SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT TV RESULTS
APRIL 22, 2025
LAS VEGAS, NEV. AT FOUNTAIN BLUE THEATER
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
-Videos covered the very busy week of wrestling, with Stand & Deliver featured, followed by aerial shots outside the venue on the company’s final night on this tour of Las Vegas.
(1) GIGI DOLIN & TATUM PAXLEY vs. LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ (c) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match
Dolin & Paxley won this shot in a four-way on the pre-show of Stand & Deliver. It briefly looked like they’d be facing Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria after they won the straps at Mania, but Morgan and Rodriguez won them back on Raw to bring us this match after all.
Vic said he hoped Pat McAfee was okay after the attack from Gunther on Raw, and Graves said his favorite part was Michael Cole fearing for his life. I was hoping Graves would get even more personal, selfishly. Rodriguez dominated Paxley early with power stuff, casually spinning and discarding Paxley. Morgan tagged in and hit a shotgun dropkick for two. Vic mentioned Morgan last had a match on NXT in 2017 (before her far-too-early callup that had her learning on the job for quite some time). Dolin tagged in and got in some shots on Rodriguez. She tried a cross-body and Rodriguez was supposed to catch her, but couldn’t manage and the spot was ugly. She hit a weak-looking slam for two. Dolin ended up in the heel corner and Morgan dumped her, then jawed out at her, opening it up for Paxley to dump Morgan and then hit a moonsault on both heels heading into commercial with no split-screen. There must be another break coming in this match. [c]
Rodriguez had Paxley in an armbar/headlock combo and Paxley struck her way out, but Morgan tagged in and hit Three Amigos to keep up the heat sequence. She did the Guerrero shimmy and hit a running dropkick for two. Rodriguez tagged in and went for a delayed suplex, but Paxley worked her way out with knees to the skull. Rodriguez then vaguely attacked with – strikes? Clubbing blows? She’s had a rough match tonight. Paxley made the hot tag as Morgan also tagged in. Dolin dominated and hit a nice exploder for two. Everyone got involved briefly and the other two became legal again. Paxley managed a rollup for two. Dolin made the blind tag and hit a high cross-body. Paxley hit a 450 splash on Rodriguez and Dolin covered for two, broken up by Morgan. Paxley tagged in again and the faces cut down Rodriguez with stereo enzuigiris. They hit double headbutts as well, but Morgan made a blind tag. The faces wanted the Cemetery Driver, but Morgan broke it up and hit Oblivion on Dolin to defend.
WINNERS: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez at 11:28.
(Wells’s Analysis: I don’t miss covering Rodriguez matches, as she’s exactly as talented as she was when she showed up as a very green rookie years ago. Morgan was on, at least, and all of her action with the challengers was strong. A total forgone conclusion here, but the live crowd was very into it)
-Penn & Teller, who stole the Heritage Cup Championship from Lexis King, said they’d give it back to him as long as he said magic was real, and he also had to agree to defend the championship tonight. King relented, then asked who he was defending against. Penn said it would be a surprise. Vic promoted the match for later in the show.
-Ricky Starks walked through the building ahead of the next segment. [c]
-Over the weekend, Tavion Heights and Charlie Dempsey fought at GCW Bloodsport, which is usually a super fun show, though I didn’t catch it this time. Presently, Wren Sinclair asked Myles Borne why he wasn’t there, and he said he wasn’t asked. DarkState showed up, and Saquon Shugars said “You can’t handle no Bloodsport.” Borne stood up for himself and Je’Von Evans stepped into the scene as well, likely with some lingering issues with DarkState.
-Ricky Saints entered to a big ovation and a “Ricky” chant and he said “Wow. And he loves you back, baby.” He said he led off Stand & Deliver with a bang by defending his championship against a man who will always be a thorn in his side, Ethan Page. He said he made good on his promise and was turning everything he says into reality. He said it felt so good to do it against Ethan Page. Lexis King’s music cut Saints’ mic time short.
King told Saints to hold his horses, and he said he wasted his weekend searching for the Heritage Cup because Penn & Teller had made it disappear (he was holding it in the ring now, however). He said if Saints doesn’t leave the ring right now, he might set his sights on the North American Championship. Saints said King lost the four-way and had no claim. King called the kettle black by saying he didn’t like smug, arrogant guys like Saints. He said next week, he would make it a double championship match. One fall, winner takes all.
Saints said it was interesting that King was talking to him about this when he didn’t even know who his mystery opponent is tonight. They got in each other’s faces and officials split them apart as Vic said the defense is up next. [c]
-Earlier today, Sol Ruca, Zaria, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger talked backstage about their championship wins (except Zaria…). Thea Hail got psyched and jumped into Hank’s arms and congratulated them. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan got into the scene and Parker said she didn’t miss Hail while she was gone, and Jordan said a lot of things had changed since Hail left. Everyone left Hail and in walked all three members of Fatal Influence as the show efficiently tries to get everyone some screen time. Fallon Henley said she would take out Thea Hail, since none of the other two members could.
