The John Report: WWE NXT 04/29/25 Review
This week’s WWE NXT featured Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace teaming up against Roxanne Perez & Giulia, while Ricky Saints faced Lexis King.
The NXT crew is back home in Orlando this week after being in Las Vegas for last week’s show. I’ll go with a summary style for most of the show and then switch to a play-by-play style for one or two matches.
There was a report that Roxanne Perez and Giulia are considered WWE main roster wrestlers now, but they are still on NXT tonight. We know in today’s WWE that anybody can appear on any show at any time, even though there is a “brand split” in place.
They are at the WWE Performance Centre in Orlando for this week’s show. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport and check out my NXT TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
A video package aired showing the issues between NXT Champion Oba Femi and Trick Williams. After Trick said, “I ain’t a regular Joe,” that’s when NXT Champion Joe Hendry appeared. Hendry’s issues with Trick escalated. At TNA Rebellion this past Sunday, Trick showed up at the end of the show to take out Hendry.
The commentary team of Vic Joseph, Corey Graves & Booker T were at ringside to welcome us to the show. Vic mentioned Joe Hendry, so Joe appeared.
Let’s Hear from Joe Hendry
The TNA World Champion Joe Hendry made his entrance to a good ovation with the fans cheering him. Joe said it’s been a journey while mentioning that he wrestled Randy Orton at WrestleMania. Joe also mentioned retaining his TNA World Title at Rebellion. Joe noted that Trick Williams attacked him when his back was turned. Joe talked about how Trick couldn’t stand the fact that they were talking about Joe instead of Trick and they were saying “We Believe,” which is Joe’s phrase. Joe trashed Trick for being arrogant even though he couldn’t win back the NXT Championship. Joe said that Trick knows Oba Femi won’t give Trick another NXT Title shot, so he knows Trick has his eyes on the TNA World Championship. Joe called for Trick to appear.
The lights went out in the building as Darkstate appeared in the crowd and then they went down to ringside. The four guys in Darkstate beat up Hendry while the lights were out with a spotlight. Darkstate launched Hendry in the air and dropped him with a Powerbomb.
Analysis: That was a good promo from Joe Hendry, as usual, because he’s a charismatic guy who knows how to talk. Darkstate attacking wasn’t expected, but it shows how unpredictable the Darkstate guys can be. You never know when they’ll strike or against who.
Ava, the NXT GM, was in her office talking to NXT Women’s Champion Iyo Sky. This was from earlier today, which WWE promoted heavily on socials afterward. Jordynne Grace walked in to say she’d team up with Iyo, and they shook hands.
The Ricky Saints-Lexis King match was up next.
A commercial aired for NXT Battleground in Tampa on May 25th.
(Commercial)
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley were backstage talking to Karmen Petrovic. Ashante “Thee” Adonis told Karmen he got her a match with Sol Ruca, and he trashed Gigi & Tatum. Karmen claimed she wasn’t ready. Adonis told her to get prepared because, after she wins, “we” will have a title match. After Adonis and Karmen left, Gigi and Paxley questioned Adonis, saying, “We” have a title match.
NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints vs. Lexis King
I’ll go play-by-play for this title match. Ricky knocked down King with an elbow smash. King hit boots to the face to knock Ricky back. King put his boot against Ricky’s throat. Ricky avoided a leaping attack and hit an uppercut punch. Ricky hit an overhead suplex across the ring. Ricky hit a running dropkick to knock King down on the floor. They went to a break for some fans as King connected with a chop. Ricky avoided a chop and King hit the ring post. King blocked a kick and chopped Ricky. King kicked Ricky in the back, along with a stomp on the arm. Ricky suplexed King from the apron into the ring. King grounded Ricky with an abdominal stretch on the mat. Ricky gave King a hiptoss as the show returned for all fans.
Ricky and King ran the ropes, leading to a double cross-body block to knock them both down. King went up top and hit a Swanton Bomb for a two count. King had Ricky on his shoulders, which led to King sending Ricky onto the double knees. Ricky avoided a kick, Ricky hit two clotheslines and a spinning slam. Ricky went for a Tornado DDT, King avoided it and King got a rollup for two. King hit a superkick. Ricky countered King, which led to a Tornado DDT. Ricky hit the Roshambo powerslam for the pinfall win after about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricky Saints
Analysis: *** A solid match between two veterans. King got a decent amount of offense, but it is early in Ricky’s title reign and I didn’t expect a title change here.
The Culling was shown backstage as Shawn Spears told his group to let their failures teach them. Spears said to Izzi Dame that the NXT women’s roster is deep, so she needs to focus on how to stand out from the pack. Spears said he wants Dame to put the spotlight on herself. Spears told Brooks & Niko to build a stronger bond and be more cohesive. Spears wanted them to work deeper than the surface level, which can lead to better results. Spears told them to rise up and seize control.
