The John Report: WWE NXT 11/18/25 Review (NXT Gold Rush)
This week’s WWE NXT is the beginning of the Gold Rush episodes, with several big title matches set to take place.
The NXT Gold Rush shows take place tonight and on November 25th, with those matches being taped later tonight also. The NXT Deadline PLE is on December 6th.
Last week’s NXT episode ended with Ricky Saints retaining the NXT Championship over Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing Match. After the match, NXT Champion Oba Femi returned to confront Saints, so there could be a championship rematch coming soon.
They were at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City 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 some pre-show walking shown of Sol Ruca with Zaria, Blake Monroe, Jacy Jayne with Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid, and Tatum Paxley with Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears, and Niko Vance.
A video package aired to set up the NXT Gold Rush matches. There will be championships from NXT, TNA, AAA, and Evolve defended over the two weeks of Gold Rush shows.
The NYC crowd was loud with yellow NXT towels (like Pittsburgh’s Terrible Towels for the Pittsburgh Steelers). This show was from MSG Theater, and they had about 3,000 fans in attendance according to Wrestletix, so it’s a good crowd for NXT. I like it when they get out of the WWE PC in Orlando. There was a small walkway. They have done shows from here before, and it looks good.
It was Vic Joseph on commentary with Booker T as usual. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.
Joe Hendry and Thea Hail made their entrance first. It was recently reported that Joe is officially a WWE NXT guy who is no longer part of TNA. It’s great for NXT. My favorite mixed tag team, Ethan Page and Chelsea Green, were next, wearing their Canadian colors. Thanks for representing my country.
AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship: Ethan Page & Chelsea Green (w/Alba Fyre) vs. Joe Hendry & Thea Hail
This is my first time reviewing a AAA Mixed Tag Team Title match. It’s men against men and women against women.
The ladies started with Hail kicking Green and waving her hands in the air. Page tagged in against Joe. They battled over an arm wringer as Joe flipped over Page, who took a big bump. Joe ran over Page with a shoulder tackle, followed by a delayed vertical suplex for two because Green made the save. Hail and Green went into the ring to try a double team move, but then the faces made Page drop Green with a shoulder tackle. Hail hit a Tornado DDT on Page. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued. Joe hit a running elbow smash on Page for two. After Green held onto Joe’s arm, Page punched Joe and the heels took over. Green cheap-shotted Joe with a slap to the face while the referee wasn’t looking. Page worked over Joe with some basic stuff like punches and a chinlock.
It was Page in control with a Codebreaker knee smash for a two count. Joe came back with a suplex. Joe worked over Page with two clotheslines, and a running hurricanrana. Joe caught a charging Page and hit a fallaway slam across the ring. Green ran into the ring, so Hail sent her out of the ring. Hail tagged in and jumped off the top with a back splash (or Coffin Drop) onto Fyre and Page on the floor. Green was legal against Hail, who hit a splash against the turnbuckle and an Exploder Suplex. Hail hit a running kick for two because Page broke up the pin. Hail told Page to suck it and hit a superkick. Green went for her finish on Hail, but Hail avoided it and applied a Kimura Lock on the left arm. Page tackled Joe onto the girls to break up the submission. Green hit the Unpretty-her on Hail for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Ethan Page & Chelsea Green
Analysis: ***1/4 It was an entertaining match with the champions finding a way to win, and they didn’t even cheat that much, which is a bit of a surprise. I liked that spot near the finish when Page tackled Joe onto the women, which led to Green hitting her finish for the win. Page and Green are a lot of fun to watch as a team. I hope Hendry gets a push as a singles wrestler in NXT, and I think he will. Hail could be a challenger for the NXT Women’s North American Title soon. I think that would be a good title for her to win in a few months.
Lola Vice was talking to Jordynne Grace in the locker room after watching the last match. Vice and Grace trashed Kelani Jordan, with Vice saying that Jordan trashed her from behind. Grace has some gigantic glasses. Kelani Jordan walked in as the TNA Knockouts Champion and bragged about beating both of them. There was more bickering. Jordan trashed Grace for being jealous of her while claiming she’ll be champion for a long time, and said she’ll see Grace next week.
The WWE WrestleMania 42 commercial aired with CM Punk talking. Tickets on sale now.
