Tony D’Angelo’s surprise attack shifts momentum in chaotic opener
Summary
– Vanity Project defeat DarkState to win NXT Tag Team Championship
– Jackson Drake prevents decisive fall late in the match
– Tony D’Angelo interference directly leads to title change
The February 24 episode of WWE NXT opened with immediate stakes as the NXT Tag Team Championship was put on the line. DarkState’s Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars entered with momentum and a reputation built on brute strength, but the flashy challengers from The Vanity Project were ready for war.
Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes matched power with speed early on, forcing DarkState to dig deep. The champions leaned heavily on their size advantage, drawing loud reactions from the crowd as they imposed their will. At several points, it appeared the challengers were on the verge of being overwhelmed.
Momentum shifted during a critical sequence when DarkState looked set to secure the victory. Jackson Drake placed a foot on the ropes to break up the count, keeping the match alive and drawing further chaos into the contest.
The turning point arrived when Tony D’Angelo stormed the scene and attacked DarkState. The distraction created the opening The Vanity Project needed. Baylor and Smokes capitalized, scoring the pinfall and capturing the NXT Tag Team Titles shockingly.
The victory marks a major statement for The Vanity Project, while DarkState now finds itself with a new enemy after D’Angelo’s interference fulfilled his promise to disrupt their dominance.
