During the NXT Gold Rush special on November 25, 2025, WWE legend John Cena officially announced the competitors for the upcoming Iron Survivor Challenge matches at NXT Deadline. Breaking from tradition where a panel of legends typically selects the entrants, Cena was given sole authority this year to hand-pick the superstars who will compete for future championship opportunities.
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge
Cena selected a diverse group of talent for the men’s match, featuring champions from both NXT and partner promotions. The field includes:
- Je’Von Evans
- Leon Slater (Current TNA X-Division Champion)
- Joe Hendry
- Dion Lennox (Current NXT Tag Team Champion)
- Myles Borne
While Cena hand-selected the first four entrants, the final spot was determined in the main event of NXT Gold Rush. Myles Borne secured his place in the match by defeating former NXT Champion Trick Williams in a high-stakes qualifying bout.
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge
The women’s field is equally stacked, with Cena choosing five of the brand’s top competitors to vie for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. The participants are:
- Sol Ruca
- Lola Vice
- Kelani Jordan
- Jordynne Grace
- Kendal Grey (Current WWE Evolve Women’s Champion)
NXT Championship Match Confirmed
In addition to the Iron Survivor Challenge matches, the card for NXT Deadline will feature a marquee title defense. Ricky Saints is set to defend his NXT Championship against former champion Oba Femi. Femi, who won the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge, is looking to reclaim the title he lost to Saints earlier this year.
Event Details
NXT Deadline will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The event will be available to stream live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix in international markets.
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John Cena has selected:
Je'Von Evans
Leon Slater
Joe Hendry
Dion Lennox
The Winner of Myles Borne vs. Trick Williams#WWENXT #NXTGoldRush https://t.co/rgOPLUKAR9— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) November 26, 2025
The talent in the NXT Women's Division is endless. 👊@JohnCena has made his decision, and here are the five competitors that will battle it out in the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline! pic.twitter.com/axx1PlWcyQ
— WWE (@WWE) November 26, 2025
