Ricky Saints has captured the NXT Championship for the first time, ending Oba Femi’s lengthy reign at the No Mercy premium live event on Saturday. In an intense match, Saints overcame The Ruler of NXT with a decisive combination of moves to secure the title, marking a significant moment in the NXT landscape.
Key Moments from the Championship Match
The match reached its climax when Oba Femi attempted his signature “fall from grace” powerbomb on Saints, who managed to kick out on the first attempt. Femi tried the same maneuver again, but Saints countered with a powerful DDT, then followed up with a tornado DDT that sealed his victory and earned him the championship belt.
The event concluded with Saints celebrating his hard-fought triumph as the new NXT Champion, eliciting strong reactions from the crowd and viewers.
“HE DID IT!HE DID IT!HE DID IT!RICKY SAINTS IS THE NEW NXT CHAMPION!!! pic.twitter.com/ItFQmrTjty” — WWE
Oba Femi’s Title Reign and the Road to No Mercy
Oba Femi had held the NXT Championship for most of 2025, having won it from Trick Williams at the NXT New Year’s Evil event on January 7. Throughout the year, Femi maintained a dominant presence in the NXT scene, including successful defenses against competitors like Je’Von Evans.
Ricky Saints began asserting his challenge for the NXT title following the Heatwave event, where Femi defended the championship against Je’Von Evans. In the weeks prior to No Mercy, the rivalry intensified, particularly with ongoing confrontations between Femi and Trick Williams. This culminated in a high-stakes TNA title vs. NXT title match on the latest episode of NXT, which ended in chaos after the locker rooms emptied, sparking an inter-promotional brawl.
Saints’ unwavering focus on claiming the NXT Championship was highlighted when he and Femi faced off in a tense staredown during the closing moments of that program, foreshadowing their showdown at No Mercy.
Implications of Ricky Saints’ New Reign as NXT Champion
Ricky Saints’ victory disrupts the established order within NXT, ending the prolonged dominance of Oba Femi and setting the stage for new rivalries and storylines. His unexpected win introduces fresh tension within the brand, especially as Femi and Trick Williams’ ongoing conflicts intersect with Saints’ championship run. Fans can anticipate a period of increased competition and heightened drama in upcoming NXT events as Saints begins his tenure as the new NXT Champion.
HE DID IT!
HE DID IT!
HE DID IT!RICKY SAINTS IS THE NEW NXT CHAMPION!!! pic.twitter.com/ItFQmrTjty
— WWE (@WWE) September 28, 2025
