Reviews

The John Report: WWE NXT 12/09/25 Review

By John Canton • Published Dec 09, 2025 20:35 EST
WWE NXT December 9

This week’s WWE NXT features Kelani Jordan facing Jordynne Grace, Blake Monroe’s open challenge, and more.

The NXT Deadline PLE from Saturday was a great show that saw Oba Femi win the NXT Title for the second time, while Je’Von Evans and Kendal Grey won the Men’s and Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches. They will earn NXT Title and NXT Women’s Title matches at New Year’s Evil on January 6th.

I’m doing this as a live review on a cold Tuesday night. This is for my late friend Ed Eastin Jr., who passed away on Monday, far too soon. A great man who loved wrestling. I’ll write more about it in another review late in the week because he meant a lot to me.

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 video package aired showing NXT Deadline highlights. I rated it as the second-best NXT PLE this year, behind Stand & Deliver from WrestleMania weekend. Tony D’Angelo returned to attack Je’Von Evans at the end of the show.

Let’s Hear from Oba Femi

The NXT Oba Femi said that true power stands still and watched the world revolve around it. Femi said he’s a two-time NXT Champion because he is true power. Femi said that Ricky Saints momentarily knocked The Ruler off his throne at No Mercy, so congrats to Ricky for that. Femi said that NXT is not the same without The Ruler on top. Femi said at Deadline that he rose from the ashes and reclaimed his title. Femi said that the title belongs to him because this is the way it is supposed to be.

Femi said that at Saturday Night’s Main Event, he’ll stand across the ring from Cody Rhodes. Femi said that Cody will not see potential, the future, he’ll see the now. Femi said Cody will see The Ruler, the bringer of war, in all of his glory – Oba Femi.

Ricky Saints walked into the ring and admitted that maybe there would never be another chance for him to regain that title. Ricky said that he remembered who he is, “Absolute” Ricky Saints. Ricky said that he’s not going to fade to the back because he’s putting all his bets on his heart and fighting back. Ricky said that he’s undoing all mistakes. Ricky said that the records show that it’s Ricky 1 and Femi 1, so now Ricky is demanding his rematch for the NXT Championship.

Je’Von Evans made his entrance as the Iron Survivor Challenge winner. Evans said he’s been watching Deadline over and over again. Evans said he survived the Iron Survivor Challenge and got in the ring with the other two guys. Evans said he earned an NXT Title shot at New Year’s Evil. Evans said it made him wonder why wait until January to have the match? Evans said he’s on fire, he’s locked in and ready right now. Evans said nobody will dictate his moment. Evans suggested they have that NXT Championship match tonight.

Ricky asked Evans what’s the rush? Ricky said that Evans is having all these great matches. Ricky said that if he gets the title back, then they can do this title match. Ricky wondered if he was sure this was the play.

Evans said that’s all he hears about how he is the future. Evans said he is the right now. Evans said he’ll align the stars himself. Evans said that nobody is touching him at the age of 21. Evans said he’s doing it at AAA, NXT, Raw, SmackDown, and NXT live events. Evans said nobody is touching him. Evans said if he’s putting money on anybody tonight, then it’s Je’Von Evans. Ricky said go and get yours.

Femi said that you two want to come and tell the champion what to do. Ricky wondered if Femi was saying no to the Iron Survivor. Evans said that Oba knows for a fact that Evans has your number. Femi said he’s never been afraid of Evans and every time they have wrestled, Femi has always beaten him, and it will be no different tonight. Femi said, “Game on!” Je’Von’s music played to end it.

Analysis: Good job by everybody involved here. Je’Von Evans is so likable because of his wrestling style and he comes across as a confident babyface rather than being some cocky guy who is in over his head. Oba Femi accepting the challenge isn’t a surprise since he’s a fighting champion as well. Ricky Saints made a good point about wanting a rematch with Femi since they are 1-1 as well. I liked how this was done, while also setting up a massive main event for later.