(2) NOAM DAR vs. LEXIS KING (c) – NXT Heritage Cup Championship match
Dar got a good reaction and a “Welcome back” chant upon his return from a fairly long injury. He was positioning himself as a heel challenger to Trick Williams before he got injured and the brand totally changed course with Ethan Page winning the championship. Dar dominated early and had King grounded, and he licked his wrist and acted like he was trying to rub off King’s facial hair in a spot so goofy, it could only be Dar. “That’s just wrong, right there,” Booker T said.
King strung together some offense and the crowd chanted “Supernova” for Dar. They exchanged chops and King got the better of the exchange eventually. They exchanged superkicks and King got in the better one there too, and he covered for two. King went up and missed a Swanton. Dar hit a pair of backfists and did his pinky taunt, then head faked a Nova Roller and hit a simple back elbow for the pin and the title. Uh…wow.
WINNER: Noam Dar at 4:01.
(Wells’s Analysis: They didn’t explain how this changes the match King and Saints. Either it’s a triple threat to combine the championships, or King will get his shot at Saints with no Heritage Cup in the way. At any rate, this is a big way to return for Dar, but King looks like a total loser just after he got a pretty good amount of screen time in the first 40 minutes of the show. Graves casually joked that Dar’s finishing elbow was the “Hellbow,” so maybe it’s a real change of finisher here; it might be a lot to ask people to lay down for a back elbow, though)
-Vic promoted the main event, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez. [c]
-Vic promoted Clash in Paris on August 31st.
-Sarah Schreiber talked to Roxanne Perez, who said it felt good to ruin Stephanie Vaquer’s moment on Raw because it was supposed to be her moment. She said she didn’t even know Giulia had the same idea. Roxy put herself over and said she’s the Prodigy, and although Vaquer walked into Las Vegas as champion, she’d be walking out with it. I’ve got to think this is finally it for Roxy on NXT.
-A graphic showed that Jacy Jayne will be facing Rosemary on the next episode of Impact.
(3) THEA HAIL vs. FALLON HENLEY (w/Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx)
Henley shoved Hail to a corner and got in some rights, then taunted Hail, who shot back with a block. Hail rolled up Henley for two, and Henley rolled up Hail for one. Quick mat reversals led to a quick armbar by Henley, and Hail rolled her up to break. They moved up to impact shots as each woman got in some kicks. Ax-handles by Hail, followed by a basement lariat. Henley landed on her feet after a Hail exploder attempt, and Henley hit a nice suplex. Action spilled outside and Jacy Jayne accidentally pump-kicked Henley into the steps, and it seems like this episode is going to write Henley out of the group she leads. Back inside, Kimura Lock by Hail, and that was that.
WINNER: Thea Hail at 2:26.
(Wells’s Analysis: Henley has really taken her lumps lately, but I think it’s headed somewhere for her, at least. If Perez and Giulia are headed north as it seems they are, she might be someone who benefits again – not that they have any shortage of options. Conversely, though, they could also be calling up Henley herself before long and that would be the reason to write her out of Fatal Influence. Anyway, there’s little to say on the brief action here, but it was competent and I’m very happy to see Hail again)
[c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Oba Femi entered wearing another shirt that’s much cooler than any I’ve ever worn. He said he took the dreams of his opponents, set them ablaze, and burnt them to ashes. There was a sign in the crowd that said “Happy Birthday Oba.” He said he had called Je’Von Evans a child and said he wasn’t ready, but it turns out the Young OG is a lot better than he thought. He said although his time has not come, it will. There was a “Young OG” chant and Oba nodded at it. Oba was less kind to Trick Williams, whose music quickly played him to the ring.
Williams said Oba always takes the easy way out. He said he pinned Je’Von Evans, and now he doesn’t care if it’s Oba’s birthday, he wants his one on one. He said he’s tired of other people fumbling his opportunities.
Joe Hendry’s music played him out to a big ovation. He was wearing his personalized WrestleMania shirt and waving his TNA Championship in the air. What a weird timeline we’re in. The audience swayed their arms with him. He did his quick-turn taunt and got a “We believe” chant. He said the rumors are true: Trick Williams has changed. He used to soak in the cheers, and now he soaks in self-pity. He said he’ll tell him because no one else will: he’s not hungry, he’s entitled. He asked him if he had considered that maybe, just maybe, Trick Williams is a whiny bitch. Big reaction for that.