(Commercial)
A video aired from John Cena’s interview with Tom Rinaldi, and it was Cena talking about seeking approval.
Ava, the NXT GM, was backstage talking about how 2025 has brought NXT memories we’ll never forget. Ava spoke about NXT Deadline on December 6th. Ava mentioned the Iron Survivor Challenge matches will take place at NXT Deadline. In the past, WWE legends picked the participants, but this year, John Cena will select the competitors in the Iron Survivor Challenge, including men’s and women’s wrestlers. The fans cheered at the announcement.
Analysis: That’s a big rub to have John Cena announce the competitors in the Iron Survivor Challenge matches. Cena is a big supporter of NXT, and I’m sure he has some say in it, but it’s also up to the creative team.
They showed rapper Lil Yachty at ringside.
Tavion Heights was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber out by the crowd. Heights spoke about how far he’s come from being in the Olympics to now being a WWE superstar. Heights thanked the NQCC for doing a lot for him. Heights said that John Cena is picking the Iron Survivor competitors. Heights said if Cena picks him, then that’s all the approval he needs. Heights said you’ll see him as the NXT Iron Survivor. Josh Briggs attacked Heights in the area by the fans, so then they went fighting in the aisle and out into the concession stand area. There were referees there to break them up.
Analysis: That should set up a Tavion Heights-Josh Briggs match. I’ve been impressed by Heights as a wrestler, and he can talk fine, so let’s see him get more opportunities.
Sol Ruca was shown getting ready, and Zaria asked Sol if she was ready to do this. Sol said she was ready. Sol said she needs her NXT North American Championship back, and the only person who can get it back is her.
Analysis: That last line by Sol was a bit of a shot at Zaria, who lost the title while defending it for Sol.
The NXT Women’s North American Champion, Blake Monroe, made her entrance looking stylish as always.
(Commercial)
They showed NASCAR driver Jesse Love, who is the 2025 Xfinity Series Champion, at ringside.
NXT Women’s Championship: Blake Monroe vs. Sol Ruca (w/Zaria)
Sol had a brace on her left knee to sell her injury that may or may not have been legit. She missed one month of action. Sol got a sunset flip pin attempt for two. Blake got a hold of Sol’s foot, so Sol hit an enziguri kick to the head. Sol hit a splash against the ropes. Sol missed a top rope attack, so Blake hit a Slingblade and a sidewalk slam for two. Sol spun around Blake and slammed her into the mat. Sol kicked Blake for two. Blake did a hair-pull takedown to take control. Sol dropkicked Blake across the ring, but Blake came back with a trip to send Sol into the turnbuckle. Blake rammed Sol’s left knee into the ring post twice. Sol sent Blake face first into the ring post. Blake and Sol did a double clothesline on the floor. They went to a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break too. Blake was in control for a few minutes during this period.
Blake grounded Sol by wrapping her legs around Sol’s injured left knee. Sol broke free and kicked Blake in the back, so Blake kicked the left knee to continue the attack. Sol broke free and hit elbows. Sol hit a German Suplex. Sol hit a dropkick off the turnbuckle and did a kip-up on one leg. Sol hit a running knee smash for two. Blake pulled Sol off the ropes by the knee. Sol came back with a superkick that knocked Blake out of the ring. Sol jumped off the turnbuckle with a moonsault onto Blake on the floor. Sol was selling the left knee injury. Back in the ring, Blake hit a chop block to the left knee. Blake applied the single-leg half crab on the left knee. Sol nearly tapped out, but Blake let go and Blake pulled Sol’s knee brace off. Blake tossed the knee brace out of the ring. Blake applied a submission hold while pulling back viciously on the left knee. Zaria found a white towel at ringside. Sol didn’t want her to throw it in the ring, but Zaria insisted and tossed it in, which meant she was giving up for Sol. Blake wins by submission after about 13 minutes.
