Trick Williams is the newly-crowned NXT Champion and he celebrated his title win with CM Punk and some pizza.

Last night, NXT ushered in a new era on CW in Chicago and Williams reclaimed the top prize of the brand. He had challenged Ethan Page for the title with the hometown hero CM Punk serving as the special referee. Williams walked out of the jam-packed Allstate Arena as the new champ and later celebrated the victory with ‘The Second City Savior.’

In an NXT Exclusive, Trick Williams reflected on his memorable win and celebrated with some pizzas courtesy of CM Punk. He said:

“Chicago’s crazy, isn’t it? This is my first time in Chicago, and they showed me love. I’ll forever appreciate that, Chicago. Thank y’all. But as we said, as I told y’all, I was going back and getting my baby. Look at this thing. It’s pretty, isn’t it? I got the new title, man. Welcome to the CW, we in here.”

Punk then showed up with a pizza, and offered it to Williams. The new champ noted that it was from Lou Malnati’s, which he called the champion of pizza.

“I know this is your first time in Chicago. I know we talked about this before, you never had the pizza, so I got you some Lou Malnati’s. The champ of pizza for the champ of NXT,” Punk said.

Trick Williams then took a bite and stated that it was scrumptious. When asked about the atmosphere in the arena, Punk said that he’d take any chance to be in front of his hometown crowd. The former WWE Champion said:

“I’ve done everything in this building I think you can possibly do. To be a referee in front of that hometown crowd, any chance I get to be in front of that crowd, electric. I’ll take it. It’s absolutely stunning. The place is amazing. They love Trick, they love wrestling.”

Williams then proceeded to thank NXT head Shawn Michaels and the coaches for giving him an opportunity. He said:

“All jokes aside, we going to the CW, we taking NXT to great heights, and shoutout to all the coaches. Shoutout to Shawn Michaels, shoutout to Matt Bloom, shoutout to Terry Taylor, giving me an opportunity. I’m gonna take care of this [title] with my life.”

Following Williams’ title win, CM Punk had announced that fans will be given free Lou Malnati’s Pizzas along with C4 Energy drinks.

• CM Punk Treats NXT CW Premiere Audience With Free Pizzas

Roxanne Perez says being part of a promo segment with CM Punk was a ‘pinch me’ moment.

The Straight Edge star has become a mentor for many NXT talents since returning to WWE. Two names that have especially become close to the wrestling veteran are Cora Jade and current NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.

The latter recently got to share the screen with Punk as well prior to her title defense against Giulia. She opened up about the segment while speaking to New York Post, and claimed that the experience was really insane:

“Oh my gosh. I mean to have an in-ring promo with the best promo I think ever, was so insane. It definitely was a pinch me moment. But the fact that I’ve been able to create a friendship with him and sit under his Learning Tree for months now. I think being able to have that relationship definitely made me so much more comfortable.”

• Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade Give Gift To CM Punk, Reference Brawl Out

Everything I Have Been Working For: Roxanne Perez

CM Punk played the role of a moderator in the segment between Roxanne Perez and Giulia during the September 17 episode of NXT. Perez talked about Punk being her childhood hero but said that she should have been a Drew McIntyre fan instead.

Speaking about her promo on the night, the NXT Women’s Champion said that it was ok for her to give Punk some attitude, because it was something he would have done himself a few years ago:

“I do remember getting in the ring and starting to say my lines and just really feeling it. Because I was just like, ‘Wow, this is insane. I’m standing in the ring with someone that I looked up to my entire life.’ A part of me was like, ‘Well I can’t believe this.’

But another part of me was like, ‘Wait, I can believe this, because this is everything I’ve ever worked for.’ And I felt like I definitely stood my ground. I said a little…I gave him a little bit of attitude, something that he would have done a few years ago. So it was really fun. It’s everything that I’ve been working for.”

Perez was successful in her title defence against Giulia at the CW Premiere episode of NXT last night. Though she had help from a returning superstar. You can check out more about it here.

CM Punk proved to be an impartial official during WWE NXT’s premiere on The CW which went off the air with Trick Williams winning the NXT Championship. After the match though, Punk hit his signature GTS on Ethan Page, an act that hasn’t gone down well with the now-former champion.

