The John Report: WWE NXT 04/01/25 Review
This week on WWE NXT featured Trick Williams calling out Oba Femi, Shawn Spears facing Ricky Saints, and more.
The NXT brand continues on the road to Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 19th, and it should be one of their biggest shows of the year. Last week’s show saw Stephanie Vaquer successfully retain the NXT Women’s Title and NXT Women’s North American Title on the same night. It ended with Jordynne Grace getting in Vaquer’s face to let Stephanie know that Grace was coming for the gold.
I’ll go summary style for most of the show and play-by-play for a match or two.
They are at the WWE Performance Center 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.
There was some pre-show walking shown of Ricky Saints and Shawn Spears with The Culling.
It was Vic Joseph, Booker T & Corey Graves on commentary as usual for NXT.
Let’s Hear from Ava and Stephanie Vaquer
Ava, the NXT GM, was in the ring with Stephanie Vaquer, who had her two titles with her. Ava said that she has talked with Stephanie and they have decided together that she can’t be defending both titles at the same time. Ava said that Stephanie will give up the Women’s North American Title. Ava said that at Stand & Deliver, they will have a 6-woman Ladder Match to crown a new NXT Women’s North American Champion.
Vaquer said she wanted to push the women’s division, not stop it. Stephanie said she’ll give up the North American Title as long as Vaquer gets to pick who she faces at Stand & Deliver for the NXT Women’s Title. Ava said that’s fine.
Analysis: I’m not surprised by Vaquer having to give up the NXT Women’s North American Title because wrestlers are rarely double champions for that long. They have a stacked women’s division in NXT, so a 6-woman Ladder match at Stand & Deliver should be great and it’s a way to crown a woman who hasn’t been a champion before.
Jordynne Grace interrupted to say that we can focus on the match that everybody has been looking forward to. Grace said for the first time ever on NXT’s biggest stage, it should be the Juggernaut against La Primera.
Jaida Parker interrupted Grace and joined Vaquer, Grace and Ava in the ring. Parker said if Grace stayed on the ground where Parker left her ass last week, Parker would have beat Vaquer and left with the NXT Women’s Title. Parker said it was this close and Stephanie knows it. Grace said that Parker fumbled her opportunity. Grace trashed Parker by saying she had never held a championship and told her that she had to go to the back of the line. Vaquer said it looks like they need to work this out. Grace knocked Parker out of the ring. Security guys went into the ring and Grace tossed one of the security guys over the top onto others on the floor.
Analysis: That’s an easy way to set up a Grace-Parker match. Grace is right that Parker had her shot already, but that had a controversial ending, so it makes sense for Parker to complain about it.
Trick Williams was shown on Instagram on NXT from this past weekend. Trick said he was going to call out Oba Femi in the ring.
The NXT Champion Oba Femi was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Femi said he didn’t care about what Trick had to say. Femi said tonight Trick is going to get his final verdict and Trick will find out why you don’t call out The Ruler.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of the women’s locker room where NXT women’s wrestlers talked about wanting to be the next Women’s North American Champion. Cora Jade commented to Lola Vice about Lola wanting to shake her ass and the women argued some more.
NXT Women’s North American Title Ladder Match Qualifier: Zaria (w/Sol Ruca) vs. Lash Legend (w/Jakara Jackson)
There were some hard slaps exchanged between Zaria and Lash to show off their power. Lash hit a very hard slap that drew a big reaction. Lash took control with a body slam. Lash gave Zaria a pump kick out of the ring. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued. Lash was in control for a few minutes during the break.
