Big shock in the wrestling world tonight — a new NXT champion has emerged, and the consequences reach far beyond a single title match. But here’s where it gets even more exciting: this victory doesn’t just come with a championship belt… it comes with a direct path to one of the biggest televised showdowns WWE has set up in years. And yes, it involves Cody Rhodes himself.
WWE kicked off its NXT Deadline premium live event on Saturday night (Dec. 6, 2025) in San Antonio, Texas, with a blockbuster matchup: Ricky Saints vs. Oba Femi for the NXT Championship. On paper, a title fight like this is already huge — but WWE decided to raise the stakes to an entirely new level.
Just one night earlier, on Friday Night SmackDown, officials announced that whoever walked out of Deadline as NXT Champion would earn a massive opportunity: a match against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the very show where John Cena is scheduled to wrestle his final match. Talk about history happening all at once.
And this is the part most people miss: this wasn’t simply a story of champion vs. challenger. It was layered. Ricky Saints has a long history and personal bond with Rhodes, which made the potential matchup deeply emotional. Meanwhile, Oba Femi wasn’t just fighting for a title — he was battling to reclaim the championship he lost at No Mercy, all while rumors grow louder that WWE is preparing to move him to the main roster sooner rather than later. That alone already divides fans — is Femi truly ready for the jump? Or should he keep building a legacy in NXT first?
Once the bell rang, both men performed like they knew the world was watching. Saints unloaded every move he had, but Femi powered through each wave of offense with the same grit he’s shown countless times before. As the match stretched on, Saints’ frustration became obvious. Fans erupted into "holy shit" chants after every near fall, proving just how electric — and unpredictable — this battle was.
In a dramatic twist, Saints managed to survive the first Fall from Grace, creating the illusion that sheer resilience might carry him through. But lightning rarely strikes twice in the ring. The second Fall from Grace landed clean, and this time Saints stayed down. Oba Femi officially became a two-time NXT Champion, earning not only the gold but also a high-stakes confrontation with Cody Rhodes next week.
Now here’s the controversial takeaway: Does this outcome set up a dream match… or an inevitable disappointment? Some fans believe Femi’s momentum makes him the perfect challenger for Rhodes. Others think the company is rushing the storyline just to fill a major TV card.
What do you think? Was Femi the right winner here — or should Saints have kept the title heading into such a historic event? Share your take in the comments. Let’s debate. 😄🔥
