Joe Hendry Defends NXT Title Against Ricky Saints | NXT Vengeance Day 2026 Show Review & Highlights
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David Finlay/NXT rumors
I wonder if David Finley is going to feel like that in a couple of weeks because I feel like he made the right choice. Because whoa, that's not a great pitch to be like 'we want you to lead a stable featuring Lexis King as the leader if you don't show up.'
WWE booking philosophy
This company seems immune to babyface wins a series of matches to earn the title opportunity. They have habitually across all three brands given people who are coming off of various losses the opportunity to get a title shot.
Joe Hendry's character development
You've basically stripped down his character and haven't given him the tools to be the Joe Hendry that was peaking two years ago. Now he's Joe Hendry that seems like he's on the decline.
Tatum Paxley's booking
She is the second woman to hold at some point in her career the World Championship and the North American Championship, and I believe I can count the number of victories she has had on less than one hand.
Joe Hendry's NXT run
I am not an objective viewer of Joe Hendry. I just don't see it. He's just a guy. He's not overly athletic, he's not incredibly strong. I don't see a whole bunch of charisma.
NXT Vengeance Day scheduling
They announced Vengeance Day, a Saturday PLE, like three weeks ago. It kind of came out of nowhere. It was basically the length of an NXT episode with an overrun. It felt like an episode of Dynamite lengthwise.
Sol Ruka's character direction
I don't want why do they always try to change things that aren't broken? You're literally breaking it to fix it.
NXT booking trends
Both top champions at NXT are babyfaces who cheat. You can get away with one of those, but both of them just feels like your moral compass is broken.
Lainey Luck's potential main roster booking
I have to caution that in Bruce Pritchard's main roster, should she ever make it there, struggling with Crohn's disease turns into 'has to poop a lot.' That's definitely going to be her gimmick on the main roster.
Tony D'Angelo's performance
It kind of felt like Tony D'Angelo was Italian Bruiser Brody because he was just... he had different energy completely in this matchup and I was very impressed.
Dork State faction
I've never been a big fan of [Cutler James] on the show. I feel like you could probably replace him in Dork State with somebody else. I'm hoping for a one-man Thanos snap like he just turned into dust and floated away.