting called up. For one, Jaida Parker should be protected as a top babyface after losing some top stars in the women’s division. On top of that you’re putting two NIL types in the ring, which lead to a bit of a clunky match (they have the ID program, why not either put her up against an enhancement ID wrestler, or hire a babyface gatekeeper). That aside, I do like Kali from what I saw in Evolve as she has a lot of personality and explosiveness. Not to mention, she appeals to my hometown bias of being a Laker fan from Ingle-hood.
Tony D’Angelo entered Robert Stone’s office and told Stone that he’s not the hunted but the hunter. Tony demanded a match against Tavion Heights. Stone granted Tony the match…
A hype package aired for Jasper Troy vs. Jackson Drake…[c]
Lexis King was ranting in front of his fellow Birth Right members about the new developmental wrestlers attacking them last week. Fit Finlay showed up and said that Birth Right are supposed to keep up tradition, not get beat up by video gamers who have no pedigree and are below them.
Finlay put William Regal on the phone. He said they had a bit of a disappointment. He said he already sent Charlie Dempsey to the “Snake Pit in England” to prepare for a six man tag that Birth Right will have next week…
An Evil video package aired. He said he made his name for himself in his home country. He said he won many titles, but the soul of a warrior is never satisfied. He said NXT is entering a new era of opportunity, which is the perfect moment to strike. He said Tony D Angelo may be standing at the top of NXT, but he’s holding a prize that he wants. Evil said he gave Tony D the gift of a proclamation of War. He said he’ll do battle with Tony D one day over the NXT title, and it’s written in the sun. Evil’s NXT name is Naraku…
John’s Thoughts: Not sure what “Naraku” means, but its a cooler name than the generic word “Evil”. Last time I heard the name Naraku was as the villain from Inuyasha.
Entrances for the next match took place…
2. Jasper Troy vs. Jackson Drake (w/Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes). Troy manhandled Drake around the ring. Drake rallied back with kicks. Troy turned Drake inside out by running through him. After a distraction from Smokes, Drake hit Troy with a top rope Meteora heading into break.[c]
Drake actually dominated during the entire break. Back form break, Troy broke up a Sleeper and floored Drake with running strikes. Drake did a backflip over Troy’s tackle. Drake countered a Black Hole Slam into a DDT. Troy did a kip up when Drake went to the top rope. Troy caught Drake off the Flying Nothing and hit him with a Chokeslam and Senton.
Troy gave Drake and Smokes right hands. Troy press slammed Baylor in the ring. Myka Lockwood showed up and body slammed Troy. Lockwood tossed Drake back in the ring. Drake hit Troy with a 450 for the victory.
Jackson Drake defeated Jasper Troy via pinfall in 7:18.
John’s Thoughts: Jasper Troy really can’t catch a break can he? This was actually Jackson Drake’s best match on the NXT main roster to date, and if you watched during the commercial, he looked really good during the heat-sequence. A fun introduction of Myka Lockwood, establishing her as the heater for Drake. I have a feeling that HBK is going to have some fun and personal stake over booking the Lockwood and Drake act. This totally screams DX and Chyna, and that’s not a bad thing. Drake can play the chicken heel, and have the powerhouse clean up for him.
The show cut to a Tristan Angels vignette. He said he’s here to bring class to NXT. He said he was born a sheep farmer in England, but he knew he had gold in his veins and was destined for so much more. He said his name became synonymous with overachievement. He said he can sheer a sheep in under a minute, and kick a superstars ass in less than that.
He said he has a sixth sense to winning and achievements. He said the North American Champion doesn’t have the initial five senses. He then talked down to Shiloh Hill, Hank Walker, and Tank Ledger. He said Mr. England has officially arrived in NXT…
Zaria was hyped for after the break…[c]
An NXT Origins video aired for Rhea Ripley…
Zaria’s entrance theme cut in during the Rhea Ripley video, leading to Zaria making her entrance to Karrion Kross’s TNA entrance theme (I hope she keeps it, but you know they’ll probably give her a bad Def Rebel theme). Zaria took the mic and said that NXT feels different. She said there’s a change in the air and it could be anyone’s game now. She has no one holding her back for the first time.
No deadweight, fake friend, only Zaria. She said this is how it always needed to be, Zaria alone. A “Big Za” chant ensued. Zaria said she has a clear path to the thing that started it all, the thing that got between her and Sol, the NXT Women’s North American Championship. She said to her that title is what woke her up. She talked about being around it for so long when Sol had it, to the point where she felt like it should be her’s.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria made her entrance. She said she knows that the title completely shattered Zaria’s relationship with Sol, but that has nothing to do with Tatum. Tatum said she understands how it feels to try to prove herself. That said, Tatum said she’s ended friendships, danced with the devil while putting a person in a casket, all for the title. Tatum said that title won’t end up with Zaria.