A replay was shown from NXT Stand & Deliver when Stack turned on Tony D’Angelo in a tag team match. They are up next.
(Commercial)
Tony D’Angelo Confronts Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
Stacks turned heel on Tony D at Stand & Deliver, so now it’s time for a confrontation.
Tony D’Angelo was in the ring for a promo while some “friends” were on the apron. Tony said that everybody can relate to betrayal, so people have asked him if he expected this to happen. Tony said he didn’t expect it to happen. Tony talked about how he was willing to give Stacks the benefit of the doubt. Stacks talked about how he always had Stacks’ back since they were kids because that’s what loyalty is all about. Tony said that Stacks always had his eyes on the big seat and to lead the family. Tony spoke about how when he got locked up and got hurt, Stacks handled business. Tony said that Stacks rewarded him by being the Underboss. Tony said he had to step in to show why he’s the Don of the family who makes the big decisions. Tony said that Stacks waited for the right moment, waited until Stand & Deliver and stuck that knife into Tony’s back. Tony told Stacks that he’ll pay for his sins while nobody has heard from Luca, Rizzo is in hiding…and here is Stacks with a video message.
Stacks said he thought about facing Tony in the ring, but he knew security was there, so he knew nothing was going to happen. Stacks said that he was sick of taking Tony’s orders. Stacks said that Tony was making decisions that allowed Darkstate to think that they could push them around. Stacks said he had to take the reigns himself and put Tony in his place. Stacks said he knows Tony better than anyone. Stacks said that Tony is losing more power every day. Stacks said what’s next, can Tony even trust his own family? Stacks said Tony didn’t even know who he could trust right now. Some security guys went into the ring, so Tony beat them up and Tony suplexed a guy over the top onto the others on the floor.
Tony said if Stacks wants to be The Don then he has to bring his ass down here and take it himself. Tony’s music played to end it.
Analysis: This storyline has been going on for nearly 4 years, so it lasted a long time when Stacks eventually turned on Tony. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tony D gets the main roster call up soon since he’s been in NXT for so long, so maybe Stacks wins and takes control of the “family” while Tony is less of a character on the main roster.
Sol Ruca’s in action up next.
(Commercial)
Noam Dar was backstage with the NXT Heritage Cup trophy along with Oro Mensh, who is mainly on Evolve now. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson arrived to talk to Noam about the Meta-Four group. Lash talked about how they all need to go their separate ways to grow. Dar said he understood and said he was proud of them all. They had a group hug. Dar spoke to his Heritage Cup trophy and said it’s just the two of them now.
Analysis: That’s all for Meta-Four as a group. They had a fun run as a group initially, but then Dar was out injured for a long time, and it made sense to move on from the group. There is no bitter split or anything like that. The group is just done now, which is okay with me.
Sol Ruca (w/Zaria) vs. Karmen Petrovic (w/Ashante “Thee” Adonis)
Sol is the NXT Women’s North American Champion. When Ruca handed Zaria the title, Zaria looked at it and Graves pointed it out. They did a spot where Karmen kicked Sol, but they were off by a bit and it looked awkward as Sol took the bump. Karmen hit a running dropkick. Sol made the comeback with two springboard forearms and a backpack slam. Sol went for the Soul Snatcher, but Karmen pushed Sol out of the ring. Sol tripped up Karmen by the ropes and Sol hit the impressive Soul Snatcher for the pinfall win. It went about four minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Sol Ruca
Analysis: ** It was an easy win to put over the champion, Sol Ruca. The Soul Snatcher finisher is the coolest finisher in all of WWE. Karmen had some offense but didn’t really look like she was going to win.
After the match, Adonis tried to talk to Karmen about the match, but Karmen pushed him away, and Karmen kicked Adonis in the jaw to knock him down.
Analysis: I guess that’s the end of that relationship. They never really went anywhere with the storyline after Adonis pursued her. It was one of those stories that had a start, but then there was no middle, and now it is likely done.
Trick Williams was up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Trick Williams
Trick Williams made his entrance. He said Joe Hendry’s name, but there was no Joe. Trick said that Joe should be glad that Darkstate got their hands on him because those young guys know Joe doesn’t belong here. Trick admitted that Joe got his number last week and some people might say that Trick crashed out. Trick talked about how he went to Joe’s show and made it the Trick Williams Show. Trick claimed he made it to Hollywood to see his good friends. Trick said that he’s coming to The CW, season 7 of the hit show All American. Trick claimed that Joe is not on the same level as Trick. Trick claimed that he was on the same level as The Rock and John Cena. Trick talked about how he was focused on the NXT Title. Trick called out Oba Femi saying Trick wants the title back and Oba’s title belongs to him.
