WWE NXT airs tonight (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, live on The CW starting at 8 PM ET.
Tonight’s episode delivers the long-awaited in-ring debut of Naraku, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion who spent more than a decade in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as EVIL.
Noam Dar also returns to action against Jackson Drake, and the brewing four-way feud over the NXT Women’s North American Championship gets another round when Zaria and Nikkita Lyons face Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain. Here’s everything you need to know.
How to Watch WWE NXT Tonight
| Date | Tuesday, May 12, 2026 |
| Venue | WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida |
| Channel/Stream | The CW (US) / Netflix (International) |
| US Start Time | 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT |
| UK Start Time | 1 AM BST (Wednesday, May 13) |
| India Start Time | 5:30 AM IST (Wednesday, May 13) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
WWE NXT Match Card for May 12, 2026
Here are the matches and segments announced for tonight’s show:
Naraku Makes His In-Ring NXT Debut
The former EVIL appeared in NXT on April 28 to confront NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, then aired a vignette on May 5 confirming his new ring name and his sights on the title. His opponent for tonight has not been announced, but WWE has used the debut spot to set up his championship pursuit. The 12-year NJPW veteran brings the heaviest international resume to land on the brand in years.
Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drake (w/ Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes)
Dar returns to in-ring action after time away with injury, his first televised match in weeks. Drake comes in flanked by The Vanity Project’s Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes, which immediately tilts the numbers. Expect the babyface Dar to deal with the outside interference factor before the bell even sounds.
Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan (w/ Wren Sinclair)
Both women are positioning for a path back to the NXT Women’s Championship picture. Grey came up short at Stand & Deliver in the triple threat that Lola Vice won, and Jordan has been chasing rhythm since her cross-promotional run. Sinclair in Jordan’s corner suggests this won’t stay a clean one-on-one.
Zaria and Nikkita Lyons vs. Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain
The four-way pile-up around the NXT Women’s North American Championship continues. Champion Tatum Paxley aligned with the newcomer Lizzy Rain after weeks of confrontations with Zaria and Lyons, who have made it clear they both want a shot at the title. Tag-team chemistry is the test tonight, but the title scene is the real story.
Sean Legacy, Tate Wilder and EK Prosper vs. BirthRight (Lexis King, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Uriah Connors w/ Arianna Grace)
BirthRight has been one of the most active heel groups on the brand, with Arianna Grace running point at ringside. Legacy, Wilder, and Prosper make for an athletic babyface trio with something to prove. Watch for Charlie Dempsey on the floor, since BirthRight tends to travel deep.
Road to NXT Great American Bash 2026
NXT Great American Bash 2026 is reportedly scheduled for the final week of July at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, per a Bodyslam.net report. It will be the first NXT Premium Live Event on The CW under the brand’s new multi-year deal with the network.
Tonight’s show is the early stage of the road there. Naraku’s debut, Dar’s return, and the women’s title scene churn all start building toward a card that will mark NXT’s biggest broadcast television moment yet. More on the Great American Bash 2026 timeline and CW deal here.
Follow SEScoops for any news and developments from tonight’s NXT.