The John Report: WWE NXT 07/22/25 Review
This week’s WWE NXT featured The Undertaker confronting Trick Williams, plus Oba Femi putting the NXT Title on the line against Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs.
The TNA Slammiversary PLE took place on Sunday and there were a few NXT stars in action there. Jacy Jayne beat Masha Slamovich in a Winner Take All Match, so Jayne is the NXT Women’s Champion and the TNA Knockouts Champion. Meanwhile, Trick Williams retained the TNA World Title in a triple threat match against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana. That angered a lot of fans because they wanted Santana to win. I thought Santana should have won, too, but I guess the plan is to wait until Bound for Glory in October. That means that Trick’s heel run as TNA Champion continues.
I’ll go play-by-play for one or two matches and summary style for the rest of the show. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport, and check out my NXT TV review archive.
They are at the 713 Music Hall in Houston for this week’s show. Let’s get to it.
There was pre-show walking shown of Fatal Influence, Ricky Saints, Oba Femi, and Trick Williams.
Vic Joseph and Corey Graves were on the commentary table. Booker T, who is from Houston, did a promo from the backstage area (hey NXT boss Shawn Michaels sitting there) and he hyped up what’s coming up on the show. Booker got Blake Monroe’s name wrong. Booker did his, “Now can you dig that, sucka” line to end it. Anyway, Booker joined commentary as usual. Vic Joseph is the ring announcer. Booker mentioned he said Monica Monroe, who is from Reality of Wrestling, and he meant Blake Monroe, so the announcers laughed about it.
Hank Ledger, Talk Walker, Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. The Culling – Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley
It’s men against men and women against women, so if a woman makes a tag, then a woman must go in on the other team. The guys started the match for a few minutes, then the girls got in there and all eight wrestlers went into the ring. The four babyfaces all hit body slams on the four heels. The four babyfaces hit a Honk Honk team splash on Niko. They went into a break.
(Commercial)
The heels were in control as Niko worked over Tank. Niko went up top, jumped off with a headbutt and Tank moved, so Niko hit the mat. Tank broke free to bring in Sol against Paxley, so Sol was on fire with jumping elbows, a superkick, and a Tornado DDT. Zaria lunched Sol for a dropkick on Paxley and they did a double team splash on Paxley for two because Dame broke up the pin. Tank clotheslined Spears to knock him out of the ring. Dame hit a knee attack on Hank. Dame hit a dive onto Hank & Tank while Sol hit a dive on Vance on the floor. Zaria and Paxley were legal, but Zaria got a hold of Spears and Zaria hit her version of an F5 on Spears, which drew a huge pop. Paxley rolled up Zaria for two. Zaria hit a Spear on Paxley. The lights went out in the building and then the spotlights appeared as Darkstate showed up. The lights went back on and Paxley had Zaria pinned. Zaria was selling an eye injury, so the idea was that Paxley used a doll to hit Zaria in the eye for the win. It went 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Culling – Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a fun opening tag team match with a lot of creative spots throughout the match. The Sol Ruca breakout continues as she continues to improve every time we see her. There was some illegal offense in the match, especially in the last few minutes, so that they could have guys bump out of the ring and let the girls finish the match. The distraction from Darkstate makes it a cheap win. Paxley’s win gives her some momentum as a new member of The Culling group.
Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence are up next.
(Commercial)
Jordynne Grace was shown arriving at the building earlier in the day, but NXT GM Ava was there to tell Grace that she’s banned from the building. Grace said one way or another, she’s getting her hands on Blake Monroe tonight.
Let’s Hear from Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence
The NXT Women’s Champion and TNA Knockouts Champion Jacy Jayne made her entrance, joined by her Fatal Influence buddies Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. Booker T got the announcers to stand up to clap for her, and Booker did his “shucky ducky, quack quack” line too.
Jayne said that this picture is worth a million bucks. Jayne said that she runs women’s wrestling. Jayne said it’s not so bad for a third wheel or the most beatable champion in history. Jayne said that the woman at the top is her. Jayne claimed she did it all by herself without any help or support. Fallon and Jazmyn didn’t seem to like that. Jayne said she walked into Slammiversary walked out of TNA’s biggest PPV in history and walked out with their Knockouts World Title. Jayne said that she is a history maker and a moment maker.
