‘WWE NXT’ Review (May 5th 2026)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Kali Armstrong def. Jaida Parker
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kali Armstrong scored a statement victory as she defeated Jaida Parker in a fiercely contested matchup. The newcomer kept Parker off balance nearly all matchup, even using underhanded tactics like an eye rake to gain an advantage. Parker was stunned, and in her confusion, she fell victim to a match-ending Kali Connection.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Jackson Drake def. Jasper Troy
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Jackson Drake knocked off Jasper Troy thanks to a big assist from Myka Lockwood. Not even the numbers game could help Drake early as Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor couldn’t phase Troy. That all changed when Lockwood jumped the barricade and shockingly slammed Troy, allowing Drake to hit a 450 Splash for the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Izzi Dame & Niko Vance def. Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Izzi Dame led The Culling to another massive victory, this time over AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions Lola Vice and Mr. Iguana. Iguana frustrated Niko Vance, but the powerhouse of The Culling knocked him out cold, which worried the NXT Women’s Champion. Dame ducked the ensuing Spinning Backfist and hit a Busaiku Knee strike to put the champion down and send a statement to the locker room.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Darkstate (Cutler James & Osiris Griffin) def. Hank & Tank
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
DarkState look to be back on track after a big victory over Hank & Tank. Cutler James and Osiris Griffin represented the group in the match, but it left Dion Lennox and Saquon Shugars to argue on the outside. Once that was quelled, James and Griffin silenced all the doubters by eviscerating Hank & Tank with a high-impact powerbomb.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Tony D’Angelo vs. Tavion Heights
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tony D’Angelo shined in his match against Tavion Heights, but a target remains on his back. In an early technical showcase, D’Angelo couldn’t out mat-wrestle the former Olympian before the bout devolved into a slugfest. The two Superstars traded remarkable suplexes, but Kam Hendrix tried to interfere and was chased off by North American Champion Myles Borne. Unfortunately for Heights, he was distracted by the chaos and fell victim to a Dead to Rights.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This week’s NXT was a solid if unspectacular episode that focused heavily on building newer names and faction storylines rather than delivering standout in-ring classics. Kali Armstrong picked up a notable win to establish herself further, while Jackson Drake, stealing a victory over Jasper Troy, continued the ongoing chaos surrounding that group. The mixed tag match involving The Culling was probably the strongest outing of the night, balancing character work with decent action, and Tony D’Angelo vs. Tavion Heights closed things out on a respectable note with a more physical, technical style than the rest of the card. Unfortunately, very little on the show truly felt essential or memorable, with several matches feeling more like storyline progression than must-see wrestling. Still, the episode maintained a steady pace throughout and did enough to keep ongoing feuds moving in the right direction.
