WWE NXT live results: New number one contenders decided

New number one contenders in both the men’s and women’s divisions will be decided on WWE NXT tonight.

Naraku, former NJPW wrestler EVIL, has a shot against NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo in his sights. He’ll need to defeat another NXT newcomer to get there, though, with Mason Rook also attempting to become the number one contender.

In another number one contender’s matchup, Kendal Grey battles Kelani Jordan to decide the next challenger for NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice.

The NXT Women’s North American Championship will be up for grabs tonight as Zaria challenges Tatum Paxley.

Fraxiom will be back on their old brand, taking on Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno in tag team action.

Plus, Shiloh Hill and Tristan Angels compete in a pageant to determine who is crowned Mr. NXT.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The show airs live on The CW in the United States and on Netflix in most international markets.

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NXT is back on the air in front of live studio audience at a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. Opening the show is the return of Fraxiom to NXT.

Fraxiom (Nathan Frazier & Axiom) vs. Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno in a tag team match

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Lots of athleticism and action throughout the tag bout. Fraxiom is known for their flying, but Dar & Moreno did their fair share of aerial offense. They match goes through a commercial break.

Moreno got to shine as a newcomer in NXT, with him running wild and getting a near fall on Axiom. Fraxiom came alive in some great sequences that led to them getting a near fall. Trading of near falls continues until Moreno & Dar catch Fraxiom in stereo ankle locks.

They could have done a cool finish where Fraxiom is tripped up going for their finisher, and the upstart Moreno traps the veteran Frazier in a small package. Instead, the newcomer goes on to drop the fall later in the match.

Another false finish after Axiom accidentally superkicks Frazier. Moreno & Dar with a double team slam on Frazier, but he kicks out at two again. Moreno goes for a springboard to the outside, and he eats a double superkick when he lands on the floor.

Back in the ring, Dar takes a Spanish Fly from Axiom. Moreno takes a kick from Axiom to set up a Phoenix Splash from Frazier. Axiom then covers Moreno for a three count.

Afterwards, there was a show of sportsmanship. Moreno and Dar also hug each other and celebrate Fraxiom saying nice things about them. That is a victory of sorts I guess.

Match result: Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno when Axiom pinned Frazier.

— Kendal Grey chats with Wren Sinclair in a backstage skit. Sinclair, who is still on crutches, goes to talk with the GM about getting cleared to wrestle. Up walks Lola Vice to wish Grey look later tonight, and Vice insists she did not mean to kick Grey last week. Grey remarks that once might be coincidental, but after it happened twice then Grey does not believe Vice.

Tristan Angels vs. Shiloh Hill in the attire portion of the Mr. NXT Pageant

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This was a pre-taped segment, but apparently there is live fan voting via a QR code. There is an audience made up of the NXT roster, and they are forced to endure this silly skit. Sarh Schreiber is hosting the pageant, and she introduces the three judge panel. Those three include Evolve Chamion Aaron Rourke, Kite Wilson from Smackdown, and comedian Matt Mathews. The offered opinions, but there is ultimately a fan vote, or so it seems.

Angles had on what I guess is formal attire of some sort wit a white coat. He took it off to reveal a tee that read “blink if you want me” and a Union Jack speedo. Shiloh Hill reveals camo swim trunks and a snorkel. This was a waste of time. Nobody got over. Angels apparently won the first portion after split decision by the judges.

Mason Rook vs. Naraku in a number one contender’s match

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They have a very physical match. Naraku wins after Cam Hendrix distracts Rook. Hendrix basically costs Rook the match, which sets up them for future match. Maybe at The Great American Bash, which is also where Naraku challenges for the NXT Championship after becoming number one contender here.

The match goes through a commercial break. In the closing moments, Rook has Naraku hoisted up for a finisher when Hendrix jumps on the apron to distract Rook. Hendrix is knocked off the apron by Rook, only for Rook to walk into Naraku’s reverse STO finisher (dubbed “Entering the Abyss”).

Booked into a corner creatively as someone has to lose. Rook drops the fall, albeit via a distraction. Nevertheless, it did little to get him over aside from setting up a basic program with Hendrix.

Match result: Naraku defeated Mason Rook via pinfall to become number one contender.