Analysis: I thought that Fallon Henley or Jazmyn Nyx might say something when Jayne claimed she did it all by herself, but they said nothing. I’m sure the fallout is coming after Jayne loses her titles.
Lash Legend showed up for the interruption. Lash said that nobody ever expected Jayne to be the double champion. Lash congratulated Jayne and got into the ring. Lash told Jayne her delusional ass won’t be at the top for long and she’s headed for a downward spiral. Lash said it’s time for her moment and it’s time for her to Lash Out. Lash said that at Evolution, they were talking about her while bragging about eliminating Nia Jax and Nikki Bella, while proving how dominant she was. Lash said that she is clearly equipped to get one of those titles.
Jaida Parker got a big ovation and some “Miss Parker” chants as Parker made her way down to the ring. Parker credited Lash for doing her thing in the battle royal. Parker got into the ring saying she had a direct line to that championship. Parker said it didn’t matter if they get in her way or the back of the line because she’s the face of the future of this women’s division. Jayne said that she’s so glad they think so highly of themselves. Jayne told her friends to get them. Henley and Nyx didn’t want, so Jayne started the fight. Lash and Parker cleared the ring easily. Lash and Parker argued in the ring.
Analysis: That’s an easy way to set up a Lash-Parker match where the winner becomes the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Title. I wouldn’t mind either woman as the next champion because they have both put in the work and improved a lot over the years.
Je’Von Evans was backstage talking to Ricky Saints, who told Evans not to overthink things while Evans was writing some notes about what to do. Ricky talked about Evans knows a thing or two about Jasper Troy, who Evans beat. Evans told Ricky not to overthink. Evans said he’ll be watching and they shook hands.
(Commercial)
The No Quarter Catch Crew was talking backstage to get Wren Sinclair excited about their match. Myles Borne was there to support Wren as well, even though he’s no longer in the NQCC. Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights were hyping up Wren. Lexis King was in the background being weird during the segment.
Jasper Troy vs. Ricky Saints
The bigger man, Troy, used his power early on, Ricky came back with punches, and Troy hit a clothesline. Troy hit a powerslam. Troy tossed Ricky over the top to the floor.
(Commercial)
Troy remained in control until Ricky managed to send him out of the ring. Ricky hit a suicide dive onto Troy on the floor. Troy missed a corner splash when Ricky moved. Ricky hit a cross body block and a spinning DDT that wasn’t pretty, but it worked. Ricky did a cross body block to tackle Troy over the top to the floor. Troy intimidated the referee on the ramp. The referee was on the ramp as Ricky fought with Troy on the ramp. Ricky was on a piece of metal that was part of the ramp, and it crashed to the floor. Troy hit a senton splash onto Ricky on the floor. The referee finally started a count, Troy got back in before the 10 count and Troy won.
Winner by countout: Jasper Troy
Analysis: **1/2 It felt like an average match with Troy dominating most of it and then they went with the rare countout win. The ramp collapsing was a weird spot to do for a match finish, but it’s a way to give Troy a win without getting the pinfall. The countout win should lead to a rematch soon.
Trick Williams was backstage with Wes Lee and The High Ryze. Wes said if Trick needed anything, then just say a word. Trick said he’d handle this. Je’Von Evans was backstage laughing about it. Trick left. Lee tried to talk to Evans, who left and said he had to see this.
The announcers talked about the death of music legend and WWE Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne. Vic Joseph talked about his life and history in WWE. They showed videos and photos of Ozzy at WWE shows. Nice tribute. Rest in peace, Ozzy.
(Commercial)
Trick Williams Calls Out The Undertaker
The TNA World Champion Trick Williams was in the ring for a promo, wearing a cowboy hat like many Texans. Trick said that the man carrying two brands is here. Trick said that he main evented TNA’s biggest show Slammiversary and he faced two of the best TNA had to offer. Trick said that he defeated the Average Joe and Mike Santana. Trick said that it makes him undeniably and automatically the greatest TNA World Champion of all time. Trick said he knows they don’t like him at TNA. Trick said he’s dropping everybody in his way. Trick said that last week, the boys from LFG were in his way, and they stood in front of him. Trick said he told them to get out of the way when the champ is in the room. Trick said that they snitched on Trick by telling their coach, The Undertaker.
