The latest episode of NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, began with a heated grudge match between Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan. Jordan, aiming to avenge a January loss, immediately zeroed in on Vice’s injured right hand—bandaged from a previous attack—to gain an early advantage. Vice entered the match visibly determined but hampered by the injury that set the tone for the contest.
Before the bell, a fired-up Vice charged at Jordan, but the latter quickly retaliated by focusing on Vice’s compromised arm. Jordan stomped and slammed Vice’s hand against the canvas and executed a Northern Lights Suplex while trapping the arm behind Vice’s back, nearly scoring an early pinfall.
Vice mustered some offense with a body shot to Jordan but showed pain handling her right hand. Jordan maintained control at ringside with a knee strike to Vice’s head when she was positioned against the steel steps. After the commercial break, Vice launched a comeback, landing kicks and a German Suplex to regain momentum.
Chasing Jordan outside the ring, Vice dove from the apron but unfortunately swung her injured arm against a platform, worsening her predicament in a risky miscalculation. Inside the ring, Jordan attempted a 450 Splash, which Vice countered into a submission hold. Jordan escaped and ultimately locked in a submission focused on Vice’s right hand, forcing Vice to tap out after eleven minutes.
The match successfully portrayed the ongoing narrative surrounding Vice’s injury, with Jordan solidifying her role as a formidable heel despite moments where the storyline stretched believability, such as Vice’s dangerous dive with an arm injury.
Joe Hendry and Ricky Saints Set for March Title Clash
Earlier in the show, an intense segment unfolded involving Joe Hendry and Ricky Saints after Hendry ambushed Saints in the NXT parking lot, continuing a violent back-and-forth following Saints’ pursuit of Hendry’s title. Hendry addressed the arena angrily, declaring:
“I’m not in a singing mood, I’m not in a dancing mood. I’m in a kicking Ricky Saints’ ass all around the arena type of mood,”
he said.
Saints responded from a distance, distancing himself from confrontation and criticizing Hendry’s championship reign as a “meme” shifting the title from a true superstar to a social media personality. The tension culminated with Saints challenging Hendry to a title match scheduled for the March 6 Vengeance Day Premium Live Event. Hendry accepted, confirming a highly anticipated rematch.
It was also revealed that Izzi Dame will defend her Women’s North American Championship against Tatum Paxley at Vengeance Day.
Tony D’Angelo Begins Assault on DarkState
In a brief but impactful contest, Tony D’Angelo faced off against Cutler James, a member of DarkState who had seldom received solo television time until this point. The match was swift, with D’Angelo securing victory in just 80 seconds following a spinebuster. Post-match, Dion Lennox attempted to attack D’Angelo but was swiftly beaten down and slammed onto steel steps as D’Angelo escalated his assault. Cutler James intervened at the last moment to prevent further injury from a dangerous move involving the steel stairs.
The Vanity Project Earns Title Shot After Four-Team Tag Match
A chaotic four-way tag team bout decided the next challengers for DarkState’s NXT Tag Team Championships. Participants included Hank Walker & Tank Ledger, OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price), The Culling’s Niko Vance & Shawn Spears, and The Vanity Project’s Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes.
OTM showcased strength early, with Lucien Price earning near falls supported by Bronco Nima. The match featured intense ringside brawls involving all four teams. Spectacular moments included synchronized superplexes from both OTM and Hank & Tank. Near-match finishes brought the audience to the edge, notably when Jackson Drake, EVOLVE Champion, disrupted a pin attempt.
The final sequence saw Smokes cunningly push teammate Baylor onto an incapacitated Spears, securing the pinfall and the title shot for The Vanity Project after 11 minutes of relentless action. This battle stood out for its complexity and fast pace, demanding close attention to fully appreciate the layered teamwork.
Zaria’s Rift with Sol Ruca Revealed During Heated Championship Build-Up
Backstage tensions escalated as Zaria confirmed the end of her friendship with Sol Ruca, accusing Ruca of unfairly stealing a title opportunity. The animosity suggested that Zaria’s feelings had been one-sided for some time. Soon after, Fatal Influence entered the ring where NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne expressed jealousy toward Ruca, despite her own accomplishments.