In his first comments after losing the NXT Championship, Page shared photos of himself and his daughter on Twitter. The ‘All Ego’ Superstar didn’t reference Punk by name, but commented that “He’s been known to ruin locker rooms” and that Punk has ruined his life as well.

Punk’s infamous ‘locker room ruining’ ways would be on full display at AEW All Out 2022 where he made a series of incendiary comments on the post-show. Those comments, coupled with the backstage fight, would see Punk suspended from AEW for months and forever changed his relationship with Tony Khan’s promotion.

Given the hostility between Page and Punk during the NXT Championship match, fans are excited at the prospect of a match between the two Superstars. In the meantime, CM Punk will enter Hell in a Cell this weekend to face Drew McIntyre at WWE Bad Blood. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE NXT’s new era on The CW as well as the career of CM Punk.

Cora Jade is back!

WWE presented the CW Premiere episode of NXT tonight from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. One of the featured bouts on the show was Roxanne Perez defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia.

The Japanese star was making her official in-ring debut for the development brand in the opening match of the episode. As expected, she dominated most of the bout.

Giulia sent Perez crashing onto the outside floor towards the ending of the fight. The referee started a ten count but both competitors beat it. Roxanne Perez then grabbed the Women’s title belt to hit her opponent but the ref stopped her.

When the referee was busy, however, a hooded figure dragged the former Stardom star out of the ring and delivered a DDT on the floor. The mysterious star dumped Giulia back into the ring where Perez picked up the victory with a Pop Rox. The figure then revealed themselves to be a returning Cora Jade.

• Delta Teased On (10/1) WWE NXT Premiere On The CW

The 23-year-old had been out of action since January this year. She tore her ACL during an NXT Live Event match against Lyra Valkyria.

Jade previously won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships with Roxanne Perez. Though their team didn’t last long as Cora Jade turned on her partner and then dumped the NXT tag title in a trash can.

It’s not clear if the events of tonight are leading towards a reunion between the teammates or if Jade has a different intention in mind. We’ll have to tune in to NXT in coming times to find out.

• CM Punk Treats NXT CW Premiere Audience With Free Pizzas

CM Punk has done it again.

The Straight Edge star is known to be very generous when it comes to promoting local businesses and treating fans of his hometown of Chicago.

He famously treated all the fans with ice cream bars, when they attended his AEW debut from the United Center during the August 20, 2021 episode of Rampage.

So when NXT’s CW premiere rolled around from the Allstate Arena with Punk as a special guest on the episode, fans just knew that there would be surprises in store and the former world champion didn’t disappoint.

Fans leaving the arena after tonight’s show noted that they were all given free Lou Malnati’s Pizzas along with C4 Energy drinks:

• WWE NXT: New Logo, Theme & Titles Kick-Off New Era On The CW

NXT on CW Premiere

CM Punk played the role of the special guest referee for the main event of tonight’s show. The bout saw Trick Williams challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Championship.

Williams was able to defeat Page and he became a 2-time NXT Champion in the process. The confetti rained down as Trick celebrated his victory and the show went off air with Punk giving a GTS to Page.

Apart from this, the show also featured the official in-ring debut of Giulia who challenged Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title.

Everyone expected the Japanese star to pick up the victory in the bout but Perez retained the title with some help from a returning Cora Jade.

• CM Punk Ice Cream Bars Were In The Works For 2 Years

WWE NXT is home to a talented roster of women with names including Roxanne Perez, Giulia, the recently returning Cora Jade, and many more. Now, Australian wrestler Delta is on her way to the silver brand after being teased on WWE NXT’s premiere episode on The CW.

News of Delta’s signing was first broken by Fightful Select in July of this year, after she attended WWE’s tryouts in February during the week of Elimination Chamber: Perth. Delta was allowed to finish her independent dates after signing with WWE, with her final match being in her native Australia for Riot City Wrestling against her brother.

WWE’s Female Hiring

Delta is the latest notable woman to join WWE as the company is bolstering its women’s division from elite talent from around the world. In July, Stephanie Vaquer signed with WWE, mere days after competing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. The former CMLL star recently made her WWE NXT TV debut by setting sights on the NXT Women’s Championship. At WWE NXT No Mercy, Giulia made her long-awaited debut for the brand after appearing in the crowd at NXT Stand & Deliver in April.

