SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT TV RESULTS
MAY 6, 2025
ORLANDO, FLA. AT CAPITOL WRESTLING CENTER
LIVE ON CW NETWORK
REPORT BY KELLY WELLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
NXT Commentators: Corey Graves, Vic Joseph, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Backstage Correspondent(s): Sarah Schreiber
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
-I’ll be honest: I thought Cora Jade was about to be called up, not released. I also greatly underestimated the Meta-Four moment, as well, which was a goodbye not just for the group but for Jakara Jackson & Oro Mensah as well. Mensah was getting a decent push on Evolve, so there may have been many in the company who didn’t see this coming. Indeed, even on that segment, they acknowledged that Oro Mensah is “doing his thing on Evolve.” Gallus was let go, as well, after eight years of being slooooowly deemphasized right up to the moment they were released.
(1) JOE HENDRY & HANK WALKER & TANK LEDGER vs. DARKSTATE (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin & Cutler James)
Hank & Tank entered first to get the crowd going, and Hendry kept it hot.
DarkState attacked earlly and Tank played the early face in peril briefly, but he got back into it with a back elbow on James and tagged Hank for some double-teaming. Hendry tagged in and hit a delayed suplex for two. Hank entered again and James got back into it with a boot and a back elbow. He leaned on Hank against a rope as Saquon Shugars, on the outside, jawed at Hank also. Lennox tagged in and kept up the offense with a back elbow on Hank (apparently that’s the move of the night). Lennox hit a body slam, but Hank rolled through another and tagged Tank, and the tag champs struck Lennox a number of times in the corner. Fallaway slam by Hendry, then another. Vic called it “JBL-esque,” though it was considerably better. The babyfaces cleared out DarkState and posed in the ring as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Hank was in control of James and he went up. DarkState distracted the ref and Shugars shoved Hank from the top rope to the mat. Lennox tagged in and wrenched back Hank’s head by the hair. Griffin tagged in and hit a backbreaker, then leaned on Hank on the bottom rope. DarkState made some quick tags to keep it rolling against Hank, firmly face in peril. James hit a short clothesline and covered for two. James worked a rear chinlock and Hank tried to throw forearms to get back into it. James took Hank back to the heel corner and tagged Griffin, who lifted Hank and spun around, then hit a powerslam. Griffin threw a cheap shot at Hendry. Hank rolled a few times and finally made the hot tag to Tank, who hit a dog-ugly belly-to-belly on Lennox. Tank hit a plancha on everyone outside, and soon enough all six were in the ring. Hank was isolated outside by Shugars and Griffin, but Hendry took down James in the ring.
Trick Williams showed up and dragged Hendry out and brawled up the ramp with him, leaving DarkState to hit a triple-team powerbomb on Tank. James covered Tank for the win.
WINNERS: DarkState at 11:41.
(Wells’s Analysis: A fan could easily have predicted the story beats here, so all that’s left is to find out whether Trick is with DarkState or if it ends up being a red herring. What we saw was competent-ish, I guess, though it was more a bunch of spots to get us to the next chapter in Hendry-Williams. It also occurs to me that Hank & Tank might be transitional champions before a hotshot to DarkState)
-Karmen Petrovic and Thea Hail talked in the locker room. Hail told Petrovic to be strong after their breakup. Jaida Parker showed up and said Hail knows nothing about being strong. Parker said Petrovic’s problem is that she’s soft. It broke down further and Parker & Petrovic made a match for tonight.
-The LFG guys, Timothy Thatcher, and Sean Legacy were shown preparing for tonight’s battle royal.
-Kelani Jordan entered ahead of the next match. [c]
-No Quarter Catch Crew caught up backstage. Myles Borne & Tavion Heights were worried Charlie Dempsey was going to talk about the issue with Borne teaming with a Je’Von Evans a couple of weeks ago, but the focus was on tonight’s battle royal, where Dempsey pumped them up and said one of them would move on to face and defeat Oba Femi. Wren Sinclair led an “NQCC” battle cry. I wonder if Dempsey dumps the two guys tonight in the match or vice versa.
