WWE NXT saw its ratings drop for week two of Spring Breakin’ 2024.
Tuesday night’s NXT episode averaged 564,000 viewers on the USA Network, down 14.7 percent from last week. It ties the lowest audience total the show has done since July 4 of last year.
NXT drew a 0.14 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 30 percent from last week. It’s also the lowest rating the show has done in that category since July 4.
The show went head-to-head with a New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers NBA playoff game on TNT that drew a 1.02 rating in the demo and averaged nearly 3.2 million viewers. NXT also went up against the NHL playoffs on ESPN which averaged 1.22 million viewers and drew a 0.44 demo rating.
As compared to the same week in 2023, NXT’s overall audience was down 0.7 percent while its 18-49 rating was identical. It’s the first time NXT hasn’t had a year-over-year increase in either category since April 4 of last year.
Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 8.6 percent in overall viewers and down 22.2 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.
A pair of title bouts are among the matches set for WWE NXT Spring Breakin’ week two.
Following an in-ring confrontation on last week’s NXT episode, North American Champion Oba Femi will defend his title against Ivar of the Viking Raiders on week two of Spring Breakin’.
New NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom will defend their titles on week two as well, taking on Akam & Rezar of Authors of Pain.
The previously announced NXT Underground match for next week between Natalya & Lola Vice got a new twist on week one, as Shayna Baszler will be in Vice’s corner, while Karmen Petrovic will corner Natalya.
Thea Hail vs. Jacy Jayne has also been announced for week two of Spring Breakin’.
Week two will also feature the television debuts of Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe as well as announced during this week’s show.
Week two of Spring Breakin’ airs on USA Network on Tuesday, April 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The announced lineup:
NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defends against Ivar
NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend against Akam & Rezar
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.
New matches are set for WWE NXT’s two-night Spring Breakin’ event on Tuesday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 30.
As revealed during this week’s NXT show, Roxanne Perez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship in a triple threat match on night one of Spring Breakin’ against Tatum Paxley, and former Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria.
Also set for night one, No Quarter Catch Crew’s Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp, & Myles Borne will take on The Family’s Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, & Luca Crusifino in a trios match following up on an in-ring confrontation between the two groups this week.
In a no DQ Beach Brawl, Sol Ruca will take on Blair Davenport on night one of Spring Breakin’, another new match announced during this week’s show.
Spring Breakin’ night one will also feature a contract signing for an NXT Underground match set for night two, with Natalya & Lola Vice putting pen to paper in advance of their Underground bout.
Already set for night one is an NXT Championship match with Ilja Dragunov defending against Trick Williams. If Williams loses, he must leave NXT.
The lineups for NXT Spring Breakin’
Night one, Tuesday, April 23 —
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defends against Trick Williams –If Williams loses, he leaves NXT
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defends against Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley in a triple threat match
No Quarter Catch Crew’s Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne vs. The Family’s Tony D’Angelo, Stacks & Luca Crusifino
Trick Williams will challenge Ilja Dragunov for the WWE NXT Championship at Spring Breakin’.
It was revealed during Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode that Trick Williams will challenge Ilja Dragunov for the NXT title on the special Tuesday, April 23 Spring Breakin’ edition of the show.
After a victory over Carmelo Hayes in the main event of last Saturday’s Stand & Deliver PLE, Williams stated on Tuesday’s episode that he wanted another shot at Dragunov’s NXT title. Dragunov initially refused the challenge, but eventually agreed to put the title up under the condition that if Williams loses, he must leave NXT.
Hayes also appeared in Tuesday’s show-closing segment with Williams & Dragunov, laying both out while challenging Williams to a steel cage match for next week’s NXT show.
This year’s Spring Breakin’ will be a two-night event on Tuesday, April 23 & Tuesday, April 30.
No other matches have been announced for Spring Breakin’ to this point, but an Oba Femi vs. Ivar North American title match appears set for one night of the event following an Ivar appearance on Tuesday’s show, and an AOP vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom NXT Tag title match could take place as well.
