The Findlay Toyota Center received a double dose of spooky as it played host to NXT Halloween Havoc 2025, five years into the resurrection of the former WCW PPV event—WWE brought the theme back for a scary hit of nostalgia, infused with the new-age roster. The fans in Prescott Valley, AZ, get a very versatile card with six matches with superstars spanning three different promotions—TNA, AAA, and, of course, NXT.
Tonight’s feature match offers former TNA champion Trick Williams the opportunity to reclaim a world title after Mike Santana won the TNA title from him at Bound for Glory 2025 a couple of weeks ago, and if he can successfully lift the title from Ricky Saints, then it will be his third reign as NXT champ. However, it is the Hardy Boyz reverting to their ‘Delete’ gimmick that has the internet fandom anxious for their “Broken Rules” match with DarkState.
With Booker T and Vic Joseph manning the commentating desk (the latter dressed as ‘The Riddler’ of Batman lore), the scene is fright with action, and NXT could establish their own version of Halloween Havoc free of knockoff KISS-inspired characters and Yeti-type gimmicks that made the event more comedy than anything else.
RICKY STARKS(c) vs. TRICK WILLIAMS
They were put in a position where nothing less than a banger would do, and Trick Williams and NXT champ Ricky Starks did just that as they went for all the stars in a classic main event. Williams has been on the downward trek since losing to Santana, but this, even in a losing effort, was an amazing performance that raises his profile. For Starks, he needed to show he could carry the flag in a real way and in an ‘in-house’ promotion without the hoopla of crossover promotional matches.
It was a hot match from the get-go, and the match script favored the challenger as he was able to showcase his versatile repertoire of offense—power, high-flying, and ‘mat proficiency’ all well within his range.
Most impressive was the way Williams and Saints were able to elevate the match on the outside of the ring — including the commentator’s desk spot — while refraining from over-utilizing ‘foreign objects’ on a night with plenty of hardcore action.
Ricky Saints was able to retain after hitting a devastating spear, followed by a tornado DDT, which kept Williams down for the three-count. Still, it was Trick Williams that outperformed the win/loss column, and a future call-up is very likely (post-Mania RAW?).
HARDY BOYZ (BROKEN MATT & BROTHER NERO) vs. DARKSTATE—NXT TAG TITLES (BROKEN RULES MATCH)
After the Hardy Boyz established themselves as the greatest tag team of all time by beating The Dudley Boyz a couple of weeks ago at Bound for Glory, they have since had to resort to their ‘broken ways’ after former NXT tag champs DarkState became their next program. Darkstate’s Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin lost the titles to the Hardy Boyz, and they took their opportunity to reestablish the feud.
While Matt and Jeff are fresh out of the ‘Lake of Reincarnation,’ the “Broken Rules” match was basically a TLC match where the tables were Slim Jim-sponsored. Darkstate picked up the win in an underwhelming fashion, but the performance from Jeff elevated the entire match from bell to bell.
JACY JAYNE(c) vs. TATUM PAXLEY—NXT Women’s Title
What was booked as a singles match was basically a well-organized schmoz, with both the champion’s and the challenger’s factions mixing it up before both sides were tossed. The champ was heard yelling, “I need you guys,” as Tatum attempted to steal the win, but either way, the champ was going to have to get it done on her own if she hoped to retain.
The challenger certainly had the crowd behind her, as chants of “Tatum” rang out, with choruses of boos whenever Jayne was driving the offense. Tatum hit her 450 splash for a near fall that brought the crowd to their feet as ‘fight forever’ scored the match’s 3rd act.
In the match’s finale, Izzie Dame attempted to help Jayne retain the title (or was she?), but Tatum managed to avoid it, and that is when Jayne caught Dame with the elbow. With Dame neutralized, Tatum hit the “Cemetery Driver” for the pinfall victory to become the new champion.
ETHAN PAGE(c) vs. EL HIJO de DR WAGNER JR—NXT North American Title (Dia De Los Muertos Match)
After Wanger Jr. strategically positioned himself to receive this shot over months of booking, these two are finally meeting on the champ’s “territory.” The champ painted his face in Dia de los Muertos style, with half-skeleton face paint representing his Canadian colors.
The match was essentially a ‘hardcore match’ with chairs and trash cans used early and often before taking things outside. The animosity from this program did not truly carry over into the match, especially given the narrative that Wagner Jr. was a step ahead of the champ throughout the feud.
That said, the match’s escalation hit a higher gear when Page ripped the upper half of Wagner Jr.’s mask, which infuriated him into a frenzy, which he used to gain momentum in the match. A near fall off a slingshot ‘Codebreaker’ from the middle rope was as close as the challenger would get, and Ethan Page managed to get the pinfall victory over Wagner Jr. by hitting a cutter from the turnbuckle and through a table to retain.
ZARIA(c) vs. BLAKE MONROE—NXT Women’s North American Title
The storyline for this match has been one of the best week-to-week TV narratives on the entire card. Monroe earned her shot at the champ, Sol Ruca, before she was injured and unable to defend the title. That is when her tag team partner, Zaria, who had her own title aspirations before her tag partner claimed the title for herself.
Many felt that Zaria was a little too anxious and forthcoming to defend Ruca’s title in her place, and the storyline complicated itself based on the unsure nature of Zaria’s intentions.
Monroe did well in the match, attempting to divide the partners, and Ruca was of little help beyond emotional support due to her injured status. In the end, Monroe was able to lift the title from Zaria, further throwing the pairing of Zaria and Sol Ruca into turmoil.
Je’Von EVANS & LEON SLATER vs. MR. IGUANA & LA PARKA—Tag Team Match
This gimmick-heavy tag match was the perfect kick off for the Halloween-themed PLE as Mr. Iguana and LA Parka pull double duty representing Triple A in this promotion V promotion match. For Evans and Slater (97 days as the TNA X-Division champion), they have turned their respectful rivalry into a formidable tag team.
Evans and Slater picked up the win, but Mr. Iguana continues to get over in front of dual-lingual crowds, and tonight was no different. He used his Iguana, of course, and managed to perfectly utilize his style with that of the ultra-athletic pairing of Evans and Slater. Mr. Iguana still holds ½ of the Triple A mixed-tag team titles, but his comedy gimmick meshed well with LA Parka’s fun style (even when he’s off with the dancing).
If Evans and Slater are going to continue to be paired, then a team name will go a long way, but it is probably their fastest way to the main roster, as teams like Fraxiom have paved the way, among others.
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