Ricky Saints is due to defend his NXT Championship for the third time against the man he defeated in September, Oba Femi, at “WWE NXT” Deadline. Femi himself held the NXT Championship for 263 days after dethroning Trick Williams in January, making ten defenses before coming against Saints at No Mercy, and has yet to have wrestled another match as he prepares to challenge one year on from the night he won the Iron Survivor – thus securing his initial shot at Williams. 

Saints’ previous two title defenses also came against Williams. And the champion heading out of Deadline will surely contend with this year’s Iron Survivor next; contested between Je’Von Evans, Myles Borne, Leon Slater, Dion Lennox, and Joe Hendry. 

The favorite to do so among the Wrestling Inc. staff is Saints, with 86% predicting him to complete the defense and cement his reign over the former champion. Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season is on the fast approach, and while neither man would appear out of place on the main roster, Femi has had the longer stint with WWE’s developmental territory. Should he lose this shot at the title, given that he has already held the North American Championship over the course 273 days in 2024, then it’s not difficult to see him being eyed for a Rumble spot. 

On the other hand, Saints feels like he has more to do in “NXT” as champion, and while WrestleMania approaches so too does Stand & Deliver; keeping the title on him heading into the new year, with an eye on a fresh successor, may be the better move with that in mind.

Written by Max Everett