We are in Deadline season where everyone in NXT is trying to end the year strong. Most of the matches we saw tonight were qualifying matches for the big Iron Survivor matches as well as the possibility of Chase U being split up. So let’s review this week’s episode of NXT!
Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Nathan Frazier vs Eddy Thorpe: Before the match started Frazier and Axiom discussed the new motivation in the NXT Tag Team division. Axiom says he is worried about what can happen to their tag team championships, while Fraizer thinks they can not worry about this right now since he is trying to get into the Iron Survivor match.
During the entrances for Thorpe and Frazier, they showed every tag team at ringside watching this match closely, hoping to watch Fraizer fail so they can get their shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. I think the tag team stuff was a bit much and it took away the spotlight from the match. NXT takes the Iron Survivor stuff seriously and that was all lost because of Frazier and Axiom being the Tag Team Champions. Even with all the distractions, Frazier was able to get the win and advance. After the match was over all the tag teams attacked Frazier and Axiom.
Winner: Nathan Frazier
Chase U Vignette: Chase looks back on his time at Chase U and all of the great memories they have shared. They showed highlights of Duke Hudson, Thea Hail, and Riley Osbourne and all of the things they have been able to do as a team. Chase knows he is taking a huge risk tonight, but he knows that he will defeat Ridge Holland and keep Chase U in business.
Guilia Promo: Guilia says it has been two months since she debuted and moved to America and she is enjoying it. She knows life here is different than in Japan and she is embracing it and learning new things every day. She says she is going to win the Iron Survivor match and defeat Roxxane Perez for the title. Kelani Jordan is shown watching this promo and says she wants to prove she is the very best. She tells Robert Stone and Stevie Turner to tell Ava to book Guilia and Jordan next week in a Qualifying Match.
Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Jaida Parker vs Stephanie Vaquer: Part of me wishes Parker wrestled someone else because, in my opinion, she deserved to be in the Iron Survivor Match. This match was fine, Vaquer continues to show week after week why she is one of the best NXT has to offer. Lola Vice came out to distract Parker by holding a brick as Vaquer took advantage and got the win.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
Brinley Reece and Dion Lennox Promo: Reece and Lennox were representing Oregon State and said just like in the Pac 12 they are going to dominate this match and come out on top.
Tony D’Angelo vs Brooks Jensen: I still do not understand the Jensen and Spears pairing, but at least we get to see Spears on TV almost every week. D’Angelo dominated most of this match as he and Spears had a stare down after the match was over. Spears tried to shake D’Angelo’s hand as Jenson attacked him.
Winner: Tony D”Angelo
Karmen Petrovic and Ashante Adonis Promo: Adonis complimented Petrovic for rocking the Washington State colors while Petrovic says that he looks good too. She says if they want to win this mixed tag team match they have to keep their heads in the game and stay on the same page.
Lexis King Promo: He says he has turned a new leaf and he is trying to become the best version of himself. He talks to Yoshiki Inamura who says he understands completely, but tells Josh Briggs that NXT is a crazy place, his type of crazy. After he said this the camera panned to all the tag teams brawling with each other throughout the backstage area.
Karmen Petrovic and Ashante Adonis vs Brinely Reece and Dion Lennox: I did enjoy the synergy between the Pac-12 game this weekend and this match-up. Both teams represented a different team which was cool and not something we usually see in NXT, so hopefully we see more of that going forward. This match was quick with Petrovic pinning Reece to get the win. The team held hands as the chemistry between them seemed to be brewing.
Winners: Karmen Petrovic and Ashante Adonis
Ridge Holland Promo: Holland says Chase U is wearing the shirts that he got them and the Chase U that we see today is because of him. After destroying everyone in Chase U he does not know why Chase wanted another opportunity. He says that he is going to go onto Deadline and become the new NXT Champion.
Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Wren Sinclair vs Zaria: Similar to the other women’s qualifying match, I wish Sinclair faced someone else because she also deserved to be in this match. Zaria is a different beast, she is going to be a game changer for the NXT Women’s division and she was dominant throughout the entire match. Sinclair had a great showing, but it was not enough for the newcomer.
Winner: Zaria
Ava Promo: D’Angelo confronts Ava and says that he wants to take on Spears in a title match after he attacks him. Ava agrees but that makes Thorpe not happy. Thorpe says that since there was a ton of interference in his match he wants another chance to get into the Iron Survivor. Ava says she can not reverse the referee’s decision and Thorpe storms off.
Fatal Influence Promo: Henley says that since everyone is focused on the Iron Survivor match she has no one to face her for the North American Women’s Championship. She issues an open challenge for next week and Lash Legend answers. She is interrupted by Nikita Lyons who says that since Legend just had a chance to go after gold at Crown Jewel it is her time to shine. Adrianna Rizzo attacks Lyons from behind and all the women in the locker room brawl around the arena. Tatum Paxley comes out from under the ring and attacks Henley, accepting the open challenge next week.
Karmen Petrovic and Ashante Adonis Promo: Jensen tells Spears that his match next week has been granted and asks if he is proud of him for attacking D’Angelo from behind. Spears says yes as he walks away smiling. Adonis and Petrovic start talking about what is next for them when Lyons appears out of nowhere. She says she is waiting on a text back from Adonis as Petrovic storms away upset. Adonis says he never texted her and goes to comfort her.
Ethan Page Promo: Page goes over the rules of the Iron Survivor match and says he is excited for this year’s match. He loves that the winner gets a shot at the NXT Championship and says that all he has to do is qualify next week. Once he qualifies he will beat Williams and become the next NXT Champion. Frazier and Axiom comment on the promo as Frazier says it is obvious that Page is going to qualify. Axiom disagrees as he says he is the one going to face Page next week to get into the Iron Survivor match. Frazier, who is shocked by this news, asks what happens if they both get into the match. Axiom says that the two of them will face each other in the Iron Survivor match and the best man will walk out the winner.
Chase U Promo: Chase says that he knows that he has been hard on some of the members of Chase U and he does not regret anything. He knows that he has been able to push all of his students to the highest potential and he is walking into the biggest match of his career. He says that he is going to defeat Holland and become the new NXT Champion.
Number One Contenders Match for the NXT Championship: Chase U vs Ridge Holland: The one thing that I loved was that most of the crowd was wearing black and red to be in the Chase U section. It added to the importance of this match as well as added suspense if Chase was not able to get the job done. Holland hit Chase with a low blow as Hail and Hudson pulled the ref out to stop the count. Hudson attacked Holland, but then Holland speared Hudson through the wall. Osbourne appeared and attacked Holland as well. Osbourne had the upper hand, but it didn’t last for long as Holland threw him onto the concrete floor. Chase had the whole crown chanting for Chase U which was cool to see how much he has been able to get his gimmick over. However, it wasn’t enough and Holland got the win and Chase U is no more…
Winner: Ridge Holland
Overall: The one thing that I do not like about NXT is that all of the promo segments intertwine with each other. They are either back to back or you go from one promo to the next because of people in the background of the shot. There does not need to be this many promos on your weekly wrestling television. Besides that, the wrestling was great as NXT is looking to end its year strong. Solid show from the NXT crew!
