NXT Underground is the ultimate test for Kendal Grey's title run

The geometry of a rope-free ring

Professional wrestling is defined by its boundaries. The three ropes enclosing a twenty-by-twenty-foot square are not merely a safety net. They are a kinetic engine.

Wrestlers use them to generate velocity, to break submissions, and to find safe harbor when cornered. Removing those ropes does not just alter the aesthetic. It completely changes the spatial mechanics of the sport.

This is the tactical puzzle facing NXT Women's Champion Kendal Grey and challenger Lola Vice. As reported by Wrestling Inc, their upcoming title rematch will take place under the NXT Underground banner. That means no ropes, no turnbuckles, and no pinfalls.

The match can only end via submission, knockout, or referee stoppage. It is a stripped-down, uncompromising format that exposes every flaw in a competitor's defensive game.

In a standard ring, a defensive wrestler can retreat to the ropes to force a break. In the Underground setup, the ring edge is a cliff. One misplaced step during a sprawl sends a competitor tumbling down to the concrete floor.

This changes how fighters must manage their spacing. They cannot simply back away. They must circle constantly, fight for the center of the canvas, and use ring positioning as a primary weapon.

Stylistic clash: Freestyle control versus shoot striking

Kendal Grey’s success in NXT is built on her extensive amateur wrestling background. She is not a flyer, nor is she a theatrical striker. She is a low-to-the-ground, high-density grappler who wins matches by controlling where the fight takes place.

Her amateur pedigree shows in her stance. She keeps her knees bent, hips low, and hands active and constantly fighting for wrist control. She does not dance or waste movement in the ring.

In a standard wrestling match, Grey utilizes a high-crotch single leg or a double-leg takedown to ground her opponents. Once on the mat, she does not hunt for flashy submissions immediately. Instead, she relies on folkstyle riding techniques.

She puts her weight on her opponent's hips and uses a half-nelson to turn them. This top-heavy pressure is exhausting to defend against. In the Underground environment, this wrestling base is her greatest asset.

However, the lack of ropes also means she cannot use them to stand up if she finds herself on the bottom. She will have to rely on pure technical escapes and hip heists. If she gets stuck under Vice's weight, she cannot count on a referee break to save her.

Lola Vice enters this match with a completely different athletic pedigree. With a legitimate background in mixed martial arts and a black belt in judo, she is comfortable in raw, unstructured combat environments. She does not look to grind out decisions on the mat.

She wants to end the fight with clean, concussive strikes. Vice’s striking is built around her kicking game. She throws heavy roundhouse kicks to the ribs and low calf kicks to the legs.

These kicks are designed to damage the nerves in her opponent's leg. This slows down their movement and makes their takedown attempts sluggish. In their previous encounters, her low kicks were her most effective weapon, systematically dismantling Grey's stance.

Her secondary weapon is her judo throw. When opponents try to rush her to close the distance, she uses their own momentum against them. A quick transition to an underhook allows her to execute a sweep or a hip toss, turning a defensive situation into an offensive launchpad.

On the mat, she is highly dangerous with submission holds. She locks in the rear-naked choke with terrifying speed. This makes her a dual threat that Grey cannot ignore.

Deconstructing their first encounter

To understand why this rematch is so anticipated, we have to look back at their first match on NXT television earlier this spring. That bout was a fascinating study in tactical adjustments. In the opening five minutes, Vice completely dominated the stand-up exchanges.

She landed 12 low kicks, targeting Grey's lead left leg. By the 8-minute mark, Grey's movement was severely compromised. She could no longer shoot with her usual explosive speed.

Vice was easily sprawling away from her single-leg attempts. The challenger looked to be on the verge of winning the title, picking Grey apart from the outside with straight right hands.

The match shifted on a single tactical error. Vice, seeking a dramatic finish, threw a spinning backfist. The rotational movement took her eyes off her opponent for a split second.

Grey, showing veteran instincts, ducked under the strike. She secured a body lock from behind and executed a release German suplex. The momentum of the match flipped instantly.

Grey did not let her opponent recover. She immediately transitioned into a grounding sequence, using a cross-face to wear Vice down before locking in a tight cradle.

She secured the victory at 12 minutes and 42 seconds. It was a narrow escape for the champion. Vice proved that she has the tools to beat Grey if she remains disciplined.

The announcement of the bout, which will be a rematch for the NXT Women's Championship, represents a bold booking choice. With pinfalls eliminated, Grey cannot rely on a sudden cradle to save her title. She must force Vice to submit or knock her out cold.

The inherent flaws of the Underground format

While WWE deserves credit for trying to present a more realistic, shoot-style product, the NXT Underground format has several glaring flaws. The most distracting element is the surrounding circle of developmental recruits. They are instructed to bang on the apron continuously to create a chaotic atmosphere.

This constant drumming often feels forced and artificial. It ruins the audio experience of the match. The sound of a clean strike or a hard throw is what sells the reality of the contest.

When that sound is buried under rhythmic banging, the action feels less impactful. The production team needs to tone down the artificial noise. Letting the natural sounds of the ring carry the story would improve the broadcast significantly.

Furthermore, the refereeing in these matches is often a mess. Referees frequently struggle to count knockdowns consistently. They sometimes start the count while a wrestler is still trying to defend themselves on the ground.

This disrupts the flow of the match and can lead to awkward, anticlimactic finishes. For Grey and Vice to have a classic match, the referee must stay out of the way. The grappling must be allowed to breathe.

Another issue is the tendency for these matches to devolve into sloppy brawling. Without the structure of a standard ring, competitors sometimes lose their discipline. They throw wild punches and slip off the apron.

This takes away from the technical showcase that fans expect from high-level athletes. Both competitors must maintain their composure. They must stick to their game plans to avoid a chaotic mess.

How Lola Vice can claim the gold

For Lola Vice to win the NXT Women's Championship, she must remain disciplined. She must avoid the flashy moves that cost her the first match. Her primary goal must be to control the distance.

She should use a sharp, active jab to keep Grey from closing the gap. This jab will disrupt Grey's timing and make her hesitant to shoot. She must pair this jab with low oblique kicks to the lead knee.

She must also eliminate the high-risk maneuvers from her arsenal. The spinning backfist should be retired for this match. It is too easy to counter, and in a rope-free ring, missing a strike can send her tumbling out of the ring.

If Grey does manage to close the distance, Vice must rely on her judo background. She should look for underhooks to neutralize Grey's body locks. Active hip defense will be necessary to block takedowns.

If the fight goes to the mat, Vice should look to transition to the back. Her rear-naked choke is her best finisher. She must not waste time trying to strike from the guard; instead, she should focus on active sweeps.

The champion's path to retention

Kendal Grey's path to victory requires a high level of physical pressure. She cannot afford to stand at distance and trade kicks with Vice. She must close the distance immediately, using active hand-fighting to block Vice's vision.

Grey should look to force a collar tie or a body lock. Once in the clinch, she can use her superior strength to push Vice toward the edge of the ring. With no ropes to lean on, Vice will find it difficult to maintain her balance in these exchanges.

Grey must use short knee strikes and shoulder thrusts to wear Vice down. On the mat, she must focus on positional control rather than hunting for quick submissions. She should pass Vice's guard to establish side control or mount.

From there, she can use her elbow and forearm to put pressure on Vice's face and throat. This forces the challenger to turn her back. Once Vice gives up her back, Grey can lock in a tight submission or transition to a Kimura.

This match will be a test of endurance. Grey must use her folkstyle wrestling base to turn the match into a grueling struggle. If she can drag Vice into the deep water of the later rounds, the challenger's explosive striking will fade, leaving her vulnerable.