The John Report: WWE NXT 05/26/26 Review
This week’s WWE NXT features Lola Vice facing Izzi Dame, Kelani Jordan in action against Wren Sinclair, a Shiloh Hill-Charlie Dempsey match, and more.
Last week’s WWE NXT episode saw Darkstate’s Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin & Cutler James turn on Saquon Shugars, so it should lead to Shugars as a singles babyface.
For this review, I’ll go play-by-play for some matches and a summary-style review for others.
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 were some pre-show arrivals shown of Lola Vice, Izzi Dame with The Culling, and Darkstate’s three remaining members.
It was Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary as usual. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.
Wren Sinclair (w/Kendal Grey) vs. Kelani Jordan
This is not for Wren’s Women’s Speed Title. Wren’s left leg was wrapped due to an injury, but she kept on fighting with a dropkick that sent Jordan out of the ring. Wren hit a suplex. Jordan took control with a running clothesline to the back of the head. Wren worked over Jordan’s left arm with submission moves. Jordan got some offense going with a hair pull takedown and then she saw Wren favoring her left knee injury. Wren managed to hit a back body drop on the floor. They went on a break for some fans as the match continued. I’ll take a break there. On Raw, I got ads in a spot like that, but on NXT tonight, it’s working normally.
Jordan was in full control with a stomp on the left knee. Jordan kept on attacking the left knee. Jordan hit an impressive clothesline off the ropes and a suplex while hooking the leg. Wren made a comeback, leading to two suplexes. Wren avoided the split-legged moonsault and got a rollup out of it. Jordan kicked Wren’s left knee again. Jordan applied an STF. Jordan let go, then she bent Wren’s left knee at a higher angle, and Wren couldn’t take any more, so she tapped out. Jordan got the submission win.
Winner by submission: Kelani Jordan
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good match that was competitive the whole way, with Jordan working over Wren’s left knee and Wren doing a nice job of coming back. I’m glad to see Wren in a longer match because she’s a woman who deserves more big matches like this. It certainly feels like Jordan is getting a push that could lead to her becoming NXT Women’s Champion for the first time.
Tatum Paxley was backstage talking to Lizzy Rain about their various issues with Zaria. Shiloh Hill walked in with a clipboard while trying to be Mr. NXT. Tristan Angels walked in to trash Hill’s campaign, going for Mr. NXT. Lizzy left to look for Zaria, and Hill went with her.
A video aired recapping Darkstate turning on Saquon Shugars after he lost their match last week.
A commercial aired for WWE Clash in Italy this Sunday, May 31st.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Darkstate
The Darkstate trio of Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin and Cutler James made their entrance for a promo. Griffin talked about the three of them having actual sports credentials. Dion said that Shugars was an indy wrestler and that’s it. Dion said that there was a reason Shugars was the last pick in Darkstate. Griffin said that Shugars made their path harder. James said that success for the individual is success for the group, but Saquon forgot about that. James said that Saquon became a liability who never understood the consequences. James said Shugars failed them and that was the last straw.
Dion said that it could have been him, but he knew the play – eliminate the weak link. Dion said that Saquon tried to turn his brothers against him. Dion said Saquon tried to say that Dion acted like he was better. Dion said he’s not acting, he’s just better. Dion said that John Cena picked him in Iron Survivor and Mr. Stone picked him for a title shot. Dion said this machine they are building is for all of them, not just him. Dion said he built this thing brick by brick, so he’ll be damned if you tear it down. Griffin said if you are in their way, you are going to get put down. Dion said that everybody back there, keep your heads up because Darkstate is back. Darkstate looked into the camera as Dion said if you thought nobody was safe before, you ain’t seen a damn thing yet.
Analysis: It was a solid heel promo from Darkstate to make it known they are back to being threats again. Dion Lennox certainly feels like the leader of the group, even though they act like equals. The reason for turning on Shugars was that they were successful athletes while Shugars was an indy wrestler, so he doesn’t fit in. It’s not the best reason or anything like that, but at least it’s something. I don’t mind. I think Shugars can do well as a singles guy, too.
Wren Sinclair was with Kendal Grey as she was being checked by WWE Medical, who said she had to undergo an MRI. Lola Vice walked in with her titles, and Kali Armstrong trash-talked Wren. Kali was looking at Vice’s titles. Vice said Kali just got here and has a big head already. Kali said he’ll keep a close eye on her match tonight. Vice said you do that, and she’ll add her to the list of girls that Vice wants to knock out.
