Former WWE Star Makes In-Ring Return in NXT Dark Match After Three Years
Former WWE Star Makes In-Ring Return in NXT Dark Match After Three Years
vishalbhawaniThu, August 6, 2026 at 2:55 AM UTC
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Photo Credit: WWE
A familiar face stepped back between the ropes before the August 4 edition of WWE NXT, as former NXT Tag Team Champion Wesley Blake made a surprise in-ring return during a dark match at the WWE Performance Center.
While the bout wasn’t part of the televised broadcast, it marked a notable milestone after years away from active competition.
Blake has spent the last two years helping shape NXT’s future behind the scenes, but this time, he traded the producer’s headset for wrestling boots.
Wesley Blake returns to WWE ring before NXT broadcast
According to PWInsider, Blake faced Kale Dixon in one of three dark matches taped before NXT went live on The CW. Dixon had reportedly spent time taunting the veteran before the two squared off, leading to Blake accepting the challenge.
Dixon ultimately picked up the victory with a roll-up while using Blake’s feet on the ropes for leverage following a distraction. Even in defeat, the match carried significance, as it was Blake’s first WWE bout since his release in April 2021 and his first match anywhere since a 2023 independent appearance alongside Steve Maclin at West Coast Pro.
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Longtime fans will remember Blake as one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions alongside Buddy Murphy, now known as Buddy Matthews in AEW. Managed by Alexa Bliss, the pair held the titles for 205 days in 2015 before Blake later joined Steve Cutler and Jaxson Ryker in The Forgotten Sons, a faction that eventually moved to SmackDown.
Since returning to WWE in April 2024, Blake has worked as an NXT producer and Performance Center coach, focusing on developing the next generation of talent. His unexpected appearance sparked speculation about whether more matches could follow, although WWE has not announced any future in-ring plans.
For now, Blake’s return appears to be a one-off appearance. Still, after years spent coaching from ringside, the former champion proved he can still answer the bell. Sometimes the best comeback doesn’t need championship gold — it just needs the ring bell to ring again.
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The post Former WWE Star Makes In-Ring Return in NXT Dark Match After Three Years appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