Now, Delta will be joining the ranks of WWE NXT which has kicked off its new era on The CW, and will bring her signature hard-hitting style to the women of the silver brand. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Delta and future changes to the WWE NXT roster.

After five years as part of the USA Network, WWE NXT has launched on The CW with an exciting two-hour show from the All-State Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The move marks the dawn of a new era for WWE NXT so it’s fitting that the gold brand has received a brand-new look.

New Logo

The new NXT logo is a silver logo, ending the use of black, yellow, and gold that has been in use since the show was first introduced as a game show back in February 2010.

New Championships

With a new logo, WWE has created new championship designs for WWE NXT featuring the silver re-design. The company was wasted no time in releasing the brand-new NXT and NXT Women’s Championships on WWEShop.com.

New Entrance

The opening video includes some of the top names currently found in WWE NXT including Ethan Page, Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Roxanne Perez and many more. The new theme song for WWE NXT is ‘Millions From Now’ by 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne.

Neither man is a stranger to WWE, with 2 Chainz Gold Rush being used as the theme song of SummerSlam 2013 while We Own It (Fast & Furious) was the song for Royal Rumble 2014. Lil Wayne appeared on Let It Rock, the theme of Royal Rumble 2009, and Champion, the theme of Night of Champions 2012. He also appeared in person earlier this year, performing at WrestleMania 40 ahead of Jey Uso’s victory over his brother Jimmy.

WWE NXT has undergone a lot of changes with its relaunch on The CW, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the brand’s mission to provide entertaining matches and prepare talent for a future on WWE’s main roster. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE NXT in its new home on a new network.

Winning the NXT Championship was a very emotional moment for Trick Williams.

The WWE star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. He discussed things such as Shawn Michaels comparing him to Scott Hall, NXT moving to CW, a potential main roster call up and more.

When asked about his NXT title win earlier this year, Williams first gave a shout-out to Ijla Dragunov for taking his career to the next level:

“Unreal. Shout out to Ilja Dragunov, who I would say really took my career to the next level, especially at that time, all three to four of our matches showed people that I had that next level in me. The day I did take the title from Ilja Dragunov, it was a beautiful moment.”

• Ilja Dragunov Out Of Action For 6 To 9 Months After Live Event Injury

It Was Unreal: Trick Williams

Trick Williams won the NXT Championship at the Spring Breakin’ event in April this year. The 30-year-old had put his NXT career on the line and with an outpouring support from the fans, he was finally able to defeat Dragunov to win the title.

According to the young star, the whole moment was unreal, and the emotion he felt during the time will be very hard to replicate in his life:

“I’m not sure if you saw but the whole arena was shaking from the Whoop That Trick chants, people stomping, people screaming, people crying. It was unreal, man, and the emotion that I felt in that ring at that time, it’s gonna be hard to duplicate, because it was just 100% everybody was behind, and that’s a special moment. Man, that’s why I wanted to do this.”

Though Williams’ reign didn’t last very long. He dropped the title to Ethan Page at the Heatwave event in July, after only 74 days. Trick will get a shot at redemption when he challenges Page for the title at tonight’s CW premiere episode of WWE’s third brand.

• WWE NXT Preview: CW Network Debut, Two Title Matches

In a matter of hours, WWE NXT will launch on The CW with an exciting show from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, where Trick Williams seeks to become a two-time NXT Champion. Speaking this week on the Insight podcast, Williams gave his high estimation for what the gold brand’s new era will look like.

“We are about to bring the best two-hour show to CW. I mean, I put our show against anybody’s. NXT is on fire right now, and shout out to Shawn Michaels. We just clicking on all cylinders and we’re ready to put on the show.”

All eyes will be on Williams tonight as he looks to end the 82-day reign of Ethan Page, who won the gold in controversial fashion at Heatwave in July. Page’s debut in May saw the ‘All Ego’ talent attack Williams and the pair have been at odds ever since.

“He stole the title, he conned his way into WWE. He conned his way into the title picture. He conned the title of me. He ain’t gonna con his way into CW, enough is enough.”

WWE NXT On The CW

Williams Vs. Page, as officiated by CM Punk, will be just one highlight of tonight’s launch of WWE NXT on The CW. The show will also see NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez take on Giulia. Wes Lee and TNA’s Zachary Wentz will collide in a Street Fight while Miz TV will feature Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE NXT’s premiere on The CW, including breaking news and live results.