The NXT GM Ava interrupted to mention having to kick Trick out last week, and then Trick showed up in TNA, so she had to ask Trick what he was doing. Trick said he used to think he was NXT, but after Sunday, he thinks he’s bigger than NXT. Trick said that after Sunday, he’s the biggest star in TNA, too. Ava said those are bold claims. Ava told Trick he’s going to take 25 steps back because next week will be a 25-man battle royal for an NXT Title shot. The winner of that battle royal will face Oba Femi at Battleground for the NXT Championship.
Analysis: The heel turn of Trick Williams continues since he’s become a cocky guy who thinks he’s bigger than NXT now. I liked Trick as a face, but I think he’s a better performer as a heel, just like his old friend Carmelo Hayes, who I like more as a heel as well. I think Trick going to the main roster in the next WWE Draft (usually in May) is a possibility for sure.
Roxanne Perez and Giulia spoke in the locker room. Perez said that she didn’t like her at first, but Giulia said Perez is a great champion and she understands Perez is right. Perez said they are unstoppable together.
Analysis: It’s Giulia in the heel role after initially being a face in NXT.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank entered for a match. What’s so weird watching on Netflix is they edit out when WWE mentions advertisers, so it had Vic said that this week’s show is sponsored by…and then it just goes mute until the break.
A video aired highlighting WWE’s work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
(Commercial)
The NXT Champion Oba Femi was interviewed by Kelly Kincaid, who mentioned the 25-man battle royal next week for a shot at Femi’s NXT Title. Femi said that if Trick Williams can win the battle royal, then he’ll face Trick at Battleground. Femi said no matter how many times he faces him, Femi will keep the title. The Undertaker approached Femi, saying that this is your yard for now. Femi said that means a lot. The Undertaker said he has some guys from LFG that are coming for him soon. It was Shiloh Hil, Anthony Luke & Jasper Troy. Femi said is this the future you’re talking about? Taker said it is. Femi said he looked forward to the challenge, and Femi shook hands with Taker.
Booker T is also on WWE LFG, so he reacted to the LFG guys. Booker was excited about it.
Analysis: I watch WWE LFG regularly. I’ve been most impressed by Anthony Luke as an all-around performer, while Jasper Troy has a lot of potential as a powerhouse.
NXT Tag Team Championships: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
Hank and Tank did some tag team moves early on. Briggs took control after running the ropes and hitting a cross body block on Hank. After Inamura tagged in, Tank knocked down Inamura with a shoulder tackle. Inamura connected with a hard chop and strikes for Tank. Briggs was back in with a big boot. They went on a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break, too.
There was a punch exchange by Hank and Inamura. Briggs made a blind tag, which led to a boot on Hank, followed by a sidewalk slam and a splash. Inamura hit an assisted German Suplex on Hank for two. Hank broke free from and hit a top rope clothesline. Briggs pulled Hank out of the ring and sent Hank into the steel steps. Tank was alone as Briggs hit a Chokeslam and lariat on Tank. Inamura was legal with a top rope splash on Tank for two because Hank made the save at two. Inamura accidentally knocked Briggs down when he picked up Hank. Tank sent Inamura out of the ring. Hank & Tank did their double team powerslam/Spear combo for the pinfall win. It went 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Hank & Tank
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match to put over the new champions Hank & Tank against a tough team. The last few minutes were great as the pace picked up and there were some fun nearfalls. The team of Briggs and Inamura look credible as a team for sure, but this wasn’t the kind of match where it felt like there would be a title change.
After the match, Inamura apologized to Briggs for messing up. Briggs looked angry.
Analysis: They said Inamura is going back to Japan soon, so I assume Briggs will beat up Inamura next week or soon after and that will end the team.
No Quarter Catch Crew’s Tavion Heights & Wren Sinclair were talking backstage without Charlie Dempsey around. Myles Borne wondered where Charlie Dempsey was. Tavion Heights said that Borne is pissed off since Borne tagged with Je’Von Evans. Borne said that he wants in that battle royal next week. Borne said that they had to think for themselves. After Borne left, Heights said he wants in the battle royal too and Wren Sinclair said that Charlie is a complex man. Heights left.
(Commercial)
Andre Chase was shown in a video at the new Chase University. Chase said five months ago, Ridge Holland ended Chase U and Chase had to cut ties with his students. Kale Dixon and Urijah Connors showed up to join the class. A guy named Chad trashed them for being late and did so by asking a question. Chase said, “f**k your question,” and Chase was fired up. There were “Chase U” chants by the students.
Analysis: Welcome back, Chase U.
