Who Wins the 2025 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge?
The 2025 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline this Saturday poses many questions for how 2026 could start in the NXT Championship picture. Each of the five superstars competing was chosen by WWE’s GOAT, John Cena, and each competitor is not looking to disappoint the 17-time Champion. With TNA talent such as Leon Slater, former TNA and now current NXT talent, Joe Hendry, and three young and hungry up-and-coming stars from NXT, this Iron Survivor Challenge could be one of the most underrated matches since its creation in 2022. While we’ve predicted in the past who would be in the match, it’s time to figure out who has the highest chance to come out of NXT Deadline with a rightful claim to the NXT Championship.
Je’Von Evans
2025 has been an amazing year for Je’Von Evans. He competed in multiple title matches, whether that was for the NXT Championship or even tagging with Leon Slater for the NXT Tag Team Championship; the only problem is that Evans hasn’t won any gold yet in his young and exciting career. Winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge could be the stepping stone NXT uses to make Evans their next star. From Trick Williams to Oba Femi to now Evans, who could now be the face of the brand if successful at winning at NXT Deadline and then again at New Year’s Evil against NXT Champion Ricky Saints. The Young OG has faced obstacles that have prevented him from becoming a champion, yet even though he’s young, he’s learning major lessons that could make him a champion sooner rather than later.
Dion Lennox
When Cena chose DarkState’s Dion Lennox, it definitely showed that Cena knows when great talent is there and right in front of him. It also showed that DarkState is not just about the Tag Team Division. This group of guys is looking to control NXT and grab all the gold they possibly can. Lennox can be the first made star out of DarkState and capture singles gold for the group. If Lennox is successful at Deadline, look for DarkState to jump into the main event scene, attack, and intimidate NXT Champion Ricky Saints to the point where Saints will have to watch his back wherever he goes. Cena could have just made DarkState the hottest NXT faction to ever exist.
Myles Borne
Over the past few weeks, Myles Borne's attitude and demeanor have changed. Once being grateful for the NXT Universe, it is slowly looking like Borne may turn on the fans and his fellow wrestlers rather soon. Most recently, he jumped and stole the pin during the advantage match for the Iron Survivor Challenge during the latest episode of NXT. Perhaps this new attitude change may work in Borne's favor, helping him win at NXT Deadline and become the top contender for the NXT Championship. It’s certainly more than possible that Borne turns heel and wins the match in the process.
As much as seeing Leon Slater or Jow Hendry win this match would be an intriguing choice, I don’t think it’s likely. Slater’s story seems to align with what he’s doing alongside Evans as well as in TNA. More recently, Hendry has been a comical act more than a top contender for any championship in NXT. His story aims towards what he’s doing with Thea Hail in the AAA Mixed Tag Team Division.
