Welcome back, folks, to our LIVE coverage of WWE NXT! We’ve got an exciting show ahead of us, so let’s dig into it. Tonight, Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook and Saquon Shugars collide in a Triple Threat Match to determine the No. 1 Contender to Grayson Waller’s NXT Championship. DarkState‘s Osiris Griffin and Cutler James take on Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux, while Lizzy Rain battles Kali Armstrong. Myles Borne will also issue a public apology to former tag team partner Tavion Heights. Also added to tonight’s lineup, Cruz Montana and EK Prosper will team up against The Vanity Project‘s Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes (per WWE/NXT social media).

We’ll have all that and more at the top of the hour! Stay tuned and happy Tuesday evening!

Quick Results

Kali Armstrong def. Lizzy Rain (10 minutes) • DarkState def. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux (14 minutes) • Myles Borne apologized to Tavion Heights, only to immediately betray him again • The Vanity Project def. Cruz Montana & EK Prosper (12 minutes) • Mason Rook def. Tony D’Angelo & Saquon Shugars (14 minutes)

NXT is LIVE!

8pm EST: Vic Joseph and Booker T welcome us to a raucous NXT Universe here inside the Performance Center. We get clips from earlier today showing Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook and Saquon Shugars, who will square off in our main event to determine Grayson Waller’s next challenger. Then, we get things started!

Singles Match: Lizzy Rain vs. Kali Armstrong

Lizzy Rain is on the mic and reminds us that heavy metal will never die before making her way to the ring. Vic Joseph teases Booker T with multiple 80’s references (Dio, for example). Kali Armstrong is out next. Commentary reminds us that both Superstars have recently interrupted each other’s backstage interviews, and we get our opening bell at 8:04pm EST. The pace is fast, with both Superstars getting several opportunities to showcase their abilities. It’s a solid back-and-forth match, honestly, with plenty of textbook wrestling. Rain spends time working Armstrong’s powerful right arm with working holds and busts out some great suplexes, as her throwback gimmick apparently extends beyond just 1980s music. Armstrong, meanwhile, uses powerful strikes during her periods of control. Rain hits a totally bodacious Spinning Heel Kick to drop Armstrong and pick up an early near fall. Rain fires up and eventually takes Armstrong down on the outside with a hellacious aerial attack, sending us into our first commercial break. During the break, Armstrong manages to wrest control as they take the action back into the ring. Armstrong spends the bulk of the break pummeling Rain with brutal strikes while putting her power to good use with a series of heavy slams. Rain holds on as Armstrong maintains control upon our return. Rain fires up with a Side Kick that drops Armstrong, giving her the separation she needs to rally. Lizzy connects with a Belly-to-Back Suplex to fire up the crowd before making it rain with a series of chops in the corner. Rain follows up with a Thunder Strike, but Armstrong isn’t going away easily. Armstrong looks for a suplex, but Rain escapes and hits a Cutter! Rain endures Armstrong’s comeback attempt and shuts it down with a Headbutt. She looks for Thunderstruck, but Armstrong counters! Armstrong rebounds off the ropes and connects with the Kali Connection to pick up the win at 8:14pm EST!

Your Winner, Kali Armstrong! (10 minutes)

After the Match: Skylar Raye Returns!

Skylar Raye, the WWE LFG Season Two winner, makes her return to NXT television and immediately goes after Armstrong! Raye wails away on Armstrong until officials rush in and separate the two, bringing our segment to an end.

Backstage: Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux Confronted by BirthRight

Backstage, Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux discuss their upcoming match against DarkState when BirthRight arrives. Charlie Dempsey makes it clear to Legacy and Van Dux that BirthRight has its sights set on the NXT Tag Team Championship, delivering a thinly veiled warning to the pair before departing.