(2) ZARIA (w/Sol Ruca) vs. KELANI JORDAN
Jordan dropkicked Zaria immediately. Rope run and Zaria blocked Jordan, then pushed her away by the head. Jordan came back with some rights. Jordan went up for a headscissor takedown but Zaria caught her and set up a powerbomb, but Jordan rolled through. Jordan evaded a powerslam also and rolled up Zaria for two. Jordan hit some blocks in the corner but Zaria caught Jordan and hit her with a stomach breaker. Jordan dropkicked Zaria to the outside. Zaria hit the apron and Jordan hit a legdrop there. Jordan wanted the split-legged moonsault (I’m surprised they still haven’t named it, as it’s her finish) but Zaria rolled outside. Jordan hit a headscissor takedown out on the floor and the ref counted as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Zaria controlled, and went up in a corner and headlocked Jordan and deadlifted her for a moment as the ref counted. Ethan Page was shown in an inset preparing for the battle royal. Jordan hit a back elbow and Ruca did some overacting to sell worry. Jordan hit a DDT and went up for a 450. She missed, but hit her feet. Zaria flew in with a spear and covered for two. Jordan dumped Zaria to the ramp side, then hit a moonsault that I guess mildly clipped Jordan. Jordan ran into Ruca and Ruca kept her from falling into the barricade, but Zaria speared Jordan through the barricade while Ruca looked on with an overdone shocked face, took her inside, and hit her finisher. Ruca looked pretty happy at the finish, so it may have been a put-on; with her acting tonight, it’s anyone’s guess.
WINNER: Zaria at 11:22.
(Wells’s Analysis: These two did some good stuff together, but Ruca sure chews the scenery when others are supposed to be the focus. It would seem Zaria and Ruca might lean heel for this feud, but Jordan’s been doing that also, so I guess we’ll have to see what the next step brings)
-Tony D’Angelo was on the phone in the locker room and he said “If you hear something, let me know.” Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont showed up. Lee mocked D’Angelo for being alone now, and said he must have lost his confidence again because he isn’t in the battle royal. D’Angelo warned Lee against going down this road, but Lee gave a shrill “see yaaaa” and took his leave.
-Trick Williams was the first to enter ahead of the battle royal. [c]
-Lola Vice and Stephanie Vaquer talked in the pantry. Vice talked first but the crowd was losing their minds over someone being introduced in the battle royal so we didn’t really hear it. It was congratulatory, but Vice said she’d be waiting on the other side of Battleground for her own shot at the title. Giulia showed up and kept it quick, saying she hasn’t forgotten what happened and will see Vaquer for the championship at Battleground.
-Ethan Page and TNA’s Elijah (Elias Samson) got full entry. Elijah got a big reaction. The crowd chanted “Come Walk with Elijah” to the Seven Nation Army riff, and CW muted it because they have no idea what they’re hearing. Embarrassing. Elijah’s first comment on his mic was lost as a result. He asked who wanted to walk with Elijah.
(3) 25-MAN BATTLE ROYAL – #1 Contender for the NXT Championship
Lexis King eliminated Chris Shiloh (from LFG) immediately, but the other LFG guy eliminated King immediately after. Elijah eliminated Charlie Dempsey, who was asking for help from Myles Borne, who ignored him. Yoshiki Inamura eliminated Brad Balyor. Ashatnte Thee Adonis got a brief showcase, superkicking everyone and getting some near-eliminations, but Trick Williams clotheslined him over as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Zach Wentz eliminated…maybe Ricky Smokes? (confirmed after return)…during the split-screen portion, then went back to his issue with Wes Lee. Josh Briggs dumped Tyson Dupont, and then he and Inamura double-teamed Tyriek Igwe.
The match went back to full-screen. Ethan Page eliminated Timothy Thatcher to boos. I guess this isn’t a big return or anything, as Thatcher continues to work Evolve. Shiloh Hill (I’ve got at least one of these LFG names wrong) eliminated Niko Vance, surprisingly. Hill was on the apron and Trick booted him to the floor.
[HOUR TWO]
About 15 guys remained, and the match was mostly just forearms and guys leaning on ropes with no major spots going on. Williams had a near-elimination scare against Briggs and Inamura, but he held on and they just gave up eventually. Brooks Jensen tried to clothesline Tyriek Igwe over the top, and he sailed over with him. I think it was supposed to happen, but it looked botched. Corey called the self-elimination “Mil Mascaras-esque in the Royal Rumble.” What a reference. Ridge Holland eliminated Tavion Heights. Briggs and Holland battled on the apron, and Inamura charged, but eliminated Briggs when Holland yanked him in the way. The two had a tense moment.
Wentz and Lee had yet another moment, but Page eliminated Wentz. We were down to nine as the match went to split-screen a second time. [c]
Wes Lee got a featured segment during the split-screen segment, but was surprisingly eliminated during commercial break when Williams booted him over the top. Okay, now it’s really nine guys: Inamura, Holland, Legacy, Williams, Spears, Elijah, Evans, Page and Borne.
Inamura and Holland were paired off and they did a strong-style test of strength. They tried to lariat one another to a stalemate. They couldn’t clothesline one another over the top, but Williams obliged and eliminated both.
Out of nowhere, Joe Hendry’s music played, and he glared out at Williams. His TNA-mate Elijah clotheslined him over the top and Trick & Hendry fought up the ramp. Spears eliminated Elijah right after and mocked guitar playing.
