By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV “Gold Rush Night Two”
Taped November 18, 2025, in New York, New York, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden
Aired November 25, 2025, on The CW Network
Separate shots of Fatal Influence, Trick Williams, and Myles Borne were shown as they were arriving to the arena. Highlights from NXT Gold Rush Night One aired…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Entrances for the opening match took place. Pete Rosenberg joined the commentary team for the Evolve Championship match…
1. Jackson Drake (w/Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes) vs. Sean Legacy for the WWE Evolve Championship. Legacy started the match with a few atomic drops on Drake. Legacy hit Drake with a double PK and standing shooting star combo for a two count. Legacy beat up Drake at ringside. Legacy hit Drake with a dropkick to the knee and back. Smokes grabbed Legacy’s leg which allowed Drake to hit Legacy with a suplex into the buckle heading into break.
Drake was working on Legacy with methodical offense. Rosenberg talked about how Robert Stone has been hanging out with Swipe Right and invading TNA. Sean tried to mount a rally, but Drake ran to ringside. Drake hit Vanity Project with a flip dive. Sean got a two count off Drake after a modified Falcon Arrow. Drake reversed a slingshot dive for a two count. Drake hit Legacy with a standing Ultima Weapon for a nearfall.
Drake hit Sean with a dive at ringside. Sean pounced on the top rope and hit Drake with a Super Exploder Suplex for a nearfall. Drake escaped a Fireman carry and hit Sean with a gutbuster and draping knee to the back of the neck. Drake hit Legacy with a Knee Plus for the clean win.
Sean Legacy defeated Jackson Drake via pinfall in 7:55 of on-air time to retain the WWE Evolve Championship.
John’s Thoughts: A well worked indie match that the crowd seemed to be quiet for. I don’t blame them as I’m assuming most NXT viewers aren’t familiar with the Evolve talent and thus have no rooting interest. NXT is also featuring so many championship belts on their show making this belt an odd one to pick out of the many more visible belts. I am fans of Legacy and Drake though. Not so much a fan of Legacy’s oddball gimmick? He kinda reminds me of when NXT tried to push Kyle O’Reilly in a main event spot and O’Reilly tried to introduce this oddbally comedy character that killed his push. We’ll see what they do with him. What this does show with wrestlers like Legacy and Drake (I’d like to throw Jack Cartwheel in there too) is that NXT does have strong male talent in the pipeline and should be shifting them to the thin male talent pool of the main NXT show.
Sol Ruca was sulking on a couch backstage. Ethan Page showed up and tossed a white towel over to Sol to remind her of her recent loss. Page said she would be champion if she stopped worrying about Zaria. Page said Sol should be 2nd to nobody. Page advised Sol to not accompany Zaria to her title match later. Myles Borne showed up and told Sol not to listen to Page. Sol walked off. Page talked about how Borne is sticking his face in other peoples’ business. Page said Trick is someone who focuses on himself. Page said with Borne’s attitude, Page doesn’t have to worry about him…
Fatal Influence made their entrance…[c]
Another clip from the John Cena Last Time is Now interview aired, this one focusing on John Cena talking about his good vs. bad days…
Zaria made her entrance to Killer Kross’s old TNA theme. She sold that Sol Ruca wasn’t with her…
2. Zaria vs. Fallon Henley (w/Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid) in a five minute time limit match for the WWE Women’s Speed Championship. Fallon got a two count off a Sunset Flip. Fallon rallied with chops. Zaria came back with a slingshot Sunset Flip for a two count. Both women traded rapid pin attempts heading into 2 minutes. Zaria put Henley in a Texas Cloverleaf heading into the 3 minute mark, 2 minute warning. Zaria hit Fallon with a Big Boot and Sleeper from the buckle.
Zaria hit Fallon with a flying clothesline. The match hit the one minute warning. Zaria fended off Jacy and Lainey. Fallon hit Zaria with a Tiger Feint from the buckle. Zaria rolled through a crossbody and put Fallon into a Fireman Carry. Fallon hit Zaria with a DDT. The clock ran out.
Zaria vs. Fallon Henley ended in a five minute draw.