(Commercial)
WWE Speed Tournament: Sean Legacy vs. Dorian Van Dux
There’s a 3-minute time limit. Legacy tripped up Dux, stomped on the back and hit a dropkick. Dux caught a diving Legacy and sent Legacy into the ring post. Back in the ring, Legacy hit a headscissors and a jumping kick. Legacy hit a Sliced Bread neckbreaker. Dux hit an impressive gutwrench suplex. Legacy hit a popup DDT after being tossed in the air. Legacy hit a 619 kick by the ropes. Legacy hit a top rope hurricanrana. Dux was able to block a splash off the top. Dux tried a leap off the top, but Legacy hit a dropkick. Dux went up top and Legacy met him with a Spanish Fly off the top as the 3-minute time limit expired.
Match Result: Time Limit Draw
Analysis: ** A match that was full of action. These guys are so fast and I get it with a Speed match, but I wish they would sell a bit more. I understand it’s about the speed and not selling. I’m just saying that’s pro wrestling. Anyway, they don’t have a lot of time limit draw matches in the Speed tournament. It’s a way to show that Legacy and Dux were evenly matched.
The draw means that the winner of the Moreno-Frazer match later gets a shot at the Speed Championship held by Lexis King.
Nattie approached Layla Diggs in the women’s locker room and thanked Diggs for standing up to Jaida Parker. Nattie said she would be there in Diggs’ corner.
Jaida Parker made her entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
Layla Diggs (w/Nattie) vs. Jaida Parker
I don’t believe I’ve reviewed a Layla Diggs match before. Parker was in control early on with a clothesline. Diggs came back with a standing side kick and a leg drop. Parker hit two clotheslines and a front suplex into the mat. Parker did her hip drop by the turnbuckle and followed up with high-stepping. Diggs did an impressive backflip into an elbow smash. Diggs went for a moonsault off the top, but Parker moved and Parker hit Hipnotic. Parker hit the Déjà Vu (Sky High) for the pinfall win.
Winner by pinfall: Jaida Parker
Analysis: **1/4 A good win for Jaida Parker over the newcomer Diggs, who hit some impressive moves throughout the match. It’s easy to see that Diggs is very athletic and makes some difficult moves look easy. They seem to be building to Parker against Nattie, so it makes sense to give Parker wins to build up to that.
Lexis King, the WWE Speed Champion, was interviewed by Blake Howard. King had his Birthright allies with him. King talked about casualties in the Speed tournament and mentioned Dempsey’s match tonight. Nathan Frazer with Axiom arrived to trash-talk King, saying he’ll see him for a title match. Frazer was confident he’d win.
A video aired about NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, who is up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Tony D’Angelo
It was the top of hour two as the NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo made his entrance for a promo. Tony said for the past month or so, we’ve had an influx of new faces in NXT. Tony said it makes NXT more unpredictable and exciting for the WWE Universe. Tony said next week it’s his turn to go one-on-one with the new hotshot, Kam Hendrix. Tony was confident that he’ll beat Hendrix. Tony called out Naraku (formerly known as EVIL), saying it’s time for them to meet face to face.
Naraku joined Tony D in the ring. Tony said he’s more of a straight shooter. Tony said that Naraku wants a shot at the NXT Championship. Naraku said he’s here to keep Tony’s title safe. Tony wondered what he was talking about. Tony said he knows exactly what Naraku was doing. Tony said he’ll take care of Kam and then he’ll handle Naraku. That led to Naraku saying he’ll make sure Tony is champion because it’s their destiny to go to war.
Kam Hendrix interrupted, saying that Tony D has seven days left because next week it’s lights, Kam, action for the NXT Championship. Kam said that Tony is the top dog, but next week he’s running into a buzzsaw that he can’t stop. Kam claimed he’s the fastest-rising superstar in NXT. Kam said last week he beat champions and next week, he’ll destroy a pillar of NXT. Tony mentioned that Kam is confident. Tony said Kam is a premier athlete who looks at this title as a status symbol. Tony said that he sacrificed everything to have this championship. Tony said it took him five years and he doubted himself. Tony complained about how he had to stand across the ring from a guy who was given a title shot. Tony said if you want to take the title from him, you have to reach into his chest and rip his heart out, but you know that won’t happen. Kam tried to punch Tony, but Naraku blocked it and punched Kam. Naraku clotheslined Kam out of the ring. Naraku bowed at Tony and left.
Analysis: It was an interesting remark by Naraku, saying he was there to protect Tony so that they could have their showdown in the future. I don’t see Tony losing to Kam next week, but it’s a big spot for Kam.
