Williams pinned Ilja Dragunov in the main event of NXT Spring Breakin’ to win the championship for the first time, striking Dragunov with a knee strike for the win. After the match, the two hugged as Dragunov handed the championship to Williams. The show ended with Williams celebrating with fans in the crowd.
This ends Dragunov’s run with the title after 206 days. He defeated Carmelo Hayes for the title at No Mercy back in September.
After defeating Hayes at NXT Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania weekend, Williams called his shot for another match against Dragunov for the NXT title. Dragunov would only agree to a match if Williams would put his career in NXT on the line.
Throughout Tuesday’s show, many WWE main roster stars gave their thoughts on the main event of Spring Breakin’, with former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano giving Williams a pep talk shortly before he made his way to the ring. While Dragunov was being interviewed, he met World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, who wished him luck.
After tonight, Trick Williams will either be NXT Champion or gone from the brand entirely.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Williams for the NXT Championship headlines week one of NXT Spring Breakin’ 2024. It’s a rematch from Vengeance Day, where Williams came up short in his attempt to claim the NXT title. If he doesn’t win this time, Williams has to leave NXT.
The match is taking place in advance of the 2024 WWE Draft beginning on SmackDown this Friday. Dragunov has already declared for the draft.
The NXT Women’s Championship will also be defended tonight as Roxanne Perez faces Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley in a triple threat match.
Sol Ruca vs. Blair Davenport in a Beach Brawl, The D’Angelo Family vs. No Quarter Catch Crew in a six-man tag match, and Baron Corbin vs. Lexis King are also set. Plus, Natalya and Lola Vice will sign the contract for their NXT Underground match that’s taking place next week.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The show opens with three General Managers having a discussion about tonight. NXT GM Ava is joined in person by Raw GM Adam Pearce. Smackdown GM Nick Aldis is on Zoom. They put over tonight as a big night, and they also briefly discuss the draft.
Ava talks about how tonight is about who will step up in NXT ahead of the draft to take the place of anyone drafted away from the brand. Ava confidently says NXT will never be the same after tonight.
Opening the show from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando is a three-way match for the women’s title.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Tatum Paxley and Lyra Valkyria in a triple threat match to retain her title
Perez pinned Paxley to win the match. Paxley had the match won, but Perez cleverly slipped in to win.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Some good high spots before the break, and they trade some close near falls after the show returns. They also went home playing on a near fall. The finish was cleverly done.
As they go home, they all three are countering and delivering big moves. Paxley and Valkyria are wrestling each other after Perez is seemingly wiped out taking a roundhouse kick from Valkyria. Paxley countered Pop Rocks, and she whipped Perez toward Valkyria and the roundhouse kick.
Paxley and Valkyria face off, with Paxley getting a close near fall. Paxley executed a 450 splash on Valkyria. As Paxley is going for the cover, Perez jumps in to break up the attempted pin. Perez then cradles Paxley with a jackknife for a three count.
Fallon Henley gets into a pull-apart shouting match with Jaida Parker in a backstage skit that also includes Thea Hail and Kelani Jordan. Hail, Jordan and Henley were chatting about Hail about recent events when Parker chimed in to call out Henley. This clearly sets up a match between Henley and Parker.
A vignette hyped the arrival to NXT of a newcomers Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, who are set to debut next Tuesday on NXT.
The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile are interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. They talk about main event tonight, where Trick Williams challenges for the NXT title against champ Ilja Dragunov. The interview concludes with them chanting “whoop that trick.”
An official announcement plugged NXT Battleground at UFC’s Apex facility.
The D’Angelo Family (Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino with Adrianna Rizzo) defeated No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne) in a six-man tag team match
D’Angelo scores a pinfall on one-third of the Heritage Cup Champions. The result could likely set up D’Angelo challenging for the Cup in the near future
The trios match goes through a split-screen commercial break. When the show returns, heat on Stacks as he is worked over. A gutsy Stacks eventually makes the hot tag. Far from the best hot tag, but D’Angelo runs wild anyway. The Don cleans house on the Catch Crew. D’Angelo is going for his finisher on Kemp when Dempsey chop blocks The Don’s knee.
Nice combos by Kemp and Borne, along with Crusifino & Stacks. D’Angelo kicks out for a near fall. Stacks jumps in to break up a pinning attempt, saving The Don. Crusifino gets to shine by doing an Arn Anderson spinebuster. For the finish. D’Angelo plants Dempsey with a pop-up powerbomb, and The Don scores a clean three count.
Jaida Parker (with OTM) defeated Fallon Henley
Parker pinned Henley after a hip attack. The match begins during a split-screen commercial break, and the bout is joined in progress after the break. Henley gets several near falls, but Parker strikes with what was called a “Tear Drop” hip attack, and Parker pins Henley clean.
Jacy Jayne, flanked by Jazmyn Nyz, cuts a promo on Thea Hail, ahead of Hail and Jayne having a grudge match next Tuesday on week two of Spring Breakin’.
A video package hypes Lola Vice, as she prepares for an Underground match against Natalya. There contract signing is up next.
NXT GM presides over a contract signing for a NXT Underground match between Nattie and Vice. Set up is a makeshift Underground ring with no ropes. Two chairs are on each side of a podium. Nattie and Karmen Petrovic sit on one side, as Petrovic is in Nattie’s corner.
Nattie wants to know who is in Vice’s corner. Vice responds by saying Nattie is more worried about who is the second than she is worries about Vice winning the match. Vice says that although she can “shake her ass,” Vice can also kick Nattie’s as well. Vice is supposed to be the heel here, but the live studio audience cheers her like she is the babyface.
Shayna Baszler is eventually revealed as the person in Vice’s corner for the match. Baszler comes to the ring and cuts a promo. She pushes Petrovic, only for Baszler to get wiped out by a roundhouse kick. Brief melee before Vice and Baszler flee the ring, as Nattie and Petrovic stand tall.
Ridge Holland is seen arriving to the building earlier today. Shawn Spears confront Holland, playing more mind games with Holland.
The Final Testament are the focus of a video packing hyping them up.
NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom are backstage, and they are fired up about The Final Testament. Other teams are around them and they are upset too. In comes The Good Brothers, and they are upset. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe are also upset. Enofe then accidentally knocks over a cheap stand-up mirror. A bad skit ends in bad luck.
Sol Ruca defeated Blair Davenport in a Beach Brawl match
Ruca pinned Davenport in a match filled with what Dusty Rhodes would call blunder. No disqualification, so there are indeed lots of weapons. Some of the props used are beach-themed, like a surfboard that Ruca brought with her. Also around the ring are things like beach balls and lawn chairs. Other more harmful weapons are used including metal folding chairs, and a folding table set up to look like a picnic table.
Ruca falls backwards off the barricade at ringside with Davenport on Ruca’s back. Davenport is driven through the picnic table. Moments later, Ruca executed her springboard cutter finisher on a surfboard. Ruca then scores a pinfall as the crowd pops.
Jonny Gargano hypes up Trick Williams with a pep talk in the locker room.
Lexis King defeated Baron Corbin
King pinned Corbin, after a low blow and a Coronation finisher. This match was set up by an angle shot yesterday, which was shown earlier in the show. Not sure who is the protagonist here, if there even is one. Seemingly the least amount of crowd heat of any match on the show, but the result at least put heat on King.
King tried to cheat by putting his feet on the ropes, but the referee caught him. King would cheat again moments later, but the ref misses it that time after almost colliding with Corbin. Behind the ref’s back, King boots Corbin with a low blow. King then delivers a Coronation, and he covers Corbin for a pinfall.
Both the champion and the challenger in the main event cut pre-match promos. Also, World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest wishes Dragunov luck.
Trick Williams says he will whoop that trick like his mama told him too. This is notable because Williams’ mother is in currently in the hospital, adding a real life situation to the drama of the main event.
Trick Williams defeated NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov to win the title
Williams pinned Dragunov after a jumping knee strike. And new…
Strong back-and-forth action at the start. This was babyface against babyface. They even slapped hands and hugged, just before they broke out into a slugfest. They wrestle through a split-screen commercial break, and they are fighting on the turnbuckles as the show returns.
