Current WWE Champion Added to NXT Championship Ladder Match
NXT was off to a crazy start tonight as former TNA World Champion, Joe Hendry, was taken out by an unknown assailant, right before he could head out for his match.
Hendry was scheduled to take on WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake in the opening match of the night. However, with Hendry unavailable, General Manager Ava moved up the NXT Tag Team Championship match.
Joe was sent to the hospital following the attack, and was declared unfit to compete tonight as medical didn’t clear him for in-ring action. Ava had to improvise given her current situation.
Jackson Drake to compete for the NXT Championship
While it looked like Jackson Drake and the Vanity Project attacked Hendry, it cannot be said with certainty by anyone other than Hendry. Giving them the benefit, Ava announced that Drake has been added to the ladder match as he received a walkover.
BIG news for The Vanity Project. 👀@JacksonDrake03 is IN the NXT Title Ladder Match, but @bradbay1or and @smokeshow_ricky are BANNED from ringside, AND @joehendry will be in the match IF he is medically cleared! pic.twitter.com/UTTGQgqSOD
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2026
However, she informed the WWE Evolve Champion that Joe will be added to the ladder match as well if medical clears him to compete next week for the NXT Championship.
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