The John Report: WWE NXT 04/22/25 Review
This week on WWE NXT, a Stephanie Vaquer-Roxanne Perez title match headlined the show with the NXT Women’s Title on the line, while Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defended their Women’s Tag Team Titles as well.
It’s the follow up to NXT Stand & Deliver from last Saturday. I liked the show a lot.
They are at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas in Las Vegas 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 aired recapping NXT Stand & Deliver from last Saturday. Congrats to Sol Ruca on becoming NXT Women’s North American Champion and Hank & Tank winning the Tag Team Titles.
There is a ramp connecting the entrance to the ring.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph, Booker T & Corey Graves as usual for NXT. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Vic teased Booker about sleeping during the Hall of Fame ceremony and Booker said he was praying.
Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley
Liv & Raquel won the titles back on Raw and Gigi/Paxley earned the title shot on the Stand & Deliver pre-show.
It was Liv in control of Paxley to start the match with some kicks. Paxley did a hair pull takedown. Raquel tagged in to pick up Paxley and Raquel spun her around. Liv was back in with a running dropkick. Paxley hit a knee to the face, so Dolin tagged in with a dropkick. Dolin kicked Raquel to knock and Dolin went for a cross body block, but Raquel blocked that and hit a powerslam. Dolin got a rollup on Raquel when Raquel was focused on Paxley. The referee was looking on Paxley, so Liv shoved Dolin off the turnbuckle to the floor. Paxley hit a moonsault off the apron onto both opponents on the floor. They usually show action during the break on Netflix, but they went to a break.
(Commercial)
The champions were dominating with Liv hitting the Three Amigos suplexes and a running enziguri kick for two. Raquel was overpowering Paxley with punches. Paxley countered Raquel with a DDT. Dolin got the hot tag against Liv with a kick and a STO clothesline. Dolin hit a bridging suplex for two. Paxley tagged back in, Liv avoided both opponents and Raquel tagged in with a double clothesline. Dolin made a blind tag, so Gigi hit a twisting cross body block on Raquel. Paxley jumped off the top with a 450 Splash on Raquel for two because Liv made the save. Liv made the tag, jumped off the top with a Codebreaker on Paxley and Raquel hit a Tejana Bomb on Dolin, who was legal. Liv hit Dolin with Oblivion off the ropes for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
Analysis: *** A solid tag team match with the champions Liv & Raquel working well together to get the win. It was a good effort by Gigi and Tatum, but the result was obvious, as the champions retained the titles, having regained them one day earlier. The fans didn’t get into the match that much.
Lexis King was backstage with magicians Penn & Teller. King wanted Penn to bring the NXT Heritage Cup back. King had to admit that magic is real, so King did. Penn told King they’ll bring the title back if King defends the title tonight, so King agreed. Penn told King his title defense will be a surprise.
Ricky Saints was shown walking around earlier because he’s up next.
A commercial aired for WWE Backlash on May 10th in St. Louis. I assume we get John Cena against Randy Orton there.
(Commercial)
A clip was shown of Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights winning their matches at the Bloodsport show over the weekend.
Myles Borne and Wren Sinclair were chatting backstage. Darkstate walked up to Borne saying he wasn’t a true shooter like Dempsey and Heights. Born said when his crew gets back, they’ll give him a run for his money. Je’Von Evans walked in saying after what happened on Saturday, he wants a fight. Borne said he has Evans back. Borne suggested a tag team match and Darkstate agreed.
Analysis: I’m not sure why Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights had to “get back” after competing at a show in Las Vegas several days earlier, but it’s a way to get Evans in a match.
Let’s Hear from Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints made his entrance as the NXT North American Champion. Ricky talked about beating Ethan Page at Stand & Deliver. Ricky said at Stand & Deliver he made good on his promise by showing he is the man around here. Ricky said it felt so good to do it against Ethan Page.
Lexis King interrupted with the NXT Heritage Cup, and he was in his wrestling gear for his upcoming match. King got into the ring complaining about Penn & Teller making his Heritage Cup disappear. Ricky said he’s confused why King is out here. King said he’s defending his Cup and he might set his sights on the North American Title. Ricky said that last week, King lost a 4-way so he doesn’t get a shot. King said he didn’t like smug, arrogant pricks like Ricky. King said nobody likes Ricky, but they love the King. King said he wants a title match next week and he’ll even put the Heritage Cup on the line. Ricky told King that he’s on. The NXT referees went in the ring to stop a potential fight.
Analysis: A quick promo from Ricky and the interruption from King to set up a match next week. King went through a period where he was a face for a bit, but it sounds like he’s in heel mode again. Anyway, I doubt Ricky loses next week.