A video package aired about the Jordynne Grace/Kelani Jordan rivalry. That match is next.

(Commercial)

The video package aired about John Cena’s legacy wrestling in major WrestleMania matches.

Tatum Paxley spoke in a darkened room surrounded by dolls. Paxley spoke to Izzi Dame saying she had nothing left to lose. Paxley had dolls that looked like Shawn Spears and Niko Vance. Paxley said now they are going to play her game while claiming two will go, so then it will be just Paxley against Dame.

Analysis: I mentioned in my preview that I thought Dame would win the first match, leading to a rematch, and I think that rematch will be won by Paxley. That makes sense to me.

The commentary team of Vic Joseph and Booker T welcomed us to the show. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.

Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan

Grace was aggressive with a clothesline on the floor and some punches when they got into the ring. Grace hit two body slams. Grace hit a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Grace and Jordan smacked eachother in the face. Jordan kicked Grace away, but Grace sent Jordan into the turnbuckle. Grace hit a knee smash, along with an elbow drop. Grace went for a splash off the turnbuckle, but Jordan moved to avoid it. Jordan dropkicked the left knee. Jordan worked over Grace’s left knee. They battled on the apron where Jordan hit a superkick. Jordan got a hold of Grace’s knee and slammed the knee onto the apron. They went on a break for some fans, and I’ll take a break too.

The match continued with Grace hitting a suplex. Grace was selling a left knee injury. Grace went for a move on the floor, but Jordan slipped out of it and hit a chop block to the left knee. Jordan sent Grace into the steel steps. Jordan went for a chair shot to the leg, but Grace moved. Back in the ring, Grace hit a spinebuster for two. If Jordan had hit Grace with the chair, it would have been a DQ. Grace went for a backslide and then turned it into two clotheslines. Grace rolled through Jordan, leading to a rolling German Suplex for two. They left the ring where Grace hit a Grace Under Pressure off the steps onto Jordan on the floor. Grace grabbed the steel chair, but the referee took it away from her. Jordan kicked Grace into the barricade, and Grace went crashing through the thin barricade. Back in the ring, Jordan went up top and hit a 450 Splash for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Kelani Jordan

Analysis: ***1/4 That was a match full of action, and both women brought the intensity. Jordan was able to outsmart Grace by shoving her into the barricade, which Grace sold as a big bump, even though those barricades are pretty thin. The key thing is, it sounds good when you break those barricades. I thought Grace might win because I feel like she could use a big win, but I don’t mind seeing the heel Jordan get some momentum with a victory like that.

The Women’s North American Champion, Blake Monroe, was backstage, and her open challenge is next.

(Commercial)

Jordynne Grace was shown in the women’s locker room, and she was sad about losing her match. Other women in the locker room were in their wrestling gear, teasing that they might answer the open challenge. Thea Hail told Grace not to doubt herself. Grace wondered if she was getting advice from a 16-year-old. Hail said she’s 22 and has been there since she was 18, so she’s a grizzled veteran now. Hail left.

Blake Monroe’s Open Challenge

The wonderful NXT Women’s North American Champion, Blake Monroe, made her entrance. Monroe claimed that other women in NXT look up to her. Monroe said she wants to give back for the holiday season, and who doesn’t want some glamour in their lives? Monroe said she wanted to do an open challenge, and Ava agreed, so let’s see who wants a title match?

There were several women from the locker room who made their entrance, but the referees held them back. Thea Hail went into the ring, applied the Kimura Lock, and Blake tapped out. There was no referee in the ring, and the bell never rang. The open challenge never got started.

Analysis: That was chaotic and felt rushed. It was just an angle to have Hail “beat” Monroe without having an actual match. It will probably set them up for a future match.

The rookie Shiloh Hill was interviewed by Kelly Kincaid ahead of his debut match on NXT. Hill was excited about his opening match and said it’s time to show the world why no one sleeps on Shiloh Hill.

(Commercial)