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NXT TV RESULTS
MAY 12, 2026
WINTER PARK, FLA. AT THE CAPITOL WRESTLING CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON CW NETWORK
REPORT BY KELLY WELLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
NXT Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Backstage Correspondent(s): Emily Agard, Blake Howard
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
-Vic said that after weeks of chaos, tonight will change this brand forever. That high claim doesn’t seem possible given what’s promoted thus far, but it might be a “hey, trust me, a big moment is planned” dog whistle.
(1) TATUM PAXLEY & LIZZY RAIN vs. ZARIA & NIKKITA LYONS
Booker was way into Lizzy Rain and tried to galvanize Vic to “rock on.” Lyons was now wearing a catwoman mask as part of her entrance, which has been tweaked and added to about a thousand times over her five years in the company. Zaria, fresh off her win to end her feud with Sol Ruca, entered last to a decent heel reaction. It doesn’t make sense that she’d be in a tag match after the Ruca feud, but at least they acknowledged this last week by having Zaria say she wanted no part of it.
Zaria powered Rain to the mat to open. Zaria powered Rain to the mat for a leverage cover for one. Headbutt by Zaria, but Rain returned the favor. Headscissor takedown by Rain. Zaria fought off a sunset flip attempt and clubbed Rain to the mat. Lyons wanted a tag from Zaria, who wasn’t interested in offering one. Paxley tagged in and Zaria ran the ropes, allowing Lyons to tag herself in. Step-up enzuigiri by Paxley. Crucifix got two. Lyons hit a body slam, then surfed on Paxley, but missed with her splits drop. Zaria and Lyons argued, and the faces hit them with running shots. Lyons forgot to take a bump so she had to set up another one. I swear, this woman. Both heels got dumped to the ramp as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Lyons hit a sit-out slam on Paxley for two. Vic promoted Jordan-Grey as the main event, and while it’ll be a good match, it’s a suspect choice to main event unless a huge angle is planned. Both women tagged and Rain dominated with the hot tag, hitting a nice Samoan Drop, then lighting up Lyons in the corner with a long series of chops. Cutter for the interfering Zaria. Rain charged Lyons face-first, but then got caught with a ring. Paxley tagged in and nailed a superkick. Lyons countered Cemetery Drive with a big roundhouse kick. Both women sold on the mat. Lyons jumped for a tag to Zaria, but Zaria hopped off the apron. Paxley hit an overhead kick on Lyons, and she tagged Rain in so she could hit Thunderstruck and finish Lyons. After suffering the loss, Lyons looked preoccupied with a broken nail. Character or performer? Who knows?
WINNERS: Lizzy Rain & Tatum Paxley at 9:22.
(Wells’s Analysis: Lyons is finally a fine enough talent in the ring, but not going down during a spot where both faces were taking out both heels stood out like a sore thumb. If I’m going to turn over a new leaf about her, which is kind of happening, I have to acknowledge the misses. Rain is a lot of fun and it’ll be interesting to see what she’s able to do in a long-form singles match. While Zaria and Paxley are clearly on a collision course, Lyons would rightfully have beef with Zaria also, so we might have a Lyons face turn on our hands if this is meant to keep Lyons relevant)
-Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair talked in the locker room. Sinclair had crutches. She said she didn’t want to be out there for Grey later because she doesn’t want to be a distraction. Lola Vice said hola to the two of them and they said “Hola Lola,” synchronously. Grey got all bothered by Vice and talked tough about taking her championship, and Sinclair calmed her down and told her to focus on the match with Kelani tonight.
-Naraku is up next. [c]
(2) LINCE DORADO vs. NARAKU
Those of you surprised to see Dorado may be even more surprised to know that Dorado is a regular on Evolve. I didn’t actually think we’d ever see him up in NXT, though if you need a guy who isn’t figured in to be a bump machine for a debuting monster, he’s a good choice.
Naraku, who has had exclusively fantastic music in his career, has a really cool, dark metal theme song. Vic nailed the pronunciation, which was great (though Mike Rome put the accent on the wrong syllable, and then Booker mispronounced it also). Naraku dominated with basic stuff early. Rope run and a block by Naraku. I’ve recapped enough of his matches that it’ll be real tough not to call him Evil. Chops by Naraku against the ropes. Dorado hit a springboard cross-body for two. Dorado tried an arm submission but Naraku booted him until he relented. Vic brought up the championships that Naraku has won in NJPW by name. There was a “Naraku” chant briefly. Wow.
Naraku launched Dorado and dropped him, then set him up for a huge lariat. Book even used the word “lariat,” which WWE rarely does, for the hard shot. Body slam by Naraku, who transitioned to a chinlock. Dorado tried to elbow out. He escaped and hit an enzuigiri, then a dropkick. Naraku charged into a boot, then got hit with a springboard stunner by Dorado. Dorado ran himself into a boot. Naraku charged Dorado to a corner, then hit him with a fisherman’s suplex, then a second. He then hit his finisher, and as he did so, Vic said “and now entering…the abyss.” He said “Enter the Abyss” right after the finish, so that appears to be the new name for his longtime finisher known as “Everything is Evil” in New Japan. Naraku talked into the camera about being evil afterward.
