The John Report: WWE NXT 01/06/26 Review (New Year’s Evil)
This week’s WWE NXT features big title matches with Oba Femi facing Leon Slater, Jacy Jayne against Kendal Grey, Thea Hail battling Blake Monroe, and more.
After the last two weeks being taped show, NXT is live again this week with New Year’s Evil, which includes some big matches. The NXT brand has lost Trick Williams and Jordynne Grace to SmackDown, while Je’Von Evans has joined Raw. Those are three big names who have been featured a lot over the last year.
In recent days, the names of Blake Monroe and Jacy Jayne have been mentioned for the main roster. Sol Ruca was mentioned previously. We have also seen NXT Champion Oba Femi featured in videos on Raw and SmackDown in recent weeks, so if he goes to Raw or SD soon, that’s a huge loss for NXT. Others will have to step up. Some of these wrestlers have been on the brand for 3-4 years, so I’m glad they get to go to Raw and SmackDown, but it also hurts NXT. That’s NXT, though, and they’re used to it just like we are used to it as fans.
They were at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando for this week’s show. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport, and check out my NXT TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
There was a video package to set up the matches coming up at New Year’s Evil.
The commentary team of Vic Joseph and Booker T welcomed us to the show by standing on the platform near their commentary table. Booker hyped up the crowd. They showed some pre-show walking of Jacy Jayne with friends, Kendal Grey training with Wren Sinclair, Oba Femi, and Leon Slater.
Thea Hail was up first to defend her Women’s NXT North American Title, but Blake Monroe attacked Hail in the aisle before the match could start. Blake threw Hail into the steel steps. Blake hit Hail in the back and ribs with a steel chair. Blake tossed Hail into the barricade. Four referees showed up to break it up.
Analysis: Cheap attack by Blake to get some heat on her going into their match, if it happens.
Let’s Hear from Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints made his entrance while Thea Hail was being checked on outside the ring. Saints was in his dress clothes for a promo. Ricky said that the women’s match will be paused for now, so now we get to kick off 2026 with him. The fans booed him. Ricky said last year he really needed NXT, but now NXT needs him. Ricky said that’s why Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams chose free agency because they can’t compete and compare to him. Ricky said he didn’t blame them at all. Ricky claimed there was only room for one star, which was him. Ricky said he ain’t going nowhere. Ricky said if you come at him, he’ll send them back where they came from. Ricky said even if you think you are talented, you are not absolute. Ricky said he’ll keep proving it in 2026. Ricky said he hasn’t been wrong for 20 years, and he isn’t about to start now.
Ricky mentioned the main event, saying he didn’t care about Oba Femi or Leon Slater. Ricky said if Slater wins, then he’ll handle him in due time. Ricky said it’s 1-1 with Femi and that doesn’t sit right, so he’ll handle what happened last year. Ricky sai,d regardless of who wins, NXT and the NXT Championship will be in his hands…and that is absolute. Ricky posed to end it.
Analysis: It was a solid promo from Ricky Saints as usual. I thought there would be an interruption with some babyface coming out to challenge him to a match for next week or something like that, but it didn’t happen. I’m not sure who they would have picked for that spot. I’m just saying it felt odd that there wasn’t an interruption.
Ava, the NXT GM, was shown backstage reacting to all the chaos. Ava told Mr. Stone to find Blake Monroe. Ava put on a headset and cued up a video package for the Izzi-Tatum match because that match is now on first.
A WrestleMania 42 commercial aired.
(Commercial)
Ava confronted Blake Monroe backstage about Monroe ruining the match she was supposed to have with Thea Hail. Monroe told Ava to give her the NXT Women’s North American Title, but Ava was furious. Ava told Blake she was banned from the building, so Blake left.
Analysis: As I mentioned earlier, Blake Monroe is rumored to be going to the main roster, so perhaps this is a way to write her off NXT by saying she became a free agent and goes to Raw or SmackDown. They could also do the Blake-Hail match another week and say if Blake loses, then she leaves NXT. There are a lot of ways it can be done.
Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame
The fans were strongly behind Paxley as usual. Dame won their match at Deadline, so now they have their second match. When Dame won that match, I said they would likely have a rematch, and here it is.