Ugly botch as Dragunov goes for a sunset bomb, and Williams lands on Dragunov’s chest. That causes Dragunov’s leg to fold up underneath him in an awkward manner. The referee immediately check on Dragunov, must have been okay, as the match continues on.
Dragunov with a coast-to-coast missile dropkick for a near fall. Williams then makes a comeback, and Williams gets some near falls of his own. One those near falls included Williams doing Dragunov’s finisher. Nevertheless, Dragunov kicks out and fights back. He gives Williams an exploder suplex in a corner, as the studio audience chants, “This is awesome!”
Dragunov clears the announce desk, and he teases putting Williams through the table. Williams counters Dragunov, and Williams in turn gives Dragunov a Rock Bottom off the barricade, through the announce desk. The table implodes under the weight of the stunt.
Superplex in the closing minutes, and Dragunov delivers a H-bomb. Dragunov drops another H-bomb flying off the middle rope, but Williams kicks out at two and half. Dropping a third H-bomb, Dragunov comes crashing down off the top rope. Upon impact, Dragunov sells his hand as if he hurt it on the H-bomb. Thus, Dragunov is unable to capitalize.
They trade near falls in the closing moments. Dragunov is the last to kick out, but he is soon hit with a running knee strike. They both signal for their respective finisher. They face off like a gunfight, and Williams is the first to strike as he hits the leaping knee strike. Williams then covers Dragunov for a three count, AND NEW…
Doing the Hulk Hogan gimmick from WrestleMania VI, Dragunov grabs the title belt from the referee. While Dragunov did not go into business for himself like Hogan, the defeated former champion does presents the belt to the new champ. They embrace, and Dragunov leaves the ring to allow Williams to have his moment. NXT has a new champion.
The Raw after WrestleMania 40 included a surprise appearance by NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov.
Dragunov was in action on Monday night, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura. It was revealed that Dragunov will be joining the WWE main roster. He’s declared for the WWE Draft that’s taking place at the end of this month.
This was Dragunov’s Raw debut and his first time ever wrestling on the main roster. When Nakamura went for a Kinshasa near the end of the match, Dragunov countered with a kick to the face. He then hit a powerbomb, an H-Bomb, and Torpedo Moscow to get the victory.
At NXT Stand & Deliver this past Saturday, Dragunov retained his NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo. Dragunov has held the title since September 2023.
Dragunov, who is originally from Russia, is a former NXT United Kingdom Champion. He’s been one of Gunther’s top rivals with the two having highly praised matches against each other both in WWE and outside of it.
The 2024 WWE Draft will begin on the April 26 episode of SmackDown and end on the April 29 episode of Raw.
Ilja Dragunov’s challenger for Stand & Deliver is now set.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Carmelo Hayes at NXT Roadblock on Tuesday to become the new number one contender. With the win, D’Angelo will now face the NXT Champion at Stand & Deliver on April 6.
The finish of the match had Hayes distracted by Trick Williams’ music. That allowed D’Angelo to pick up the win with his fisherman’s suplex. After the match, D’Angelo revealed that he was the one behind the music, but then introduced Williams, who came out through the crowd and attacked both Hayes and his security team.
On last week’s NXT, Hayes and Dragunov were about to sign for a match against one another when D’Angelo came to the ring. He said he had talked to NXT General Manager Ava, and the contract now would he him taking on Hayes where the winner would face Dragunov at Stand & Deliver.
Williams had been off TV since the events of NXT Vengeance Day last month, where he was blindsided by Hayes, who clipped his leg and repeatedly attacked Williams with a steel chair. Hayes would later reveal that he was the one who attacked Hayes backstage last fall.
After presenting a taped episode last week, WWE NXT is back live tonight.
A face-to-face segment with Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes headlines tonight’s episode. Following his betrayal of Trick Williams at Vengeance Day, Hayes has set his sights on the NXT Championship.
Dragunov has agreed to defend his title against Hayes at NXT Roadblock next Tuesday. That match should be made official during tonight’s face-to-face.
The Heritage Cup will be on the line tonight as Noam Dar defends against a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew. It will be Dar vs. either Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp, or Myles Borne.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, who put NXT on notice last week, are set for action against Malik Blade & Edris Enofe.
Roxanne Perez vs. Jakara Jackson, Kelani Jordan vs. Kiana James, Von Wagner vs. Lexis King, Dijak vs. Luca Crusifino, and Gigi Dolin vs. Jaida Parker have also been announced. Plus, we’ll hear from Ridge Holland.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Starts with a cold open, meaning no introductory video aside from the quick “Together” that opens every WWE broadcast. Wide shot of the sound stage at the Performance Center.
Booker T returns to commentary to join fellow regular Vic Joseph.
In front of a studio audience, out comes NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov for tonight’s advertised confrontation. Dragunov calls out Carmelo Hayes, and Hayes saunters out. Hayes appears rather confident, especially with a line of personal security guards between “Him” and Dragunov.
Hayes calls Dragunov “spiteful,” and the champ says Hayes is “damn right about me!” Because of that, Hayes says he will not get in the ring with Dragunov until their title match is signed and official. Hayes says he will give Dragunov until the end of the night. Until then, or what? That was a hollow threat from Hayes.
Dragunov decks and elbows a few of the security guards, as the rest of security surrounds Hayes with a human shield. To be continued later in the show.
Gigi Dolan is backstage earlier today, and she wants to speak with General Manager Ava. They go to meet in Ava’s office, but Jaida Parker is already there. Much like Dolan, Parker wants to talk about her future. Dolan tells Parker to get in line. This skit sets up a match for later.
Kiana James (with Izzi Dame) defeated Kelani Jordan
James pinned Jordan after interference by Dame. The match goes through a commercial break. Jordan gets to shine before the show cuts to break. Jordan is cut off during the break, and James works her over. Jordan gets some hope spots, like a small package out of nowhere for a two count.
Jordan is trying to rally when she is flipped over the ropes, out to the apron. Jordan goes for a springboard, but Dame interferes by grabbing Jordan’s leg. Jordan takes a bump on the apron, and down to the floor. When Jordan is rolled back into the ring, James executes her “Deal Breaker” finish. A three count later, and the referee raises James hand in victory.
The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) defeated Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
Gallows pinned Enofe, after a Magic Killer. The babyface duo did well early on, but they lose yet again. They have been a team for a while now, but have got nothing more than a mild push as a team. They seem to lose to those on their way up. Or they lose to teams on their way in, such as here with The Good Brothers in NXT.
Heat on Blade in the body of the match, leading to a hot tag. Enofe cleans house. Meanwhile, Gallows goozles Blade, and Blade is sent crashing into the ring steps. Enofe is cut off, and he takes a spinebuster from Anderson. Both Anderson and Gallows get into the ring for their tandem finisher. Gallows then covers Enofe for a pinfall.
In another backstage skit in Ava’s office, North American Champion Oba Femi and NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov meet face to face. They have a brief staredown. Dragunov is actually there to talk with Ava, presumably about booking the title match with Hayes.
Roxanne Perez defeated Jakara Jackson (with Lash Legend)
Perez submitted Jackson with a crossface. Legend interfered during the match, and the referee ejected her from ringside.
This match was set up with a skit from last week, where Roxanne was upset about missing the open challenge last Tuesday. Jackson approaches Perez to brag about Lash Legend. Perez was already upset, and that was all she needed to ignite. That sparks a pull-apart brawl, which set up this bout.
Perez has words with Legend at ringside, which costs Perez for a moment. Legend interferes, and the ref ejects Legend from ringside. Jackson stills gets some offense, until Perez fired up for a comeback. Perez then applies a crossface, and Jackson tapped out.
Thea Hail is left alone and sad, after Kiana James wants to talk to Jacy Jayne about the calendar sales. This was a community theater skit.
Wolf Dogs meet The Good Brothers in another backstage skit. This teases a tag team title with the new NXT Tag Team Champions, Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin, defending against Gallows & Anderson.