WINNER: Naraku at 4:32.
(Wells’s Analysis: In the last couple of years, EVIL was in a role where he cheated every second of every match and used as many outside interferences and weapons as he could get. Before that, he was just a big dude who could work a nice match. This was a look at the latter. He gave Dorado a lot here, which was iffy, but Dorado is much faster so I guess there’s no harm done. Wade Keller and I talked extensively about the man on the flagship, so when that drops, check it out for extended thoughts on a man I’ve seen work literally hundreds of times)
-Tate Wilder told Sean Legacy and EK Prosper he was going to take his opponent to the wild side tonight. Dorian Von Dux showed up and said he’d be back in there with all of them next week.
-Birthright was announced ahead of a six-man match. [c]
-Earlier today, Nattie was talking about her favorite part of LFG in a worked shoot, and Jaida Parker showed up and interrupted her, saying she has a big-ass mouth. Nattie told production to cut and start from scratch as security escorted Jaida out.
(3) SEAN LEGACY & TATE WILDER & EK PROSPER vs. BIRTHRIGHT (Stacks & Charlie Dempsey & Uriah Connors) (w/Lexis King & Arianna Grace)
Wilder & Stacks opened things. I saw Wilder in a few matches on Evolve, but Evolve has such a large number of people passing through and only one hour of content a week, so I can’t say I have a strong feeling about him. He dominated Stacks, and when Dempsey tagged in, he dominated him too and tagged Legacy. Legacy got in some shots but Dempsey hit a European uppercut, then a chop block. Legacy came back with a double stomp and a dropkick for two. Prosper tagged in and hit a double stomp on Dempsey as Legacy held him. Dempsey missed in a corner and Prosper hit a step-up dropkick and a springboard moonsault for two.
The ref got hung up with Connors, so Dempsey yanked the hair, took the advantage and made the tag to Connors. Connors took over on offense until Prosper hit a headscissor. Connors bailed and the heels regrouped while the babyfaces jawed out at them to head into commercial, this time with no split-screen. [c]
The heels were making quick tags to dominate face-in-peril Legacy. Double stomp by Stacks for two. Legacy managed a surprise standing Spanish fly to get an opening and tag Wilder, who got something of a teenybopper pop as he’s a conventionally good-looking young man. He hit a neckbreaker/DDT combo on the two illegal heels, then took down Dempsey for two. It went bonzo gonzo as everyone got involved and the ref mostly attempted to thwart it by doing nothing. The legal men ended up in there again and they fought up in a corner. Wilder hit a cutter on Stacks, but it was broken up. The heels got dumped and Legacy wanted a tag, but Wilder stayed in. He had Dempsey on the ropes. then gave Legacy a thumbs up. Wilder hit a frog splash and got two. Legacy continued begging for a tag and Wilder wouldn’t do it. Wilder missed a moonsault and got nailed with a double superkick, and Connors covered him for the win.
WINNERS: Birthright at 12:57.
(Wells’s Analysis: I’ve been thinking Legacy might turn heel, but this could be a hint that Wilder might do so just as much as Legacy could. It was the usual messy multi-man match in NXT)
-Tatum Paxley & Lizzy Rain talked over their win, and Shiloh Hill showed up to glaze them further. Tristan Angels showed up to be a wet blanket, and he said his debut is next week.
-Still to come: Giant, agile Englishman Mason Rook signs his NXT contract. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-The Culling had their usual talk in low light and spooky music. Niko Vance and Shawn Spears gassed up Izzi Dame, and I’m thinking this was a signal that Izzi is now the leader of the faction, which they’ve been moving forward for some time. She excused Spears and talked solely to Vance, but all she had to add was that if Lola Vice is watching her, she’s watching Lola as well. I don’t know what to make of Spears being excused; if he’s no longer part of it, it’s hardly a faction, and he has nowhere obvious to go.
-Mason Rook entered to a forgettable hard rock riff and he yanked the mic away from the contract-holding Stone. The fans, in the know, chanted “He’s big…he’s bad…he’ll body slam your dad.” Rook said everywhere he goes, he turns head. He said that even the greatest of all time, John Cena, “sees me.” He said it’s hard not to notice an enormous flying tank. He asked rhetorically if he was satisfied being talked about in pubs and going viral. He said no, he’s not. He said he wants more, and that’s why he’s arrived in NXT. He said he’s not just the best superheavyweight, he’s the best “anyweight.” He said if you try to stop a tank, you get crushed. Very good, confident mic time for Rook.
Our champion Tony D’Angelo hit the ramp and Stone told him to be careful, and he said he’s just there to talk. He said going for the top is a big move, and one he’d make. He said you can’t make a name at his expense. Then Kam Hendrix showed up to attack D’Angelo, and a few security guys tried to pull them apart. Rook went up and hit a moonsault on the pile of men. The crowd was WAY into Rook and chanted for him again. What a moment for him. He signed his contract calmly.