Winner by throwing in the towel: Blake Monroe
Analysis: ***1/2 I liked the match a lot. There were good moves throughout, and then the added psychology of Sol selling the knee injury throughout the match, while Blake was aggressively attacking it. They added to the drama with Zaria throwing in the towel, even though Sol didn’t want her to do it. That’s some classic pro wrestling booking with the drama involving the knee injury and then Sol losing because of Zaria being concerned about her friend. It also puts over Blake for being the kind of heel that is going to attack an injured body part and show no remorse while doing it. Blake might be my favorite woman in NXT right now because she’s the total package. Sol has come a long way in the last three years, and I really thought she had a strong performance in this match too.
The Fatal Influence trio of Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid were getting ready backstage. They spoke about how they are all going to win titles during the Gold Rush episodes.
There were clips shown of Oba Femi confronting Ricky Saints to end NXT last week and at a live event in Chicago over the weekend.
The NXT Champion, Ricky Saints, was shown walking backstage for a promo up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Ricky Saints…and Oba Femi
The NXT Champion, Ricky Saints, made his entrance in dress clothes for a promo at the top of hour two. Before Ricky could say a word, the lights went out and the former NXT Champion Oba Femi made his entrance. Femi was off for about a month and a half after losing the NX Title to Ricky at No Mercy in September.
Ricky said welcome back to Femi. Ricky said he wasn’t surprised that Femi came back. Ricky told Femi that it was a surprise to people when he took the title from Femi, but it didn’t shock Ricky because that’s who he is. Ricky said he could tell that this title was wearing Femi down, so he took a shot and he won. Ricky told Femi he underestimated Saints. Ricky said that Femi didn’t know how to handle losing, so Femi went back to Nigeria, and the train kept rolling because Ricky whooped Trick’s ass. Ricky told Femi not to get it twisted if he thinks he’ll take the title from Ricky.
Femi said that Ricky hasn’t changed at all since he’s got the same bravado and he’s the same little man. Femi said that he took his time to come back because he didn’t want to get involved in that NXT-TNA nonsense or get involved with his rivalry with Trick Williams trying to win best dressed. Femi said that nonsense is beneath the ruler. Femi said that he went back to Nigeria to create the version of himself that Ricky cannot beat. Femi said that the sun is setting on the Absolute Era, and he’ll take it all away. Femi said that he’s back, saying the bringer of war is back, and your daddy is home. The fans waved their yellow towels to support Femi.
Ricky asked Femi if he wanted a rematch at Deadline, then he’s got it? Ricky held up his title and Femi looked at the title.
Trick Williams interrupted the promo to say that it ain’t over until he wins his NXT Championship back. Myles Borne attacked Trick from behind with a chair to the back. Borne told Trick he was done, and he said payback is a bitch. Borne said that you’re looking at the next Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner and he’ll see one of them at New Year’s Evil. Ricky and Femi faced off in the ring with Ricky holding up the NXT Title.
Analysis: I thought Ricky Saints and Oba Femi both did strong promos. That was probably one of Oba’s better promos because he sounded like a guy who is hungry to win back the NXT Title. Ricky is a confident champion who speaks well, of course. The Borne attack on Williams was payback for Trick cheapshotting Borne in the past. I think Borne could win Iron Survivor, but it also could be Je’Von Evans. We’ll see if both of them are in the match. I think they will be.
The NXT Tag Team Title match was next.
(Commercial)
Myles Borne was backstage with Ava the NXT GM. Ava got mad at him for attacking Trick with a steel chair, but Myles said he was just getting revenge. Ava put Borne in a match with Trick for next week. Borne was happy about it. Ava was on the phone getting told about some chaos as the scene ended.
Josh Briggs and Tavion Heights were still fighting in the backstage area. Referees were there to try to break it up. Briggs gave Borne a Chokeslam through a table.
NXT Tag Team Championships: Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin (w/Cutler James & Saquon Shugars) vs. Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater
Slater is a TNA wrestler who holds the X-Division Title. Evans had an impressive showing against Gunther on Raw.
Evans cleared the ring and hit a dive over the top onto a bunch of guys on the floor. Slater hit a jumping kick on Dion for a two count. Griffin tagged in with a powerslam on Slater for two because Evans broke it up with a double foot stomp on Griffin’s back. Evans tagged in, he sent Griffin out of the ring, and kicked him. Evans did a necksnap on Dion against the top rope. Evans hit a running hurricanrana and a dropkick for two. Slater tagged in as Evans hit a hurricanrana. Slater and Evans hit a double dropkick to clear the ring. Slater and Evans hit a double slingshot dive over the top onto the four heels on the floor. They went on a break there and I’ll take a break too as the action continued. Darkstate was able to take control during the break and Evans was the face in peril.
