The Vanity Project is one of the hottest new acts on NXT. Jackson Drake is the Evolve Men’s Champion, while Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes are the NXT Tag Team Champions. However, they weren’t just formed a few weeks ago. They debuted in Evolve last year as a five-person group, but when Bryce Donovan and Zayda Steel left, they didn’t break up. Staying together has brought them to NXT. However, they came up amidst huge infighting in the men’s tag team division.
Despite the chaos, Baylor and Smokes became tag team champions on the February 24, 2026, episode of NXT after winning a number contender’s match the week prior. Wrestlers were lining up to face all of them, as evidenced by the six-man tag team match the next week. Would they crumble, or would their teamwork get them the victory?
Hank, Tank, and Shiloh Hill Demolish the Vanity Project in Epic Fashion
Baylor and Smokes’ win to become tag team champions could be seen as lucky to many people. After all, they got the tag titles handed to them after Tony D’Angelo’s interference. Hank and Tank must’ve thought the same thing. But instead of a tag team championship match, they enlisted the help of Shiloh Hill, making the match a six-man tag. The match was super chaotic, as is any match with Hank and Tank in it.
With Drake running towards him and being held by Baylor and Smokes, Tank managed to flip Drake upside down before tagging in Hill. That proved to be advantageous quickly, as he clotheslined Baylor and Smokes before ramming them into the turnbuckle. He then clotheslined them to the mat and flipped onto both of them, getting an unsuccessful cover on Baylor.
Afterwards, he tossed Drake out of the ring before Baylor covered him, but he managed to kick out. Hank and Drake got tagged in, with both men punching each other. Drake lifted Hank above his head before slamming him to the ground, but the pin was stopped when Tank made the save.
Things then descended into chaos as everyone started attacking each other. Pretty soon, Hank and Tank were the only ones in the ring with Drake, flattening him by running at and hitting him at the same time. The two then leapt out of the ring, landing on Baylor and Smokes.
Simultaneously, Hill jumped in the ring onto Drake. He then landed a neckbreaker, covered him, and got the victory for his team. The Vanity Project may be champions, but they failed to get the victory together. Was this a one-off failure, or a sign of trouble to come?