Kelani Jordan approached Sol Ruca & Zaria in the locker room. Jordan said when she was champion, she defended the title in her matches while Sol faced Karmen Petrovic non-title. Jordan wanted a title match, but Zaria got in Jordan’s face and said that Sol wasn’t just giving title matches, so Jordan had to face Zaria first. Jordan said fine.
Joe Hendry was shown getting checked out by the WWE Medical team earlier in the night. Hank & Tank asked Joe if he was okay. Joe said he needed to get his hands on Darkstate. Hank & Tank said they believe, so if he says Honk Honk, then Hank & Tank are there for him. Joe did a Honk Honk with the champions.
The team of Roxanne Perez and Giulia made their separate entrances for their tag team match.
(Commercial)
Next week on NXT:
* #1 Contenders Battle Royal for NXT Title
* Kelani Jordan vs. Zaria
* Joe Hendry, Hank & Tank vs. Darkstate in a 6-man Tag Team Match
The entrances of Jordynne Grace and Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky took place. The fans were happy to see Sky back in NXT.
Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace vs. Roxanne Perez & Giulia
The heel team of Perez and Giulia tried to double team Sky, but Sky did a backflip to avoid it and Sky hit a dropkick on both opponents. Grace tagged in, so Sky did a senton splash off the shoulders. Perez hit an armdrag on Perez. Giulia tagged in with a headlock takeover. Grace hit a sidewalk slam. Grace spun around Giulia and hit a shoulderbreaker-style move. Perez distracted the referee, so Giulia did some illegal eye gouging. Booker put it over as “beautiful work” by Perez. After Perez tagged in, she hit a Russian legsweep on Grace for two. Giulia tagged in and Grace hit an overhead suplex. Sky was back in and hit an impressive missile dropkick on Giulia for two. Grace sent Giulia into the ropes and Grace hit an elbow smash. Sky was back in, Perez saved her partner and Perez/Giulia tripped up Grace/Sky on the apron to knock them down. The show went to break for some fans as the action continued. Giulia hit a dropkick. Perez tagged in, leading to a double-team dropkick by Perez and Giulia. Perez choked Giulia throat-first across the ropes. Perez hit a running uppercut on Sky for two. Giulia was back in with a punch to the face.
Giulia held Sky in a modified surfboard, followed by a stomp to the back to send Sky face first into the mat. Sky countered Perez and Sky hit a double foot stomp on Perez. Perez went for a Crossface, but Sky got out of that, and Sky hit a double underhook backbreaker. Grace got the hot tag, leading to a spinning slam on Giulia and a clothesline on Perez. Grace hit a rolling senton on Perez. Grace suplexed Giulia, who was holding onto Perez with a suplex and Grace covered Giulia for a two count. Sky tagged in with a double foot stomp on Giulia and went for a cover, but Perez was there to break up the pin. Sky hit a running Meteora on Giulia, but Perez had made a blind tag and Perez hit a hurricanrana off the top. Giulia was back in, Perez hit a superkick and Giulia hit a Northern Lights Bomb. Perez hit a springboard moonsault off the middle ropes for a two count because Grace broke up the pin. The fans correctly chanted, “This is awesome,” for the great action. Giulia headbutted Grace. Giulia did a hair pull on Grace on the apron. Grace and Giulia went fighting to the backstage area. Sky and Perez were legal as they exchanged pin attempts. Sky hit an uppercut on Perez. Perez hit a superkick, along with a spin kick to the gut. Sky avoided a sunset flip attempt by landing on her feet. Sky kicked Perez in the face. Sky hit the Over The Moonsault off the top rope for the pinfall win. It lasted 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace
Analysis: ***3/4 That was an awesome main event tag team match. They are four talented women with different styles, but they made it work. I don’t think Sky is capable of having a bad match, while Giulia, Perez, and Grace are all so skilled in the ring. Grace and Giulia fighting to the back sets them up for a singles match. Sky was able to finish off Perez, which I don’t mind since Perez is likely leaving NXT soon so it’s fine to have her lose to put over a World Champion like Sky. The fans were into the match. I enjoyed it a lot.
Iyo Sky celebrated in the ring as the Women’s World Champion, while Roxanne Perez was furious on the floor.
Stephanie Vaquer, the NXT Women’s Champion, was backstage talking to NXT GM Ava. Ava said Vaquer will face the winner of Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia. Whoever wins that match gets a NXT Women’s Title match against Vaquer at Battleground.
Iyo Sky’s celebration continued in the ring. That was the end of the show.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace
- Roxanne Perez & Giulia
- Ricky Saints
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.25 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2025 Average: 7.47
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
There were some parts of this week’s show that I really didn’t get into, but then that main event tag team match happened, and it was the highlight of the show. I thought all four women were great, as Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace beat Roxanne Perez & Giulia.
They set up some matches for next week that have implications toward Battleground, so that’s good to see.
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport