Reviews

The John Report: WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2025 Review

By John Canton • Published Oct 25, 2025 18:47 EDT
WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2025 Review

This is WWE NXT Halloween Havoc, featuring title defenses from Ricky Saints, Jacy Jayne, Ethan Page, The Hardy Boyz, and more.

NXT Halloween Havoc is the seventh NXT PLE of the year. They have six matches scheduled for the show, which is similar to No Mercy last month. NXT PLE’s air on Peacock in the US and Netflix internationally, including for me in Canada. Let’s get to it.

WWE NXT Halloween Havoc
From Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona
Saturday, October 25, 2025

There was some pre-show walking shown of Trick Williams, Ricky Saints, Zaria sitting with Sol Ruca, Blake Monroe, Jacy Jayne with Fatal Influence, and Tatum Paxley with The Culling.

A video package aired to set up the show. There were comments from the wrestlers competing on the show.

It looked like a pretty good crowd (Wrestletix reports about 2700 people in attendance) with the Halloween theme, including pumpkins, skeletons, graves, and other items at the entrance.

The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.

Leon Slater & Je’Von Evans vs. Mr. Iguana & La Parka

Evans and Slater, the X-Division Champion in TNA, are just 21 years old. Iguana and La Parka are from AAA.

It’s a match between four babyfaces. This is a newer version of La Parka rocking the skeleton-style outfit. Evans hit an arm drag and Parka landed on his feet. Parka kicked Evans in the head. Evans came back with a springboard hurricanrana, then Evans landed on his feet after a move and both guys popped back up. There were NXT chants. Slater tagged in against Iguana with a spin kick. Iguana hit a hurricanrana and they exchanged pin attempts. Iguana went for a cross body block, Slater caught him and hit a back elbow. Evans tagged in with a kick. Iguana broke free to bring in Parka, who clotheslined Slater out of the ring and tossed Evans out of the ring. Iguana tossed La Yesca out of the ring and Iguana hit a somersault dive over the top onto both opponents. Parka walked the top rope and hit a moonsault onto his opponents on the floor. Back in the ring, Parka hit a double boot attack to the jaw of Evans. Iguana was back in, he brought in Parka and Parka hit a springboard dropkick on Evans for two. Evans bounced off the ropes and hit a German Suplex on Parka. Parka stopped Evans from making a tag and hit Evans with a German Suplex. Slater got the hot tag with a running dropkick on Iguana. Slater hit a DDT on Iguana, followed by a suplex into a neckbreaker for two. There were “TNA” chants for Slater. Evans was back in with a forearm. Evans hit a spinning kick to the head for a two count. Evans suplexed Iguana, but Iguana came back with an armbar. Evans powered up Iguana and sent him into the turnbuckle.

Parka got the tag and hit a flatliner on Evans. Parka did some dance moves followed by a spinning sidewalk slam for a two count. Slater hit some chops. Parka took his right glove off and connected with some chops on Slater. Evans tagged in and was met by a chop. Evans superkicked Parka out of the ring. Evans chopped Iguana, who bumped to the mat. Slater was back in, and Iguana hit both opponents with his La Yesca hand puppet. Iguana did a hurricanrana to Evans and Slater kicked Iguana. Parka was back in and Slater hit a jumping side kick for two. Iguana hit a hurricanrana on Evans Slater did a scissors kick to Iguana’s back. Slater sent Parka out of the ring. Slater hit a somersault dive over the turnbuckle onto both opponents on the floor. The fans chanted, “Holy S**t” for that. Slater hit a cross body block off the top on Parka. Evans tagged in and hit a Frog Splash nearly all the way across the ring. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Iguana had La Yesca, so he hit Evans in the face. Slater brought Iguana into the ring and Evans hit a Cutter. Slater hit a spinning slam on Parka. Iguana kicked Evans in the arm. Iguana tossed Yesca to Slater and then hit Slater with Yesca. Parka hit a spinning sitout suplex for two on Slater, but Evans broke up the pin. Parka hit a delayed vertical suplex on Evans, who was legal. Slater punched Parka off the turnbuckle. Iguana did a springboard shoulder tackle on Slater. Iguana and Evans went for springboard moves, but neither man hit their moves. Parka jumped off the top with something and Slater hit a Cutter. Evans dove over the top onto Parka. Slater went up top and hit a Swanton 450 splash on Parka for the pinfall win at 17:56.

Winners by pinfall: Leon Slater & Je’Von Evans

Analysis: ***1/2 Fun opener. There wasn’t a story going into the match, but they were given a lot of time and had a lot of fun. The stuff with La Yesca is ridiculous and I’m sure some fans hate it. I don’t mind it because it gets a big reaction. They had a lot of cool spots throughout the match, along with plenty of nearfalls for both teams. I think Evans and Iguana had a bit of a mistake on that springboard Cutter spot that they were trying to do, but they were able to continue the match from there. I figured Slater and Evans would win here, so the result wasn’t a surprise to me.

There was a commercial for SmackDown on October 31 and Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1st with both shows in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The NXT North American Champion, Ethan Page, was interviewed by Blake Howard. Page said that he is the greatest North American Champion of all time and the greatest champion in WWE currently, since he defends the title the most often. Page spoke about his issues with Dr. Wagner costing him a title in AAA and then they’ve had issues ever since then. Page said his reign will continue and Wagner will join the list of wrestlers who have fallen to Page as the North American Champion.

Zaria spoke to NXT Women’s North American Champion and Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca. Zaria assured her she would still be the champion. Izzi Dame walked up with Tatum Paxley, and Dame bragged about how Paxley would be a champion. Zaria said Dame won’t be a champion, but Dame said that if Paxley wins, then The Culling wins, so that’s what matters.

NXT North American Championship Day of the Dead Match: Ethan Page vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Anything goes in this match. The decision must take place in the ring. Wagner is the AAA Latin American Champion, but that title is not on the line.

The lights were dimmed since it’s a Day of the Dead Match. Page had some white/red face paint on the left side of his face. It may be tough on the wrestlers since it’s darker around the ring. Wagner sent Page out of the ring and hit a hurricanrana on the floor. Wagner hit Page with a chair on the back. Wagner put Page on the commentary table, but Page went back into the ring. Wagner saw that, so he hit a missile dropkick for two. Wagner hit a running knee while Page was against the turnbuckle. Wagner tied up Page’s arms and hit a dropkick into a chair against Page’s butt. Why couldn’t the person with their hands tied just let go of the hands? Because it’s pro wrestling. It’s silly. Wagner hit Page with a trash can to the back. Page kicked Wagner and slammed him onto a trash can. Page hit a knee smash with a trash can lid for two. Page smashed Wagner with the trash can lid in the back multiple times. Page sent Wagner to the apron and rammed Wagner’s head into a chair. They left the ring, so Wagner sent Page into the barricade. Page used some skeleton decorations to choke Wagner and sent him into the steel steps. Wagner went for a table under the ring, but Page sent Wagner into the table legs. Wagner was selling it like he was hit on the throat. Page sent Wagner in the steel steps. Page hit Wagner with a chair to the back. Page was bleeding from the forehead. I don’t know what cut him open or when, but he was bleeding a lot.

Page hit Wagner in the back with a chair. Page sent Wagner into the turnbuckle two times, along with a sidewalk slam onto a chair for two. Page gouged at Wagner’s eyes and ripped off the top of Wagner’s mask. Wagner was furious about it. Wagner was fired up with a headbutt, a clothesline and a jumping clothesline. Wagner elbowed Page and Wagner hit a double knee attack for two. Wagner hit a jumping kick to the side of Page’s head. Wagner set up a trash can against Page’s head and Wagner hit a coast-to-coast dropkick into the trash can into Page’s head for a two count. Good nearfall. Wagner tried a lift, Page pulled on the mask again, Wagner saved his mask and Page sent Wagner into a chair against the turnbuckle. Page hit Ego’s Edge onto a trash can for a two count. A chair was set up in the ring, and Wagner countered Page with a hurricanrana onto the chair that was open in the ring. Wagner went up top and hit a moonsault for a two count. Wagner set up the Slim Jim table by the turnbuckle. They battled by the turnbuckle where the table was. Page blocked a move and tripped up Wagner on the turnbuckle. Page turned the mask around on Wagner’s face. Page threw some dreaded powder in Wagner’s face. Page hit a Twisted Grin (Cutter) through the table and Page covered Wagner for the pinfall win. It went 18:22.

Winner by pinfall: Ethan Page

Analysis: ***3/4 I enjoyed the match a lot. It’s the second match in a row where it went longer than I expected. It’s not a complaint, believe me. I’m just saying I didn’t think this would get nearly 20 minutes, yet they were given plenty of time, and it ended up being a very entertaining match. Wagner impressed me here. It was probably the best match I’ve seen him in, although I admit I haven’t seen him that many times. Page is one of the best wrestlers in the world, so I enjoy watching him do his thing. In a gimmick match like this, Page can show off even more of his skills. I expected Page to retain here, so I’m glad he did.

Kelani Jordan was in the locker room with the TNA Knockouts Title. Jordynne Grace walked in and those were some really big glasses that she had. They bickered just like they did on NXT TV. Jordan said she will talk to Santino about her next challenger. Grace said that she goes way back with Santino. Grace suggested that Santino would want to see her put Jordan in her place. Jordan said that now that she is holding the title, it holds way more weight than Grace. Grace slapped Jordan and Jordan left.

Analysis: That’s going to lead to a Jordan-Grace match, which I don’t mind at all.

A commercial aired for NXT Gold Rush, promoting November 18th and November 25th at Madison Square Garden Theater. There will be titles defended by wrestlers in NXT, TNA, AAA, and Evolve. That’s cool.

The Women’s North American Championship match is coming up.

Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame were interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Paxley spoke about how she feels like Halloween Havoc is her time. Dame said that The Culling is stronger than ever, yet people seem to think Paxley made the wrong choice. Dame said that Lyra Valkyria will leave Paxley again, like she has done before. Dame said that she and The Culling will be there for Paxley again. Dame said she’ll make sure that Paxley isn’t left behind again. Paxley spoke about how she was familiar with Fatal Influence, and her best friend Dame will hold her hand in the air while Paxley has the NXT Women’s Championship in her hands. Kelly wished Dame good luck, and Dame said she didn’t need it.

NXT Women’s North American Championship: Zaria (w/Sol Ruca) vs. Blake Monroe

Sol Ruca is the NXT Women’s North American Champion, but she has a left knee injury, so Zaria is defending the title for her. Ruca’s left knee was in a big brace and she had a crutch on her right side. Sol is also the Women’s Speed Champion. Sol handed Zaria and nodded at her to defend it.

Blake attacked with punches, but Zaria came back with a shoulder tackle. Zaria hit a pump kick for two. Zaria sent Blake face first into the top turnbuckle and then a hard whip into the turnbuckle. Blake wrenched on Zaria’s left arm against the ropes. Blake hit a double knee attack on Zaria’s left arm. Blake attacked the left shoulder by sending it into the turnbuckle. Blake pulled on the left arm across the top rope. Blake jumped off the middle turnbuckle with a dropkick for two. Blake went for an armbar on the left arm. Zaria blocked a DDT attempt and hit a back body drop. Zaria hit a clothesline, back elbow, clothesline and a pump kick. Zaria hit a belly-to-back suplex. Zaria hit a back body drop suplex. Blake kicked Zaria in the left arm. Zaria came back by putting Blake on her shoulders, but Blake countered it with an armbar on the left arm. Zaria hit a sitout slam to block the armbar attempt. Blake hit a Slingblade, Zaria hit a pump kick and they did a double headbutt spot where both women bumped to the floor. Blake sent Zaria left shoulder-first into the steel steps. The referee checked on Zaria, who was selling it like she was in a lot of pain. Sol shoved Zaria into the ring post and Zaria acted like it popped her shoulder back in place. It as an assist from Sol.

Zaria went back into the ring with two German Suplexes. Zaria hit a Spear. Zaria went for a slam off the shoulders, but Blake applied an armbar on the left arm again. Zaria rolled over for a two count. Blake hit a knee smash for two. Blake had a hair pick in her hands, so she charged, but Zaria hit a Spear for a two count. Blake left the ring, so she kicked the crutch of Sol, so Zaria was freaked out and clotheslined Blake. Zaria left the ring and picked up Sol at ringside. Blake punched Zaria in the back and hit a Glamour Shot DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Blake hit a Glamour Shot DDT on Zaria for the pinfall win at 11:04.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Women’s North American Champion: Blake Monroe

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a pretty good match for the time given, with the crafty Blake Monroe using some clever heel tactics to get the win. This time, Blake hit Ruca’s crutch, and that caused Zaria to overreact to it, so that led to Blake hitting a DDT on the floor and in the ring to get the win. It puts Blake over as a smart heel who will do anything to win. Zaria hit a lot of power moves, but wasn’t able to hit her finisher. I picked a title change because I thought one of the title matches should have a title change, and this one made the most sense.

