Tuesday’s special Vengeance Day edition of NXT averaged 525,000 viewers on Syfy. That’s up 31.3 percent from last week and is the best viewership number NXT has done in the four times it’s aired on Syfy between this year and last year.
In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.11 rating, up 57.1 percent from the previous week. The show finished 48th on cable in that category after falling outside the top 50 for the first week on Syfy.
As compared to the same week in 2021, NXT was down 26.4 percent in viewers and down 31.3 percent in 18-49. That was when NXT was still airing on Wednesdays opposite AEW Dynamite, but it was on the stronger USA Network. It’s in line with recent year-over-year drops.
NXT will be back on USA Network next Tuesday after airing on Syfy for two straight weeks due to the Winter Olympics.
Here’s a look at the viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT when the show has been moved to Syfy due to USA Network coverage of the Olympics. This also occurred for the Summer Olympics last year.
July 27, 2021 — 520,000 viewers, 0.12 rating in 18-49
August 3, 2021 — 520,000 viewers, 0.10 rating in 18-49
February 8, 2022 — 400,000 viewers, 0.07 rating in 18-49
February 15, 2022 — 525,000 viewers, 0.11 rating in 18-49
Three title bouts, the finals of the 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and a weaponized steel cage match took place on last night’s special Vengeance Day edition of NXT.
In last night’s main event, Bron Breakker defeated Santos Escobar to retain the NXT Championship. It was Breakker’s first title defense since becoming NXT Champion last month.
While the referee was distracted by Legado del Fantasma trying to interfere during the match, Dolph Ziggler got involved and dropped Breakker with a superkick. Escobar covered Breakker to try and get the win, but Breakker kicked out. Ziggler was then taken out of the equation when Tommaso Ciampa fought with him at ringside. Breakker ended up getting the win with a spear and powerslam.
Ziggler and Ciampa will face off on NXT next week.
The NXT North American Championship and NXT Women’s Tag Team titles were also on the line last night. Carmelo Hayes retained his North American title by defeating Cameron Grimes, while Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne retained their tag titles against Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta.
The Creed Brothers were crowned as the 2022 men’s Dusty Cup champions as they defeated MSK in the finals. Plus, Pete Dunne defeated Tony D’Angelo in their weaponized cage match.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews the February 15th edition of NXT Vengeance Day. This was a really good episode of NXT 2.0, check out the show to find out why!
Topics Rundown:
Weaponized Steel Cage match — Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo
Raquel and Cora Jade prep for the Dusty Cup tournament
Persia & Indi challenge Toxic Attraction for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Will Wendy Choo wants to partner with Dakota Kai
LA Knight and Grayson Waller feud continues
NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Cameron Grimes
Three title matches headline tonight’s special Vengeance Day edition of NXT.
The NXT Championship will be on the line as Bron Breakker defends against Santos Escobar in tonight’s main event. It will be Breakker’s first title defense since winning the championship from Tommaso Ciampa at New Year’s Evil last month.
The NXT North American Championship and NXT Women’s Tag Team titles will also be up for grabs tonight. Carmelo Hayes defends his North American title against Cameron Grimes, while Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta challenge Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) for the Women’s Tag Team titles.
The finals of the 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will take place as MSK take on The Creed Brothers. Plus, Pete Dunne faces Tony D’Angelo in a weaponized steel cage match.
For the second straight week, NXT is airing on Syfy due to the Winter Olympics being on USA Network. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Pete Dunne defeated Tony D’Angelo in a Weaponized Steel Cage Match
Pete Dunne was already standing in the cage as we kicked off the show. Then we cut to the back where Tony D’Angelo was driven into the building in a car that Vic Joseph mentioned might have been “lifted”.
Dunne attacked D’Angelo immediately after the bell and hit him with several of the weapons that were tied up around the cage. D’Angelo fought back and hit a Falcon Arrow on top of a garbage can as things got off to a really fast start.
