| Article Name: | Chase University |
| Type: | S |
| Names: | Andre Chase University Chase U Chase University |
| Leaders: | Andre Chase |
| Members: | Duke Hudson Thea Hail Riley Osborne Ridge Holland |
| Former Members: | Bodhi Hayward Jacy Jayne Jazmyn Nyx |
| Heights: | Chase: Hudson: Hail: Osborne: Holland: |
| Weights: | 1085lb |
| Debut: | September 21, 2021 |
| Years Active: | 2022–present |
Chase University, formally known as Andre Chase University and commonly shortened as Chase U, is a heroic professional wrestling stable that performs in WWE on the NXT brand while also making appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. The stable consists of Andre Chase, Thea Hail, Duke Hudson, Riley Osborne and Ridge Holland. As a stable, they are the current NXT Tag Team Champions in their second reign; individually, this is Chase's second reign and Holland's first reign as champion while Hudson was a former one-time champion.
The stable's gimmick contain elements of an educational university, with Andre Chase serving as the dean and the rest acting as the students.
On the September 21, 2021 episode of NXT, Chase debuted a new heel teacher persona and began hosting a segment on the show called Andre Chase University. Over the next few months, Chase recruited Bodhi Hayward and Thea Hail as his new students for Chase University and slowly turned face. On the September 20, 2022 episode of NXT, Chase and Hayward picked up a victory over Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams, thus cementing their face turn. In November, WWE released Hayward, thereby removing him from Chase University. On the November 1 episode of NXT, Duke Hudson replaced Hayward as Chase U's flag bearer, turning him face in the process.
On the January 31, 2023 episode of NXT, Chase U defeated The Dyad (Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid) and Malik Blade and Edris Enofé in a triple threat tag team match to become the fourth team to challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT Vengeance Day but were unsuccessful at capturing the titles.[1] Over the next several weeks, Chase U would go into a feud with Schism, which would also involve Tyler Bate, who began to help Chase U against Schism. An eight-person mixed tag team match would be set up for NXT Stand & Deliver, with the control of Chase University on the line. At the event, Chase U defeated Schism.[2] At Spring Breakin, Chase lost to Bron Breakker.[3] On the June 6 episode of NXT, Hail won a battle royal to become #1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship which she lost at NXT: Gold Rush.[4] Following the loss, which Hail blamed on Chase as he threw in the towel, she began a more rebellious persona where she openly critiqued Chase. After a loss to Jacy Jayne, the two formed a friendship after Jayne advised Hail to be more assertive. This involved Hail acquiring new ring gear and forming a tag team with Jayne, who in turn joined Chase U. On the October 17 episode of NXT, Chase and Hudson won a battle royal to become number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. At NXT: Halloween Havoc Night 1, Chase and Hudson defeated Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo to win the championships.[5] At Night 2, Hail and Jayne failed to win WWE Women's Tag Team Championship from Chelsea Green and Piper Niven after Chase refused to allow Jayne to use the title belt against Green.[6] Chase and Hudson lost the titles back to D'Angelo and Stacks on the November 14 episode of NXT, ending their reign at 21 days.[7]
On the December 5 episode of NXT, a new member was introduced as Riley Osborne (previously known as Josh Morrell in NXT UK)[8] who entered the 2023 Men's NXT Breakout Tournament representing Chase U, with Hail in turn developing a storyline where she has a crush on Osborne. Around the same time, Chase U started a storyline where it was revealed that the University was in heavy debt after Chase gambled away all their funds. In the Breakout Tournament, Osborne defeated Keanu Carver and Lexis King but lost to Oba Femi in the finals at NXT: New Year's Evil.[9] [10] [11] On the January 23, 2024 episode of NXT, repo men were seen repossessing material equipment in Chase U, including Hudson's MVP trophy, teasing the disbandment of Chase U.