Darkstate was still in control as they isolated Evans. Dion tagged in with a DDT on Evans for a two count. Evans was able to break free, so Slater tagged in and he was on fire with a spin kick and punches. Slater hit a handspring back elbow on Griffin. Slater kicked Dion on the floor. Slater jumped off the top with a cross body block on Griffin for two. Evans was back in with a flipping kick to the head. Slater hit a spinning slam. Slater hit a diving attack over the turnbuckle onto the heels on the floor. Evans hit a Cutter on Griffin in the ring. Evans jumped off the top with a Frog Splash on Griffin for a two count. You could tell Griffin was looking at the referee to time the kick out perfectly. Slater got the tag, Dion shoved Evans down. Slater knocked Shugars off the apron, so Griffin hit a shoulder tackle on Slater. Griffin and Dion hit a double team Powerbomb on Slater. Evans went for a Frog Splash to break up a pin, but James pulled Dion off the cover and Evans splashed Slater. Darkstate hit the Doomsday Device double team clothesline and Slater flipped over for a big bump. Griffin covered Slater for the win. It went about 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin
Analysis: ***1/2 A very good match with Evans and Slater putting up a fight and they are so entertaining to watch as a duo. I keep saying it, but I’m amazed at how talented both of them are at 21 years old. They aren’t just about doing the big moves. They also sell in a believable way and know how to get the fans behind them. I’m not surprised that Darkstate found a way to win. The numbers game helped since James pulled Lennox off a pin to avoid a splash from Trick, so having the extra guys on the floor helped Darkstate get the win as usual for them.
Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey spoke backstage. Grey talked about her Women’s Evolve Title match against Lainey Reid next week. They mentioned NXT guys attacking TNA people, including Charlie Dempsey, on the NXT side, and Wren said she was surprised that Dempsey didn’t even tell her that he was back. Wren said don’t worry about it so they can focus on Grey’s title match next week. They left.
(Commercial)
A clip aired of John Cena suffering a torn right pectoral muscle in late 2007. That led to Cena’s surprise return at Royal Rumble 2008, and he won the match from the 30th spot.
There was an NXT Spotlight video about Shiloh Hill, who won Season 2 of WWE LFG. Hill talked about how he was a jock who played football, and he’s also a nerd who went to Stanford, too. Hill said he felt school was so boring. Hill took online high school classes to get into Stanford. Hill spoke about how he loved football because he liked hitting people. Hill said we should be back soon for more.
Analysis: It’s some character development for Jonah Hill before he’s a regular on the brand. That’s cool.
Next week on NXT, which is taped this week:
* Trick Williams vs. Myles Borne
* John Cena selects Men’s & Women’s Iron Survivor Competitors
* TNA Knockouts Championship: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Li Ying Lei
* Women’s Speed Championship: Zaria vs.
* Women’s Evolve Championship: Kendal Grey (c)vs. Lainey Reid
* Men’s Evolve Championship: Jackson Drake (c) vs. Shawn Legacy. A video aired about it.
Analysis: I think the only title change will be Legacy beating Drake. I don’t even watch Evolve, but it seems like that one could have a title change.
Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence entered for the main event.
(Commercial)
Sol Ruca and Zaria were talking backstage. Ruca complained about Zaria throwing in the towel. Zaria said she was worried about her health and Ruca was barely cleared. Zaria mentioned Ruca’s stupid pride and Ruca said that her pride is why she held two titles. Zaria said let’s focus on her winning the Speed Title next week and Ruca wasn’t thrilled about it. Ruca left.
Analysis: The split is coming soon.
The popular NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley made her entrance, joined by The Culling’s Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears, and Niko Vance. Mike Rome did the championship introductions.