Jayne complained about Ruca representing NXT on John Cena’s retirement tribute instead of her and accused Ruca of betrayal, stating:
“The only reason she got a shot at this championship is because she sacrificed her friend,”
Jayne said.
Interrupting, Ruca called Jayne a “perpetually jealous person” but drew the line when Jayne brought up the falling out with Zaria. Jayne fired back:
“Just like your friendship with Zaria has ended, so has any chance of you becoming the NXT Champion,”
challenging Ruca fiercely.
Before the confrontation escalated further, Jayne and her Fatal Influence teammates launched a three-on-one attack on Ruca. Zaria initially appeared ready to join the assault, but abruptly turned on Fatal Influence, rescuing Ruca and signaling unresolved loyalty between the two women.
First-Ever WWE Speed Championship Triple Threat Announced
A time-limited match featuring WWE Speed newcomers Elio LeFleur and Eli Knight dominated the next segment, each battling fiercely for a number one contender spot against Jasper Troy. The bout saw high-flying moves including springboard moonsaults, powerbomb counters, and a superplex as time ticked down with no clear winner.
In a surprise announcement, NXT General Manager Robert Stone declared that the next week would feature the first-ever triple threat for the WWE Speed Championship. Jasper Troy will defend against both LeFleur and Knight in a match extended to seven minutes, longer than the usual time for such bouts. While the increased time could compromise the title’s fast-paced identity, the new format promises a fresh challenge.
Multiple Title Matches Booked for Next Week’s NXT Show
Backstage segments highlighted ongoing rivalries as Shiloh Hill urged Myles Borne to avoid interference in his upcoming title challenge against Ethan Page. Borne showed reluctance, hinting at his own brewing conflict with Page. Meanwhile, Uriah Connors sought to recruit Charlie Dempsey into the Birthright faction, but Dempsey remained undecided.
The upcoming matches announced for next week’s show include:
- Keanu Carver vs. Sean Legacy
- Uriah Connors vs. Kale Dixon
- Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail (WWE Speed Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Semi-Final)
- Jasper Troy vs. Elio LeFleur vs. Eli Knight (WWE Speed Championship)
- The Vanity Project vs. DarkState (NXT Tag Team Championships)
- Jacy Jayne vs. Sol Ruca (NXT Women’s Championship)
Ethan Page Retains North American Title Amid Post-Match Chaos
The main event featured Ethan Page defending the NXT North American Championship against Shiloh Hill. Early in the contest, Page’s allies, The Vanity Project, appeared ringside. Despite escaping Page’s Twisted Grin finisher during a commercial break, Hill faced tough resistance, especially after Page exposed concrete beneath the ring mat to deliver brutal offense.
Hill gained momentum with a shoulder tackle, sidewalk slam, and backflip senton, though the latter only partially connected. After clearing The Vanity Project from the ring apron, Hill’s focus wavered, allowing Page to deliver a devastating Twisted Grin onto the exposed concrete floor and a second finishing move to secure victory in 12 minutes.
Immediately after the match, Myles Borne stormed the ring to prevent a four-on-one attack by Page and The Vanity Project. Borne eliminated the challengers before unloading a furious assault on Page himself, demanding a title shot. Borne wedged a steel chair between Page’s foot, and despite being granted a match next week, he viciously stomped Page’s foot, signaling a more ruthless ambition ahead.
NXT Maintains Momentum with Strong Performances and Building Storylines
This NXT episode delivered a mix of intense bouts and intricate story developments. The opener featuring Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan told a compelling injury-focused narrative, while the tag match chaos injected energy into the night. Although some segments, like the WWE Speed contest and Ricky Saints vs. Joe Hendry promo, were less impactful, they kept the pacing balanced and developed future angles.
The fiercely contested main event and ensuing brawl surrounding Ethan Page’s title reinforced the program’s commitment to building layered rivalries and setting the stage for multiple high-stakes encounters next week. With several title defenses and challenges lined up, NXT is clearly ramping toward significant events in the approaching weeks.