Since signing with WWE in December 2020, Lash Legend has been cooking up problems for the other women in NXT as part of Noam Dar’s Meta-Four. Now, Legend will be cooking in the kitchen as part of a brand-new show that’ll see plenty of NXT involvement.

A Dash of Lash will premiere on October 17, and will see new episodes drop every Thursday. As the trailer for the new show demonstrates, Lash will be joined by several NXT names including NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, NXT GM Ava, Tony D’Angelo and his family, and Legend’s real-life partner Trick Williams.

Lash Legend is hardly the first WWE Superstar to show her skills in the kitchen. In 2021, The Miz, Maryse, Drew McIntyre, and Naomi took over Top Chef: Family Style. The four not only motivated their respective teams, but added their exquisite palates to the judging table alongside head judge Marcus Samuelsson.

Baron Corbin is also quite the chef and has dreams in the kitchen for after his in-ring career is over. In July 2022, the former NXT Tag Team Champion shared his desire to work on the Food Network once he retires from competition within five to ten years. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from Lash Legend and her work in the ring and in the kitchen.

This Tuesday, October 1, WWE NXT will make its long-awaited debut on The CW after a five-year tenure as part of the USA Network. Expectations are high for the gold brand as it embarks on this new chapter, and fans can look forward to content rated TV-14, according to The CW’s official listings.

In 2022, it was reported that WWE would be moving Monday Night RAW from PG to a TV-14 rating, a decision said to have been made by the USA Network. Shortly after though, it was clarified that WWE had decided not to change Raw’s rating with the decision being down to not wanting to cause any issues with the show’s advertising partners.

TV-14 shows contain material parents may find unsuitable for children under the age of 14. The FCC’s official warning is that “parents are cautioned to exercise some care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended.” These materials may range from suggestive dialogue, profanity, sexual situations or intense violence.

WWE NXT – October 1

The premiere of WWE NXT will take place on October 1, from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The card for the show so far is as follows.

• Ethan Page (c) vs. Trick Williams (WWE NXT Championship, CM Punk as guest referee)
• Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Giulia (WWE NXT Women’s Championship)
• Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz (Street Fight)
• Lola Vice & Jaida Parker vs. Two members of Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx)

Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE NXT’s debut on The CW, including breaking news and live results.

NXT star Nikkita Lyons has finally made her return to in-ring action after staying on the shelf for more than 9 months due to an injury.

The 25-year-old made her return during the latest NXT Live Event from Davenport, FL. You can check out photos of her return to the brand below:

The status of the Davenport show had been in question until today due to Hurricane Helene. Many wrestling shows have been affected by the same.

TNA recently re-scheduled their TV tapings set for Friday and Saturday while MLW canceled their St. Petersburg show on October 4. Joe Hendry is unable to make this weekend’s House of Glory event due to it. WWE earlier today confirmed however that the NXT house show will continue as planned.

Apart from the return of the injured star, the show also featured Giulia in action. The Japanese star picked up a victory over Wren Sinclair during the event.

• Stephanie Vaquer Makes WWE NXT Debut, Sets Sights On Title Gold

Nikkita Lyons In NXT

Nikkita Lyons signed with WWE in 2021 and made her in-ring debut later that year. The female star caught the eye of the fans and went viral after debuting on NXT but her short run has been littered with injuries.

Early in her career, she had to be removed from the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament of 2022 after suffering a partial MCL tear and an MCL sprain.

The young star spent most of the 2023 rehabbing as well after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in a match against Jakara Jackson during the January 17, 2023 episode of WWE NXT Level Up.

It had been less than a month since Lyons returned to action when she was put on the shelf again in early 2024. Prior to tonight’s show, she competed against Blair Davenport at the January 9, 2024 episode of NXT.

• CM Punk’s Role, Miz TV Announced For NXT CW Premiere

Stephanie Vaquer signed with WWE in July of this year and following her debut match at a Mexico City live event, made clear she would be coming to NXT. Now, the former CMLL Women’s Champion has made good on that vow and has her sights set on becoming the WWE NXT Women’s Champion.

This week’s WWE NXT (the final before the gold brand’s move to The CW) saw Roxanne Perez and Giulia field questions ahead of next week’s title match. Speaking from San Fernando, Chile, and appearing via satellite, Vaquer interrupted proceedings, asking what the pair would do knowing they have her waiting for them on the other end of the title match.

While this marked Vaquer’s WWE NXT debut, it’s been teased for some time that Vaquer would be entering the women’s title picture. Mere days after Vaquer joined WWE, Roxanne Perez declared her superiority over both Vaquer and Giulia, making clear that the NXT Women’s Champion is keeping a close eye on her potential challenger.

Whether it’s Perez or Giulia who hold the gold this time next week, Stephanie Vaquer is waiting in the wings for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the CMLL alum and her role in NXT’s new era on The CW.

Vicent Winey recently appeared on WWE Monday Night Raw, where he lost a squash match to Odyssey Jones. While Jones’ career in WWE is now a distant memory, Winey’s future looks bright, as he’s received a brand new name by the promotion.

Winey made his in-ring debut as Harlem Lewis during the latest taping of WWE NXT Level Up with a loss to Dante Chen. WWE recently trademarked the name Harlem Lewis, confirming its use for Winey going forward. Winey has also changed his name on Twitter/X to Harlem Lewis, confirming the moniker he hopes to make a name for himself with.

Vincent Winey

Harlem Lewis joined WWE earlier this year and in addition to his Raw appearance last month, has been appearing at NXT live events under the Winey name. So far, he is yet to score a victory in WWE and is sitting at a 0-9 win/loss record. His most recent match saw him on the losing eight of an eight-person tag at NXT’s August 23, live event in Fort Pierce.

Sporting Past

Before wrestling, Lewis played as a linebacker for the Morehead State Eagles Football team and played in the NCAA Division 1 league. In 2021, he began playing for the Ancona Dolphins, an American football team based in Ancona, Italy, again as a Linebacker.

WWE Romance

Lewis is currently dating WWE NXT’s Cora Jade, who had previously been in a relationship with Monday Night Raw’s Bron Breakker. In April, Jade and Lewis confirmed their relationship with a series of Instagram Stories. Jade has missed most of 2024 after suffering a torn ACL in January but teased a return to the ring in August.

As Harlem Lewis, Winey hopes to take NXT by storm and eventually make it to WWE’s main roster. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Harlem Lewis and his future as an NXT Superstar.

When Ethan Page parted ways with AEW in May of this year, it didn’t take long for the Canadian to find his way to WWE, debuting in NXT that same month. Just 40 days after his arrival, Page captured the NXT Championship, setting a record for the fastest debuting Superstar to win a world title.

After a three-year run in AEW that saw him never win gold, Page joins Cody Rhodes & GUNTHER as a flagbearer for WWE today. On the Insight podcast, Page described what his reign has meant to him, using a single word: “validating.”

“Validating? I think that’s the perfect word, validating. Imagine your whole life you have this vision of what your potential could be, and no one around you sees the same vision as you. Then magically, the greatest wrestler of all time just has the same vision as you and says, ‘I’ll let you do that.’ And here I am, doing it. Yeah, the boyhood dream.”

Reflecting on his All-Elite tenure, Page admitted it was time to move on and that his NXT success so far proves he made the right decision.

“It was time. Yeah, it was time. And I wasn’t getting what I magically got here, which was the opportunity to show what I bring to the table.”

What’s to Come?

Page’s rapid rise to the top of NXT will see him defend the NXT Championship against Trick Williams next week during WWE NXT’s premiere on The CW Network. Whether Page’s reign continues or ends abruptly, the All-Ego star is confident this kind of opportunity wouldn’t have happened in AEW. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest updates on Ethan Page and WWE NXT’s move to The CW.

After an impressive run with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), former Strong Openweight Champion Hikuleo, who stands an imposing 6 feet 8 inches tall, signed with WWE in July 2024. At 33 years old, Hikuleo brings both size and experience to the roster, adding another talent with ties to the famed Anoa’i wrestling family. Fans have been eager to see how Hikuleo will be integrated into WWE, and new reports suggest that his journey will begin in NXT.

According to PWInsider Elite, Hikuleo has been added to WWE’s internal NXT roster, though the exact timing of his in-ring debut remains unclear. His last match was at NJPW’s Dominion event in June 2024, where he participated in a four-way elimination tag-team match.

Given Hikuleo’s strong familial connections, many speculated that he might bypass NXT entirely and debut directly on the main roster as part of the ongoing Bloodline storyline. As the brother of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, Hikuleo is a natural fit for the group’s angle, which has seen Solo Sikoa’s faction clash with Roman Reigns. Both of Hikuleo’s brothers, as well as Jacob Fatu, skipped the NXT developmental process. However, it appears that won’t be the case for Hikuleo.

WWE seems to have different plans, opting for Hikuleo to further develop his skills in NXT before positioning him as a main roster talent. This strategic move comes at a pivotal time, as NXT is set to move to The CW next week. Hikuleo’s arrival, with his towering presence and Bloodline ties, is expected to provide a significant boost of star power to the developmental brand. His presence could help mark a new era for NXT on its new network.

With all this in mind, wrestling fans should stay on high alert for Hikuleo’s arrival in NXT sooner rather than later.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Hikuleo and The Bloodline.

CM Punk’s 46th birthday is still a month away, but that hasn’t stopped his ‘daughters‘ Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade giving the veteran a gift. The two NXT Superstars didn’t need to spend a fortune to make their feelings clear on the former WWE World Champion and even included a reference to one of Punk’s most infamous moments.

On his Instagram Stories, Punk shared the gift in question; a birthday napkin claiming that the Raw Superstar is turning 100 years old. Punk is encouraged to “enjoy your fruit and protein” by his ‘daughters’ who he believes are “alright when they’re not being brats.”

At the top of the napkin is a quote from Punk that reads “I’m old and tired and I work with children.” Punk infamously delivered a variation of these words during his infamous All Out 2022 post-show rant. That rant and the backstage fight that followed would see Punk and other top names suspended from AEW and would forever shift the Best in the World’s relationship with the promotion. The napkin also includes an image of a cupcake, a nod to Punk’s sweet treat of choice as he delivered his post-show comments.

What’s to Come?

CM Punk will appear on the October 1, edition of WWE NXT, which will serve as the show’s premiere and fittingly take place in Chicago, Illinois. At the latest NXT, it was confirmed that Punk will officiate the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams.

Perez will also be in action on the night as she’ll defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia. Despite this napkin gift, Perez had strong words for Punk on the latest NXT, declaring that she now sees she should have been a Drew McIntyre, the man Punk will face in Hell in a Cell at WWE Bad Blood on October 5.

WWE NXT star Brooks Jensen has been steadily gaining attention on the gold brand, thanks in part to his envelope-pushing angle that has blended real life and his work in the ring. This week, Jensen shared another glimpse into his real life by revealing he has got married.

On Twitter, a fan shared their hope that Jensen is having a great day, which caught the attention of the NXT Superstar. Jensen shared that he certainly is having a great day as he’s now a married man.

Keeping Fans Guessing

In May, Jensen tweeted out his booking information for promoters, suggesting that he was no longer part of NXT. Jensen went as far as to appear at an independent event to further the angle, catching the attention of fans who were unsure whether this was a work.

Adding to the emotional weight of the angle, Jensen’s now-wife, Chloe, released a video responding to him no-showing an independent event, again blurring the lines and intriguing viewers. Despite this, Jensen was under contract with WWE throughout the angle, with this storyline designed to elevate his character on the gold brand. More recently, Jensen has been aligned with Shawn Spears as the ‘Chairman’ is proving to be a bad influence on the 23-year-old Superstar.

We would like to send our congratulations to Brooks Jensen and Chloe. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from Brooks Jensen in and out of the ring.

On October 1, WWE NXT will make its highly anticipated debut on The CW, concluding a five-year run on the USA Network. As part of the transition, the show will undergo several major changes, including plans to take the brand on the road. This week, it was reported that WWE would be ending NXT Level Up when the company’s deal with Hulu expires next week, but now more has come to light.

Despite rumors that NXT Level Up would be finishing, Fightful Select has since reported that WWE will continue broadcasting episodes of NXT Level Up for the foreseeable future. One source emphasized the importance of NXT Level Up in providing TV experience for debuting talent and claimed that discontinuing the show would be a serious mistake on the company’s behalf.

