WWE Speed may still exist on NXT, but the spark that once gave X its only redeeming quality is long dead.
At No Mercy, one, possibly two decisions delivered the final death blow to the division.
First, Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca retained her title by defeating Jaida Parker. Yes, Jaida Parker — not Lainey Reid, who was originally scheduled for the match. More on that in a bit.
With less than 30 seconds left in the standard five-minute limit for title matches, Parker got into it with Ruca’s partner,
Zaria. Then Lash Legend showed up and caused another distraction. Parker made it back into the ring but was immediately hit with a Sol Snatcher.
Match over. Ruca retains.
Let’s pause.
When WWE Speed was first introduced in 2024, like many fans, I rolled my eyes.
“Three-minute matches? Really?” I thought.
But a little voice in my head said, “Maybe. If they go all out from the bell and make every second count, it could work.”
Shockingly, it did. The matches were fast, fierce, and — most importantly — clean. I became a fan. A big one, in fact, making it a part of my wrestling beat here at Cageside Seats.
When Speed disappeared from its broadcast home on X in July, I was disappointed. But then it found a new home earlier this month on NXT on The CW. Once again, I followed excitedly.
Then the first sign of rot: In the opening round of the women’s tournament, Lainey Reid beat AAA star Faby Apache after Natalya caused a ringside distraction. I thought, “Uh-oh. This is how they kill Speed.”
Besides its frenetic pace, what made Speed stand apart from the rest of WWE was the clean finishes. Victory was often attained by chance over skill. Although stars lost, they didn’t lose their shine. Naomi and Iyo Sky both lost matches during the original women’s tournament, yet their stock never dropped.
Within months, they each won the Women’s World Title.
But in 2025, WWE is clearly obsessed with interference and distractions. Clean wins are rare, and constant shenanigans drain the emotional stakes — all to protect WWE’s stars from taking clean losses.
Unless it’s LA Knight, then WWE just has him lose outright.
But I digress.
In less than a month, NXT Speed matches have already featured wrestling’s typical mischief. And if I know WWE, it’s only going to get worse.
Now, let’s go back to Lainey Reid.
Last Tuesday, she earned the right to face Ruca after beating Candice LeRae in the tournament final. During the match, the announcers seemed more focused on the arrival of TNA stars than the actual in-ring action — another bad sign.
Moments before No Mercy, Shawn Michaels announced that Reid was injured in training and couldn’t compete. She appeared later backstage in a walking boot. Then things got suspicious.
Reid had a verbal joust with Lola Vice, who later lost her NXT Women’s Title match to Jacy Jayne — thanks to a hooded mystery attacker, another tired trope.
Days earlier on NXT, Jazmyn Nyx was nixed from Fatal Influence by another mysterious attacker. That came moments after Jayne shared a kind word with Reid.
All signs point to Reid faking her injury to help Jayne retain her title, positioning herself as the newest member of Fatal Influence.
If that’s the case, it undermines Speed completely. Title matches are supposed to be earned through tournaments — not handed out, even if someone got “injured.”
Which brings me to this.
If WWE wanted to keep the advertised Speed Title match, fine. But why not give it to Candice LeRae, the first Women’s Speed Champion, who made it deep in the tournament and only lost to Reid? Parker wasn’t even in the bracket.
If WWE is just handing out title matches, then what’s the point of tournaments?
Looking ahead, a new men’s tournament should be coming soon. Before Speed’s hiatus, El Grande Americano (then played by Chad Gable) was the Men’s Speed Champion. Now, Ludwig Kaiser has assumed the Americano role due to Gable’s injury. Whether Kaiser is recognized as the Men’s Speed Champion remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: WWE Speed on NXT isn’t what it used to be on X. The formula has been tampered with, reducing the value of a once-unique concept. While fans might still get some entertaining matches, the magic — the purity of the sprint — is gone.
Rest easy, old friend.
