The John Report: WWE NXT 05/05/26 Review

This week’s WWE NXT features Lola Vice teaming with Mr. Iguana against Izzi Dame and Niko Vance, Jaida Parker facing Kali Armstrong, and more.

It felt like last week was another restart of sorts for NXT, since several wrestlers were called up to the WWE main roster after WrestleMania 42. They are debuting wrestlers in NXT all the time, and some of them are new to me since I don’t watch Evolve, and that’s where many of them are coming from. Because of that, I wouldn’t say NXT is “hot’ right now, but it is a developmental program in a lot of ways, so it’s interesting to see a lot of talent early in their careers.

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 showing highlights of last week’s episode full of some new faces making an impact in NXT.

It was Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.

The NXT Champion, Tony D’Angelo, was backstage talking into a camera, saying that if they don’t want to wait, he doesn’t want to wait either. Tony attacked Tavion Heights in the backstage area, and they were separated quickly.

Analysis: Tavion Heights was one of the guys who did a cheap attack last week, so Tony D was trying to get some revenge.

Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong

It started with Parker and Kali exchanging headlocks. Parker hit a headlock for a two count. Parker clotheslined Kali over the top to the floor. Parker sent Kali into the ring apron. Back in the ring, they did a double clothesline. That led to a break for some fans as the action continued. Parker and Kali exchanged strikes. Kali did an arm wringer to take Parker down. Parker avoided a corner splash, hit Kali with a forearm to the back and got a rollup for two. Parker hit a back elbow for two. Kali had control with a chinlock.

Kali sent Parker into the corner and charged, but Parker got her boot up to stop that. Kali did a necksnap across the top rope. Kali hit a springboard cross body block. Kali hit multiple knee strikes to the head, or at least that’s the idea. Kali mocked Parker by doing one of her taunts. Parker clipped Kali’s knee and Parker hit two back body drops in a row. Parker kicked Kali down. Parker bounced off the ropes with a hip drop and a high step to fire up the crowd. Kali did an eye rake and hit a body slam. Kali ran the ropes quickly and hit the Kali Collection running shoulder tackle for the pinfall win after 10 minutes. Vic said that is 5 straight wins for Kali Armstrong.

Winner by pinfall: Kali Armstrong

Analysis: *** A pretty good match between two talented athletes. You can tell the NXT creative team is high on Kali Armstrong since she’s had a great start to her NXT run. It was a bit of a cheap win due to the eye gouge before the finish, but it also shows Kali will do anything it takes to win. It feels like I’ve been repeating myself over the last year by saying that Jaida Parker should win a title at some point. She has competed for titles, but she hasn’t won one yet.

The NXT GM, Robert Stone, was approached by NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, who said he wants to face Tavion Heights tonight. Stone was hesitant about it, but he gave Tony the match.

A video aired about the Jackson Drake-Jasper Troy match coming up next.

A commercial aired for WWE Backlash, which is this Saturday, May 9th.

(Commercial)

The Birthright stable was talking backstage about all these other people showing up to cause trouble for them. Fit Finlay showed up as Uriah Connors said hello to his father. William Regal appeared via phone, saying he sent Charlie Dempsey back to England to train. Finlay and Regal wanted the group to focus.

A video aired bout former NJPW star Evil, who is now in WWE. He spoke in Japanese about how he’s won many titles. He spoke about the great opportunity to strike in NXT. He spoke about coming after the NXT Title held by Tony D’Angelo. He said one day they’ll battle for the NXT Title. His name is Naraku, and he debuts next week.

Analysis: It’s nice to learn the name of the former Evil is Naraku. That’s a cool name.

Jasper Troy vs. Jackson Drake (w/Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes)

Troy tossed Drake into the turnbuckle. Troy hit a shoulder tackle to knock Drake down. Drake hit a jumping kick to the head. Troy avoided an attack and ran over Drake with a body attack. After distractions from Baylor and Smokes, Drake hit a double knee attack from the top. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued, and I’ll take a break too.