The lineup for the Tuesday, April 23 WWE NXT Spring Breakin’:
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defends against Trick Williams — If Williams loses, he leaves NXT
NXT’s top two championships will both be defended on tonight’s Spring Breakin’ episode.
After becoming champion at Stand & Deliver, Carmelo Hayes will make his first title defense against Grayson Waller. Waller defeated Dragon Lee, Duke Hudson, and JD McDonagh in a number one contender’s fatal four-way match two weeks ago to earn the title shot.
NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell will put her title on the line as she defends against Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Stratton in a triple threat match tonight. Hartwell also became champion at Stand & Deliver, winning the title in a six-way ladder match.
The first-ever trunk match takes place tonight when Tony D’Angelo & Stacks take on Pretty Deadly. The first team that puts their opponents in the trunk of a car will be declared the winner.
A mixed tag team match between Fallon Henley & Josh Briggs and Kiana James & Brooks Jensen is set for tonight. The show will also feature Cora Jade vs. Lyra Valkyria and Bron Breakker vs. Andre Chase.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show begins with introductory video package with the NXT roster partying for spring break. They play games, cookout, have fun, and they also run down the card for tonight. Fun stuff that was very whimsical.
Opening the show live from the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando is a tag team gimmick match. Similar to an ambulance match or a casket match, a team wins the opening match by putting their opponents in the trunk of car and closing the trunk. In this case, the car is a custom 1947 Dodge classic. It is very fitting of Tony D’s mafia gimmick. The car itself belongs to Stacks’ uncle.
Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) in a trunk match
Tony D and Stacks put Pretty Deadly in the trunk to win the match, and then The Family kidnap Pretty Deadly by driving away with them still trapped in the trunk.
The trunk match begins with a melee, and weapons are soon in play. Yet, this was not overly violent. It was more campy. The bumps likely still hurt nonetheless. Besides a literal wheelbarrow full of gimmicks, there are folding chairs and trash cans, and also a kiddie pool full of balls like it was the miniature ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break after Elton Prince takes a backdrop into the kiddie pool. The violence and use of weapons intensifies after the show returns from the break. Less campy and more ECW. Pretty Deadly soon the upper hand, and they punish Tony D and Stacks.
Stacks is hung upside down in the tree-of-woe. Moments later, Stacks takes Pretty Deadly’s Split Milk finisher on the floor, and Pretty Deadly put Stacks in the trunk and close it. Pretty Deadly go back and they attempt to put D’Angelo in the trunk.
When Prince opens the trunk to thrown in D’Angelo, Stacks is waiting with a fire extinguisher. Stacks sprays Prince with the fire extinguisher, and Prince sells big. A blinded Prince is then put through a table with the Bada Bing Bada Boom finisher. Kit Wilson is hit with a crowbar by Tony D, and he happens to stagger into the trunk. Stacks and D’Angelo then put Prince in the trunk alongside Wilson, and the trunk is shut. The Family win the first-ever trunk match in WWE.
Tony D and Stacks then get into the classic car, and they drive away with Pretty Deadly still inside the trunk.
Tiffany Stratton cuts a promo ahead of her challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship in a triple threat match later tonight.
Duke Hudson gives Andre Chase a pep talk ahead match that is up next. Hudson clutches his MVP trophy like Owen Hart did his Slammys.
Bron Breakker defeated Andre Chase (with Duke Hudson)
Breakker submits Chase with a Steiner Recliner. Breakker mauls Chase from the start. Chase does get a hope spot when Breakker crashes his shoulder into a ring post. Chase targets the arm, but then he pauses to signal for his version of a Garvin Stomp. Terrible mistake, as Breakker cuts off Chase and levels him with a lariat. Breakker does his military press/powerslam combo, and then he locks in the Steiner Recliner to win via submission.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes is the focus of a video package hyping tonight’s title match.
Dijak assualts and attempts to maim Ilja Dragunov in a backstage skit. McKenzie Mitchell is backstage at the scene of the kidnapping from earlier, where The Family drove away with Pretty Deadly trapped in the trunk of a classic car. Mitchell is reporting on the kidnapping when she interrupted by Dijak and Dragunov brawling onto the scene. Dijak pummels Dragunov, and Dijak then closes a roll-up door on Dragunov’s torso.
Cora Jade defeated Lyra Valkyria
The match goes through a commercial break, and Jade is working over Valkyria when the show returns from the break. Valkyria makes a comeback, until Jade cuts her off again. Jade then retrieves her kendo stick and threatens to use it. The referee and Jade have a tug-of-war with the kendo stick, when Valkyria throws a spin kick. I guess she was supposed to kick the stick by mistake, but that was botched. Jade then gives Valkyria a terrible chop block to the knee. Jade follows up with a DDT, and she covers Valyria for a pinfall.
D’Angelo and Stacks are riding around in the classic car while Pretty Deadly are beating on the trunk. D’Angelo has Stacks go check on them, and Stacks supposedly slams the trunk on their heads. The Family then drive away again with Pretty Deadly still in the trunk.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeated Grayson Waller to retain his title
Hayes pinned Waller after a flying legdrop. Waller appeared to injure himself during the finish. Hayes calls out Bron Breakker after the match, and Breakker brawls with Hayes before spearing Hayes through a wall in a stunt.
The champ looks strong in the opening moments of the match, but he is eventually tricked by Waller. When Waller throws a chair into the ring, it distracts the referee and Hayes. Trick Williams runs around the ring to intercept Waller, and Waller hits Williams with a chair shot. Hayes rushes to Williams, but it was a trap. Waller cuts off Hayes and levels him with a clothesline on the floor.
The pace quickens after a commercial break. Some wild and wacky bumps by Waller as he does his best Curt Hennig flip bump. Probably should leave that to Mr. Perfect. Hayes also takes some crazy bumps at times during this match. They bumped their butts off.
Waller gets a close near fall. Moments later, Waller executes an Ace Crusher, but Hayes rolls out of the ring before Waller can capitalize. To set up another near fall, Waller jumps off the top rope with a flying elbow that puts Hayes through the announce desk. Hayes still manages to kick out when he is rolled back into the ring.
As they are going home, Waller gets a running start for his signature spot where he flips into the ring. He appears to hurt his ring ankle as he leaps into the ring. Hayes gives him a superkick that misses by a lot. Waller still gets into a position for the finish as Hayes climbs the turnbuckles. Hayes leaps off the top rope with a guillotine legdrop, and Hayes covers Waller for a three count. Waller seems clearly ready to get out of there as he no-sells as soon as he three count is done, and he pushes Hayes off of him.
Hayes grabs a microphone and calls out Bron Breakker after the match. Hayes challenges Breakker to a title match at NXT Battleground on May 28. Breakker’s theme music rings through the soundstage. Hayes and Williams look towards the stage awaiting the former champ. Breakker ambushes them with a blindside attack.
Breakker spears Williams, and Hayes is thrown out of the ring. Breakker puts Williams in the Steiner Recliner, and Breakker then leaves Williams laid out. Breakker sets his sights on Hayes at ringside. Breakker gets a running start and spears Hayes through a gimmicked wall.
Roxanne Perez in a pre-taped promo talks about being inspired by women wrestlers when she was a child. Perez says she wears bows in her hair to represent all the girls that she hopes to inspire.
A backstage skit sets up a singles match next week with a tag team title stipulation. Joe Gacy and Ava approach Joe Coffey with an offer. They want a fair title match for The Dyad against NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus. Gacy proposes a singles match with him against Joe Coffey. If Gacy wins, The Dyad get a title shot. If Coffey wins, The Dyad will never get another title shot ever.
Josh Briggs & Fallon Henley defeated Brooks Jensen & Kiana James in a mixed tag team match
Briggs pinned Jensen to win the match after a mishap with James. She dumps Jensen after the match, and Jensen reconciles with Briggs.
Jensen has new gear to go along with his new look. He and Briggs have a hoss fight at various times. The announcers sell it like these are brothers having a fight to settle their issues.
James throws in her loaded purse for Jensen to use as a weapon. Briggs dodges the purse, and Jensen is supposed to hit Briggs by mistake. Jensen missed by a country mile, but James sells it anyway as she takes a bump off the apron. James screams at Jensen for mishap, which distracts Jensen. Briggs then delivers an Ax Bomber lariat, and Briggs covers Jensen for a pinfall.
In a post-match angle, Jensen reassures James that they are at least still together. An angry James goes to slap Jensen, but Jensen block it. Jensen with a look of heartbreak on his face asks why James would hit him if she loves him. James looks him dead in the eye and says she never loved him. James then walks away, and Jensen is heartbroken. Briggs embraces Jensen, and they are apparently cool with each other again.
Dragon Lee in a backstage interview with McKenzie Mitchell talks about the Heritage Cup. Scrypts then suddenly appears with a cryptic promo where he is perched on a ledge in the rain like he is Batman.
Oba Femi defeated Oro Mensah
Femi in his in-ring debut on NXT television pinned Mensah to win a glorified enhancement match. Femi did not exactly squash Mensah, by Femi won handily. Mensah targets an arm at one point, only to eat an elbow. Femi then delivers a pop-up powerbomb, and Femi covers Mensah for a pinfall.
Gigi Dolan goes to the announce desk and takes Vic Joseph’s headset away from him. She puts on the headset to cut a promo on Jacy Jayne. Dolan challenges Jayne to a match next week, and Dolan brother will be a ringside to watch Dolan fight for her family’s honor.
Drew Gulak, alongside Charlie Dempsey, vows to beat Wes Lee and win the NXT North American Championship. Later in a backstage skit, Lee agrees to let Tyler Bate be in his corner for the title match.
NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell defeated Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Stratton in a triple treat match to retain her title
Hartwell pinned Perez in a weak finish, which was likely the result of an apparent injury Hartwell suffered earlier in the match.
This is yet another match that goes through a commercial break. The shows cuts to a break just as the title bout begins.
There looks to be some potatoes in this match at times. There was also apparently an injury to Indi Hartwell, when she and Perez base for Stratton on a swan dive to the floor. Hartwell’s right leg folds up underneath her, and she unlaces her boot as a trainer comes to ringside to check on her. That leaves Stratton and Perez in a one-on-one match for a few minutes. Stratton applies a chinlock for a rest hold while they regroup.
Stratton and Perez continue the match until Hartwell rejoins them. Perez carries things, and they set up a high spot. Perez does a Super Frankensteiner off the ropes for a near fall on Stratton.
Hartwell limps to the ring to break up a pinning attempt by Perez, and Hartwell rejoins the match. Hartwell sort of runs wild, or as wild as she can with an injury to one leg.
As they go home, Stratton does a Christopher Daniels’ moonsault. She goes for a cover on Perez, but Hartwell pulls Stratton out of the ring. Hartwell then staggers into the ring, and she does a weak version of her finisher. Hartwell then covers Perez to win the match and retain her title.
The show-long kidnapping ends with murder, as Tony D’Angelo and Stacks drive out to the water’s edge. They are on a pier where they apparently have thrown Pretty Deadly into the water. Tony D says Pretty Deadly is “history.” D’Angelo says their next goal is the tag team titles. They get into the car and drive away as the show ends with a camera shot of the water glistening in the moonlight. The cliffhanger is a homicide.
This show is a mixed bag with some good wrestling, some bad wrestling and some wacky stuff in between. An entire episode of Botchamania can be devoted to this show.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the line-ups for RAW, NXT and Dynamite this week, AEW’s new show and where it will likely air, the United Center expected debut, Stardom, Smackdown and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
A match for the NXT Women’s Championship, along with other matches, have been added to next week’s NXT Spring Breakin’ card.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Roxanne Perez had defeated Zoey Stark when Indi Hartwell came out and offered Perez a shot at the championship. Perez agreed, but Tiffany Stratton then came out and complained about not getting the title shot. Hartwell eventually agreed to a three-way match for next week.
Bron Breakker came out on Tuesday and speared Odyssey Jones. He started running down Chase U, calling Andre Chase a clown. Duke Hudson came in through the crowd and stood up for Chase. Breakker said he would take care of Chase next week.
Brooks Jensen, with a new look, ran down Josh Briggs in Kiana James’ office when Briggs attempted to mend things with Jensen. Later, in Fallon Henley’s bar, Jensen and James continued to run down Henley and Briggs, leading to the challenge for a mixed tag team match for next week’s show.
Cora Jade will meet Lyra Valkyria after Valkyria appeared following Jade’s match against Gigi Dolin, challenging Jade to a match. Meanwhile, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks came up with the idea to challenge Pretty Deadly to a Trunk match. Last week on social media, the NXT Anonymous Twitter account showed a video of Stacks and D’Angelo jumping Pretty Deadly and putting Kit Wilson into a trunk before speeding off.
A vignette for Oba Femi appeared on Tuesday’s show, showing him shot putting various objects, including a couch. It was announced he would appear on next week’s show.
Here is the updated lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Grayson Waller
Bron Breakker vs. Andre Chase
NXT Women’s Championship: Indi Hartwell (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Roxanne Perez
Cora Jade vs. Lyra Valkyria
Brooks Jensen and Kiana James vs. Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley
Trunk match: Tony D’Angelo and Stacks vs. Pretty Deadly
Grayson Waller will soon get another shot at the NXT Championship.
Waller defeated Dragon Lee, Duke Hudson, and JD McDonagh in a four-way match to become the new number one contender for the NXT Championship on Tuesday’s show. Waller will now face new champion Carmelo Hayes on a special edition of NXT, Spring Breakin’, on April 25.
The finish came when Lee struck Hudson with a running powerbomb. Waller came into the ring and struck Lee with a rolling cutter, then pinned Hudson to become the new number one contender. As Waller was celebrating, Hayes came out and the two had a staredown to end the show.
Last week’s NXT saw new champion Hayes call out Bron Breakker as a sign of respect for his run as NXT Champion. Breakker at first acted sportsmanlike, but later turned on Hayes, attacking both Hayes and Trick Williams.
On this week’s NXT, Hayes offered Breakker the fourth spot in the four-way match. Later in the show, Breakker interrupted a Chase U celebration segment and rejected the offer, saying the championship was a curse. He offered the spot to Hudson, who then accepted. Breakker acted like he was going to leave, but then attempted to spear Hudson, who instead put Andre Chase in front of him, causing Chase to get laid out.
Waller last recieved a NXT Championship match at Vengeance Day back in February, losing to Breakker in a steel cage match.
Wrestling Observer Live with Mike Sempervive is back with a ton to talk about including the news that Freddie Prinze Jr is looking to start up his own company, last night’s NXT Spring Breakin, a preview of AEW Dynamite and much more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
WWE NXT 2.0 Spring Breakin’ is officially in the books. Join on-camera personality Denise Salcedo on her weekly NXT 2.0 post-show. There’s a lot of topics to touch on including the recent NXT releases, pros of NXT 2.0, and so much more.
This show featured a lot of skits, a hot opener for the NXT North American Championship, and an NXT Championship match.
This is the best way to stay-up-to-date with the new NXT.
Two titles will be on the line on tonight’s special Spring Breakin’ edition of NXT.
In the main event of the show, Bron Breakker will defend his NXT Championship against Joe Gacy. The personal rivalry between the two has seen Gacy torment both Breakker and his father Rick Steiner in recent weeks.
The NXT North American Championship will also be up for grabs as Cameron Grimes defends against Carmelo Hayes and Solo Sikoa in a triple threat match.
Main roster stars Natalya and The Viking Raiders will be in action in tag team matches tonight. Natalya will team with Lash Legend against Cora Jade & Nikkita Lyons, while The Viking Raiders will take on The Creed Brothers.
Nathan Frazer makes his NXT 2.0 in-ring debut as he takes on Grayson Waller. Plus, Santos Escobar and Tony D’Angelo will attempt to settle their issues during a sit-down meeting.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly in a campy pre-taped skit from poolside. They quickly run down the card, and then they jump into the swimming pool.
Inside the soundstage at the Performance Center, a triple threat championship match kicks off the show.
NXT North American Champion Cameron Grimes defeats Solo Sikoa and Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) to retain his title in a triple threat match
Grimes pins Sikoa with a flying Cave In off the top rope. Great opener.
Loud “Solo” chant as the bell rings to start the match. Hayes is reeling in the beginning, as he is teamed up on. Hayes bails out of the ring, leaving Grimes and Sikoa to square up.
Hayes is knocked off the apron several times trying to get back into the ring. Eventually, the Hayes recovers. He runs wild with a rally, including a wickedly cool springboard guillotine legdrop.
They all three take turns running through some sequences. A near fall for Grimes is broken up by Sikoa, which leads into a split screen commercial break.
The return from the break, and Sikoa is looking strong. They do a Tower of Doom spot where Grimes uses a hurricanrana on Sikoa while Grimes also gives Hayes a superplex. “Holy s***” chant from the live studio audience after that spot, followed by an obligatory “this is awesome.”
Triple down. They rise and trade strikes. Sikoa fires up with a flurry of action. Sikoa with a uranage that takes Hayes into the heavens and back down to the mat. Sikoa goes for a cover, but Hayes breaks it up for a close near fall.
Grimes directing traffic in the ring, and he gets another two count after a poison rana. Hayes cuts off Grimes, and Hayes gets a two count. Superkick out of mid-air by Sikoa cuts off Hayes. Another great near fall after Sikoa leaps off the top rope with a Superfly splash. The pinning attempt is broken up by Hayes.
Sikoa is about to give Hayes a Samoan Drop when Grimes leaps off the top with a Cave In double stomp. Grimes then covers Grimes for the pinfall. The champ retains.
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose in a skit taped earlier in the day goes to the tanning bed. Wendy Choo sneaks into adjust the timer, leaving Rose in the tanning bed too long. Rose is burned, and she is red as a beet.
Nathan Frazier is backstage freaking out over his debut match tonight.
Roderick Strong is in the dojo training with Diamond Mine. He gives the team a pep talk while also proclaiming himself the leader. The Creed Brothers collectively roll their eyes at him.
Indi Hartwell and Duke Hudson tease sexual tension. No mention of their lovers that were recently released from WWE.
Nathan Frazier defeats Grayson Waller
Frazier pins Waller in his NXT 2.0 in-ring debut, with an assist from Andre Chase and an airhorn. Frazier is really good, and he shines here in this match.
A reality television “star” Mark Long from MTV is in the crowd to cheer on Grayson Waller.
On commentary, the announcers talk about Frazier being trained by Seth freaking Rollins. Frazier looks really good in his debut match on this brand. The guy is skilled, as he works circles around Waller.
Waller grabs a beach ball, and he deflates it in front of the crowd before the show cuts to a commercial break. The show returns with Waller cutting off Frazier.
Waller mocks Seth Rollins. When the heel mocks his trainer, Frazier hulks up. He goes flying through the ropes with a dive. The studio audience is solidly behind him.
Frazier goes for a pin, but Waller gets a hand on the rope to break the count. Waller soon cuts off Frazier as they trade near falls.
They fight on the turnbuckles, and Frazier is shoved off the ropes. He takes a bump out of the ring. Waller is perched on the top rope looking to strike. A loud airhorn goes off. It was Andre Chase doing the Blacktop Bully airhorn spot from ’94. The difference is Chase is a teacher instead of truck driver. He and his students were in the crowd watching the match when Chase interfered.