Dijak defeated Luca Crusifino
An encounter in a skit from last week set up this match. It also involved a crazed Joe Gacy in a straitjacket, but that did not factor into this bout. Gacy would run in after the match to attack Dijak.
Crusifino in his new role re-debuts in the ring on NXT, and he drops the fall clean as a sheet. Not really the best way to debut, but it continued a theme on this episode of up-and-comers getting beaten by established acts. There was at least some character development with Crusifino. He plants a crowbar in a hiding spot after the match, catching the eye of The Family.
Dijak cuts off a rally, leading to “Feast Your Eyes” and a pinfall. Gacy runs in after the match. He is still in the straitjacket, but he has broken out of it. One are is completely out, and Gacy flails his arm around.
Crusifino has a crowbar, and he hides it in the ring steps in front of the world. Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, and Rizzo are watching on a monitor backstage. “The Don” is impressed, teasing Crusifino may get an offer he cannot refuse.
NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria heads to the ring for a monologue. Valkyria wishes Shotzi a speedy recovery from injury, and Valkyria also puts over Legend for doing well.
Valkyria then mentions Tatum Paxley following direction last week. Valkyria asks Paxley to come out to thank her. Paxley joins Valkyria in the ring, and Paxley says it was hard not interfere. Paxley begins to mark out for Valkyria, and Valkyria has to settle her down.
As a reward, Valkyria announces that Paxley will team with Valkyria to challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors. That is set for NXT Roadblock.
Ridge Holland interrupts them, and he congratulates the new challengers. Holland asks them to leave the ring, because Holland has something to say. Holland wants to defend his actions, saying he was defending himself.
The lights in the sound stage suddenly go dark. A message appears on the video screens. “Truth will prevail, but there is pain bringing it to light.” The sound stage then goes dark. A lone spotlight breaks through the darkness, revealing a hooded figure holding a folding chair.
The hooded figure hits Holland with a chair shot. The mysterious figure takes off his hood to reveal himself as Shawn Spears. He has returned to NXT, with a takeoff on his chair gimmick from AEW. Although Spears has a previous run in NXT under the “Tye Dillinger” moniker, the commentators referred to him by his shoot name.
Von Wagner (with Mr. Stone) defeated Lexis King
Wagner pinned King after interference by Stone. To get his heat back, King lays out Stone after the match.
King works a leg during the match. Comeback by Wagner, and the fighting spills outside. Mr. Stone is inadvertently knocked down, which worries Wagner. Back in the ring, King is looking for a finisher. Stone jumps on the apron to distract King, allowing Wagner to schoolboy roll up King.
Wagner scores a three count, but King attacks Wager after the match. Stone jumps in to make a save. Instead, King pummels Stone. King executes his “Coronation” finisher on Stone. Flopping like a fish out of water, Stone sells big.
Ava is arguing with Dijak about the brawl earlier with Joe Gacy. The brawling erupts again when Gacy attacks Dijak. A screaming Ava yells they cannot keep doing this. She later books an “Asylum Match” with Gacy against Dijak. That was confirmed for NXT Roadblock.
Jaida Parker pinned Gigi Dolan
“Miss NXT” Arianna Grace comes down to ringside during the match, which ends up costing Dolan the match. Her appearance was foreshadowed with a skit before this match. Grace gets on the apron, wanting to speak to Dolan. In the middle of a match, that is quite silly.
Dolan slaps Grace, and Grace takes a bump off the apron. A distracted Dolan is then blindsided by Parker. Dolan takes the fall, and Parkers pinned her.
An overhead shot of beach reveals a cryptic message. “See you soon.”
Charlie Dempsey (with No Quarter Catch Crew) defeated Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar (with Oro Mensah) to win the trophy
Dempsey pinned Dar for the deciding fall in the fifth round. Besides the Heritage Cup rules, the other gimmick for this bout was Dar being unaware which member of the Crew he would face in this title match.
All four members of the Crew entered the sound stage, and they all walk to the ring. Dempsey is revealed as the one from the Crew set to wrestle for the Cup.
In the first round, Dempsey scores a pinfall with a cradle. Much of round two happens during a split-screen commercial break. No falls in the second round. Some nifty grappling in the third round.
They are trading strikes as round three winds downs. Dar is dumped on his head with a German suplex, but he manages a counter. Dempsey eats a back elbow, and time expires on the third round.
Not long into the fourth round, Dar evens the score. Dar rushed to attack Dempsey. “Nova Roller” finishing move, and Dar pins Dempsey. The score is tied with one fall apiece.
Seconds into round five, and Myles Borne jumps on the apron trying to cause a distraction. Oro Mensah clashes with Borne at ringside, and Mensah is posted by Borne. A moment later, Drew Gulak and Damon Kemp jump on the apron. Dar thwarts them, but the distraction allow Dempsey time to recover. Dempsey then catches Car with a Dragon suplex. Dempsey bridges, and Dar’s shoulder are on the mat for a three count.
Shawn Spears is leaving the building when he is met with a TMZ-style interview. Spears reveals he will be at “Roadblock” next week.
Face-to-Face
Ava moderates a sit-down face-to-face segment where they are seated at a table. The face-to-face segment is interrupted by the arrival of Tony D’Angelo.
Tony D wants to be included in any conversation about “big business.” Hayes threatens “The Don” by saying he will sic the security on him. The Don tells Hayes that you do not have to be “Him,” nor a champion, to get things done around here.
Tony D snaps his fingers like The Fonz. With the snap of his fingers, the security guards all leave. Ava also vacates seat at the table, and The Don sits down.
Tony D’Angelo wants a title shot, instead of Hayes getting the match. D’Angelo talks about Hayes demanding a title match, but Tony D proclaims he wants to earn a title shot at Stand & Deliver.
D’Angelo announces a match next for Roadblock, with himself against Hayes. The winner gets a NXT title match at Stand & Deliver. Dragunov accepts the proposal, and he shakes hands with D’Angelo.
Hayes gets up from the table to threaten D’Angelo. Pushing and shoving, and Tony D inadvertently elbows Dragunov. Hayes then puts D’Angelo through a table. Hayes signs a contract, and he drops the contract on a prone D’Angelo. Next week is a number one contender’s match to decide who faces Dragunov at Stand & Deliver.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov & Carmelo Hayes will go face-to-face on the Tuesday, February 27 WWE NXT episode.
In a segment originally advertised for this week’s taped show, Dragunov will go face-to-face with his likely next challenger Hayes on next week’s live episode. Dragunov defeated Trick Williams to retain the NXT title at Vengeance Day earlier this month, only for Hayes to turn on Williams in the post-match.
A Heritage Cup defense is also set for the February 27 show, as Noam Dar will defend the trophy against a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew yet to be announced. The No Quarter Catch Crew invoked the “Catch clause” in a promo segment on this week’s show, establishing that any of the four group members can challenge Dar next week.
Also announced for next week, Ridge Holland will address the crowd. Holland declared his intention to speak next week in a sit-down interview segment with Sarah Schreiber on this week’s show after speaking on his recent one-on-three attack on Gallus.
The announced lineup for the Tuesday, February 27 WWE NXT:
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov & Carmelo Hayes face-to-face
Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar defends a member of No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp, Charlie Dempsey, or Myles Borne)
Tonight’s NXT Vengeance Day is a huge moment for Trick Williams.
In the main event, Williams is challenging Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship. Williams earned the title shot by winning the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge match at NXT Deadline.
But that isn’t the only match Williams will be having tonight. He also has a chance to win the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Williams & Carmelo Hayes are facing Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin in the finals of the tournament.
After recently winning a number one contender’s battle royal, Roxanne Perez battles NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. The NXT North American Championship will also be defended as Dragon Lee gets his rematch against Oba Femi.
Tony D’Angelo, Stacks & Adriana Rizzo are taking on Bronco Nima, Lucien Price & Jaida Parker in a six-person tag bout. Plus, Dijak and Joe Gacy clash in a no DQ match.