Lash nailed Zaria with a forearm smash to the head and Lash did a Torture Rack submission, but Zaria got out of it. They ran the ropes leading to a double clothesline spot. Zaria hit an impressive suplex. Lash went for a Powerbomb, but Zaria hit a headscissors, pump kick and a German Suplex. Lash hit a Chokeslam for two. Zaria avoided a pump kick and Zaria hit a Spear. Zaria lifted Lash and Zaria hit her version of an F5 for the pinfall win after about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Zaria
Analysis: *** They had a good match with Lash dominating a lot of the match while Zaria did a nice job of coming back. I’m a fan of Zaria and Lash so I want to see both of them in the Ladder Match, but there are only so many spots in the deep women’s division. It felt like a fight with big shots from both women, but Zaria managed to use her power to find a way to win. Since Lash is mostly a tag team wrestler, it made sense for Zaria to win.
The tag team of Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura were watching on a TV while Inamura talked about wanting to compete on Stand & Deliver. Wes Lee was with Tyriek & Tyson. Lee was bragging about how he’s won at Stand & Deliver. Inamura said that Lee used to fight with honor. They argued and agreed to a match.
Up next, we find out what The D’Angelo Family has found out about Darkstate.
There was a commercial about WWE Evolve, which airs Wednesdays on Tubi in the US and YouTube internationally. I honestly haven’t watched it, but it’s good that it exists to give talent some opportunities to compete in front of the cameras.
(Commercial)
Kelani Jordan was talking to Ava in the NXT GM’s office when Roxanne Perez interrupted. Jordan and Perez both said they would be in the NXT Women’s North American Title Ladder Match. The women were arguing, so Ava informed them that they were in a qualifying match later.
Tony D’Angelo was with The Family talking about the Darkstate group. Luka Crusifino talked about Dion Lennox being smart and a former football player. They put over Lennox for acting like he was a bookworm kind of guy, but he really was a mastermind behind this group. Luka talked about Osiris Griffin being a linebacker in football. Adrianna Rizzo talked about Cutler James being a college wrestler from Duke. Tony D said that he was like a wannabe John Wick. Stacks spoke about Saquon Shugars as a city kid from DC who did wrestling and people listen to him because he’s a smooth talker. Tony D said they sound like four legit badasses. Stacks said they need to fight fire with fire. Tony said that this is his temper talking. Tony said that Stacks’ last plan didn’t work out for Tony, so he needs Stacks to trust Tony and Stacks said he can trust him. Tony said he’ll review everything, he appreciates the intel and told them to keep their phones on. The group dispersed while Stacks stared at Tony before leaving.
Analysis: It was a good way to give some background info on the Darkstate guys. They are all good athletes who competed in different sports before making it to NXT and now they are together. I also think we might see Stacks turn on Tony D in this angle and maybe Stacks will be an ally or even a leader of the new Darkstate group.
Hank & Tank were backstage talking to Pretty Deadly, who had them dressed like PD with the unique half tops. Pretty Deadly encouraged them to be a team and they ahd to feel it. Hank & Tank said they felt something. No Quarter Catch Crew said that they are going to get their asses kicked again. Hank & Tank took off the unique tops and left. Pretty Deadly told Hank & Tank they have still got this.
Analysis: It was Hank & Tank getting more tag team advice even though it was an awkward look from the PD guys.
(Commercial)
There was a video package about The Culling group. It was Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Izzi Dame talking to Shawn Spears about how he brought them together as a family and they support Spears as the NXT North American Champion. Spears said those skills and traits they have, he’ll use to vanquish Ricky Saints.
No Quarter Catch Crew – Myles Borne & Tavion Heights (w/Charles Dempsey & Wren Sinclair) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger
The NQCC guys were in control early, but Tank hit a slam followed by some tag team moves with Hank. They did a Pretty Deadly leg drop/splash combo. Hank & Tank did their double team splash on Heights for two. Borne and Heights took over after a double team move, so they worked over Hank. Tank got the hot tag and hit an impressive suplex on Heights and a clothesline on Borne. Tank hit a spinebuster on Heights for two because Borne made the save. Borne dropkicked Hank when Hank & Tank tried the Pretty Deadly finisher. Heights and Borne hit a neckbreaker/DDT combo on Tank and Borne covered for the win. It went about six minutes.
