Results
- Kali Armstrong def. Jaida Parker (9:54)
- Jackson Drake def. Jasper Troy (7:18)
- Izzi Dame & Niko Vance def. Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana (11:30)
- Cutler James & Osiris Griffin def. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger (11:59)
- Tony D’Angelo def. Tavion Heights (10:21)
Rising Kali Armstrong takes down NXT vet Jaida Parker
This week’s episode of NXT, live as usual from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, opened with a recap of last week’s newsworthy episode. The biggest headline of the night was the numerous debuts we saw, including Lizzy Rain, ex-NJPW star EVIL, and Will Kroos.
After the recap we went backstage, where Tony D’Angelo commandeered a camera to prove a point. He’s not going to wait for others to strike, he said. He then jumped Tavion Heights, who attacked him during a segment last week.
We then went to the ring for the first match of the night, NXT newcomer Kali Armstrong facing off against Jaida Parker. Armstrong is still settling in at NXT after a title run down in EVOLVE. This bout was made after a slight dust-up backstage between these two last week. They did a good job at making this feel like a big-time feud before the bell, riling up the crowd by getting in eachother’s faces.
Armstrong scored a crossbody off the top rope after the show returned from a break. The former EVOLVE champ got a little too cocky, mocking Parker’s high-step taunt at one point. Parker started to mount a comeback after this, dropping Armstrong with a pair of back bodydrops then scoring her hip attack out of the corner.
Parker picked up Armstrong for a move, but Armstrong escaped it by raking her eyes. Armstrong scored a powerslam, then came running off the ropes with her Kali Connection shoulder tackle for the win in just under 10 minutes. Decent opener between these two, and a big win for Armstrong as they build her up in the women’s division. I don’t love her Kali Connection finisher, it feels a little too weak to be the ender.
Backstage, NXT General Manager Andre Stone sounded frustrated about how Tony D’Angelo attacked Tavion Heights. D’Angelo said that he wants Heights tonight, which an annoyed Stone agreed to.
Vanity Project’s newest member helps Jackson Drake score pinfall win
Upset following their tag loss last week against Sean Legacy and EK Prosper, Birthright were reflecting on the defeat. They were approached by Fit Finlay, who wasn’t happy about the result. Finlay received a call from William Regal, who expressed a similar sentiment. Regal said that Birthright’s Charlie Dempsey has been sent on assignment to train further due to the loss. Strict! He also said that the three remaining members of the group (Stacks, Uriah Connors & Lexis King) will be in six-man tag action next week.
We got a video package promo from EVIL, who will now be going by the name Naraku. He talked about his desire to take the NXT title off Tony D’Angelo, and that he has the hunger to capture gold in NXT despite his long list of accomplishments back in Japan. Naraku’s NXT in-ring debut will be next week.
After a grudge match from the women’s division kicked off the night, a beef was settled in the men’s division next when The Vanity Project’s Jackson Drake took on Jasper Troy. Like Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong, this was booked following a beef that emerged backstage last week.
A distraction from the rest of the Vanity Project at ringside allowed Drake to score a top-rope meteora just before the break. Drake countered a move from Troy into a DDT after the show returned. Drake went to the top for a move, but Troy surprisingly did a kip-up to his feet, then caught Drake coming off the top for a chokeslam. Troy followed that up with a senton, causing Drake to roll to the outside.
Troy went to ringside, where he decided to beat up Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes as well. He tried to toss Smokes through (or even over?) the ropes and into the ring, but that didn’t really work. The highlight here was that Myka Lockwood, the woman who was on a date with Drake just a few weeks ago, showed up at ringside and impressively slammed Troy while the referee wasn’t looking. She rolled Troy back into the ring, where Drake connected with a 450 Splash for the pinfall win in seven minutes. While I wasn’t a fan of how they introduced Lockwood a few weeks back, I like the decision to add her to Vanity Project It attaches a fresh face to a faction that has been on a roll as of late.
In a video package, we were introduced to recent NXT arrival Tristan Angels. “Rejoice, NXT. Mr. England, Tristan Angels, has officially arrived.”