Trick said that The Undertaker is one of the greatest of all time, and he’s in the WWE Hall of Fame for a reason. Trick said that it’s also a fact that Taker hasn’t held down two brands at the same time. Trick said that LFG has got The Undertaker soft. Trick claimed he had no problem being the only man to call out The Undertaker, so he called the Deadman to bring his ass out there.
The Undertaker made his entrance as the gong played, and then Taker walked down to the ring to the American Badass song. Taker had a tank top on, along with a hat and shades. He wasn’t in classic Undertaker gear, but he’s in more of his regular look and his American Badass persona, except he’s a 60-year-old man now. The fans chanted for Undertaker as a sign of respect that he deserves.
The Undertaker started by asking what do we have here? Taker said that we’ve got a dead man walking. Taker said he’s got that nice title around his waist and the bling around his neck. Taker asked if it was cowhide on the jacket and Trick said it was. Taker said you’ve got it all, except for respect. Taker spoke about how Trick isn’t the same guy with the TNA Title as he was with the NXT Championship. Taker said he watched that guy scratch and claw his way to the top, he was hungry and had that dog in him. Taker told Trick that ain’t him. Taker said that Trick can have the whole package and everything in the toolbox, but with your attitude, it ain’t a matter of you losing that title, it’s only a matter of when. Taker told Trick that his attitude would be his downfall, and that’s when the walls started crumbling down. Taker said he’s seen it too many times. Taker told Trick his attitude was rotten, and it’s exactly what he tries to teach his LFG team. Trick said he didn’t give a damn about his LFG team.
Trick told Taker that nobody on his LFG team or in NXT is a superstar like Trick Williams. Trick said nobody in all of WWE is a superstar like Trick Williams. Taker wanted to give some advice. Taker told Trick he was too light in the ass to step up to an OG. Taker said that he flipped that switch real quick. Trick tried a punch, so Taker caught him and Taker spiked Trick with a Chokeslam. Taker’s music played while Trick was selling it on the mat.
Analysis: I wouldn’t call it an epic promo by The Undertaker, but he did his job as a veteran who was there to put the cocky Trick in his place. The Chokeslam ending wasn’t a surprise, although I’m sure people are complaining about a 60-year-old dude beating up a guy half his age easily. It doesn’t bother me that much since Trick is a cocky heel champion who was being disrespectful towards Taker and he got what he deserved. It went as I thought it would go.
The lovely Blake Monroe was walking backstage for her singles debut up next.
(Commercial)
Jacy Jayne was backstage with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx, wondering about who would take care of Lash Legend and who would take on Jaida Parker. The WWE Hall of Famer Michelle McCool walked in to suggest Henley against Lash and Nyx against Parker. Jayne agreed and went to talk to NXT GM Ava.
Blake Monroe vs. Wren Sinclair
This is Blake’s first singles match. We saw her in a tag team match already. I think she has an entrance that makes her look like a big star and it’s a catchy pop tune as well. Blake got some offense early on. Wren got a few pin attempts. Blake came back with a missile dropkick and Slingblade for two. Wren hit some clotheslines, along with a facebuster. Blake sent Wren into the ropes and hit a headbutt. Blake hit a double arm DDT for the win. It went about 3 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Blake Monroe
Analysis: *1/2 This was all about Blake getting the win in her first singles match. Wren is talented and needs to be used better, but they don’t push her much. Blake is very impressive in the ring as many of us know.
Blake Monroe wanted to do a promo, but Jordynne Grace showed up in the crowd and went after Blake in the ring. Grace beat up security guys and hit a German Suplex on one of them. Blake headbutted Grace. Blake gave Grace a DDT on a chair on the floor.
Analysis: That Grace-Monroe rivalry is quickly becoming one of the biggest ones in NXT right now. I like how that was booked with Grace fighting the security guys and Blake capitalized to hit that DDT on the chair.