Myles Borne was backstage while talking to Tavion Heights. Borne told Heights to relax and said everybody was gunning for his title. Darkstate showed up to attack Borne and Heights. Lennox shoved Borne into a wall while Heights got tossed down near a table.
(Commercial)
The Vanity Project was walking backstage, bragging about how they broke up Darkstate. Tate Wilder was hanging out on a motorbike backstage. They wondered about how Wilder is doing after getting beat up by Keanu Carver. Jackson Drake said that Wilder had a lot to learn, and Wilder challenged Drake to a match. Drake said you don’t want that, and Wilder said he lives for this.
WWE Speed Tournament: Nathan Frazer (w/Axiom) vs. Romeo Moreno (w/Noam Dar)
Frazer ran the ropes quickly as usual and hit a running kick to knock Moreno out of the ring. Frazer hit a somersault dive out of the ring on Moreno. Moreno hit an impressive missile dropkick. Frazer got a hold of Moreno on the middle turnbuckle and hit a reverse Spanish Fly for a two count. Moreno tried a leap off the turnbuckle, but Frazer hit a superkick. Moreno went up top and hit a super German Suplex, then another suplex and Frazer hit a twisting neckbreaker. Moreno hit a headscissors that sent Frazer out of the ring. Moreno hit a springboard cross body block on Frazer on the floor. Back in the ring, Frazer hit a superplex and Moreno countered Frazer with an inside cradle for the pinfall win at 2:58.
Winner by pinfall: Romeo Moreno
Analysis: **1/4 Another Speed match that was very fast as usual for these Speed matches. They timed it perfectly with Moreno getting the upset win with just 2 seconds left on the clock. Sometimes you can mess up a finish like that, but they nailed it perfectly in terms of the time.
Post match, Moreno and Frazer shook hands and hugged. Lexis King looked on from the platform since Moreno will challenge King for the Speed Title next week on NXT.
Izzi Dame was backstage getting ready for her match, and Niko & Spears also had a match. Dame asked Niko Vance where is Spears? Niko said he didn’t know, but he hopes Spears is getting ready.
(Commercial)
Mason Rook was backstage talking to NXT GM Robert Stone. Rook said that he should be getting the NXT Title match instead of Kam Hendrix, but Stone said Hendrix got the pin on Myles Borne. Rook said maybe he’ll do something about it. Naraku walked in, saying he won’t let anybody ruin that match.
OTM’s Lucien Price & Bronco Nima made their entrance, so Shawn Spears attacked both of them with chair shots. Niko Vance showed up, wondering what Spears was doing. Vance wasn’t happy that Spears did that.
Analysis: It looks like OTM against The Culling is off now. It continues the story of Spears doing things that upset his allies in The Culling, so it could lead to Spears getting kicked out of the group soon.
Kali Armstrong was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber, who asked Kali what title she has set her sights on. Kali said she has to pick her spot. Kali teased going after both titles. Thea Hail interrupted, saying it’s not that easy. Kali said for her, it’s a reality and not a dream, and everybody will have to deal with it.
Shiloh Hill asked Zaria if she would sign his petition to be Mr. NXT. Zaria wanted to know about Tatum Paxley and Hill warned her to be worried about Lizzy Rain. Zaria said Rain was collateral damage. Hill left, so Rain attacked Zaria, and they got into a fight in the backstage area. It was broken up by some WWE officials and GM Stone.
Analysis: That should lead to Zaria against Rain while Zaria wants to go after Tatum Paxley for the NXT Women’s North American Title.
Shiloh Hill vs. Charlie Dempsey (w/Uriah Connors, Lexis King, Stacks & Arianna Grace)
Dempsey and Hill exchanged holds early on. Hill hit a back body drop across the ring. Hill hit a clothesline off the top, along with a clothesline out of the ring. They went on a break for some fans as the match continued, and I’ll take a break.
The match returned with Dempsey applying an armbar that Hill got out of with a Powerbomb. Hill continued the attack with a powerslam, along with a senton splash. Dempsey came back with a German Suplex. Hill tossed Dempsey into the air and punched him. They did a spot where Hill countered Dempsey with a Northern Lights Suplex, and Dempsey couldn’t get up, so Hill pinned him for the win.
Winner by pinfall: Shiloh Hill
Analysis: **3/4 It was a solid TV match to give Hill a win that came across like an upset because Hill hit a suplex and held Dempsey’s arms to keep him down for the pinfall. Dempsey really doesn’t win that many matches, but the idea is that he’s the more experienced guy, and Hill found a way to get the win.