Lizzy Rain made her entrance. Lizzy said NXT does feel different. She said she’s the new blood in the locker room and she doesn’t mind joining in on the fun. Rain said she’s the talk of the town after last week. She said the North American Title is iconic, but it would be more iconic if there was heavy metal with it. Nikkita Lyons made her entrance.
Lyons mocked Lizzy’s British accent. She then put on a Blaccent, saying Lizzy’s hype is all due to the Divine Feline Effect, Nikkita Lyons. She said Lizzy is shooting way above her head. She said Lizzy may have set Social Media ablaze last week, but she’s seen people come and go. She told Lizzy to touch grass. Tatum tried to talk, but Nikkita sung “excuse me” like a dork. She said Nikkita “Multi Media” isn’t done. Nikkita said she’s not done with the maiden of metal.
A brawl ensued between all the women in the ring. Zaria cleared Nikkita and Lizzy from the ring. Zaria then hit Tatum with an F5. Zaria laid the NA title on Tatum to end the segment…
John’s Thoughts: So, a tale of two segments for me. I wasn’t a fan of them hyping Zaria up only to have her in the cookie cutter promo segment where wrestlers take turns interrupting each other. What saved the segment for me, in a weird wrestlecrap kind of way, was Nikkita Lyons. She was so dorky here, it was hilarious. She came out with the mocking British accent, only to go into her cringey club girl Blac-cent (Awkwafina would be proud). Then she comes up with all these lame nicknames and tries to sing her promo? I cracked up.
A random wrestler from Evolve spoke in Spanish when he ran into Vanity Project (I watched Evolve last week but I can’t remember this guy’s name. After looking at Chris Vetter’s Evolve report from last week, the name is Romeo Moreno. Vanity Project mocked the developmental wrestler. Noam Dar showed up to have the guy’s back. Dar challenged Drake for a match next week.
Myka Lockwood showed up to intimidate Dar and squeeze his shoulder. Drake confidently accepted the challenge. After Vanity Project left, Moreno said he really liked Noam’s work in the UK. Dar said his shoulder was no bueno after Myka pressed on it…
Tony D’Angelo was shown walking backstage. He was attacked and beat down by Kam Hendrix heading into break…[c]
Robert Stone ran into a production guy backstage and took his headset. Stone told the producers that Tony vs. Tavion was cancelled. He said he kicked Kam Hendrix from the building and Tony D is nowhere to be found. He said he’s moving The Culling vs. Iguana and Vice up in the match order…
[Hour Two] Entrances for the next match took place…
3. AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions Mr. Iguana and Lola Vice vs. “The Culling” Niko Vance and Izzi Dame (w/Shawn Spears) in a non-title match. Niko hit Iguana with a shoulder tackle and he did his dead lizard bit. Iguana then put Niko in an Abdominal Stretch. Vance put Iguana in a Gory Special. Vice handed Niko the lizard puppet. Iguana escaped and hit Niko with the puppet. Niko kicked out of pins from Iguana and Yeska. Vice tagged in to bring in Dame.
Vice worked on Dame with her educated feet. Vice came back with a flying clothesline. Iguana and Lola dumped the heels to ringside. Vice and Iguana hit their opponents with seated Sentons.[c]
During the break, Vic Joseph noted that Niko Vance is the World Champion in Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion in Texas. Back from break, Vance worked on Iguana with methodical offense. Dame prevented a hot tag at a point by tripping Dame off the ring apron. Iguana got a window of opportunity after a DDT. Lola tagged in and worked on Dame with Tae Kwon Do kicks and fists. Lola hit Niko with rapid kicks.
Iguana and Lola hit their opponents with Lola’s “I’m a Latina” hip attacks. Lola got a two count on Izzi. Lola caught Izzi with a high cross kick. Vance broke up the pin. Izzi caught a distracted Lola with a running Uppercut for a two count. Lola and Iguana put their opponents in Triangle submissions. Iguana and Niko spilled to ringside. Izzi got to the rope for the break. Izzi rolled up Lola for a two count. Izzi hit Lola with a Knee Plus for the victory.
Izzi Dame and Niko Vance defeated Lola Vice and Mr. Iguana via pinfall in 11:28.
Tavion Heights was ranting to Myles Borne about his match getting cancelled. Borne said it might be a blessing because Heights has more time to prepare. Robert Stone showed up and told Tavion Heights that Tony D agreed to have the match later in the night. Heights showed his excitement for the match by dapping it up with Stone.
Stone then walked over to Zaria who was mad at Nikkita and Lizzy getting involved in her segment earlier. Stone said he booked Zaria and Nikkita vs. Lizzy and Tatum for next week. Zaria said she’s done with tag team matches after Sol. Stone said if Zaria ever wants a North American title match, she better wrestle in the tag match next week…
Hank and Tank made their entrance…[c]
Jaida Parker was in the locker room by herself, throwing a fit by throwing around chairs and stuff. Nattie Neidhart showed up and said that it’s true that Jaida has gotten soft. Nattie walked off…
DarkState made their entrance…
4. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs. “DarkState” Osiris Griffin and Cutler James (w/Dion Lennox, Saquon Shugars). Tank and Cutler started the match with a Standing Switch exchange. Tank got a two count off a crucifix pin. Hank tagged in and shoved Cutler for a two count. Cutler caught Hank with a right hand and tagged in Griffin. Griffin body slammed Hank. Tank tagged back in. Griffin blocked Tank’s suplex and reversed it into a delayed suplex.