Blake Monroe celebrated with the NXT Women’s North American Championship. It is Blake’s first title win in WWE. Sol Ruca and Zaria were sad on the floor.

Analysis: I’m happy for Blake Monroe. She’s an awesome performer with a bright future.

A commercial aired for Survivor Series on November 29. They should start building for that show soon.

There was a clip from “yesterday” at the WWE Performance Centre. Wren Sinclair was explaining to Karmen Petrovic about Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey arguing with Lash Legend. Wren was talking to Charlie Dempsey on the phone about it. Wren was so proud of Grey standing up to Lash Legend. That led to Lash challenging Grey to a match on NXT. Grey said she’d put the title on the line. Legend said she’s going to snatch the title.

Tatum Paxley and The Culling were shown walking backstage. Jacy Jayne, the NXT Women’s Champion, and Fatal Influence were also shown walking backstage. That title match is next.

NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) vs. Tatum Paxley (w/Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)

This is Jayne’s 151st day as the champion and her fifth title defense. The NXT stats team also informed Vic that Paxley was 0-11 in all title matches she’s had for different NXT titles.

Jayne ran over Paxley with a shoulder tackle and senton splash on the back. Paxley avoided a splash attempt, which led to Paxley hitting a shoulder tackle. Jayne and Paxley exchanged pin attempts. Jayne did an armdrag takedown, along with a hurricanrana. Paxley hit a cross body block, followed by an elbow drop. Paxley dropkicked Jayne. Paxley went to the floor, Jayne tried a move and Paxley hit a jumping kick. Jayne got a hold of Paxley on the floor and Jayne did a catapult to send Jayne face first into the steel beam under the ring. Back in the ring, Jayne hit a neckbreaker for two. Reid did some cheap shots on Paxley and Jayne hit a cannonball against the turnbuckle for two. Jayne hit a running elbow on Paxley for two. Jayne did a leg scissors around the throat. When Paxley tried a comeback, Jayne stopped that with a clothesline. Jayne kept on going to the chinlock after hitting moves. Paxley got some offense going with a belly-to-back suplex. Paxley worked over Jayne with a roundhouse kick to the head, followed by a Fisherman’s Buster across the ring. Paxley went up top, took way too long and Jayne hit the ropes to stop that. Jayne hit a jumping kick to stop Paxley on the top. Jayne went up top and hit a neckbreaker for a two count because Spears put Paxley’s foot on the bottom rope. Reid saw that, so she hit a cross-body block on Spears and Vance on the floor. Dame kicked Reid. Henley kicked Dame. The referee, Chip Danning, ejected everybody from the ringside.

Paxley got a rollup for two. Jayne hit a running knee for two. The fans were into the match, chanting, “Let’s go Tatum” for the challenger while Jayne kicked Paxley to put her down. Paxley countered a Jayne move and got a crucifix pin for two. Jayne countered a move into a pin attempt for two. Jayne hit an enziguri kick to the head. Jayne tried a cannonball, Paxley moved and Paxley hit a spinning forearm to the jaw. Paxley went up top and hit a 450 Splash for one…two…no. The fans thought that was it. Jayne hit a neckbreaker while near the ropes. Paxley slammed Jayne face first into the apron. Back in the ring, Paxley got a rollup for two. Jayne and Paxley exchanged chops and strikes. They went for a jumping kick at the same time. Spears and Vance showed up in the aisle, so the referees were there, and Fatal Influence jumped on the guys. The main referee, Chip Danning, went to the apron. Dame had the NXT Women’s Championship, she charged at Paxley, who moved and Jayne hit Dame wit ha forearm to the head. Paxley hit Cemetery Drive for the pinfall win at 16:28.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Tatum Paxley

Analysis: ***1/2 I liked that match. Congratulations to Tatum Paxley for winning the NXT Women’s Title for the first time. I mentioned in my preview that I thought Paxley might win, but I didn’t officially predict a title change because I thought Jayne would find a way to keep her title. Nope. The big story was that Dame looked like maybe she was going for Paxley with the belt shot, but Paxley moved and Dame got hit by Jayne, which freed up Paxley to hit her finisher and get the win. You could call it a cheap win in some ways, but I’d call it a babyface taking advantage of a heel miscue.