Tonight’s show streams live on Peacock/WWE Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a pre-show leading into the event.
KICKOFF SHOW
Megan Morant welcomed us to the Kickoff show alongside Matt Camp and Sam Roberts. After showing NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov and Trick Melo Gang arriving to the arena earlier in the day, the panel ran down the lineup for tonight.
After previewing the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, a video package was shown of NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria determined to win her match tonight against Roxanne Perez. Valkyria was then shown arriving to the arena earlier in the day as Tatum Paxley showed up out of nowhere to surprise her. Valkyria, confused as to why she was there, told her that she was going to her locker room and pointed in the opposite direction attempting to get away from Paxley.
After the panel took a look at the the upcoming North American title match, Kelly Kincaid was backstage with Dragon Lee. Lee stated that although Oba Femi was bigger, he couldn’t match his heart and that he was going to recapture the championship tonight.
Backstage, Bron Breakker had a SmackDown contract in his hands as Baron Corbin asked whether or not he was going to sign it. Breakker stated that he wouldn’t sign anything until he met with the Raw brand. Corbin then stated he had an amazing entrance lined up for tonight and when Breakker questioned why he wasn’t included, Corbin stated he couldn’t get ahold of him.
A video package aired focusing on the determination of Roxanne Perez after being stripped of the NXT Women’s title just less than a year ago. Perez was then shown earlier in the day, walking around an empty F&M Bank Arena before she spotted the WrestleMania 40 sign hanging from the rafters.
After a video package aired for the WWE Elimination Chamber PLE taking place later this month, The D’Angelo Family was shown in a car outside of the arena. After Tony questioned Adrianna’s loyalty, “Stacks” chimed in and said that the calendar presented by Chase U was really good. Adrianna stated that she threw Chase U a bone before Tony said that was enough and they needed to focus on their match tonight.
The panel took a look at the upcoming No Disqualification match between Dijak and Joe Gacy before Megan was being interrupted. Kelly Kincaid was shown backstage with Gacy, looking for weapons as he couldn’t bring what he wanted to through the airport. Gacy found a kendo stick, a metal chain and gorilla tape and after testing some of them out, said hello to the panel in Stamford before going on his way.
The panel took a look at the NXT Championship match, stating how tough of a night it might be for Trick Williams before running down the card one final time.
**********
MAIN SHOW
After we were treated to a magnificent cold open video package, Vic Joseph welcomed us to Vengeance Day joined by the Dusty Cup and the returning, for one night only, Wade Barrett!
Wolf Dogs (Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin) defeated Trick Melo Gang (Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes) in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a fan of Baron Corbin and while I’ve respected his athleticism, zzzzzzzzzz…
However…
The connection he has with Bron Breakker is phenomenal. To the point I want to see these guys as Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Yep. I said it.
Honestly, as a wrestling fan for a long, long time, they looked great tonight and especially considering the fact that besides Corbin, the sky is the limit for the other three competitors in the match as they’ve barely cut their teeth (See that, teeth, Wolf Dogs) into the WWE Universe.
After Trick Melo Gang made their way down to the ring, both Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker made their arrivals on motorcycles.
Breakker started the match with Hayes as Joseph alluded to the winners not only winning the Dusty Cup, but also earning a shot at the NXT tag team titles. Hayes quickly tagged in Williams but Breakker was simply too powerful for both men. Corbin was tagged in and this seemed to be the break needed as Trick Melo Gang began syncing for the next few moments of the match until Breakker caught Hayes with a cutter.
As a patient Williams looked on from the corner, Hayes was in trouble as Breakker and Corbin continued to land stiff shots on the former NXT champion. Quick tags were being made by Breakker and Corbin and Hayes was taking a beating as the Wolf Dogs continued to land massive clotheslines and powerslams.
Hayes attempted to make a tag but Williams was cut off. Hayes would persevere however and finally was able to make the hot tag to Trick. Williams entered the ring and gained the upperhand for his team as the next few moments of the match saw it all Trick Melo Gang as Williams launched himself to the outside taking out Corbin as Hayes got a nearfall on Breakker.
TMG’s momentum came to a halt however when Breakker caught both men and suplexed the two of them at the same time. Corbin followed up with a Deep Six on Williams but could only manage a two count.
Breakker continued the momentum by landing a huge dive to the outside on both Hayes and Williams from the top turnbuckle. After Hayes was sent back to the inside, Breakker landed a massive spear to score the 1-2-3 as Williams attempted to make the save but couldn’t prevent the Wolf Dogs getting the Dusty Cup victory.
Dijak defeated Joe Gacy in a No Disqualification Match
The match was as expected but did they miss the boat on both of these guys? Dijak shouldn’t be able to perform the moves he does and Gacy gets knocked out and is smiling as he’s getting pinned. Unbelievable talent in both men but where do both men go from here? Someone needs to search the WWE warehouse for a crystal ball or possibly Papa Shango.
After the bell rang, Dijak presented a throwback Bossman nightstick while Gacy presented his own retractable nightstick before both men battled in a sword battle.
Both men then sought weapons from underneath the ring including chairs, gorilla tape, tables and toys including toy soldiers and dinky cars. After Gacy poured the toys all over a table, he attempted to put Dijak through it but was unsuccessful. Dijak took matters back into the ring and after landing a death valley driver, Gacy with a trash can on his head, speared Dijak to gain momentum.
Gacy followed up with a uranage and then managed to send Dijak through the table setup on the outside filled with soldiers and dinky cars. Dijak quickly recovered and nailed Gacy with a chokeslam in the corner onto a chair. Dijak headed to the top rope but Gacy caught him and attempted to land a superplex onto a trash can but missed the trash can and only managed a two count.
Gacy then found the tape and after taping the eyes of Dijak, attempted to do as much damage as he could but even with tape over his eyes, Dijak managed to nail his Feast Your Eyes finisher but couldn’t find Gacy to make the pin attempt.
After ripping the tape off his eyes, Dijak followed up with the nightstick and after nailing his finisher once again, he was able to get the pinfall on a knocked out, smiling Joe Gacy.
– Backstage, Kelly Kincaid met up the Chase U signing calendars for a lineup of fans. It was then announced that beginning tomorrow, the calendars would be available on WWE Shop.
The Family (Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Adrianna Rizzo) defeated O.T.M. (Bronco Nima, Lucien Price & Jaida Parker w/Scrypts) in a Six Person Tag Team Match
The tag team division in NXT is slowly rebuilding and while O.T.M. has a great gimmick and momentum, there was moments in this match that made them look like they’re not ready yet. The Family has done an amazing job being THE tag team division right now but Tony D’Angelo has so much more potential as a singles wrestler. He gets ‘it’. The match was good tonight as long as they continue the feud but it wasn’t anything spectacular.
After O.T.M. made their entrance, The Family’s music hit but as O.T.M. awaited their arrival, The Family snuck in behind them and the action was underway.
As Rizzo and Parker battled after the bell rang, The Family was soon in full control with both Rizzo and D’Angelo landing assisted cannonballs into their downed opponents in the corners.
Scrypts then played a factor in turning momentum around for his team as Nima and Price started having a field day with Lorenzo, using their size and strength to lay a massive beating on their smaller opponent. D’Angelo attempted to get involved but he was sent packing as well before Parker took out Rizzo.
“Stacks” finally managed to make the tag to D’Angelo and Tony cleaned house before being cheapshotted by Parker. Rizzo then took out Parker and after Lorenzo took out O.T.M. on the outside, Rizzo climbed to the top and followed suit.
D’Angelo, still fired up, managed to get Price back in the ring and nailed the Forget About It to pickup the 1-2-3 for The Family.
– Kiana James and Izzi Dame were shown discussing business outside of James’ home focusing on the NXT women’s title match tonight and what their focus needed to be after tonight.
– Trick Melo Gang was being tended to medically after tonight’s opening match. Trick asked Carmelo why he took that spear tonight and Hayes stated he needed to protect Trick for his main event match tonight. Trick then stated he wanted Carmelo by his side tonight for the main event.