(Commercial)
There was a video shown of Hank & Tank as the new NXT Tag Team Champions while Sol Ruca was the Women’s NXT North American Ladder Match. They talked about being new champions. Zaria was also there, and Thea Hail arrived to say she was thrilled for the new champions. Jaida Parker said after the night she had, the last thing she needs is Hail’s energy and she did not miss Hail’s annoying self. Kelani Jordan walked in saying it’s not the same locker room she left. Fatal Influence walked in. Fallon Henley said that somebody needed to put Hail in her place. Jacy Jayne told Henley to do it herself, and Henley said Jayne never could, so Henley said she would.
Analysis: There were 10 people in that segment that went around one minute. I suppose that when you fly the whole roster to Vegas and they have to stick around for a few days, you should try to get them on the show, even if it’s for just a few seconds.
NXT Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. Noam Dar
It was the return of Noam Dar, who missed the last 11 months, so welcome back to him. Dar avoided a kick by King and Dar applied an Ankle Lock, but King sent Dar into the turnbuckle. Dar came back with a running kick, a kick to the chest and a running dropkick. Dar elbowed King a few times and tried a rollup for two. King sent Dar into the turnbuckle and Dar nailed Dar with a forearm to the head. Dar tripped up King with a kick to the legs. Dark hit King with some kicks to the body, but King came back with a superkick. King jumped off the top with a Swanton Bomb, which Dar avoided and Dar hit two back fists. Dar hit a spinning back elbow to the head for the pinfall win in under four minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Noam Dar
Analysis: **1/4 Welcome back Dar getting back the NXT Heritage Cup that he has cared about more than anybody else. King’s reign as the Heritage Cup Champion was okay because at least he won a title, but I’m fine with Dar holding it again.
Noam Dar celebrated with the Heritage Cup. It was his fourth time holding that title.
(Commercial)
Roxanne Perez was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Perez did her usual promo about building the NXT women’s division and she’s going to win back the NXT Women’s Title. Perez bragged about winning the Slammy for NXT Superstar of the Year. Perez said she’ll beat Vaquer to become the three-time NXT Women’s Champion.
Fallon Henley (w/Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Thea Hail
They did some pin attempts early on and Henley went for an armbar, but Hail got out of it. Henley sent Hail into the ropes and hit a kick. Hail hit a headscissors. Henley gave Hail an overhead suplex. Jayne tried to kick Hail on the floor, but Hail moved, and Jayne accidentally kicked Henley into the steel steps. Hail hit a double underhook suplex, followed by a Kimura Lock for the pinfall win after about three minutes.
Winner by submission: Thea Hail
Analysis: ** Easy win for Hail to give her some momentum. I think Hail is going to get one of the NXT Women’s titles this year. There have also been issues with Fatal Influence and we saw Jayne kick Henley by mistake here, so maybe that group will be broken up soon.
The NXT Champion Oba Femi was up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Oba Femi and Trick Williams
The NXT Champion “The Ruler) Oba Femi made his entrance. He won a great main event match at Stand & Deliver over Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans. I enjoyed that match a lot. Happy birthday to Oba on Tuesday, he turned 27 and has a very bright future in WWE.
Femi talked about his win at Stand & Deliver. There were some “Oba” chants from the crowd. Femi said he called Je’Von Evans a child, he said Evans couldn’t hang, he called Evans immature and Femi said he was wrong because Evans impressed him. Femi said that Evans’ best years are ahead of him. Femi said he can’t stand Trick Williams, but he will say that as great as Trick is, The Ruler is that much better.
Trick Williams interrupted without the fans being able to chant “Whoop That Trick” for his song. Trick said that Femi only won because he beat Evans. Trick said he didn’t care if it was Femi’s birthday because Trick wants his title back. Trick said he is the face of this brand and they don’t think about Femi. Trick spoke about how he’s tired of running the play, he’s tired of butting in, he’s tired of people ruining his opportunities…and here comes the TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
The fans went wild for TNA World Champion Joe Hendry, singing his song and waving their hands side to side when it came up. The fans chanted “We Believe” for Joe.
Hendry said that if you say his name, then he appears and is back in NXT. Hendry said that Trick is not the same person that he tagged with back in the fall because Trick changed. Hendry said that Trick soaks in self pity. Hendry said that he proves what happens when he listens to the fans he did it at WrestleMania. Joe told Trick he wasn’t hungry, he was entitled. Joe said maybe Trick Williams is a whiny bitch.
Trick said Joe had his five minutes on Sunday, so let’s talk about what Trick believes. Trick said Joe is an outsider that doesn’t fit in and got his ass kicked at WrestleMania. Trick told Joe to leave. Joe said he lost to Randy Orton, but he did it in front of 60,000 people and Trick was in the stands. Joe said he had business to discuss with the NXT Champion. Femi told Joe not to make the same mistake that Moose made. Trick got between both guys, so Femi and Hendry punched Trick and tossed Trick out of the ring. Hendry and Femi had a staredown in the ring.