Dame and Paxley exchanged strikes early on. Dame gave Paxley a hiptoss across the ring, followed by a shoulder tackle. Paxley avoided a charge by the turnbuckle and Dame hit the ring post. Paxley slapped Dame in the face and wrenched on the left leg. Paxley hit a leg drop to the back of the head by the apron. Dame hit a forearm smash to knock Paxley off the apron to the floor. They went on a break for some fans as Dame took control of the match.
It was Dame in control with a submission move, pulling back on the legs like a Boston Crab, but Paxley got out of it. The announcers talked about Shawn Spears and Niko Vance not being at ringside. Dame went to the turnbuckle and Paxley hit a jumping kick to the head. Paxley went up top and hit a Spanish Fly off the top, but Paxley was too hurt to cover. The fans chanted “NXT” after that big move. Dame and Paxley exchanged slaps, Paxley hit a knee to the face, two forearms and a kick to the head. Paxley hit a German Suplex. Dame hit a boot to the face. Dame sent Paxley into the middle rope and hit a sitout Powerbomb for two. Dame knocked down Paxley with a clothesline. Dame lifted up Paxley and hit a Cutter-like move for a two count. Dame tackled Paxley from the apron to the floor. Dame tackled Paxley into the steel steps. Paxley countered a move by landing on her feet and Paxley hit a spinning kick to the head. Paxley went up top and hit a 450 Splash with knees to the ribs. Paxley hit her Cemetery Drive flipping slam for the pinfall win after 13 minutes. Vic said now we can say that it’s over.
Winner by pinfall: Tatum Paxley
Analysis: ***1/4 That felt like a feud-ending match with Paxley getting the decisive win. Dame controlled a lot of it, but then Paxley hit a few moves to finish her off decisively. I thought the Spanish Fly that Paxley did was the highlight of the match. Some of the stuff after wasn’t as great, but it was a way to give Dame control again before Paxley found a way to win. It makes sense for the babyface Paxley to win the blowoff feud. I can see both women in the hunt for the two singles titles in NXT in the coming months.
A video package aired about a masked French wrestler named Elio Lefleur, and he’s coming to NXT.
Kendal Grey and Jacy Jayne were backstage walking with their allies for their match up next.
(Commercial)
Thea Hail and Jordynne Grace were backstage with Ava, who commended Grace for being on SmackDown and confronting Jade Cargill. Hail wanted to have her match, but Ava informed Hail that Blake Monroe had been kicked out of the building. Hail wanted to fight tonight. Ava said that Hail should reconsider doing it. Grace told Ava to let her do it, so Ava said fine.
The Women’s Evolve Champion, Kendal Grey, made her entrance with Wren Sinclair. The fans liked Grey as usual. The NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne was up next, joined by her Fatal Influence allies Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid. Booker was excited, of course.
NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) vs. Kendal Grey (w/Wren Sinclair)
Grey used her speed to avoid Jayne trying to slow her down, so Grey dropkicked Jayne out of the ring. Grey went up top and hit a moonsault onto the three heels on the floor. Jayne tripped up Grey on the apron, but Grey applied an armbar. Jayne managed to swing Grey into the barricade. Jayne hit a cannonball on Grey against the barricade. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued. Back in the ring, Jayne kicked Grey in the back and hit a superkick to the side of the face. Jayne choked Grey across the middle rope. Jayne hit an elbow smash for a two count. Jayne applied a chinlock, Grey hit a jawbreaker and got a two count. Jayne connected with a kick to the face. Jayne sent Grey into the turnbuckle. Jayne applied a headlock. Most of the four minutes during the commercial were controlled by Jayne as usual for the heel in the match.
