The John Report: WWE NXT 08/26/25 Review
This week’s WWE NXT featured Fatal Influence teaming up against Sol Ruca, Zaria & Lola Vice, plus Ricky Saints facing Josh Briggs, and more.
The NXT Heatwave PLE took place on Sunday night and it was a solid show. Like Great American Bash before it, I thought it wasn’t really at the level of a great PLE. The matches were fine throughout the night, yet none of them stood out that much. The Oba Femi/Je’Von Evans was the best match that had a bit of controversy and a huge table bump for Evans as Femi held onto the NXT Title as expected.
As usual for NXT, I’ll go summary style for some of the matches and then play-by-play for one or two matches.
They were at the WWE PC 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 NXT Heatwave highlights.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T. No Corey Graves since he was at Raw in Birmingham, England. I assume Corey will be on Raw full-time moving forward and maybe that means he’s done in NXT.
Let’s Hear from Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints got an ovation from the crowd and Ricky was full of energy. Ricky said that reaction is why he wanted to kick off NXT the Ricky way. Ricky said he’ll always put his money behind Je’Von Evans, but Oba Femi proved why he is the NXT Champion. Ricky mentioned that in his six months since he’s been here, he’s been North American Champion, he’s faced a monster, and there is one thing he wants – what Femi has in his possession. Ricky said that he’s calling his shot, saying he’s the one to take the NXT Title from Oba Femi.
Josh Briggs interrupted the promo, saying that Ricky isn’t getting Femi. The fans booed. Briggs said that Ricky has been walking around like he’s some gift to this business. Briggs said that the hype, but he’s tired of outsiders like Inamura and Ricky getting a shot.
Ricky said he should have checked Briggs when he interrupted his entrance a few weeks back. Ricky admitted that Briggs was tough, but Briggs has lost his mind if he thinks that Briggs will be in the back of the line. Ricky said Briggs looks like Sid from Toy Story. Ricky said that the way to handle this is to settle this right here.
Ava, the NXT GM, walked out saying that nobody has heard from Je’Von Evans following his loss at Heatwave. Ava said she has to find a contender for the NXT Title and both of them have compelling cases with some big wins recently. Ava set up Briggs against Ricky for a shot at the NXT Title at No Mercy. Ricky and Briggs were happy about that.
Analysis: It was an easy way to set up a match for later. Briggs beat Inamura last week, while Saints beat Jasper Troy last week, so they are coming off impressive wins. Saints also lost his NXT North American Title feud to Ethan Page, but that wasn’t that recent. Anyway, it’s always a good thing to have people win to earn title shots, so that’s fine with me.
Blake Monroe was shown talking to Ava after Blake’s win at Heatwave. Blake wanted a title shot. Kelani Jordan interrupted to say it took her two years just for an opportunity at the NXT Women’s Title. Jordan mentioned she didn’t get pinned in her match. Ava put them in a match for NXT this week. Blake told Ava she is not a good GM.
Blake Monroe made her entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
Kelani Jordan vs. Blake Monroe
Blake and Jordan exchanged pin attempts. Blake hit a headbutt and Jordan hit a kick to the head. Blake was in control with a forearm to the jaw and an armbar, but Jordan countered with a rollup for two. Jordan hit a jumping kick and both women were down. Jordan hit a sitout DDT, so Blake bailed to the floor. Jordynne Grace showed up at ringside, Blake tried to run out the back door, but Grace told Blake to go back into the ring. When Blake got back in before the referee’s count, Jordan hit a spinning slam. Jordan hit a One of a Kind split-legged moonsault off the top for the pinfall win. It went about 4 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kelani Jordan
Analysis: **1/4 I think these two could have a very good match if they got more time and had a different kind of finish, but this was about continuing Blake’s feud with Grace. Jordan gets a big win, even if it was a bit cheap.
A video package aired about Lexis King being disrespectful toward Myles Borne, so they are having a Blindfold Match.
Myles Borne made his entrance and was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber before the match. Borne said that this is going to be a struggle for him, so he told the fans to let him know when he’s getting close to King. Borne said he’ll need the energy, screams, and vibration.
Analysis: Borne is partially deaf, so he can hear a bit, but not fully.
