By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live October 27, 2026, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Sarah Schreiber was the backstage interviewer…
Entrances for the opening Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Match took place. Noam Dar was sporting a head wrap bandage. Vic noted that the bandage was from cuts on Dar’s head which required staples from over the weekend…
1. Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno vs. The NXT Tag Team Champions “The Vanity Project” Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes (w/Myka Lockwood) in a Semi-Final Match of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Smokes quickly knocked Romeo off the apron and tagged in Baylor to cut the ring in half on the injured Noam Dar. Moreno recovered and hit Baylor with a slingshot double stomp.
Dar tagged back in to allow Dar and Moreno to work on Smokes with tandem offense. Dar took down Smokes with a leg lariat for a nearfall. Baylor tagged in and took of Dar’s head bandage. Moreno tagged in and helped Dar hit Baylor with a double suplex. Smokes dragged Dar to ringside and tossed him into the steel steps. Moreno hit Baylor and Smokes with a springboard dive to ringside. Dar was selling a head injury at ringside heading into break.[c]
Back from break, an inset selfie promo aired where Grayson Waller revealed that he was right in front of Tony D’Angelo’s house. Vic noted the video was posted at the top of the hour. Back to the match, Dar rallied with strikes on both opponents and rolled up Smokes for a nearfall. Dar hit Smokes with a German Suplex. Dar hit Smokes with a Muay Thai CQC combo for a nearfall. Moreno tagged in and hit Smokes with a double team roundhouse and body slam for a nearfall.
Smokes clawed at Dar’s stapled injury. Dar escaped and put Baylor in a Juji Gatame. Baylor used a pin to escape the hold. SMokes hit Dar with a Slingshot Spear. Dar hit Noam with a rough looking Ushigoroshi for a nearfall. Romeo dragged Smokes to ringside to prevent a double team move. Dar put Baylor in an Ankle Lock. Romeo put Smokes in an Ankle Lock too. Once Vanitiy Project escaped, Smokes accidentally hit Baylor with a Forearm.
Smokes rolled up Dar for a nearfall. Vanity Project hit Dar with their double stomp finisher. Romeo broke up the pin at two. Romeo hit Baylor with a Fisherman Suplex at ringside. Dar put Smokes in a Grapvined Ankle Lock. Smokes rolled to outside to break the hold. Dar ducked a clothesline from Myka Lockwood. Smokes rolled up Dar for a nearfall. Romeo blind tagged in and Baylor tagged in.
Romeo hit Baylor with a Slingshot dropkick. Dar hit Smokes with a Death Valley Driver. Romeo hit Baylor with a Super Final Cut. Mokes broke up Romeo’s pin on Baylor. Vanity Project went for their finisher on Romeo, but Romeo sent Smokes into Baylor. Dar hit Baylor with a Judas Effect. Dar and Romeo hit Smokes with their modified Total Elimination for the victory.
Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno defeated Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor via pinfall in 14:11 to advance to the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
John’s Thoughts: I had it in the back of my mind that they were going to play the Cinderella story out and I’m happy they didn’t decide to swerve from that to create a heel vs. babyface matchup in the finals. Great match and I continue to praise Vanity Project for bumping around for their opponents, making them look like a million bucks while creatively using chicken heel tactics. This makes Dar and Moreno the favorites, but good storytelling can also be had if the Cinderella’s do fail at the end.
Tony D’Angelo was pacing and yelling in front of NXT GM Robert Stone about Grayson Waller’s potential home invasion of his home. Stone said he’ll send someone. Tony D didn’t like that and stormed out of the room saying he’ll rip Grayson Waller apart if he’s still at his home. Stone yelled that he’ll send someone to follow Tony D to make sure things don’t get out of control…[c]