Tag Team Match: Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux vs. DarkState (Osiris Griffin & Cutler James)

We return from the break with Legacy and James in the ring. Legacy takes control early, using his speed to keep the more powerful James off balance. James tries to overpower Legacy at one point, but Legacy is simply too quick for him. Legacy tags in DVD, but Van Dux quickly loses control after eating a Reverse Faceplant. Griffin tags in and slows the pace drastically, easily overpowering DVD with powerful offense and hard whips. DVD finally strings together a few kicks and a Clothesline to create enough separation to tag Legacy back in. Legacy and DVD work together to hoist Griffin up to waist height before dropping the big man hard onto his back. Legacy looks for the cover, but no joy. Legacy and Griffin grapple, with the smaller Legacy managing to muscle Griffin back into the friendly corner. He tags DVD, and the pair attempt a Double-Team Suplex, but Griffin counters and suplexes both men! James comes in, but DarkState are both sent over the top rope. Legacy and DVD look for a tandem aerial attack, but DarkState has it scouted! Griffin and James catch them in midair and slam them down, sending us crashing into our next commercial break!
DarkState dominate the entirety of our picture-in-picture break, slowing the pace while brutally dismantling poor Sean Legacy. They effectively cut the ring in half, isolating Legacy in their corner and using frequent tags to keep him grounded. DarkState often take time to disrespect the smaller Superstar, slapping him across the head and jawing at him off-mic. When we return from the break, Legacy has finally had enough and begins throwing fists while desperately trying to make a tag. James whips Legacy into the DarkState corner, but Legacy slips outside and trips Griffin off the apron. James heads outside and attempts to attack Legacy, but Legacy speedily avoids him before dodging a charging Griffin, causing the big man to collide with the side of the announce table! That gives Legacy enough separation to finally tag in DVD, who hits the ring on fire.

DVD dives off the top rope and wipes out DarkState before using his speed to escape an attempted double-team and tag Legacy back in. DarkState retreat to opposite sides of the ring, prompting Legacy to hit multiple Suicide Dives, flying from the ring to take out each opponent one after another in an extended sequence! DVD eventually gets in on the fun, hitting a Diving Moonsault from the top turnbuckle onto Griffin at ringside. The action quickly pours back into the ring, with all four Superstars clashing in high-octane, high-flying spots as the referee allows a lot of latitude. Legacy and DVD eventually unleash another huge tandem aerial attack, diving over the ropes to wipe out DarkState on opposite sides of the ring! The referee checks on James, and Dion Lennox uses the distraction to sneak in and absolutely level DVD with a huge Clothesline out of nowhere! Lennox sends DVD back into the ring, allowing Griffin and James to capitalize with a Double-Team Powerbomb and pick up the win at 8:36pm EST!

Your Winners, DarkState! (14 minutes)

After the Match: BirthRight Takes Over the Ring

As the match comes to an end, Lexis King begins yelling off-mic from the commentary area about Zilla Fatu. BirthRight then enter the ring and essentially make their intentions clear: they’re going to destroy every tag team they can until they receive the attention and respect they believe they deserve, starting with Legacy and DVD. They proceed to beat down the exhausted pair as Arianna Grace watches on and encourages the carnage from ringside. Finally, Zilla Fatu hits the ring and tries to make the save! Fatu fights off BirthRight long enough to get Legacy and DVD back into the fight, and together the three manage to clear the ring. Fatu punctuates the comeback by drilling Charlie Dempsey with the Triple Z! BirthRight angrily regroup at ringside as Fatu, Legacy and DVD stand tall in the ring, sending us into the break!

Myles Borne’s Public Apology to Tavion Heights

We return from the break with Myles Borne already in the ring. Borne gets on the mic and says he’s got a lot he needs to get off his chest tonight before asking Tavion Heights to come out so he can apologize face-to-face, man-to-man. Heights makes his way out, and he doesn’t look particularly happy. Tavion says brothers can fight, but Myles crossed a line. Borne admits he knows that and explains that after losing the North American Championship and the Tag Team Championship on the same night, he got caught up in his own head. Given WWE’s long history of friendships ending in betrayal, Borne didn’t want to be caught slacking, but he admits he made a mistake and apologizes. Heights responds that his back still hurts from where Myles stabbed him in it. Borne kicked him while he was already down after losing his first-ever championship, and when Tavion needed his brother and best friend, he had nobody. That’s not something Heights can simply forgive. As much as Tavion wants them to go back to tossing people on their necks and being dogs together, he thinks that time has passed.

Borne says he understands, but points out that they’ve been in the same shoes before. Heights fires back that Myles literally attacked him, and that’s different. Borne asks if it really is. He reminds Heights that Tavion once forced him to defend his championship and accused Myles of being a bad brother, all because Heights wanted to prove that he had Myles’ back. Despite that, Borne welcomed Tavion back with open arms, forgave him and the two went on to become Tag Team Champions together. “Me and you both know, when we’re together no one can stop us. And no one can take away those good memories, T!” Borne questions what he was thinking when he attacked Heights and admits he’s not proud of what he did. He knows Tavion can relate to getting jealous, jumping the gun and regretting the consequences. Borne asks Heights for a fresh start and forgiveness—the same things he once gave Tavion.