It’s Borne, Evans, Legacy, Page and Spears. That’s a surprise final five. Legacy got a great feature as he faced Evans and page, but he was eliminated as he was hit with a bouncy roundhouse, and Page held down the top rope. Borne hit his Orton powerslam on Evans, then Spears. Page booted him but Borne hit a belly-to-belly on him. In a corner, all four guys did near-elimination spots. Evans and Spears ended up on the apron and Evans did another wild near-elimination spot as Page booted him. Evans flew in with a lariat on both Page and Spears. He tried a cutter but the heels moved and he hit Borne. He tried another, but Page and Spears caught him and eliminated him. Spears and Page made a pact to eliminate him, but Page immediately reneged on it and tried to eliminate Spears. Instead, Borne was able to eliminate both. WOW!
WINNER: Myles Borne at 23:01.
Tavion Heights immediately ran in to congratulate Borne, and Wren Sinclair followed. Charlie Dempsey clapped from the ramp.
(Wells’s Analysis: When Borne was still hanging around so late, I figured he was probably winning because it was such a weird choice to go that far if he wasn’t going to get the full elevation treatment. The first two-thirds of this battle royal were boring – like, more than usual – as there were no great spots and just a bunch of simple eliminations, but several stories were furthered near the end, and of course this is a wild choice for the winner. Borne is a really good wrestler, so I guess it’s sink or swim time, and we’ll see how people respond to him. It’s not lost on me, though, that Eddy Thorpe was just given a chance to do that, and he was on the graphic for this battle royal, and I thought he had a chance to win before he was cut along with the rest this week)
-Sarah Schreiber talked with Jordynne Grace backstage, who said she had the upper hand in the main event because of her strength. Izzi Dame showed up and tried to talk down Grace and said she’d be waiting for her shot as well. Lash Legend, freshly a singles wrestler again, showed up on the other side and said she knew they weren’t having a conversation about power without the bougie bully. It was a funny visual with Legend and Dame, on the outside edges, towering over Grace and Schreiber (which was the intent). Grace said after she wins the Women’s Championship, she’ll see them on the other side. [c]
(4) KARMEN PETROVIC vs. JAIDA PARKER
Parker is firmly playing heel again, though you’d never know given the call-response chanting from the louder part of the fanbase. The two exchanged some light offense early and Parker rolled out, and Petrovic hit a pretty blah tope suicida. Vic called it a “new part of her game.” Honestly, NOT having a tope suicida in the arsenal can set you apart in NXT at this point, and only a small handful of people make it look like it has impact anyway.
Back inside, Parker hit the teardrop and then her high-step taunt. Parker slammed Petrovic and covered for two. Parker leaned on Petrovic and then did a hip attack (though not her signature one). Petrovic escaped and ran the ropes for a couple of back elbows and a clothesline. One loud guy in the crowd performatively booed. Petrovic hit a sling blade from the second rope and covered for two. Petrovic missed a kick and Parker hit Hipnotic for the win.
WINNER: Jaida Parker at 4:08.
Parker kept up the onslaught afterward. Thea Hail tried to make the save and Parker unintentionally hit her, but then jawed out that Hail should’ve stayed out of it.
(Wells’s Analysis: I get so tired of showy booing for faces, but I admit Petrovic is just kind of there, and Parker has a coolness and badassery that’s going to draw people in no matter who she’s facing. As always, Parker looked great. Petrovic is fine, but the tope was bad, and there’s no need for yet another person to bust one out)
-Hype for Stephanie’s Places, with Pat McAfee.
-Backstage, Ava talked with Joe Hendry about how they have to get control, and she made a match between Hendry and Trick Williams for Battleground. She said it would be for the TNA Championship, and the contract signing would be next week. Ahem, in kayfabe, why can a GM put a different company’s Championship on the line? Hendry was gung ho for the match. [c]
-OTM showed up in a promoted segment, saying they were back and they had an eye on the tag team division. They were shot like stars, so maybe they’re the next champs and there’s a reason they were away from the gauntlet match.
-Wes Lee walked by with Tyriek & Tyson and was on the phone. He said to his cronies, “See? Everybody’s got a price.”
-Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura talked backstage, and it went off pretty well, but Inamura apologized for not being a better partner. He said he talked to Ava, and he’s going back to Japan tonight. The crowd voiced their disappointment. He gave his leather jacket back to Briggs.