Tristan Angels arrived for a post-match promo, saying it was a charade for Hill to call himself Mr. NXT. Angels said in two weeks, there will be a Mr. NXT Pageant. Angels said he’ll prove that Hill isn’t worthy of calling himself Mr. NXT. Hill said he can’t wait to embarrass him.
Analysis: A Mr. NXT Pageant? I’m not optimistic about it, but I Hill is entertaining.
Izzi Dame and Niko Vance were backstage with Shawn Spears, wondering what he was doing. Spears said he was wrong to get them a tag team match when Dame has a title match. Dame said it’s okay. Vance said we’ll take care of it.
Izzi Dame made her entrance, joined by Vance and Spears.
A commercial aired for Club WWE.
(Commercial)
Next week on NXT:
* NXT Championship: Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix
* Lizzy Rain vs. Zaria
* Myles Borne & Tavion Heights vs. Darkstate
The NXT Women’s Champion, Lola Vice, made her entrance for the main event, and she had the support of the fans.
NXT Women’s Championship: Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame (w/Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
Dame worked over Vice with shoulder tackles and a clothesline. Vice came back with some kicks to knock Dame down. Vice hit a few kicks to the ribs. Dame got a rollup, but Vice kicked out and got a crossface submission. Vice hit a spin kick to knock Dame out of the ring. Vice jumped on Dame on the floor with a senton splash. Spears grabbed Vice’s foot on the apron, and Dame hit a Backstabber. OTM showed up to fight with Spears and Vance to the back, so Dame was mad that her buddies were gone from ringside. They went on a break as Dame took control.
The match continued with about 7 minutes left in the show. Vice worked over Dame with kicks and Vice hit a running hip attack against the turnbuckle. Dame got back up with a boot to the face. Dame hit a sitout spinebuster for a two count. They went to the apron as Dame tackled Vice against the turnbuckle. Dame set up Vice on the top turnbuckle. Vice jumped onto Dame’s shoulder and went for a rolling armbar, but Dame got out of it. Dame went for a Boston Crab submission, but Vice was able to get out of it. Vice hit a superkick. Dame charged, Vice moved and Dame hit a running knee on referee Adrian Butler. Vice and Dame hit a double clothesline to knock eachother down. Vice hit some kicks, along with a spinning back fist. Referee Butler was slow in turning around to count Vice’s pin attempt and it was only a two count. It was a three count if Butler counted quickly. Dame grabbed the NXT Women’s Championship, then Dame tossed the title at Vice and Dame covered for a two count while Butler was slow in making the count. Good nearfall. Dame went for a lift, but Vice countered with a Guillotine Choke and then there was a pin attempt for Dame for two. Dame went for a kick, Vice ducked it, and Vice hit a spinning back fist to knock Dame down for the pinfall win.
Winner by pinfall: Lola Vice
Analysis: ***1/4 They worked hard to have a competitive title match. It wasn’t great or anything like that, but I admire how hard they worked and it’s been nice to see how much both women have improved over the last few years. A few years ago, this was not a main event match, but they’ve gotten better and earned a spot like this. I liked the nearfall that Dame got after the boot to the face. Vice showed a lot of heart as the babyface who kept on fighting and found a way to get the win with her spinning back fist. Dame cheated and tried to win that way, but Vice was above to overcome. It’s classic booking to have a babyface show that kind of spunk in finding a way to win.
Lola Vice celebrated as the NXT Women’s Champion.
Darkstate was shown outside the arena. Dion Lennox said that Darkstate is back. Cutler James said they will finish the job next week. They said when Darkstate strikes, ain’t nobody safe. Saquon Shugars was shown looking on in the background.
Analysis: The final shot with Shugars should lead to Shugars costing Darkstate in their match next week.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Lola Vice
- Kelani Jordan
- Shiloh Hill
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7 out of 10
Last week: 6.75
2026 Average: 7.10
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
It was a solid episode of NXT. The women’s division was featured a lot as usual, and the ladies did a great job throughout the show. Kelani Jordan is likely going to challenge Lola Vice for the NXT Women’s Title soon since they both got wins this week.
I think they are doing a decent job with the NXT Title situation involving Tony D’Angelo having multiple challengers. Other than that, the men’s matches and feuds are okay, but I wouldn’t say anything is that interesting right now.
It’s still a transitional period for NXT after losing a lot of talent to Raw and SmackDown, but they are giving younger talent time to see who can prove they deserve more. I like that about NXT. There are new faces, but it’s not a bad thing.
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John Canton
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