The Vanity Project, consisting of Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor, seized the NXT Tag Team Championship in a high-stakes match against the reigning champions DarkState, Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars, on February 25, 2026. The bout, held at an NXT event, turned chaotic as Tony D’Angelo made a surprise interference that shifted the momentum and ultimately decided the match.
Back-and-Forth Battle Between DarkState and The Vanity Project
The match opened with Ricky Smokes and Osiris Griffin locking up, which quickly escalated into aggressive exchanges. Griffin dominated early by clotheslining both Smokes and Baylor, followed by a series of attacks involving quick tags and double-team moves from DarkState. Throughout the first half of the contest, Griffin and Shugars maintained control, repeatedly isolating and wearing down their opponents with coordinated teamwork and power maneuvers.
Despite The Vanity Project’s efforts to counter, including Baylor tagging in to launch surprise attacks and Smokes delivering chops and forearms, DarkState continued to demonstrate resilience. Shugars executed a near fall roll-up on Smokes, and Griffin unleashed a powerful crossbody takedown on both opponents, followed by consecutive chokeslams that nearly secured a victory. The crowd witnessed a relentless display of back-and-forth offense, with both teams refusing to concede ground.
Momentum Shift Leads to Controversial Finish
After a break, the intensity grew as The Vanity Project relentlessly targeted Shugars, locking him in submission holds and isolating him in corners. Despite Shugars’ attempts to escape and counter, the champions faced mounting pressure. Following several near falls and counters, the momentum briefly swung back to DarkState when Griffin and Shugars found openings, executing coordinated double teams and slams.
However, the unexpected intervention changed the course of the match. Tony D’Angelo sprinted to the ring and forcefully slammed Shugars onto the apron from the outside, incapacitating him. Taking advantage of the chaos, Brad Baylor quickly pinned Shugars, securing a decisive victory for The Vanity Project.
Implications of the Shocking Tag Team Title Change
The sudden outcome stunned the NXT audience and commentators alike, as DarkState’s dominance had made them the probable victors. Tony D’Angelo’s interference played a critical role in the title switch, drawing immediate attention and speculation about future rivalries and alliances within NXT’s tag team division. This victory ends DarkState’s reign and ushers The Vanity Project into the championship spotlight, setting the stage for fresh challenges and storylines.
“A SHOCKER 😱Off the assist from @TonyDangeloWWE, The Vanity Project are the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions! pic.twitter.com/zI05GtsF2Q” — WWE
A SHOCKER 😱
Off the assist from @TonyDangeloWWE, The Vanity Project are the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions! pic.twitter.com/zI05GtsF2Q
— WWE (@WWE) February 25, 2026