The match continued with Troy tackling Drake into the turnbuckle. Troy caught Drake and went for a spinning slam, but Drake hit a DDT. When Drake went up top, Troy did a kip up back to his feet. Drake jumped off the top, Troy caught him, and hit a Chokeslam. Troy wanted more, but Drake bailed to the floor. Troy beat up the Vanity Project guys on the floor. The referee was distracted as the woman, Myka Lockwood, who was Drake’s date in the past, gave Troy a body slam on the floor. Back in the ring, Drake hit a 450 Splash off the top for the pinfall win. It went about 8 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jackson Drake

Analysis: **3/4 It’s easy to get excited about Drake and Troy as talents because they are both talented guys for different reasons. The involvement of Baylor, Smokes, and the newcomer Myka helped Drake get the win. If you watched LFG, then you know Myka. She’s a powerhouse, so it looks like she will be like Chyna was as a valet.

A video aired about newcomer Tristan Angel, who is a cocky heel who likes to talk about how great he is.

Zaria is up next.

(Commercial)

There was an NXT Origins video about Rhea Ripley talking about her journey in NXT as the NXT UK Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s Champion. Ripley said she learned to be the person she is meant to be, and she has learned who she is as a person.

Analysis: I like these videos. Ripley has grown and changed a lot during her WWE run. She has many more years ahead of her as a major superstar.

Let’s Hear from Zaria

Zaria beat Sol Ruca in a Last Woman Standing Match on NXT two weeks ago, so now we’ll hear from her for the first time since then. Zaria said that for the first time, she’s standing in the middle of the women’s division with nobody holding her back. Zaria said that there are no fake friends, and this is all it needed to be – Zaria alone. Zaria said she has a clear path to the thing that started this all – the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Zaria said that the title is what finally woke her up. Zaria said spending time around that title made her feel like it should be hers.

Tatum Paxley made her entrance as the NXT Women’s North American Champion. Paxley said she knows that this title shattered Zaria’s friendship with Sol, but it had nothing to do with Paxley. Paxley knows it’s hard to figure things out by yourself. Paxley said if you came for her title, then it wouldn’t matter if you scorched the Earth. Paxley said she put somebody in a casket, all for this title, and it doesn’t end with you.

Lizzy Rain joined the promo party, talking about how she’s the new blood in the locker room. Rain claimed she was the talk of the town. Rain wanted to add some heavy metal to this title.

Nikkita Lyons showed up to claim that Rain got the Nikkita Lyons rub. Lyons claimed that Rain was shooting way over her head. Paxley tried speaking, so Lyons said she’s not done. Lyons said she wasn’t done with Rain. The women got into a fight, and Zaria cleared the ring. Zaria hit an F5 on Paxley. Zaria put the title on Paxley.

Analysis: This was okay, but nothing out of the ordinary on NXT, where there are interruptions during promos often. I think Zaria winning a title this year is very likely. I thought it would be the NXT Women’s Title, but if it’s the NXT Women’s NA Title, then that’s fine too. Zaria should be a focal point of the NXT women’s division for the rest of this year.

The Vanity Project was walking backstage when they saw newcomer Romeo Moreno. Noam Dar walked in to confirm that he is back. Dar suggested a match with Drake for next week. Myka Lockwood said she’s with The Vanity Project, and Dar was fine with that. Moreno told Dar that he was a big fan.

Analysis: Welcome back to Noam Dar. He’s not a new face, but he’s back from a long time off.

Tony D’Angelo was walking backstage, and he was attacked by Kam Hendrix. It was quickly broken up.

(Commercial)

Robert Stone, the NXT GM, was talking to somebody on a headset. Stone talked to a guy named Tim, saying the Tony D’Angelo-Tavion Heights match isn’t happening next, so the mixed tag team match is happening right now.

Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana vs. The Culling – Izzi Dame & Niko Vance (w/Shawn Spears)

The Vice-Iguana team are the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions. Vice is also the NXT Women’s Title. It’s men against men and women against women.

