Reviews

The John Report: WWE NXT 10/14/25 Review

By John Canton • Published Oct 14, 2025 19:47 EDT
WWE NXT October 14 Review

This week’s WWE NXT featured Josh Briggs facing TNA’s Matt Cardona, a women’s battle royal, Zaria facing Blake Monroe, and more.

The NXT-TNA Showdown episode was last week, with NXT winning two matches and TNA winning two matches. The Hardys also beat Darkstate to win the NXT Tag Team Titles as well.

TNA also had their Bound for Glory PLE last Sunday, which saw Mike Santana win the TNA World Title from NXT’s Trick Williams in the main event, so Trick no longer has a title.

NXT will present the Halloween Havoc PLE on October 25, and nothing is official yet, so they need to start building that card.

I’m doing a live review because I have time to do it tonight, so let’s see what NXT has in store for us as I watch on Netflix here in Canada. It’s worth noting that this episode was taped after last week’s NXT-TNA Showdown episode, so the version I am getting is only 1 hour 21 minutes without commercials.

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 recap aired of last week’s NXT Showdown episode.

They showed some superstar arrivals while promoting this week’s matches.

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

Let’s Hear from Ricky Saints

The NXT Champion, Ricky Saints, was in the ring for a promo. Ricky said he’s always going to fight, while Trick Williams is always going to fold under pressure. Ricky said when he won the NXT Championship, everything became very clear for him. For a guy like Trick, things are not clear for him. Ricky said that Trick wants to think he’s above it all. Ricky spoke about how he wanted Trick to prove himself. Ricky spoke about how it was the Absolute Era, and he’s calling his shot. Ricky said he’s calling out Trick for the NXT Championship at Halloween Havoc.

Trick Williams appeared on the video screen. Trick said that the difference between them is that Trick didn’t wait in line, and as soon as he pulled up, he was in the spotlight. Trick said he’s doing everything that Ricky wanted to do, but he’s looking better than him. Trick mentioned Ricky wanted to put the NXT Title on the line, then Trick said they’ll do this on his time.

Ricky responded, saying that the fantasy land that Trick lives in, he’s going to burst that bubble, and said let’s go ahead and talk about it.

Analysis: It makes sense as an NXT Title match at Halloween Havoc. Ricky Saints just won the title, so he’s not going to lose it so soon, but Trick is a credible opponent for him. Trick certainly could be going to the main roster soon.

Je’Von Evans was backstage with TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, talking about how they can’t believe that Darkstate ruined their match at Bound for Glory. Evans and Slater each said that they could have won their match at Bound for Glory. Slater said that Darkstate are mad and crazy. The Hardys walked in to say that Darkstate is worried about them. Jeff Hardy said that what Darkstate did was a shot at them. Matt Hardy said that Darkstate knows that Evans and Slater are threats to them. Matt called them (Evans and Slater) the future of pro wrestling. Matt said that they have a rematch with Darkstate at Halloween Havoc, so they have receipts coming. Evans and Slater said that they had their backs. The Hardys left.

Matt Cardona made his entrance representing TNA, and he’s back in a WWE ring for the first time in about five years. No more Zack Ryder, it’s Cardona time.

(Commercial – I want to clarify on the Netflix version, they aren’t actually showing commercials, but I will mention where the commercials go in.)

Kelani Jordan was shown getting ready when Jordynne Grace approached her. It was filmed by NXT Anonymous. Jordan is the TNA Knockouts Champion. They argued about things and said they would see eachother in the battle royal.

Josh Briggs vs. Matt Cardona

Matt worked over Briggs with punches, but Briggs came back with his own punches. Matt dropkicked Briggs out of the ring and kicked Briggs on the floor. They were back in the ring where Matt punched him a few times, but Briggs tripped up Matt on the turnbuckle to take control. The fans chanted, “Briggs, go away” and Briggs hit a cross body block for a two count. Briggs worked over Matt with punches. Briggs mocked Matt’s Zack Ryder gimmick, so Matt gave Briggs a back body drop over the top to the floor. Matt hit a slingshot dive over the top to the floor.