Williams said Hendry had his five minutes on Sunday, but he believes he doesn’t belong here, he believes he doesn’t fit in, he believes he got his ass whooped at WrestleMania, and he should go back to where he belongs. Hendry said that he may have lost, but while he was losing in front of 60,000 fans, he was in the ring, and Trick was in the stands.
Hendry said he was actually here for Oba. Oba told him not to make the same mistake as Moose. Punches were thrown, and Williams ate most of them. Williams was on the ramp, visually on the outside looking in, as the other two stared at one another. Super hot segment to set up the next challenge (or two) for Femi.
-Stacks and Luca Crusifino met out in the desert. Crusifino called out Stacks and said he went way back with Tony D’Angelo, and wanted to know how he could do him like that. He went on until Stacks cut him off and said “Luca. Do you know why I wanted to meet you out here?” There was a pause, and finally Crusifino said “Oh, fu-” and the screen smashed to black. LOL. [c]
-Vic promoted Worlds Collide & Money in the Bank in June.
-Sarah Schreiber talked with Sol Ruca & Zaria, and awkwardly mentioned what company presented Stand & Deliver. Sarah tried to put over Sol, but Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez showed up, and Morgan stirred the pot and said Ruca is a double champion while Zaria has nothing (Ruca is the Speed champion also). Liv did her trademark wicked laugh after the drive-by and the tag champions walked off. Ruca said she could add a third championship.
-Backstage, Trick Williams attacked a bunch of defenseless inanimate objects, selling his frustrations.
(4) JE’VON EVANS & MYLES BORNE (w/Wren Sinclair) vs. DARKSTATE (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) (w/Cutler James & Saquon Shugars)
Lennox grounded Borne briefly but the two went to quick reversals shortly after. Evans tagged in to a nice reaction and a “Young OG” chant. Evans did some of his springboard offense and Lennox rolled to his corner and tagged Griffin. Evans struck quickly, but Griffin used his size to take over, and grounded Evans with a big forearm to the mouth. Everyone got involved and Evans tried a tope suicida, but he was caught. Borne managed a plancha on both DarkState members for an “NXT” chant. Tavion Heights and Charlie Dempsey showed up on the ramp and were watching the makeshift team with interest. The match went to commercial, again without split-screen, so either they’re not doing that this week or they’re giving the main event a lot of time, which is possible. [c]
Griffin was in control of Evans. He caught a flying Evans and casually hit an overhead suplex. Griffin beat Evans’ head into a corner and then chucked him into the heel corner and made the tag. Lennox threw some breadbasket shots as Griffin held Evans. Short clothesline by Lennox, who covered for two, then got in the face of Borne as he threatened to enter. Lennox again took Evans to the heel corner and made the tag. DarkState teamed up for a launch and a huge powerslam for two, broken up by Borne. Griffin missed a charge in the heel corner, so Lennox tagged himself in quickly to cut off the hot tag. Evans rolled up Lennox and then rolled forward to a tag and a pretty nice reaction for Borne, who was the house afire. Snap suplexes and overhead suplexes for all. Ushigoroshi by Borne. God, I love that move and it’s great to see another guy doing it.
Evans tried to get involved and he tried a splash out onto Griffin, who caught him again and destroyed him against the apron. Borne was isolated by both guys and double-chokeslammed. Griffin covered for the win.
WINNERS: DarkState at 9:57.
Up on the ramp, Dempsey and Heights were talking, but we didn’t get any further insight on what they were saying.
(Wells’s Analysis: Evans is just a perfect underdog babyface, getting ragdolled all over the place. Borne is also very good in there and hopefully is on the way to getting something to sink his teeth into. Griffin needs polish but has some very good raw power tools. Lennox looks something like a pro already, and will continue to get better)
-Shawn Spears talked to Ava and said he was just looking out for his friends, as always. She said she gets it. He left. Well, that was brief. Yoshiki Inamura entered and he said that he and Josh Briggs were almost tag team champions. He got emotional and finally, Ava said “You know what? Another chance. Next week, you get a title shot at Hank & Tank.” She took off, and Briggs showed up and asked how Inamura did that. Inamura stopped bowing and looked coyly up at Briggs and said “Old Japanese secret.” Briggs got fired up and said “Good job, buddy!” [c]
-Tony D’Angelo walked through a hallway and went to the room of Adrianna Rizzo, who opened the door of her hotel room and asked if he was followed (by someone other than the cameraman, I guess). She said she couldn’t believe Stacks did that. They talked about Luca and neither had heard from him. D’Angelo said they were going to have to go to the mattresses on this one. Rizzo said Stacks taught her how to fight as a kid. D said people change and he hasn’t been right for a while now. Rizzo wanted a sit-down, but D’Angelo said he couldn’t sit down with someone who declared war. He said he said that Adrianna was packing, but home isn’t safe, and she needs to hide out until it all blows over. He let her know it would all be alright, and they hugged. This should be so stupid, but the performers are committed and it’s all shot very well, and against my better judgment, I’m really digging it.