After the match, Tatum Paxley celebrated with her friends in The Culling. The fans were happy about Paxley’s win.

There was a backstage scene with Myles Borne and Tavion Heights complaining to NXT GM Ava about Josh Briggs. Ava put them in a match against eachother, so it’s Borne against Heights.

A commercial aired for NXT Deadline on December 6th in San Antonio. The Men’s and Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches are back.

A video package aired to set up The Hardy Boyz against Darkstate in a Broken Rules Match, meaning anything goes.

NXT Tag Team Championships Broken Rules Match: The Hardy Boyz – “Broken” Matt Hardy & “Brother Nero” Jeff Hardy vs. Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin (w/Saquon Shugars & Cutler James)

Anything goes in this match and the pinfall or submission must take place in the ring. This is just for the NXT Tag Team Titles, not the TNA Tag Team Titles that the Hardys have. The Hardys have been champions for 17 days. Matt and Jeff got a big pop from the crowd.

Jeff did a snapmare and dropkick to Dion. Matt and Jeff hit a double DDT on Griffin. Matt hit a Side Effect on Dion. Jeff hit a splash off the middle turnbuckle on Dion for two. Shugars hit a knee on Matt and James attacked Jeff as well. Shugars splashed Matt against the turnbuckle. Shugars set up a table on the floor. The tables had some pumpkins painted on them. The Hardys got chairs, so they beat up all four Darkstate guys with the chairs. Jeff gave Griffin a back body drop over the top and Griffin’s leg hit a table on the floor, but it didn’t break the table. He didn’t go far enough to break the table. Matt gave Dion a Twist of Fate with a chair. Jeff put Griffin through a table on the floor so there’s the table break that they wanted. James and Shugars attacked Matt on the floor, so Jeff beat up James and Shugars with chairs. The fans were strongly behind the Hardys. Jeff clotheslined Shugars and James on the floor. Matt jabbed Shugars in the ribs with a chair repeatedly. Matt sent Shugars into the ring post. The Hardys put James and Shugars on tables on the floor. Jeff hit a Swanton Bomb off the ring post to put Shugars through a table. Matt jumped off a leg drop to put James through a table.

Analysis: That was done to eliminate Shugars and James from the match. Dion and Griffin had to sit around for a few minutes doing nothing as the Hardys weakened the other two guys.

Dion and Griffin tossed kendo sticks, chairs and trash cans into the ring. Dion and Griffin worked over the Hardys with the weapons, including Griffin throwing Jeff into a chair. Griffin body slammed Jeff through a trash can. Dion hit Matt in the back with a trash can. Dion gave Matt a ladder that was propped up against the turnbuckle. Dion hit a 3D on Matt for a two count. Jeff was back in with kendo sticks that he used to knock Dion out of the ring. Dion sent Matt over the barricade, and Dion showed his athleticism by jumping over the barricade and hitting Matt with a clothesline. The powerhouse Griffin hit Jeff with a Spear through the barricade. The fans chanted, “Holy S**t” for that. They went back into the ring, where Jeff hit a Twist of Fate on Griffin, and Matt hit a Twist of Fate on Griffin, too. Jeff hit a Swanton Bomb off the top on Griffin, but Dion was there to make the save. Jeff and Matt hit the double neckbreaker Plot Twist for a two count on Dion. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. The wild man Jeff set up a huge ladder on the floor. Matt helped him and they put two tables near the ladder as well. The Hardys punched Griffin and put him on one of the tables. Jeff climbed the giant ladder that was about 15 feet high and Matt was holding the ladder for him. Jeff went up top, jumped off with a Swanton and Griffin moved, so Jeff went crashing through the two tables on the floor! That led to some “Holy S**t” chants and a shocked crowd. That was crazy!

Analysis: Ouch. Jeff Hardy is still insane at 48 years old, just in case you were wondering.

Dion battled Matt in the ring and Dion hit a big spinebuster for two. Dion tried a move off the top, but Matt stopped that. Griffin went back into the ring with Jeff, who must be hurting after hitting the floor while on the ladder. Matt sent Dion out of the ring. Griffin put Matt upside down against the turnbuckle and punched him there. Jeff tried to fight back against Dion with punches, but Jeff was hurting and Dion put him down. Griffin held Jeff while Dion climbed the ladder that was on the floor. Dion jumped over the top rope and Darkstate hit a Doomsday Device clothesline on Jeff through the table. Dion covered Jeff for the pinfall win at 19:08. Matt was still upside down against the turnbuckle, so he couldn’t make the save.