Vance knocked Iguana down with a shoulder tackle, and Iguana did some unique offense. Iguana used his La Yesca doll to hit Vance. Dame tagged in, and Vice worked over Dame with kicks. Vice charged, Dame moved, and Dame hit a running clothesline. Dame hit a body slam for a two count. Dame hit a shoulder tackle. Vice rolled up Dame for two. Vice hit a spin kick to knock Dame out of the ring. Iguana hit a running headscissors on Vance. Vice got the tag as Iguana, and Vice and Iguana each hit seated sentons on their opponents on the floor. The show went on a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break too.

It was Vance in control of Iguana with a body slam and a headbutt that barely touched Iguana. Vance hit a spinning headbutt to knock Iguana down. Dame pulled Vice off the apron and sent Vice into the steel steps. Vance hit a spinning suplex on Iguana for two. Iguana hit a DDT counter to Vance. Vice got the hot tag, leading to a barrage of kicks. Vice kicked Vance and Iguana dropkicked Vance into the turnbuckle. Vice and Iguana hit running hip attacks on both opponents for a two count. Vice knocked down Dame with a kick, but Vance went into the ring to hold the referee’s arm to stop the count. Dame hit a running uppercut for two. Vice went for an armbar on Dame, and Vice’s partner, Iguana, went after Vance with an armbar. Dame got her feet on the bottom rope and Dame rolled up Vice for two. Dame ran the ropes and hit a running knee for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Culling – Izzi Dame & Niko Vance

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good match and better than I thought it would be going into it. Mr. Iguana does a lot of comedy spots, but in this match, it was limited. The end result was that Dame pinned the NXT Women’s Champion, so Dame should get a title shot soon.

Tavion Heights was backstage talking to Myles Borne, and Heights was mad about his match being off. Robert Stone interrupted to tell Heights that his match is the main event tonight. Heights was happy.

Zaria was informed by Mr. Stone that she will team up with Nikki Lyons against Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain next week. Zaria said she’s done with tag team matches, so Stone said get through this one, and we’ll see.

Hank & Tank made their entrance for tag team action.

(Commercial)

Jaida Parker was in the locker room, throwing a fit. Parker was yelling that she’s over it. Nattie walked into the ring, saying I guess what they’re saying about Miss Parker is true – she’s gotten soft.

Analysis: It looks like the beginning of a story with Nattie as a mentor to Parker. Nattie can train Parker to figure out what’s been causing Parker to lose big matches, and then it will help Parker become a winner and eventually a champion. That story could work well.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Darkstate – Cutler James & Osiris Griffin

I missed the first few minutes of this match. There was a spot where Hank was on the apron, and then he got knocked down on the floor. They knocked Tank off the apron to the floor as well. Dion Lennox wanted to use a steel chair, but Saquon Shugars told him not to, so Dion and Shugars yelled about it. The show went on a break for some fans, so I’ll take a break too, as Darkstate was in full control.

The Darkstate boys were in control, with Griffin hitting a Vader Bomb for a two count because Hank broke up the pin attempt. Darkstate hit a double team/neckbreaker for two. Griffin missed a charging attack and bounced to the floor. James slammed Hank on the ring apron. Hank tried a dive on the floor, but he was caught, so Griffin and James hit a double team body slam. Griffin and James launched Hank in the air with a spinning slam for the pinfall win after about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Darkstate – Cutler James & Osiris Griffin

Analysis: **3/4 A solid tag team match to give Darkstate some positive momentum. I like their finisher. Hank & Tank don’t win much anymore. I think this was done to establish James and Griffin as the main team in Darkstate, while Lennox and Shugars go after singles titles.

There was a backstage segment where Kelani Jordan mocked Lola Vice for losing. Jordan warned Vice to worry about her. Kendal Grey walked in, saying she’s coming for the title too. Grey and Jordan bickered some more, which will lead to a match between them next week.