NXT GM Ava made her entrance and said this is not how she wants things to end. She said they are in New York and there needs to be a champion. Ava reset the match with no time limit…
3. Zaria vs. Fallon Henley (w/Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid) for the WWE Women’s Speed Championship. Zaria dumped Fallon to ringside heading into break.[c]
Fallon tripped Zaria off the top rope for a nearfall. Fallon and Zaria traded right hands in the center of the ring. Fallon put Zaria in a Rings of Saturn. Zaria escaped with a pin attempt. Zaria hit Fallon with a toss and clotheslines. Zaria hit Fallon with an overhead suplex. Fallon rolled up Zaria for a nearfall. Zaria hit Fallon with a spear.
Lainey dragged Fallon away to make Zaria run into the steel steps. Fallon hit Zaria with a Shining Wizard followed by the Ho Down (Fame Asser) for the victory.
Fallon Henley defeated Zaria via pinfall in 3:02 of on-air time to become the new WWE Women’s Speed Champion.
Vic Joseph pointed out that 2/3rd’s of Fatal Influence are draped in gold…
John’s Thoughts: Eh. I have no clue where they are going with the Zaria story. I don’t care about the Speed title either. Bright sides. Maybe having the Speed title would allow Henley to work main roster matches and get noticed (I thought she should have been called up over a year ago). Another bright spot is maybe Zaria not winning means that Zaria will be going heel? I hope? With the Page tease before the match, they can go either way with this and I think Zaria being a monster heel would be the road of least resistance.
A Shiloh Hill promo aired where he was sitting in front of his computer. He talked about growing up as a wrestling fan with his dad. He said he and his dad used to play wrestle as Stone Cold and Undertaker. Hill talked about his dad passing away during his senior year at Stanford. He said his dad gave him a WrestleMania shirt that he wore at Stanford football games that got him noticed by WWE. Hill said his dad lives through him and he learned to try out new things.
He talked about doing many jobs like construction, logging, slaughter houses, government, and other places. He talked about his broken tooth which brought joy to his face. He said his mother tried to get him to fix his tooth, but he thought it made him look cool. Hill then started to act a bit odd saying he misplaced his bolt cutters and said he’ll see everyone soon…
Vic Joseph hyped John Cena picking the Iron Survivor competitors after the break…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Another good vignette for Shiloh Hill. I hear that all of this promo is legit with the guy. He’s also well spoken. Aside from him going to Stanford (I’m a Cal alum), I see greatness for him if done right. Combined with him being well spoken, I like the uneasiness he adds to his promo that should set him up to be a strong unhinged heel. His look also reminds me of when Bo Dallas used to be a creepy inspirational cult leader in NXT.
John Cena appeared in a locker room and said he asked Ava for a chance to pick the Iron Survivor competitors so he can leave the business better than he left it. He picked Je’von Evans and Leon Slater first because of how exciting they’ve been. He then picked the self made Joe Hendry. Cena hyped up Dion Lennox’s football background and said that he earned his opportunity. Cena then said the last spot will go to the winner of the Myles Borne vs. Trick Williams match…
Vic Joseph hyped the Iron Survivor match at Deadline…
John’s Thoughts: Simple segment to pick the Iron Survivor competitors. What it does show is WWE is seemingly very high on Dion Lennox from the DarkState faction. Weird that they kicked him off in WWE with that oddball bookworm character that gave romantic relationship advice (and he failed at it). The last couple of DarkState matches has had him in the spotlight. He had a good look and can talk a bit, but he hasn’t found a way to stand out in particular yet.
Jordynne Grace and Lei Ying Lee (f.k.a. Xia Li) made their entrances…[c]
A Izzi Dame promo aired where she bragged about costing Tatum Paxley the Women’s Title and she said she’ll explain things next week…
Kelani Jordan made her entrance. TNA President Carlos Silva and ECW Legend Tommy Dreamer were shown in the crowd…
John’s Thoughts: Silva constantly making sure he gets TV time is starting to get hilarious. That said at least he hasn’t made himself a top heel or something like Dixie Carter did. Heck, their last guy Scott D’Amore made himself the top babyface of the promotion, emasculating heels and hitting them with Canadian Destroyers (I partially kid, as D’Amore was the one who helped right the TNA ship to the direction it’s in now).
4. Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Lei Ying Lee for the TNA Knockouts Championship. Grace dominated early on with power, fending off the other two. Jordan put Grace in a Sleeper. Lee hit both opponents with a Blockbuster to get a nearfall on Grace. Lee hit Grace with a running knee. Lee hit Grace with Ten Punches in the Corner. Jordan dumped Lee to ringside. Grace tossed Jordan into the buckle and hit her with a meteora to the back and slam for a nearfall.
