As NXT rolled into the final stretch before NXT Deadline on Saturday. With the Women’s Iron Survivor field finalized, this week’s show leaned heavily on building the next NXT PLE. Let’s dive in!
NXT GM Ava opened the night in the ring, joined by Kendal Grey, Lola Vice, Sol Ruca, Jordynne Grace, and Kelani Jordan for the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Summit, the annual ritual where everyone politely takes turns explaining why the others won’t win.
Sol Ruca spoke first. She referenced Ethan Page calling her world-championship material and admitted she’s had some highs and lows recently. She said the quickest path to regaining peace in her life is simple: win at Deadline, then walk into *New Year’s Evil* and leave as NXT Women’s Champion.
Jordynne Grace, wearing massive glasses that have quickly become their own supporting character, declared that no woman in the ring could stop her. Straightforward, efficient, and on brand.
Lola Vice reminded everyone that John Cena handpicked this field. She said she still believes in herself, whether she’s in NXT or AAA, and that Vice City deserves a Women’s Champion.
Kendal Grey chimed in next as the *only* champion in the ring, the Women’s Evolve Champion. She emphasized that she thrives in big-moment situations.
Before she got too deep into her monologue, Kelani Jordan cut her off and told her to shut up, adding that Grey is swimming with sharks now and there’s blood in the water. The crowd showered Jordan in boos. Jordan doubled down, saying nobody cares about the other women’s excuses. She noted that only she and Sol have been in an Iron Survivor match before and dismissed the rest as stand-ins while she is the standout.
Things escalated once Fatal Influence hit the stage.Jayne announced that with the title back on her shoulder, “order has been restored.” She took shots at Sol’s “broken heart and bum leg,” called Grey a flavor of the month, and brushed off past wins over Vice and Grace. She added that she appreciates Jordan finally showing some backbone.
Jordan shot back that she’d still be Knockouts Champion if it wasn’t for Jordynne Grace then promptly shoved Grace, kicking off a brawl that spilled outside. The moment Fatal Influence stepped into the ring, Sol, Vice, and Grey united just enough to clear them out.
A standard “everyone gets a microphone” segment, but effective. Jordan’s heel turn is clearly sticking, the crowd reaction speaks for itself and Sol continues to come across as the emotional anchor of the match. Leaning toward Sol Ruca as the favorite for now, though that could shift by Saturday.
Backstage, Joe Hendry and Thea Hail shared a light moment before being interrupted by Stacks and Arianna Grace, setting up the match later in the show. Ava followed by giving security one job: keep Jordynne Grace and Kelani Jordan apart. She also booked a six-woman tag: Fatal Influence vs. Kendal Grey, Sol Ruca & Lola Vice.
Thea Hail (w/ Joe Hendry) vs. Arianna Grace (w/ Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo)
The match opened with Stacks immediately doing his best pest impression, distracting Hail long enough for Grace to land a throat chop and a quick neckbreaker. Hail countered with a backslide for two, then dumped Grace to the outside and followed with a clean suicide dive.
Back in the ring, Hail stayed in control with an Exploder Suplex and a running kick. Stacks tried to interfere again, but Hendry calmly scooped him up and delivered a Standing Ovation on the apron. With her plan falling apart, Grace attempted a roll-up, but Hail reversed momentum, locked in a tight Kimura, and forced the tap.
Winner by submission: Thea Hail
A tidy win for Hail, who continues to shine as one of NXT’s most likable babyfaces. Arianna Grace, meanwhile, remains a consistently entertaining character, even if those wins refuse to materialize.
The Culling hit the ring next for a promo centered on Dame’s fractured relationship with Tatum Paxley.
Izzi, leaning heavily into her role as the group’s venom-tongued speaker, compared the fans to Paxley: lonely, confused, directionless. She claimed she “corrected a mistake” by ever treating Paxley like an equal. According to Dame, she carved purpose into Paxley, gave her confidence, gave her a face, and loved her and Paxley repaid that with selfishness.
Dame took full credit for Paxley’s rise to NXT Women’s Champion, bluntly stating she *allowed* Paxley’s success and then “took everything away.” She promised to finish the job at Deadline.
Backstage, Paxley sat alone on a set of stools, processing the emotional wreckage. She admitted she’s scared of who she’ll become without Dame’s hand on her shoulder but vowed that at Deadline, Dame will feel all her pain.
Izzi Dame remains a strong talker, and this feud gives Paxley much-needed depth. The match at Deadline has clear emotional stakes, and the contrast between Dame’s cold confidence and Paxley’s uncertainty is working.
In the locker room, Sol Ruca checked in with Lola Vice and Kendal Grey with Wren Sinclair nearby. Zaria interrupted, making her displeasure clear and keeping her issues with Sol simmering. Sol’s match was up next.
Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Tatum Paxley & Lainey Reid) vs. Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Kendal Grey (w/ Wren Sinclair)
The match exploded immediately, with chaos spilling to the floor. Kendal Grey launched herself off the top rope with a crossbody onto the heels, only for Jacy Jayne to answer with a somersault dive of her own. Sol followed by climbing high and landing a picture-perfect moonsault on all three heels sticking the landing.
Once the dust settled, Vice took control with sharp body kicks, tagging Sol for a standing moonsault. Grey followed with a fireman’s carry and a crisp dropkick on Henley. Vice, Sol, and Grey rotated in with fast tags until Henley and Reid used a distraction to hit cheap shots, letting Jayne take over with a senton.
After the break, Fatal Influence maintained control. Reid connected with a neckbreaker, Jayne drilled Grey with a superkick for two, and Henley crushed her in the corner. Grey finally created an opening and tagged in Vice, who stormed in with rapid strikes, back-to-back hip attacks, and a belly-to-back suplex on Henley.
Sol reentered with a shoulder breaker and tossed Jayne outside. Henley snuck in a roll-up attempt, then hit a Blockbuster. Jayne and Reid added double knees for another near fall, but the save came just in time.
All six women cycled through the ring with rapid sequences before Sol nailed Henley with a jumping facebuster. Jayne tried a quick roll-up, but Sol escaped. Jayne went for the Rolling Encore; Sol slipped out, hit the ropes, and snapped into the Soul Snatcher for the win at just around 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Kendal Grey
A lively six-woman tag with a strong finishing stretch. Sol pinning Jayne is notable given the timing, and her Soul Snatcher continues to look like one of the most flawless finishers in WWE.
Post-match, Zaria blindsided Grey with a Spear. Whether she meant to hit Sol and simply missed is… open for interpretation.
A productive go-home episode with clear, steady buildup heading into Deadline. The promos served their purpose, and the six-woman tag delivered exactly what it needed to. Sound off in the comments below!