The John Report: WWE NXT 01/13/26 Review
This week’s WWE NXT features Joe Hendry facing Dion Lennox, Lola Vice taking on Kelani Jordan, and news about the vacant NXT Title.
The NXT brand is going through some changes with several big names going to the main roster in recent weeks. Oba Femi hasn’t officially debuted on Raw or SmackDown yet, but it’s coming soon since he vacated the NXT Title on NXT last week. Going into this week, there are a lot of questions about how NXT will crown a new NXT Champion. I think the brand is going be hurting for a bit in terms of talent losses, but it’s time for others to step up too.
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.
A video package aired about last week’s NXT New Year’s Evil episode.
Let’s Hear from Ava
The NXT GM Ava was in the ring doing a promo. Male wrestlers surrounded the ring. Ava said that Oba Femi vacating the NXT Title means the men’s division is wide open and she can’t wait to see who steps up. Ava said there is no better moment than right now.
Ricky Saints, the former NXT Champion, made his entrance to boos and he joined Ava in the ring. Ricky said he ran the Stand & Deliver main event right out of NXT, so that’s an absolute hat trick. Ricky said he got rid of Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams and Oba Femi, who is afraid of Ricky. Ricky claimed he is the then, now and forever. The fans booed. Ricky said that we have some really talented men around the ring right now. Ricky said we can only assume he’ll be the 2-time NXT Champion when Ava hands the title over to him.
Ava said that Ricky deserves an opportunity, but no more than these other men who said the exact same thing. Ava said that on February 3rd, there will be a 6-man Ladder Match, and whoever climbs the ladder and pulls this NXT Title down will become the new NXT Champion. Ava said that qualifying matches begin next week and she can’t wait to see who steps up to make this their own. Ava put the NXT Title on the apparatus, and it went up.
Analysis: A Shawn Michaels booked promotion doing a Ladder Match to crown a champion? How fitting. I like how they are going to build it up and do it on February 3rd, which means they have three weeks to set it up, and the new champion will likely defend the gold at the Deadline PLE later in February. Ava’s promo skills aren’t great, but she got through this fine.
The wrestlers around the ring got into a brawl and they fought in the ring and on the floor. New NXT signee Keanu Carver launched a couple of dudes. Carver gave Brooks Jensen a Powerbomb through the table. Carver launched Jackson Drake over the top onto some guys on the floor. Carver was the only man standing in the ring while Ricky Saints was in the aisle.
Analysis: Welcome Keanu Carver to NXT. He was a big deal in Evolve, and clearly, it looks like he’ll be a guy that is pushed strongly in NXT, which I don’t mind because he’s a fresh face who is impressive to watch.
The Lola Vice-Kelani Jordan match was next since both women were watching backstage.
The WrestleMania 42 commercial aired.
(Commercial)
Ava was on the phone talking to somebody when Tony D’Angelo was shown walking in the background. Mr. Stone informed Ava that Blake Monroe was there, and Ava wasn’t thrilled about it.
It was Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary as usual. Mike Rome is the ring announcer.
Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
Jordan attacked Vice early on with a shot to the left arm and then a slingshot dive onto Vice on the floor. Back in the ring, Vice punched Jordan in the ribs to get some offense going. Jordan hit a spinning kick to the left leg. Jordan was in control with kicks to the ribs. Vice kicked Jordan in the ribs and they exchanged pin attempts. After Vice hit some strikes to the body, Jordan slapped Vice in the face. Jordan clotheslined Vice to put her down on the floor. They went on a break for some fans and I’ll take a break too as Jordan took control.
