Generation NXT - NXT recap for January 27, 2026

Before the next match, The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake) have laid out Joe Hendry backstage. They try to lie to General Manager Ava, but it does not work. To make matters worse, Tony D'Angelo is on his way to the arena and surrounded by security. Ricky Saints is also on commentary, but not for long, as a tag team match becomes the new opening match.

DarkState (Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars) retain the NXT Tag Team Championships against OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) after The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake) run to the ring, which catches the eye of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, who follows them. The Vanity Project distracts OTM, allowing Saquon to use the ropes for leverage and retain. After the match, Hank and Tank brawl with The Vanity Project, and OTM, having figured out that The Vanity Project cost them the match, jump in. Chase University (Andre Chase, Kale Dixon, Uriah Connors) also gets involved, and as DarkState celebrate in the ring, they are attacked and laid out by The Culling (Shawn Spears and Niko Vance).

In backstage footage from last week, Blake Monroe finds an ally in Nikkita Lyons, who says that she knows Jaida Parker and that she will face Jaida so that Blake does not have to.

Jaida Parker beats Nikkita Lyons. After the match, Blake Monroe shows up on the TitanTron and says that while Jaida Parker has something, she is not glamorous. She says that nobody takes the spotlight from her and gets away with it, and that she will be seeing Jaida soon.

In backstage from earlier today, Tavion Heights tells Elio LaFleur and Eli Knight that despite their recent losses, they had the place on their feet. Lexis King, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo and Arianna Grace show up, and Lexis tells Tavion Heights that he has squandered every one of his opportunities since he went solo. Members of the locker room have to break up a brawl.

We hear from The Elegance Brand (The Personal Concierge George Iceman, Ash by Elegance, Heather by Elegance, M by Elegance, Mr. Elegance). The Personal Concierge look forward to facing Sol Ruca and Zaria for the Knockouts tag titles, and Heather and M try to drive a wedge between Sol Ruca and Zaria, calling them "fake friends." The Personal Concierge says that they have beauty, class and health and that they will keep the Knockouts tag titles forever.

Backstage, Zaria cannot get a hold of Sol Ruca. Thea Hail shows up and mentions the state of how friends are come and go before wondering about how to become a champion again, and this leads to an argument where Zaria is irritated that she cannot win championships while Thea stumbled into one. Zaria then says she will see Thea later.

Backstage, Myles Borne runs into "All Ego" Ethan Page, who tells him that he must beat Dion Lennox by any means necessary. As Myles says it is none of Ethan's business how he wins, Ricky Saints shows up, but Myles Borne is not in the mood for him, either.

Backstage, General Manager Ava finds out that Joe Hendry is no longer medically cleared as The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake) show up. They say that Ava cannot prove that they attacked Hendry. Ava says that Jackson Drake has qualified for the NXT Championship Ladder Match, but if Joe Hendry gets cleared, he will be part of it, too.

Dion Lennox beats Myles Borne in an NXT Championship Ladder Match qualifier after "All Ego" Ethan Page hands one of his championships to Myles to use as a weapon only for Myles to get caught with it, allowing Lennox to get the win and qualify for the match. After the match, Ethan tells Myles that all he had to do was listen and that he will never win without his advice. Myles attacks Ethan with the North American title in response.

Backstage, Tony D'Angelo shows up in General Manager Ava's office as Ricky Saints speaks with Ava. Saints leaves, and Ava says she bailed him out because NXT needs him, as D'Angelo knows NXT better than anyone. She asks D'Angelo if he is in or out, and D'Angelo says he will mention his intentions next week. Ava then tells D'Angelo not to interfere in next week's ladder match.

Backstage, Andre Chase gets ready for his match as Uriah Connor is frustrated with a lack of success. Lexis King shows up, sits on his throne, and says that Uriah has been listening and that his father would be proud, as he knows his own father would be.

Lexis King beats Tavion Heights as Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo and Arianna Grace show up to watch the match from ringside halfway through.

Finn Balor's time in NXT is covered on NXT Origins.

Izzi Dame guests on commentary for the next match.

Thea Hail beats Zaria with a schoolkid pin after Tatum Paxley shows up to attack and chase after Izzi Dame at the announce table, distracting Zaria and giving Thea Hail the win. After the match, Zaria slaps Thea Hail's hand away, then Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley show up and get on the apron. Thea offers to help Zaria, but Zaria lays her out. Lainey and Fallon decide it is better to retreat, and step off the ring apron.

Backstage, Charlie Dempsey is impressed with Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair, but notes that they did not get the win last week. As Kendal is focused on Jacy Jayne, Stacks, Arianna Grace and Lexis King want a word with Charlie Dempsey.

Keanu Carver beats Andre Chase in an NXT Championship Ladder Match qualifer that also acts as Carver's NXT debut. After the match, Carven sends Chase's face into an exposed turnbuckle before stomping Chase's head into the ring steps. Referees and medical have to check on Chase afterwards. Keanu Carver grabs the microphone and says that Andre Chase was not going to stop him. He then proclaims that he will tear everyone in the NXT Championship Ladder Match up and dares anyone to take it up with him if they have a problem, all while most of the ladder match participants watch from backstage.

"Super" Sean Legacy, Shiloh Hill, Keanu Carver, Dion Lennox and Jackson Drake are in the ring. Shiloh Hill is fired up by Keanu Carver's action, but says that brains as well as brawn is important in the ladder match. Dion Lennox says dropping people is his specialty and that nobody will jump him in line, but Sean Legacy says he has worked to get here and has nothing to lose, and that he is willing to get crazy. Jackson Drake says that getting crazy is why Legacy will choke, and that he can be the human highlight reel after barely breaking a sweat. He then says that he will be the champion while everyone else in the match becomes a part of history.Ricky Saints shows up with a ladder and climbs up it at the entranceway before stating the view from the top is great and that while he sees a lot of potential, they are seeds that have not sprouted yet while he is the rose that bloomed in NXT's concrete jungle. Keanu Carver says that they do not have to wait until next week before punching Shiloh Hill in the face, starting a brawl. Ricky Saints attacks Keanu Carver with a ladder and climbs up to the NXT Championship, but Joe Hendry shows up and hits Saints with the Standing Ovation. Hendry soon gets laid out by Keanu Carver, who is the last man standing as the show comes to an end.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!