{"id":161465,"date":"2026-05-14T06:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T10:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=161465"},"modified":"2026-05-13T23:55:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T03:55:55","slug":"why-the-darkstate-vs-the-vanity-project-tag-title-match-is-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/05\/14\/why-the-darkstate-vs-the-vanity-project-tag-title-match-is-important\/","title":{"rendered":"DarkState vs. Vanity Project for the NXT Tag Titles: More Important than Anyone Expects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Right now in NXT, two major factions are doing amazing things every week: DarkState and the Vanity Project. Since their debut at Vengeance Day last year, DarkState has been a key component in many rivalries. They have been two-time NXT Tag Team Champions, reigning for 44 days and 121 days. In addition, Dion Lennox has been impressive in his singles run. However, that has ignited tension between him and fellow member Saquon Shugars. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Hardy Boyz ended their first reign, but the Vanity Project ended their latest reign. They have all been impressive, with Jackson Drake beating<\/a> Noam Dar on the May 12, 2026, episode of NXT. Afterward, DarkState showed up and told them that Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes will defend their titles next week. Lennox and Shugars would be the ones to face Baylor and Smokes. Will this be a bad decision, or would they shock the Vanity Project and become three-time champions?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DarkState Will Crumble if They\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0Get on the Same Page<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

For the past several weeks, things haven\u2019t been going too well for DarkState. Cutler, James and Osiris Griffin have been stressed out, and not because of a losing streak. The two of them have been trying to navigate the fighting between Lennox and Shugars<\/a>. Lennox believes that he is doing\u00a0everyone\u00a0a favor by doing a\u00a0singles\u00a0run. Shugars thinks that he is being selfish and is putting himself before everyone else. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cutler and Griffin know that\u00a0in order to\u00a0fix their problems, they will be the ones<\/a> who will face the Vanity Project. But doing that is putting the faction in a very risky situation. If they win, they become three-time NXT Tag Team Champions. The only other tag team to do that was the Undisputed Era. <\/span><\/p>\n

But if they lose, the faction could be changed forever, with one of them potentially leaving. If that happens, they will have to deal with each other instead of another tag team.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Vanity Project Can\u00a0Properly\u00a0Beat a Great Faction<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even with all of the infighting between Lennox and Shugars, DarkState has been a dominant force for over a year now in NXT. Fans probably thought that they were just an entrance, intimidating outside of the ring but doing nothing inside the ring. But over time, it\u2019s clear that they all have talent that has been showcased several times. The Vanity Project already beat them for the tag titles once before<\/a>, but it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0due to them getting the advantage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the February 24 NXT, Tony D\u2019Angelo interfered with Griffin and Shugars, allowing Baylor and Smokes to take the victory. There\u2019s no question DarkState remembers their last encounter. With D\u2019Angelo in a storyline with newcomer Mason Rook, there\u2019s going to be no interference like last time. <\/span><\/p>\n

That will probably motivate Baylor and Smokes as well, who also remember what happened. Beating a great faction will give the Vanity Project even more accomplishments in a short amount of time, further expanding its ever-increasing popularity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nxt
An NXT graphic featuring an NXT Tag Team Title Match between DarkState and Vanity Project. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Lot is on the Line in the Match<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

This match for the NXT Tag Team Championships isn\u2019t just a typical title match. There\u2019s a lot on the line for both DarkState and the Vanity Project. For DarkState, losing means a potential breakup for the faction. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lennox and Shugars have to make next week\u2019s match a success, or things will happen that Griffin and James won\u2019t like. More than likely, the two of them will enter into a rivalry, changing the faction forever. Winning means a record-tying third reign as tag champions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But their loss means more accolades for the Vanity Project. They are all super athletic and very young. Even if things weren\u2019t up in the air regarding the status of DarkState\u2019s members, beating them would be very impressive. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason why Baylor, Drake, and Smokes weren\u2019t split up when they were called up from Evolve and why Myka Lockwood joined them as their muscle. Winning next week would continue an impressive run for NXT\u2019s hottest new faction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n