They did a double kick spot at the same time to put each woman down. Jordan and Vice each hit roundhouse kicks, followed by Vice hitting a German Suplex. Vice hit repeated kicks to the body, followed by the “I’m a Latina” running hit attack attempt, but Jordan bailed to the floor. Vice hit a leg lariat onto Jordan on the floor. Vice hit her running hip attack against the turnbuckle. Vice applied a Sleeper hold on the mat, but Jordan countered it for a two count. Jordan hit a jumping side kick. Jordan hit a Frog Splash off the top rope for a two count. Jordan went for the moonsault off the top, so Vice caught her and applied an armbar. Jordan came back with a spinning Angle Slam. Jordan went up top and went for a 450 Splash, but Vice avoided it. Jordan got a rollup and grabbed the tights, but the referee, Chip Danning, spotted it and stopped it. Jordan complained, so Vice hit a spinning back fist on Jordan for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Lola Vice
Analysis: ***1/4 They worked hard and it was an entertaining match that was given plenty of time. The key spot of the match was Jordan trying to cheat to win, the referee saw it, Jordan complained, and Vice hit a spinning back fist for the decisive win. It’s likely the end of this rivalry since Vice won this match.
Lola Vice spoke into the camera, saying she’s coming after the NXT Women’s Title held by Jacy Jayne.
Kelani Jordan was featured in a video talking about how he’s going to win the WWE Speed Title.
Jasper Troy was in a video package saying he didn’t need five minutes and Tavion’s momentum is a dead end tonight.
(Commercial)
WWE Speed Championship: Jasper Troy vs. Tavion Heights
There’s a 5-minute time limit since it’s a championship match. Heights was aggressive early with a dropkick. Troy ran over Heights with a body attack and three splashes in a row. Troy hit a running splash on Heights. Troy hit a backbreaker for a two count. Heights worked over Troy with punches and Heights hit a body slam. Heights hit a running clothesline, along with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Heights went up top and hit a Splash for two. Heights tried at Troy, who hit a Black Hole Slam for the pinfall at 4:08.
Winner by pinfall: Jasper Troy
Analysis: ** Easy win by Jasper Troy. Tavion Heights got some offense in the match, but I didn’t expect a title change here. I’m not a huge fan of the Speed matches, but at least the title matches are longer than the regular matches.
After the match, Lexis King did a cheap attack on Heights. King hit The Coronation on Heights.
There was a backstage scene with Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey arguing with Sol Ruca & Zaria. The NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne was in Ava’s office talking to Ava, so all the women went into Ava’s office to stand in a line. Ava said one of the NXT tag teams are going to get a shot at the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles. The teams of Fatal Influence, Wren Sinclair/Kendal Grey and Sol Ruca/Zaria argued.
(Commercial)
Lexis King was backstage talking to Chase U about how great he was and how he sent a message. Andre Chase said it was a teachable moment on what not to do. Stacks and Arianna Grace put over King for dropping knowledge. Chase U left. Stacks assured King he’s got this.
Myles Borne was also backstage, and he talked to Mr. Stone about wanting to be in a qualifying match. Stone said he’d talk to Ava about it.
A video package aired about high-flying French wrestler Elio Lefleur. He’s coming to NXT, and he’s here to slash the sky.
Ethan Page congratulated Ava for signing The Vanity Project. Page wondered when he would have a qualifying match. Ava said she can put him in the qualifying match, but then he’d have to hand over the NXT North American Title. Page bragged about his title reign. Ava praised Page, saying that the title deserves the spotlight, and it will be defended next week against Elio Lefleeur in his debut match. Page wasn’t happy about it.
Analysis: So much talking. So many people. Anyway, Page against Lefleur should be fun.
Blake Monroe was shown walking backstage for a segment up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Blake Monroe
The glamorous Blake Monroe made her entrance looking fashionable as usual. Black was kicked out last week for attacking NXT Women’s North American Champion Thea Hail. Blake said last week she tried to reclaim her championship, yet she attacked Thea Hail. Blake said it was a travesty that she had to compete in the first place. Blake said they turned into controversy and chaos. Blake said she was in the middle of the conversation, and the narrative changed as if she were the problem. Blake claimed that when you’re as talented as she is, people don’t know what to do with you. Blake said she is the standard. Blake said she’s the most complete woman in the NXT, and claimed that nobody compares to her. Blake said every move she makes is monumental. Blake said that the spotlight exists because she wants it to. Blake said she lost patience last week with the system. Blake said she’ll let the other women borrow some of her shine. Blake said there are stars and then…there’s an interruption.
