WWE NXT Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From June 2

Tony D'Angelo had a statement to make on the June 2 edition of WWE NXT. He defended his NXT Championship against rookie upstart Kam Hendrix.

This show also featured Zaria vs. Lizzy Rain and men's Speed champion Lexis King defending against newcomer Romeo Moreno.

This was set to be an important night that would continue to build the foundations of this new-look NXT.

Could new stars emerge? Would any gold change hands? Who would step up next?

Zaria vs. Lizzy Rain

Last Time in Action: Lizzy Rain lost to Tatum Paxley for the Women's North American Championship (NXT, May 19); Zaria alongside Nikkita Lyons lost to Paxley and Rain (NXT, May 12).

While Rain came in with fire, the offensive intensity of Zaria defined the first half of the contest, forcing The Maiden of Metal to fight from underneath.

Rain fought back with perseverance and focus, kicking out of the best offense her rival could throw at her.

Eventually, it became too much though as Zaria caught Rain with a Spear followed by an F5 to seal the victory.

Afterward, Zaria threatened to beat up Rain more, but Tatum Paxley arrived to give Zaria a Women's North American Championship match next week.

While Zaria and Rain did not click as much as Paxley and Rain, this was still another strong showcase for The Maiden of Metal.

She looked good working as the underdog throughout this contest and sold herself as a genuine challenger to one of NXT's most dangerous women.

This was always going to lead to a Zaria win, though it is surprising NXT might run Paxley vs. Rain next week instead of waiting for Great American Bash.

That could be the end of the road for Paxley since Zaria needs a big win to solidify herself as one of NXT's best heels.

Result

Zaria def. Rain by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments and Observations

Zaria was bright red from hair to gear and wore attire that glinted in the NXT lights, almost making her disappear in the glint of the lights.

Paxley arrived late to join commentary, drawing the ire of Zaria. She did not say much on commentary, focusing on the action.

The next match was supposed to be DarkState vs. Myles Borne and Tavion Heights, but Saquon Shugars attacked Cutler James in the crowd, causing the match to be postponed.

The Culling vs. OTM

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The Culling

Last Time in Action: OTM and Mike Santana defeated DarkState (NXT, March 31); Shawn Spears and Niko Vance lost to Los Americanos in the NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contender Tournament (NXT, March 24).

Despite all promises to keep his focus, Spears struggled to keep his team with Niko on track. It seemed like Niko was more interested in Izzi Dame's advice.

After accidentally almost running into Niko on the apron, Spears walked into OTM's elevated double slam finisher for the loss.

This was a decent match but felt rushed. Despite a multi-week build, The Culling never came off as serious threats to OTM.

This may be for the best since OTM should be on track to challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships soon.

However, with each loss, The Culling loses already limited credibility. Spears is especially coming off as almost unnecessary to a group he started.

The sooner Izzi and Niko turn on Spears, the better for the potential future of The Culling.

Result

OTM def. The Culling by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments and Observations

Backstage, Tavion Heights and Myles Borne talked with Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux about whether they should fight again or team up.

The Culling overheard the conversation and related it to their own communication issues. Izzi agreed to put her title dreams on hold for The Culling.

Despite rarely wrestling recently, OTM got a good reaction from the NXT crowd.

Spears got some accidental color late before the finish.

Afterward, a frustrated Niko and Izzi stood over Spears, looking about ready to turn on him.

Jackson Drake vs. Tate Wilder

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The Vanity Project

Last Time in Action: Tate Wilder lost to Keanu Carver (NXT, May 19); Jackson Drake defeated Noam Dar (NXT, May 12).

While Drake did not take Wilder seriously at first, Wilder made him pay for it, picking up the pace from the start of the match.

Wilder's TKO got the first near-fall of the match. After a Powerbomb, Wilder hit a Corkscrew Splash for another near-fall.

While Wilder took out Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor, Myka Lockwood laid him out on the apron.

Drake followed up with a 450 Splash for another victory for him and another loss for Wilder.