Winners by pinfall: No Quarter Catch Crew – Myles Borne & Tavion Heights
Analysis: **3/4 A decent TV tag team match that wasn’t too long, but it went long enough to tell a story. Heights and Borne work well as a team. Poor Hank & Tank. I thought they were being built up to be future champions, but instead, this was another loss for them.
Trick Williams was shown walking backstage for a promo up next.
(Commercial)
There was a video package about memorable Triple H entrances during his legendary career. It was done to promote Triple H in the WWE Hall of Fame this year.
Let’s Hear from Trick Williams
Trick Williams made his entrance with the fans singing “Whoop That Trick” for him while Booker T did the adlibs on his way to the ring. Trick said even though Oba Femi is the NXT Champion, Trick said he’s still the man in NXT. Trick said he fought for this, he sacrificed for this and he lost a brother for this. Trick said that he did this for it to become the Whoop That Era and he said that “I am him.” Trick said that he knows there are haters in the back who don’t want him to get back to the top.
Je’Von Evans walked into ring and Trick said it was time for the grown folks to start talking. Evans said he understood Trick now. Evans said that this time last year, Trick was like Evans is now. Evans said Trick became NXT’s golden child and just like Trick, Evans wants that number one spot. Evans said he didn’t need to break out of somebody’s shadow to get that number one spot because he is ready right now. Trick said that Evans is in Trick’s shadow right now. Trick talked about how Evans can’t hold the title like Trick can hold the title. Evans said that Trick didn’t know who he was and Evans said you ain’t Trick Williams because you’re Carmelo Hayes. The fans popped for that since Melo was Trick’s former best friend. Evans said that Melo told Trick this stuff a year ago and Evans said it makes him a hypocrite. Evans said he’s done something that nobody else has done and that’s drop Oba Femi
The NXT Champion Oba Femi walked out to dare Evans to say that to his face. Femi got into the ring. Evans said that he only needed one more second to change history at Deadline. Evans said he almost had the NXT Championship. Femi said that Evans is a small boy with big dreams and aspirations. Femi said Evans may be the future of NXT, but his success won’t come at the expense of Femi. Femi said that you live in the present and the now and the now belongs to Oba Femi.
Trick said that at Stand & Deliver, it should be Trick against Femi for the NXT Title. Trick told Evans to excuse himself. Femi said if Trick spent less time talking then he would be champion right now. Femi said that he can see that both of them want a shot at the championship.
The NXT GM Ava announced that at Stand & Deliver, Femi will defend the NXT Championship against Trick and Evans in a triple threat match. Trick punched Evans in the face. Femi punched Trick and Femi clotheslined Trick over the top rope to the floor.
Analysis: A huge match for Stand & Deliver. Femi has been in a bunch of triple threat matches and they are usually great. It was obvious that Trick was getting a title shot at Stand & Deliver and I don’t mind Evans being in that spot either. Since Trick won his feud with Thorpe and Evans won his feud with Page, both guys deserve title shots. It should be an awesome match and maybe there will be a title change without Femi getting pinned. Perhaps Evans will pin Trick to win. I think Trick will be on the main roster soon.
The lights went out as the Darkstate guys appeared in the building. The four Darkstate guys went into the ring and punched Femi. Evans was in the ring, so they beat him up with punches too. There was a double back body drop on Evans. Femi was kicked out of the ring. The lights came on with Trick surrounded by the Darkstate guys and Trick tried to fight them. Cutler and Griffin tossed Trick in the air so that Lennox and Shugars could give a double Powerbomb to Trick. Darkstate celebrated over a fallen Trick.
Analysis: The strong build for Darkstate continues with another attack on some big names on NXT. I liked how that was done.
(Commercial)
Andre Chase was getting checked on by WWE doctor, who told Chase he had a cracked rib and he’s not sure when he’ll be cleared. Urijah Connors and Kale Dixon had a wheelchair for Chase and said they’d drive him home. Chase said maybe they aren’t so bad after all.
There was a fight backstage between Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace. Parker sent Grace into a garage door. Parker went for a hip attack, but Grace moved and Parker hit the door. Referees showed up to break it up.