(Commercial)
Blindfold Match: Lexis King vs. Myles Borne
Each man wrestled with a blindfold sack on their head. They were selling like they were blind. Borne and King tried to throw punches, but they couldn’t connect. Borne managed to hit a dropkick for two. King ran the ropes and then bumped to the floor. King chopped the ring post and tripped over the steel steps, so that was comedy. King tried a superkick, but the referee, Adrian Butler, was the target, so he ran away. The fans were trying to help Borne find King by chanting and cheering. King touched the referee’s face and did a thumb to the eye by accident. The referee had his back turned, so King kicked Borne in the groin. King hit The Coronation for the pinfall win after 5 minutes. Booker laughed and put over King for being smart.
Winner by pinfall:
Analysis: *1/4 It’s hard to rate a match like this because it’s all about the story. King had a lot of comedy spots in the match. The finish was fitting for King as a heel because he took the blindfold off without seeing it and won the match due to that cheating.
Wren Sinclair spoke to Charlie Dempsey backstage, and Wren said she didn’t have a partner for her match. Charlie found her a partner – it was Kendal Grey. Dempsey claimed he would help her, but Grey wasn’t interested in that. Grey just said she would team up with Wren, so off they went.
(Commercial)
The Culling – Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley (w/Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) vs. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey (w/Charlie Dempsey)
Dame and Paxley were working well together with a double team dropkick on Wren. After about a minute, Grey got a tag and hit an impressive overhead suplex on Paxley. Grey hit a flatliner as well. Dame tagged herself in while Paxley was on offense and Paxley was confused by it, which led to Wren getting a nearfall. Dame hit a boot to the face and a sitout spinebuster on Wren while Grey was applying an armbar to Paxley. It went about four minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Culling – Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley
Analysis: *1/2 A short match to put over the more established team of Izzi and Tatum. Dame used Paxley, and Dame didn’t try to help Paxley when she needed it. Grey is a talented athlete, so we’ll see how she develops as a character. I’d like to see Wren featured more because she’s very talented, but they never really push her consistently.
(Commercial)
Trick Williams did a promo as the TNA World Champion, talking about NXT Homecoming, No Mercy, and Halloween Havoc. Trick said he’ll be headlining all three shows because who better than him? Trick said he is money. And if you have a problem, then let’s talk about it.
NXT Title #1 Contender’s Match: Josh Briggs vs. Ricky Saints
Ricky used his speed to avoid Briggs and get in some strikes. Briggs came back with power, including elbows to the head. Ricky hit a running kick and Briggs came back with a Bossman Slam for two. Briggs hit an elbow smash, but Ricky came back with a punch to the elbow. Ricky did some rope walking followed by a forearm smash to the left shoulder. Briggs sent Ricky over the top to the floor, but Ricky fought back by kicking the steps into Briggs. Ricky jumped onto Briggs, but Ricky managed to shove Briggs into the ring post and Briggs bumped into Ricky, so they were both down on the floor.
(Commercial)
They each did some rope running, leading to Briggs hitting a cross body block to knock Ricky down. Briggs sent Ricky hard into the turnbuckle for a two count. Briggs sent Ricky into the turnbuckle, which led to Ricky going mouth first into the turnbuckle. The fans were chanting for Saints. They did a rope running spot again, but this time Ricky ducked the cross body block. Ricky hit a jumping shoulder tackle, along with a flying forearm to the head. Ricky hit a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Briggs tried a punch, Ricky avoided it and Ricky hit a running boot to the face. Briggs hit a unique backbreaker, followed by a kick to the face for two. Ricky hit a step up enziguri kick to the head. Briggs shoved Ricky off, which led to Ricky hitting a Spear. Ricky went up top and jumped off with an elbow drop, but Briggs avoided it. Briggs hit a Chokeslam for a two count. Good nearfall there. The fans were chanting, “This is awesome” for them. Briggs went for a clothesline, Ricky avoided it and Ricky hit an elbow o the head. Ricky spun around Briggs and hit a reverse DDT. Ricky bounced off the ropes and hit a Tornado DDT for the pinfall. It went about 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricky Saints
Analysis: ***1/2 A very good match between two veterans who know their roles well, with Ricky as the babyface finding a way and Briggs using his power game as the heel. I like how close it was. Ricky’s win was obvious, but at least Briggs came close to winning with a few different moves in the match, and that helps a lot. Ricky using the Tornado DDT as a finish is what he does against bigger opponents because doing the Roshambo on a bigger guy like Briggs is tough to do. I liked the match a lot.