Winners by pinfall AND NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: Darkstate – Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin

Analysis: **** I thought it was a great weapons match. The Hardys deserve a lot of credit for being able to put on outstanding matches like this after 30+ years as wrestlers. Darkstate also deserves a lot of credit for doing an excellent job in the match and showing they belong. There’s the third match in a row with a title change. I get it long-term since it puts over Darkstate, but it makes me wonder why they did the title change three weeks ago in the first place. I guess it was just done to give TNA a win on that Showdown episode, which set up this match. The Hardys spent the first part of the match taking out James and Shugars so that they could focus on Griffin and Dion, which made sense. I liked it as a story. The most memorable spot of the match was Jeff Hardy going for the Swanton Bomb through the table, but it didn’t work and Darkstate finished off the Hardys soon after that. This was about the veteran Hardys putting over the young guys, Darkstate, and it was done in a great way. Great job by everybody involved.

Darkstate’s four group members celebrated with the NXT Tag Team Titles.

Je’Von Evans and the TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater were watching on TV backstage. They were sad about the Hardys loss. Evans said they had unfinished business with Darkstate. Evans suggested they go after the NXT Tag Team Titles. Slater said he’s a bit busy with the X-Division Title, but after that, he’s locked in. They were excited.

Analysis: I like that idea. More of Evans and Slater is a good thing.

A commercial aired promoting John Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th in Washington, DC.

This Tuesday on NXT:

* Evolve Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey vs. Lash Legend

* Tavion Heights vs. Myles Borne

* TNA Knockouts Championship: Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace

* WWE Speed Tournament Final: Jasper Troy vs. Axiom

A promo aired from WWE Speed Champion El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) saying he’ll send Los Americanos -Rayo and Bravo – to watch the match.

There was a video package for the Ricky Saints-Trick Williams match for the NXT Championship.

Trick Williams made his entrance for the main event with the fans chanting “Whoop That Trick” for the heel challenger as Booker did the ad-libs during his song. Trick is a two-time former NXT Champion and his 12th match for the NXT Championship – the 6th time as a challenger (the stats were shown on the screen).

Ricky Saints was up next as the NXT Champion. Booker T was very supportive of Trick during his entrance, but he didn’t say much to put over Ricky, so Vic praised Ricky as a guy who wanted to lead NXT into the future.

NXT Championship: Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams

Trick was aggressive early with a jumping clothesline. Ricky charged, but Trick was ready with a dropkick. Trick tossed Ricky out of the ring. Trick hit Ricky with a body slam. Trick cleared off the commentary because he told Ricky he was going to put him through it. Ricky tripped up Trick and punched him a few times. Ricky worked over Trick with chops. Trick tried a hiptoss over the top, but Ricky pulled himself back in. Ricky tossed Trick over the top to the floor. Trick came back with a clothesline on the floor. Trick sent Ricky into the barricade and into the ring post. Trick sent Ricky into the barricade again. They went back into the ring, where Trick hit a jumping side kick on Ricky for a two count. Ricky had a cut above his right eyebrow. Trick hit a flapjack to send Ricky face first into the mat for a two count. Ricky battled back as they fought by the turnbuckle, but Trick shoved Ricky down and Trick hit a Blockbuster off the turnbuckle for a two count. Trick remained in control with two suplexes. Ricky came back with a suplex of his own. Trick hit a spinning kick and a neckbreaker for two. Ricky came back with the Samoan Drop to try to get some momentum.

Ricky charged with a running back elbow. Ricky held the arm, followed by a rope walk into a Russian legsweep. Ricky hit an atomic drop, two clotheslines and a reverse DDT for two. It looked like Ricky had a cut around his mouth since he was bleeding there, too. Trick caught Ricky going for a move and Trick turned it into a Boston Crab submission. Trick hit the Book End two times in a row for a two count. Ricky got an inside cradle for two. Trick slammed Ricky off the shoulders like an Attitude Adjustment for two. Trick hit some strikes, Ricky tried a rollup for two and then Ricky did a Crossface submission, but Trick was able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Trick left the ring, so Ricky kicked Trick to knock him back. Trick kicked Ricky in the head. Trick gave Ricky a Book End through the commentary table. It wasn’t a smooth move or bump, but the table bumped. Back in the ring, Trick hit a Trick Shot jumping knee on Ricky for a two count. That is Trick’s finisher, so it was a big kickout by Ricky. Trick tried a move, Ricky bounced off the ropes and Ricky hit a clothesline. Both guys were down selling. Ricky hit some punches, Trick kicked him and Trick countered Ricky into a two count. Trick hit a pump kick on Ricky’s left shoulder. Ricky countered Trick and hit a Stunner-like move. Ricky hit a Spear and a Tornado DDT off the ropes for the pinfall win at 16:48.

