Last night’s episode of NXT saw WWE Speed Champion Jasper Troy look to defend his title for the first time. His first challenger was Tavion Heights, who defeated Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling protégé Eli Knight in the opening round. NXT’s resident Olympian then shocked the NXT Universe by defeating Lexis King in just eight seconds to become the new number one contender.
The title match was Troy’s first defence since dethroning El Grande Americano in November. As for Heights, he came into the match determined to win his first championship in WWE.
Tavion Heights, a Tricky Opponent for Reigning Champion Jasper Troy
Heights offers an impressive balance of power and agility, making him a difficult foe for the imposing Troy. The 28-year-old Heights, who trained under Japanese legends The Great Muta and Naomichi Marufuji, utilized that speed in the opening minutes. Troy attempted to exert dominance, but Heights delivered a Powerslam and a Belly-to-Belly Suplex to show that he could go blow-for-blow with the titanic Texan.
.@TavionHeights is putting it all on the line tonight! 😲 pic.twitter.com/sq5HuHr7KB
— WWE (@WWE) January 14, 2026
However, as Troy has shown so often in his short but impressive stint on NXT, he is capable of turning a match on its head in an instant. With Heights building momentum, Troy unleashed his Black Hole Slam to bring this closely-matched encounter to a sudden close with just under a minute left on the clock.
Lexis King Rubs Salt in the Wounds
With Heights left gasping for air in the center of the ring, Lexis King saw an opportunity for revenge. With the dust barely settled, King stormed the ring and delivered the Coronation on Heights, suggesting that their feud has only just begun. This was further supported by a backstage segment featuring King and Robert Stone. Stone confirmed that he would be reporting King’s post-match attack to NXT General Manager Ava.
As for Troy, it was a moment to celebrate. His first successful WWE Speed title defence took his reign over the 64-day mark. With a new tournament bracket yet to be announced, it is unclear who will challenge the inaugural LFG winner next.
😤😤😤
Jasper Troy takes down Tavion Heights to remain the WWE Speed Champion! #AndStill #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/3qn3sia2py
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 14, 2026
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