The win means that Ricky Saints will challenge Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at No Mercy on September 27th.
The babyface trio of Lola Vice, Zaria and Sol Ruca were using some Maybelline makeup for some product placement. Jaida Parker walked in to give Lola some props. Lash Legend interrupted that saying that those L’s have humbled Jaida’s ass and they argued a bit. Parker walked down a hallway where Stacks was flirting with Arianna Grace and Parker said that will make her sick.
Analysis: I think pairing Stacks with Grace is a smart move, especially since they are engaged in real life. This was a decent way to get some different people on the show.
Ricky Saints spoke into the camera about coming for Oba Femi, and we saw Oba walking backstage with the NXT Title.
(Commercial)
Oba Femi Talks To Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints mentioned to Oba Femi that he barely made it out of Heatwave. Ricky said that Femi can’t be The Ruler forever. Ricky told Femi he would be the man who absolutely ends the terror and reign of Femi. Oba told Ricky he sees fear in his eyes. Femi said that Ricky’s career will be taken to new heights on September 27th at No Mercy because on that day, Femi will show Ricky he’s not special. Femi will show him that he will become an ordinary man. Femi said that he makes the exceptional look average, and Femi told Ricky he’ll make him absolutely mediocre.
Darkstate appeared and they were in the crowd with the NXT Tag Team Titles. There were promos from Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars, while Cutler James was there, but he didn’t talk. Darkstate went into the ring for a fight, and that led to Hank & Tank making the save. The babyface group of Femi, Saints, Hank & Tank cleared the ring of Darkstate.
Analysis: It was a solid promo exchange between Femi and Ricky. I want Oba Femi to be more of a heel champion, but he remains something of a tweener. That fight with the babyfaces standing tall should lead to a tag team match.
A video package aired about the WWE Speed Championship coming to NXT after it was exclusively on X/Twitter. They are matches with 5-minute championship matches, while tournament matches are only 3 minutes.
Ava was featured in a video saying there will be a Women’s Speed tournament for a shot at Sol Ruca’s Women’s Speed Championship.
Alba Fyre made her entrance, joined by Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Ethan Page.
(Commercial)
Tyra Mae Steele (w/Tavion Heights) vs. Alba Fyre (w/Chelsea Green, Piper Niven & Ethan Page)
My fellow Canadian, Chelsea Green, wins the outfit of the night with a retro Toronto Raptors top. As a Raptors fan since day 1 for 30 years, I love it. Steele hit an impressive suplex across the ring. Fyre came back with a superkick and Steele bumped to the floor. After Steele avoided a Green move, Fyre hit a suicide dive on Steele on the floor. Fyre continued on offense with a DDT for a two count. Steele hit a German Suplex. Steel went for an Ankle Lock, Page grabbed Fyre’s hand, so Steele stepped on Fyre’s hand. Fyre tried a superkick and Tyra hit a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! on Fyre for the win. It went about 4 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Alba Fyre
Analysis: ** There’s a much-needed win for Steele after losing at Heatwave. I assume it will lead to Steele getting Green in a singles match, which should mean a big win for Steele. The ROLLUP OF DEATH~! strikes again. Fyre is very good in the ring, even if she doesn’t get pushed much.
After the match, Green attacked Steele from behind and tossed her out of the ring. Heights got in Green’s face, so Green tried a slap, but Heights blocked it. Page hit Heights with the North American Title to the back. Page hit the Twisted Grin on Heights. Page put a Canadian flag over Heights. Oh Canada! The best flag of them all.
Analysis: This feud will continue. I would be fine with Heights as the next NXT North American Champion because it would elevate him and I think Page is more than ready to be on the main roster.
Hank & Tank spoke to the NXT GM, Ava, about wanting an NXT Tag Team Title match against Darkstate. Ava claimed that Darkstate had already talked to her. Ava said that Darkstate wants all 4 of you, so it’s Darkstate against Hank, Tank, Femi & Ricky. Hank & Tank were fine with that.
(Commercial)
Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence were interviewed backstage by Sarah Schreiber. Jayne said that Ash By Elegance stole the TNA Knockouts Title, but Jayne is still the first woman to hold that title and the NXT Women’s Title. Jazmyn Nyx suggested she go after the Women’s Speed Title, but Jayne said that Fallon Henley should be the one to do that. They argued about it.
