NXT highlights key matches ahead of Great American Bash

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MAY 12: Kelani Jordan and Kendal Grey in action during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on May 12, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/WWE via Getty Images) NXT will emanate from the Performance Center in Orlando once again tonight. Several matches have been confirmed for the show, including two #1 contenders matches with Great American Bash implications, a North American Title match in the women’s division, and a main roster tag team in action. Be sure to tune into the action on the CW starting at 8 PM ET, and follow along with all the action right here on Cageside! Kendal & Kelani Renew Rivalry Lola Vice has been a busy woman in recent weeks. After finally putting Izzi Dame behind her with a win on NXT two weeks ago, Lola appeared on night 2 of AAA’s Noche de Los Grandes, teaming up with La Catalina and Bayley to defeat Las Toxicas in a trios match. Lola’s next defense of one of her title’s, the NXT Women’s Championship will come at the end of the month at the Great American Bash, and tonight’s episode of NXT will determine who that defense will be against. After Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence moved up to the main roster, a handful of women threw their respective hats in the ring to be the next to try to rescue the NXT Women’s Championship from Vice City. The immediate field of top contenders has been whittled down to just two, as Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan will renew acquaintances this week. Kelani has been on an impressive winning streak in the past few months, picking up multiple wins over the WrenQCC teammates, Grey and Wren Sinclair. Kelani beat Grey last month in a fantastic back and forth match between two of the most athletically gifted women on the roster, thanks in large part to distractions outside the ring. Will shenanigans dictate how the rematch between these two budding stars goes this week? Who will pick up the win and move on to face Lola Vice at the Great American Bash? Rook & Naraku Fight for NXT Title Shot Heading into last week’s main event which saw Tony D’Angelo retain his NXT Title over Kam Hendrix, former IWGP Champion, Naraku vowed that he was going to protect Tony’s reign at all costs, as the two of them were destined to go to war with each other. When the dust had cleared and D’Angelo’s hand was raised, it was Mason Rook who played a bigger role in making sure the champ stayed that way for another week. After Hendrix swooped in for the pinfall in his tag team match with Mason Rook a few weeks back, the British newcomer who’ll bodyslam yer dad has been determined to prove that Kam was just riding his coattails, and that he was more deserving of a shot at the NXT Title than Hendrix was. Despite GM Stone’s warnings, Rook made his way to ringside during Kam’s shot and his mere presence was enough to distract him, allowing Tony D to hit a vicious chokeslam and successfully retain his gold. After the match, Naraku was there to present D’Angelo with his NXT Championship belt and respectfully bowed to the champ as Mason Rook looked on from ringside. As the show went off the air, Vic frantically announced that Rook and Naraku would be facing off next week with the winner earning the #1 contendership and a title match with Tony at the Great American Bash at the end of the month. Which newcomer will be next in line to try to dethrone Tony D’Angelo in less than 3 weeks? Will Kam Hendrix interject himself in the match somehow Can Zaria Dethrone Tatum? Late last year, after winning the NXT Women’s Championship, Tatum Paxley decided she wanted to be a benevolent, fighting champion and granted championship matches to anybody who came calling. At the time, Tatum was a part of The Culling, and her willingness to be so giving of title opportunities led to a short title reign after Izzi Dame turned on her. Fast forward to a few months later and Tatum is a champion again. And like she did last fall, Paxley has made it clear that she will be a fighting champion. She granted a title match to her new friend Lizzy Rain after the Maiden of Metal scored the winning pinfall in a tag team match the week prior. Tatum would go on to win that match, but was quickly faced with a new challenger in the form of Aussie powerhouse, Zaria. Zaria has had singles gold in her sights since her high-profile breakup with Sol Ruca that was one of the main stories on NXT for the first quarter of 2026. After ditching her tag team partner Nikkita Lyons in that tag match I just mentioned, Zaria was firmly focused on Tatum’s North American Championship. To get there, she had to get through Tatum’s new pal, Lizzy Rain, which she had no problem doing on NXT last week. As Zaria was primed to continue her beatdown post-match, Tatum stepped in and granted her the title match that she so clearly was angling for. That title match happens on this week’s show. Can Tatum continue to roll on as North American Champion? Or will being such a fighting champion catch up with her and lead to Zaria’s crowning moment? Quick Hits Romeo Moreno came up with a huge upset two weeks ago when he defeated Smackdown’s Nathan Frazer in the Speed Tournament finals. Romeo would end up losing his title shot to Lexis King last week, but now, he’ll team with his possible mentor, Noam Dar, to take on Fraxiom, who will return to the Performance Center this week. Can Romeo and Noam come up with another huge victory over a main roster tag team? Or will Nathan Frazer and Axiom pick up a win as the WWE looks to rebuild their tag division? Shiloh Hill’s wacky character will take another step down the path to absurdity this week when he competes with Tristan Angels in the first-ever Mr. NXT Pageant. GM Robert Stone has spared no expense bringing the best judges that money can buy to determine who will be Mr. NXT. Which guy will shine brightest in the categories of attire, talent, and public speaking? Is there any chance this thing ends without the two of them coming to blows? DarkState was victorious over the former NQCC last week, even though the match was originally postponed thanks to Saquon Shugars jumping Cutler James with a baseball bat. Where will the DarkState boys turn their attention to next? Revenge on the Shuga Man? The NXT Tag Team Titles? Myles Borne’s North American Title? All of the above? The implosion of The Culling continued last week as Niko Vance and Shawn Spears were defeated pretty handily at the hands of OTM. Is it time for Izzi and Niko to cut the dead weight and 86 the former Perfect 10? Jackson Drake continued to pick up momentum for his squad last week, picking up a win over Tate Wilder. What’s next for the Vanity Project? Will any tag teams currently hanging out in NXT catering decide they want to challenge the NXT Tag Team Champs, Smokes and Baylor? Is Myka Lockwood content being the enforcer for a trio of frat dudes, or will she look to dip her toes into the NXT women’s division? Last week was one of mixed results for Birth Right. On NXT last Tuesday, Lexis King defeated Romeo Moreno to remain the Men’s Speed Champion, but on Thursday, Stacks and Arianna Grace came up short in mixed tag team action on TNA Impact, falling victim to a double Cobra attack by Santino Marella and Indi Hartwell. Will we find out what’s next for the nepo-babies of Birth Right this week? All this and more on NXT on the CW tonight as WWE’s developmental brand heads towards the Great American Bash in less than 3 weeks! Let us know what you’re most excited for on tonight’s show in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with the live coverage here on Cageside tonight, starting at 8 PM Eastern!