The way “NXT” handled Blake Monroe losing the Women’s North American Championship the entire way back in December seems to still be having effects at this point in April. Sure, the title was good to have for Tatum Paxley’s feud against Izzi Dame, but it really seems now that Shawn Michaels and the powers that be in “NXT” really want to put the title back on Monroe, but they’re just not sure about her main roster status after WrestleMania.

The second Paxley solidified her status as champion, defeating Dame in a steel cage main event match on the March 17 edition of “NXT.” Monroe appeared through a trap door on the stage and “dragged Paxley to hell” and posed with the title. “The Glamour” would carry the gold around straight through until their Stand & Deliver match, despite Paxley’s best efforts to get the title belt back in her possession.

Now that Paxley defeated Monroe in a really solid match at the premium live event, Vanity Project gifted Monroe a custom Women’s NA title backstage to help cheer her up. And, while it’s a really cute belt, it now feels like the shine is being taken away from Paxley. I figured that these women would be set for another match if Monroe was going to be sticking around “NXT,” and it seems to be the case now with Revenge announced to get “NXT” through WrestleMania.

I really like both of these women, and I thought their Stand & Deliver match was phenomenal, but when you have Monroe, of all people, carrying a belt around, she sincerely looks like a champion. She just carries herself like one. Even I forgot for a moment ahead of the PLE that she wasn’t champion, and it wasn’t Paxley facing her for a shot at the gold. While that’s of course all on me, I’m sure I’m not the only one who got a bit confused. Carrying around a title that wasn’t hers was pretty meaningless, and now, Monroe carrying one that resembles the real title just seems silly.

Vanity Project gifting Monroe another belt to carry around just isn’t it for me, as I really want Paxley to have a solid reign and be able to shine with the Women’s North American Championship. What happens next remains to be seen after Revenge, and more importantly, after post-WrestleMania call-ups, if those are even happening. Right now, “NXT” is stuck in a holding pattern, and I guess I do respect them for attempting to come up with new angles to keep old stories fresh.

Written by Daisy Ruth

Lola Vice will defend her NXT Women’s Championship for the first time against the former champion during next week’s “WWE NXT” Revenge. 

Vice pinned Jacy Jayne to dethrone her as Women’s Champion in a triple threat also involving Kendal Grey at Saturday’s Stand & Deliver, and entered the main event segment of Tuesday’s “NXT” with her new title. She said that she came into the company as just another former MMA fighter, and took plenty of losses on her way. 

She admitted that thought she was ready when she first arrived in 2022, but she wasn’t, and went to AAA to cut her teeth, becoming Mixed Tag Team Champion next to Mr. Iguana and eventually stamping her mark on WWE’s developmental brand. 

Her victory lap was soon interrupted by Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence, with Jayne claiming she got lucky on one night and demanding a rematch. Robert Stone then emerged to confirm a rematch for next week, prompting Vice to deck Lainey Reid as she went after Jayne, but not getting a hold of her as she retreated with her stablemates. 

“WWE NXT” will present a two-week special known as Revenge, starting next week, April 14, General Manager Robert Stone announced in a backstage interview during Tuesday’s edition of the show. The special episodes of “NXT” will take place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, following the brand’s Stand & Deliver premium live event on Saturday.

It was revealed that week one of the special will see NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo’s first title defense against Ethan Page, one of the men he faced in the four-way title match at the PLE. New NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice will take on Jacy Jayne in the latter’s rematch for the title she lost at the big event. Elsewhere, Jaida Parker will take on Kelani Jordan, and former NXT Champion Joe Hendry will address his future via concert.

The second night of Revenge, which will take place on April 21, will see Zaria and Sol Ruca go one-on-one once again, this time, in a Last Woman Standing Match. A new WWE Speed Champion will be crowned, as well, after Elio LeFleur had to vacate the title due to injury. It was also announced that Kali Armstrong, the first WWE EVOLVE Women’s Champion, will be making her “NXT” debut.

With the WWE Men’s Speed Championship currently vacant, the “WWE NXT” brand began a tournament to crown its new holder.

Kicking off the tournament, Birthright’s Lexis King took on WWE Men’s ID Champion Starboy Charlie, who adopted the ring name of Chazz “Starboy” Hall for his “NXT” debut. Within the three-minute time limit, Hall put his high-flying skills on display, at one point knocking King to the floor with a leaping kick, then laying him out with a Sasuke Special. When Hall attempted to finish King off with a Shooting Star Press, however, King raised his knees to block it. As Hall moved in a daze, King then planted him with The Coronation (swinging neckbreaker) for the first-round win.

Following Hall’s loss to King, it is unclear if he will make more “NXT” appearance in the future. Nevertheless, the Men’s Speed Championship will continue on next week’s edition of “NXT,” with EK Prosper (formerly Eli Knight) facing Dorian Van Dux (formerly Mike D Vecchio). The winner of that will meet King in the finals. The WWE Men’s Speed Championship match will occur during week two of the “NXT” Revenge television special.

“The French Luchador” Elio LeFleur captured the Men’s Speed Title by pinning Jasper Troy in February. In late March, however, he sustained a shoulder injury upon a collision with the turnbuckle at an “NXT” live event. According to LeFleur, he specifically tore his labrum and shoulder ligaments, meaning he’d be out of action for six months. Earlier today, LeFleur confirmed that he underwent surgery for the respective injury.