Last night NXT felt like a night designed to put pieces in place rather than rush conclusions, which isn’t a bad thing. Other than the main event, we didn’t get a ton of women’s content so let’s dive in.
Zaria was shown getting ready with Sol Ruca, clearly frustrated by recent losses. Ruca tried to refocus her, telling Zaria they needed to put her TNA loss behind them. Zaria admitted she isn’t 100 percent, and made it clear that if things don’t go their way tonight, she doesn’t want the blame falling on her.
In Ava’s office, Mr. Stone was mid-conversation when Lola Vice walked in, wanting to talk about Izzi Dame. Thea Hail followed shortly after, demanding her rematch. Ava laid it out cleanly: on February 3, Izzi Dame will defend the NXT Women’s North American Championship against both Hail and Vice in a triple threat match.
Blake Monroe Interrupts Jaida Parker
Jaida Parker made her way to the ring to loud “Miss Parker” chants, and the crowd was firmly with her. Parker said she was happy to be back, acknowledging that while some things around NXT have changed, she hasn’t. She spoke about watching Kendal Grey step up and said Grey deserves her flowers, took a shot at Blake Monroe, and offered praise for Lola Vice.
Parker framed her return without excuses. She said she knows when she shows up, her work speaks for itself. She talked about standards getting tested and still standing, calling herself the standard that refuses to bend. Parker addressed the criticism she hears constantly: being told she’s not good enough, that she doesn’t belong, that she should smile more and talk less. She didn’t deny the pressure. She embraced it. And she made it clear she won’t dim her light just to make others feel comfortable.
The lights went out.
When they came back on, Blake Monroe stood on the platform in a red dress, demanding the spotlight be placed where it belongs. Monroe said Parker made a grave mistake last week and dismissed her as all talk. Parker fired back that Monroe talks so much because if she stopped, she might actually have something to prove. Parker ended it simply. Now Monroe has to deal with Miss Parker.
Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears, and Niko Vance addressed the success of The Culling. They bragged about Dame executing the plan exactly as designed. Vance said he and Spears are waiting for Darkstate and OTM to finish their rivalry before going after the NXT Tag Team Titles. Dame summed it up plainly: that’s what The Culling does.
Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. Fatal Influence
Winners earn a shot at the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles
With three women legal at all times, the match started fast. Kendal Grey, Sol Ruca, and Lainey Reid traded athletic sequences early. Wren Sinclair tagged in and unloaded chops on Zaria before hitting a double suplex and a neckbreaker. Fallon Henley made a blind tag and dropped Wren with a jumping kick.
Zaria pulled Henley outside and landed a superkick, followed by a body slam. Ruca tagged in, but a double-team attempt stalled when her injured arm gave out. Fatal Influence cleared the ring, and Reid followed with a suicide dive onto Zaria. Wren answered with a crossbody off the top, and Grey added a moonsault for a two-count before the break.
After the commercial, Grey and Zaria battled near the corner. Henley lifted Grey onto her shoulders, allowing Zaria to hit a Doomsday Device-style lariat. The crowd reacted, politely. Wren came back in with chops on Ruca, sending her into Reid before landing a suplex and a belly-to-back suplex. Grey followed with a running uppercut for two.
Reid hit a running knee on Ruca and a sit-out powerbomb on Grey for another near fall. Grey countered with a roll-up, then kicked Jacy Jayne away when she tried to interfere. While Grey had Reid locked in an armbar, Ruca connected with a springboard Superfly Splash for two.
The action broke down into rapid exchanges. Grey and Reid superkicked Ruca to the floor. Grey hit an overhead suplex. Ruca answered with double knees and a German suplex. Zaria tagged in and ran through Grey and Reid with a double spear. Henley dropped Ruca with a spinning kick. Reid headbutted Zaria, but Grey connected with Shades of Grey, only for Reid to break it up with The Stomp.
Jayne superkicked Grey on the floor. Wren responded with a dropkick to Jayne. Henley sent Wren into the barricade. Reid hit a Crucifix Bomb on Zaria, but Zaria powered up with a double headbutt. As Zaria tried to follow up, Henley planted her with a DDT, but Ruca broke up the pin.
Ruca then stole the moment, springboarding into a double Soul Snatcher on Henley and Reid. Zaria followed immediately with her F5-style finisher on Henley to secure the win.
Winners by pinfall: Sol Ruca & Zaria
The victory earns Ruca and Zaria a shot at the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles, currently held by The Elegance Brand. The show closed with the two embracing in the ring.
This episode did exactly what it needed to do. Jaida Parker and Blake Monroe feel locked into a fresh rivalry, Izzi Dame’s championship path is clearly defined, and the main event told a cohesive story about trust and partnership between Ruca and Zaria. Solid stuff, sound off in the comments below!