
The November 11 edition of WWE NXT emanated from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Before NXT Gold Rush, Trick Williams and Ricky Saints will push their limits to the extreme as they face off for the NXT Championship in a Last Man Standing match. As I said last week, ego is the best and worst fuel ever. It turns you into a destructive machine, and often a self-destructive one as well.
Four matches were advertised for this week’s NXT episode, including the WWE Women’s Speed tournament, the WWE Speed Championship on the line, Tavion Heights vs. Josh Briggs, and the Last Man Standing match for the NXT Championship. Also, NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley has some things to say. Because TNA is involved, let’s Nygma dive into what happened last night.
The calm before the storm.
Just one week before #NXTGoldRush, @blakehowardwwe and @MrStoneWWE get us ready for a massive night on #WWENXT!
8e/7c on @TheCW pic.twitter.com/2S5cnGKBuf
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) November 12, 2025
Izzi Dame had to ask Tatum Paxley that question, “Do you want to be a champion for them, or do you want to be a champion for you?” She loves to spin the wheel and give anyone an opportunity so they can feel what she feels. Fatal Influence arrived, and Jacy Jayne told Paxley she needs to provide a chance to those who earn it, someone who deserves it. Dame suspected Jayne wanted a rematch. Paxley decided to be more selective in her opponents’ choice, but gave Jayne a rematch at NXT Gold Rush.
LFG Season One winner Jasper Troy captured gold by ending El Grande Americano’s incredible reign. When his Americanos friends were ejected from ringside, Troy made a statement.
With Chelsea Green and Ethan Page watching at ringside, Thea Hail defeated Alba Fyre in a hotly contested singles match. Page and Green, the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions, tried to interfere, but Joe Hendry thwarted them, allowing Hail to counter Fyre and score the win on a rollup.
Blake Monroe talked to “The Woman from Hell,” whom I will call “Black Monroe.” Blake said she always carries “her” with her. Black Monroe argued the word “deserved” and asked Blake how long it would take for the lights to burn out. She said Blake needs to defeat Sol Ruca. Black asked her to be a part of the match, to break Sol Ruca.
Blake said it is not the kind of Champion she wants to be, but Black said it’s the kind of Champion she needs to be. “Be The Glamour, blind them with your beauty, but hell is what will make them fear you.” As Blake stated, Spotlight needs darkness.
"You need to let me be a part of this…"
The two sides of @BlakeMonroeWWE are coming to a head. What does this mean for Gold Rush??? pic.twitter.com/649GmLKGsv
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2025
Je’Von Evans, in the ring, told Leon Slater he had from Ava (and Slater from Santino Marella) what they wanted: a Tag Team title match against DarkState at NXT Gold Rush. Slater and Evans agreed on the magic they would make in the ring. DarkState arrived and asked Evans if he had thought about the consequences of confronting them. The faction attacked Evans, but Slater rushed to help him. On a 4-on-2, Evans and Slater prevailed.
Fallon Henley punched her ticket to Gold Rush with a victory over LFG Season Two winner Skylar Rae. Despite a valiant effort from Rae, Henley nailed a match-ending Famouser to secure her spot against Zaria for the vacant Women’s Speed Championship.
Tavion Heights scored a massive win as he took down the ferocious Josh Briggs. He was relentless and used his length advantage to keep Heights at bay, even using a crushing Big Boot to stun his opponent. However, that aggression proved to be his downfall as another Big Boot attempt saw Briggs get caught in the ropes, allowing Heights to hit a huge Belly To Belly Suplex to win the match.
The match favored the challenger early on as Trick Williams dominated the champion with a variety of toys, including a steel chair, a kendo stick, and a steel trash can. Saints fired back by sending Williams through the barricade, using the weapons himself to batter and bruise the challenger.
With carnage and destruction at ringside, Williams hit a Trick Kick followed by a Book End on the steel steps, but it wasn’t enough to keep the champion down. The two battled into the crowd, and Williams gloated as Saints recovered long enough to hit a massive Spear through the announce table. Saints managed to beat the 10-count and win the bout, but Oba Femi promptly confronted Saints.
OH. MY. GOD.
RICKY SAINTS IS THE LAST MAN STANDING!!! pic.twitter.com/lSlImdpKmL
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2025
There was a kind of common thread in this crazy episode: Who do you want to be? A fighting Champion? A good or a bad Champion? The schizophrenic “Blake & Black segment” was truly inspirational. The Gold Rush is about staying or becoming Champion, but at what price? Is Gold worth losing your soul, being what you have ever wanted to be, or turning into a caricature of yourself?
So many metaphysical questions that may find an answer at NXT Gold Rush. I’ll see you next week as I keep on exploring the NXT world through the NXTNA “cold war.” Till then, may the Nygma be with you.
What does Ricky need to know, @TatumPaxley?!?@starkmanjones pic.twitter.com/Qrc7Boeyiu
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2025
Ricky Saints is UNLEASHED!!!
@starkmanjones pic.twitter.com/vLJB3YCfx4
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2025
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!