Kelani dumped Lee to ringside after slamming both opponents. Jordan hit Jordynne with a split legged Impaler for a nearfall. Jordan dumped Jordynne to ringside and hit both opponents with an Asai Moonsault heading into break.[c]
Jordan hit Jordynne with a Frog Splash. Lee broke up Jordan’s pin. Lee hit Grace with a dropkick to force her to Samoan Drop Jordan. Lee got a nearfall. Grace hit Lee and Jordan with a German Suplex at the same time for a nearfall on Lee. Lee and Grace brawled on the top rope. Jordan hit Lee with a Wasteland. Jordan then punched Jordynne on the top ropee. Jordan hit Grace with a Spanish Fly. Lee broke up Jordan’s pin.
Lee reversed Jordan into a Half Crab. Jordan escaped and Jordynne hit Lee with a slam. Lee broke up Jordynne’s pin on Jordan after a Grace power bomb. Kelani dragged Grace to the mat and tripped up Lee. Lee dodged a 450. Lee hit Jordan with Thunderstruck. Grace got involved and hit both opponents with backfists. Grace hit Jordan with a spinning power bomb. Lee broke up the pin with an overhead Kiryu Kick. Lee picked up the pinfall win on Jordan.
Lei Ying Lee defeated Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace via pinfall in 9:33 of on-air time to become the new TNA Knockouts Champion.
TNA President Carlos Silva awarded Lei Ying Lee the Knockouts Title…
John’s Thoughts: Uhm? Ok? Weird booking on a weird night of NXT. Kelani Jordan cuts that great heel promo, the best overall promo of her career, a few weeks ago, then they have her lose a forgettable match on a forgettable show? Random to have Lei Ying Lee win the title as she hasn’t really been given any character development on TNA other than being Xia Brookside’s best buddy. Last time Lei Ying Lee looked great was many years ago when she had those cool manga style vignettes on Smackdown many years ago.
Fatal Influence were backstage. Jacy Jayne was trying to put a battery in Lainey Reid’s back while she goes after the Evolve Championship. Ava showed up and banned Henley and Jayne from ringside…[c]
Sarah Schreiber had a sitdown interview with Ricky Saints and asked him about Oba Femi’s return last week. Ricky said everyone is looking at Ricky, wondering how long he keeps the title. Sarah wondered how Deadline is going to be different than No Mercy. Ricky wondered if he was just lucky that night, and that made things tough. Ricky said he doesn’t have the answer as to how he’s going to do it again.
He said he wondered if he’s a deviation in Oba’s title reign. He said he’s trying his best to quiet the questions. Sarah asked him how he’s trying to quiet the doubt. Ricky said pressure is his ally and he takes it head on. He said he uses pressure to his benefit. He said the impossible is possible with Absolute Ricky Saints. Sarah wished Ricky luck at Deadline. Vic hyped Ricky vs. Oba at Deadline…
Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair made their entrance first. Lainey Reid was already in the ring. Pete Rosenberg rejoined commentary for the Evolve match…
5. Kendal Grey (w/Wren Sinclair) vs. Lainey Reid for the WWE Evolve Women’s Championship. Grey started the match with a Thesz Press and Belly to Back suplexes. Reid came back with strikes in the corners. Grey turned the tide around with her own strikes. Grey tripped up Lainey and hit her with a dropkick. Grey caught Reid with a Gamengiri. Grey escaped a power bomb. Reid tripped Grey face first into the steel steps for a nasty looking fall.[c]
Grey knocked Reid off the top rope and hit her with a moonsault. Reid rallied with strikes and a Belly to Belly suplex. Reid hit Grey with a double stomp when she entered the ring. Lainey hit Grey with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Lainey pulled down the knee pad. Grey reversed Grey with a Power Slam. Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley ran to the apron. Charlie Dempsey was also there. Grey managed to fend off Jayne and Henley.
The referee ejected all the extra wrestlers at rinsgide. Lainey rolled up Grey for a nearfall. Lainey hit Grey with a thrust kick. Grey hit Laiey wiht a Super German Suplex. Rosenberg said Grey is “ready to enter the grey area”. Grey pulled down the straps and hit Reid with Shades of Grey (Paydirt) for the victory.