The champion Jayne hit a neckbreaker. Grey got some momentum going with a cross body block off the middle turnbuckle. Jayne and Grey did a double cross body block collision spot, so both women were down selling. Jayne worked over Grey with multiple kicks, including a kick to the head. Grey hit a headbutt, an elbow smash and a German Suplex. Grey pulled the straps down and tripped up Jayne, leading to Grey jumping over the top with a stomp to the ribs. Grey hit a DDT out of the corner for two. Jayne tripped up Grey on the turnbuckle and Jayne hit a neckbreaker for two. Jayne went for a cannonball, Grey moved and Grey hit two German Suplexes in a row. Grey charged right into a knee smash by Jayne for a two count. Jayne went up top and Grey hit a suplex off the top. Jayne and Grey exchanged pin attempts. Grey applied an armbar on the left arm, so Henley distracted the referee and Reid grabbed Grey on the floor. Grey suplexed Reid on the floor. Wren punched Henley on the apron and then Jayne hit Wren with a forearm off the apron. Grey went for an armbar again. Grey hit a superkick. Grey went for a move near the ropes, Henley held onto Jayne’s tights, Grey bounced off and bumped to the mat. When Grey got back up, Jayne hit the Rolling Encore elbow smash on Grey for the pinfall win. It went about 14 minutes. They didn’t show any replays, but it sure looked like the referee saw Henley interfere and did nothing.
Winner by pinfall: Jacy Jayne
Analysis: ***1/2 That was a very good match. Grey is so talented considering how she’s only been wrestling for a few years, while Jayne is a solid and experienced wrestler. The numbers game was a huge factor as expected whenever Jayne is in a match and she has her friends at ringside. I thought that a title change could be coming here just because of how quickly Grey has been pushed, but I don’t mind seeing her lose because it’s still so early in Grey’s career. There might be somebody else who gets the title from Jayne before she goes to the main roster.
Thea Hail’s match is next.
(Commercial)
The NXT North American & AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion Ethan Page spoke to NXT GM Ava. Page mentioned having 12 successful title defenses as the North American Champion. Page said he’s going to leave and say more in the ring. Page brought in Evolve’s The Vanity Project to talk to Ava, and Page left. Jackson Drake said they should talk about 2026.
Thea Hail made her entrance as the NXT Women’s North American Champion and she was limping a bit while selling a right rib injury on her way to the ring. Hail was on her knees in the ring. Hail said that she knows her win was controversial and she was devastated that Blake attacked her because nobody wanted this more than her. Hail said she wanted to prove herself to the fans. Hail said this is an open challenge, so whoever wants it gets a shot at this title. There were several women from backstage, but Tatum Paxley showed up with a chainsaw. Izzi Dame went into the ring and kicked Hail, so Dame gets the title match. Dame had Shawn Spears and Niko Vance with her this time.
Analysis: I didn’t expect Izzi Dame in this spot, but it’s a way to get her some positive momentum after losing earlier in the show.
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail vs. Izzi Dame (w/Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
Dame worked over Hail with shoulder tackles to the ribs against the turnbuckle. Hail had kinesio tape on the left side of the ribs. Dame hit a slam off the shoulders. Hail managed to get a rollup for two. Dame gave Hail a powerslam into the turnbuckle and a powerslam on the mat for two. They went on a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break as Dame took control.
The match continued with Dame stomping on Hail’s injured ribs. Hail came back with a DDT counter. Hail got sunset flip on Dame for a two count. Dame hit a body slam, but she missed an elbow drop. Hail hit a somersault splash. Hail tried back-first splash, but Dame got her knees up and Dame hit a boot to the face for two. Hail tried an armbar, but Dame got out of it by hitting the turnbuckle. Hail hit an Exploder Suplex. Dame went to the floor and Dame hit a Chokeslam on the commentary table. It wasn’t enough to break the table. Dame sent Hail back into the ring. Dame took way too long on the turnbuckle, so Hail stopped her. Hail tried a Kimura Lock by the turnbuckle, but Dame hit a sitout spinebuster called Dame over from the middle turnbuckle, and Dame covered Hail for the win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Women’s North American Champion: Izzi Dame
Analysis: **3/4 It was a decent match with Dame dominating most of the match, Hail tried to fight back throughout the match, but Dame was aggressive and was able to get the decisive win. The match felt flat for some of it, and I don’t think it needed to be as long as it was. Dame is fine as a character and talker, but in-ring sometimes her matches just aren’t as interesting. I feel bad for Hail losing. I think it’s a case of NXT wanting a heel champion, even though the NXT Women’s Title also has a heel champion. I would have liked to see Hail get a long title reign, even though it wasn’t supposed to be a title change when it happened a few weeks ago. Even though Dame lost to Paxley, she got her momentum back with this title win.
Izzi Dame celebrated as the new NXT Women’s North American Champion, and she hugged Vance & Spears. The fans were sad about Hail losing.
