This week’s WWE NXT brought intense action, highlighted by Ricky Saints capturing the NXT Championship and the ongoing turbulence between NXT and TNA leading into their Showdown event. The show, held at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, set the stage for next Tuesday’s crucial NXT-TNA Showdown with heated promos, fierce matches, and a chaotic finale featuring both rosters clashing.
Ricky Saints Becomes New NXT Champion Following No Mercy
On Saturday at the NXT No Mercy Premium Live Event (PLE), Ricky Saints defeated Oba Femi to claim the NXT Title, marking the end of Oba’s reign. This unexpected victory by Saints, who entered NXT earlier this year in February, was met with a strong fan reaction. Saints addressed the crowd, expressing confidence and humility about his accomplishment. He emphasized self-belief, reminding fans that
“the only person you can keep betting on is you.”
His promo showcased his charisma and cemented his role as a popular babyface in NXT.
Shortly after, the NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne interrupted the celebration, shifting focus to the brewing rivalry between NXT and TNA. Jayne derided the competition from TNA despite both brands holding titles and vocalized frustration over the ongoing tension. NXT General Manager Ava took the stage to announce that both Jayne and TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan would serve as team captains tasked with selecting members for their respective NXT and TNA Survivor Series teams. With the importance of unity stressed, Ava urged both sides to put personal disputes aside for the sake of fielding the strongest teams possible.
The Shift from Invasion to Showdown in NXT-TNA Rivalry
The segment also involved the legendary Santino Marella joining as TNA’s Director of Authority. Santino explained that instead of an “Invasion,” the upcoming event would be a “Showdown,” reflecting a collaborative spirit rather than a hostile takeover. He named Mike Santana as his captain, who they enthusiastically backed with Boricua chants. Santino expressed distrust of certain wrestlers, including Tricky Williams, indicating a complex dynamic within the TNA camp.
Santino’s female captain, Kelani Jordan, recently crowned TNA Knockouts Champion at TNA Victory Road, was presented through highlights of her victory. The renaming of the event and the alignment of team captains set the tone for next week’s showdown, easing concerns tied to the prior use of the “Invasion” term amidst sensitive anniversaries.
Backstage Rivalries and Setup for NXT-TNA Showdown
Preparations backstage showed Lash Legend and Jaida Parker readying for their match, continuing a personal feud built over recent weeks. Alongside this, Je’Von Evans was featured backstage with TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, intensifying their Bound for Glory feud by agreeing to a tag match later in the show. Lyra Valkyria‘s uneasy interaction with Tatum Paxley, giving her a doll that sparked tension, added further intrigue in the women’s division.
The segment included a promo promoting John Cena’s final WWE match scheduled for December 13 in Washington, DC, heightening anticipation for that event.
Jaida Parker Overcomes Lash Legend in Hard-Fought Bout
The Lash Legend versus Jaida Parker match was a highlight, spanning roughly ten minutes of back-and-forth action that showcased their contrasting styles. Lash controlled much of the match with powerful moves like suplexes and a backbreaker, while Parker displayed resilience, avoiding Lash’s finishing maneuver and mounting a comeback. Parker ultimately secured the win with a running hip attack. Both wrestlers impressed as babyfaces, with Parker growing as a fan favorite and Lash transitioning smoothly from heel to face.
Ricky Starks and Team Selection Intensifies Internal Dynamics
In the locker room, Ricky Starks discussed team selections for the Showdown with Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams, who boldly named himself team captain despite not being the official leader. The talks revealed simmering tensions and alliances as they strategized about including wrestlers like Myles Borne and Josh Briggs, leading to a proposed match between the latter two to determine final team membership.
NXT North American Championship Battle Set with Mustafa Ali’s Return
NXT North American Champion Ethan Page cut a confident promo, dismissing his recently repelled challenger Tavion Heights and calling out the upcoming challenger Dr. Wagner Jr. Suddenly, Mustafa Ali made a dramatic entrance, sitting poised in the ring as he confronted Page over an unresolved title opportunity from two years prior. Ali explained how his expected match never materialized because of his sudden release from WWE, fueling his motivation to claim the title now.
A tense exchange unfolded between the two, culminating in a fight with Ali dropkicking Page out of the ring. This set the stage for their impending match at the NXT-TNA Showdown, framing Ali as a sympathetic contender despite his heel status in TNA, thereby creating an intriguing dynamic with Page.
Women’s Division Continues Building Towards Showdown
Backstage scenes showed tension within the women’s locker room. Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey conversed when Jaida Parker entered with the NXT Women’s Title alongside Fallon Henley. Discussions included Sol Ruca’s circumstances and team spots, sparking a challenge match between Lola Vice and Fallon Henley. Vice would secure a quick victory, boosting her standing as she earned her place on Team NXT.