Zaria wants a shot at Tatum Paxley
The next segment saw Zaria make her first appearance since ending her feud with Sol Ruca last month, sending Ruca up to the main roster.
Zaria rejoiced on no longer having any “dead weight” holding her back in the women’s division anymore. She was getting a mixed reaction here: Some boos, lots of cheers. This entire story has felt like it was meant to make Zaria a mega-heel, so this still shocks me. But, that rant is for another time. Now that Ruca is behind her, Zaria said that she wants to go after the NXT Women’s North American Championship, which is currently held by Tatum Paxley.
Paxley herself came to the ring to interrupt her promo. While sympathetic to Zaria’s situation, losing Ruca as a friend then having to face her twice, Paxley sent a warning shot: “If you were to come for my women’s North American Championship, it wouldn’t matter if you scorched the earth.”
I wasn’t expecting this, but Lizzy Rain, who made waves with a strong debut last week, came out to interrupt this showdown. Rain said that she wants to add “heavy metal” to the North American title picture. This was then cut off by Nikkita Lyons, who lost to Rain last week and hasn’t earned an NXT TV win since November 2024. Anyway, she questioned why Rain was trying to go after the title when she’s not done with her.
Lyons attacked Rain, kicking off a brawl between these four which ended with Zaria on top. Looks like Zaria is after the belt next, and Rain is going to face Lyons again, which is fine.
Backstage, Romeo Moreno (a wrestler who used to go by Zozaya on the indies) tried introducing himself to the Vanity Project, who were dismissive. He was backed up by the returning Noam Dar, who called out Drake for a match next week. Dar has been out of the ring for nearly a year due to injury and just started working house show dates a week back. Now, he’s back on TV.
Izzi Dame pins the champ
Just before the break, we saw NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo get attacked by Kam Hendrix, who made his debut on the show last week. Hendrix pushed D’Angelo into the wall and actually caused a significant dent! Due to this attack, NXT General Manager Robert Stone said that the D’Angelo vs. Tavion Heights match expected in the next segment will happen later in the show.
With that change to the lineup, our next match saw NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice and AAA’s Mr. Iguana team up to face Izzi Dame and Niko Vance of The Culling.
Mr. Iguana, who was isolated for long, had a hot tag stopped after Dame took Vice off the ring apron. Vice got the hot tag eventually and delivered dual hip attacks in the corner alongside Mr. Iguana. A move from Dame was countered into an armbar submission, but Dame was able to reach the ropes and escape the hold.
Vice got distracted briefly by the fact that Vance took out Mr. Iguana at ringside with a hard slam to the floor. She turned her attention to Dame, who dodged her spinning backfist then came running off the ropes with a knee strike to the head. Dame earned a pinfall win over Vice, finally giving her a solid case to challenge the champ. While I wasn’t against her being in a title feud before, the math didn’t really work out and explain why she was worthy of a shot. This win changes that equation.
Robert Stone announced backstage that Zaria and Nikkita Lyons will face Lizzy Rain and Tatum Paxley next week. Zaria, wanting to be independent now that she’s done with Ruca, pushed back against the idea of a title match. But Stone was strict with Zaria: “If you want a title opportunity, you’re gonna do the match.”
Irate following her loss to Kali Armstrong, Jaida Parker was seen throwing items around the locker room. “I guess what they say about Miss Parker is true,” a voice was heard saying out of the shot. Nattie entered: “You’ve gotten soft.” Is Parker going to pay a trip to the dungeon to gain an edge? I don’t mind them giving her something fresh. She’s a fun worker with tons of charisma, yet she hasn’t really been given anything intriguing on NXT TV as of late. So, why not.
DarkState earn tag win despite recent troubles
The next match saw Cutler James and Osiris Griffin of the embattled DarkState take on Hank & Tank. Frustrated with how Dion Lennox and Saquon Shugars have been struggling to get along as of late, James and Griffin said they will set their sights on the NXT tag titles.
Lennox tried to hand a metal chair to his DarkState teammates but was stopped by Shugars, causing them to get into a shout-off. James and Griffin had to take their focus off the match to try and separate this argument before the show went to a break.