Two great athletes had too little time and too much interference to shine. Drake is racking up wins, but his in-ring efforts are obscured by the overwhelming interference.

Wilder continues to impress, though he needs to do more than hit the same basic offense at the close of her every match before he loses.

This was not going to be the moment for him to pick up his first win, but the next match may need to be the one if NXT wants him to come off credible any time soon.

Result

Drake def. Wilder by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments and Observations

EK Prosper tried to hype up Wilder before his match, but Kam Hendrix interrupted to mock Wilder's early losses.

With each loss, Wilder comes off more frustrated, which needs to lead somewhere soon.

Osiris Griffin interrupted Robert Stone hyping Great American Bash and laid out Jasper Troy with Dion Lennox.

Kelani Jordan and Kendal Grey Agree to No. 1 Contender Match Next Week

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Lola Vice

Lola Vice talked up her win over Izzi Dame, turning the focus on her next challenger. Kelani Jordan arrived to clearly state she wanted the next shot at Vice.

Jordan questioned why Vice was loved while she was hated and ignored despite her own impressive accomplishments.

Kendal Grey arrived with Wren Sinclair, reminding them that she pinned them both in the Iron Survivor. Vice told them to fight next week, and she would fight the winner at Great American Bash.

Jordan stole Vice's NXT Women's Championship, causing her to deliver a Spinning Back Fist that accidentally hit Grey instead.

NXT is always at its weakest with in-ring promo segments. The talent always seem more natural in backstage promos or working in the ring.

This was no different. Vice has one awkward cadence for her championship addresses. Jordan's feigned heel confidence is more grating than effective.

Grey struggles to find her comfort between natural and rehearsed in these segments, leading to awkward laughs in the middle of her addresses.

This was a big match announcement obscured behind a flat promo segment from all involved. It is unclear who will win, which makes next week more exciting.

Grade

C

Notable Moments and Observations

Vice stated that Jordan's Knockouts Championship run was blink-and-you-miss-it, but Vice has only been champion so far for 7 days longer than Jordan's 53-day reign.

NXT showed Tristan Angels and Shiloh Hill's preparations for the Mr. NXT Pageant with three categories: Attire, Talent and Public Speaking.

Hill and Tatum Paxley talked about his plans for next week. When Hill left, Zaria attacked Paxley and F5ed her.

Robert Stone advised Mason Rook in front of Tony D'Angelo that he would face Naraku next week to crown the next challenger for the NXT Championship.

Men's Speed Championship: Lexis King (c) (w/ BirthRight) vs. Romeo Moreno

Last Time in Action: Romeo Moreno defeated Nathan Frazer (NXT, May 26); Lexis King defeated EK Prosper to win the Men's Speed Championship (NXT, April 21).

Romeo pushed the pace against King early in this contest, but King found ways to slow it down, taking advantage of the full five-minute clock.

After King escaped Romeo's Rings of Saturn submission, BirthRight tried to get involved, but the challenger dived onto everyone at ringside.

Back in the ring, Romeo fought out of a Canadian Mapleleaf but missed a Springboard Moonsault to follow. King hit a Drive-By into the Coronation to win with seconds to spare.

King is an odd competitor for the five-minute match setting as his offense does not flow in that short time frame.

Romeo was doing the heavy lifting throughout this contest and came off as a far-more worthy champion, but that is the point that gives King heat for the moment.

It would be nice though to move the gold to a younger and faster competitor that can make every title match a spectacle rather than surviving with fine performances next to better athletes.

Result

King def. Romeo by pinfall to retain the Men's Speed Championship.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments and Observations

Vic Joseph and Booker T spent most of the match arguing over how "fast" King actually is.

Keanu Carver found an injured Tate Wilder in the trainer's room and told him to stop being stupid. EK Prosper offered to fight Carver.

Kendal Grey wanted Wren Sinclair in her corner for next week, but Wren told her that she would stay more focused on her own.