Hank blind tagged in, leading to Hank and Tank working on both opponents with tandem moves. DarkState took control and took down Tank with a High Low move on the apron. Shugars took a chair, but Dion Lennox kept yelling like a madman in his face. Griffin and Cutler calmed down Dion heading into break.[c]
Shugars and Lennox continued to show tension at ringside. Griffin and James cut the ring in half on Tank. This lasted for a few minutes after the break. Tank used a dodge and a judo roll to tag in Hank for the hot tag. Hank hit Cutler with a Suplex and Trust Fall. Hank dumped Osiris to ringside and Pounced him over the announce table. Hank and Tank hit Cutler with a double Shoulder Tackle. Osiris broke up the pin.
James caught Tank with a Backbreaker. Osiris tagged in and hit Tank with a Wasteland and Vader Bomb. Hank broke up the pin. DarkState hit Tank with a double Side Slam. Tank kicked out of Cutler’s pin. Tank and Cutler traded Yay Boo punches. Hank dumped Osiris and Cutler to ringside after tagging in.
Cutler hit Hank with a Backbreaker on the apron. Osiris and Cutler caught Tank out of the air and body slammed him on Hank. Osiris and Cutler hit Hank with a double team Blue Thunder Bomb for the victory.
Cutler James and Osiris Griffin defeated Hank Walker and Tank Ledger via pinfall in 11:59.
John’s Thoughts: The in-ring quality has been a bit rough tonight with all the NIL and developmental wrestlers stepping up. Yes, this was four NIL types, but it was the cleanest match all night with good tag team chemistry from both teams. Hank and Tank continue to be underrated due to them being happy go lucky comedy babyfaces. They are a quality tag team with really good timing on their nearfall breakups. Meanwhile, the story continues with Dion and Saquon being at odds. James and Griffin picking up the clean win helps develop that by elevating the guys on the same page.
Backstage, Kelani Jordan was mocking Lola Vice for losing her match. Jordan bragged about being the only person in NXT to make Lola tap out. Kendal Grey showed up and said she’s here to get revenge for Kelani injuring Wren Sinclair. Kelani said Grey needs to figure out which is more important, friends or championships…
Booker T and Vic Joseph tried to check in on commentary, but their headsets weren’t working. A production guy came over to fix it…
New WWE interviewer Emily Agard was outside interviewing Keanu Carver at a random place. Carver acted peeved and asked what she wanted. Carver started to snap and Agard and the cameraman, saying he don’t wanna talk to no cameras. Agard told the cameraman to put down the camera. The interview was conducted with the camera on the ground at an angle.
Agard asked Carver what motivates him coming out of college. Carver said money, he’s simply here to get paid. He said comments don’t pay his bills, and he needs to take care of his family. He said he don’t need anything else. He said he told HBK to give him a chance or cut him. Agard was shocked he said that. Carver said if wrestling don’t work, he’ll find something else to feed his family.
Carver said he sees so many people trying to be something they ain’t, but he’s been himself throughout his life. Carver said if you don’t like that he’ll walk away. Agard asked Carver to give her something to report due to it being her first day. Carver told the cameraman to pick up the camera. Agard asked Carver how he knew the Chinese symbol of war. He said he actually went to classes at College, while also doing football. He said one thing you don’t know, is “I’m smart as shit for real” (censored). Agard ended the interview….
Vic Joseph and Booker’s mics were working. They hyped up Tony D vs. Tavion Heights for the main event…[c]
John’s Thoughts: While NXT got everything wrong with Jasper Troy, they are doing everything right by Keanu Carver. He came off really good and real here. Some people have a hard time getting their real self to come off on TV, but Keanu seems to have no problem. Aside from the conveniently laid down camera, the segment also did a good job quickly developing a personality for the new WWE backstage interviewer.
A Shiloh Hill Instagram selfie video was shown were Hill talked about how excited he was to beat Ricky Saints last week. He acknowledged Tristan Angels calling him out. He said he looked Angels up and saw that he cuts the hair of sheep and wins beauty pageants. Hill said Angels should find real hobbies…
The following matches were announced for next week: Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan, Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drak, and Naraku’s in ring debut…
Tavion Heights was already in the ring. Tony D’Angelo got a televised entrance…
5. NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo vs. Tavion Heights in a non-title match. Heights and Tony D started the match with an amateur wrestling exchange. Heights did a cartwheel into a Press Slam on Tony. After being even, Tony D hit Heights with a Blockbuster and Flying Axe Handle for a two count. Heights hit Tony with a Gutwrench Suplex. Tony D recovered and shoved Heights off the top rope to ringside.[c]
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