– A video promo aired for NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 taking place live on April 6th from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Roxanne Perez & Lola Vice in a Triple Threat match to retain the NXT Women’s Championship
A heel Roxanne Perez is what the world has been waiting for and while we’re continuously getting glimpses, they still won’t pull the trigger. I’m going to go old school and when Owen Hart kicked the leg out from Bret Hart, that’s an image I’ll never forget and it’s what made Owen a legend. Roxanne needs to follow suit and while she brawled with Lola backstage later in the show, she’s going to be a complete badass jerk before she’s 30… If they pull the trigger.
After the traditional championship introductions were made, the bell rang for this much anticipated match.
Both women looked to gain momentum early with their technical skills but it ended up being a stalemate as one wrong move could cost each woman the match. Lyra switched things up with her power game as Roxanne attempted to hit her on the outside but caught the challenger with a massive forearm.
Perez retaliated and after hitting a moonsault off the ropes, the aggression between both women started getting higher as Lyra was caught with a hurricanrana off the top turnbuckle. Roxanne followed up with Pop Rox but before she could attempt a pin, Lola Vice’s music hit. Tatum Paxley attempted to interfere but to no avail. Vice cashed in her Breakout contract and it was now a Triple Threat match!
Lola took control of the match for the next few moments as both Lyra and Roxanne were tired at this point of the match. Perez managed to switch things up by hitting both women with suplexes but couldn’t hang onto momentum. Valkyria found her second wind and while Lola was still on the attack, Perez was able to hit Pop Rox once again on Valkyria but Paxley ran interference.
Vice attempted to take things home but Lyra was just way too determined and after nailing Night Wish, that was all she wrote as Lykyria retained her NXT women’s championship.
– Backstage, Chase U was still signing calendars for a a continuous lineup of fans when Thea Hail was asked for and accepted a Valentine’s Day date with Riley Osborne.
– A mysterious video package aired beginning with the line, “Man Has Three Faces…”.
Oba Femi defeated Dragon Lee to retain the NXT North American title
Dragon Lee is a star and is the future of Lucha Libre but Oba Femi is 25 years old and has the makings of Mark Henry, Ron Simmons and Omos all in one and he’s an attraction. Lee put up a fight tonight but you just knew Femi wasn’t losing.
After the bell rang, Lee attempted to use his quickness to gain the advantage but Femi was just way too powerful. It didn’t stop Lee from persevering however as he managed to land a double stomp from the top turnbuckle to the face of Femi.
Lee unfortunately couldn’t capitalize beyond that spot however as Femi took control of the match once again, dominating his much smaller opponent. After Femi sent Lee to the outside and Lee made it back into the ring at nine, Femi punished Lee with a barrage of thunderous backbreakers.
Lee would see a momentum change as he caught Femi in a submission that appeared to wear down the champion and after a series of aerial attacks including three missile dropkicks in the corner, Lee would only be able to manage a two count.
Lee followed up with a unbelievable sitdown powerbomb but again only managed a two count. Both men saw themselves on the ring apron and as Lee looked to continue his attack, he was swatted out of the air and Femi now had a glazed look in his eyes.
Lee attempted to get back on track but Femi was in the zone and after sending Lee through an announce chair, he sent Lee back into the ring. Lee still continued a comeback but Femi made him look like an amateur at this point and after tossing him through the air, nailed a massive pop-up powerbomb to retain the North American title.
– Backstage, Lexis King was checking out the Chase U calendar and made a pass at Thea Hail before Riley Osborne took exception and a brawl ensued.
– Backstage, Kelly Kincaid with NXT General Manager Ava. Ava stated that it’s been a great night taking part in her first NXT PLE as General Manager. She followed up by stating that NXT Roadblock 2024 would take place on March 5th followed by NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6th.
– As Vic Joseph was running down this coming Tuesday’s NXT show, cameras cut to backstage where Roxanne Perez was shown brawling with Lola Vice.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Trick Williams (w/Carmelo Hayes) to retai the NXT title
The main event was just what you expected… Barbaric, Hungry, Optimistic and Vengeful. Dragunov is what you expect when you look at what a champion should be made of but you couldn’t help but root all the way for Williams. When that backstage segment aired and Trick wanted Carmelo in his corner tonight, you just knew that was the final nail in the coffin of Trick Melo Gang. Where they go from here and who challenges Dragunov next, I’m looking forward to this coming Tuesday but this main event tonight was awesome!
BIG FIGHT FEEL.
Both men were looking to establish dominance in the opening seconds of the match and this was Trick’s second match of the night. Dragunov landed a massive clothesline to Williams but somehow Ilja got the worst of it as he came away from it with a busted nose.
Dragunov slowed things down with a ground game but less than five minutes in and Ilja has a busted nose and Trick’s mouth is busted up. The match heads to the outside and as Hayes watches on, Dragunov nails Williams with a death valley driver to the “hardest part of the ring”.
Hayes consoles Williams and as Trick re-enters the ring at the count of eight, he’s met with a missile dropkick from the awaiting champion. Dragunov attempted to finish Williams but Trick was hungry at this point and it was nothing short of a pier-six brawl at this point with both men reaching down as much as they could to get that victory.
Back on the outside and Williams hits a massive uranage from the ring apron to the floor below. Hayes got up in the face of Dragunov and after a failed swing to the face, Ilja sent Carmelo into the knee of Williams.
We’re back in the ring and after Williams attempted to recover, Dragunov hit him with everything he could including a H-Bomb from the top rope but Ilja could only get a two count.
Williams followed up with a big boot but then accidentally took out the referee but Hayes as well. Williams landed his Trick Knee but there was no referee to count. A second referee ran down to the ring but it was only a two count. Dragunov looked to finish Williams once again with a top-rope H-Bomb but Trick got his knees up.
Both men at this point exhausted and relying on reserves, looked to finish the match but as they both ran at one another, Dragunov landed his Torpedo Moscow to retain the NXT title after a hard and vicious battle.
– After the match, Hayes consoled Williams stating that he was his boy as the closing graphic appeared. Before the event went off the air however, Hayes decided to slowly move around Williams before attacking him like a shark and taking out his knee. Hayes grabbed a chair from under the ring and after laying a massive beatdown on his once best friend, left the ring to the boos and chants of those in attendance.
Trick Williams and Ilja Dragunov will meet face-to-face.
It was announced that the NXT Champion will meet his challenger on Tuesday’s NXT, just days prior to their match at Vengeance Day on February 4. Roxanne Perez, meanwhile, will take on Tatum Paxley.
After Dragunov was put out of action, delaying their New Year’s Evil match, he recovered and told Williams that he’d get his title match at Vengence Day. While Williams was excited about getting his shot at the NXT Championship, it upset Carmelo Hayes, who has been hoping to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Williams as the two have made it to the semifinals.
Last week’s NXT saw Lyra Valkyria tell Paxley that them being a team wasn’t going to work out, and instead wanted to focus on defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Perez at Vengeance Day. Although Paxley seemed to understand at first, the end of the show saw Paxley put Perez through a table, upsetting Valkyria.
The announced lineup for the Tuesday, January 30 WWE NXT:
Ilja Dragunov, Trick Williams face-to-face
Noam Dar defends the Heritage Cup against Von Wagner
Lola Vice vs. Elektra Lopez
Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinals: LWO’s Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde vs. Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
WWE’s New Year’s Knockout Week continues tonight with a special episode of NXT.
TTwo championship matches headline NXT New Year’s Evil 2024. Trick Williams and Blair Davenport are getting the title shots that they earned by winning the Iron Survivor Challenge matches at NXT Deadline. Williams is challenging Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship. Davenport is facing Lyra Valkyria with the NXT Women’s Championship on the line.
A grudge match between Tiffany Stratton and Fallon Henley will go down tonight. If Stratton wins, Henley has to become her servant for a day. If Henley wins, Stratton will need to spend 24 hours working as a ranch hand for Henley.
The winner of the Men’s Breakout Tournament will be crowned when Riley Osborne and Oba Femi face off tonight.