Jaida Parker is back and the fans cheered for her as she made her way into the ring. The fans chanted “Ms. Parker” for her. Blake tried to ask what Parker was doing there, so Parker punched her. Parker set up Blake against the turnbuckle. Parker hit a hip drop on Blake’s ribs and some high-stepping. Parker hit Hipnotic to knock Blake off the apron.
Analysis: Welcome back, Jaida. She is very talented and needs a push, so I certainly don’t mind seeing her interacting with Blake Monroe like that. Blake’s promo was fitting for an arrogant heel like her. I hope Jaida becomes NXT Women’s Champion this year. She has improved so much over the last year and has the personality that the fans love, so let’s see her get that push.
Shiloh Hill was featured in a video package talking about his great 2025 as the LFG Season 2 Winner and joining NXT. Hill told some stories about his childhood and his issues with Stacks, leading to their match.
The TNA International Champion Stacks made his entrance, joined by fiancée Arianna Grace.
(Commercial)
Darkstate was featured in a video package. Cutler James said that they are four men working together and no one is safe. Osiris Griffin talked about beating everybody in their path. Saquon Shugars said that anybody who steps up gets taken out. Shugars said that you don’t know what they are capable of. Dion Lennox issued a warning to Joe Hendry, saying he asked for what’s coming to him. Shugars warned OTM. They said when Darkstate strikes, ain’t nobody safe.
Analysis: That was a good video. The presentation of Darkstate has been terrific since they started in NXT.
TNA International Championship: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (w/Arianna Grace) vs. Shiloh Hill
Stacks kissed Grace and then she slapped Hill, who laughed about it. Hill hit a hiptoss across the ring. Stacks worked over Hill with strikes, but a splash missed and Hill got a rollup for two. Stack and Hill took turns applying armbars. Hill gave Stacks a back body drop over the top to the floor. Stacks spun around the ropes and hit a clothesline on the floor. Hill charged at Stacks, but Grace moved him and Hill’s attack missed. Hill was able to recover and hit a somersault dive onto Stacks on the floor. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued for a few minutes.
Stacks was in control for most of the action during the break and he continued on offense with stomps on Hill against the turnbuckle. Stacks hit a knee to the ribs and a forearm smash for two. Hill got some offense going with a spinning powerslam. Hill took his tooth out, so that’s his way of firing up and Hill hit a shoulder tackle. Hill hit a spinning slam and a senton splash for a two count. Stacks came back with punches to the ribs and a running forearm to the back while Hill was against the ropes. Stacks hit a gutbuster onto the knees for two. Stacks went for a running kick, Hill avoided it and Hill left the ring to put his arm around Grace, who freaked out about it. Stacks tried a pin and an assist from Grace, but the referee saw it. Hill got a sunset flip for two and an inside cradle for two. Grace kicked the guys to put Stacks on top for the inside cradle and that was enough for the 3 count. The referee didn’t see Grace interfere. It went 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
Analysis: *** It ended up being a pretty good match. I liked Hill getting some nearfalls, and the finish was set up well. Stacks is a solid performer and knows how to work as a heel with Grace helping him cheat to win. There aren’t many pairings like that in WWE, so it allows them to stand out a bit. Hill has potential as a babyface with unique quirks, so he’s somebody to keep an eye on in the future.
Izzi Dame was up next.
(Commercial)
A clip aired from the new season of WWE Unreal, Season 2, which premieres on January 20th on Netflix.