(Commercial)

It was Briggs in control with a chinlock, but Matt hit a jawbreaker. Briggs kicked Matt in the jaw for a two count. Briggs teased a Chokeslam attempt, only for Matt to jump up and hit a DDT. Matt slammed Briggs face first into the mat. Matt worked over Briggs with punches, followed by the running boot to the head that used to be called the Broski Boot, but it’s now the Reboot. Matt hit the Unpretty-her that his wife, Chelsea Green, uses, and it only got a two count. Matt went for another running boot, but Briggs bailed to the floor. Matt kicked Briggs in the jaw. Matt was on the apron, Briggs flipped him into the ring for a backbreaker. Briggs hit a Chokeslam for two because Matt got his right shoulder up. Briggs tried to use his chain as a weapon, but the referee took it away. Matt hit a Radio Silence leg lariat for a two count. That was close. Matt jumped off the turnbuckle and Briggs hit a Powerbomb. Matt got the knees up to block an attack. Briggs blocked a Tornado DDT and Briggs bounced off the ropes with a running boot to the jaw for the pinfall win after 8 minutes that was shown.

Winner by pinfall: Josh Briggs

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a solid match between two veterans. Cardona is representing TNA even though he doesn’t have a contract there and I think he should be in WWE again. Briggs has become an upper midcarder in NXT, so I figured he would win. Cardona came close to winning a few times, so at least he looked competitive throughout the match. I liked the chemistry they had, and I thought Matt was very impressive, so I want to see him back in WWE.

Hank & Tank were hanging out backstage with Chase U and Lyra Valkyria. They spoke about the Tag Team division. Tatum Paxley showed up to see Lyra, but then The Culling was there to support Paxley. Izzi Dame trashed Hank & Tank and Chase U. Dame said that the only team talented enough to win the NXT Tag Team Titles are Spears and Nico. Chase U and Hank & Tank thought they’d get a triple threat match made. Dame said she’s going to win the battle royal, Lyra wondered what about Tatum and Dame said Tatum will be with her every step of the way.

Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr, who is the AAA Latin American Champion, made his entrance for singles action.

(Commercial)

There was a video package about Fatal Influence’s NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley. They talked about running the women’s division while also trashing former stablemate Jazmyn Nyx. Lainey Reid appeared with Jayne and Henley, so Reid sucked up to them. Jayne welcomed Reed to Fatal Influence. Henley said they’d go watch the battle royal to see who Jayne’s next challenger is and Reid said whoever it is has no chance.

Analysis: I like Reid as a new member of Fatal Influence. She has a bright future and knows how to be a heel.

Lexis King vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Wagner got some arm drags and applied an armbar. King avoided a move and stepped on Wagner’s back, leading to some taunting. Wagner knocked King down with a shoulder tackle, and did some back walking of his own. Wagner chopped King a few times to take control. King grabbed Wagner’s mask, which led to chops of his own. King slapped Wagner in the face. Wagner ran the ropes and hit a running hurricanrana, along with a backbreaker. King rolled out of the ring, so Wagner hit a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle onto King on the floor.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Wagner charging at King, who dumped Wagner out of the ring to the floor. King sent Wagner into the steel steps and rammed Wagner’s left knee into the ring apron. King stomped on the left leg. King hit a knee drop on the left leg and King hit a running clothesline for two. King wrenched on the left knee some more leading to a kneebar. Wagner got a comeback going with a knee to the head and a sitout Powerbomb for two. King came back with a dragon screw leg whip. King missed a senton bomb because he took way too long. Wagner hit a Shining Wizard knee and Michinoku Driver on King for the pinfall win. It went about 8 minutes that was shown.

Winner by pinfall: Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr,

Analysis: **3/4 It was okay as Wagner sold the knee injury throughout the match, until he made the comeback to get the win. The fans weren’t into this match like most of the matches because Wagner is a AAA guy, so he’s less familiar to the fans. The finish was pretty simple, with King missing a move and Wagner hitting two moves to win.

Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. called out NXT North American Champion Ethan Page for a fight. Page walked out with his title, saying he’s the greatest North American of all time. Page said that everybody is hunting his Canadian championship. Page said he personally handled this for you so that at Halloween Havoc, Wagner will challenge Ethan Page for the NXT North American Champion. Wagner spoke in Spanish, so I had no idea what he said and neither did Page. Page said he’ll still beat him at Halloween Havoc. Wagner said that he spoke with Ava and they are not having a regular match. Wagner said he’ll face him in a Day of the Dead Match where anything goes.

Analysis: That’s a stipulation match that you don’t get to see very often, so I assume they will have some creative spots. Page winning makes a lot of sense because I doubt Wagner is taking the NXT North American Title.

Zaria spoke to Sol Ruca in the locker room. Sol was there with the NXT Women’s North American Title. Sol mentioned being in the battle royal main event. Zaria wondered how many titles Sol needed and Zaria said she’ll face Blake Monroe alone tonight.

(Commercial)

The NXT GM Ava and TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella were talking to Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo arrived with Arianna Grace, who talked to her dad Santino. Santino wondered if his future son-in-law could have an X-Division Title match, and Ava booked it. Evans said he’ll have his eyes on that match.

Analysis: I think that’s the first time they’ve acknowledged that Stacks and Arianna are engaged, so that’s cool.

Trick Williams was shown standing over Ricky Starks and said that at Halloween Havoc, he’s going to find out. Ava was there and called for medical.

Blake Monroe vs. Zaria

The crafty Blake got some offense early with a dropkick. Blake trapped the left leg against the ropes and hit a dropkick into the knee. Zaria pulled Blake into the turnbuckle and hit a splash. Blake tried a headscissors, but Zaria blocked it and held Blake for a choke. Zaria worked over Blake with punches. Zaria went for a suplex on the apron, but Blake sent Zaria neck-first into the turnbuckle, so Zaria bumped to the floor.

(Commercial)

Blake applied a sleeper, but Zaria sent Blake into the turnbuckle. Blake kicked Zaria to keep her down. Blake went for a sleeper again, so Zaria hit a backpack slam. Blake worked over Zaria with strikes, which led to Zaria hitting two clotheslines and a pump kick. Zaria ran the ropes and hit a Spear to knock Blake down. Zaria went for a move, Blake went to the apron and Zaria headbutted Blake, who left the ring and went to the floor. Blake grabbed a steel chair from under the ring. Blake picked up the chair, Sol Ruca showed up to grab the chair and the referee told Sol to leave. Blake used a hair pick to jab it into Zaria’s neck. Blake hit a double arm DDT called a Beauty Shot for the pinfall win. It went about 6 minutes.

The announcers talked about it with Booker saying it was Sol’s fault. The replay showed that Blake hit the hair pick in her knee pad.

Winner by pinfall: Blake Monroe

Analysis: *** A clever heel win for Monroe, who is likely going to get a shot at the NXT Women’s North American Title held by Sol Ruca. I think they are going to have Zaria turn on Sol at some point, so maybe that will be when Monroe wins the title. Ruca tried to do the ring, but it cost Zaria because of how smart Monroe is. I like how Monroe has been booked as a smart heel.

Ava, the NXT GM, talked about the Men’s Speed tournament starting next week, and the winner gets a shot at the Men’s Speed Championship held by El Grande Americano. It’s Axiom vs. Shawn Legacy and Zachary Wentz vs. Jasper Troy in semifinal matches.

Hank & Tank entered for tag team action.

(Commercial)

Chase U – Kale Dixon & Urijah Connors (w/Andre Chase) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. The Culling – Shawn Spears & Niko Vance

It was a triple threat match, so one guy on each team was legal. There were rollup attempts early on. Tank hit a knee smash and Spears hit a double knee attack. Spears superkicked Dixon off the apron. Hank tagged in with a Bossman Slam on Spears. Tank hit a shoulder tackle on Vance. Hank and Tank hit their double team splash on The Culling on the floor. The Chase U boys hit a double suicide dive. The Culling tossed Hank into the ring and Vance worked over Hank with punches. Vance hit a double underhook on Hank and Dixon broke up the pin. Vance headbutted Dixon, who was on the top rope. Hank and Tank got back into it, tossing Vance over the top to the floor. Hank and Tank hit a double team slam on Spears. Connors and Dixon each hit top rope splashes. The team of OTM showed up and they beat up the guys on the floor. There’s a DQ finish after five minutes.