Hank Walker got the hot tag, taking out James with a senton, then pouncing Griffin at ringside onto the commentary desk. Back in the ring, Hank & Tank scored a double-team crossbody on James, but Griffin got back into the ring and broke up a follow-up pin attempt.
James got into the ring and scored a backbreaker, which Griffin was able to follow with a Vader Bomb. Similarly, his pin attempt was stopped by a near fall.
The fight went to ringside again, where a tope suicida from Tank Ledger was caught by DarkState, who slammed him onto Walker. Back in the ring, Griffin and James scored a nasty double-team powerbomb to Walker for the pinfall win in 12 minutes. James and Griffin are gaining some momentum, but the issues within the faction threaten to derail that at any moment.
Backstage, Kelani Jordan warned Lola Vice that she should be worried about her. Jordan was then confronted by Kendal Grey, who wants to get revenge after Jordan beat Wren Sinclair last week. Vice said that Jordan should worry about her problems with Grey before eyeing the title. Grey vs. Jordan, that should be a fun one!
Emily Agard interviews Keanu Carver
Emily Agard, a Sportsnet host in Canada who just signed on with WWE in a broadcaster role, was seen catching up with Keanu Carver. Carver cut a great, blunt promo about how he’s only in NXT to feed his family.
Emily Agard's first job as NXT correspondent is to interview Keanu Carver, showing a more human side of himpic.twitter.com/gdoiEoasBk
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) May 6, 2026
“Money,” when asked about his motivation to wrestle. “Straight up … I’ve told y’all a thousand times, I’m here to get paid.” He talked about how, unlike other talents, he doesn’t care about flashy moves or online clout.
When asked why he knew what the symbol of war was (the symbol was sent to Tony D’Angelo by EVIL, now known as Naraku, two weeks back), Carver said he learned it when at Temple University. “The thing about me that y’all don’t know? I’m smart as s***, for real.”
Carver still struggles in the ring for me. But, his pissed-off, no-nonsense character work has been great.
Here’s what was announced for next week’s show:
- Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan
- Tatum Paxley & Lizzy Rain vs. Zaria & Nikkita Lyons
- Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drake
- Naraku makes NXT debut
- Uriah Connors, Stacks & Lexis King vs. Tate Wilder & Prosper, Sean Legacy
Mason Rock stands tall following match between Tony D’Angelo and Tavion Heights
The show closed out with a singles bout between NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and Tavion Heights. After both attacking eachother over the past week, they settled their differences in the ring.
Heights dodged a move in the corner from D’Angelo during the commercials, causing the champ to go flying through the ropes and to the outside for a hard landing. After the show returned, Heights got a near fall with a huge frogsplash.
D’Angelo started to mount a comeback at the seven-minute mark, stringing together a trio of German Suplexes to Heights. A spear was blocked by Heights, who caught him coming forward with a knee strike. Heights scored a pair of huge suplexes for a close pin attempt of his own.
A slight bit of misdirection from D’Angelo allowed him to hit the spear upon the second attempt. A chokeslam from D’Angelo was reversed into a belly-to-belly suplex from Heights.
Kam Hendrix, despite getting banned from the building earlier in the night, tried for a run-in. He was sent out of the ring by Heights, then suddenly Myles Borne appeared and took out Hendrix with a dive. This sequence distracted Heights, causing D’Angelo to hit a chokeslam for the pinfall win in 10 minutes. I wouldn’t mind Heights having a program with Hendrix coming out of this.
D’Angelo shook hands with Heights after the bell, but he was interrupted by Will Kroos, who was running in to attack the champ for a second straight week. He picked up D’Angelo and delivered an Air Raid Crash with him onto Heights. He then got in front of a camera and revealed his new name: Mason Rock.
Final thoughts
This was another solid NXT. Both the men’s and women’s main titles are exciting, as both have many interesting names challenging for the belts. While it’s clear that Izzi Dame is next for Lola Vice, who knows which challenger will end up getting a crack at Tony D’Angelo first. Some mid-card stuff, like the current changes happening within Vanity Project, and drama within DarkState, has been good as well. NXT has put together a few good weeks as of late.