-Romeo Moreno got all excited about the presence of Noam Dar, who said he might not be the same star that Moreno thinks he is. [c]
-Emily Agard’s next assignment was to join OTM for a backyard barbecue. Bronco Nima introduced her to his little brother, JJ, who he says is his “twin,” (there are differences, but they certainly look like brothers). Lucien Price said “my brother,” referring to Nima, has been at his side for years. He said Nima lost his brother at a young age and Nima’s been helping raising JJ. Nima said JJ never had to worry about someone being at his side. Agard said she had no idea about that. Agard said Nima had to spill the beans on Price. He said you see the size and violence, but what you don’t see is his mind. Nima said what you don’t see is that he’s an artist. Not a regular one, but a good one. Agard said they balance each other out well. They invited her back sometime, and JJ suggested she bring snacks. These in-the-field interviews with Agard are working wonders all around for the talent, and I hope they stick with them.
(4) NOAM DAR vs. JACKSON DRAKE (w/Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes & Myka Lockwood)
Both guys missed shots early and they reset. Dar took down Drake and went for a quick ankle lock, but it was broken up. Drake got in some rights against the ropes, but got dumped and tripped on the apron. Dar booted Drake to the floor, where he regrouped with his allies. [c]
Drake crotched Dar on the top rope. Drake hit a superplex. Drake hit a springboard cutter for two. Drake went for some ground & pound. Drake threw combo strikes but Dar returned with his own. Snap German by Dar. Backstage, Kelani was shown getting limber for tonight’s main event. Dar hit a Northern Lights Suplex. He measured, but missed whatever he wanted and Drake hit him with a gutbuster for a long two. They exchanged rollups for two. Drake wanted a German but Dar dropped him into an armbar.
The two got to their feet again and exchanged rights. Drake took a kick to the gut and bailed to the outside. There was a charitable “this is awesome” chant for the somewhat nice match. Drake neutralized the men on the outside but didn’t have an answer as Lockwood held onto him long enough for a boot by Drake, who followed up with his finisher.
WINNER: Jackson Drake at 10:21.
As they celebrated, DarkState showed up. That’s weird timing. Vic asked why, and the show went to commercial. [c]
(Wells’s Analysis: Dar was figured in at a high level before his injury, but that appears to no longer be the case. Drake, with all the outside help, won a match he should definitely win. The DarkState hook is actually pretty interesting, as they’ve never gone after heels, particularly sniveling ones like Vanity Project)
-Myles Borne and Tavion Heights met in the back, where Myles Borne said he got a tag match. Heights was excited, but Borne said he was with Tony D’Angelo. Heights was upset and said he hopes D’Angelo is there for him the same way he would’ve been.
-Back in the ring, Dion Lennox said Vanity Project is only champions because they allow it. Saquon Shugars said they have no control over “Big Cut” and Osiris Griffin. Ricky Smokes said that if they think beating Hank & Tank makes them top contenders, they’re wrong. Brad Baylor reminded DarkState that they’re the ones who took the championships from there. Baylor said they don’t give handouts. Cutler James said they never got a rematch, so they’re cashing in, and they already have a match next week. He said it won’t be he and Osiris. He turned to Dion and Saquon, who were surprised. He said “This is on you” and said they had to be united. Griffin poured it on as it was clear that Dion & Saquon would be the challengers. The crowd chanted “Hug it out.” VP tried to attack, but DarkState got the better of them. In a funny visual, Drake essentially played dead as Myka Lockwood effortlessly held him.
-Backstage, Rob Stone congratulated Naraku, who said thank you, and then did his trademark overwrought laugh. Stone went on to meet Kam Hendrix and Mason Rook, and then Tate Wilder. He said he got the rush and he got the L, but he’s ready for more. Keanu Carver then showed up and had his own issues. Stone asked if the two wanted a match next week. Wilder said he was down, and he left. Carver asked Stone if Wilder had a death wish, to which Stone said “possibly.” [c]
-Next week, Myles Borne & Tony D’Angelo face Kam Hendrix & Mason Rook, Tatum Paxley defends against Lizzy Rain, and Vanity Project defends against DarkState.
-Kelani was shown at the end of her introduction, but Kali Armstrong was shown and she said she was going to run through everybody, just like she did on Evolve. On her way to the ring, Kendal Grey showed up and said “You didn’t run through…everybody.”
(5) KENDAL GREY (w/Wren Sinclair) vs. KELANI JORDAN
Collar and elbow. Shoving ensued, and they went to the mat to jockey for position. Reversals and hair-grabs at their feet. Grey took down Jordan in an armbar, but Jordan reached a rope. Jordan threw some palm strikes as Lola Vice was shown watching on a monitor. Jordan hit a dropkick after a series of reversals, then went at Grey with kicks in the corner. Jordan missed in a corner and Grey ran the ropes. She tripped Jordan to the mat and hit a basement dropkick. They went on to the apron on the ramp side and again went to reversals until Grey hit a trip and then floated over to drop a leg on Jordan. Grey went for an ankle lock but Jordan reversed and chucked her to the floor, then hit an Asai moonsault out onto Grey. She tried to roll Grey into the ring but Grey swung around with a kick, then went up top and hit a cross-body. The match went to split-screen after a fantastic opening few minutes. [c]
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