The John Report: WWE NXT 09/16/25 Review (NXT Homecoming)
This week’s WWE NXT was NXT Homecoming as the brand returns home to Full Sail University for this week’s episode.
The NXT brand has N Mercy on September 27, but before we get there, it’s the NXT Homecoming show tonight.
They were at Full Sail University 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 was an excellent video package about the Full Sail University era of NXT in the 2010s. Really well done.
After the video package, the classic NXT intro video aired with today’s stars of the brand.
Let’s Hear from Triple H…and Shawn Michaels
The WWE Chief Content Officer, Triple H, made his entrance for a show-opening promo. Triple H got a huge ovation. Triple H talked about how special this place was and how special these letters are. Triple H talked about how everybody involved in NXT is special. Hunter said what is really special about this are the fans. Hunter said that you are why NXT is stronger than ever. Hunter talked about how you took something that was a whisper and you turned it into an undeniable roar. Hunter told the fans that your passion for this turned it into that roar, it shattered conventions and it allowed NXT to take over. Hunter said that you are the ones who said NXT is the future, and that future is now. Triple H said that you are the ones who shouted, “We Are NXT.” That led to “NXT” chants. Hunter said, “Thank You” to end it.
The current NXT boss, Shawn Michaels, joined the former NXT boss, Triple H, in the ring. There were “HBK” chants for Michaels. Shawn said they are excited to have Triple H there because he’s busy with Raw & SmackDown and making billion-dollar deals. Shawn said he and the NXT superstars are ready to steer the ship into the future. Triple H said that you are knocking it out of the park, it’s the best thing on the CW and you are lighting the world on fire. The fans chanted, “Thank You, Shawn,” after that. Hunter said what if he wanted to come back? Shawn said that then we would have a very, very big problem.
William Regal was next up as the former NXT General Manager, who was so good in that role. Regal shouted that there was one thing they could do…WarGames! Regal smiled about it.
Charlotte Flair made her entrance as one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, and she was joined by her tag team partner, Alexa Bliss, for their match. Bliss said that she thinks Shawn and Hunter argue more than they do. Flair said that they don’t argue because they are besties. Flair said that it doesn’t matter who is in charge because the women run NXT and the women’s revolution started in NXT. Flair mentioned the Four Horsewomen, Page, Asuka, Carmella, and Bliss mentioned other women while saying that the women have always been the backbone of NXT and that’s never going to change. Bliss said if you aren’t down with that, then we’ve got two words for ya…so the fans chanted, “Suck it” to end it.
Analysis: There was a lot of star power and plenty of nostalgia with Triple H, Shawn, and Regal there. Good job by Charlotte and Bliss putting over how great the women’s division has been in NXT and that’s the truth. It has been a strength of the brand for more than a decade since Triple H was running it and it has been good with Shawn running it too. Regal yelling “WarGames” is always a nice touch, even though in this case it was just for fun and not going to lead to Shawn’s team against Triple H’s team, even though some fans might think that. I think they were just having fun. I’m surprised Triple H didn’t do his, “Are You Ready?” bit.
Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley were backstage for their match. Lyra Valkyria was there, so Paxley hugged her.
A commercial aired for the Wrestlepalooza taking place this Saturday, September 20th.
(Commercial)
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T. Vic mentioned that Full Sail hosted over 400 NXT episodes, so yes, there is a lot of history there.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. The Culling – Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley (w/Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
I should point out there’s a ramp connecting the entrance to the ring. It wasn’t like that at Full Sail in the past because there was room on the floor, but now there is no room on the floor on that side.
Bliss and Paxley each had dolls in their hands, but they had to put them away. Bliss and Paxley did some spots where they stared at eachother because they are both a bit crazy. Bliss got a cross body block. Bliss did a headscissors. Flair and Dame tagged in as the two tall women in the match. Flair worked over Dame with some chops, along with a chop block. Flair and Bliss each hit neckbreakers as the heels retreated. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued with The Culling taking over by isolating Flair.
