As we ring in the new year, NXT presents its first special New Year’s Evil. Both winners of the Iron Survivor matches get the chance to wrestle for their respected World Heavyweight Champions. As well as the finals of the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and much more. So how did NXT do on their first show of the new year? Let’s review.
NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria vs Blair Davenport: What a way to start the episode. Davenport was very impressive throughout the match, as I expect a huge 2024 from her. The thing that went to Davenport’s demise was when she went to hit her with a knee on the outside when she banged it on the commentary table instead. Valkyria gets the win heading into the rest of the year. After the match of the year Lola Vice tried to cash in her NXT Breakout Tournament Contract. Tatum Paxley comes to the aid of Valkyria by delivering a crossbody to Vice. Vice, Lopez, Paxley, and Valkyria get into it as the crowd continues to chant let them fight.
Winner: “And Still” Lyra Valkyria
Kelly Kincaid Injury Update: Kincaid has breaking news as she is standing outside the WWE Medical Office. She says that Ilja Dragunov is not medically cleared after the match with Ridge Holland as he is still suffering side effects from his neck injury. She says the match is canceled and is waiting for Trick Williams to get a word with him.
No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp) vs LWO (Carlito, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro): The crowd was excited to see Carlito in this match as he wore a We Are NXT shirt in support of the brand. The crowd was on their feet for most of this match-up as there was action truly all over the place. Wilde went flying for most of the match in probably one of the more impressive performances I have seen from him. LWO gets the win to close out our 30-minute commercial-free part of NXT New Year’s Evil.
Winners: LWO (Carlito, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro)
Trick Williams Promo: Williams says he is disappointed and hopes that Dragunov gets cleared soon because he is waiting for his match. Carmelo Hayes says that he is not buying the injury and says that Dragunov is faking because he knows he is going to lose. Grayson Waller says this is unfortunate but there was no way Williams was going to win this match. Hayes says that Williams will take him on tonight and put his Number One Contendership on the line, let’s just say Williams was not too happy about that one.
Riley Osborne Promo: Osborne says that this is a must-win match for him. He came to NXT to add his name to the legendary European Superstars in WWE History. He says that if he wins this contract he will be able to win a championship in 2024 and that is exactly what he wants to do.
Arianna Grace vs Roxanne Perez: Grace has this character thing going for her. In my opinion, Perez should already be on the main roster as I feel there is nothing else for her to truly do in NXT, maybe this will happen sometime in 2024. Perez wins the match as Grace continues to say that Perez needs Grace’s help. Perez attacks Grace as referees have to yell at Perez to stop. Due to this, the referee reversed the decision and had Grace get the win.
Winner: Arianna Grace
Ava Raine Promo: Raine says that this was a difficult decision to make, but Dragunov’s health was the most important thing to the NXT Roster. She says that when he is cleared he will defend the title against either Waller or Williams. Kincaid asks Raine about her making matches and what her new role is in NXT. She says a wise man once told her that Shawn Michaels may be too busy and might need her help, so she gives ideas and sees what works and what doesn’t. She also announced the NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will start next week.
Blair Davenport Promo: Nikita Lyons claps in Davenport’s face and says that she could not get the job done. Davenport says that there is no way she is going to let Lyons anywhere near the NXT Women’s Championship. The two get in each other’s faces as referees break them up.
Loser Becomes The Winner’s Servant or Ranch Hand: Tiffany Stratton vs Fallon Henley: I expected a lot more from this match so I was a tad disappointed. Stratton tried to bring a chair into play as Henley took advantage which led her to get the win. I expect a huge year for Henley this year she has put in the work and has become a staple within the already stacked NXT Women’s Division. I would have rather her got the clean win here, but this is just a start in a very long year for her.
Winner: Fallon Henley
Baron Corbin Promo: Corbin tells Breakerr that he thinks the two of them should team up in the NXT Dusty Classic Tag Team Tournament next week. Breaker laughs in his face and says that it will never work. Corbin says that no one else is asking and since they are both jerks he thinks they will be the favorites within the tournament. After careful consideration Breakerr accepts and they enter the tournament.
Oba Femi Promo: Oba says that he has been powerful throughout the tournament as he has become a fan favorite. He says that tonight he takes his final stretch and will win the contract for his hometown in Nigeria and prove that he is a force to be reckoned with in NXT.