Match Result: No Contest

Analysis: **1/4 That match was chaotic from the start, and it was hard to keep track of who was legal. It was obviously set up just to bring OTM back and have them look dominant.

The OTM duo of Lucien Price and Bronco Nima hit a double team Chokeslam and a double team spinebuster in the ring. OTM spoke into the camera about how it’s their time.

Analysis: This might be a good time for OTM to break out as a tag team and win some tag team gold before the end of the year or early next year. I like Price and Nima.

The NXT Women’s North American Champion and Women’s Speed Champion, Sol Ruca, was backstage, checking on Zaria outside the trainer’s room. Zaria said she thinks Blake got her windpipe, but she should be fine. Sol said she should have been out there with Zaria, but she thanked Zaria for always sticking up for her. Zaria said she’ll always be there for her. Ruca said that they’re going to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Ruca said she gave Zaria her spot in the battle royal since Sol already has two titles, and Zaria was happy about that. They hugged.

Analysis: They are on the same page again. It’s a good friendship for now.

(Commercial)

Ricky Saints was backstage with the NXT Title, and he was looking for Trick Williams. Ava spoke to Ricky, saying that Trick was gone. Ava said Ricky will see Trick next week for a contract signing, so they can have an NXT Title match at Halloween Havoc. Ava wanted Ricky to keep it together for the contract signing. Ricky said for her, he can do that.

Here is the Halloween Havoc lineup so far:

* NXT Championship: Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams

* NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.

* NXT Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. Darkstate (Any 2 of Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars & Cutler James)

* NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne vs. the winner of the battle royal

They showed some entrances for the women’s battle royal, including Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, Lei Ying Lee (former Xia Li) and Xia Brookside from TNA, Victoria Crawford from TNA (former Alicia Fox in WWE), and Jaida Parker.

(Commercial)

They showed Darkstate standing tall over The Hardys, so Matt & Jeff Hardy were down on the floor selling. Referees checked on the Hardys as Darkstate left.

Analysis: There’s another backstage attack like Trick Williams on Ricky Saints earlier. It feels repetitive.

Next week on NXT:

* TNA X-Division Championship: Leon Slater vs. Channing “Stacks’ Lorenzo

* Hank & Tank vs. OTM

* WWE Speed First Round Match: Axiom vs. Shawn Legacy

* WWE Speed First Round Match: Zachary Wentz vs. Jasper Troy

Women’s Battle Royal for Shot At NXT Women’s Championship

There were about 20 women in the ring for this battle royal. The winner gets a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.

The first elimination was Karmen Petrovic after The IInspiration’s Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay eliminated her. Crawford was nearly eliminated. Crawford and Arianna Grace were both sent over the top to the apron and shook hands, but then Jordynne Grace ran the ropes and eliminated both of them. Kali Armstrong from Evolve punched Lei Ying Lee and eliminated her while they were on the apron. Wren Sinclair was sent to the apron, tried to avoid Cassie and Jessie, but then Wren fell off the apron to the floor, so she was eliminated. Kendal Grey nearly dumped Cassie out, but then Jessie held onto Cassi to save her. Grey managed to dump Cassie out with a back body drop over the top to the floor. Zaria nearly eliminated Mara Sade, then Lash Legend went over there, held onto her friend Sade’s hand, and then Lash hugged Sade. Zaria dropkicked Lash into the ropes, and Sade was eliminated. Kali eliminated Xia Brookside. Lash eliminated Parker with a boot to the face. Parker hit a running Hipnotic on Xia at ringside. A bunch of women in the match picked up Lash and tossed her onto the security guys who were there to stop Parker’s attack. Lash is eliminated.

(Commercial)

Thea Hail hit a cross body block off the top and a fallaway slam. Hail applied a Kimura Lock on Kali Armstrong, they battled by the ropes, and Izzi Dame kicked them, so they were eliminated. They showed Hail eliminating TNA’s Heather by Elegance during the break. Zaria tried to choke out Dame, but then Blake Monroe attacked Sol Ruca at ringside and threw her into the barricade. Zaris went over the top to the floor and went to check on Ruca. Blake ran away.