Dunne went after D’Angelo’s fingers early in the match too. Attacking hands has sort of been the story of their feud. First Dunne slammed D’Angelo’s hands in a tool box, then he wrapped them in a wrench and stomped on them. Dunne then tried to escape the cage but D’Angelo hit him with a blast from a fire extinguisher and suplexed him off the top. After this, he tied Dunne’s hands behind his back.
Dunne actually managed to get some offense in despite having his hands tied behind his back. He landed a headbutt and then looked to lock in a headscissors on his opponent. D’Angelo slammed out of the hold, however, and then got a 2 count after a DDT.
D’Angelo went to Powerbomb Dunne into a table but Dunne wrapped him up in a Guillotine choke. In order to get out of the move, D’Angelo grabbed pliers from the tool box and cut Dunne’s hands free.
After this, D’Angelo went for his weapon of choice, the crowbar, but Dunne caught him and powerbombed him through a table. After that, Dunne went for his weapon of choice, a cricket bat, and broke it over D’Angelo’s back. Dunne then picked him up and delivered the Bitter End but only got a 2 count.
D’Angelo then hit Dunne with a low blow and then a fisherman buster for a 2 count. Dunne then grabbed a crowbar that was hidden by the ring apron and hit D’Angelo with it. He then hit Bitter End for a second time and got the pin.
This started fast and never let up. There was a lot of plunder used but also a lot of story to it with call-backs to things that happened earlier in the rivalry.
– We cut to a video of Cora Jade being woken up early in the morning by Raquel Gonzalez. They’ll team together in the Dusty Rhodes Classic so the story here is that Gonzalez wants to train hard to win the tournament. A montage of them doing various training exercises ensued.
– The Creed Brothers and Malcolm Bivens cut a promo backstage saying the only reason MSK won the Dusty Cup last year is because they weren’t in the tournament.
– MSK cut a backstage promo saying they plan on winning back-to-back Dusty Cups. They mentioned that now they were the veterans facing an up and coming team.
Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) defeated Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta to retain the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships
Toxic Attraction attacked the challengers before the bell. Once things got back in the ring, Pirotta got her and Hartwell back into it pretty quickly, however, after giving Jayne a fall away slam.
The heels took over after Mandy Rose distracted Hartwell. Then after Indi had spilled to the outside, the ref caught Rose tossing her back in the ring and ejected her from ringside. We then went to commercial.
Hartwell started to make a comeback right as the show came back from break. She then made a hot tag to Pirotta who would take out both her opponents and eventually gave them a double Samoan Drop.
With Hartwell and Dolin the legal competitors, Jayne and Pirotta ended up brawling on the outside. Jayne then tossed Pirotta into the steel steps, taking her out of the match. She then grabbed Hartwell’s leg as she was going for her springboard elbow. Shortly after this, Toxic Attraction hit a high and low double-team move on Hartwell and got the pin.
– We cut to the back where Wendy Choo was asking Dakota Kai to be her teammate in the Dusty Rhodes Classic. As this was happening, Dakota was talking to someone off-screen that only she was aware of.
– Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs were in a bar talking about their recent dates with Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter. Jensen’s date with Kayden didn’t appear to go too great, as she referred to him as like a brother. Everyone agreed that he has fallen into the “friend zone”. Riveting stuff.
Grayson Waller & LA Knight promo segment
LA Knight came out to cut a promo but was interrupted by Grayson Waller who had two police officers with him. He showed footage of Knight attacking him last week and breaking the restraining order he had taken out on him. Then Knight played a video of Waller attacking him from two weeks ago. Knight also pointed out that page 2 of the restraining order also said that Grayson Waller could not attack him either. The police officers then just decided to leave, perhaps realizing that two wrestlers attacking each other on a pro wrestling show is not something for them to get involved in.
Knight then attacked Waller and tossed him out of the ring before announcing the two of them will face off next week.