With Dragon Lee unable to appear due to visa issues, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro will have a mystery partner against the No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne). Roxanne Perez vs. Arianna Grace is also set.
*********************
The show begins with a video package highlighting tonight’s supercard. The first of two title matches opens the show, which is live from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
The first 30 minutes is commercial free. That is special, but the setting itself is run-of-the-mill. Special graphics on the video screen aside, this looks like any other episode of NXT from the PC.
NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria defeated Blair Davenport to retain her title
Valkyria pinned Davenport after a Michinoku Driver/fireman’s carry combo finisher. Seemed very snug at times, like they were beating the heck out of each other.
In setting up the finish, Davenport executes an avalanche Falcon Arrow off the top, but Valkyria rolls outside the ring before Davenport can cover her. Davenport goes outside after Valkyria, and Davenport is tossing her around near the announce desk. Davenport goes for a knee strike, Valkyria moves, and Davenport strikes the desk. Davenport sells her knee after she broke a hole in the desk.
Back in the ring, Davenport goes for a suplex, but her knee gives out. She goes for a double stomp, after delivering one earlier in the match. No water in the pool this time around. Davenport lands on the mat, and sells her knee. Valkyria boots her in the face, and Valkyria executes a finisher. One, two, three, and Valkyria retains via pinfall.
Lola Vice ran down to ringside with her contract she recently earned. The gimmick is the contract is like Money in the Bank, and it can be cashed it at any time. Vice is about to cash in when Tatum Paxley jumps out from the front row to attack Vice. In runs Elektra Lopez to back up Vice, and she brawls with Paxley. Valkyria makes a save, and there is a brawl at ringside. Seems to set up a tag match with Valkyria teaming with Paxley for sometime soon.
A crawler at the bottom of the TV screen during the last match promised breaking news, and it involved the men’s NXT Championship match scheduled for the show. NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is not cleared to compete, so they title bout for later tonight is reportedly off.
In another change to the advertised card, Dragon Lee is having some of sort of issue with his visa. Therefore, Dragon Lee is missing the show. He is replaced by Carlito in a trios match that is up next.
LWO (Carlito, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) defeated No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne) in a six-man tag team match
Kemp drops the fall for his team, after he is pinned by Del Toro.
Wilde does a wild dive to the outside, where Carlito and Del Toro help by launching him off the middle rope. Wilde is soon cut off, and the heels work him over. That builds to a hot tag, where Carlito tags in and cleans house.
Wildes wipes out Gulak and Borne, after a corkscrew senton off the top to the floor. Kemp goes for an O’Connor roll on Carlito, not realizing there was a blind tag. Kemp takes a backstabber from Carlito, and Del Toro follows up with a Phoenix Splash. Del Toro then scores a pinfall on Kemp. Playing into his gimmick, Carlito spits an apple in Gulak’s face after the match.
Grayon Waller returns to NXT when he interrupts an interview with Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Hayes hypes up Trick, before Hayes promises that Williams will put up his title shot tonight in a match against Waller. Trick is not happy with Hayes, but Waller accepts the challenge nonetheless.
Riley Osborne is featured in a vignette from Chase U. In the skit, Osborne recites and essay he is writing about his match later tonight.
Arianna Grace defeated Roxanne Perez via a reversed decision
Perez attacks Grace after the match, and the referee reverses his decision. That awards the match to Grace, despite Perez scoring a pinfall. Perez teases a heel turn, or something like that.
Perez pinned Grace after Pop Rox (Code Red). Grace got some offense with some heel tactics, as she worked over Perez. Eventually, Perez hulks up. Perez looks to make a comeback. Grace cut her off, but Perez counters into her finisher. Perez then cradles Grace for a three count.
Grace yells at Perez after the match, screaming that Perez “needs help!” Perez snaps and jumps Grace. Perez locks in a crossface, and several referees have to pry her off Grace. Perez flashes a sinister smile before letting go of the hold. I will never be comfortable with that sport after living through the summer of 2007.
Blair Davenport and Nikkita Lyons argue in a backstage skit, nearly leading to a fight. This would seem to set up a singles bout between the two.
Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton in a servant or ranch hand stipulation match
Henley pinned Stratton to win this grudge match. Thus, Stratton has to serve as a ranch hand for Henley.
This is a takeoff of an angle done with Jimmy Garvin and David Von Erich in World Class, during the heyday of that promotion in the 1980s. Garvin lost a match, and he had to serve as Von Erich’s valet for a day. That led to humorous skits where Von Erich ordered Garvin (and Garvin’s valet Precious) to do various chores around the ranch. The angle was likely done elsewhere at other times, by the World Class version I recall fondly the most.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. They had a good grudge match. The setting hurt it some, as they likely would have more heat in an arena setting outside of the sameness of the sound stage.
For the finish, Stratton grabs a metal folding chair. Stratton looks to use the chair as a weapon. The referee takes the chair from Stratton. With Stratton distracted by the chair, Henley charges at her to deliver a running knee strike. Henley then covers Stratton for a pinfall.
Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker star in a lackluster skit where they agree to team up for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They still bickered, but they are a team. Whatever, dudes. Why should we care?
Oba Femi cuts a promo ahead of his match tonight in the finals of the Men’s Breakout Tournament. Oba Femi is such a promising new character.
Cora Jade and Gigi Dolan get into a argument over a locker. So, we have another grudge match over a locker. Half expecting to see Mr. Belding run in to ask, “What is going on her!?” Even Saved by the Bell had more complex storylines than fights over a dern locker.
Ridge Holland sits down for an interview, where he discusses the injury angle with Dragunov. Holland also discussing other injuries he either suffered or was part of during his WWE career.
Holland talks about blowing out his knees in a NXT match. Holland returns and joins the main roster, and Holland gets smashed in the face. He had reconstructive surgery. Now Holland is back. Holland goes on to say he had no ill intend when Dragunov suffered an injury in their match.
Holland concludes by saying he is going to show who he truly is by running through the NXT roster.
In a backstage skit, Thea Hail marks out when she high fives her crush, Riley Osborne.
Oba Femi defeated Riley Osborne to win the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament
The match probably went too long, but it was a tournament final so they were given a lot of time. Femi is portrayed like a monster heel.
As they went home, Osborne is going for a shooting star press. Oba Femi gets his knees up, and he awakens like a Kraken. Femi gives Osborne a snake eyes, and Femi tosses Osborne with a suplex that seems rather unsafe. Femi then delivers a powerbomb, and Femi covers Osborne for a pinfall.
OTM cut a promo on NXT Tag Team Champions The Family. This hypes up a tag team title match on the next episode of NXT.
Kiana James and Izzi Dame are interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Another interview on this show where no one interrupted them. That has to be some kind of record.
More tension between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes, as Williams tells Hayes that Williams wants to wrestle on his own tonight. That means no Hayes at ringside, which visibly upsets Hayes.
Jacy Jayne is somehow no in charge of Chase U, or at least their booking of matches. Jayne tells Andre Chase to only focus on his debt, and she is now in running things. Jayne replaces Chase with Riley Osborne as Duke Hudson’s tag team partner in the Dusty Classic. Jayne vows to restore Chase U to glory. I was unaware her character cared so deeply about education until now.
Tatum Paxley continues to freak out WWE Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria.
Nathan Frazier and Axiom agree to team up for the Dusty Classic. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade overhear Frazier bragging, which is Frazier’s new gimmick where he stick his foot in his mouth.
NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo cut a promo on OTM. Tony D also introduces the audience to Adriana Rizzo, who has been featured in skits over the last several weeks. Joe Gacy also locked himself in a trunk for some unrelated reason. Tony D was not alone in being confused by Gacy’s gimmick. Same here.
Trick Williams defeated Grayson Waller
Williams pinned Waller, after a surprise appearance by Kevin Owens. Carmelo Hayes also did a run-in, as he argued with Williams just before the finish. In winning, Williams remains the number one contender.