Heights admits that maybe he was too focused on his own position to recognize the position he’d put Borne in. Maybe Tavion planted some seeds of doubt, especially during the most successful period either man has experienced in NXT. Borne says they need to learn how to balance their individual success without allowing it to overshadow their friendship. Myles can’t take back what he did, but he loves Tavion like a brother and he’s sorry. Borne extends his arms, and Heights takes a long moment to process everything before finally speaking. “I forgive you, Myles. Let’s get this thing rolling again. It’s you and me versus the world… Myles, you’re my dog for life!” They hug it out to a huge pop!

And then Borne drills Heights with a Neckbreaker! Borne unloads with fists before throwing Tavion out of the ring and sending him crashing into the barricade hard enough to break its video screen. Borne sends Heights back inside as the crowd hilariously begins chanting for an RKO. Instead, Myles grabs a steel chair, wraps it around Tavion’s left ankle and stomps down on it! Apparently, Myles Borne is a firm believer in the old adage that love hurts. We head to break!

HIPAA Violation: Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair

We see a pre-recorded segment featuring Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair meeting with a medical professional. Grey is eager to get back into action, but she’s warned that she still hasn’t been medically cleared. Grey is told that she’s taken multiple blows and needs more time to heal before returning to the ring. The medical professional also recommends that Grey speak with a mental-health professional as part of her recovery. Grey doesn’t exactly seem thrilled with either recommendation.

Tag Team Match: Cruz Montana & EK Prosper vs. The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes)

EK Prosper is out first, followed by Cruz Montana, who makes his entrance through the NXT Universe. The Vanity Project are out next, complete with Myka Lockwood. Just a reminder, folks, that this is a non-title match. We get our bell at 9:03pm EST and start things off with Prosper and Brad Baylor. They keep the pace fluid and fast, eventually leading to tags to Montana and Ricky Smokes. Cruz easily shrugs off a pair of Shoulder Tackles from Smokes. Smokes decides to go low, which only serves to fire up Montana and leads to several big Running Chops! Montana stays on fire and hits a beautiful Reverse Rolling Cutter for a pin attempt before tagging Prosper back in. Montana and Prosper briefly work in tandem before Baylor attacks Montana from behind, despite Prosper being the legal man. Prosper quickly reminds Baylor who’s legal by planting him with a Suplex! The Vanity Project regroup on the outside as Montana and Prosper remain firmly in control, sending us into the break!
Early in the break, Montana and Prosper continue to dominate, but The Vanity Project eventually manage to pick up the pace and steal control. They work to eliminate Prosper from the equation, leaving him down on the outside for an extended period while methodically working over Montana. Quick tags keep Baylor and Smokes fresh as Montana struggles to escape their corner. Finally, Montana hits a Rolling Driver on Smokes, giving him the opening he desperately needs to make the hot tag to a recovering Prosper. Prosper immediately launches himself from the top turnbuckle with a Split-Legged Dropkick to drop the champions! Prosper goes on a dominant stretch, using his athleticism and several beautiful Dropkicks to keep The Vanity Project off balance.

Montana recovers, and the referee allows plenty of latitude as all four men go at it. Eventually, Prosper and Montana hit Suicide Dives to wipe out the Tag Team Champions in one big, beautiful spot! Myka Lockwood tries to get involved, attacking Montana behind the referee’s back, but the official suspects something’s up and ejects the non-competing members of The Vanity Project from ringside! Prosper tries to rally, but Baylor and Smokes find one final shortcut. Smokes catches Prosper with a Backslide Crucifix Pin, and as the referee drops to count, Baylor grabs Smokes’ legs to provide some extra leverage! Prosper can’t escape, allowing The Vanity Project to steal the win at 9:15pm EST!