Kendal Grey defeated Lainey Reid via pinfall in 6:58 of on-air time to retain the Evolve Women’s Championship.
DarkState were hyping each other up backstage. Dion Lennox talked about how he’s going to try to bring singles gold to DarkState in the Iron Survivor match….
Vic hyped John Cena picking the Women’s Iron Survivors after the break…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A good match that WWE couldn’t resist having a bunch of meaningless interference in ringside. Not only did it not contribute to the match, but it took away from showcasing Kendal Grey, who’s been looking good since changing up the look and improving in the ring. “Shades of Grey” great name for a finisher. Her talking about her “grey area”, horrible catchphrase. I would just not have her have a catchphrase, and just have her look badass. Her selling and amateur background reminds me of a young Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth) and that’s a good path to follow in WWE.
The show cut to John Cena picking the women for the Iron Survivor match. Cena picked Sol Ruca first and hyped up how innovative she is. He then picked Lola Vice and said her time is now. She then picked Kelani Jordan for being a standout. Cena then added Jordynne Grace and Kendal Grey to the match…
Vic Joseph hyped the women’s Iron Survivor summit and Tavion Heights vs. Josh Briggs for next week’s NXT…
John’s Thoughts: The Men’s Iron Survivor match should be fire (especially with Leon Slater and Je’von Evans all up in that), but the women’s version looks like it can be an absolute inferno. Another example of how deep WWE’s developmental women’s division is. They kinda should be calling some of these women up to the main roster, especially Grace.
Myles Borne made his entrance first. Trick Williams made his entrance…
6. Trick Williams vs. Myles Borne for a spot in the Men’s Iron Survivor Match at NXT Deadline. Borne got a two count off a dropkick. Trick slowed things down and hit Borne with methodical strikes. Evans, Slater, and Hendry were watching the match on a monitor backstage. Borne surprised Trick with a Zig Zag for a nearfall.[c]
Trick hit Borne with a flapjack for a nearfall. Trick worked on Borne with methodical offense with 7 minutes left at the top of the hour. Borne rallied with European Uppercuts. Trick came back with a body slam. Borne got a two count after a few rollups. Trick hit Borne with an Attitude Adjustment. Borne came back with a Orton Power Slam for a two count. Borne rallied with right hands and a dropkick.
Borne hit Trick with an Atomic Drop and neckbreaker for a nearfall. Borne rallied with Uppercuts. Trick came back with a Book End. Both men traded counters and kicks. Borne and Trick took each other out with stereo Neckbreakers. Trick hit Borne with a pop up punch. Trick blocked Borne Again and dumped Borne to ringside. Trick hit Borne with a high kick. Borne sent Trick’s knee into the steps with a sidestep and hit him with Borne Again at ringside. Borne hit Trick with Borne Again (Zig Zag) in the ring for the win.
Myles Borne defeated Trick Williams via pinfall in 8:28 of on-air time to earn the final spot in the Men’s Iron Survivor Match at NXT Deadline.
After Trick left, the DarkState light show happened. Dark State surrounded the ring. Joe Hendry, Leon Slater, and Je’von Evans ran out to have Borne’s back. The faces and heels stood off to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A fine enough match that should have meant more, but they kinda just threw it out there on this oddball taped show. They should have took more time to build this match (maybe have Trick terrorize Borne a bit) to make Borne’s biggest win in WWE so far a big one. Instead it kinda just happened. Trick is in a odd spot too as he hasn’t been selling his recent losses, which makes him look on the verge of a call-up, but who knows when that would happen?
Evolve matches and a Speed Match, this felt like the throwaway week for the Gold Rush themed shows. This might have been better if they mixed some of these matches into last week’s more meaningful show, but at the same time why does NXT have so many title belts when they don’t need them? The Knockouts title match could have been a banger, but we got a very “mid” level triple threat with oddball booking of putting the belt on someone who hasn’t been built in TNA or NXT. I can’t recommend you go out of your way to watch this episode of NXT. Only thing I would say to go out and check is actually the Lainey Reid vs. Kendal Gray match as those are two future prospects who had a really good showing. Also, maybe the Shiloh Hill vignette, as I think he’s well spoken and looks like he’ll be a solid heel down the road (and that means something coming from a UC Berkeley guy praising a Stanford guy)
A “Speed” Title match that ends with a time-limit draw so you decide the champion in a normal match – as the kids say, LOL.