The match continued with Flair fighting back with chops for both opponents. Paxley hit an enziguri kick and Dame hit a superkick for a two count. Flair and Dame exchanged strikes, and each hit boots to the face. Bliss tagged in against Paxley with a dropkick, then some strikes and another dropkick. Bliss hit a flipping neckbreaker for two. Bliss did an STO trip to knock Paxley down. Bliss went up top, there were distractions from other members of The Culling, so Paxley got her knees up to block Twisted Bliss. Paxley covered with her feet on the ropes for two. Dame hit a cheap shot on Bliss and Paxley hit a twisting slam for a two count. Flair and Dame fought on the floor. Bliss avoided a 450 Splash by Paxley, and Bliss punched Paxley. Flair hit the Sister Abigail DDT for the pinfall win after about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
Analysis: ***1/4 Good match between two teams that work well together. Flair was isolated for most of the match, Bliss was on fire after that and I liked how Dame/Paxley came close to winning a few times. We knew that Dame/Paxley wouldn’t win, but at least it looked like they had a good shot. The fans were into this.
Sol Ruca and Zaria were arguing backstage because Zaria was mad about Sol hitting her with a Soul Snatcher last week. Lainey Reid and Candice LeRae walked in to argue about the WWE Speed title tournament. Shayna Baszler walked in, so LeRae and Reid left. Baszler talked to Sol and Zaria about being a champion and how she was a Tag Team Champion, so she knows how this stuff goes. Baszler told them to fix it, apologize and it will be everything you want. Sol and Zair told eachother that things are good with them again.
Analysis: Shayna Baszler is no longer a WWE superstar, so there’s a nice cameo from her. Baszler was a former NXT Women’s Champion.
The #DIY vs. Melo/Trick match was next.
(Commercial)
The TNA World Champion Trick Williams made his entrance. Trick said that’s all it is, and Melo said, “And that’s all it’s gonna be.” Carmelo Hayes made his entrance as a former NXT Champion. Tommaso Ciampa made his entrance to his classic “No One Will Survive” song and he had black & gold face paint. Johnny Gargano had his Rebel Heart entrance.
#DIY – Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes
They are all former NXT Champions. #DIY are heels on SmackDown, but they were in babyface mode here. Melo started with Gargano as they exchanged some holds and Trick hit a dropkick. Ciampa tagged in, leading to punches on Trick. Ciampa and Gargano hit strikes on their opponents. Gargano hit a suicide dive. Ciampa and Gargano clapped for eachother. They went to a break for some fans as the action continued. Melo hit a springboard leg drop on Ciampa for two. Trick punched Ciampa and tossed him out of the ring. Trick worked over Ciampa with chops. Trick and Melo kept working over Ciampa with Melo hitting a clothesline. Trick grounded Ciampa with a headlock.
The match continued with Ciampa kicking Trick. Gargano tagged in against Melo with a kicks, knees and a bulldog/clothesline combo. The fans chanted “Johnny Wrestling” for Gargano. Melo caught Gargano and went for a move on the ramp, but Gargano avoided that and Gargano hit a Spear in the ring. Melo avoided a double team move. Trick tagged in with a spinning kick and a flapjack. Trick hit an uppercut punch on Ciampa. Melo tagged himself in, which Trick didn’t like. Melo spun around Ciampa and slammed him face first into the mat. Trick hugged Melo, but then Trick teased an attack and Trick hit a clothesline on Gargano. Trick lifted Ciampa and Melo hit a springboard clothesline for a two count because Gargano made the save. They did a sequence with big moves, including Ciampa hitting a knee smash on Melo and a double underhook backbreaker on Melo for a two count. Trick brought the TNA World Title into the ring, the referee took it away and Ciampa hit a Fairytale Ending on Trick. Gargano tried a double team move, but Melo knocked Trick out of the ring to avoid the double team move. #DIY hit a Shatter Machine on Melo. Ciampa and Gargano hit their Meet in the Middle double team kick/knee for just two. The Miz showed up at ringside and gave Gargano a Skull Crushing Finale on the floor (the referee never saw it) to help his buddy Melo. Melo went up top and hit the leg drop to the back of the head for the pinfall win. It went about 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes
Analysis: ***3/4 Great match. They had a lot of chemistry and the action never stopped. The fans were into everything in this match between former NXT Champions. The Miz showing up to help Melo is a nice touch and gives Melo some momentum going into US Title match against Sami Zayn on SmackDown. Gargano and Ciampa are so damn good as a team while Melo and Trick made up with them. Everybody involved did a nice job.
Tyler Breeze was shown backstage getting ready for his match up next.
