The headline refers to a past WWE storyline: Oba Femi retained the NXT Championship against Leon Slater on January 6, 2026, then left the belt in the ring. WWE subsequently recorded the title as vacant until February 3. Femi made his main-roster debut at the Royal Rumble on January 31, so neither the vacancy nor the call-up is imminent as of October 8, 2026.
What happened at New Year’s Evil
At NXT New Year’s Evil on January 6, Femi defended the championship against TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater. WWE’s event results say Femi won and retained, then left the championship in the ring. The result describes the act; it does not give a personal explanation from Femi.
WWE had announced the matchup in its New Year’s Evil match listing. On January 13, the company said NXT General Manager Ava would address the championship’s future after Femi vacated it.
Why did Oba Femi vacate the title?
The cited WWE event and follow-up pages establish that Femi left the belt and that the championship became vacant. They do not establish his personal motive. Without an attributable explanation from Femi, claims that he vacated specifically because of a call-up would go beyond what those sources confirm.
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How the vacancy and call-up unfolded
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 6, 2026 | Femi defeated Slater, retained the NXT Championship, and left the belt in the ring. WWE’s title history dates the vacancy from this day. |
| January 13, 2026 | WWE announced that Ava would address the championship’s future after Femi vacated it. |
| January 31, 2026 | Femi appeared in the Royal Rumble. WWE’s Royal Rumble coverage identifies the appearance as his official main-roster debut. |
| February 3, 2026 | WWE’s title history ends the vacancy and lists Joe Hendry as champion from this date. |
Femi’s championship reign ran from December 6, 2025, through January 6, 2026—31 days, according to WWE’s title-history dates. The sequence distinguishes the belt being vacated from the later main-roster debut: the vacancy was recorded on January 6, while the debut came at the Royal Rumble 25 days later.
Who is NXT Champion now?
As of October 8, 2026, WWE’s title history lists Grayson Waller as NXT Champion, with his reign beginning August 30. WWE also identified Waller as champion in its September 29, 2026 NXT preview. The championship has therefore moved through several reigns since Femi’s departure: Hendry began his reign February 3, Tony D’Angelo began April 4, and Waller began August 30, according to WWE’s title history.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Oba Femi still NXT Champion when he made his main-roster debut?
No. WWE dates the title vacancy to January 6, 2026, and describes Femi’s January 31 Royal Rumble appearance as his official main-roster debut.
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