Myles Borne and Tavion Heights vs. DarkState's Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox

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DarkState

Last Time in Action: Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin alongside Cutler James and Saquon Shugars lost to Tony D'Angelo, Ethan Page, Ricky Saints and Joe Hendry (NXT, April 7, 2026). This was the first time Myles Borne and Tavion Heights teamed in NXT since the No. 1 Contender Tag Team Gauntlet in April 15, 2025.

While this match had to be changed due to the attack of Saquon Shugars earlier in the night, Lennox and Griffin looked more dangerous than ever.

Heights and Borne could not recreate their old magic as a team. Borne got knocked off the apron followed by a DarkState Doomsday Device to win.

This was a good tag team match, even if the miscommunication between both teams hurt the pacing of the contest.

DarkState needed the win more than Borne and Heights, who are not going to work as a tag team any time soon.

In fact, it looks more likely than ever that the plan is for Heights to turn on Borne and go after the North American Championship.

Shugars may be taking over DarkState one man at a time, but he needs help eventually. He cannot just do a Tony D'Angelo and run through the whole group alone.

Result

Lennox and Griffin def. Borne and Heights by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments and Observations

Borne was heavily isolated in this match but did not take the pinfall to somewhat protect him as champion. It would be nice to see him get more wins though.

Shugars watched DarkState from the elevated stage after the match.

Heights and Borne argued without sound following the loss.

Nattie met Jaida Parker backstage and called her "soft".

NXT Championship: Tony D'Angelo (c) vs. Kam Hendrix

Last Time in Action: Kam Hendrix alongside Mason Rook defeated Tony D'Angelo alongside Myles Borne (NXT, May 19).

Hendrix started fast with a Showtime Kick for a near-fall, setting the early pace where he dominated the champion.

D'Angelo found his focus after the commercial break and began throwing around the challenger with intense focus.

The champion's Forget About It picked up a near-fall. Hendrix tried to stack up D'Angelo with his feet on the ropes, but the referee caught the cheat.

Another Showtime Kick followed by a Sit-Out Powerbomb got another near-fall for the challenger.

Both Naraku and a late-arriving Mason Rook made sure Hendrix could not cheat to win, setting the stage for a Back Body Drop on the announce table and Spinebuster in the ring for the D'Angelo victory.

Naraku himself presented the championship to D'Angelo while Rook watched from ringside as NXT confirmed Naraku vs. Rook as a No. 1 Contender match next week.

While this match was structured to make Hendrix look like a threat, it was clear throughout this contest that he was not ready for a main event spotlight.

D'Angelo had to correct for multiple basic mistakes early in the contest and buumped generously to keep the challenger looking dangerous.

In the end though, the story was that Hendrix could not win on his own without cheating, and the real challengers are circling the champion.

Whether it is Rook or Naraku next for D'Angelo, the potential of these upcoming title defenses comes off different. Both matches could main event Great American Bash.

Neither man though should beat the champion without further story build. At this stage, they have not sold themselves as more than potential threats this early in their NXT runs.

It would solidify the champion though if he could defeat both men then someone rising up the ranks more naturally dethrone D'Angelo instead.

Result

D'Angelo def. Hendrix by pinfall to retain the NXT Championship.

Grade

B

Notable Moments and Observations

Naraku watched this match closely, standing at the NXT Championship podium.

Booker T did not understand Hendrix's pose, calling it a "Heisman", which Vic Joseph corrected him on.

Despite Robert Stone clearly stating the Rook vs. Naraku match as a No. 1 contender match early in the show, Vic Joseph only confirmed it at the end of the show as though it was a major surprise.

Overall Show

NXT remains a brand of potential so far, not yet delivering must-see television with this new-look roster despite falling into a comfortable rhythm.

Next week's show has major potential with multiple No. 1 Contender matches and the Women's North American Championship showdown.

Still, the problem remains that many of the featured acts are works in progress that have good and bad weeks.

As NXT solidifies the direction to Great American Bash, NXT could find a better direction that requires less awkward surprises and more memorable exchanges.

The chaos of NXT needs a bit more order to take decent shows like this to a level of quality that fans can follow and hype.

Overall Grade: C+