(Commercial)
Sami Zayn, the US Champion, was interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Zayn talked about his history here and it was great being back there. Zayn was interviewed about who impresses him. Zayn said Je’Von Evans, so Josh Briggs showed up and Briggs fought with Vegas, but it was broken up. Zayn spoke to Evans for guys like them, it is not easy, but the sky is the limit for him. Zayn told Evans good luck with everything and they slapped hands.
Analysis: I agree with Sami Zayn in his assessment of Evans, who is a future NXT Champion and somebody who can be a star on the main roster too.
NXT North American Champion: Ethan Page vs. Tyler Breeze
It’s a matchup between two Canadians. Page ran over Breeze with a shoulder tackle and Breeze hit a dropkick. Breeze hit a running dropkick. Page decked Breeze with a punch to the jaw. Page yelled at Breeze, wondering if he was happy to be home. Page was in control as they went to break for some fans.
Page went for a power move, but Breeze slipped out and hit an enziguri kick. Breeze hit a flying forearm. Breezed kicked Page and went for a sunset flip for two. Breeze with a hurricanrana for two count. Page hit a kick to the head, followed by a Codebreaker. Page hit the Ego’s Edge release Powerbomb for two. That was Page’s old finish, so it works as a nearfall move. Breeze tripped up Page and rammed his left knee into the ring post. Breeze applied the Figure Four Leglock on the ring post as a Bret Hart tribute. Breeze got a body scissors takedown into a Single Leg Crab submission. Page got a cradle for two. Breeze superkicked Page for two. They battled by the turnbuckle, and Page kicked Breeze while Breeze was on the top. Breeze broke free with a kick and a spinning heel kick for two. That was his finisher in NXT. Breeze went up top, but Page was back up to knock him down. Page hit Twisted Grin while Breeze’s legs were on the turnbuckle, and Page got the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ethan Page
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match that was competitive even though the result of the match was obvious. Breeze hasn’t wrestled in WWE for a long time, but he’s still in great shape and looked good in the match. Page winning was never in doubt.
After the match, Page and AAA’s El Hijo Del Wagner Jr. held up their titles.
Damian Priest approached Tavion Heights and said that it’s so close to take it to the next level. Priest talked about how he broke free and won the NXT North American Champion. Priest talked about his epic hot tub celebration. Priest told Heights that he believed in him. Priest said he talked to GM Ava and Heights is getting NXT North American Title match against Page at No Mercy. Heights was excited. Priest said if you need anything, just talk to him.
Grayson Waller was walking backstage to host his talk show.
(Commercial)
Grayson Waller Effect: Oba Femi and Ricky Saints
Grayson Waller said that NXT wasn’t good until he got there. The NXT Champion Oba Femi and Ricky Saints were already in the ring.
Femi said he was not impressed and underwhelmed by Ricky. Femi said that Ricky acts like he’s just waiting to be called up to Raw or SmackDown. Femi said that you’re not going to carry this title.
Ricky talked about how Femi was scouted and sponsored. Ricky wondered who Femi is without a title. Ricky said that eight years ago, he poured his energy into it and he tried out for three days while getting an automated email that said no. Ricky said that he realized a delay is not a denial. Ricky was fired up talking about how he’s not going to be denied because he’s going to be the NXT Champion.
Trick Williams interrupted the promo and said that Oba is holding the NXT Title that belongs to Trick. Trick told Ricky to mind his business and said that the only reason Ricky is here is because Oba and Trick made NXT hot. Waller suggested that next week on NXT it’s Trick against Femi in an NXT Champion vs. TNA World Champion match and then the winner faces Saints at No Mercy. Waller said that TNA people will complain about the title coming home, but Waller said that TNA is only relevant because he said their name. Femi said he’ll take the TNA World Title, then beat Ricky at No Mercy and that’s the Oba Femi rub.
Analysis: That’s a huge match next week with Oba against Trick. I liked Ricky’s promo a lot. The others did well too.
Charlie Dempsey and Wren Sinclair were talking backstage with Wren suggesting changes for the NQCC. Dempsey said that he’s going to Japan for the next month. After they said “Glorious” it led to Bobby Roode appearing. Roode posed and his Glorious song played. Wren said Joe Hendry’s name so Joe appeared in room as well. Roode talked Joe’s past as a former TNA World Champion and taking the title to WrestleMania. Roode said now that Joe is part of NXT, he needs to go after the NXT Title. Roode said he’ll be rooting for Joe. Hendry told Roode that it means a lot that Roode believes in him. Dempsey told Wren not to do anything he wouldn’t do while he is gone. Wren reassured him it would be fine.
