Backstage, Je'Von Evans runs into Leon Slater. Je'Von says their X Division Championship match is "the youngest dream match in history" before The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley) shows up and chides Je'Von for being friends with the enemy. Je'Von says he and Slater will see who is the best at Bound For Glory, and if they are on opposite teams at Invasion, so be it. This leads to Shawn Spears challenging Je'Von and Slater to a tag team match, which both men simultaneously accept. Je'Von and Slater leave, then Lyra Valkyria shows up after Je'Von and Slater leave, and hands Tatum Paxley a Lyra Valkyria doll. The rest of The Culling take exception to this as Tatum is delighted.
Jaida Parker beats Lash Legend.
Backstage, Ricky Saints is being congratulated in the locker room when Trick Williams shows up wanting to be "co-captain." Ricky Saints that Je'Von is on the team, then says that there are two spots left, and that Myles Borne is all in for this and has one of the spots. When Trick says he has the power and size, Jasper Troy steps up, and Trick Williams puts Josh Briggs up for consideration. Starks says there is not much choice when Je'Von does not want to team with Josh Briggs, and Je'Von leaves. Trick proposes that Myles Borne and Josh Briggs face each other for one of the spots, to which Saints agrees to.
"All Ego" Ethan Page heads to the ring. Ethan brags about retaining against Tavion Heights at No Mercy before addressing El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.'s challenge, saying that he only has a doctorate in pissing him off before the man himself seemingly shows up at the arena. We only see that person's foot, though, and instead of El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Mustafa Ali shows up in NXT for the first time in two years. Mustafa tells Ethan that he has no issue with anything he has said, yet he has an issue with the NXT North American Championship. Ethan says he has no issue as well as no business with Mustafa. Mustafa says Ethan does not owe him anything, but NXT does, and that he had a shot at the title before he was released two years ago on this very day and that the opportunity never came, which he is bitter about as he is still waiting. Ethan calls this "a sob story" and tells him to pick someone with the ears to want to hear it, as he is not the guy. Mustafa says he will not cry; instead, he will politick for it, as he has spoken to General Manager Ava and Total Nonstop Action Director of Authority Santino Marella. Next week at Showdown (formerly called "Invasion"), he gets his title shot, and Ethan will have no choice but to defend the North American Championship against him. Ethan gets angry and says that Mustafa is just trying to claim what he never could, and that he will disappoint him and wish him the best in his future endeavors. Both men brawl, and Mustafa lands a drop kick on Ethan before Ethan retreats.
Backstage, Jacy Jayne shows up in the women's locker room. She declares Jaida Parker a strong candidate for the team, then picks Sol Ruca, stating that she defended the Women's Speed title at No Mercy successfully and that she needs winners. Lola Vice asks to be on the team and states that she is willing to put differences aside, but Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid show up wanting a spot on the team. Everyone argues, and Jacy puts Fallon and Lola in a match to see who gets on the team.
We hear from The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy), who states that although they do not know who their opponents in DarkState (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin) are, there will be no one else at ringside, which promises a fair fight. Matt says they must delete DarkState and win the NXT Tag Team Championships to prove that they are the best of all time.
Myles Borne beats Josh Briggs to earn a spot in the NXT men's team. During the match, Josh Briggs rips off the chain around his neck to use it as a weapon only to get stopped by Matt Cardona, which causes the referee to take the chain away. Borne hits Briggs with a drop kick followed by Borne Again for the win and the spot. The men's team consists of Ricky Saints as captain with Trick Williams, Myles Borne and Je'Von Evans as the other three members.
Backstage, Jordynne Grace tells Kelani Jordan that there is a lot of history to the Total Nonstop Action Knockouts World Championship and to carry the title well, then says she does not trust Jacy Jayne. Kelani brings up the fact that Jordynne's past is in TNA, but her present is in NXT. Jordynne mentions Joe Hendry's name as she talks about where she stands, and as Joe Hendry shows up and explains things, Mike Santana shows up and says that Hendry and Jordynne both have one foot in and one foot out. Kelani says she is closing to completing her team, but Santana says he wants her to meet the rest of the TNA locker room. Jordynne and Hendry, both knowing that they will not be picked for either team, agree that they need to be part of Showdown somehow.
Lola Vice beats Fallon Henley to earn a spot on the NXT women's team.
We hear from DarkState (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin). They say that what they started does not stop for anyone and that they forced NXT's hand, and that they are here to be the moment. Osiris then says that he and Lennox took the NXT tag titles and will take the Total Nonstop Action tag team titles.
Backstage, Jacy Jayne apologizes to Fallon Henley, stating she should not have put her in a match with Lola Vice when Lainey Reid shows up and tells Jacy not to be too hard on herself. Fallon wants to know what her deal is with them, then Lainey then reveals that she was the hooded woman who helped Jacy retain at No Mercy before admitting that she also attacked Jazmyn Nyx, stating that she never belonged in Fatal Influence (Jacy and Fallon).
Je'Von Evans and Leon Slater beat The Culling (Shawn Spears and Niko Vance). After the match, it is revealed that the entire Total Nonstop Acton locker room has made its way to the arena on a Cybertruck. The NXT locker room soon shows up, and everyone confronts each other. After the commercial break, the NXT and TNA locker rooms surround the ring. General Manager Ava runs down the card for Showdown, then Trick Williams tries to make an announcement as "co-captain" only for Ricky Saints to tell Trick he is riding shotgun. Saints picks Trick, Myles Borne and Je'Von Evans for his team, while Mike Santana picks Frankie Kazarian, Moose and Leon Slater for his team. Jacy Jayne tells Kelani Jordan that when she was Knockotus Champion, she still represented NXT, and as far as she is concerned, she is "a two-timing traitor." Jacy then picks Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker and Lola Vice for her team, while Kelani - who looks forward to shutting Jacy up -picks The IInspiration (Jessie McKay and Cassie Lee) and Mara Sadé (who she almost calls Jakara Jackson to mess with everyone). Mike Santana says that TNA is winning Showdown just like he is winning the TNA World Championship and bringing it back where it belongs, then punches Trick Williams and starts a massive brawl that ends the show. As the brawl goes on, Shawn Michaels watches from the bottom of the ramp as everybody goes at it.
Here are the highlights for tonight's show!