Next week on NXT:
* WWE Speed Match First Round: Candice LeRae vs. Xia Brookside
* Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker
* Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Hank & Tank vs. Darkstate
The entrances took place for the main event with Lola Vice up first, joined by NXT Women’s North American Champion and Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca, and Zaria. Fatal Influence was next with Jacy Jayne as the NXT Women’s Champion.
Sol Ruca, Zaria & Lola Vice vs. Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx
Sol started with Henley on Sol’s 26th birthday, so happy birthday to Sol. They exchanged pin attempts. Henley punched Sol in the jaw. Sol tripped up Henley and hit a superkick. Henley hit an impressive suplex on Sol. Nyx tagged in with a kick, along with a jumping side kick. Sol hit a spinning slam on Nyx, along with a running knee. Zaria tagged in with a double hip toss and an elbow drop. Zaria kicked Nyx and Zaria hit a clothesline off the middle turnbuckle. Nyx did a sweep kick followed by a springboard kick for two. Nyx countered Zaria into a rollup for two. Zaria hit a body slam on Nyx and Vice tagged in, so Zaria slammed Vice onto Nyx. Jayne tagged in against Vice as a preview of their match at No Mercy. Vice took down Jayne with an armbar, but Jayne got out of it. Jayne came back with a clothesline for two. Jayne hit a running back splash on Vice and Henley hit a running clothesline. Sol was back in there for a double team chop on Henley for two. Sol stood on Henley’s back by the turnbuckle and Sol did some surfboard riding on the back. Sol kicked Henley in the back. Nyx distracted the referee, so Jayne pulled the ropes to send Sol out of the ring. Jayne kicked Sol on the floor. Lainey Reid was standing on the platform in the PC watching the match.
(Commercial)
Nyx was in control of Sol with a bridging chinlock. Sol hit a double knee attack to Nyx’s left arm. Sol kicked legal woman Henley, but Jayne pulled Vice off the apron and sent Vice into the steel steps. Henley and Nyx hit a double team neckbreaker while Jayne tagged in with a kick for two. There were more tags by Fatal Influence as they worked over Sol, but Sol broke free and brought in Zaria, who hit a running splash on two opponents. Zaria hit a double suplex. Nyx tagged in, Zaria caught her and Zaria hit a belly to back suplex. Sol tagged in for a double team handstand slam for two. Zaria hit a German Suplex, Jayne hit a neckbreaker on Jayne and Sol hit a double clothesline with Jayne. All six women were down until Vice got back up on the apron. Vice got the hot tag against Nyx, but Vice unloaded on all three heels with kicks. Vice did her “I’m a Latina” hell, leading to three hip attacks in a row. Nyx hit a Nyx Kick. Henley and Jayne each made tags for double kicks, and Henley covered for two because Sol made the save. Zaria hit a Spear on Jayne on the floor. Sol hit a Soul Snatcher on Nyx. Vice hit a spinning back fist on Henley for the pinfall win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Sol Ruca, Zaria & Lola Vice
Analysis: ***1/2 An entertaining tag team match that got a lot of time. They built up Vice, getting the hot tag to give her some more momentum after winning at Heatwave. They did a good job of making the tags matter, which is what tag team wrestling is supposed to be about. They did a nice job with the final sequence, as all six women got involved, and they timed everything well. It was about Lola getting a big win while Jayne’s team failed. I think Lola might beat Jayne at No Mercy, too.
Vic plugged the No Mercy matches and next week’s 8-man tag team match.
The team of Sol Ruca, Zaria and Lola Vice celebrated in the ring while Fatal Influence was on the floor looking angry.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Ricky Saints
- Sol Ruca, Zaria & Lola Vice
- Josh Briggs
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7 out of 10
Last week: 7.75
2025 Average: 7.32
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
I thought the first hour was poor, but things improved in the second hour, which certainly helped a lot. I’m still calling it a below-average show overall. NXT isn’t hot right now, as I’ve written for a few months, but at least they use a lot of the roster every week.
I’m happy with Ricky Saitns and Lola Vice as title contenders going into No Mercy because they are new in those spots, and both of them looked impressive on this show.
The next WWE NXT PLE is No Mercy on September 27th with this lineup:
* NXT Championship: Oba Femi vs. Ricky Saints
* NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
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Twitter/X @johnreport