Not a bad match, but anti-climatic after it replaced a main event title match that was build up for a few weeks. A cameo by Kevin Owens at least made it feel a little more special.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Probably did not need to be that long, but it was the main event so they got main event time. They did some good near falls after the show returns from the commercial break. Waller is overheard at times loudly calling spots. Kayfabe, brother.
Carmelo Hayes runs down and jumps on the apron at one point. Williams and Hayes argue as Waller looks to capitalize. Kevin Owens suddenly appears at ringside. Owens attacks Waller, and Owen rolls Waller back into the ring. Williams abandoned his argument with Hayes just in time to hit Waller with a flying knee. Williams then covers Waller for a three count. Williams retains his number one contender status.
John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.
We kicked things off by talking about the first half of week five of the AEW Continental Classic, our favorite match from Wednesday, and thoughts on a three-way match determining the winner of the Gold League.
We then got to the rest of our Top 5 which included:
Our continued thoughts on how AEW’s Devil storyline is missing more than it’s hitting
Swerve Strickland and MJF going face-to-face
WWE Raw’s Day 1 lineup so far and how it’s shaping up
The Ilja Dragunov and Ridge Holland storyline in NXT
Tuesday’s NXT ended with an injury angle involving Ilja Dragunov.
Dragunov was wrestling Ridge Holland in the main event of Tuesday’s show when Holland delivered a DDT. Dragunov started to sell like he was hurt as referees came to the ring to check on Dragunov. The show ended with Holland looking dejected in the corner as a neck brace was put on Dragunov before being stretchered to the back.
The match between between @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR and @RidgeWWE has been called off due to an injury sustained by Dragunov.
Holland appeared earlier in the show during a Dragunov promo, saying he returned to NXT so he could redeem himself after many setbacks. He told Dragunov that he was willing to work his way up to get a NXT Championship match. Dragunov then offered Holland a chance to face him in a non-title match on Tuesday’s show, with Holland accepting.
Holland was last seen on television last month, walking out on his tag team partner Butch during a SmackDown match against Pretty Deadly. Butch has since wrestled on SmackDown as a singles wrestler.
Another WWE main roster team, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde, made an appearance on Tuesday’s show as well. They helped Dragon Lee fend off the No Quarter Catch Crew after he successfully defended the NXT North American title against both Charlie Dempsey and Gallus’ Joe Coffey.
Dragunov is currently set to defend the NXT Championship against Trick Williams at New Year’s Evil, which takes place on January 2.
The end of NXT saw Ilja Dragunov give Baron Corbin an NXT Championship match at Deadline.
On Tuesday’s show, Baron Corbin defeated Wes Lee in a singles match thanks to a distraction from Dominik Mysterio. After the match, Dragunov came to the ring and charged at Corbin. However, Corbin laid out Dragunov with the end of days. As Corbin started to make his exit, Dragunov recovered and challenged Corbin to a match at Deadline on December 9 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On commentary, announcer Vic Joseph said that NXT officials would need to confirm the match.
After Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes on the second night of Halloween Havoc to retain the NXT Championship, he was laid out by Corbin as he was heading backstage.
The only matches confirmed for Deadline are the two Iron Survivor Challenge matches. On Tuesday’s show, Trick Williams and Lash Legend qualified for the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively. Last week, Tiffany Stratton and Dijak became the first to qualify.
Halloween Havoc 2023 concludes with an NXT Championship match taking place tonight.
On Halloween night, Ilja Dragunov puts his NXT Championship on the line against Carmelo Hayes. This is the third match in Dragunov and Hayes’ trilogy. They have a 1-1 record against each other entering tonight.
Hayes earned this title shot by defeating Baron Corbin and Dijak in a triple threat match. Trick Williams was supposed to be included in that match, but he got taken out in a backstage attack. Hayes has denied that he was responsible for the attack on his friend.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Nathan Frazer for the NXT North American title and Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles are also set.
The winner of the Women’s Breakout Tournament will be crowned as Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice clash in the finals.
Bron Breakker vs. Mr. Stone and Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley are part of tonight’s card as well. Plus, a Tables, Ladders & Scares match between The Creed Brothers and Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo opens the show.
Arriving to the building is the Ectomobile with sirens blaring and the Halloween Havoc logo plastered on the side. Out steps Shotzi and Scarlett dressed as Ghostbusters.
Opening the show is rock band New Years Day with a live performance of “Hurts Like Hell” mixed with a montage, which recapped night one of the Havoc special from last week.
The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo in a tables, ladders and chairs match
Brutus pinned Humberto after a wild spot fest fitting of the TLC moniker.
Did not take long for the tables, ladders and chairs to come into play. Juilus took a super press slam on a ladder bridge in a double team by the rudos. Garza & Humberto then did an avalanche Gory Bomb/cutter combo, and they put Brutus through tables set up at ringside just before the show cuts to its first commercial break.
When the show returns from the break, Julius Creed and Garza duel with chairs. Van Daminators galore for a moment. In another spoof from ECW, Brutus Creed did the Terry Funk ladder spot. Moments later, Brutus was being double-teamed on the floor when Julius came to his brother’s rescue with a flip dive over the ropes.
The Creeds go on to set up two tables side-by-side in the ring, and Humberto takes a version of the Doomsday Device where a Brutus Bomb puts Humberto through the tables. Garza also took a Nestea Plunge through a table at ringside. Brutus would pin Humberto for the pinfall, and the Creeds are victorious. Ivy Nile gets into the ring to celebrate with the Creeds.
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn take over a Ouija board.
Joe Gacy is getting a reboot of his character. He is still brooding, but he apparently no longer runs a cult. He also has a nose ring.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley never starts
Stratton ambushed Henley during Henley’s entrance. Stratton rammed Henley’s knee into the ring post, and Stratton applied a Bret Hart ring post figure-four. This all happened before the bell ever started. Referees pour out to break up the bedlam. Henley sold big, and the match is no in question
Meta-Four are dressed like the characters from Scooby-Doo as they go through a haunted house looking for Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup trophy. They try to no-sell it, but they are frightened. This skit is to be continued later in the show.
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio (with WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated Nathan Frazier to retain the title
Mysterio pinned Frazier, but it was a rough night for Mysterio. Dom took some nasty bumps at times in this match. Wes Lee runs in after the match for a post-match beatdown on Dom.
Dirty Dom came dressed as a prisoner for Halloween, while Mami was dressed as a cop. Cute couples costumes. Dom was also wearing Perro Aguayo boots.
Frazier works circles around Dom at the outset, causing Dom to panic and powder. During a split-screen break, Dom is also turn the tide. Dom goes into a Three Amigo routine, and he pauses to taunt and showboat. That cost him, as Dom is then dropped on his head. In another awkward bump, Dom takes a botched slop drop after Frazier does a springboard. Dom takes an ugly bump.
Ripley interfered when she pushed Dom out of harm’s way as Frazier went for a tope. Frazier and Ripley face off, which distracts Frazier momentarily. Frazier turns around to eat a superkick. Frazier quickly comes back to connect on a tope. Frazier goes for a Phoenix Splash, but no water in the pool. Moments later, Frazier sets up a superplex, and he follows up with a twisting neckbreaker for a near fall.
Ripley tries to slide Dom a title belt to use as a weapon, but Dom misses it. The belt slides out of the ring, and Dom takes a two count on a schoolboy. Dom goes for a 619, but Frazier counters to land a superkick.
Double down and Frazier gets to his feet. He climbs the turnbuckles, but he is shoved off by Ripley. Dom capitalizes with a frog splash, and Dom covers Frazier for a pinfall.
Wes Lee runs in after the match, and Lee attacks Dom. Lee pummels Dom, and Dom flees the ring.
The Scooby-Doo skit continues with Meta-Four. Jakara Jackson faints. Oro Mensah is kidnapped after being jumped by Akira Tozawa. Lash Legend is also kidnapped by zombies. To be continued…
Bron Breakker defeated Mr. Stone
Breakker toys with Stone like a cat playing with a mouse. Stone gets pummeled and suplexed by Breakker, and Breakker spears Stone. Breakker covers Stone for an easy three count.