Gigi Dollin Promo: Dollin says that she is not about New Year’s Resolutions and she is comfortable where she is right now in her life. Cora Jade interrupts and yells at her for sitting in her locker. Dollin says that they were enjoying time without Jade and now she ruined the locker room’s nice time. They continue to yell at each other as the entire locker room separates them.
Ridge Holland Promo: Holland says that he is no stranger to injuries in the ring. He talks about blowing out both of his legs on the build-up to WarGames during the pandemic, as well as breaking his nose on Day 1 in 2022. Holland says that he respects Dragunov and everything he said in his promo two weeks ago was genuine. He says that he does not go out there and try to hurt people and he is not a monster he is a nice person and accidents still happen. He has come back to NXT to show everyone who Ridge Holland is and will go through the whole roster to find redemption and prove himself to the fans.
NXT Breakout Tournament Finals: Oba Femi vs Riley Osborne: Before the match, Thea Hail wishes Osborne good luck and says she will be out there cheering him on. Osborne thanks her and high-fives her as she tells Jacy Jane she is never washing her hand again. Very happy Femi won this match. He has been dominant throughout the entire tournament and showed his strength throughout this match. Seeing Hail’s reactions the entire match to whatever Osborne was doing was adorable, too bad Osborne couldn’t win.
Winner: Oba Femi
OTM Promo: OTM calls out The Family for the NXT Tag Team Championships. They say The Family does not know what it is like to struggle and start at the bottom as they have been given everything since they got to NXT. They say next week will be different and they are going to defeat The Family for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Kiana James and Izzi Dame Promo: Dame says that James has the best business mind in NXT and she is going to help James get to the top. James says Dame is not scared to get to the top and she will do everything in her power to get to the top. James says that in wrestling you do not make friends you make money, but she can make both. James says by the end of 2024 everyone will know who Izzi Dame is.
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes Promo: Hayes said the reason he did what he did was because he needs to start acting like a champion. After all, when Dragunov is cleared he will be the one to take the title. Williams says he wants to go out there alone tonight just like he will face Dragunov alone to prove that he can do things solo and not just with Hayes by his side. Hayes gets upset and Williams says no hard feelings but he is doing this for both of them.
Chase U Promo: Thea Hail is upset that Osborne did not win the NXT Breakout Tournament and wants to text him and send him a gift card to feel better. The rest of Chase U comes and says they are proud of Osborne and they are excited that he represented Chase U well. Chase starts to talk about the NXT Dusty Cup when Jacy says that Chase will not team with Duke Hudson in the tournament and instead, it will be Osborne. She says Chase can not focus on two things at once and she will be the one to get Chase U out of debt and back to the mainstream of NXT where they belong.
Lyra Valkyria Promo: Tatum Paxley interrupts and congratulates Valkyria on retaining her NXT Women’s Championship. Paxley says that for as long as Valkyria is NXT Women’s Champion all is right in the world of NXT.
Axiom and Nathan Fraizer Promo: Axiom asks Frazier if he would like to be in the NXT Dusty Cup together. Frazier says that is a great idea and they will defeat all the tag teams and win the whole cup. One of the other tag teams says that even though they are friends that does not mean they will make a good tag team.
The Family Promo: Since Chase did not live up to their end of the deal they have to have a tag team match next week against OTM. They introduce Adrianna as the glue to keep The Family together and say that she will take anyone out who gives The Family a problem. Joe Gacy appears in the trunk of a car and scares The Family as he runs away.
Battle of the Iron Survivors: Trick Williams vs Grayson Waller: All this hype for a former NXT Champion appearing just for it to be Kevin Owens… sigh. I would have rather seen this match end clean as well as not seeing Hayes trying to interrupt the match, but I regress. Williams is a star and I will not be surprised if he is the one to win the title against Dragunov. Owens comes and punches Waller in the face to assist Williams in winning as the whole NXT Crowd chants whoop that trick.
Winner: Trick Williams
Overall: This was a fun two hours of TV. It seems that NXT is heavy into tournaments because we have gone through both the Men’s and Women’s Breakout Tournaments and now we are going straight to the NXT Dusty Cup Classic. NXT has a lot of talent that has had a great 2023, and I am excited to see who gets called up to the main roster and who will be elevated throughout the year.
