Noam Dar finally stepped back into a televised WWE ring on the May 12 episode of WWE NXT after nearly a year away due to injury.
However, his long-awaited comeback match ended in frustration after outside interference helped Jackson Drake steal the victory.
The bout marked Dar’s first televised match in 315 days following an injury absence that began in June 2025.
Dar had previously been forced to vacate the NXT Heritage Cup after suffering another legitimate injury less than two months after returning from a separate 11-month leg injury.
Dar looked sharp early against Drake. He opened the match by establishing technical control and dishing out a series of kicks, submissions, and counters that quickly slowed down The Vanity Project member. At several points, the former Heritage Cup Champion appeared close to shaking off the ring rust completely. Nevertheless, The Vanity Project clearly had other plans for the evening.
The match gradually turned more physical as Drake targeted Dar’s hand and upper body before both men traded momentum swings late in the contest.
Dar connected with a German Suplex and Northern Lights Suplex combination before trapping Drake in an armbar. However, the momentum shifted decisively once the action spilled outside the ring.
The Vanity Project costs Noam Dar a sweet victory in WWE NXT return
As Dar battled ringside, he came face-to-face with Myka Lockwood and other members of The Vanity Project. The distraction allowed Drake to strike Dar with a knee before landing a 450 Splash to secure the pinfall victory.
The televised defeat came only weeks after Dar quietly returned to in-ring action during an April 24 NXT live event in Dade City, Florida. In that contest, he actually defeated Drake in a non-televised test match.
Dar formally returned to NXT television on May 5 by confronting The Vanity Project backstage. He proclaimed that he had been medically cleared for competition. He specifically challenged Drake in hopes of shaking off lingering ring rust.
Despite the loss, Dar’s performance showed flashes of the same technical precision and striking offense that previously made him a four-time NXT Heritage Cup Champion. While the comeback didn’t end with his hand raised, the story surrounding Dar’s return appears far from finished.
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