-Sarah Schreiber talked to Ricky Saints, who said he was a man of his word, and he would still defend against Lexis King. Ethan Page got in Ricky’s face, but didn’t say anything. As Saints focused on him, King flew in and attacked Saints against some crates, and said Saints cost him his championship, so now he’d take Ricky’s. King left. Page said to Saints, “I guess we’ll have to pick this up another time.”
-Roxanne Perez was introduced ahead of the main event. [c]
-NXT’s next big show, BattleGround, will be on May 25th in Tampa.
-A promoted segment showed an unseen person opening a suitcase. It popped, revealing a Chase U sweater. The camera showed that it was Andre Chase, who said “We’re f(*&in’ back, baby!” (Bleeped, of course)
(5) STEPHANIE VAQUER (c) vs. ROXANNE PEREZ
This is a little tougher to call than it seems on the surface, as both now have at least one foot in the main roster, though it’s likely Vaquer was just a Raw After Mania surprise and it’ll take some time for her to hit the main roster. Mike Rome’s giant frosted tips handled formal introductions. Vaquer was in blue again, continuing her weekend in that color. Roxy was in black and yellow gear that I don’t think I’ve seen her wear before that said “Prodigy” on the rear.
It got chippy early, and they went to some quick mat reversals. They rolled through a lot of submission move attempts and each got a one count on a rollup. They reset and again, Vaquer got a quick rollup for two. They look like they’re settling in for a long one but they’re only 11 minutes from the top of the hour. The two again escaped submission attempts and reset. Rope run and Vaquer trapped Perez for two, and Perez reversed for one.
The two went to some more escapes, and finally Perez slowed it down with a headlock takeover. Vaquer lifted her for a belly-to-back suplex, then went for her crowd-pleasing knee stomps. Roxy, as she’s been doing now and then, dragged the apron onto the mat to distract the ref, then went to the eyes and took over on offense as the match went to split-screen. [c]
Vaquer was throwing rights to get back into it. Perez dropped to the floor and put knees up into Vaquer’s arm. They spilled out onto the ramp, which was level with the ring in the small venue. Vaquer hit a 619 and then a springboard cross-body out onto Perez on the ramp. Back inside, Vaquer hit Eat Da Feet and then pointed at Booker and did the knee strikes that rev him up more than anyone anywhere, with the possible exception of a certain NXT recapper. Booker was shown after the move as he…I guess moaned?…and Corey was giggling to himself.
Vaquer went up in a corner, but Perez got up and yanked Vaquer’s arm over the top rope. Inside, he laid out Vaquer and snapped on the crossface. They don’t feel like they’re at the end. Screwjob coming? Vaquer rolled up Roxy to break. The two rolled up each other over and over for two-counts. Back kick by Vaquer. Roxanne set up Pop Rox and Vaquer fought it off and hit a nasty dragon screw. SVB finished.
WINNER: Stephanie Vaquer at 11:37.
While Vaquer was celebrating, Giulia hit the ramp to stare out forebodingly at Vaquer. We went to an angle on Vaquer looking out at Giulia, revealing that Jordynne Grace was staring out at Vaquer as well. With the four-way out of the way, it looks like those who didn’t eat the pin are still going to hang in the title picture. No surprise there, but we got the visual confirmation here.
(Wells’s Analysis: Excellent stuff, unsurprisingly, from two women who are the undeniable future of this company. I would’ve taken another ten minutes here, but I also don’t mind that TV matches leave a person wanting more for when and if those two meet again down the road. With Giulia and Grace looming afterward and Roxy out of frame entirely, although I’ve said this before, I really think she’s finally done with this brand and will be revealed as Bayley’s attacker and will stay on the main roster full-time)
FINAL THOUGHTS: After what I found to be an okayish Stand & Deliver and a competent but unmemorable WrestleMania, I dug last night’s Raw and loved this follow-up. It seems like we’re getting more exciting “new year” resets than even the norm, and I’m looking forward to the main event entanglements with everyone from Joe Hendry to Giulia. Chase U is apparently coming back again, which I would be surprised about, except what else is there for Andre Chase to do? Noam Dar returned with a bang, though he unfortunately didn’t rub shoulders with his Meta-Four mates, and we have the women’s tag champions doing a multi-week stint on the brand, which won’t result in a title change, but will hopefully further elevate some of the high priority women of the brand. I look forward to talking it out with Nate Lindberg on PWT Talks NXT, starting soon. Check us out tonight or stream tomorrow.