WWE announced during the NXT Gold Rush Week One special on Tuesday night that WWE NXT Champion "Absolute" Ricky Saints will defend his title against "The Ruler of NXT," Oba Femi, at Deadline. This match was arranged following Femi's loss of the NXT Championship to Saints at No Mercy this past September, after which Femi disappeared from NXT programming for several weeks. During his absence, Saints feuded with Trick Williams, successfully defending his title against Williams at last month’s Halloween Havoc Premium Live Event.
Last Tuesday, Saints and Williams faced off in a brutal Last Man Standing Match, with Saints emerging victorious once again. However, just as the show was about to conclude, Femi made a shocking return. Femi and Saints had a verbal confrontation in the ring, where Saints taunted Femi, stating that while Femi was away recuperating, he was busy dominating Williams in the ring. Saints expressed that he was pleased to see Femi back but warned him not to even dream of reclaiming the title.
In response, Femi declared that he had returned to the place where he made his mark and was waiting for the right opportunity to come back, stating emphatically, "I am finally here." He then challenged Saints for the title, and Saints accepted, confirming that their rematch would take place at Deadline.
NXT Deadline 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.
REMATCH. ACCEPTED.
Ricky Saints and Oba Femi will run it back for the NXT Championship at NXT Deadline! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/J0fJOzr9xs— WWE (@WWE) November 19, 2025
