The latest episode of NXT, held on August 26, 2025, at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida, showcased a series of intense matches and significant developments leading up to the upcoming No Mercy event. The main storyline highlighted Ricky Saints challenging Oba Femi for the NXT Title, a match that promises to elevate the stakes as the event approaches.
Title Contenders and Match Highlights
The evening began with a recap of the Heatwave event, setting the stage for Saints, who expressed unwavering support for Je’Von Evans despite Evans’ recent defeat at the hands of Femi. Saints made it clear that his ultimate goal is the NXT Title, but Josh Briggs interrupted, insisting he deserves the first shot. In a swift move, Ava, the authority figure, announced that Saints and Briggs would compete for the #1 contender spot that night.
The first match pitted Kelani Jordan against Blake Monroe. The match featured rapid exchanges, including Jordan delivering a cartwheel elbow and an X Factor, ultimately leading to her victory via a move dubbed One Of A Kind at 4:17. Despite her athletic performance, critics noted that Jordan needs to refine her skills to ascend further in the ranks.
Next up was a controversial match between Lexis King and Myles Borne, which took the form of a blindfold match. King utilized underhanded tactics, including a low blow, to secure a win with the Coronation at 4:55. The match length was carefully managed to maintain audience engagement while allowing Borne’s character to emerge as a sympathetic figure due to the deception he faced.
Building Tensions and Future Matches
In another segment, Wren Sinclair was anxious about facing The Culling, but Charlie Dempsey introduced her to her partner, Kendal Grey. Their tag team match concluded with The Culling defeating the duo, further demonstrating the dynamics within the division.
The main event featured Saints and Briggs competing for the title shot at No Mercy. After an engaging back-and-forth, Saints claimed victory with a springboard tornado DDT at 12:46, positioning him as a formidable challenger for Femi’s title. Saints’ performance solidified his status as a legitimate threat, a narrative that has been missing in Femi’s championship reign.
Amidst these matches, tension brewed between Saints and Femi, who had a confrontation following the main event. Saints accused Femi of succumbing to pressure, while Femi dismissed Saints as average, setting the stage for a heated title clash.
The episode concluded with a preview of next week’s lineup, including a six-woman tag match featuring Lola Vice, Sol Ruca, and Zaria against Fatal Influence. The development of storylines and character arcs indicates that NXT is gearing up for a compelling encounter at No Mercy.
The overall reception of the episode was positive, with a score of 7.0 reflecting its effectiveness in transitioning from the Heatwave event and igniting anticipation for the upcoming title matches. Fans can expect a thrilling build-up as NXT continues to evolve and engage its audience.