Analysis: Roode saying that bit about how Joe is part of NXT now is a bit interesting. I don’t know if Hendry is officially done with TNA or what, but I figured he was going to be in NXT officially soon.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Lexis King
Lexis King talked about how the old days of NXT were overrated. King complained about Myles Borne attacking him last week. King said that Ava set up a Lights Out Match for them next week.
Finn Balor made his entrance to his classic NXT theme song. Balor is one half of the World Tag Team Champions, but he didn’t have his title with him. Balor did his posing on his way to the ring. Myles Borne was in the ring and he punched King. Borne hit his version of the Zig Zag. Balor went up top and hit a Coup de Grace double foot stomp. Balor celebrated with Borne as the fans cheered. Balor and Borne posed.
Analysis: Good way of using Finn Balor, who may be the greatest NXT superstar of all time.
Next Tuesday on NXT:
* Winner Take All: WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. TNA World Champion Trick Williams.
* Candice LeRae vs. Lainey Reed – Women’s Speed Tournament.
Fatal Influence made their entrance for the main event.
(Commercial)
Lyra Valkyria, Rhea Ripley & Stephanie Vaquer vs Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx
I missed the first few minutes of this, but there were a lot of quick moves exchanged by all six wrestlers. They went to break as the action continued for some fans. Henley and Jayne made quick tags to work on Lyra. Jayne hit a cannonball on Lyra against the turnbuckle. Jayne drove her knees into Lyra’s back and sent Lyra face first into the mat. Nyx hit a Perfect Plex on Lyra for two.
The match continued with Lyra trying to tag out, but Nyx rolled her up like a sunset flip, followed by Nyx hitting a running kick to knock Lyra down. Henley was back in for a double team flapjack and a double knee breaker. Jayne tagged in with a knee on Lyra for a two count. Lyra came back with a sitout Powerbomb. Vaquer got the hot tag with a suplex and Eat Defeat with the boot to the face. Vaquer hit two running knee attacks. Vaquer got a hold of Lyra, but Jayne made the save. Nyx hit a heel kick to the face. Henley was back in and Nyx hit a Nyx Kick into Henley pinning for two. Jayne was back in, Vaquer fought out of the heel corner and Ripley got the hot tag. Ripley hit a running dropkick and knocked down Jayne with clotheslines and a kick. Ripley did a fallaway slam on Jayne. Vaquer was back in to help Ripley and they did slams into the mat. Lyra dropkicked Nyx, and Lyra kicked Nyx down on the floor. Vaquer and Ripley each hit the Devil’s Kiss knee smashes into the mat. Jayne tried to leave, but Lola Vice showed up and stopped that. The referee wasn’t looking as Vice hit a back fist to knock Jayne again. Ripley hit Riptide on Jayne for the pinfall win. It went about 13 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Lyra Valkyria, Rhea Ripley & Stephanie Vaquer
Analysis: ***1/2 Good tag team action here with the babyfaces getting the win, which was another predictable result. Having Vice show up to stop Jayne from leaving made sense for their story since that’s the NXT Women’s Title math at NXT Mercy. Vice got in a cheap shot and Ripley finished off Jayne right after. The Devil’s Kiss spot with Vaquer and Ripley drew the biggest reaction of the match.
After the match, the babyfaces Ripley, Vaquer, Valkyria and Vice celebrated in the ring together. End show.
They showed NXT Champion and TNA World Champion Trick Williams backstage. Regal talked to Ava and Regal said it looks like she has trouble on her hands next week. Femi said may the best man win and Trick said, “He will.” End show.
Analysis: There were comments throughout the show that TNA wrestlers weren’t happy about it, so I think TNA wrestlers will attack the guys and there will be no winner.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes
- Lyra Valkyria, Rhea Ripley & Stephanie Vaquer
- Ethan Page
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.75
2025 Average: 7.32
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
A fun nostalgia show with good tag team wrestling and a nice mix of current stars, along with those from NXT’s past. The Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams team was a heel team that got the win, but that was the right move since Melo is getting a US Title shot on SmackDown.
This felt like a bigger show than usual and it delivered, but I wouldn’t call it great. It was still very entertaining to watch, and easy to get through.
The next WWE NXT PLE is No Mercy on September 27th with this lineup:
* NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Ricky Saints
* NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Lola Vice
* NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Tavion Heights
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John Canton
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