Ethan Page was shown walking backstage because he’s up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear From Ethan Page
Ethan Page was in the ring, saying today was the 56th day of the greatest North American to hold the NXT North American Championship. Page said there have been 17 Americans to hold this title, so he’s going to bring some class to the championship. Page said that his parents came from former Yugoslavia, which allowed Page to travel the continent. Page said if his family had made different decisions, then he might have ended up like all of you, but he didn’t because he was born in Canada! Yes! The fans booed. I boo the fans. There were two Canadian flags in the ring. The fans chanted “USA” in response. Page said that the championship won’t represent the continent of North America. Page said that this title will represent the dominance of Canada over the United States and Mexico. Page said that he was born in Canada, but made in America, so that makes him the greatest North American alive, and affords him the privilege of doing this. He tossed the North American Title out of the ring.
Page unveiled a new NXT North American Title that had the Canadian flag as the strap. Beautiful! Page said that he’s proud of being from Canada. Page said that the championship now comes with the Canadian standard of excellence. Page said we do it better, we respect eachother, we do it with pride and with honor. Page said that our civilian life is better, our food is better, our women are hotter and healthier and our air is definitely cleaner. Page told the fans that Houston stinks. There were “A**hole” chants for Page. Page said he takes great pride in holding that title, but it pales in comparison to the pride he has as a Canadian citizen. The fans chanted “shut the f**k up” at him. Page told the fans to rise for the singing of the Canadian national anthem. Page apologized for not having a great singing voice, and then he did an over-the-top version of the song. Cue the interruption.
It’s Santino Marella! Huge pop for the TNA Director of Authority. He’s also Canadian. Just saying. Loud “Santino” chants for the legend.
Santino told Ethan Page that he should be ashamed of himself. Santino talked about following the great Italian athletes, but he lives in Canada and raises his family there. Santino said that the people here are good people and hard working people. Santino said that the garbage from Page’s mouth makes him sick. Santino called him a “Bumhole Boy.” Page told Santino to go back to TNA. Santino said he’s also friends with Ava and he couldn’t take it anymore. Santino told Page that he doesn’t have the class and pride that he claimed he had. Santino said he has those things and he’ll see Page next week. Page said they should do this right now. Page turned around, and Santino almost hit him with the Cobra, but Page left. Santino’s music played to end it.
Analysis: I certainly didn’t expect a Santino interruption there, but that was a lot of fun. I thought Page did a great job with his speech and putting over my great country of Canada. It is an easy way to get heat in the US, especially in Texas, so of course, the fans hated it and chanted mean things at him. I love the look of that title. It’s a nice throwback to Lance Storm with the WCW US Title 25 years ago and changing it to the Canadian Title. Anyway, a Santino-Page match next week is pretty random, but it should be fun. The pop for Santino was great.
Trick Williams was shown backstage selling the attack. Trick had a staredown with NXT Champion Oba Femi. Jacy Jayne walked between them and kept on walking. Femi stared at Trick, said nothing, and left for his match.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Rhea Ripley talking about her character on the WWE Unreal show.
Je’Von Evans was backstage as Yoshiki Inamura showed up to ask if he was a bad friend to Josh Briggs. Evans said no, he’s not a bad friend because Yoshi is on his own path. Evans said he was trying to figure out what’s next. Yoshi said that for him, what’s next is the NXT Championship.
The No Quarter Catch Crew was backstage along with Myles Borne, whom Charlie Dempsey told to go away. Bubba Ray Dudley showed up and hugged Wren, telling her she had a great match. Bully said that Tavion Heights and Charlie Dempsey had a match, but it ended in controversy. Bully said he’s going to suggest a match to Ava, stating that Heights can be free of the group if he wins, but if Charlie wins, then Heights will stay in the Catch Crew and do it with a smile on his face. The wrestlers agreed.
Lexis King walked in, saying Myles Borne isn’t deaf. King said Borne was pretending to be deaf to get sympathy. King said that if you’re deaf, then King is blind. Borne said that King isn’t blind or deaf, but everybody wished he were mute.