Winner by pinfall: Ricky Saints

Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a very good championship match. It didn’t reach the next level where I’d call it a great championship match, but it was still a quality main event. Most of the match was about Trick on offense and Ricky making comebacks to try to win. After Trick put Ricky through the table, it looked like Trick almost had the win, but I didn’t expect a title change here because Ricky retaining made sense. Ricky won the title a month ago, so it would have been a surprise to see him lose. I still don’t love the Tornado DDT as a finish, but it’s a move that Ricky can do on anyone, no matter how big they are, so I get why he does it. Trick has been in NXT for four years, and he’s a complete wrestler who is ready for the main roster, so it will be interesting to see when he heads that way. I think Trick’s improved in the ring as well, which he showed in this match and at Bound for Glory against Mike Santana earlier in the month as well.

Ricky Saints celebrated as the NXT Champion and the current leader of NXT right now. Vic called him the absolute measuring stick of NXT.

The new NXT Women’s Champion, Tatum Paxley, was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber, and The Culling was with her, celebrating. Paxley said it was the greatest day of her life. Izzi Dame was asked why she went back out there during the match and Dame said don’t make this about me. Paxley said NXT will be even crazier on Tuesday with her as the NXT Women’s Champion. The Culling was happy about it. Paxley ran off-screen. End show.

Analysis: The obvious story there is for Izzi Dame to attack Tatum Paxley out of jealousy. The fans are behind Paxley as a face, yet The Culling are heels, so that alliance isn’t going to last much longer.

This event had a runtime of 2 hours, 51 minutes on Netflix in Canada.

===

Five Stars of the Show

  1. Tatum Paxley
  2. The Hardy Boyz – I know they lost, but they really stood out with their performance
  3. Ricky Saints
  4. Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater
  5. Blake Monroe

===

Final Thoughts on WWE NXT Halloween Havoc

I’m going with a 7.75 out of 10.

I thought it was a great show, and as you can see below, I have it ranked as the second-best NXT PLE of the year after Stand & Deliver. Halloween Havoc had three title changes (one that I predicted right and two others that I didn’t predict), and five of the six matches went over 16 minutes. I think oftentimes on these NXT PLEs, matches are kept shorter and the show runs about 2.5 hours, but this was close to three hours, and the wrestlers were given a bit more time to tell their stories. Everybody did well. There was no bad match.

It was cool to see Tatum Paxley win the NXT Women’s Title after four years in NXT and not being pushed that much. I believe it was her first PLE singles match, yet here she is winning gold. The finish was done in a way that it seems like Izzi Dame will turn on Paxley out of jealousy. Jacy Jayne should be fine without the title. The Hardys impressed me a lot as they put over Darkstate in a big way. That was my favorite match. I also really liked the Ethan Page-Dr. Wagner Jr. match a lot. Page is so great and my favorite in NXT.

Blake Monroe captured the NXT Women’s Title as well. She’s so talented and fun to watch. Poor Sol Ruca lost a title without being in the match, so that story should be interesting to see if she’s mad at Zaria about it. Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater are a lot of fun to watch as a team. Lastly, Ricky Saints kept his NXT Title over Trick Williams, who should probably be on the main roster by now since he’s been in NXT for four years. There’s not much more he can do, and he can be a big star on Raw or SmackDown. I think NXT is hurting a bit in terms of top heels for Saints to face, so we’ll see who is next.

Here are my NXT PLE rankings for this year:

Stand & Deliver (April 19) – 8.5 (out of 10)

Halloween (October 25) – 7.75

Vengeance Day (February 15) – 7.75

No Mercy (September 27) – 7.5

The Great American Bash (July 12) – 7.5

Heatwave – 7.25

Battleground (May 25) – 7.25

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John Canton

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