-No Quarter Catch Crew talked in the back. Charlie Dempsey said he’d be moving on to face Oba Femi, because Borne won it for the good of the group. Borne said “I may be hard of hearing, but did you say you were getting the match?” Dempsey said he would “stretch out that big meathead,” talking about Femi. Femi showed up shortly afterward and he was clapping for Borne. Dempsey said he’d see Femi at Battleground, and Femi was confused. Borne said “No, the match is mine. But maybe next week Charlie can face you, since Charlie was just saying – what was it? Something about stretching out that big meathead.” The crowd laughed as Borne egged it on. He said maybe if Dempsey wins, they can make it a triple threat. Femi said “I’m done with triple threats,” but he was happy to face Dempsey next week. After Femi left, Dempsey turned to Borne and said “That’s some nice selective hearing you’ve got there.” Borne said “Sorry? What was that?” Just messing with Dempsey. I really hope Borne kills it in this match. [c]
-Chase University spot. Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors were trying to convince Andre Chase to give up the sweater, because they’ve got a new concept. They handed Chase a series of new looks and Chase came out of the dressing room with them, a la an ’80s movie montage. The last one was an orange tracksuit, and Chase said “You know what? I kinda rock with it” and left. Dixon and Connors slapped hands, and Dixon said “New Chase U, New Chase Fit.”
(5) JORDYNNE GRACE vs. GIULIA – #1 Contender’s Match for the NXT Women’s Championship
No multi-person matches yet for Battleground. Dare I speak too soon? They exchanged rights early, and Giulia took Grace to a corner and chopped the hell out of her. Grace switched spots and threw forearms and a big palm strike. Inverted atomic drop and a suplex by Grace with a very bad landing; Giulia took the full brunt on her head. Referee DA Brewer immediately got in between them and was asking Giulia how she was doing, as Grace moved forward a bit to kind of cover the conversation. Turns out she’s fine after a scary moment, as she went on with the match with no (obvious, at least) issues.
Stephanie Vaquer was shown watching in the back. Giulia hit an STO for two. Giulia hit a hard right in a corner, but Grace trapped her and backed her into the turnbuckle. Grace put Giulia on the apron and charged. Grace caught a right and tripped Giulia, then went for – something – but Giulia hit the floor and tripped Grace. They went back to fighting over the ropes, and Giulia hung up Grace on the top rope, then hit a neckbreaker on a draping Grace all the way to the floor as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Grace covered Giulia, who yanked Grace into a guillotine. Grace deadlifted Giulia, who fought up with headbutts. Grace hit a kind of Northern Lights suplex to get some separation. “This is awesome” chant. A corner graphic showed that next week, Tony D’Angelo would face Wes Lee. The women fought near a rope and ramped up the strikes. Grace caught a running Giulia and hit a bodyslam, then a second. She wanted a third and ended up hitting a Michinoku Driver – again, it looked like there might be a large impact on Giulia’s head – and got two. Vic said that Graves and Booker were both reacting silently, but with worry (the crowd went quiet for a moment also). Grace hit a superplex, then a jackhammer, and it got two.
“Giulia” chant. Whatever this brand is doing with heel-face dynamics, it isn’t working. Giulia hit a spike DDT and then a Michinoku Driver for two. Grace countered a Northern Lights Bomb but Giulia countered into an octopus. Grace put up Giulia in a tease for a piledriver, which was the setup for her to go the other way with a fallaway. Giulia powered up for a Fighting Spirit spot – called out as such by Graves – and Grace hit Beast Mode to finish.
WINNER: Jordynne Grace at 12:44.
After Giulia cleared out, Stephanie Vaquer showed up and had a staredown in the ring as the show ended. The cameraman had to go at an awkward angle because Grace was grabbing her neck to sell the match, but it was with the arm on the camera side, so she was covering her face. The show faded out.
(Wells’s Analysis: By far the best match of the night, but that said, what a scary couple of moments with Giulia landing on her head. There’s a LOT of head and neck landings in Japanese wrestling, so maybe she’s damn near immune to injury there at this point, but Grace really has to tighten up a couple of these moves (or Giulia has to tuck earlier? Wrestlers, chime in, eh?). Grace is the natural next step for Vaquer, and hey, we avoided a triple threat for the PLE. At least, we did for now)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Giulia is halfway up to the main roster already, it would seem, so falling here is hardly a problem, and Grace has further to go in terms of production despite being a good wrestler herself. The night, though, really belongs to Myles Borne, who was the beneficiary of what a battle royal was always supposed to do – elevate someone who could use a big win in a single night. He’s got a kind of charm and a clean style in the ring that I think can work, but it’ll be very interesting to see how it translates if he ever gets to take the act to the main roster. NXT continues to have a problem with heel-face presentation, with Trick being weirdly turned and Giulia being reasonably turned (but she’s very talented and good-looking, so the cheers are inevitable) but getting the cheers anyway. Jaida Parker, too. I suppose there’s a shadow cast over this as recent main eventer Eddy Thorpe – along with a host of others – was cut this past week, but there’s too much talent to hide your best people, so if they have to churn, I guess it is what it is. Nate Lindberg will talk it over on PWT Talks NXT while I rest my voice after five days of bronchitis has me sounding unintentionally like early Mankind. Cheers.
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