WWE NXT live results: Blake Monroe open challenge
Tonight’s WWE NXT features the fallout from Deadline and the start of the road to New Year’s Evil.
Je’Von Evans and Kendal Grey earned title shots with their Iron Survivor Challenge victories at Deadline this past weekend. On the first NXT episode of 2026, they’ll challenge NXT Champion Oba Femi and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne for their respective gold.
Blake Monroe won’t have to wait that long for her next Women’s North American Championship defense. She’s putting her title on the line tonight in an open challenge.
In another women’s division match, Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace will continue their rivalry after coming up short in the Iron Survivor Challenge.
Hank & Tank return to NXT following a stint in Japan that saw them win and lose the GHC Tag Team titles for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Plus, we’ll get the NXT debut of WWE LFG season two winner Shiloh Hill.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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It’s past Deadline, so I guess this episode is… late? Or something? Anyways, NXT is on the air with open challenges! New champions! A guy named Shiloh! And to kick it all off the new 2x NXT Champion Oba Femi!
-Femi danced his way to the ring to kick off the show, fresh off his crowd appearance on Monday Night Raw. Femi began a speech about the nature of power, how it never begs and stands still, etc. He gave respect to Ricky Saints and said that his reclaiming of the NXT Title was the will of the universe. Next, he mentioned Cody Rhodes, who Femi will face in a non title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He said that Rhodes will get him in all his glory.
Suddenly, Ricky Saints music hit and the man himself dejectedly sauntered to the ring, mic in hand. Saints said that he is man enough to admit that Femi was better man at Deadline. Saints said that there was a moment when he thought his chance to be NXT Champion had passed. But then he remembered that he is Ricky Saints and that he wants a rematch for the title.
Continuing the promo parade, Je’Von Evans’ music hit and the Young OG came out to interrupt. He reminded everyone that he won the Iron Survivor Challenge and has a title shot coming at New Years Evil. But why should he wait? He challenged Femi to a match tonight.
Saints asked “what’s the rush?” Evans said that he’s no longer “the future” he’s the “now” and no one is touching him right now. Saints agreed and said that Evans could go first. Then Femi got upset, wondering why these “beltless” guys were dictating terms.
Femi said that he’s not afraid of Evans, because he’s never beaten Femi. He then gave him the title shot for tonight!
-After a break, Tatum Paxley cut a promo about her loss to Izzi Dame at Deadline. She said that she has nothing left to lose, but Dame does. She then held up action figures of Shawn Spears and Niko Vance. Paxley laughed on her way off camera.
Kelani Jordan vs Jordynne Grace
Jordan and Grace have had a long history of battling not just in NXT, but over the TNA Knockouts Championship as well. At Deadline, they pretty much cost each other the match and started a Sheamus/Rusev fight in the back. No word on when that fight actually ended, but they are here tonight to go one-on-one in the actual ring.
Grace and Jordan started brawling before Grace even made it to the ring. Grace dropped Jordan with a serise of scoop slams and a Michinoku driver. Jordan fought back and delivered a big boot to Grace off of a suplex attempt.
Grace sent Jordan into the corner but missed the Grace Under Pressure, giving Jordon an opening to start working Grace’s leg. She dropped a bunch of elbows on it then hung Grace up on the ropes. Jordan joined her on the apron where they traded shots.
Grace tried to suplex Jordanoff the apron, but had it blocked. They went back and forth until Grace went to drop a knee and Jordan moved, causing Grace to slam her kneecap against the apron (the knee-est part of the ring!).
Back in the ring, Jordan went back to working the knee, wrapping Grace’s leg around the ring post and stretched it both ways. Then she went for a cover, but Grace kicked out at two while Booker T talked about absolutely nothing. Honestly, never have I heard a man take soe many words to say so little.
Anyway, Jordan stomped the knee and hung Grace up in the tree of woe in the corner. Grace pulled her off the turnbuckle by the hair though and the two traded forearms in the ring.
Grace went for a stretch muffler, but Jordan got out of it, slamming Grace’s head to the mat and sliding out of the ring. Grace followed and Jordan chop-blocked her knee. She then bounced Grace’s head off the steel steps and went under the ring for a chair.
She swung, but Grace moved and she hit the stairs with the chair. Grace used that to jump back into the ring with Jordan. She locked on a leg hold, but Jordan wouldn’t tap. Grace threw a few short arm clotheslines and Jordan whiffed on a kick.
