Chandler Launched Through the Ropes in Shocking WWE NXT Chaos

Michael Chandler got launched through the ropes at WWE NXT on Tuesday night after attempting to interfere in a match between Dion Lennox and Cruz Montana.

The UFC lightweight served as special enforcer for the bout.

He took issue when he spotted handcuffs being used in one corner.

He moved to intervene.

He got shoved two-handed through the ropes for his trouble, per MMA Mania.

Chandler has appeared on WWE programming multiple times in recent years.

Both promotions operate under TKO Group Holdings, the parent company formed when UFC and WWE merged operations.

The 40-year-old has struggled inside the Octagon lately.

He is losing four straight fights and six of eight since his UFC debut in early 2021.

Four of those six losses came by finish.

He has collected five post-fight bonuses during that stretch, including three Fight of the Night awards.

Whether Chandler pursues pro wrestling full-time remains unclear.

He holds a 23-11 record in MMA.

He has vowed to keep fighting despite the recent slide.

WWE NXT taped the incident during the November 4, 2026 episode.

The same night also featured the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic final.

Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno won that tournament, defeating Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.

Cody Rhodes made a special appearance before that match.

He greeted both teams and shook hands with the competitors.

Rhodes then joined Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary.

Dar and Moreno paid tribute to the Rhodes family by delivering a double Cross Rhodes to their opponents.

They followed up with a high-low combination, including Dar’s signature Bionic Elbow, to secure the victory.

Cody Rhodes returned to the ring to present the trophy.

He also announced that the winners would receive an opportunity to challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Dar and Moreno will face reigning champions Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes of The Vanity Project on next week’s episode.

Chandler’s NXT appearance was separate from that tournament.

His role as special enforcer was specific to the Lennox-Montana match.

The handcuffs spot that triggered his intervention appeared to be part of the match’s storyline.

Chandler’s reaction — attempting to stop the use of the handcuffs — led directly to the shove that sent him through the ropes.

The sequence lasted only a few seconds.

Video of the moment spread quickly across social media after the episode aired.

Fans debated whether the shove was planned or a genuine reaction from the wrestler who delivered it.

WWE has not issued a statement about the incident.

Chandler has not commented publicly since the episode.

His next UFC fight has not been announced.

He last fought in June 2025, losing by submission to Charles Oliveira.

That loss extended his losing streak to four.

Chandler’s contract with UFC remains active.

TKO Group Holdings owns both UFC and WWE.

That corporate structure makes cross-promotional appearances easier than in the past.

Other UFC fighters have appeared on WWE programming under the TKO umbrella.

Chandler’s appearances have been the most frequent among active UFC fighters.

He previously appeared on WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown.

Each appearance generated significant attention from both combat sports and pro wrestling fans.

The NXT appearance was his first under the developmental brand’s banner.

NXT airs on Tuesday nights on the CW Network.

The show typically features younger talent and experimental storylines.

Chandler’s involvement brought mainstream crossover interest to the show.

The match between Lennox and Montana continued after Chandler was eliminated from the ring.

Results of that match were not reported in the source material.

Chandler’s future in either sport remains an open question.

He has a 23-11 MMA record.

He has fought some of the biggest names in lightweight history.

His four-fight losing streak includes losses to Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, and Charles Oliveira.

All four of those opponents are former champions or title challengers.

Chandler has never won a UFC title.

He came close in 2021, losing a five-round war to Oliveira for the vacant belt.