Analysis: They are doing a nice job of building that Parker-Grace match.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom were talking to Hank & Tank backstage. Frazer told Hank & Tank they have lost what they had. Axiom wanted Frazer to be supportive. Axiom said he wished they had a friendship like Hank & Tank, so Hank & Tank left. These NXT Evolve wrestlers Brad Bailey & Ricky Smokes aka Swipe Right talked to Frazer & Axiom. Swipe Right talked to Frazer & Axiom about how they are like the Hardy Boyz to them. Frazer suggested they have a match next week, so it was agreed to. Swipe Right said some more annoying things and left.
Analysis: The Swipe Right guys make me feel really old. I don’t know much about them, but they look very young.
NXT Women’s North American Title Ladder Match Qualifier: Roxanne Perez vs. Kelani Jordan
They did some mat wrestling to start with neither woman getting the advantage and they had a staredown. There was a break while the action continued here on Netflix. Perez was in control with an armbar and went for some pin attempts.
Perez took control with a hair whip takedown. Jordan hit a dropkick along with a handstand by the turnbuckle leading to a leg drop for two. Perez took over after sending Jordan into the ring post. Perez stomped on Jordan’s left hand/arm while on the apron, but on the replay it looks less devastating. After Jordan tried to get some offense going, Perez kicked Jordan into the turnbuckle. Perez kept attacking Jordan’s left arm and Perez suplexed Jordan onto the arm. They went to another break for some fans as the action continued. It was Perez in control for a few minutes, including a cross body block on the floor. Jordan came back with a dropkick and a slingshot cross body block on the floor.
Jordan hit a sitout facebuster for a two count. Perez hit an impressive move where she did a cartwheel that led to her knee hitting Jordan in the head and it got a two count. Jordan kicked Perez in the knee and hit a DDT. Jordan hit a One of a Kind split-legged moonsault off the top onto Perez for the pinfall win after 15 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kelani Jordan
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match that was very even most of the way and an impressive win by Jordan. Perez did a nice job of working over Jordan’s arm for most of the match. That was a long match that was longer than I thought it was going to be. Perez continues to lose matches like when she lost to the likes Giulia and Jordynne Grace. That’s because Perez is likely going to be on the main roster post-WrestleMania, so losing on her way out of NXT makes sense.
That means that Kelani Jordan and Zaria are the first two women to qualify for the Women’s NXT North American Title Ladder Match.
Ava the NXT GM was in her office talking to Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner. Ava was frustrated about Darkstate, so she put them in a match next week Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Je-Von Evans.
Analysis: A big match for next week with Darkstate making their debut.
Ricky Saints was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Ricky said he’s not worried about the past because he’s worried about the future. Ricky said that Spears will see that the revolution will be televised because Saints will be the NXT North American Champion tonight.
(Commercial)
There was a backstage segment with Zaria talking to Sol Ruca. Kelani Jordan walked in saying that she’s going to win the Ladder Match. Sol said it will be either Zaria or Sol who wins. Sol said that she has a qualifying match next week. Jordan said that nice girls finish last. Sol said Jordan won’t drive a wedge between them – Zaruca. Jordan left. Zaria said she didn’t mind that name.
Analysis: I think Sol should definitely be in the Ladder Match and that she or Zaria may win it. I’d be fine with either of them as the next champion.
The Darkstate boys were outside the arena saying nobody is safe. They laughed about how they will face three of the top dogs of NXT. Shugars said they were four men with one goal.
Next week on NXT:
* Oba Femi, Trick Williams & Je’von Evans vs. Three members of Darkstate
* Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker
It was main event time with Ricky Saints up first and the fans were cheering for him. The NXT North American Champion Shawn Spears made his entrance, joined by his group known as The Culling.