On the outside, Grace managed to hit a Grace Under Presssure and grabbed a chair. Jordan then drove Grace through the barricade. Dragging her back into the ring, Jordan went up and nailed a 450 splash to get the pin and the victory.
Match Result: Kelani Jordan defeated Jordynne Grace
-After a break, the women of NXT were shown warming up(?) in the back. Jordynne Grace was lamenting her loss to Kelani Jordan. She was told by Thea Hale to buck up, she’s Jordynne Grace after all.
-Blake Monroe made her way to the ring next for her Women’s North American Title Open Challenge. She grabbed a mic and said that the women of NXT see her as a role model and with the Holidays coming up, she feels like giving back. She then asked to see who will be answering the challenge.
Literally all the women of NXT came out and Monroe started calling for Ava. Suddenly Thea Hale arrived and jumped Monroe from behind. She pinned her quickly and celebrated, but oops! The Open Challenge had never started. Whomp-Whomp. #LOL
-Shilo Hill was interviewed about his upcoming debut singles match and he used a lot of $10 words to say he’s ready. Then he put in a mouthguard and left.
Shiloh HiIl vs Lexis King
King was already in the ring as we came back from break, but Hill, winner of LFG Season 2, got a big entrance. King tried to jump him during his opening pose, but Hill saw it coming. The bell rang and Hill started throwing King around the ring.
King sent Hill into ther corner for a dropkick and slowed the pace down, chopping and punching Hill. King got cocky though and played a little too much to the crowd. Hill charged out of the corner and he and King collided in stereo clotheslines.
Hill began to hulk up, which to him means removing his mouth guard? Anyway, King hit a superkick, but Hill no-sold it as if he loved the pain. He put King up for a Whisper To The Beast cutter and that was it. Hill gets the victory and King’s transformation into CJ Parker is almost complete.
Match Result: Shiloh Hill defeated Lexis King
-After the break, Oba Femi was interviewed in the back about his upcoming title defense against Je’Von Evans. Femi said that he has learned to expect the unexpected and he hopes Cody Rhodes is watching because he’s going to see what Femi can do. He promised to break Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event and to break Evans tonight.
-Ethan Page then made his way to the ring. Page said that he came to NXT to ask the hard questions and do things Old School, body by body. He ran down other wrestlers using social media to try and gain clout. Page then said that John Cena will be forgotten in a week after his retirement, leaving a space for someone with a “huge ego” (aka Page).
Page said that he is 1 of 1 and the most important guy in WWE. Suddenly the lights went out and the same footage of Tony D’Angelo that was shown at Deadline aired. When the lights came up, a very sad-looking D’Angelo picked up Page in the ring and smashed him to the mat.
-After a break, GM Ava called the participants of the men’s Iron Survivor match to her office. She is going to give them a fatal four way #1 Contender’s match because they were all tied. Suddenly, Ethan PAge burst in complaining about Tony D’angelo. Then it was over.
Sol Ruca vs Wren Sinclair
Ruca was in the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline with Sinclair’s best friend (and eventuial winner of the match) Kendal Grey, who accompanied Sinclair to the ring. Ruca came out alone, but she is facing Bayley at Saturday Night’s Main Event, so she’s got that going for her.
The bell rang and they locled up with Rucal sending Sinclair to the corner. Sinclair shook off Ruca and her attempts at a waist lock and sent her into the ropes. Sinclair tried to roll Ruca up, but only got a teo count.
Ruca landed an X-Factor for a two count of her own when Zaria appeared in the crowd. Ruca looked at her forlornly, and Sinclair tried to steal one with a rollup. Rucak kicked out, but Sinclair hit a big bulldog and turned her attention to Ruca’s previously injured knee.
As Zaria watched, Ruca hit a back elbow and missile dropkick. Sinclair got her with a butterfly suplex though. Ruca turned it back around with a backstabber and Soul Snatcher to get the pin and victory.
Match Result: Sol Ruca defeated Wren Sinclair
-After the match, Ruca exited through the crowd to try and catch up with Zaria. Fatal Influence’s music hit and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, NXT Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid made their way to the ring.
