The October 21 edition of WWE NXT emanated from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. NXT is now walking the last steps to Halloween Havoc this Saturday night, a PLE made of title matches only (as of before the episode). Ricky Saints and Trick Williams are set to sign the contract for their NXT Championship match on Saturday.
Four matches were advertised for this week’s NXT episode, including 2 WWE Speed tournament matches, Hank & Tank vs. OTM, and a TNA X-Division Championship match between Leon Slater and Stacks. Because TNA is involved, let’s Nygma dive into what happened last night.
A huge announcement, a Contract Signing AND the X-Division Championship on the line?!@blakehowardwwe and @MrStoneWWE break down what will be a big night on #WWENXT just days away from #HalloweenHavoc!
📺 8e/7c on @TheCW pic.twitter.com/vg6aTjG68o
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 21, 2025
Tatum Paxley Vow to Become NXT Champion
According to the crowd, Tatum Paxley deserved it last week. She’s been a part of NXT for four years, but the friendship of Izzi Dame and The Culling changed everything. “I will bring singles gold to The Culling!” Here came Fatal Influence. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne didn’t hold back and targeted both the crowd and Paxley. Jayne said to Paxley, “You’re not special, you’re barely even average.” Paxley replied that, on Saturday, it’s her time to be Champion. Dame and Paxley offered a match to Jayne and Lainey Reid. A brawl followed.
Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans Take Over
Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans look like the best of friends in the world. Stacks put up a fight against the young champion, but he couldn’t keep the high-flying TNA star down. Arianna Grace was knocked off the apron and into the arms of Evans. Then, Slater dazzled with the Big Play Slater to the outside, followed by his signature Swanton 450 to retain the X-Division Championship.
After the match, Slater and Evans were in search of opponents for tag team action this Saturday at NXT Halloween Havoc, and their call was answered by AAA’s Mr. Iguana and La Parka.
WWE Speed Things
With 55 seconds remaining on the clock, TNA’s Zachary Wentz fell to a thunderous Black Hole Slam from Jasper Troy. Former NXT legend Axiom returned to defeat Evolve’s Sean Legacy. The match came right down to the wire as Axiom hit an Avalanche Spanish Fly to defeat Legacy and advance to the Finals of the Speed Tournament.
Women’s North American Title Match Set for Halloween Havoc
A tearful Sol Ruca announced she’s not cleared to defend the North American title at Halloween Havoc. She was injured during the SmackDown Women’s Tag Team title match against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Blake Monroe came and shared her opinion that she should be the Champion. Zaria said Monroe doesn’t deserve the title.
She decided she would defend the Women’s North American Championship against Blake Monroe on Ruca’s behalf at Halloween Havoc. Despite being unconventional, NXT General Manager Ava agreed.
This changes EVERYTHING! 😱
With @SolRucaWWE not medically cleared, @ZariaWWE_ will defend the Women's North American Championship against @BlakeMonroeWWE on her behalf at Halloween Havoc… pic.twitter.com/cwZZoM6WmX
— WWE (@WWE) October 22, 2025
OTM Makes a Statement
Bronco Nima and Lucien Price made a statement in their return match by defeating Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. The hulking duo was able to isolate Ledger and hit him with a devastating double slam to win the tag team match. After the bell rang, Price and Nima continued their assault, sent Walker into the steps, and planted Ledger through a table.
Fatal Influence Prevails
Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame looked strong early on, but they couldn’t put away Jacy Jayne or the upstart Lainey Reid. Fallon Henley interfered in the match, which allowed Reid to trip and trap Dame, allowing Jayne to hit a match-ending Rolling Encore on Paxley. After the match, Fatal Influence attempted to beat Paxley down, but she repelled the attack.
The Contract Signing
Ricky Saints and Trick Williams sat down and said their last words before making the NXT CHampionship match official. Williams said he is still the main event: “Trick Williams loves himself some Trick Williams.” Ricky Saints said he has never changed, unlike Williams. The title changed Williams, “you thought that you were bigger than the title.” Williams continued to rant, and Ricky Saints brought out a side we haven’t seen before. Suddenly, a brawl started and Williams ended up through the table.
Speechless.
Ricky Saints just a flipped a switch and brought out a side we haven't seen before! 😲@starkmanjones @_trickwilliams pic.twitter.com/dxXOtW8aUY
— WWE (@WWE) October 22, 2025
Meanwhile, Backstage…
- After fighting for Team TNA at NXT Showdown, NXT Superstar and reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan was not welcome in the NXT women’s locker room. Jordynne Grace had her back, but Jordan did not want her help.
- Matt and Jeff Hardy entered the Lake of Reincarnation and reemerged as The Broken Hardys. This Saturday at Halloween Havoc, they will defend the NXT Tag Team Titles against DarkState in a Broken Rules Match.
- Ethan Page had some things to say to El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. before their match on Saturday night: “You will be the one left for dead in the desert.”
- Kendal Grey was not about to let Lash Legend speak to Wren Sinclair badly.
OH. MY. GOD.
DarkState have awoken Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero, and we're getting a Broken Rules Match at Halloween Havoc!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Zmsrp3uXbe
— WWE (@WWE) October 22, 2025
Nygma Says
A go-home show is a “more conversation, less action” episode. Wrestling-wise, I have nothing to say. Good episode. TNA-wise, Leon Slater was as awesome as usual. His collusion with Je’Von Evans is fantastic to watch.
For someone who watched NXT when it started on TV, the process of writing on NXT now is like a journey. I discover new wrestlers the same way I found out about Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens a decade or so ago. Every journey is different, but it’s a chance every week to watch the show and find out who the future of WWE is.
I’ll see you back this weekend for the Halloween Havoc results, and also next week as I keep on exploring the NXT world through the NXTNA “cold war.” Till then, may the Nygma be with you.
WWE NXT Results (10/21/25)
- TNA X-Division Championship: Leon Slater (c) defeated Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (w/ Arianna Grace)
- Speed Tournament Match: NXT’s Jasper Troy defeated TNA’s Zachary Wentz
- Speed Tournament Match: SmackDown’s Axiom defeated EVOLVE’s Sean Legacy
- OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) defeated Hank & Tank
- Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid) (w/Fallon Henley) defeated The Culling (Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley)
No help needed…@TatumPaxley has wiped out all of Fatal Influence just days away from Halloween Havoc!!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/J1hFjIR5y4
— WWE (@WWE) October 22, 2025
NXT Halloween Havoc Card (10/25/25)
- AAA’s La Parka & Mr. Iguana vs. Je’Von Evans & TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater
- WWE NXT Women’s North American Title Match: Zaria (on behalf of Sol Ruca) vs. Blake Monroe
- WWE NXT Tag Team Title – Broken Rules Match: The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) (c) vs. DarkState (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) (w/Cutler James & Saquon Shugars)
- WWE NXT North American Title Day Of The Dead Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
- WWE NXT Women’s Title Match: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Tatum Paxley
- WWE NXT Title Match: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Trick Williams
Can't wait for this one.
Ricky Saints defends the #WWENXT Championship against Trick Williams SATURDAY at #HalloweenHavoc!
📍 ARIZONA
🎟️ https://t.co/2zybfWgkvB pic.twitter.com/N1nvZuoXLf— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 22, 2025
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