Lola Vice was shown backstage watching on a TV. The Vanity Project showed up to hit on her, but Hank & Tank interrupted to get the annoying guys out of there. Lola mentioned she beat Dame recently, and she wants a shot again, but Vice mentioned her issues with Kelani Jordan. That led to Jordan showing up from the dressing room, and she yelled at Vice. The guys held the ladies back.
Joe Hendry approached NXT GM Ava in her office. Joe said he wanted a fight with Darkstate. Hendry said he wanted Dion Lennox in a No DQ Match next week. Ava said that with Darkstate involved, it would turn into a handicap match. Joe said he could find some badasses to make sure it’s a 1-on-1 match, and Ava said okay.
A commercial aired for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal on January 24th and SmackDown on January 23rd, also in Montreal. That’s one week before the Royal Rumble.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Ethan Page
The NXT North American & AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion, Ethan Page, said that we should celebrate him. Page said he’s a big game hunter because he bagged himself a Moose, so he sent him back to TNA. Page said he’s the greatest North American alive. Page said he’s the main event, not Oba Femi or Leon Slater. Page said his title is the most prestigious championship in WWE. Page complained about Femi defending his title in only one part of the world, while Page said that he finds himself a bit of a globetrotter defending his title everywhere. Page called himself an international icon.
The WWE Men’s Speed Champion, Jasper Troy, interrupted. Troy said that Page isn’t the only one who dominated 2025. Troy said he’s the best big man and the monster of NXT. Troy said he ran through everything last year. Troy said that this may be his first title, but it won’t be the last.
Josh Briggs interrupted to say he’s the best big man, not Troy. Briggs told Page to stop wasting his time with losers like Myles Borne and said he was delusional.
Stacks showed up, joined by Arianna Grace. Stacks said that he’s the only person from NXT carrying TNA gold. Stacks said he’s as international as it gets since he’s the TNA International Champion. Stacks said he’s as big as it gets since he is racking up victories in NXT and TNA.
Shiloh Hill was next to join the promo party. Hill mentioned that he was worried that he ruined Stacks’ Christmas. Hill said that Stacks’ TNA International Championship reign won’t last much longer since he’s against Hill for the title next week.
Tavion Heights was next to say that this was his kind of party. Heights said he’s going to challenge Troy for his WWE Speed Title next week on NXT. Page trashed Heights for dropping the ball in his last title match. The wrestlers got into a brawl in the ring. Hill knocked Briggs and Stacks out of the ring. Hill did a dance move on Arianna and then Hill’s tooth fell out on her. Hill tossed Stacks out of the ring.
Analysis: It was a way to get more people on the show talking about how good they are and setting up matches for next week. Page is an outstanding talker and should be on the main roster, while most of the others did okay in terms promos, but nobody stood out. The spot with Shiloh and Arianna did generate some laughs.
The NXT Title match is coming up.
(Commercial)
Joe Hendry spoke to OTM backstage, saying he wants them to watch his back against Dion Lennox of Darkstate. OTM said that they don’t really know him, but now Joe is asking for their help. Joe explained that if they help him, then they can show they deserve a shot at the NXT Tag Team Titles. OTM was okay with it.
Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence saw Sol Ruca and Zaria for some trash-talking. Jayne mentioned Sol being NXT Women’s Wrestler of the Year and was jealous. Zaria and Ruca said they won as a tag team, too. Ruca said she was coming for Jayne’s NXT Women’s Title, and Jayne didn’t seem too worried about it.
Analysis: I’m not sure about the main roster rumors regarding Ruca, but I do think she makes a lot of sense as the next NXT Women’s Champion, perhaps at the Vengeance Day PLE next month.
Ethan Page was shown walking backstage, where he saw Myles Borne. Page wondered where Borne was. It was Myles Borne and Tate Wilder, who is in Evolve. Borne said it was none of his business. Page told Wilder to shut up and learn a thing or two. Page was rude to Borne and mocked his lack of hearing, so it looks like Borne is going after Page.
Next week on NXT:
* No DQ Match: Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox
* Men’s Speed Championship: Jasper Troy vs. Tavion Heights
* Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
* TNA International Championship: Stacks vs. Shiloh Hill
The TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater made his entrance, and the fans popped for him. TNA President Carlos Silva was in the crowd.