Your Winners, The Vanity Project! (12 minutes)

Backstage Interview: Saquon Shugars

Backstage, Shugars—equal parts Junkyard Dog and Macho Man—cuts a quick promo about tonight’s main event before Tristan Angels interrupts. Angels questions why he even bothers showering and washing his hair when he has to be around the likes of Mason Rook and Saquon Shugars, who apparently can’t even dress properly. Shugars fires back that Tristan isn’t even supposed to be here and should be at home watching tonight’s episode on his television. And speaking of tonight’s NXT Championship picture, we’ve gotten multiple clips throughout the night of Grayson Waller running on a treadmill. Dude’s legs have gotta be burning by now.

In the Ring: NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan Addresses the NXT Universe

When we return, NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan makes her entrance and gets on the mic. Jordan says she won’t be one of those champions who posts her ass on Instagram and hangs out in the back. That’s why she was defending her championship within a week of winning it—Jordan puts her money where her mouth is. She points out that after successfully defending her title, another woman tried to make the moment about herself. Jordan looks directly into the camera and asks Wren Sinclair how that worked out for her. Wren got suspended, while Jordan went on to make her Monday Night Raw debut in Mexico City! That’s one less person Jordan has to worry about. So who’s next? According to the champion, there’s nobody in the locker room brave enough to step up. Jordan tells everyone to get used to seeing the championship on her shoulder because she’s setting the standard for the title, and nobody is doing it like Lani!

Out comes AAA Reina de Reinas Champion La Catalina! The NXT Universe shows Catalina plenty of love as she makes her way to the ring and gets on the mic. Speaking in a mixture of Spanish and English, Catalina points out that Jordan isn’t the only newly crowned champion in the ring. Just a few days ago at TripleMania, Catalina captured the Reina de Reinas Championship, and now she wants to elevate her division to the next level. Jordan begins to respond, but she’s interrupted by NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria! Zaria says that if we’re going to have a conversation about dominant champions, her name had better be included. Zaria doesn’t see either woman standing in the ring unifying championships anytime soon.

Catalina responds with one simple question: “Thea?” Zaria reluctantly admits that, yes, Thea Hail tapped her out last week, and begins making excuses before Jordan starts talking over her. That’s enough to bring out Thea Hail, who gets on the mic and tells everyone to shut up! Hail says it’s time to talk about Thea Hail because behind all that innocence is a Superstar who can hang with anyone in that ring. The NXT Universe has watched her grow up, and while she may be the youngest woman standing there, she’s already proven that Thea Hail is championship material because she tapped out the NXT Women’s North American Champion! Now she just needs to do it when the title is on the line, and she’ll become a two-time Women’s North American Champion!

Zaria has heard enough and angrily attacks Hail, sparking a four-woman brawl! Hail and La Catalina eventually work together to send Zaria and Jordan out of the ring before celebrating their successful alliance with a little dance. Hail and Catalina stand tall as the two champions regroup on the outside! We head to break.

Video Segment: Shiloh Hill Gets Scientific

We get a pre-recorded video featuring Shiloh Hill, who shows us what he does in his free time: apparently, experimenting with the various poisonous mists used by Naraku. Hill points out that Naraku has several different colors of mist and proceeds to get surprisingly scientific while explaining that he believes he’s discovered a way to neutralize them. Hill tests his theory before things take a decidedly stranger turn when he begins conversing with a pair of talking raccoons. We get a close-up of Hill’s eyes, which are noticeably altered in color, almost as if he’s wearing contact lenses. An unusual segment, to say the least.

Backstage: Emily Agard with NXT GM Robert Stone

Backstage, Emily Agard interviews NXT General Manager Robert Stone and asks what’s next for the NXT tag team division. Stone points out that he’s already brought The Creed Brothers back to NXT before making a major announcement: the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is returning! The Creed Brothers walk up and remind Stone that they won the tournament back in 2022. Now, they want to do it again in 2026. Julius says it doesn’t matter where The Creeds are placed in the bracket because he and Brutus intend to become the first two-time winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

NXT Championship No. 1 Contender’s Triple Threat Main Event Match: Tony D’Angelo vs. Mason Rook vs. Saquon Shugars

Saquon Shugars makes his way out first as our main event is up next! Tony D’Angelo is out next before we head to the break. When we return, Mason Rook is ready to rock, and we get our bell at 9:45pm EST! Remember, the winner of this match will earn a future shot at Grayson Waller’s NXT Championship, with the date still to be determined. Speaking of Waller, he’s still running on that treadmill. Dude’s getting his cardio in tonight. All three Superstars jaw at each other for a moment before Shugars manages to annoy the other two enough that D’Angelo and Rook briefly work together to send him outside. Tony looks for an early Rear Suplex Roll-Up on Rook, but Rook kicks out immediately. D’Angelo drops Rook with a big shot before hitting a Suicide Dive to wipe out the big man as he rolls outside to recover. Shugars tries to follow D’Angelo with a dive of his own, but Tony clocks him with a huge right hand to shut that idea down. D’Angelo and Shugars battle inside the ring for a stretch before Shugars connects with a nice Spinning Neckbreaker for a very short two-count.