[12] In the following week, Jayne announced that she has created the "2024 Ladies of Chase U" calendar to be launched at NXT Vengeance Day and that the projected sales will save Chase U. Chase thanked Jayne and officially accepted her into the stable.[13] Around the same period, Jayne took on a new protégé, Jazmyn Nyx, a student from Chase U who would help Jayne win matches by cheating which Hail refused to do. On the March 12 episode of NXT, Hail and Fallon Henley lost a tag team match after Jayne refused to be her partner the previous week. An emotional Hail disavowed her friendship with Jayne and declared she was returning to the "old Thea Hail". On the following week of NXT, Jayne and Nyx turned on Chase U and cost Osborne the NXT Heritage Cup championship match against No Quarter Catch Crew's Drew Gulak.[14] At NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, Hail teamed up with Henley and Kelani Jordan to defeat Jayne, Kiana James and Izzi Dame in a six-woman tag team match.[15] On the following episode of NXT, Jayn revealed the truth of Chase U's gambling debt. In Hail's NXT Women's Championship match in 2023, Chase placed an illegal bet that Hail will win the title. However, he chose Hail's wellbeing and threw in the towel, resulting in him losing the bet.[16] On the April 16 episode of NXT, Hail lost to Tatum Paxley after interference from Jayne and Nyx. Following this, a match was scheduled for Hail and Jayne during Week 2 of Spring Breakin'
On the May 7 episode of NXT, Hail thanked Ridge Holland for comforting her at Spring Breakin. Later that night, Hudson lost to Lexis King after Holland attempted to assist Hudson but inadvertently cost him the match.[20] On the following week, Holland challenged The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) to a tag team match when The Good Brothers mocked Holland for leaving the main roster to NXT. Chase offered Osborne to be Holland's tag team partner to Osborne's dissatisfaction. The Good Brothers won the match after another mishap from Holland.[21] On the May 21 episode of NXT, Fallon Henley defeated Hail to qualify for a spot for the six-woman ladder match to crown the inaugural NXT Women's North American Champion at NXT Battleground. Backstage, Osborne got into an argument with Holland for costing Hail the match, to which Chase proposed that both men settle their differences in the ring[22] where Holland defeated Osborne. After the match, Osborne still did not approve of Chase U working with Holland, with Hudson taking Osborne's side.[23] On the June 4 episode of NXT, Osborne and Hudson refused to walk out with Holland for Hail's match against Nyx. Halfway through the match, Osborne and Hudson showed up to ringside to Hail's surprise, to which Nyx used as an advantage to defeat Hail.[24] On the June 18 episode of NXT, Holland was accepted as a member of Chase U. Holland entered the 25-man battle royal for a NXT Championship match at NXT Heatwave but he was eliminated. Later that night, Holland assisted Chase and Hudson to defeat The Good Brothers in a tag team match by giving Hudson a leverage from outside the ring as Hudson pinned Anderson.[25] On the following episode of NXT, Chase and Hudson won a tag team turmoil match for a NXT Tag Team Championship title match at NXT Heatwave on July 7 where they failed to defeat Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the titles.[26] [27] Holland secured a rematch for the NXT Tag Team Championship but it will be Chase teaming up with Holland instead. On the August 13 episode of NXT, Chase and Holland defeated Frazer and Axiom to win the titles, making Chase a two-time champion while Holland won his first championship in WWE.[28]
On the August 15, 2024 episode of Impact!, Riley Osborne made his Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) debut to defeat Chris Bey and John Skyler in a three-way match to qualify for the Ultimate X match at Emergence.[29]
| Founding member(s) | ||
| L | Leader |
| Member | Joined | |
|---|---|---|
| Andre Chase (L) | * | |
| Thea Hail | ||
| Duke Hudson | ||
| Riley Osborne | ||
| Ridge Holland | May 14, 2024 |
| Member | Joined | Left | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodhi Hayward | * | ||
| Jacy Jayne | September 5, 2023 | March 19, 2024 | |
| Jazmyn Nyx | January 16, 2024 | March 19, 2024 |