WWE NXT Level Up launched in February 2022, replacing 205 Live and has aired on Friday nights ever since. The show has allowed for up-and-coming talent to perform in front of a television audience for the first time before transitioning to the main NXT roster. Notable alumni include current North American Champion Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Thea Hail.

While NXT Level Up is here to stay, WWE NXT will soon end its five-year run on the USA Network and debut on The CW. WWE has already loaded the first two weeks of NXT on The CW with title matches confirmed as well as appearances by CM Punk and Randy Orton. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on NXT as the gold brand prepares for a future on a different network.

The September 17, edition of WWE NXT saw a special appearance by CM Punk who was part of a segment with Giulia and Roxanne Perez. Later on, it was confirmed that Punk will be the guest referee of the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams when WWE NXT premieres on The CW on October 1.

The arrival of the Best in the World was welcomed by the crowd in Orlando and judging by the ratings, also by those watching at home. This week’s show saw an average viewership of 677,000, up eight percent from the previous week’s 628,000, Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider reports. This week also marked the highest-viewed NXT of the past ten weeks, with the show only being bested by the June 18, show.

While this is a success for WWE NXT in 2024, the show has seen a decline year-on-year. In 2023, this week’s NXT drew 824,000, while two years ago this week the show was at 688,000.

CM Punk at WWE NXT

Punk made quite the impact at WWE NXT and his time at the show didn’t stop once the cameras stopped rolling. On social media, it was shared that Punk stayed behind after the taping to ensure fans got a chance to meet him and get an autograph.

What’s to Come?

CM Punk’s return to WWE NXT will come on the October 1, premiere on The CW, fittingly in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The next week, WWE NXT will travel to Missouri where Randy Orton will take on the Young OG Je’Von Evans. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE NXT ahead of the gold brand’s move to The CW.

Since arriving in WWE, Roxanne Perez has made no secret about growing up idolizing AJ Lee and CM Punk, who are affectionately referred to as her wrestling ‘parents.’ During the September 17, WWE NXT, Perez shared the ring with Punk and had some choice words for dear old dad.

Interrupting Punk’s segment on the show, The Prodigy spoke about Punk being one of her favorite wrestlers but admitted that she always preferred Punk’s wife AJ Lee. Perez added that she wished she’d grown up as a Drew McIntyre, who Perez is confident will end Punk’s career at WWE Bad Blood inside Hell in a Cell.

These comments caught the attention of McIntyre who mocked Punk’s psuedo-parental relationship with Perez. On Twitter, McIntyre said he was proud of the reigning WWE NXT Women’s Champion, but only a freak would see her as a daughter figure.

What’s To Come?

Perez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia at the October 1, show that will also mark NXT’s premiere on The CW Network. The show will take place in Chicago, Illinois, and will also see an appearance by Punk. The Chicago-Made star will return to his hometown to officiate the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and challenger Trick Williams.

Just days later, Punk will step into Hell in a Cell against McIntyre at Bad Blood. This match will be Punk’s first Hell in a Cell match since 2013 and McIntyre’s first since 2021. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Drew McIntyre and his war with CM Punk that will see both men enter Hell on October 5.

WWE has confirmed CM Punk’s role as well as the appearance of another former World Champion for NXT’s CW premiere on October 1.

NXT GM Ava held a contract signing between NXT Champion Ethan Page and Trick Williams during the latest episode of the show. Before getting into the segment, she announced that The Miz will be holding a special edition of Miz TV on the CW premiere while also confirming a Randy Orton match for the week after that.

The contract signing couldn’t be completed, however, as Page delivered an Ego’s Edge on his opponent and left without putting pen to paper. This led to NBA star Tyrese Haliburton making an appearance during the main event of the show.

Haliburton brought out both Williams and Page and made them sign the contract. The basketball star mentioned that there was one more thing to announce and then Punk came out. The Straight Edge Star confirmed that he will be the special guest referee for the upcoming title match. The show ended with both NXT stars brawling each other.

This might not be the only championship match Punk gets involved in at the upcoming show. The episode also saw NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez offering some harsh words to her childhood hero during a segment before her upcoming title defense against Giulia.

Giulia herself came out later to confront the champion. Punk had to intervene to stop Perez from attacking the Japanese star with the title belt. It’s very much possible that the wrestling veteran will have a part to play when the two female stars finally face each other at the upcoming episode.

