Joe Hendry Wins Vacant NXT Championship

Posted by admin on February 4th, 2026

Joe Hendry Wins Vacant NXT Championship – The February 3 episode of NXT on The CW closed with a high-risk seven-person Ladder match to crown a new NXT Champion. The title had been vacated by Oba Femi following his recent move to the WWE main roster, prompting a series of qualifying matches to determine who would compete for the championship in the main event.

Ricky Saints, Joe Hendry, Jackson Drake, Dion Lennox, Shiloh Hill, Keanu Carver, and Sean Legacy all battled for the vacant title in a fast-paced and physically demanding contest that featured constant action both inside and outside the ring.

The match opened with immediate chaos, as Dion Lennox was sent to the floor early while Keanu Carver dominated with power offense, slamming opponents onto ladders and controlling the ring. Shiloh Hill responded by dropping Keanu back-first onto a ladder, while Ricky Saints injected speed into the match with dropkicks, a spear on Joe Hendry, and a tornado DDT that brought the crowd to life.

Joe Hendry made his presence felt by using ladders as weapons and repeatedly stopping opponents from climbing. Despite moments where he appeared poised to win, Hendry made the costly decision to dive onto the field of competitors on the floor rather than immediately climbing the ladder, allowing others to re-enter the match.

The action escalated as ladders were bridged, broken, and used in increasingly creative ways. Highlights included Dion Lennox being driven spine-first onto a bridged ladder, Sean Legacy hitting Sliced Bread from a ladder, and Shiloh Hill using a broken ladder as stilts before being taken out in dramatic fashion. Keanu Carver absorbed significant punishment throughout the match, including being buried under a pile of ladders by nearly every competitor.

In the closing moments, Ricky Saints and Joe Hendry reached the top of opposing ladders and both grabbed the championship. After a brief struggle, Hendry struck Saints with the title belt, sending him crashing through a bridged ladder in the ring. With the final obstacle cleared, Joe Hendry retrieved the championship to officially end the match.

With the victory, Joe Hendry captured the NXT Championship, succeeding Oba Femi and earning his first major title win in WWE. The win marks a significant milestone for Hendry as he begins his reign atop NXT.