Upcoming Tag Team Championship Clash Previewed
A video package previewed the fierce rivalry between The Hardy Boyz, the current TNA Tag Team Champions, and Darkstate, holders of the NXT Tag Team Titles. Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox confidently claimed their dominance, promising a brutal encounter next week. The anticipation builds for the winner-take-all match at the Showdown.
Josh Briggs and Myles Borne Battle for Team Spot
In a highly physical match, Myles Borne defeated Josh Briggs following interference from Matt Cardona, who thwarted Briggs from using a chain, allowing Borne to capitalize and win. This victory earned Borne a place on Team NXT, joining Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans. While Cardona’s involvement was unexpected, it hints at future storylines tied to these competitors.
Backstage Tensions as TNA and NXT Wrestlers Prepare
Jordynne Grace advised Kelani Jordan to embrace her role as TNA Knockouts Champion, even as loyalty questions lingered due to Grace’s past TNA affiliation. Mike Santana, Joe Hendry, and Jordan engaged in discussions about their positions, emphasizing the fragile balance within TNA amid the growing rivalry with NXT. This backstage conflict builds the narrative tension ahead of the Showdown.
Lola Vice Scores Key Victory Over Fallon Henley
Lola Vice entered a singles match against Fallon Henley and secured a decisive win through a spinning back fist. This result was anticipated after Vice’s loss to Jacy Jayne at No Mercy and solidifies her spot on Team NXT’s women’s division. Henley’s persistent pushing is noteworthy but ultimately insufficient against Vice’s momentum.
Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater Impress in Tag Team Match
The duo of Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater took on The Culling’s Shawn Spears and Niko Vance in an action-packed contest that showcased their seamless teamwork. Their coordinated effort, highlighted by high-flying moves and strong tag sequences, culminated in a victory after approximately eleven minutes. This victory underscores the bright futures of Evans and Slater as a formidable babyface team, building interest for their eventual showdown at TNA Bound for Glory.
Explosive NXT-TNA Summit Fuels Upcoming Showdown
The main event segment saw both rosters gather in the arena for an intense summit. NXT’s Ricky Saints declared himself captain, setting a lineup including Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Myles Borne for the men’s team. On the TNA side, Mike Santana announced a team with international and former world champions, including Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater.
Women’s captains Jacy Jayne and Kelani Jordan exchanged verbal barbs, with Jayne branding Jordan a traitor and promising a dominant team featuring Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker, and Lola Vice. Jordan countered by naming TNA’s own Jessie McKay, Cassie Lee, and Mara Sade. The tension escalated when Santana violently punched Trick Williams, igniting a chaotic brawl involving nearly all wrestlers ringside.
NXT’s Shawn Michaels appeared, observing the mayhem with astonishment as the conflict intensified without resolution, ending the explosive show on a high note of disorder.
Scheduled NXT-TNA Showdown Matches and Predictions
Next week’s NXT-TNA Showdown will feature four key matches:
- Men’s Survivor Series Elimination Match: Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Myles Borne (NXT) vs. Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater (TNA)
- Women’s Survivor Series Elimination Match: Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker, and Lola Vice (NXT) vs. Kelani Jordan, Jessie McKay, Cassie Lee, and Mara Sade (TNA)
- Tag Team Championship Winner Takes All: Darkstate (Osiris Griffin & Dion Lennox) vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy)
- NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page vs. Mustafa Ali
Predictions suggest that the NXT women’s team will secure victory, while the TNA men’s team will prevail. The Hardy Boyz are favored to capture the tag titles, and Ethan Page is expected to retain the North American Championship against Mustafa Ali. These results would split the wins evenly across the brands, maintaining the competitive tension.
Significance and What Lies Ahead for WWE NXT
This episode amplified the stakes surrounding the NXT-TNA Showdown, a pivotal event designed to counter programming on AEW Dynamite and further intertwine storylines heading into major upcoming WWE and TNA events. The introduction of new champions and clearly defined teams adds layers of complexity to the rivalry, emphasized by intense promos and physical confrontations.
Tag team battles like Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater against The Culling highlighted the future stars of both brands, while the main event’s chaotic brawl underscored the relentless unpredictability of WWE’s women’s and men’s divisions. The interactions between veteran stars and rising talents promise an exhilarating build toward Showdown and TNA Bound for Glory.
With the ongoing tensions, dynamic matchups, and evolving alliances, WWE NXT continues to deliver a relentless, turbulent wrestling narrative that keeps fans on edge and eager for what comes next.
“HISTORY WILL BE MADE. IT’S GOING TO BE A TNA vs. NXT SHOWDOWN!!!!” — WWE (@WWE)
HISTORY WILL BE MADE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TNA vs. NXT SHOWDOWN!!!! pic.twitter.com/Z5rYKCqCdE
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2025