Kendal Grey and Sinclair were still in the ring and Jayne started in on the Evolve Women’s Champion, Grey. She told her that it’s never going to get better for her so she should enjoy these moments of crowd support. Jayne said that Grey’s 15 minutes of fame are going to be up when they meet at New Years Evil.
Jayne said that 2025 was the year of Jacy Jayne. She held the NXT and TNA women’s titled at the same time and everyone realized this year that she is a rock star and the glue that holds NXT together. Grey doesn’t stand a chance.
Grey responded by saying that she understands she’s the rookie, the up-and-comer and has a lot to learn. But no one (even her) expected her to win the Iron Survivor challenge. She has shown that she can rise to the occasion and Jayne shouldn’t underestimate her. Becuase this underdog bites back.
Reid and Sinclair jawed a bit and Henley sucker punched Grey and the beatdown was on. The damned numbers game got to Sinclair and Wren with Fatal Influence beating up both until the segment came to a close.
-Next, Hank and Tank appeared in kimonos, back from their trip to Japan. Their return was cut short when OTM showed up and said they should have stayed in Japan. So, as you do, Hank and Tank challenged them to a match next week.
-After a break, Blake Monroe barrelled into GM Ava’s office. She blamed Ava for the fiasco that was her open challenge. Monroe declared “no more open challenges ever.” Ava said that was fine becuase she is going to defend her North American Title against Thea Hale next week.
-The scene shifted and Sol Ruca finally tracked down Zaria in the parking lot. Ruca invited Zaria to Saturday Night’s Main Even and they hugged and made up.
NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs Je’Von Evans
Evans cashed in his title shot from the Iron Survivor Challenge to get this match tonight instead of at New Years Evil. Ricky Saints was there and agreed to hold onto his rematch with Femi and step aside so Evans could take his shot first. Femi for his part shrugged his shoulders and said “sure, whatever” but in a way much more menacing way.
Just let me say, I cannot wait for the day when Oba Femi has to dance his way down a 200ft Wrestlemania ramp.
The two locked up off the top with Femi driving Evans into the corner. Evans hit a superkick out of the corner into a cutter, trying to steal one, but Femi blocked it. Evans hit a surprise knee and actually got a 2.5 count out of it.
That fired Femi up though and he started chopping the much, much, much smaller Evans. Femi sent Evans off the ropes and Evans turned it into an insiguri for another two count. Evans’ strategy was clearly leveraging his explosive bounciness.
Femi picked Evans up in a stalling backbreaker and folded Evans in half. He put on a face lock and Evans started throwing elbows. He hit a dropkick that sent Femi out of the ring. Evans followed and went for a springboard, but Femi caught his ankle and threw him at the ground. Femi threw Evans at the ring apron, but Evans jumped up and turned it into a spingboard.
Femi caught him and slammed him against the ring. Femi dropped Evans face-first on the ring apron (the faciest part of the ring!) and climbed back in.
Femi threw a big lariat and stomped Evans in the center of the ring. Femi slammed Evans knee into the mat and stalked over to him for more stomping. The he did a little ab workout after suplexing Evans, who looked like he had the wind knocked out of him.
Evans and Femi traded punches until Femi grabbed Evans for another backbreaker. Femi set Evans up for a powerbomb, but Evans crumpled to the mat. Evans tried swinging from his knees, but Femi just knocked him back down.
Femi pciked up Evans who used his legs to send him out of the ring. Evans followed and Femi looked to powerbomb him through the table. Evans reversed it and Femi backed off and charged. Evans dodged and Femi went flying across the Announce table.
Both made it back to the ring to break the count, but Evans was waiting for Femi with two frog splashes for a 2.75 count. Evans started taking shots into Femi’s gut and hit a spinning kick to send him out of the ring. Evans dove after him and landed it, tossing Femi back into the ring. He went for a springboard, but Femi caught him with forearm on the way down.
Evans hit a quick cutter, but Femi kicked out. Femi came back with a huge shot, but this time Evans kicked out at two. Femi threw Evans across the ring and Evans came back with another two cutters and a pin 1-2- and Ricky Saints pulled the ref out of the ring!
Evans ate a big lariat from Femi in the ring who hit the Fall From Grace on Evans to get the win and retain the NXT Title.
Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Je’Von Evans
Jeff Moss is a writer, creator and developer in animation, comics and pretty much anything else he can get his mitts on. Pro Wrestling has always been his passion for reasons even he doesn't understand.