The NXT Championship is on the line as the show heads to Lowell, Massachusetts tonight.
Trick Williams will defend his belt against Eddy Thorpe on tonight’s broadcast. Thorpe was originally scheduled to participate in the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge match at NXT Deadline, but he was replaced following an angle where he was attacked. Last week, it was revealed that Thorpe actually faked the attack so he could get a shot at Williams without having to go through the Iron Survivor match.
In Thorpe’s place, Oba Femi entered the Iron Survivor Challenge and has earned an NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil 2025. Tonight, Femi faces Axiom in singles action.
Axiom is pulling double duty on the episode. Due to a miscommunication between Axiom and Nathan Frazer, the two are defending their NXT Tag Team titles tonight against Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang).
Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria is also set for the show, along with Jaida Parker vs. Wren Sinclair.
The show begins with a video package retrospective looking back on past WWE shows from the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. The past is intertwined with the present as the introductory video package shifts to the current NXT brand.
The lighting in the venue was far better in the ’90s. This was lit like an indie show, as the venue was too dark in places. But that is just my opinion, and there is some cool backlighting in the background. The ring itself seems slightly smaller than the usual 20×20.
In the opening match, a co-holder of the NXT Tag Team Championship faces one tough challenge in his first of two matches on the show. Axiom takes on Oba Femi, and later Axiom and Nathan Frazier defend the tag titles against Gallus.
Oba Femi defeated Axiom (with Nathan Frazier)
Femi pinned Axiom after a pop-up powerbomb. This was David vs. Goliath, except Goliath won this time. Plus in this version, David is pulling double duty and wrestling again later in the show.
Cat and mouse game at the start, as Axiom sticks and moves. Femi eventually snatches Axiom by his feet. Femi is manhandling Axiom, as the match goes through a commercial break.
Hope spot after the show returns from the break, as Axiom targets a leg. Femi clotheslines Axiom, and turns him inside out for a near fall. Axiom later goes for an armbar, but Femi dead lifts Axiom to easily break the hold. Femi keeps mowing down Axiom, but Axiom still fires up.
Axiom cuts down Femi with a dropkick to the knee. Femi rises again for a great sequence of exchanges. Axiom gets a near fall, and Femi powers out and goes for a powerbomb. Axiom counters with a hurricanrana for another near fall.
Axiom lands a missile dropkick, and he goes for his finisher. Femi catches Axiom like a damsel in distress, except Femi heaves Axiom aside. Femi then executes his pop-up powerbomb finisher, and Femi covers Axiom for a three count.
Sarah Schreiber interviews Eddy Thorpe in a backstage area. Thorpe boasts about fooling everyone in the angle last week that got him the title shot tonight. NXT General Manager Ava enters the scene and she scolds Thorpe for taking a shortcut, but the contract is signed so there is nothing she can do. Thorpe interjects that he just worked smarter instead of holder. After tonight, Thorpe says she can call him the champion.
In a pre-taped skit, more drama with Ashante “Thee”Adonis and Karmen Petrovic. This time it once again involves Dion Lennox. He tells Karmen to apologize to Adonis. Petrovic agrees and hugs Lennox. Adonis walks in to see them hugging, and he cuts a promo on them. Adonis storms off as the world turns, and so are the days of our lives.
Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria
Legend pinned Ruca to win the match.
Before the show cuts to commercial, Zaria catches Jackson in a fireman’s carry. Ruca then uses Jackson’s body as a launching pad to jump out of the ring to the floor on Legend. Zaria then lifts Jackson with a military press and throws her outside on Jackson. With Ruca and Zarua standing tall, the show cuts to the break after a big pop from the live crowd.
After the break, heat on Ruca as Jackson & Legend work over Ruca. Hot tag Zaria, and Zaria is a house of fire. Legend distracts Zaria, and Jackson hits her with a chop block. Zaria and Legend battle to suplex each other. Near fall after Ruca springboards into a flying body press. Jackson breaks up the pinning attempt as they go home.
Ruca hits Jackson with the X-factor, only for Legend to strike down Ruca. Zaria almost collides with Ruca, but stops short. Ruca then takes a bullet for Zaria, as Ruca gets a pump kick from Legend. Jackson makes another save, and Zaria is thrown outside. Jackson follows up with a dive on Zaria. In the ring, Legend executes her Bougie Bully Drop, and Legend pins Ruca.
Jaida Parker (with OTM) defeated Wren Sinclair (with No Quarter Catch Crew)
Parker pinned Sinclair after a hip attack. OTM and the Catch Crew start brawling at ringside during the match, and they brawl their way down the aisle and through the curtain. In the match, Parker dominated at times, but Sinclair got some offense as well.
Sinclair fired up at one point, but Parker would ultimately cut her off. For the finish, Parker hits Sinclair with a back elbow, followed by a hip attack. Parker then covers Sinclair for a pinfall.
Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolan and Shotzi all cut promos in a what is supposed to be an spooky dollhouse setting. Fatal Influence are watching on a backstage monitor. They are confronted by Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn. Fatal Influence leave as Fyre & Dawn chuckle over causing them to leave.
Every week on NXT is a video package sponsored by an insurance company. This week it highlights the history of NXT, and more specifically the rich women’s division. The package quickly chronicles the women’s title from the past to the present, concluding with a plug for Deadline.
NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey) to retain their titles
Frazier pinned Wolfgang after a Phoenix Splash and a plethora of other high spots. Axiom went into the match with his shoulder taped, which sells the match earlier tonight where Axiom lost to Oba Femi. Frazier is also wearing a face guard, after a recent injury. That seems legit and not part of the plot like Axiom selling his shoulder.
Gallus mauls Frazier & Axiom before the show cuts to a commercial break. Gallus is working over Axiom when the show returns from commercials. Hot tag to Frazier, and he is running wild at a frantic pace. Frog splash by Frazier on Coffey, and Wolfgang has to jump in to break up a pinning attempt. Soon thereafter, Axiom jumps in to break up a pinning attempt.
Later on, all four go down after a flurry of high spots. Axiom delivers a Golden Ratio to Coffey, and Frazier jumps on Wolfgang’s back. Frazier is inadvertently hit with a Golden Ratio from Axiom, in story line miscommunication. Soon thereafter, Coffey takes a Canadian Destroyer from Axiom. Wolfgang takes a poison-rana from Frazier. All four are down.
Frazier and Wolfganag are fighting with Wolfgang on the turnbuckles. Blind tag by Axiom, and he does a Spanish Fly. Axiom then dives outside on the Coffeys (Mark & Joe) at ringside. Meanwhile, Frazier leaps off the top rope into a Phoenix Splash, and Frazier covers Wolfgang for a the deciding pinfall. And still…
A wacky skit has Je’Von Evans talking with Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. Evans is hyping up Hank & Tank. A depressed Ethan Page pushing him way through them.
In a vignette, Charlie Dempsey has a training session with Lexis King. Dempsey is impressed that King kept up with him, so Dempsey agrees to grant King a title shot at the Heritage Cup.
Depressed Ethan Page sulks out and says the crowd should boo him. He deserves it, according to himself. Page goes to cut a promo where he says he brings up his daughter, son and wife. Page relates his recent failures with his desire to provide for his family. He was getting the “WHAT”chants.
The promo leads to Page spoofing a famous Shawn Michaels’ promo that was cut in the same venue. Page says he lost his smile, and he is soon interrupted by Je’Von Evans. He confronts Page in the ring, and Evans wants to see the real Ethan Page. Evans details the joy Page had for his wife and kids. Evans then talks about a smile from Page as he gives Evans a good pep talk. Evans tells him to drop the “Ego” and let the audience see the real Page.
Page is choking up as he responds to Evans. Page says he should not worry about losing his smile, but instead worry about taking Evans’s smile. Page assaults Evans, and he Pillmanizes Evans with a metal folding chair. Page puts it around Evans’ neck and jaw, and Page stomps on him. Evans sells big and spits up fake blood. This clearly sets up a grudge match.
Sarah Schreiber interview NXT Champiom Trick Williams, and Trick cuts a promo. Oba Femi comes in to say he hopes Williams does win, because Femi wants to take the title from Williams at New Year’s Evil.
Stephanie Vaquer is the focus of a video package that hypes her up.
NXT Champion Trick Williams vs. Eddy Thorpe ends with a finish, but no declared winner
Trick is over with this crowd as a babyface. In contrast, they chanted “Eddy sucks” at Thorpe.
In the match, Trick crotches himself when he missed a leg lariat. Thorpe shoves Trick off the apron as the shows cuts to a commercial break.
Back from the break and Thorpe is working over Williams. Slight botch just before a double down. Trick starts building momentum, and he uses a Rock Bottom for a two count. Thorpe fights back with kicks, and an elbow drop for a near fall.
Slugfest leads to them trading kicks. Thorpe then counters Trick to deliver a backbreaker. Trick fights back. Thorpe with another counter to set up a DDT by Thorpe, but the referee is knocked down. Trick takes the DDT, and he is down for the count. No ref to count. A second ref comes out just as Trick schoolboys Thorpe for a two count.
Thorpe with a couple of running kicks to the face. On the third attempt, Trick counters with a jumping knee strike. Trick falls on top of Page as both refs jump in to make a count. Thorpe’s foot is noticeably under the bottom rope as both refs (with one on either side) each count a pinfall. While Williams was clearly on top of Thorpe, Williams’ shoulders were also down. The foot under the rope must not have been part of he planned finish, as it did not factor in. However, the refs argue after the bell over who they declare the winner. Each counted three with a different perspective.
The refs are still bickering as Ava comes down to ringside. The cliffhanger is who won the match, as the show goes off the air without a declared winner.
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