Analysis: That means Zaria went over the top to the floor to check on Ruca. She could have rolled out under the bottom rope and gone through the middle rope to do it, but instead got eliminated by going over the top. That makes Zaria look foolish, even though she’s a good friend.

Kelani Jordan battled Lola Vice by the ropes, and Jessie McKay dumped Vice over the top to the floor. Jessie tried to get rid of Kendal Grey, but Grey dumped Jessie out. Tatum Paxley went after Gey. Jordan tried to eliminate Grace. Jordan did a handstand on the floor and walked on it with a handstand until Grace kicked Jordan, knocking her down.

The final four were Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame, Jordynne Grace & Kendal Gray. Dame and Paxley tried to dump the other two women out, but it didn’t work. Grace punched Grey and Grace hit a spinning slam. Grace hit a spinebuster on Paxley. Grace hit a rolling senton on Dame. Paxley held on when Grace tried to get rid of her. Dame hit a Chokeslam on Grace. Dame hit a running boot on Grey. Dame tried to eliminate Grey, but Grey held on. Dame caught a leaping Grey, who came back with a DDT counter. Grey hit a German Suplex on Grace and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Paxley. Grey tried to dump Paxley out, but Paxley held on. Paxley punched Grace and Dame hit a double knee attack on Grey. Dame eliminated Grey.

Paxley held onto Grace by the ropes, so Dame clotheslined Grace over the top and Dame went over he top as well. Paxley was holding onto the ropes, so Paxley went into the ring and she was the winner of the match. It went about 13 minutes.

Winner: Tatum Paxley

Analysis: **3/4 It was an average battle royal. The first half wasn’t particularly interesting, but it did pick up, and I enjoyed the final four part of it. Paxley won it in a way where she didn’t actually eliminate anybody by doing something forceful, but she was in the right spot when Dame took out Grace, and Paxley benefited from it. I thought the Zaria elimination spot was about as silly as it gets and it makes her look dumb. I understand trying to think of creative eliminations, but that was just lame.

The NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and her Fatal Influence allies Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid stood in the aisle staring at Paxley. Jayne will defend the NXT Women’s Title against Paxley at Halloween Havoc.

Lyra Valkyria went down to the ring to celebrate with her friend Tatum Paxley. Izzi Dame didn’t like that. Paxley and Valkyria were happy in the ring. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: I think there might be a title change at Halloween Havoc since Tatum Paxley has never been NXT Women’s Champion before, and the fans like her even though she’s with The Culling. The easy story to tell is that Dame would be jealous of Paxley as the champion. Paxley and Jayne have both been in NXT for about four years, so they have been there a long time and are solid performers.

===

Three Stars of the Show

  1. Tatum Paxley
  2. Josh Briggs/Matt Cardona
  3. Blake Monroe

====

The Scoreboard

This week: 7 out of 10

Last week: 7.75

2025 Average: 7.32

====

Final Thoughts on WWE NXT

This was a solid episode of NXT. It was never going to be as good as last week’s NXT Showdown show, which had big matches, but it still had some entertaining aspects to it. You could tell the crowd was tired for some of the matches since it was taped after last week’s show, which was better.

In terms of matches, I liked the Briggs/Cardona match the most, while the Monroe/Zaria match was also good. The women’s battle royal felt average, but. I am happy about Tatum Paxley getting a big win to earn a title shot.

They built Halloween Havoc by setting up four matches for the show, and there is also next week’s NXT episode to announce more matches. I criticized the backstage attacks by Trick Williams and Darkstate because they felt so repetitive. A little more creativity would be nice.

The next WWE NXT PLE is Halloween Havoc on October 25th. Here’s the lineup so far.

* NXT Championship: Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams

* NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne vs. Tatum Paxley

* NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.

* NXT Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. Darkstate (Any 2 of Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars & Cutler James)

===

Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.

John Canton

Email [email protected]

Twitter/X @johnreport