WWE NXT Preview: Championship Tournament Begins; TNA Knockouts Tag Title Contender Match

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT promises to be a pivotal night for the brand as the fallout from New Year’s Evil continues to reshape the title picture. With the NXT Championship recently vacated by Oba Femi, General Manager Ava has officially charted a new course for the men’s division. Tonight, the road to crowning a new champion begins, alongside a massive crossover bout involving TNA Wrestling.

The Quest for the NXT Championship

After shutting down Ricky Saints’ demand to be handed the vacant title, Ava announced that a six-man Ladder Match will take place on February 3 to crown the new champion. The field begins to take shape tonight with two high-stakes qualifying matches. Josh Briggs looks to impose his will against Shiloh Hill, while Sean Legacy faces off against Eli Knight. The winners will advance one step closer to claiming the brand’s top prize next month.

North American Title Defense

Current NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is set to defend his gold against a mysterious newcomer. Page will put his title on the line against the debuting Elio LeFleur. While Page is determined to retain his spot at the top of the card, LeFleur enters with a lot to prove to the NXT Universe, making this a potential trap game for “All Ego.”

TNA Crossover Action

The partnership between WWE and TNA continues to flourish with a major triple threat tag team match. The bout will determine the new Number One Contenders for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship. The formidable duo of Sol Ruca and Zaria—collectively known as “Zaruca”—will square off against the teams of Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey (Wren-QCC) and the stable Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid). The winners will earn a shot at bringing TNA gold to the white-and-gold brand.

WWE NXT Lineup for January 20, 2026:

NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Elio LeFleur
NXT Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Josh Briggs vs. Shiloh Hill
NXT Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Sean Legacy vs. Eli Knight
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Match: Zaruca (Sol Ruca & Zaria) vs. Wren-QCC vs. Fatal Influence