Analysis: There was a lot there with Trick whining about how he didn’t get pinned, so he wants Femi in a singles match. I assume we’ll get Femi against Trick in singles soon. Perhaps it will be Trick against Hendry, with the winner facing Femi for the NXT Title. It appears they are moving with Trick Williams in a heel role. I think Trick will be on the main roster very soon, probably as soon as the next WWE Draft, which might be in May, but we don’t know that officially.
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo was on some deserted road in the Las Vegas area most likely and Luca Crusifino asked Stacks what he was thinking about turning on Tony D’Angelo. Luca said that Stacks pledged his loyalty, so they need to make this right. Stacks told Luca to be quiet by putting his finger over his mouth. Stacks asked Luca if he knew why he invited Luca out there. Luca said “Oh fuc…” and it ended.
Analysis: We don’t know what this means, but it could suggest that Stacks is trying to eliminate Luca.
(Commercial)
Sol Ruca, the NXT Women’s North American Champion, was backstage wit her friend Zaria and Sarah Schreiber was there to try to interview them. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez walked up to mock Zaria for not having a title like her friend Sol. Ruca responded saying that she knows what they are trying to do, but Ruca is still friends with Zaria. The champs laughed and left.
Trick Williams was backstage, and he was angry. Trick had a pipe that knocked out the camera feed I think. The feed cut out, but I saw WWE post it on social media. The NXT GM, Ava, was there, and she tried to calm Trick down.
Je’Von Evans & Myles Borne (w/Wren Sinclair) vs. Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin (w/Saquon Shugars & Cutler James)
Borne applied an armbar on Lennox and Evans hit a double axhandle. Evans hit two hurricanranas on Lennox. The powerhouse Griffin drove Evans into the turnbuckle. Evans hit some jabs, but Griffin came back with a forearm to the jaw. Evans superkicked Griffin and Evans hit a dropkick. Borne hit a dropkick on Lennox. Evans tried a dive, but Griffin caught him, so Borne jumped over the top with a somersault dive over the top onto the heels on the floor. They took a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break too.
The Darkstate boys were in control with Griffin knocking down Evans with a punch. The No Quarter Catch Crew’s Charlie Dempsey & Tavion Heights showed up on the ramp to watch the match. Griffin tossed Evans over his head across the ring. Lennox worked over Evans with a clothesline. Griffin was back in for a running powerslam for two because Borne made the save. Evans hit a jawbreaker to break free. Evans hit a sunset flip on Lennox. Borne got the hot tag, which led to multiple clotheslines and a dropkick on Griffin. Borne hit a powerslam on Lennox and a powerslam for Griffin too. Borne hit an overhead suplex on Lennox. Borne hit a slam off the shoulders onto the knee for a two count. Evans jumped off the top with a clothesline onto Griffin. Griffin caught a leaping Evans and tackled him into the ring apron. Lennox hit a spinebuster on Borne. Darkstate hit a double team lifting Powerbomb on Borne for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin
Analysis: *** The Darkstate boys continue their winning ways with another victory to remain undefeated. I think it’s only a matter of time until Darkstate win the Tag Team Titles. It’s probably coming in a few months. I was surprised by Borne taking the pin since he’s a tag team guy while Evans is a main eventer in NXT. There wasn’t any cheating by Darkstate or anything like that. It was a dominant win.
Shawn Spears was backstage talking to NXT GM Ava. Spears said he knows how she values her time, but he was looking out for his friends. We don’t know what they said, but the idea is they said something about his group The Culling. Spears left. Yoshiki Inamura walked in saying he was going back to NOAH in Japan soon and Inamura thanked her. Inamura said she deserves more respect. Inamura said he almost became Tag Team Champion with Josh Briggs, who walked into the screen. Ava gave them a Tag Team Title match next week against Hank & Tank. Aval left. Iwamura said it was an old Japanese secret. Briggs told him he did a good job.
A commercial aired for WWE Survivor Series, which is heading to San Diego at Petco Park on November 29th. An outdoor baseball stadium for Survivor Series will draw the largest crowd to the event ever.
(Commercial)
Tony D’Angelo was shown walking in a hotel when he knocked on the door and told Adrianna Rizzo that it was him. Stacks talked to Rizzo in her hotel room asking she was alright. She said she was finishing packing. Rizzo said she can’t believe Stacks did that. Tony said he is okay physically. Rizzo asked how Luca is doing. Tony said he hasn’t heard from him. Rizzo said that Stacks was the one who taught her how to fight, and she said she would always be loyal. Tony said that Stacks hasn’t been the same. Tony said they can’t stand for rats and betrayal. Tony said he couldn’t put her at risk because he wasn’t sure what Stacks was willing to do. Tony said he’ll take Rizzo to the safe house and hide out while this thing blows over. Rizzo asked if it would be okay, and Tony said it would be alright and they hugged.