Let’s Hear From Izzi Dame
The new NXT Women’s North American Champion, Izzi Dame, made her entrance for a promo. The fans chanted “Tatum” at her. Dame claimed this was our new reality because she is the new NXT Women’s North American Champion, and not Thea Hail, Tatum Paxley, or Blake Monroe. Hail said she’s not going to give the same story about how she finally got her opportunity.
Dame said this was not stumbling into success because she outsmarted everybody else. Dame admitted she lost to Tatum Paxley, but after that, she was backstage learning and figuring out how this place was run. Dame said that loss brought her clarity. Dame said that she is standing where she has planned to be all along. Dame said that last week proved she is always three steps ahead and she engineered her opportunity. Dame mentioned other women like Lola Vice and Thea Hail wanting shots at her title. Dame said she’s in control of when and how anybody gets close to this title. Dame said that you love Paxley, but love isn’t enough to keep somebody on top. Dame said that she’s a champion because she pulls the trigger without hesitation. Dame said if you think you are coming for this title, you are walking into a trap…and here comes Tatum Paxley.
Tatum Paxley ran down to the ring and tackled Dame, but the referees were there to break it up. Paxley headbutted referee Chip Danning while Dame was out of the ring, and other referees held Paxley back.
Analysis: Izzi Dame is a solid promo, but as a character, it’s just very slow-paced and deliberate. She’s not the kind of heel that jumps off the page or stands out that much, at least in my opinion. For example, I think Blake Monroe is a lot more interesting as a heel, and I like her promos more. With that said, Dame has improved a lot over the years, so I am happy she got a title. Anyway, it should lead to yet another Paxley-Dame match at some point soon, but Paxley headbutting a referee is bad for her, at least in terms of the story.
Ricky Saints was interviewed by Kelly Kincaid, who asked Ricky if he had cooled off since his promo. Ricky said he talked to Ava, saying he’s in the Ladder Match and he didn’t have to qualify. Ricky mentioned qualifying matches next week: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight and Josh Briggs vs. Shiloh Hill. Stacks and Arianna Grace interrupted. Stacks complained about Hill being in a qualifying match instead of him. Ricky said yeah because you needed the girl to win the match, but you still have a title and the girl. Ricky left. Lexis King showed up to tell Stacks that they should talk.
The Joe Hendry-Dion Lennox main event match was next.
(Commercial)
Tatum Paxley was shown backstage getting kicked out of the building because she hit an official.
The Vanity Project was interviewed by Blake Howard. They said that they have signed their NXT contracts. Jackson Drake said it’s a dream come true for all three of them. Drake assumes he’ll be in a NXT Title qualifying match since he’s the Evolve Champion. Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes spoke about facing Chase U next week. Keanu Carver walked by, so The Vanity Project ran away, and Keanu yelled at the camera guy for being in his face.
Analysis: The Vanity Project is an annoying group of guys in their early 20s, so they should fit in well with the younger crowd in NXT. Carver has the look of a badass, so hopefully he succeeds in NXT. I think as a character, Carver will stand out.
Next week on NXT:
* NXT Championship Ladder Match Qualifer: Josh Briggs vs. Shiloh Hill
* NXT Championship Ladder Match Qualifer: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight
* NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page vs. Elio Lefleur
* Triple Threat Tag Team Match: Zaruca vs. Wrengcc vs. Fatal Influence
Analysis: I’ll go with Briggs and Legacy winning those matches qualifying matches. Page should beat Elio, but if they want to make Elio a star right away then he might win and Page could move on to going after the NXT Title. The women’s tag is tough to predict, but I’ll go with Sol Ruca & Zaria winning.
It was main event time with Dion Lennox joined by his Darkstate buddies. Joe Hendry walked out alone, and he was joined by OTM, who are now babyfaces and they confronted Darkstate, so Darkstate backed off. Booker T loves the Hendry song and did some singing again.