They showed Vic and Booker on commentary, and their headsets weren’t working. Some dude helped them.

Keanu Carver Interview

The new NXT backstage announcer, Emily Agard, walked up to Keanu Carver to talk to him. Carver complained about how he’s not talking in front of a camera. The camera was on the ground, and Agard said she had to get something from him. Carver said he’s motivated by money. Carver said he’s here to get paid. Carver said he doesn’t need popularity. Carver claimed he had people back home he needed to take care of. Carver told Shawn Michaels to give him a chance, or he’s out. Carver said if this doesn’t work, he needs to find something to feed his family. Carver claimed he’s been the same guy his whole life. Carver doesn’t care about following rules or listening to authority. Carver said he’ll go his own way. Agard asked if she could ask a question and Carver said that’s fine. Agard asked about the symbol of war. Carter said he’s smart and said that’s all you get.

Analysis: I like Carver a lot as a serious heel who doesn’t give a damn about the rules. He’s an interesting character.

The announcers, Vic and Booker, had their equipment working right. The Tony D-Heights match is next.

(Commercial)

A video aired from Shiloh Hill talking about his big win last week.

Next week on NXT:

* Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan

* Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drake

* Naraku debuts

The entrance of NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo was shown.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Tavion Heights

This is not for Tony D’s NXT Title. I believe both guys were talented amateur wrestlers, so they started out with some mat wrestling to start. Heights did a rolling senton with Tony on his shoulders to show he could take control. Tony hit a sidewalk slam. Heights showed off his power with a gutwrench suplex across the ring. Heights went up top, so Tony shoved him down to the floor. They went on a break for a few minutes as the action continued, and I’ll take that break too.

Heights was in control with a chinlock. Tony broke free, Heights caught him, and Heights hit a top rope assisted flipping slam. Heights hit a running clothesline on Tony for two. Heights went up top and hit a Superfly Splash for a two count. Tony was back up to start his comeback with a German Suplex and another German Suplex across the ring. Tony hit a third German Suplex. Tony charged, Heights got a knee up and Heights hit an overhead belly-to-belly toss across the ring. Heights hit another high-angle overhead suplex for two. Tony countered a move into a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Tony connected with a Spear. Tony went for a Chokeslam, Heights avoided it and Heights hit an impressive overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Kam Hendrix went to ringside, so Heights sent him out of the ring. Myles Borne, the NXT North American Champion, jumped over the top onto Hendrix. Tony D hit a lifting spinebuster called Dead To Rights for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Tony D’Angelo

Analysis: *** A solid main event with Heights getting plenty of offense, but obviously, Tony D was going to win here. I don’t like that Tony D needed Kam Hendrix’s distraction to get the win, but I don’t think it hurts Tony as the champion. It just feels like the win was cheapened.

After the match, Tony D’Angelo picked up Kam Hendrix for a handshake. The big British dude from last week splashed Tony D’Angelo against the ropes. The big guy put Tony D on his back and splashed into Heights. The guy spoke into the camera, saying his name is Mason Rook and he’s arrived in NXT. End show.

Analysis: Welcome to NXT, Mason. I wouldn’t say Mason Rook is the greatest name or anything like that, but it’s fine. It’s not easy to come up with fresh names in wrestling at this point.

OH. MY. GOD. 😱

Mason Rook has ARRIVED in NXT!! pic.twitter.com/GLex4us7KR

— WWE (@WWE) May 6, 2026

===

Three Stars of the Show

1. Tony D’Angelo
2. Izzi Dame & Niko Vance
3. Kali Armstrong

====

The Scoreboard

This week: 6.25 out of 10

Last week: 6.75

2026 Average: 7.10

====

Final Thoughts on WWE NXT

It was more of the same from NXT, similar to last week. Some of these people are so new to television, and it’s tough to really gauge them at this point in their careers when they are so early in the business. I hope the fresh faces make NXT more exciting. It just feels like an average show at this point.

===

Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.

John Canton

Email [email protected]

Twitter/X @johnreport