(Commercial)
Oba Femi made his entrance as the NXT Champion. The fans were solidly behind the champ by shouting during his song and chanting “Oba” for him.
NXT Championship: Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater
There’s a big size difference since Oba Femi is 310 pounds and the 21-year-old Leon Slater is 198 pounds, which sounds generous.
Femi tossed Slater with a hiptoss across the ring. Femi knocked down Slater with a shoulder tackle. Slater tried to hit Femi with some slaps, but Femi hit a hard slap/chop to the chest to knock Slater down. Slater hit a spin kick and tried a bounce off the ropes, but Femi hit a backbreaker. Femi sent Slater hard into the turnbuckle, leading to Slater bumping over the top to the floor. They went on a break as the match continued with Femi in control. Femi hit a belly-to-back slam onto the ring apron. Femi hit a backbreaker and stretched Slater across the knee. Femi grounded Slater with a chinlock.
Slater finally got some momentum going with a headscissors that sent Femi out of the ring. Slater charged while on the apron, but Femi hit him with a huge chop to the chest. Femi went for a knee strike, but Slater moved and Femi’s left knee hit the ring post. Slater kicked Femi in the left knee two times. Slater shoved Femi in the back and sent Femi into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Slater went up top and hit a cross body block for two. Slater charged right into a Femi clothesline. Femi hit a Chokeslam for a two count. Femi hit two running uppercuts, but then Femi favored the left knee injury. Slater hit a jumping side kick. Slater gave Femi a body slam for a two count. The fans reacted to that as a nearfall. Femi went to the apron, and Slater kicked him down to the floor. Slater dove over the turnbuckle onto Femi on the floor. That was amazing. Back in the ring, Slater went for a Swanton 450, but Femi got the knees up. Femi covered for two and Slater countered it into a crucifix pin for two. Slater kicked Femi, Slater charged and Femi caught him with a Fall From Grace (Popup Powerbomb) for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Oba Femi
Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a great match. What I love about Oba Femi is that he can do everything in a match, including how well he sells a knee injury while he’s on offense in the match. That nearfall when Slater got the crucifix pin attempt also worked really well in terms of the fans buying it as a moment where it looked like Slater might win. Femi could win a match like this in a dominant way, but instead, Slater came close to winning a few times, and that makes it a more enjoyable match. I didn’t expect Slater to win, but he put up a hell of a fight and Femi found a way to win as usual.
Oba Femi celebrated with the NXT Title while a spotlight was on him in the ring, and the lights were out in the rest of the building. Femi kissed the NXT Title.
Ava the NXT GM talked about the wrestlers that have moved up to the main roster while naming Lash Legend, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and Jordynne Grace. Ava spoke to the Evolve wrestlers about how they will have an opportunity to step up. Mr. Stone walked in to ask if Ava saw what Oba just did. She said no.
The NXT Title was in the ring, which meant that Femi put it there and that Femi was leaving NXT. We could see Tony D’Angelo looking on from the crowd. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: There have been videos about Oba Femi on Raw and SmackDown for several weeks, so now it appears as if the NXT Champion Femi is leaving the NXT Title in NXT and going to the main roster. I’ll miss Femi in NXT, but I’m excited about his future.
Opportunity knocks… 👀
Who will step up in 2026 and rise to the top of NXT?! pic.twitter.com/MDqBk2d1p9
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2026
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Three Stars of the Show
- Oba Femi – The champ will be missed in NXT.
- Izzi Dame – She wrestled twice and won gold for the first time. Good job by her.
- Jacy Jayne, Kendal Grey, Leon Slater
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
An enjoyable show with good matches. It was a four match card with just one men’s match and three women’s matches, so the women’s division led the way again. I thought the Femi/Slater match was the best, while most of the others were pretty good too.
It’s a newsworthy start to 2026 for NXT with wrestlers going to the main roster, including Oba Femi. That’s the big one, of course. I think NXT is going to have a tough time filling some of the spots because of how many big names from the brand are being called up to the main roster at once, but I hope the wrestlers on the brand now and the ones coming from Evolve will step up and be able to continue putting on a good show.
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
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Twitter/X @johnreport