No Disqualification Match: Joe Hendry (w/Lucien Price & Bronco Nima) vs. Dion Lennox (w/Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars & Cutler James)
Joe was in control early on with an elbow smash and a neckbreaker. Dion came back with some uppercuts to knock Joe down. Dion hit a backbreaker. When Dion went to the ropes, Joe went after him and they exchanged punches, which led to Dion punching Joe down. Joe popped back up with a superplex off the middle turnbuckle. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued. Joe sent Dion face first into the turnbuckle a few times, followed by a suplex for two. Joe hit a snapmare into a chinlock. Dion sent Joe throat first across the top rope and hit a knee drop. Dion hit a clothesline for a two count. Dion grabbed a headlock as the show returned from break.
It was a No DQ Match, and they haven’t used any weapons so far, as Dion sent Joe into the turnbuckle. Drion grabbed another chinlock. Dion sent Joe into the turnbuckle again. Shugars put a chair against the turnbuckle, but Joe sent Dion into the chair instead, so Shugars bumped to the floor. Joe was handed brass knuckles from Nima, and Joe punched Dion with the brass knuckles for a two-count. Joe hit a fallaway slam and the crowd came alive with “We Believe” chants. James handed Dion a kendo stick, and Dion hit Joe with the kendo stick several times in the back. Joe worked over Dion with kendo stick shots to the body. Joe hit the Standing Ovation, so Darkstate pulled Joe off the pin and saved Dion. Dion hit a sitout Powerbomb for two, so OTM pulled him off the cover. Price and Nima punched Dion to knock him down. The three Darkstate guys fought with the two OTM guys. They eventually fought out of the ring and went fighting to the back. Dion set up a table against the turnbuckle. Joe and Dion each had chairs, they hit the chairs against eachother and Dion hit a spinebuster on a chair for two. Joe gave Dion a Standing Ovation onto a chair for a two count. Dion came back with a Spear through the table that was against the turnbuckle. Dion covered and Joe kicked out at two. Tony D’Angelo went into the ring and hit Dion with a chair to the back. Tony hit a huge spinebuster on Dion. Tony picked up Joe and Tony hit Joe with a spinebuster too. Tony put Joe on top of Dion for the pinfall win. It went about 14 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Joe Hendry
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good main event match that picked up as the match went on. The OTM guys helped Joe while getting a piece of Darkstate to set up that tag team feud. Tony D’Angelo showed that he’s about himself and not a babyface or a heel at this point as he attacked both guys, but he did help Hendry get the win. Lennox continues to show that he can be a top guy in NXT while Hendry obviously has the experience after being in a top guy in TNA. It’s easy to like Joe, so putting him in the main event scene in NXT makes sense.
Tony D’Angelo stood alone in the ring, so Ava brought some security guys into the ring. Tony D beat up the security guys, who are just trainee wrestlers. Tony D hit German Suplexes and spinebusters. Tony left the ring, stared at Ava and walked to the back.
Analysis: I don’t know exactly where the story is going for Tony D’Angelo, but I think he’ll be in the NXT Title picture. I think the NXT Champion will probably be Ricky Saints or maybe Joe Hendry and Tony D will be in the hunt after that.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Joe Hendry
- Lola Vice
- Kelani Jordan and Dion Lennox
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The Scoreboard
This week: 6.75 out of 10
Last week: 7.5
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
The show was solid with some good matches, but I wasn’t that into it. It felt like way too much talking this week. The star power that has left has hurt NXT a lot and I think it’s going to be an average show until they figure some things out.
In terms of matches, the Vice/Jordan match was pretty good, and I enjoyed the Hendry/Lennox main event. I like Stacks with Grace, so that match with Hill was fine too.
The resolution to the NXT Title situation is a 6-man Ladder Match in 3 weeks on February 3rd. That’s something NXT has done many times in the past when it comes to crowning a new champion, so I’m not surprised they are going that route again.
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John Canton
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Twitter/X @johnreport