NXT Women’s Championship: Tatum Paxley (w/Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) vs. Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
Jayne and Paxley exchanged strikes early on, which led to each woman getting rollup attempts for two. Jayne hit a hurricanrana. Jayne charged, Paxley moved and Paxley kicked Jayne in the gut. Paxley hit a cross body block. Henley and Reid pulled Jayne to the apron, so Paxley knocked Jayne off the apron and onto her friends on the floor. Paxley hit a moonsault onto Fatal Influence on the floor. Paxley celebrated with her friends. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued. Henley held onto Paxley’s foot while the referee looked at Jayne, so Jayne punched Paxley off the apron. Jayne hit a somersault dive onto Paxley on the floor. Booker loved it. Jayne worked over Paxley with kicks against the turnbuckle. Jayne hit a suplex into a cover for two. Jayne grounded Paxley with a leg scissors around the waist.
The match continued with Jayne hitting a clothesline. Paxley struck Jayne and went up top, but Jayne hit a hurricanrana off the top. Jayne charged and Paxley hit a superkick. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Paxley hit some punches, along with two forearms and a kick. Paxley hit a German Suplex. While on the apron, Paxley hit a step up enziguri. Paxley hit a flipping leg drop for two. Paxley wanted a German Suplex, but Jayne fought it off. Jayne used her legs to send Paxley into the turnbuckle. Jayne hit a cannonball on Paxley against the turnbuckle. Jayne went to the middle turnbuckle, Paxley kicked her and Paxley hit a neckbreaker off the turnbuckle. Paxley hit a sitout spinebuster for a two count. Spears distracted the referee, so Dame slid a chair to Paxley and Paxley didn’t want it. Jayne got a rollup for two. Paxley hit a knee smash. Superkick by Jayne. Paxley kicked Reid down on the floor. Jayne hit a running kick on the apron. Jayne hit the Rolling Encore forearm smash for two because Paxley got her right shoulder up. That got a big reaction since it is Jayne’s finisher. Reid grabbed the title, so Dame punched Reid on the floor. Dame tossed Paxley to use it. Jayne grabbed the title and the referee saw her with it. Paxley rolled up Jayne for two. Paxley tried to go back in the ring, but she was stopped by Spears and Vance. Dame nailed Paxley with the boot to the face! Back in the ring, Jayne hit the Rolling Encore forearm on Paxley again and this time it was enough for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Jacy Jayne
Analysis: ***1/2 It was another very good title match on this show, and this time there was a title change. While I didn’t predict that Jayne would win back the title here, it was pretty obvious that Dame would turn on Paxley, who is a babyface and Dame is a heel, so they had to do the split at some point. Paxley only held the title for 23 days, so it is disappointing that she didn’t have a long reign. I really didn’t think Jayne needed another title reign, but here we are. I liked the action for the most part, there were some believable nearfalls and they used the wrestlers on the floor to help tell the story as well.
Jacy Jayne celebrated with the NXT Women’s Title, and she’s now a 2-time NXT Women’s Champion. The only other 2-time NXT Women’s Champions are Shayna Baszler, Charlotte Flair and Roxanne Perez.
Izzi Dame and The Culling stood over top of a fallen Paxley. Dame grabbed Paxley by the hair and said something to her as the show went off the air.
Analysis: Since Paxley refused to cheat multiple times, Dame can say that’s why they turned on Paxley. Plus, it’s the classic jealousy story with Dame being jealous that Paxley was the champion while Dame thinks she is better. Poor Tatum finally trusted The Culling, but they turned on her and Paxley’s trust issues will continue.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Blake Monroe-Sol Ruca
- Darkstate-Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater
- Jacy Jayne-Tatum Paxley
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.75 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2025 Average: 7.32
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
It was a very good episode of NXT, full of entertaining matches all night long. I rated three of the four matches the same and the other one just below them, so there’s not much to complain about in terms of in-ring performance. I also didn’t think any of the matches reached the point where I’d call them outstanding. I liked a lot of the finishes, especially the Blake-Sol match with Zaria throwing in the towel and Dame turning on Paxley to cost her the NXT Women’s Title to Jayne. Yes, it’s sad that Paxley’s title reign was so short, but I expected it based on the story involved.
I liked the announcement of John Cena choosing the Iron Survivor Challenge wrestlers. That feels like a big deal, and it can be used in storylines to have wrestlers get motivated because Cena picked them to be in the match.
The NYC atmosphere helped a lot. I like this venue for NXT.
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John Canton
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Twitter/X @johnreport