The sound of airhorn causing an alarmed Waller to fall off the rope, and he bounces off of it. Frazier then connects with a Phoenix Splash, and he covers Waller for a pinfall.
A vignette profiles Fallon Henley. She is a country girl at heart that loves her horse Luna.
Sit-down meeting between Santos Escobar and Tony D’Angelo
Escobar and D’Angelo, and their respective crews, meet in a pre-tape skit filmed in an restaurant. This skit is a spoof on a mafia movie. The production itself was good as a soap opera, but the acting not so much.
Their meeting gets heated for a moment, but they make a peace agreement. They toast to a truce. Although they seem to agree on peace, the music soundtrack hints at things being open-ended.
The Viking Raiders in a backstage interview talk about their match later on against The Creed Brothers. They are interrupted by Pretty Deadly, who are warned to not interrupt the Raiders again. The champs scamper away.
Joe Gacy in a promo says we should fear what happens if does not win the NXT Championship tonight. Gacy vows he will “change the world” tonight.
Jade pins Legend after a miscue by Nattie costs her and Legend the match.
The match goes through a commercial break after a Cactus Jack clothesline to the outside. When the show returns from the break, Natalya is working over Jade.
Hot tag, and Lyons runs wild. Near fall for Lyons on Nattie. Lyons does not see Nattie tag out, and Legend cuts off Lyons. Legend has a mount when she is struck with a dropkick from her own partner. Nattie is then tossed out of the ring.
Lyons with her spot where she does the splits into a legdrop. Jade follows up with a flying senton off the top rope, and Jade covers Legend for a three count.
A vignette highlights Tatum Paxley ahead of the Breakout tournament. Paxley is a powerlifter that vows to win the first ever Women’s Breakout tourney.
Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolan go to the beach in a skit. They do steamy poses in a throwback to the Divas era. Wendy Choo & Roxanne Perez then prank Toxic Attraction by stealing their stuff. Choo & Perez steal their car and bark it down the street. Dolan & Jayne burn their feet on the hot pavement. This was supposed to be comedy I think.
The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) defeat The Viking Raiders (Ivar & Erik)
Julius Creed pins Erik after outside interference by Roderick Strong. This was a tag team hoss fight, and it is arguably the Creeds’ best match so far (or at least one of their best bouts).
Viking Raiders control the first half of the match, before the show cuts to commercials. Ivar leaps off the apron with a splash as the show cuts away.
Creeds comeback after the break. Hot tag to Julius, and Creed explodes into the ring. The two teams go on to trade near falls.
Superplex spot where Julius suplexes Ivar pops the crowd. Viking Raiders with a signature finisher on Julius, but Brutus jumps in to break up a subsequent pinning attempt.
Roderick Strong, wearing a hoodie, runs in at ringside to hit Erik with a jumping knee strike. Sliding Ishii lariat by Julius, and he covers Erik for a pinfall.
Despite winning, the Creeds are angry. They argue with Strong about him interfering in the match.
AJ Galante, who was with Tony D’Angelo earlier in the sit-down, is kidnapped by Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma. Kidnapping in NXT does not seem like big of a deal since it happens so often, sometimes with no consequences. Maybe this will lead somewhere, and my guess is something that spoofs a mafia movie.
Alba Fyre (Kay Lee Ray) re-debuts next week. Her baseball bat is also now a makeshift torch.
Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs are backstage with medical staff. Brooks has an injured wrist, so there is a masturbation joke because this show is apparently written for juveniles.
Announced for next Tuesday is a tag team match with Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne against Roxanne Perez & Wendy Choo. The bout stems from skits that aired earlier in the show.
During Joe Gacy’s entrance, the picture turns to black and white. Bron Breakker flips a switch backstage, and the color comes back to the screen.
Breakker wore one of his father’s singlets from the 1990s. It was the one with all of the random numbers on it, as referenced on a recent episode of the Bryan & Vinny Show. I recall seeing Rick Steiner wear it in WCW matches during the early ’90s.
Vic Joseph on commentary claims the singlet was worn by Rick Steiner on the first episode of Monday Night Raw. That is not true. Rick actually wore a different singlet in that match. Regardless, Breakker is wearing one of his father’s singlet for tonight for a main event title defense.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker defeats Joe Gacy to retain his title
Breakker pins Gacy clean to retain the NXT Championship. Not the best match on the show, but also not the worst either. It was average.
Breakker is a house of fire as usual, but Gacy trips him up. Gacy then knocks Breakker off the apron before the show cuts to its final commercial break.
Gacy is working over Breakker as the show returns. Breakker begins to fight back as the crowd barks their approval. Gacy dashes the hope spot, and Gacy sets up for a dive to no avail.
Breakker breaks up the attempted dive by clubbing Gacy. Breakker then begins his comeback. Breakker pummels Gacy, and Breakker pulls down the straps on the singlet.
Frankensteiner of sorts (that was more like a flying headscissors) by Breakker. Botched belly-to-belly leads to a weak near fall. Nobody in attendance seems to buy it.
Gacy is able to sidestep Breakker, and Gacy targets the back. Gacy gets a two count after a sit-out powerbomb. No heat for this.
Gacy goes for his handspring finisher, but Breakker counters for the actual finish of the match. Breakker mows down Gacy with a spear, and Breakker covers Gacy for the deciding pin.
Breakker retains, and stands tall after the match posing with his title belt. Breakker is unaware two druids are standing behind him as the show closes.
Three matches have been added to next week’s Spring Breakin’ episode of WWE NXT.
Main roster talent Natalya will team with Lash Legend against Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons in a tag team bout. The contest was set up on this week’s NXT episode following a Legend vs. Lyons match. After Lyons won, Natalya ran in to attack her, following up on a backstage interaction the two had on last week’s show. Jade then ran in to make the save.
In another tag match featuring main roster talent, The Viking Raiders will face Diamond Mine’s The Creed Brothers. Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong invited the Raiders to NXT this week and handpicked them as opponents to challenge the Creeds, who Strong accused of being too satisfied with their achievements.
Also set for next week, Nathan Frazer will make his in-ring debut, facing Grayson Waller. Frazer’s debut was initially announced for this week’s show, but Waller interjected himself before the match began and attacked Frazer’s opponent.
After weeks of tension between the two, a sit-down meeting between Tony D’Angelo and Santos Escobar was also added to Spring Breakin’. D’Angelo introduced two new associates on this week’s episode in Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan and “Stacks” Channing Lorenzo.
Here is the full lineup for next week:
WWE NXT Spring Breakin’, Tuesday, May 3 —
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Joe Gacy
NXT North American Championship: Cameron Grimes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Carmelo Hayes
Natalya & Lash Legend vs. Cora Jade & Nikkita Lyons
The Viking Raiders appeared on tonight’s NXT, and will be taking part in next week’s NXT Spring Breakin’ event.
In a backstage segment, Roderick Strong confronted the rest of Diamond Mine, specifically pointing out The Creed Brothers’ recent losses. Strong told the Creed Brothers that he lined up a match for them at next week’s Spring Breakin’. The Viking Raiders then emerged, with the two teams coming face-to-face. The Viking Raiders later wrestled on the show, defeating Edris Enofe and Malik Blade.
Under the name War Raiders, The Viking Raiders appeared on NXT in 2018 and won the NXT Tag Team Championship on one occasion. The duo were called up the following year under the name The Viking Experience, which was later modified to The Viking Raiders.
Since being called to the main roster, they have won the Raw Tag Team titles once. As part of the 2021 WWE Draft, they were moved to SmackDown. However, their most recent high-profile match was on the March 28 episode of Raw where they lost to Omos in a handicap match.