— Tate Wilder is the focus of a personality profile where he basically talks about being an adrenaline junky daredevil.

Kelani Jordan vs. Kendal Grey in a number one contender’s match

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They did well in building the intensity with it gradually increasing throughout the match. Good but nothing to write home about before a commercial break. Then they turn it up after the break, and the intensity really picks up.

Trading near falls and big moves down the stretch. Grey pulls the straps down at one point, which is Southern wresting trope. Jordan locks in a scorpion calf slicer at one point, but Grey escapes to fight on. Shades of Grey finisher, and Grey covers Jordan for a clean pin. In winning, Grey earns a title shot for the NXT Women’s Championship at The Great American Bash.

Match result: Kendal Grey defeated Kelani Jordan via pinfall to become number one contender.

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Tristan Angels vs. Shiloh Hill in the talent portion of the Mr. NXT Pageant

— The first portion was bad, and somehow they manage to do something even worse in this portion. Hill kicks off the talent portion by solving a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute. Hill does trick with another gimmick until Angels shoves him aside. Angels cannot solve the Rubik’s Cube, so throws a tandem and smashes it on the floor. Angels them juggles until Hill scoops his heat after riding by on a unicycle while also juggling three balls. Hill won the talent portion, which evens the scores in the pageant contest. Unfortunately, this must continue later in the show.

— Blake Howard interviews NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, who is interrupted by Naraku. He presents the champ with a gift and bows to him.

Jasper Troy vs. Dion Lennox

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They have a hoss fight. Interference by Darkstate in the second half of the match after a commercial break. Osiris Griffin interferes to distract Troy, which saves Lennox from a Vader splash. Lennox then capitalizes with a powerslam for the finish. Troy was getting a big push, but now he is dropping falls to get others over. Make of that what you will.

Match result: Dion Lennox defeated Jasper Troy via pinfall.

In a post-match angle, Saquon Shugars appears on the Titantron, and he delivers a verbal message before personally delivering a physical message moments later. As his video message plays, it distracts Lennox so Shugars can jump the barricade and waylay Griffin with a baseball bat. Shugars targets a leg with repeated shots from the bat. Lennox rushes over, and Shugars escapes through the crowd.

Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels in the public speaking portion of the Mr. NXT Pageant

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They are live in the ring, but that did little to save this pageant gimmick. There are closing argument nonetheless. Angels makes his case. Besides that, he is well-dressed albeit silly. His hair looks like a lion’s mane. He mentions he tattooed “Mr. NXT” on his leg, so his is all in, brother. Today is also Angels’ 23rd birthday. Angels makes some valid points, but he is a heel so he is bad.

Hill has a closing argument about trying to find himself and NXT is the place for that. The decision goes to the judges to decide. Comedian Matt Mathews sides with Hill because of being a fellow hillbilly for the trailer park (or something like that). Kit Wilson picks Angels, which makes sense given Angels reminds Wilson of his tag team partner. Evolve Champion Aaron Rouke is the deciding vote, but he cannot decide. So he lets the fans decide with the poll conducting earlier. The live studio audience pop for Hill, and they go to the online vote where Hill also won among the fan vote.

Shiloh Hill is Mr. NXT, and Tristan Angels is sore loser. He ambushes Hill and grabs a metal folding chair. Shots from the chairs by Angels, and he drops a knee that sandwiches Hill’s head on a chair. Angels poses with the Mr. NXT sash as the segment ends. They could have just had a brawl and saved us the stupid skits.

Tatum Paxley vs. Zaria for the NXT Women’s Championship

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Maybe not the best match on the card, it was still good nonetheless, especially during the closing minutes. They trade big moves and near falls in a hard-hitting bout.

Zaria teases an avalanche German suplex, but Paxlet counters to trap Zaria in a tree of woe. Paxley goes coast-to-coast with a missile dropkick. Zaria manages to kick out for a near fall.

They each teaser their finisher, but the other counters. Zaria briefly hulks up, leading to her giving Paxley a F-5 on the floor. Zaria follows up with a spear in the ring. F-5 in the middle of the ring, and Zaria pins Paxley. And new…

Match result. Zaria defeated NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley to win the title.