WWE NXT live results: Ladder match for the vacant NXT Championship

A new NXT Champion will be crowned on tonight’s WWE NXT from Orlando, Florida, as the post Ava era begins.

After Oba Femi relinquished the title on the way to the main roster, Ricky Saints, Shiloh Hill, Sean Legacy, Jackson Drake, Dion Lennox, Keanu Carver and Joe Hendry will compete in a seven-way ladder match to determine the new champion.

In a three-way, NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame will defend against both Thea Hail and Lola Vice who made her women’s Royal Rumble debut this past Saturday.

The TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Elegance Brand (M by Elegance & Heather by Elegance) will defend against ZaRuca (Sol Ruca & Zaria). This comes days after Ruca’s impressive performance in the women’s Royal Rumble.

Tony D’Angelo will also make an appearance to finally address why he’s back in NXT and what’s next for him.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

**********

NXT is on the air in front of a live studio audience on a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

The show begins with Shawn Michaels making Robert Stone the new interim general manager of NXT. Stone enters the office formerly belonging to Ava, as HBK wanted to see him. HBK remarked how Stone always does whatever is asked of him, and Stone replied he did it because he loves NXT.

Michaels then informs Stone he is the interim GM. Michaels says he knows this place can be crazy, but he likes it like crazy. With that, HBK wished Stone luck before leaving the office set.

After the skit, a video package hypes the men’s championship ladder match later on. Opening the show from the sound stage is a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. On commentary, Vic Joseph noted is the first time this particular version of the North American title is ever being defended in a triple threat.

Izzi Dame (with The Culling) vs. Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice in a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship

—

The title bout goes through a commercial break. Thea Hail and Lola Vice shine before the show cuts to commercials, with Hail first jumping off the ring steps with a flying head scissors on Shawn Spears at ringside. Hail ducks a kick from Dame, and Vice leaps off the ring apron with a meteora on Vice. Hail circles back to drop Vice with a tope suicida. The title belt is on a pedestal at ringside, and Hail runs over to bite the title belt as the show heads into the break.

The show returns from the break with combo where Dame has Vice on her shoulders as Hail leaps off the ropes with a neckbreaker on Vice as Dame falls back like a Samoan drop. Vice then fires up with a series of kicks and hip attacks. More tandem spots, leading to several near falls.

Hail with another rally as she shakes the ropes like Ultimate Warrior before springboarding off the middle rope into the waiting arms of Vice, who catches Hail in sleeper hold. Dame breaks up the hold and they fight on. Hail went for a Kimura lock a moment later, but Vice escapes and is able to again apply a sleeper. Dame breaks up the sleeper, only to take a DDT from Hail.

Kelani Jordan suddenly ran down to ringside and attacked Vice. Jordan pulls a ladder partially out from underneath the ring, and Jordan uses the ladder to smash Vice’s right hand. Vice sells big as referees pour out to eject Jordan from ringside.

Meanwhile in the ring, Hail as Dame locked in a Kimura. Dame escapes the submission hold, and Dame with a gutwrench Liger bomb on Hail. Dame then pins Hail for a three count. Good opener in a match that appeared very choreographed at times. And still…

Match result: NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame defeated Thea Hail and Lola Vice in a triple threat match to retain her title.

— In a locker room skit, Zaria was upset at Sol Ruca for not telling her about being in the Royal Rumble. Ruca wants to tell Zaria everything, but Ruca was told not to say anything. Zaria is understandable, and she switched focus to their upcoming title bout.

— As the show heads into a commercial break, Tony D’Angelo is headed to the ring for a monologue.

— Back from commercial for a skit that sets up a tag team match for later on. Chase U’s Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon are confronted by Lexis King & Stacks, along with Arianna Grace, and a match is made for tonight.

Tony D’Angelo explains his actions

—

Tony D’Angelo is in the ring to “clear the ring” after seven months of him talking to the audience. The studio audience starts chanting for him before D’Angelo briefly runs down his history in NXT. He had family, friend and people that had his back — but that was taken from him.

D’Angelo goes on to say he needed to regroup after Darkstate ruined his life. He had to set in a dark room but himself to remember who he was, which is a National Champion and Division I All-American. He also remembered he was good at bouncing people off the mat.

D’Angelo talks about the mystic after his recent return, where no one knows what he is doing. Tony calls this a selfish time in a selfish business, and that aligns exactly with his plans. He came back for two reasons. One reason is he wanted Darkstate to know he was coming for them. This is about punishment, not revenge. The second reason we will see when he is done with Darkstate.

— “NXT Focus” is the sponsored personality profile where Shiloh Hill takes about the championship ladder match that headlines tonight’s card.

— WWE Speed Champion Jasper Troy cuts a promo on his prospective challengers ahead of the upcoming tournament to crown a top contender. No matter who wins, Troy vows to destroy them in Atlanta.

Elio LeFleur vs. Charlie Dempsey in a first round match in the Speed tournament

—

This was great for a three-minute match. The closing minute was especially good with them trading counters and near falls. LeFleur delivers a tilt-a-whirl Rocker Dropper, and he hooks a leg to cover Dempsey for a three count with seconds remaining in the time limit.

Match result: Elio LeFleur defeated Charlie Dempsey via pinfall to advance in the Speed tournament.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Joe Hendry, and he talks about going into the ladder match with an injury. His smile has been hiding frustration and disappointment because the last seven months have been without a championship. Hendry goes to vow he becomes the new NXT Champion.

— NXT’s presence in the Royal Rumble was the focus of a video package.

“The Elegance Brand” (Heather by Elegance & M by Elegance with Ash by Elegance & The Personal Concierge) vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship

—

TNA authority figure Daria Rae (who is formerly Sonya Deville in WWE) returns to NXT as she watches the title bout near ringside.

Ash by Elegance jumps on the apron to cause a distraction, which allows The Elegance Brand to gain the upper hand as the show cuts to a commercial break. When the show returns from the break, heat on Zaria as she is worked over and separated from her corner. Zaria comes back and refuses to tag out.

For some reason, Sean Legacy is seen getting ready in the locker room ahead of the main event ladder match in a split-screen in the middle of the match. Why?