Tatum Paxley is still “WWE NXT” Women’s North American Champion after defeating Izzi Dame in a steel cage in the main event of Tuesday’s show, live from Paxley’s home state of Texas. Her next challenger for the gold was revealed at the very end of the night, however, when Blake Monroe popped up out of a trap door on the stage and drug Paxley through the opening.

Dame got the jump on the champion before the match even started. She battered Paxley around on the outside of the cage after Paxley made her way down to the ring. Dame smacked Paxley’s head with the cage door before throwing her in the cage, and retrieved weapons from under the ring before entering the structure herself.

The women fought back and forth inside the cage, slamming one another against the walls and climbing like they were going to try and escape over the top. Paxley went to the top rope and rather than take down Dame, scaled the cage. Dame followed her, and they traded strikes perched atop the cage. Dame smashed Paxley’s face off the steel, then hit a superplex from the top rope. Dame hit Paxley with a chair and went for a powerbomb, but Paxley reversed the move, sending Dame crashing onto the chair instead. Paxley hit a Cemetery Drive onto the chair for the win.

As Paxley was celebrating her victory on the ramp, the trap door opened, revealing Monroe, who grabbed her leg and pulled her down. Monroe popped back up and grabbed the Women’s North American Championship and posed with it as “NXT” went off the air.

Wren Sinclair dethroned Fallon Henley for the Women’s Speed Championship during “WWE NXT,” and she did it in her home state of Texas.

Sinclair earned her opportunity at Henley’s title with wins over Nikkita Lyons and former North American Champion Thea Hail in the latest contendership tournament, competing for her first title with the company. Henley was making the first defense of her title in 120 days, having defeated Zaria at “Gold Rush” last year to win it while it was vacant. 

The match was contested for around three and a half of the five minutes allotted, with both going to great efforts early on to get a pinfall. In what turned out to be the closing stretch, Henley delivered a slingblade to take Sinclair to the canvas, only for Sinclair to turn and cinch in the Final Wrench – aka the Cattle Mutilation – for the submission victory, and thus her first title in WWE. The match also occurred in Houston, a couple hundred miles from Sinclair’s hometown of Dallas.

Jacy Jayne and Lainey Reid were stood at ringside to support Henley, while Kendal Grey was at ringside for Sinclair. Jayne, having defended her title earlier in the show, hardly appeared pleased at her stablemate dropping the title.

“WWE NXT” live from Houston, Texas featured a celebration for two-time Hall of Famer and “NXT” commentator Booker T, but “Booker T Appreciation Night” was almost ruined by Keanu Carver. The moment started off nice, as Booker T’s broadcast partner, Vic Joseph, introduced the legend, who joined him in the ring, alongside Booker’s wife, Queen Sharmell, his kids, and two students from his school, Reality of Wrestling.

Joseph threw to a video package with footage of highlights from Booker’s career, as well as plenty of “NXT” alumni and current stars, and fellow legends, speaking about Booker T and how he influenced them throughout their careers. Joseph then presented his broadcast partner with a commemorative plaque. The man of the hour then got on the microphone himself and thanked the fans. He started to bring up the “NXT” talent, when Carver’s music hit.

Carver said that Booker T didn’t deserve a celebration and the RoW students had seconds to leave the ring before he did something to the Hall of Famer. Carver took out the students and stood face-to-face with Booker T, but Jasper Troy ran out to face Carver and make the save. Troy knocked him out of the ring and officials escorted Carver to the back.

The “NXT” locker room then came out to pay tribute to the Hall of Famer, but Booker got on the mic and told interim General Manager Robert Stone that he needed to get things under control.