The match was over, but Breakker was not done. In a call back to the angle where Breakker injured Von Wagner, Breakker teasing doing the same to Stone. Breakker raises a section of the metal ring steps over his head, ready to smash Stone’s head.
Cue Wagner’s music, and out he comes with a Spirit of ’76 comeback. Wagner even had his head bandaged, but it looked more like a white bandanna on his head.
Wagner is a house of fire, and he plants Breakker on the ring steps. They tease Wagner smashing the steps on Breakker, much like Breakker did to Wagner previously. Breakker rolls away at the last moment, and security runs down to break up the melee. They hold Wagner back as Breakker leaves.
New NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria is the focus of a video package recapping her win over Becky Lynch. Great hype video that made Valkyria look like a superstar. She returns to NXT next week to address the audience.
Scrypts cuts a promo on behalf of OTM. They have a program with Ridge Holland and Butch.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail (with NXT Tag Team Champions Andre Chase & Duke Hudson) to retain the titles
Green pinned Jayne, and the champs retain their titles. The bout starts with a brawl before the bell. Hail & Jayne clean house before the show cuts to a commercial break. The heel champions have turned the tide during the break, and Hail is getting worked over as the show returns from the break.
Hot tag and Jayne runs wild. Jayne gets a few near falls. Parade of high spots in the closing minutes. Double down after Jayne and Green hit each other with high kicks.
Jayne wanted to use a tag title belt as a weapon, but Chase takes the belt away from Jayne. Chase is telling Jayne she does not need to use the belt. Jayne is distracted, making her easy prey for an Unprettier from Green. Jayne is then pinned by Green, and the champs retain.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Lexis King, as King sets on a throne. King’s character is cocky and wants to make a name for himself. This interview did him no favors.
Lola Vice (with Elektra Lopez) defeated Kelani Jordan to win the NXT Women’s Breakout tournament
Vice pinned Jordan in the tournament final.
They must have practiced a lot, and it showed. Not too bad for what is essentially a developmental tournament. The story of the match heading into the finish is Jordan injured her knee.
To set up the finish, Jordan goes for a split-legged moonsault. Elektra Lopez causes a distraction at ringside, allowing Vice time to move out of the way on the moonsault. Jordan sells her injured knee, and Jordan then eats a roundhouse kick. Vice covers Jordan for a three count, and Vice wins the tournament.
The Meta-Four Scooby-Doo skit continues with Noam Dar dressed as Scoopy. He finds his stolen trophy, but Dar is surrounded by dark creatures of the night. Tozawa blackmails Dar into giving him a Heritage Cup match next week. Tozawa then lets the zombies have their way with Dar. What a wacky skit.
Von Wagner demands Mr. Stone get him booked in a match next week against Bron Breakker. The match is later made official for next week.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain the title
Dragunov pinned Hayes in a hard-hitting match. This was proof that wrestling might be a work, but it is not fake. These two beat the crap out of each other in this return bout. An appearance by Trick Williams distracts Hayes at the finish.
Back-and-forth at the start, leading to a double down before a commercial break. The war wages when the show returns.
Dragunov takes a DDT on the apron, and he takes a wild bump. Hayes looks to capitalize with a frog splash, but Dragunov kicks out. Good near fall, as it played off the finish of another title belt earlier on.
They would go on to trade near falls, as well as trading strikes and high impact moves. Hayes goes for another DDT on the apron, but Dragunov counters the second time around. Dragunov then gives Hayes a Death Valley Driver on the apron.
Dragunov laid Hayes on the announce desk, and Dragunov jumps off the barricade. Dragunov puts Hayes through the desk with a H-bomb flying forearm smash.
Hayes fights back in the closing moments. Hayes executes a codebreaker, but Dragunov bounces off a rope and falls into another H-bomb smash. Hayes still manages to kick out. Dragunov climbs the turnbuckles, looking to deliver a flying H-bomb. Hayes again counters with a codebreaker. Hayes then climbs the ropes, when he is interrupted and distracted by the theme music of Trick Williams.
Williams glares at Hayes, and Hayes is in shock. Dragunov gives Hayes a superplex, and Dragunov delivers Torpedo Maskau. Dragunov would then covers Hayes for the deciding pinfall.
Williams gets into the ring and lifts Hayes off the mat by an arm. Williams has a mean look on his face as he stares a hole through Hayes. They are face-to-face when the show cuts to the backstage area. Baron Corbin has ambushed and laid out Dragunov. Corbin is holding the title belt and yelling at Dragunov as the show goes off the air.
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up:
Match and performer of the week for both of the past two weeks
The changes in WWE, Vince out of creative, how UFC and WWE are being treated differently
Showtime drops all sports programming and their entire sports department, both how in and of itself its a major story in boxing, MMA and could be in pro wrestling, but even more the trend that it shows
Stations still in the market for sports today
The ominous aspects of NBA current TV negotiations
Why boxing was dropped after such a great PPV year
A look back at the career of Sting after his retirement announcement
A look at his AEW run
His rise to the top in WCW
How his career got started
What person saw the potential in Sting the earliest
The famous 1988 Sting vs. Ric Flair match and how it changed his career trajectory
The multiple times Sting stepped away from wrestling
The TNA run
The WWE run
Power Team USA and Flash Borden
NWA on WB, the keys to this deal
Update on Crown Jewel and who isn’t scheduled right now on the show
The classic matches of 2023 Will Ospreay
New Japan Royal Quest and Power Struggle
Notes on last week’s UFC show
A look back at one of the most traveled enhancement star of the late 60s into the early 80s, Bill Howard
The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including segment-by-segment, competition and comparisons with a year ago
CMLL wrestlers traveling around the world
Two spectacular matches at Friday’s Arena Mexico show
Stardom opens tag tournament
One of AAA’s biggest stars likely not returning
Biggest woman promotion in the world at one time has a nostalgia reunion show coming in January
Chris Hero returns
What pro wrestling star of the 70s never lost a singles match in his entire career
AEW and CMLL relationship notes
Tony Khan’s tweets
Updates on ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
International TV ratings and streaming numbers
UFC signs huge money international deal
UFC top star taking time off
Main event result in UFC overturned
Pat Miletich returns to fight at 55
Ari Emanuel criticized for working with Dana White, Vince McMahon and Conor McGregor
More on the Vince McMahon documentary
Completely exaggerated PPV claims
What percentage of Logan Paul buyers also buy AEW or WWE shows
WWE sells network rights internationally
Dynamite TV streak ends after two weeks
Notes on all the WWE & NXT arena events this past week
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Tuesday Update
WWE
Shotzi, Scarlett, and The Boogeyman will be on this Wednesday’s The Bump.
WWE filed trademarks on 10/9 for the names Lola Vice, Dani Palmer, and Kale Dixon.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov spoke to TVInsider about advice John Cena gave him when he visited the Performance Center earlier this month. “It wasn’t a long conversation,” he said. “What I really appreciated was him just randomly pulling me aside. This was something that doesn’t happen every day. He spoke about making moments and building a connection. That is what we were talking about. He gives you a whole different perspective, even when you may have the same opinion on things. When you have his approval, then you have the right mindset for this business, and you are on the right path.”
Rob Aurelio on X shared pictures inside WWE’s new headquarters.
Producer Molly Holly spoke to WrestlingInc. When asked about the possibility of one more match, she said “I really don’t believe that there’s anything I could add to the business. I just feel so complete in my career. I don’t feel that it’s like, oh, if I just had this moment. I already had all the moments. I really want to save the TV time for the younger people to have their moments.”
Jordynne Grace joked about the prospect of TNA bringing back their six-sided ring on X, writing “Do y’all want us to have long careers or a six sided ring?”
Impact streamed their first-ever Impact show in the UK back in 2012 on YouTube.
Forbes has an article on Will Ospreay and his upcoming free agency.
According to PWInsider, former NXT and Impact star Kimber Lee will stand trial on 11/28 over charges of DUI, Resisting an Officer with Violence, and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.
Bodyslam.net interviewed GHC Champion Jake Lee ahead of his title defense against Kenoh on October 28.
