NXT is on the road to Halloween Havoc! With the NXT Women’s Championship picture wide open, the main event battle royal promised to determine Jacy Jayne’s next challenger. Add in Zaria vs. Blake Monroe and the mounting pressure on #1 Contenders to the Tag Team Championship, let’s break it down!
The show opened with a new vignette featuring Jacy Jayne reflecting on the origins of Fatal Influence. She reminded viewers that when she and Fallon Henley founded the group, it wasn’t about chaos, it was about control. Jacy recapped the group’s biggest moments, claiming they made the locker room “look up to them.”
Lainey Reid appeared, praising Jacy and Fallon as “titans” of the division. She admitted she initially thought she needed to beat them to earn their respect but realized instead that she needed to follow their lead. Jacy welcomed her into Fatal Influence, declaring she’d earned her spot. With that, Lainey officially became the newest member of the faction, and Jacy confidently stated that whoever won the upcoming battle royal didn’t stand a chance at Halloween Havoc.
Sol Ruca and Zaria were backstage promoting NXT’s Maybelline partnership, though Zaria couldn’t help but notice Sol was already in her ring gear. Sol revealed she was entering the night’s battle royal, leaving Zaria unimpressed. Deciding she could handle Blake Monroe herself, Zaria set out for their singles match, once again showing that the #1 Contenders to the Tag Team Titles aren’t on the same page…or are they?
Blake Monroe vs. Zaria
Blake started off mocking Zaria for coming out alone, but Zaria made her regret it immediately by tossing her across the ring with pure power. Blake scrambled for control, ducking under into a waistlock only to get thrown off again. After a few exchanges, Blake found an opening by targeting Zaria’s leg, wrapping it in the ropes and kicking away to wear her down.
Zaria countered a whip and tossed Blake with authority, climbing to the second rope before getting cut off mid-motion. Blake attempted to capitalize, but Zaria trapped her in an elevated sleeper hold for a two-count.
Blake rolled to the outside, trying to regroup, but Zaria chased her down and pummeled her before rolling her back inside. When Zaria tried to suplex Blake from the apron, Blake blocked and knocked her to the floor just before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Blake had a sleeper locked in, draining Zaria’s stamina. Zaria powered out by backing her into the corner, but Blake dodged a charge and scored another near fall. She went back to the sleeper again, but Zaria stood up with Blake on her back and crushed her beneath her weight to break free.
Fired up, Zaria unleashed a flurry of offense! Clothesline, clothesline, and a pump kick that sent Blake reeling. Blake dodged a spear attempt by clutching the ropes, forcing Zaria to reset. After a double headbutt that left both dazed, Blake rolled to the outside and grabbed a chair. Before she could use it, Sol Ruca appeared and snatched the chair away.
As the referee argued with Sol, Blake took advantage by striking Zaria in the throat with a hidden hair pick, following it up with her Beauty Shot DDT for the pin.
Winner: Blake Monroe
After the match, Sol apologized to Zaria, saying she should’ve been ringside from the start. In a surprising gesture, Sol gave up her own battle royal spot, telling Zaria to take her place instead.
NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal
The ring filled fast, and chaos broke out instantly. Sol Ruca watched from ringside as Lash Legend tried to toss Tatum Paxley early, but Tatum clung to the ropes. Karmen Petrovic tried to eliminate The IInspiration, but Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay joined forces to dump her instead. Across the ring, Lash chopped Jordynne Grace while Xia Brookside stomped away at Jaida Parker.
Victoria Crawford and Arianna Grace found themselves on the apron back-to-back, pretending to cooperate before Jordynne Graces knocked them both out to ringside, eliminating the arguing pair. Meanwhile, Kali Armstrong threw out Lei Ying Lee, but Xia took offense and jumped Kali in retaliation.
The IInspiration worked over Wren Sinclair near the ropes but in an unfortunate but comical slip, Wren fell off the apron mid-counter getting eliminated in the process. Kendal Grey charged in to battle the Australians, eliminating Jessie McKay before Mara Sade nearly got tossed. Lash saved her partner momentarily, only for Zaria to knock Lash into Mara, sending Sade to the floor!
Zia Brookside attempted a rana on Kali Armstrong but ended up flipping herself out as well. Jaida Parker followed soon after thanks to a Lash boot though Parker retaliated post-elimination, attacking Xia Brookside until security intervened. Amid the chaos, the other competitors banded together to dump Lash next.
Back from commercial, Thea Hail ran wild, suplexing anyone in sight. Jessie McKay tried to strike, but Thea locked in a Kimura on the ropes, ultimately eliminating Jessie.
Zaria had a sleeper locked in when Blake Monroe attacked Sol Ruca at ringside! In a moment of pure emotion, Zaria eliminated herself to defend her partner, chasing Blake away.
Inside the ring, Kelani Jordan narrowly avoided elimination from Lola Vice, doing a split across the ropes to stay in. Cassie Lee tried to take advantage but got dumped by Kendal Grey. After a wild exchange, we were down to Kelani Jordan, Tatum Paxley, Jordynne Grace, Kendal Grey, and Izzi Dame.
Kelani tried her signature handstand escape, walking on her hands to avoid touching the floor but Jordynne Grace simply kicked her midair, ending her night. The final four – Izzi, Tatum, Jordynne, and Kendal – traded heavy shots. Jordynne delivered a suplex to Kendal, a spinebuster to Tatum, and nearly dumped Izzi, but Izzi recovered with a chokeslam that leveled everyone.
Kendal fired back with a German suplex to Grace and a belly-to-belly to Tatum. She threw Tatum over the top, but Tatum held on. Izzi then eliminated Kendal, leaving Izzi, Tatum, and Jordynne.
Izzi charged both women but got clotheslined over the top rope — taking Jordynne Grace with her!
Winner: Tatum Paxley
Izzi threw a fit at ringside while Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence made their way out to confront Tatum Paxley, who was joined by Lyra Valkyria for the post-match celebration. Paxley now has her golden ticket to Halloween Havoc, where she’ll face Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Leave your comments below what did you think of tonight’s show, and can Tatum pull off the upset at Halloween Havoc?