• Watch: Tyrese Haliburton Roasts the Orlando Magic At (9/17) WWE NXT

Updated NXT On CW Premiere Match Card

Apart from CM Punk and The Miz, WWE has confirmed that Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair will also be making an appearance at the upcoming show. Here is everything that has been announced for October 1:

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair
• NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Giulia
• Miz TV
• Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
• NXT Championship Match With Special Guest Referee CM Punk: Ethan Page (c) vs. Trick Williams

The September 17, edition of WWE NXT saw the Superstars of the gold brand continue on the road to WWE NXT’s premiere on the CW, which will come on October 1. It wasn’t just the Superstars who appeared on this week’s show, however, as members of the Indiana Pacers also made their presence felt.

Tyrese Haliburton, decked in the shirt of NXT head Shawn Michaels, was initially shown meeting with NXT GM Ava and Haliburton was later part of the contract signing between NXT Champion Ethan Page and Trick Williams. Being a Pacer, Haliburton got a frosty reception from the Orlando crowd but had a comeback for those booing him and his team.

Tyrese Haliburton And WWE

Haliburton’s wrestling love is no secret, as he shared a heartwarming meeting with Booker T and Queen Sharmell in December 2023. In July 2024, Haliburton appeared on SmackDown and came to the aid of Logan Paul in a U.S. Championship qualifying match. Unfortunately for the duo, Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks prevented Haliburton from passing the brass knuckles to Paul in the Money in the Bank qualifying match that was won by LA Knight.

The world of pro wrestling and celebrity athletes have often come together and we can’t count out future appearances for Tyrese Haliburton in WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the basketball star and any plans he may have for a future in the ring.

Randy Orton’s role for the October 8 episode of NXT has been revealed.

WWE’s third brand will be moving to its new home on The CW at the start of October and the company is looking to make a big impact upon the premiere.

They had previously announced that CM Punk and Randy Orton will respectively be appearing on the first and second episode of the show on the CW.

During the most recent episode of the development brand, General Manager Ava announced that The Viper would actually be competing at the show coming live from his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

Orton’s opponent was confirmed later when Je’Von Evans asked Ava for a match and the 14-time world champion responded to his request on Twitter:

• Photos of Randy Orton and Wife Kim’s Romantic Belize Getaway

Randy has previously made one appearance for the brand. He defeated Damien Sandow in a match during the March 17, 2013 episode of the show when it was still a one-hour broadcast.

The Legend Killer won’t be the only main roster star appearing at the upcoming event as Austin Theory and Grayson Waller have also been announced.

The duo collectively known as A-Town Down Under will be challenging Axiom & Nathan Frazer for the NXT Tag Team Championships. The episode will also see the return of Sexyy Red, though what she will be doing at the event has not been revealed.

Despite the inclusion of the big names, the episode seems to be drawing limited interest from people. The company recently moved it from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis to the smaller venue of The Factory at The District in Chesterfield, Missouri.

The relationship between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling has proven to be a hit this year with fans excited to see who steps through the ‘prohibited portal.’ At the latest tapings of TNA iMPACT, this partnership was on full display as more names from WWE NXT made appearances for the other promotion.

Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright from NXT participated in the latest TNA tapings. Bright signed with WWE in November 2022 while Grey inked a deal with the company two months later in January 2023.

The appearance of Grey and Bright comes shortly after TNA Victory Road which saw even more of the NXT-TNA partnership. On the show, NXT’s Wendy Choo unsuccessfully challenged Jordynne Grace for the TNA Knockouts World Championship. The two have been at odds on TNA and NXT programming with Choo recruiting Rosemary to her side.

Victory Road also saw NXT’s Arianna Grace appear as the official liaison of the WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling partnership. Grace was able to share a segment with TNA’s on-screen authority figure (and her real-life father) Santino Marella.

Grace tried to remain professional, despite her very excited father’s delight at seeing her succeed in WWE NXT. On Twitter, the official TNA-NXT liaison again tried to keep things all-business with her dad.

The partnership between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling will continue forward, as Zachary Wentz will compete in a street fight with Wes Lee on WWE NXT’s debut on The CW. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from NXT, TNA, and this popular alliance.