Rook recovers on the outside and begins making his way back into the action as D’Angelo looks for a Lawn Dart on Shugars. Shugars escapes and shoves Tony away, allowing Rook to knock D’Angelo down before dropping Shugars with a Shoulder Tackle and following up with a Powerslam. Rook then goes on an absolute Body Slam frenzy: Tony, Shugars, Tony, Shugars, Tony—and finally, Shugars onto Tony! Rook caps off the sequence with a Standing Senton. Shugars battles the big man into the corner with kicks and fists, eventually dropping Rook to a knee. D’Angelo grabs Shugars from behind and takes him on a quick trip to Suplex City! Tony then looks for a German Suplex on Rook, but Rook grabs the nearby Shugars, setting up a wild three-man German Suplex! D’Angelo looks for the cover, but no joy. Rook lays out the former champion and heads up top, but Shugars follows him up and the two begin battling around the middle turnbuckle. D’Angelo gets underneath Shugars, and all three men come crashing down in a massive Superplex/Powerbomb combination! The NXT Universe is loudly raving after that one as all three Superstars are left down, sending us into our final commercial break of the night!

During the break, Mason Rook enjoys a lengthy stretch of dominance over both opponents. Shugars and D’Angelo try working together to contain the big man’s onslaught, but Rook will not be deterred. At one point, Tony locks a Sleeper Hold on Rook, only for Shugars to slap a Sleeper on D’Angelo! When we return, Rook crushes Tony with a big Splash and covers the former champion for two. Rook looks for a Piledriver, but D’Angelo escapes, and Tony and Shugars once again work together to bring the big man down. Vic Joseph questions why D’Angelo wasn’t given an automatic rematch for the NXT Championship. Booker T fires off a lengthy explanation that ultimately ends with, “I don’t know, Vic. I don’t know.”

Shugars takes a brief turn in control, showcasing his speed as he battles D’Angelo to the outside before sliding back into the ring and dropping a Leg Drop on Rook for two. All three men clash again as we begin building toward the finish. D’Angelo shows off his strength by hitting a Jackknife Powerbomb on the massive Rook! Shugars attempts to steal the win by putting his feet on the ropes while pinning Tony, but the referee catches him and breaks the count. Chaos ensues as D’Angelo hits a Belly-to-Belly Suplex from the middle turnbuckle on Shugars, who goes flying directly into Rook’s arms! Rook immediately uses Shugars’ momentum to Powerbomb him down hard!

Rook and D’Angelo square off in the middle of the ring and slowly begin slugging it out. The exchange escalates to Clotheslines and Knee Strikes before Tony sends both men spilling to the outside. Shugars gets back into the fray with a Dropkick to D’Angelo’s lower back, but Rook attacks Shugars from behind before heading back into the ring and crushing Tony with a Cannonball! Shugars suddenly catches Rook with a DDT out of nowhere before heading up top and splashing D’Angelo! Shugars covers, but the referee is dragged out of the ring before he can complete the count!

Rook and D’Angelo resume their battle inside the ring, and Rook plants Tony with a Blue Thunder Bomb! Rook heads up top and follows with a massive Super Splash! Rook hooks the leg and gets the three-count at 9:59pm EST!

Your Winner and NEW No. 1 Contender, Mason Rook! (14 minutes)

After the Match: Grayson Waller Confronts Mason Rook

Grayson Waller finally gets off that damn treadmill and jogs onto the entrance ramp, yelling off-mic at his new No. 1 Contender. Rook fires right back as champion and challenger exchange words from a distance. And that’s it for tonight, folks!

Announced for Next Week

• La Catalina & Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan & Zaria
• Sean Legacy, Dorian Van Dux & Zilla Fatu vs. BirthRight

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