– We cut to the back where Pirotta and Indi Hartwell were consoling each other over their loss. They said they would enter the Dusty Rhodes Classic and get another shot at the titles. Dexter Lumis then came in and left with Hartwell. Duke Hudson then came in and led Pirotta away by the hand.
– Tommaso Ciampa cut a backstage promo about people thinking they are better than him because his accomplishments occurred in what they consider a “farm system.” He said Dolph Ziggler thinks he’s better than him but shouldn’t mistake his loyalty for weakness.
Carmelo Hayes (w/ Trick Williams) defeated Cameron Grimes to retain the NXT North American Championship
They started off with some back and forth grappling and a slow pace. Grimes then hit a big back body drop but got distracted with Williams on the outside. This allowed Hayes to attack from behind and go on offense. Hayes hit a springboard leg drop on Grimes as he was draped in the ropes just before we went to commercial.
During the picture-in-picture, Williams hit Grimes behind the referee’s back. Commentary played up that his interference was the story of this match thus far.
Grimes began to make a comeback shortly after we returned from break. He hit a big side slam for a 2 count. Hayes then hit a lung blower and a springboard clothesline for a 2 count. Grimes got the next near fall after a super kick.
Williams then tried to distract Grimes again but as Hayes went to attack from behind, the challenger side stepped him and gave him a poisonrana. Grimes then kicked Williams and delivered a flying crossbody to the champion for a two count.
Grimes called for his double foot stomp but Hayes rolled out of the ring. Grimes followed and went to give him the move on the floor but Williams pushed Hayes out of the way and ended up taking it himself. Hayes then tossed Grimes into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Hayes locked Grimes up in a crossface. As Grimes went for the ropes, Williams pulled the bottom rope away from him. Grimes ended up countering the hold into a pinning combination for a two count. Short after this, Hayes whiplashed Grimes’ neck off the ropes and hit a diving axe kick for the win.
In storyline, Trick Williams is really good at interfering. He did it a bunch this match without getting caught or ejected.
– In the back, Kay Lee Ray was smashing things with a baseball bat and asked if Io Shirai wanted to as well. This then led to a montage of them breaking stuff. With Zoey Stark injured, Shirai needs a tag partner for the Dusty Rhodes Classic. It looks like she’s chosen Ray.
The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed & Julius Creed) w/ Malcolm Bivens defeated MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) To Win The 2022 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Malcolm Bivens came out with a John Cena “Never Give Up” towel. He then flipped it around where it read “Nah, You Should”.
The two teams exchanged periods of offense early. Eventually, the Creed Brothers gained the advantage and knocked both members of MSK to the outside before we went to commercial break.
When we got back from break, Lee made a hot tag to Carter. He hit a snap German suplex on Brutus and a series of kicks on both Creed Brothers. He then hit a Senton on Julius as Lee tagged in and delivered a diving corkscrew right after. MSK then kept up the attack with double-team moves after this.
The Creed Brothers then turned things around. Brutus took Lee out with a push kick. Meanwhile, Julius caught a tope attempt from Carter and gave him a spine buster on the floor. He rolled him back in the ring, gave him a big clothesline and got the pin.
The Creed Brothers and Malcolm Bivens then celebrated with the Dusty Cup as confetti dropped from the floor.
– We cut to a vignette of Nikkita Lyons. She said she’ll be making her debut next week.
Imperium Promo
The fans kept chanting “Walter” at Gunther. He then corrected them on how to properly pronounce the name “Gunther”.
They congratulated The Creed Brothers on winning the Dusty Cup but said they wouldn’t be ready to face them for the titles. Gunther then said he’ll be watching the NXT Championship match between Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar with interest. He was likely about to mention something about the mat being sacred when Solo Sikoa interrupted.
Sikoa said that on the island they find the biggest and baddest guy and smack the taste out of his mouth and that’s what he was looking to do. He never did get in the ring, though. His music played and he left. So, it looks like we’ll be getting Gunther vs Sikoa sometime soon.
– Dolph Ziggler was interviewed in the back and spoke about Ciampa’s promo from earlier. Ziggler said that he plans on ending Ciampa’s hope of becoming NXT champion again by beating him next week. He also said he’ll be watching the NXT Championship match between Breakker and Escobar closely.
– In the back, Pete Dunne congratulated Carmela Hayes on still be NXT North American Champion “for now”. It looks like Dunne plans on challenging for that belt soon.
– The lineup for next week was revealed. The Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic begins next week, though no teams or matches were announced. LA Knight vs Grayson Waller and Dolph Ziggler vs Tommaso Ciampa were also announced.
Bron Breakker defeated Santos Escobar to retain the NXT Championship
During his ring entrance, Breakker lit the Vengeance Day logo on fire before walking out to the ring.
They established Breakker as the much stronger wrestler early in the match. He knocked the challenger over with a shoulder block and also no-sold a shove attempt (as in Escobar shoved him but he didn’t move an inch).
Escobar got back into things with a dropkick. Breakker then regained the advantage shortly after with a big delayed vertical suplex. A lariat and a backbreaker followed. Then Joaquin Wilde got up on the ring apron, distracting the champion. Escobar knocked Breakker off the ring apron and landed his patented tope. This led to Escobar going on a sustained period of offense.
After a very long period of Escobar wearing the champion down, Breakker eventually made a comeback. He hit a flurry of punches and shoulder blocks to get back into it. Mendoza and Wilde then both got up on the ring apron but Breakker took them both out. Then Elektra Lopez distracted the referee and Dolph Ziggler ran in and super kicked Breakker. Escobar covered the champion but only got a two count. This really upset Ziggler on the outside.
Ziggler then tried to get back in the ring but Tommaso Ciampa prevented him. They then brawled on the outside.
Escobar hit a tornado DDT but missed a frog splash attempt. Breakker then hit a spear, pulled the straps down on his singlet and gorilla pressed his opponent into a power slam and got the pin.
Final Thoughts: This was a fun show. The NXT Championship picture is getting exciting. Multiple guys stated their intentions to go after the belt tonight. Ziggler, Ciampa, and Gunther all referenced wanting a shot at the title. Ziggler and Ciampa will face each other next week while Gunther has to get passed Solo Sikoa at some point it seems. A Gunther vs Breakker match would be fun, Ziggler vs Breakker would be good too. I imagine those will be the next two title matches. The cage match tonight was awesome, and Grimes vs Hayes was good too. There are things to like about NXT 2.0.
Pete Dunne and Tony D’Angelo have agreed to a weaponized steel cage match for Vengeance Day next week.
D’Angelo interfered during a match between Dunne and Draco Anthony on tonight’s NXT. After Dunne defeated Anthony, D’Angelo attacked Dunne on the apron. Dunne was able to break free and started to throw weapons into the ring, eventually challenging D’Angelo to a weaponized steel cage match. D’Angelo agreed to the stipulation.
Dunne and D’Angelo have feuded in recent months, with Dunne defeating D’Angelo on the December 21st edition of NXT. D’Angelo then defeated Dunne in a Crowbar on a Pole match on the January 11 edition of NXT. It was then confirmed last week that the two would meet inside a steel cage on Vengeance Day.
Also announced for Vengeance Day is Carmelo Hayes vs. Cameron Grimes for the NXT North American Championship, Toxic Attraction vs. Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship, the finals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and Bron Breakker vs. Santos Escobar for the NXT Championship.
Additionally, Grayson Waller threatened that LA Knight would be arrested next week after Knight attacked Waller on tonight’s show. Waller had attempted to sneak attack Knight after he defeated Waller’s bodyguard Sanga, but Knight attacked him first.
Santos Escobar will officially be the first challenger for Bron Breakker’s NXT Championship.
Breakker will defend his title against Escobar at NXT Vengeance Day on Tuesday, February 15. The show is airing live on Syfy instead of the USA Network due to a scheduling conflict with the Winter Olympics.
Breakker won the NXT Championship from Tommaso Ciampa at New Year’s Evil last month. Escobar has taken exception to Breakker becoming champion so soon into his career, saying that he despises how fast Breakker got to NXT, despises the opportunities Breakker has been given, and despises the fact that Breakker won the NXT Championship before him.
Whenever Breakker challenged Escobar to face him over the last few weeks, Escobar stated that they would do things on his time. Breakker & Ciampa defeated Escobar’s Legado del Fantasma stablemates Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde in the main event of NXT this past Tuesday. Breakker challenged Escobar to get into the ring after the match, but Escobar again said that they would do things on his time.
Before Vengeance Day, Breakker and Escobar will meet for a “championship summit” on next Tuesday’s NXT. That episode is also airing on Syfy due to the Winter Olympics.
Here’s the updated card for Vengeance Day:
NXT Champion Bron Breakker defends against Santos Escobar
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Cameron Grimes
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) defend against Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta
The finals of the 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
A steel cage match is the latest addition to the card for NXT Vengeance Day.
WWE has announced that Pete Dunne and Tony D’Angelo will face off inside of a steel cage at NXT Vengeance Day on Tuesday, February 15. Due to the Winter Olympics, the show will air live on Syfy instead of the USA Network.
D’Angelo defeated Dunne in a Crowbar on a Pole match last month. The week after his win, D’Angelo conducted a memorial service for Dunne and claimed that Dunne’s career was over.
Dunne then made his return by costing D’Angelo a North American Championship number one contender’s match against Cameron Grimes. Dunne got revenge against D’Angelo by hitting him in the hand with a cricket bat.
On NXT earlier this week, a promo aired with Dunne challenging D’Angelo to a steel cage match. Dunne wanted to settle their issues where they started — inside of a steel cage. Dunne and D’Angelo were on opposing teams at NXT WarGames this past December.
Here’s the updated lineup for NXT Vengeance Day:
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Cameron Grimes
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) defend against Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta
The finals of the 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
A NXT Women’s Tag Team title match has been announced for Vengeance Day.
Champions Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin will defend against the team of Persia Pirotta and Indi Hartwell. The champions confirmed the match in the opening segment of tonight’s NXT.
The two teams have been feuding in the past few weeks. Back on the January 25 edition of NXT, Hartwell and Pirotta, along with Kay Lee Ray, defeated all three members of Toxic Attraction in a six-woman tag team match, setting up the Women’s Tag Team title match for February 15 on SyFy.
Tonight’s NXT had Kay Lee Ray kidnap Jayne & Dolin in a car and spent most of the show stalking Rose around the WWE Performance Center with a baseball bat, demanding Rose to give her a NXT Women’s title match. The show closed with Ray laying out Rose in the ring and saying that she didn’t want to wait until Vengeance Day, she will get the match next week.
Also announced for Vengeance Day is a NXT North American title match between champion Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes.
NXT’s next television special is just a few weeks away.
WWE has announced that NXT Vengeance Day 2022 will take place on Tuesday, February 15. The show will air live on the USA Network.
A championship match has already been confirmed for Vengeance Day. NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes will defend his title against Cameron Grimes.
Grimes became the number one contender to Hayes’ title by defeating Tony D’Angelo in the main event of tonight’s NXT.
Last year, NXT Vengeance Day was held on Valentine’s Day and was a TakeOver special.
Vengeance Day will be NXT’s second TV special of 2022. New Year’s Evil took place earlier this month and was headlined by Bron Breakker defeating Tommaso Ciampa to win the NXT Championship.
Vengeance Day is the second NXT special event that’s been announced this week. WWE also revealed that NXT Stand & Deliver will be held in Dallas during WrestleMania week. Further details regarding Stand & Deliver have yet to be confirmed, but preliminary plans reportedly call for it to be a matinee show on Saturday, April 2. That would be before the first night of WrestleMania 38.