A clip aired of Roman Reigns on X making a SummerSlam challenge for him and Jey Uso to face Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed at SummerSlam. The match was made official by WWE over the last day.
Analysis: I think they should have just announced it at the end of Raw on Monday. Anyway, it’s a big tag team match for SummerSlam.
It’s official for NXT next week: Ethan Page defends the NXT North American Championship against Santino Marella.
Josh Briggs made his entrance for the triple threat main event.
(Commercial)
The NXT Champion Oba Femi made his entrance. The entrance of Yoshiki Inamura was already in the ring to start the match.
NXT Championship: Oba Femi vs. Yoshiki Inamura vs. Josh Briggs
The first fall wins in a triple threat match. No countouts and no disqualifications. Femi clotheslined Briggs out of the ring. Femi suplexed Yoshi over his head. Briggs was back in with a sidewalk slam and a splash for two. Femi avoided a double team attack and hit clotheslines on both opponents. Femi hit running uppercuts on both opponents five times in a row. Yoshi was back into it with a powerslam for two because Briggs stepped on the referee’s hand during the count. Femi was back up with a double Chokeslam.
(Commercial)
Femi went for a superplex on Briggs, but Yoshi got involved for an Electric Chair Drop on Femi, who pulled Briggs off the top. Femi kicked out at two and Yoshi covered Briggs for two. Briggs was mad about that. Briggs accidentally elbowed Yoshi. Briggs hit a clothesline and Chokeslam on Femi for two. Yoshi charged at Femi, who jumped and Yoshi ran over Briggs by accident. Yoshi chopped Femi in the head and Yoshi hit a running headbutt on Femi. Yoshi hit a sitout Powerbomb on Femi for two because Briggs pulled the referee out of the ring to break up the count. The referee went back in the ring and countered again, so Briggs put Femi’s hand on the ropes to break the count. Yoshi hit a shoulder tackle on Briggs on the floor. Yoshi hit a uranage slam on Femi. Yoshi went up top with the top rope splash for two because Briggs hit a moonsault off the top to break up the pin. Briggs covered Femi for two. Yoshi worked over Briggs with strikes and even hit a chop to the face. Yoshi and Briggs took turns striking eachother. Briggs hit a clothesline on Yoshi. Femi hit an uppercut on Briggs and Fall From Grace finished off Briggs for the pinfall win after 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Oba Femi
Analysis: ***3/4 That was a great match that only got 10 minutes and it was full of action. Femi retaining was the obvious result here. I didn’t like how Briggs and Inamura showed apprehension about hitting eachother because it’s for the NXT Title and they should have been slugging it out right away. Once they really got going, the action picked up, there were a lot of nearfalls and the crowd got into it. It wasn’t as good as some three-way matches that Femi has had in the past, mostly because it was a shorter match, but it was still a lot of fun to watch.
After the match, Josh Briggs hit a running boot on Inamura on the floor.
Je’Von Evans was backstage looking at his notebook. The Undertaker walked in, asking Evans if he’s still wondering what to do next. Taker said if you ask him, you should continue going after the biggest dog in the yard. Taker looked at the TV in the room, so it was his way of telling Evans to go after Femi. When Taker asked if he understood, Evans said, “Yeah.” That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I have been saying it for months that Je’Von Evans should be the guy to take the NXT Title from Oba Femi. I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but finally, it seems they are going to put Evans in a spot where he becomes the top contender.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Ethan Page for putting over Canada so much. I’m biased.
- The Undertaker and Trick Williams.
- Oba Femi, Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.25 out of 10
Last week: 7
2025 Average: 7.34
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
I liked the show. The Houston crowd was full of energy, and that always helps. The main event was the best match. The Undertaker segment with Trick Williams was entertaining with Trick as the over-the-top heel, and Taker dropped him on his ass. I don’t know if there will be any kind of follow-up to it.
The Blake Monroe/Jordynne Grace feud has really picked up a lot of steam, even without a title involved. Good job by both of them.
Lastly, thank you, Ethan Page, for the Canadian version of the NXT North American Title. Beautiful. I certainly didn’t expect it would lead to a match against Santino Marella for next week, but that’s what is happening.
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John Canton
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Twitter/X @johnreport