NXT North American Championship: Shawn Spears (w/Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Izzi Dame) vs. Ricky Starks
Spears won the title 28 days earlier while this is Ricky’s first title match in NXT. Some fans were chanting “Tony Fumbled” in reference to AEW’s Tony Khan. Booker complained about Saints getting a title shot while Vic said Ricky beat Ridge Holland so he deserved it.
Spears bailed to the floor, so Starks hit him with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Starks hit a dropkick. They left the ring again where Ricky hit a back body drop on the floor. Ricky walked the barricade followed by a punch to Spears’ head. They went to break for some fans as the action continued. They were back in the ring, Ricky went up top and Spears tossed him down with a belly-to-belly suplex across the ring. Spears hit a backbreaker. They left the ring again where Spears tried to send Ricky into the steel steps, Ricky avoided that and Spears hit a superkick. Spears gave Ricky a backbreaker onto the top of the steel steps. Ouch. Spears worked over Ricky while I heard the ref say “we’re back” to tell the guys when the break was over.
The action continued with Spears sending Ricky hard into the turnbuckle. Spears hit a body slam. Spears went up top for nothing, Ricky went after him and hit Spears with some forearms to the head. Ricky gave Spears a superplex off the top, but it was more like a Jackhammer suplex into the ring. The fans got into it with a “this is awesome” chant. Ricky worked over Spears with punches along with two punches and a jumping kick. Ricky hit a running elbow smash. Spears blocked a move, but Ricky hit a spinebuster. Ricky tried a move, so Spears rolled out of the ring to avoid it. Ricky hit a Tornado DDT on the floor. Ricky sent Spears into the ring, Vance distracted the referee, Dame handed Spears the title and Spears hit Ricky with the title to the head. The referee didn’t see it. Spears covered Ricky for one…two…no! Ricky kicked out for the big kickout. Spears went for C4, Ricky avoided it and Ricky hit his own version of the C4. Ricky brought Jensen into the ring and clotheslined him out of the ring. Ricky hit a Spear on Niko on the floor. Back in the ring, Ricky hit a Spear on Spears. Ricky hit the Roshambo running reverse powerslam on Spears for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT North American Champion: Ricky Starks
Analysis: ***1/4 There’s a big title change with Ricky winning his first title in NXT. It wasn’t a long match, but it was given enough time and it was pretty good action. Spears held the title for just 28 days, so it’s fair to call him a transitional champion. I thought a title change was possible, but it wasn’t my official prediction because Spears had a short reign as the champion. Ricky was on fire in this match while Spears had that one great nearfall with the title shot for two and then it was Ricky taking care of the guys outside the ring before finally putting away Spears to win. If they had another five more minutes it could have been a better match for sure, but they made the most of the time given to them.
Ricky Starks was presented with the NXT North American Championship and Ricky looked emotional about it. They replayed the key spots in the final minutes of the match.
Ricky Starks was standing in the ring with his title, but Ethan Page showed up and hit his Twisted Grin cutter to drop Ricky. Page held up the NXT North American Title over a fallen Ricky. The fans chanted “Tony fumbled” again as another former AEW star was in the ring. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: It obviously sets up Ricky against Page at Stand & Deliver and they’ll probably make it official next week. I can see Page going to the main roster in the next WWE Draft assuming that’s in May, so Page can put over Ricky on his way off the NXT brand. It should be a fun match.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Ricky Saints
- Kelani Jordan/Roxanne Perez
- Shawn Spears
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2025 Average: 7.50
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
I liked the show this week. I thought the second half was excellent. It was a lot better than the first half thanks to the Perez-Jordan and Saints-Spears matches. Plus, the segment with Femi, Trick and Evans was interesting along with the Darkstate guys.
The first half was going through the motions a bit and not as interesting to me.
I’m glad we got to find out some Stand & Deliver matches as well. I’m looking forward to that show.
The next WWE NXT PLE is Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 19th in Las Vegas. Here’s the lineup so far:
* NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Trick Williams vs. Je’Von Evans
* Ladder Match for the vacant NXT Women’s North American Championship: Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan vs. four other women
There will be more matches added in the weeks ahead.
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport