WWE NXT Review - September 23, 2025

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Myles Borne def. Lexis King in a Lights Out Match

No, this was not the type of Lights Out match fans are used to seeing in AEW. Rather, this was your average WWE hardcore match just with the lights dimmed. We saw something similar with Tiffany Stratton and Wendy Choo a few years ago, so I knew what we were getting and this was also enjoyable for what it was. Borne was eyeing Ethan Page's NXT North American Championship backstage afterward, so that could be what's next for him.

Tavion Heights def. NXT North American Champion Ethan Page (Non-Title)

El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. was shown sitting ringside during Page's successful title defense last week on NXT: Homecoming, so it was logical that he'd be sitting in the crowd again this week. Page challenged him to an impromptu match, Wagner Jr. tapped him out almost immediately and then it was revealed that Heights was actually under Wagner Jr.'s mask. This was simple stuff to build toward their now-official NXT North American Championship match at No Mercy.

Lainey Reid def. Candice LeRae in the Finals of the WWE Women's Speed Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament

As I've said before, these Speed matches are so quick that it's difficult to give a proper opinion on them, but I will say that Reid benefited from working with someone as experienced as LeRae. Despite LeRae's history with the Women's Speed title, Reid was always going to win this tournament. I honestly couldn't care less about Reid vs. Sol Ruca at No Mercy if the NXT Women's North American Championship isn't going to be on the line.

Jordynne Grace def. Arianna Grace

It was the battle of the Graces. Of course, the outcome was never in doubt, so I appreciated that they kept it short and sweet with Grace (Jordynne, that is) going over decisively. Post-match, she brawled with Blake Monroe before it was announced that they'll have a Weaponized Steel Cage match at No Mercy. It's a fitting stipulation if that's supposed to be the blow-off. By the way, NXT has done that stipulation before, but I believe it was called something differently.

Lola Vice Confronted and Attacked NXT Women's Champion Jacy Jane

We got almost the exact same segment when Vice last challenged for the NXT Women's Championship when Roxanne Perez was the champion last year. Thankfully, this was better than that was. Vice has improved on the mic since then, but I could've done without Jane saying she's not a beatable champion when she was literally pinned on the show a week ago. That was unintentionally hilarious.

DarkState (Saquon Shugars and NXT Tag Team Champions Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin) def. Chase U (Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon) and Joe Hendry

The stuff with Chase U since the faction was brought back (kind of) hasn't hit with me personally because of how consistent it's been, but Hendry gave this match credibility. The problem is that we've already seen Hendry face DarkState a handful of times this year and these multi-man matches DarkState continue to have mean nothing. The Shield, they are not. Don't get me wrong, this was a well-worked match, but it feels like all of these guys are currently spinning their wheels.

NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. TNA World Champion Trick Williams in a Title for Title Match Ended in a No Contest

This had to be the most predictable match of the night. There was no way we were getting an actual finish here, especially so close to No Mercy. The TNA invasion was teased for the entire episode (and even last week), so the show-closing brawl was expected yet still well done. The match itself was solid prior to that point. The timing of the TNA invasion is suspect because all the focus should've been on No Mercy (which I forgot was this weekend until it was mentioned), but maybe it makes the event more interesting if TNA has some sort of a presence.

Overall Show

There was plenty of last-minute build for No Mercy, but did any of it leave me more excited for No Mercy than I already was? Not really. NXT's premium live events just seem to exist these days. They're good but hardly must-see. I came into this show looking forward to the TNA invasion, and although it only lasted a minute or two at the end, it was cool to see so many familiar faces again. Decent show this week, but I'm more invested in the angle with TNA than I am almost anything happening at No Mercy this weekend.

SEE MORE: NXT Reviews