NXT rolled into Philadelphia for a special road edition that carried a big-match energy. The unique setup of The Met gave the show a more electric presentation, with the stage and seating layout making the crowd feel louder than usual. With Heatwave right around the corner, this episode was built to deliver high-impact matches, plenty of chaos, and one very important main event to decide the next challenger for the NXT Championship.
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1️⃣: Philadelphia Street Fight
Josh Briggs defeated Yoshiki Inamura
The night opened with absolute carnage. Briggs and Inamura started brawling before the bell even rang, and once they got to the ring, the weapons came out. Kendo sticks, chairs, and even tape were used to tie Inamura to the ropes at one point. Inamura rallied and delivered a huge diving splash through a table for a close near-fall. But Briggs answered with a top-rope moonsault through another table to finally put Inamura away.
Takeaway: The perfect opener for Philly. Inamura proved his toughness, but Briggs came out looking like a dangerous powerhouse heading into Heatwave.
2️⃣: Singles Match
Ricky Saints defeated Jasper Troy
This was the story of agility against brute force. Troy dominated the early moments with his size, throwing Saints around and crushing him with a nasty slam on the apron and steps. Saints kept fighting, using his speed to stay alive, and eventually countered with two consecutive Tornado DDTs to secure the victory.
Takeaway: Saints gets a big win, but the longer Troy goes without scoring a victory, the more he risks losing his edge as a powerhouse.
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In-Ring Segment: Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe
Jordynne Grace hit the ring with fire, venting about being betrayed and disrespected. Blake Monroe appeared with a group of security guards, waving a contract that made it clear she couldn’t be touched before Heatwave or their match would be canceled. Grace didn’t lay a hand on Monroe, but she destroyed the security guards to send her message loud and clear.
Takeaway: A heated segment that added fuel to their upcoming showdown.
4️⃣: Six-Woman Tag (Special Guest Referee: Masha Slamovich)
Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Jazmyn Nyx) defeated The Elegance Brand (M by Elegance, Heather, Ash)
With Slamovich as guest referee, there was tension from the start. The Elegance Brand used quick tags and distractions to stay in control, but their teamwork broke down late in the match. With the referee distracted, Jayne hit the Rolling Encore on Ash to steal the win for her team.
Takeaway: The NXT and TNA crossover continues to shine, with Jayne looking dominant as both NXT Women’s and TNA Knockouts Champion.
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In-Ring Summit: USA vs Canada “Peace Talks”
Chelsea Green and Ethan Page represented Team Canada, while Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele stood for the USA side. The supposed peace talks quickly turned into trash talk, with national pride fueling the arguments. Eventually, it broke down into chaos with ankle locks on both sides and no resolution at all.
Takeaway: A fun segment that set up future conflicts between the two sides while giving each character time to shine.
6️⃣- Main Event: NXT Championship #1 Contender Match
Je’Von Evans defeated Trick Williams
The main event had high stakes, with the winner moving on to face Oba Femi for the NXT Championship. Trick brought his usual mix of power and flash, hitting Evans with huge slams and even putting him through a table from the top rope. Evans showed incredible resilience, surviving the punishment and countering with his high-flying offense.
The turning point came when Mike Santana appeared in a luxury box, catching Trick’s attention. That split second was all Evans needed, hitting a cutter followed by a springboard Ace Crusher to score the win.
Takeaway: Evans looked like a star, earning his shot at Oba Femi. Trick was protected in defeat with the distraction, and Santana’s presence guarantees this story is far from over.
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Closing Thoughts
This was one of the stronger NXT road shows in recent memory. The opening Street Fight set the tone, every match had purpose, and the main event launched Je’Von Evans into the spotlight as the next big challenger. The Philadelphia crowd gave the show extra energy, and the unique venue made the presentation stand out. With Heatwave only days away, this episode succeeded in building hype and delivering action-packed wrestling.