Analysis: The D’Angelo Family drama continues. Tony has been in NXT for nearly four years, so I wonder if this story is being done to get him on the main roster soon.
Ricky Saints was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Starks said he was happy for Noam Dar. Ricky said he’d still defend the NXT North American Title against Lexis King, and said King had nothing to lose. Ethan Page walked up to Saints and stared at him. Lexis King attacked Ricky by shoving him into some equipment cases. King said he was going to take the title next week. Page told Saints they can pick that up another time.
Roxanne Perez made her entrance for the main event.
(Commercial)
A commercial aired for NXT Battleground in Tampa on Sunday, May 25th.
There was a video of somebody opening up a briefcase. It was Andre Chase holding up a Chase U sweater. Chase said: “We’re f**king back, baby.”
Analysis: Welcome back to Chase U.
Next week on NXT:
* NXT Championship: Ricky Saints vs. Lexis King
* Tony D’Angel & Stacks confrontation
* NXT Tag Team Championships: Hank & Tank vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
The NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance for the main event. She had a great 4-way match at Stand & Deliver and a good showing against Iyo Sky on Raw this past Monday. It ended in a disqualification (DQ) due to Perez.
NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez
There was some mat wrestling leading to nearfalls to start the match. Perez did a cradle pin attempt for two. Vaquer did a bridging pin for two. Perez and Vaquer each got two count pin attempts again. Perez got a side headlock takeover. Vaquer came back with a belly-to-back suplex. Vaquer teased her knee smash, but Perez rolled to the apron. Perez grabbed the ring apron, which led to an eye gouge. Perez hit a knee drop onto Vaquer’s left arm. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued. Perez did a knee drop on the left arm. Perez hit a double knee attack on the left arm. Perz continued to work on the left arm with another knee drop. Vaquer avoided a stomp on the left arm and Vaquer got a rollup for two. Vaquer went up top, but Vaquer wrenched on the arm.
Vaquer and Perez were exchanges punches in the ring. Perez hit an double knee attack to the left arm. Perez dropkicked Vaquer onto the ramp. Vaquer fought back with kicks and Vaquer hit her 619 kick or Feint kick. Vaquer hit a springboard cross body block on Perez on the ramp. Vaquer hit the Eat Defeat boot along with the Meteora running knee attack. Vaquer hit her knee smash routine while Perez slapped the mat all ten times to make some noise. Booker was going crazy for that and the fans chanted “Booker T” after that. The fans chanted “one more time” for Vaquer, but Perez countered. Perez hit a superkick on Vaquer, then Vaquer picked Perez up and Vaquer hit a backbreaker. Perez pulled on Vaquer’s right arm against the ropes. Perez applied the Crossface submission. When Vaquer got near the ropes, Perez kicked off the ropes and Vaquer countered it into a pin attempt. Perez and Vaquer each attempted a few pins. Vaquer hit a spin kick to the ribs. Perez went for Pop Rox, Vaquer blocked it and Vaquer hit the dragon screw leg whip. Vaquer hit the SVB backbreaker for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Stephanie Vaquer
Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a great match between two of the best women in NXT and the entire WWE roster. Vaquer retaining was the result I expected because she is proving herself as a fighting champion. It’s obvious that Perez is on her way out of NXT and going to the main roster since she’s on the main roster a lot already, so they are having her lose in NXT on her way out off the brand. I liked Perez working on the left arm throughout the match, Vaquer sold it well and Vaquer found a way to win.
After the match, Giulia appeared by the entrance and stared at Vaquer. Jordynne Grace was also shown in the crowd and she stared at Vaquer from a distance.
Analysis: That could set up a multi-woman title match or perhaps Grace will face Giulia and the winner of that can challenge Vaquer for the title. If that happens then I would want Grace to beat Giulia just to see Grace in a singles match for the title.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Stephanie Vaquer
- Noam Dar – Welcome back.
- Roxanne Perez
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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
The show was pretty good with some solid in-ring action all night long. I wouldn’t call it a great episode or anything like that. Most of the match results were predictable, which isn’t always the case in NXT. One thing I always say about NXT is that they do an excellent job of building to future matches, and there was a lot of that this week.
I liked the Vaquer-Perez main event a lot. Obviously, Perez is going to be on the main roster full-time very soon, so she’s losing matches on the way out, while Vaquer is a fighting champion who is fun to watch. Other matches were solid with Darkstate continuing to win and I like Thea Hail getting a push too.
There were some surprises with Noam Dar coming back from nearly a year out to win the Heritage Cup. The appearance from Joe Hendry wasn’t expected, but he did a good job of arguing with Trick Williams to likely set up a match there.
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John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport