Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Live Report! (7/31/18)

Published

6 years ago

July 31, 2018

Tonight’s SmackDown promises to be BIG with Lana VS Zelina Vega for the first time ever, and The Usos VS The Bar in the tag title contenders tournament!

All images courtesy of the WWE’s official Twitter

OFFICIAL RESULTS

SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Tournament: The Usos VS The Bar; The Bar wins and advances to the finals.
Zelina Vega w/ Andrade “Cien” Almas VS Lana; Zelina wins.
Carmella VS Charlotte Flair; Charlotte wins and joins the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at Summerslam.

PLAY BY PLAY

Renee Young introduces Becky Lynch!

The Lass Kicker is the new #1 Contender to the SmackDown Women’s Champion after pinning the champ herself last week. Now the inaugural champion has a chance to become champion once again at Summerslam! Renee interviews Becky about finally being back in the title scene. “When you wait so long for something, sometimes you doubt that it’s ever gonna happen.” Becky had those doubts, but knew that if she kept going, she’d get back. She has some disheartening facts, though: she hasn’t been champion since September 2016, and hasn’t had a match for the title since Wrestlemania 33. Becky kept thinking what it means to be SmackDown Women’s Champion, and it is the honor and excitement and pressure of having a target on your back. Becky wasn’t born to be champoin, she earned becoming a champion.

Come Summerslam, it will be Becky’s honor to win, and then go to WWE Evolution as THE SmackDown Women’s Champion! But speaking of, here comes the current champion, Carmella! She wants everyone to stay calm, this isn’t what they think. Normally Carmella makes excuses, like how James Ellsworth getting fired distracted her. But that’s not the case this time. Carmella admits Becky won fair and square to earn her chance. In fact, Carmella was so focused that she only just got to think about WWE Evolution. Carmella was thinking how to win, and then she was hit by a tidal wave: they’ll be part of the All Women’s PPV. They’ll represent every woman who has ever been in the WWE. That made Carmella’s skin crawl, because she’s failed as a representative. They need to build each other up. She was just jealous, because Becky’s always been a step ahead.

From NXT where they said Carmella was only ever going to be a valet, but Becky encouraged her to keep going. Then Becky was SmackDown’s #1 female draft pick! And Carmella was The last pick. Carmella was the afterthought. The fans have always loved Becky. Fans cheer Becky even now. But the WWE Universe doesn’t think Carmella is deserving. Carmella is close to crying, because she tries so hard to tune it all out. Fans still chant “You Suck!” at her even now. There’re legends who even think she should just go away! Carmella is exhausted from it all.

But she puts on a brave face and tells herself she’s as deserving as anyone. Becky is deserving. Carmella having this match with someone she’s looked up to, she can’t be more excited. She is ready to kill it and prove everyone wrong with Becky. So Carmella simply wishes Becky good luck. She offers her hand, but out comes James Ellsworth!? Not! Carmella attacks in the distraction with a blindside attack and a FABULOUS Kick! Carmella even fetches a chair! She drags Becky over, but here comes Charlotte! The Queen of Flair returns to save her friend! She boots the chair away, then throws Carmella with an exploder! The Princess is down while the Queen helps Becky up. Charlotte shouts at Carmella as she retreats. No more crocodile tears or underhanded tricks, will Carmella survive the Straight Fire?

The Usos speak.

Jimmy & Jey has everything from top to bottom coming through them. Usos, Bar, the thumbs. They have an idea: shine up the thumbs, turn them sideways again, and stick them straight up yo’ candy– Whoa, hold on, PG13. They were just trying to get their ROck on. Well time to get their Uso on, because the Uso Penitentiary is open, and next!

Carmella complains to Paige.

Did the GM not see what Charlotte did to her?! Carmella has beaten Charlotte twice, and yet she has no respect for Carmella! But Paige tells her how Carmella actually fooled her into thinking she was respectful. Carmella should be ashamed. Sorry for not being a role model like Paige. But there is one thing Carmella is that Paige won’t ever be again: champion! This title isn’t going anywhere. Fine, let’s go there. Paige will teach Carmella what it’s like to be a real champ. The odds are always stacked against a champ, but a champ finds a way to overcome them. Carmella will face Charlotte tonight, and if Charlotte wins, the title match becomes a TRIPLE THREAT! Now go get ready, and “good luck”. Will Carmella have anything but that tonight?

SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Tournament: The Usos VS The Bar!

Both teams are former tag team champions, but must go through this tournament for a shot at the Bludgeon Brothers. Who will advance to face the awaiting New Day in the final round?

Awwwww Tampa! Don’t you dare be sour, because the New Day joins commentary, and feel~, the power~! Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods want to be front row to see who their competition will be. In fact, they have their own announce desk, stacked with pancakes!

The bell rings and Sheamus starts against Jey. Jey gets a waistlock but Sheamus fights out with elbows. Sheamus gives European Uppercuts then whips Jey corner to corner. Jey stops himself then gives Uso uppercuts. Jey runs and dropkicks Sheamus out. Cesaro keeps Sheamus from rushing back into the ring while we go picture in picture.

The Usos wait while Cesaro calms Sheamus down. The New Day seem to be taunting The Bar from commentary. Sheamus tags Cesaro and Cesaro circles with Jey. They tie up, and Cesaro gets a headlock. Cesaro grinds Jey’s head, but Jey powers out. Things speed up, and Jey runs Cesaro over with a back elbow. Jey powers Cesaro to the corner and Jimmy tags in. Jimmy taunts Sheamus before giving Cesaro a forearm smash. Jimmy brings Cesaro up into an armlock, then a shoulder breaker. Tag to Jey, who flies in for double ax handles. Jey wrenches but Cesaro pulls hair. Cesaro has Jey on the ropes, but Sheamus gets a cheap shot in. Cesaro tags Sheamus, and Sheamus drops a knee on Jey. Sheamus drags Jey up into the Bar’s corner for body shots and EuroUppers.

Tag to Cesaro for Super Saiyan Kicks! Cover, TWO, so it’s back to the chinlock. Fans rally and Jey gets up. He reaches but Cesaro brings him over. Tag to Sheamus and The Bar stomps away on Jey. Sheamus drags Jey up for beats of the Bodhrain. He then shoves Jey down, and tags Cesaro. Cesaro fetches Jey and puts him back in. Cesaro climbs up and hits ax handles as we return to single picture. Cover, TWO!

Cesaro puts the chinlock back on. Fans rally up for the Usos, New Day admit either team would be a great opponent next week. Jey fights out but Cesaro keeps him from Jimmy. Jey throws hands, but Cesaro won’t let go. Cesaro tags Sheamus and Sheamus kicks Jey down. The Bar whip for the Bar lariat, then cover. TWO, but Sheamus drops another knee. He drops another knee, then wraps Jey up in a keylock. The New Day like the look of that move. Fans rally up for Usos, and Jey fights his way up. Sheamus rams in knees to keep him down. Jey gets up again, but Sheamus throws him down by his hair. Sheamus puts more weight on Jey. The fans rally up, “Uce! O!”

Jey fights up with haymakers and uppercuts! Sheamus knees low then brings Jey up. Jey slips out, dodges from the corner and Sheamus hits post! Fans rally again, hot tags to Jimmy and Cesaro! Jimmy rallies, mule kick to uppercut. Jimmy dodges Cesaro for the Samoan Drop! Cover, TWO! Cesaro blocks a kick but gets a dragon whip enziguri! Jimmy fires the fans up, then runs corner to corner, but Cearo bails out. Jimmy changes plans and FLIES! Sheamus saves Csesaro, but Cesaro still gets a SUPERKICK! Jimmy climbs up while Cesaro enters the ring, crossbody! Cover, TWO! Jimmy is surprised, but he keeps on Cesaro. He drags Cesaro up but Cesaro shoves him away. Jimmy uppercuts Cesaro, then climbs up, but Cesaro shoves him down! Jimmy hits barriers while we go to break.

SmackDown returns and The Bar climb up to the top rope. Jey saves Jimmy by dragging Sheamus down. Jimmy fights Cesaro off with headbutts, then adjusts for a corkscrew senton! Both men are down while the New Day are having so much fun watching. Fans rally up as Cesaro and Jimmy brawl with uppercuts. Jimmy chops, but his kick is blocked. Cesaro rocks him with a EuroUppercut, and Sheamus tags in. Sheamus picks Jimmy up in White Noise position, and Cesaro springboards, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! Sheamus shoves Jey out but Jimmy rolls him up. TWO, SUPERKICK! Tag to Jey, Uso Splash! Cover, but Cesaro breaks it just in time! That was so close, the New Day are shocked for everyone.

All four men are down, but Jey and Cesaro get up. Cesaro runs at Jey but gets hip tossed out! Jey tags Jimmy, and they each take a corner. They both aim at Sheamus, but Cesaro UPPERCUTS Jey! Jimmy gets knees! Cover, THE BAR WINS!!

Winners: The Bar, by pinfall; advance to the tournament finals

What a way to return to the ring! The Swiss Cyborg & Celtic Gladiator survive the Uso Penitentiary! Now they will face The New Day next round for THE #1 contender spot. The Bar dare The New Day to meet them in the ring now, and the New Day obliges. All five men stand in the ring and trash talk, but the Bar decides to wait a week. Will Cesaro & Sheamus set the bar against the longest reigning tag team champions in WWE history?

Backstage interview with Charlotte Flair.

How does it feel to have a chance back into the title scene? This wild night gets wilder. Charlotte was just covering Becky’s back, but Carmella’s mouth gives Charlotte this chance. Charlotte didn’t even think she’d be going to Summerslam this year. Carmella rubs it in that she’s “won” twice. Charlotte vows that she’s going to take back the throne, WOO~!

Samoa Joe heads to the ring.

The Destroyer faces the Phenomenal One at Summerslam for the WWE Championship. He made it official when he signed the contract after ambushing AJ Styles in the ring. Granted, Paige still had him planned as the #1 contender, but he wanted to prove just how dangerous he can be. Joe takes a seat and a mic to call out Styles. What Joe did last week was just a message, and Styles is more than familiar with Joe’s way of communicating. No hard feelings, because truth be told, Joe respects Styles. Truth be told, Joe respects this House AJ Styles Built, and that Styles made the WWE Championship THE championship in WWE. Joe respects the grind and sacrifice Styles has made. Styles puts everything behind being champion. He put it in front of even being with his family.

Joe finds that funny, because of how Styles talked about looking his daughter in his eyes and encouraging her to be anything she wants to be. But Joe has known Styles a long, long time. The fact is, Styles is barely home long enough to hug his daughter, let alone look her in the eyes. The truth is, Styles feels much more comfortable on the road than being a husband to his wife. Joe understands the sacrifices. Styles put being champion in front of everything, even if it means failing as a father. Joe knows it hurts, but he’ll make Styles’ sacrifice worth it when Joe takes it all away! The fans will be chanting for Styles, but his family will be cheering for Joe. Because after Joe tears this house down and puts Styles to sleep, the family will have daddy back, but Joe will be champion.

Jeff Hardy heads to the ring!

The Charismatic Enigma has become the target of the returning Viper, from the low blow stomp at Extreme Rules to the gruesome ear gauge attack. “The US Championship is more than a title to me.” It’s part of Hardy’s life force, his fifth eye that revitalizes him and heightens his sense of purpose. It also strengthens his bond with the WWE Universe. When Shinsuke Nakamura took it, a part of Hardy went with it. Hardy wants to beat Nakamura and take it back. However, there’s something almost as important: beating the hell out of Orton! Hardy calls out The Viper, because it’s time to fight! And Orton appears!

The Apex Predator steadily makes his way to the ring and Hardy is ready to DELETE! But Nakamura gets him from behind! Nakamura throws knee after knee into Hardy while Orton stalks around them. Nakamura takes aim, Hardy stands, KIN- No, Orton stops Nakamura in his tracks. The Viper stares the King of Strong Style down, and fans chant “RKO! RKO!” But then Orton gives Nakamura permission? KINSHASA! Then Orton gets in Nakamura’s face again. This rivalry is indirectly renewed but Hardy is the one taking the hits. And speaking of Hardy, Orton locks eyes on him now. Orton hypes up the fans and prepares to strike. Hardy slowly stands up, but Orton instead trips him. Orton trolls the fans more than anything as he instead stomps every bit of Hardy into the mat.

Hardy is gasping and groaning but Orton drags him up from the apron. Orton pulls him through the ropes, for the draping DDT! The referees try to get Orton to stop, but he doesn’t. He drags Hardy out on the apron, and gives a draping DDT to the floor! Orton still isn’t done! He clears the announce desk and drags Hardy up and over there. The vicious Viper of old has returned as he rams Hardy’s head into the table top, then rains down rights. The referees can’t stop Orton as he tears Hardy’s arm sleeves and shirt away. Orton even takes his Team Extreme necklace!

Orton adds one last insult to injury as he pours water all over Hardy’s face, rains down more rights, then wipes away the paint Hardy painstakingly applied. “Enigma? You’re a waste.” Orton glares at the WWE Universe, who he blames for putting Hardy above him. He leaves Hardy gasping and sputtering. What more will the Legend Killer turned Killer Legend do to finally end the Enigma?

Backstage interview with Becky Lynch.

How does the Lass Kicker feel about her best friend, Charlotte, possibly being added to the SmackDown Women’s Championship match? Becky’s happy that Charlotte is back and knows Charlotte has a big opportunity. If Charlotte wins, the match becomes a Triple Threat. The math calls for Becky to shift from emotion to logic. Becky is excited Charlotte’s back, but not for this. She knows she can win against anyone 1v1, but what does that mean about tonight’s match? Becky never roots against her best friend, but will her best friend get in her way?

Zelina Vega w/ Andrade “Cien” Almas VS Lana!

La Muneca and the Ravishing Russian got into it both in an argument and in a cat fight last week, but the distraction would coast the Bulgarian Brute against El Idolo. The arguments would continue online, and that forced GM Paige to give these women a chance to settle things in the ring. Will Lana be the best, Lana Number One? Or will Vega be as Trainquilo as her client and keep the duo undefeated?

The bell rings and the two circle. Vega rolls and Tranquilos already. Lana dares her to fight, but Vega fights when she’s ready to fight. In the meantime, Lana shows off her flexibility, but Vega shoves her. Lana shoves back, so Vega shoves her again. Now it’s a scrap! Vega gets away, but Lana dares her to return. El Idolo coaches Vega up while we go picture in picture.

Lana waits while Vega calms herself down. Vega slowly returns, and ties up with Lana agani. Lana gets a wristlock and whips but Vega reverses. Vega runs into headscissors and a heel kick. Lana bulldogs Vega down! Cover, TWO, and Vega scrambles away again. Lana stalks her to ropes but ends up in the ropes with a yank. Vega chokes Lana but backs off at the ref’s count. Vega yanks Lana back, then embraces the heat. She even pats herself on the back. She drags Lana up for a seated dragon sleeper. Lana endures and powers up, but Vega wrangles her back down. Lana refuses to quit as she works against the hold. We return to single picture as Vega holds on. Lana stands up but is thrown down again. Vega goes back to her dragon sleeper while fans rally for Lana.

The two stand up and Lana fights out with body shots. Vega throws her down again, then sits her up for a new chinlock. Lana stands so Vega hops on for a backpack sleeper. Lana backs Vega into buckles but Vega holds on. Another bump gets he r to let go, but then Vega throws Lana into buckles. Vega pump kicks Lana, then copies Almas with the CIEN KNEES! Cover, TWO! Vega is furious, but Almas tells her to keep it together. She brings Lana back up, and wants the hammerlock DDT, but Lana back drops Vega off! Lana rallies and fans fire up! She kicks low, Machka Neckbreaker! Lana-roonie! Then knees to the back on the ropes! Cover, TWO!

Lana grimaces down at Vega, and brings her up to whip her in a corner. She hits a back elbow, then whips again. Vega reverses but runs into another elbow. Lana hops up but Almas copies Vega by distracting. Lana still kicks Vega away, so Almas tries again. Aiden English gets Almas! But Vega rolls Lana up with tights! Vega wins!!

Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall

Now English has messed Lana up! Whether it’s Mr. or Mrs. Machka, it’s always MC Artiste trying too hard to help. Will Aiden English ever get it right on Rusev Day?

The Bludgeon Brothers speak.

Harper & Rowan are all smiles. If Cesaro & Sheamus want to set The Bar, they’ll gladly break it. And they’ll positively shatter The New Day. No one escapes at Summerslam, because no one can. Who will face the bludgeoning in Brooklyn?

Aiden English apologizes to Lana.

She wants to be left alone. Rusev needs his space but English thought he was doing the right thing. The right thing is to leave. Rusev comes storming by, and English disappears. Rusev asks if Lana is okay. He should’ve been out there instead. Lana knows Rusev needs to figure out his problem, but yeah, Lana could’ve used him out there. Now everyone is mad at everyone else. Will the Machka household be okay after this?

Daniel Bryan heads to the ring!

The Goat got one over on The Miz last week with his edited Miz & Mrs trailer, but the Miz got one over on Bryan with the fake baby. Now Bryan is here to address his long-standing archenemy in the WWE. Bryan makes sure to plug WWE Evolution, and lets us know he’s proud of his wife, Brie Bella. Brie was in the ring in that infamous 30 second match when #GiveDivasAChance. Both Bryan & Brie have fought for the respect of themselves and their peers, so this PPV is a “huge step forward.” But that said, when taking two step forwards, it seems like there’s one step back. And yes, he means that baby doll fake-out.

Watching that back, Bryan is bothered. For two years, Miz taunted, trolled and baited Bryan all because Bryan couldn’t compete. Miz thought he was safe, but then Bryan was cleared. That wall came crumbling down around Miz, so what did he do to further protect himself? He brought his wife, and what we thought was Miz’s own child. Why? To build one last line of defense, because if they were to ever get in a real fight, Bryan would destroy Miz. Fans agree with that. Bryan calls The Miz out to prove him wrong. Bryan would love nothing more than to punch Miz right in the face!

But Miz communicates via titantron. Miz thought Bryan would’ve learned as GM that this isn’t the indies or a high school gym. Miz is an elite talent, you have to earn a match. Call his manager, because he’s on location for more Miz & Mrs, the highest rated reality show in seven years! Just wait to see tonight’s second episode where they throw the best baby shower ever. And if there’s any doubt, Miz has security to keep fans from getting near him. Who cares about his pretentious lifestyle? Bryan wants a fight, but Miz just being somewhere else only proves Bryan right: Miz is “nothing more than a coward.”

Miz is a coward? He’s a coward? “YES! YES!” The last time Bryan said that, Miz was on Talking Smack, and what did Bryan do when Miz countered him? Bryan walked away! All Bryan really wants is an endless conflict to further Bryan’s career! Miz has carried Bryan ever since the original NXT reality show! But that’s the difference: Bryan is about passion, Miz is about fame. But Miz’s dream of sports entertainer to movie star, has been done by better men than Miz. Miz is not going to be The Rock. Heck, he won’t even be John Cena! And no one will remember Miz is a great wrestler, because he’s too soft. But if Miz insists on a big stage, talk to that manager, walk off the set and fight Bryan… at Summerslam!

This cycle continues. Bryan creates sympathy, get people to cry, repeat. When is Bryan going to accept reality? The Yes Movement is over, Team Hell No is over, everyone has moved on so why can’t Bryan? Let the contract expire so that you can go entertain everyone in gymnasiums. Everyone is annoyed with Bryan. Why can’t he quietly go away? All people see when they look at Bryan is a crying baby. Many crying babies. Miz has the final word, but who will be the one crying like a baby should these two have that grudge match?

Carmella VS Charlotte Flair!

The Queen of Flair kept the Princess of Staten Island from beating up Becky, so Carmella ran her mouth to the Glampire Manager. Paige didn’t take too kindly to anything Carmella did or said, so she upped the ante on her SmackDown Women’s Championship match. Can Charlotte turn this first night back into a golden opportunity?

Before the match, Renee interviews Carmella. Carmella is obviously aware of the situation she’s in, but her math and fashion sense are both Fabulous. Carmella wants Becky 1v1 because Carmella knows she can win. And despite what Becky says, Carmella knows she is cheering against Charlotte tonight.

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, and Charlotte powers Carmella to a corner. She honors the break but Carmella turns it around. Carmella ducks the chop to then moonwalk away. Becky watches backstage as the two tie up again. Carmella gets a headlock but Charlotte lifts her up. Carmella gets a headlock takedown but Charlotte goes for a Figure Four. The champ gets away and Charlotte says it was close. Carmella disagrees as they circle again. They tie up and Charlotte gets a headlock. Carmella powers out but Charlotte runs her over. Fans “WOO~” as Charlotte styles and profiles. Carmella swings but gets rolled up into Charlotte’s Web, TWO. Charlotte throws Carmella up and over, and Carmella rolls out of the ring. Charlotte slingshots but misses! Carmella throws her into the LED apron then into barriers! The Princess has control while we go to break.

SmackDown returns once more, and Charlotte hits ax handles on Carmella. Now she chops away as only a Flair can! Carmella runs into a back suplex! Charlotte kips up and walks over Carmella. She goes up top, but her Moonsault gets boots! Carmella gets on Charlotte to throw her out! Carmella shouts for a count out and the ref counts. Charlotte stirs at about 4 but Carmella kicks her back out at 6. The count restarts, but Carmella uses that to kick. Charlotte blocks it but misses her boot, and gets tilt-o-whirl headscissor’d into the barriers! Carmella throws Charlotte into the timekeepers area! She returns to the ring and shouts for a count! The ref counts and Charlotte slowly crawls out of the timekeeper’s area. She gets to the ring at 9! Carmella is on her with furious hands, going after the ribs!

Becky continues to watch backstage. Carmella wraps a chinlock on Charlotte, but fans rally up. Charlotte feeds off the energy, but Carmella throws and thrashes her back to the mat. Charlotte reaches as fans rally up again. Carmella hops on as a backpack but is powered into buckles. Charlotte frees herself, but Carmella throws her into buckles in return. Carmella glares at Charlotte as she stalks her. Carmella boots Charlotte, but Charlotte boots back! Cover, TWO! Charlotte grows frustrated, but she easily brings Carmella up. Carmella slips out but Charlotte rolls her up, ONE! Figure Four, but Carmella gets a quick ropebreak. Charlotte baseball slides Carmella into barriers. Charlotte climbs a barrier, for an ASAI moonsault! She hits Carmella then fires back up.

Charlotte puts Carmella in, then stalks her for NATURAL SELECTION! Cover, TWO!! Becky can’t be sure what she feels with that one. Charlotte herself is shocked Carmella survived, but that’s what a 1v1 match means. Charlotte runs but into a kick! She still gets Carmella down, but Carmella package counters! TWO, FABULOUS KICK!! Cover, TWO!? Carmella can’t believe that didn’t do it! The champ thinks on what else she can do. She steals the Figure Four! But gets caught into Charlotte’s Figure EIGHT! Carmella taps, Charlotte wins!!

Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission; joins the SmackDown Women’s championship match at Summerslam

Becky is again conflicted, but Charlotte is elated! Three women fight over one title, who makes the best of it in Brooklyn?

My Thoughts:

This isn’t saying much, but SmackDown was much better than last night’s Raw. There was more talking than wrestling but almost everything had something important to contribute and was entertaining. Opening with Becky and Carmella was great. Carmella may not be the best in the ring, but she did really good on the mic with that fake emotional confession of her insecurities and all that. Using Ellsworth’s theme as a distraction was clever, too. Great to see Charlotte back, and WWE is doing great setting up their own “friends on the rocks” story with her and Becky now that they’re both going after the title. However, I am sensing it will cost them both the title and Carmella holds it until Hell in a Cell in September. But as I’ve been saying. I’d love to see #TeaGenerationX VS #LegitHuggable at WWE Evolution for the Women’s Tag Titles.

That tag team match of Usos VS The Bar was incredible. That was approaching the level of a tag team championship match already. The Bar winning was done well with a sudden reversal of things, and The Bar VS New Day will be a nice, fresh match-up. We didn’t get enough of this match up before The Bar inexplicably disappeared from TV. I actually hope The Bar wins so that we get a completely fresh match for Summerslam, and I hope both The Bar and Bludgeon Brothers stay Heel so that WWE will actually do something else that’s fresh. Samoa Joe’s message to AJ Styles was definitely personal, and pure gold. I thought we were getting Orton VS Hardy tonight, but Orton and Nakamura beating down Hardy was actually better. I’m still sensing a Triple Threat for the US Championship.

Vega VS Lana was pretty fun, and I hope this means Vega will throw her name into the Women’s Division full time so that there’ll be more women to fight for the singles title. At the same time, it does a great job of feeding the overall Rusev Day story. I still don’t want Team Rusev Day to break up, but it’s much more organic to have it happen because English is failing to of help rather than Lana driving a wedge between them. Also I want a Mixed Tag of Rusev-Lana VS Almas-Vega before then. And while Joe’s promo was gold, so was the back and forth between Bryan and Miz. They both got great shots in (especially Bryan’s lines about Rock & Cena), but it really means a lot for Miz to get the last word because Bryan likely gets the win.

My Score: 8.5/10

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Up Next

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Report! (7/31/18)

Don't Miss

Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Report! (7/30/18)

AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (12/25/24)

Christmas is All Elite!

Published

3 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Steven Mitchell

It’s a Continental Classic Christmas!

It’s AEW Dynamite on 34th Street, and the greatest Christmas gift is a ticket to the Continental Classic semifinals at Worlds End this Saturday in Orlando! But who reaches the goal while the others get coal?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Toni Storm VS Taya Valkyrie w/ Deonna Purrazzo; wins.
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Ricochet; wins.
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Kazuchika Okada; wins.
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Brody King; wins.
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Kyle Fletcher VS Daniel Garcia; wins.
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

[Because it is Christmas, coverage will be on delay]

Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!

Claudio Castagnoli: 3-1, 9 points
Ricochet: 3-1, 9 points
Will Ospreay: 2-2, 6 points
Darby Allin: 2-2, 6 points
Brody King: 2-2, 6 points
Komander: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!

Mark Briscoe: 3-2, 9 points
Kyle Fletcher: 3-1, 9 points
Kazuchika Okada: 2-1-1, 7 points
Daniel Garcia: 2-1-1, 7 points
Shelton Benjamin: 2-2, 6 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-5, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/24/24)

NXT on Christmas Eve!

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Golden tickets make for great stocking stuffers!

With Nathan Frazer & Axiom still NXT Tag Team Champions, they need new contenders for New Year’s Evil! Who wins a Fatal 4 Way to head for LA?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; Vaquer wins.
NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew VS Lexis King; King wins and becomes the new NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx w/ Fallon Henley VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn; Alba & Isla win.
Ashante THEE Adonis VS Dion Lennox; Adonis wins.
NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino VS OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank; OTM wins and will challenge Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

Santa Claus is here!

Lowell, Massachusetts is excited that Kris Kringle is going around ringside, but enough about him, it’s time for action!

Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade!

The Dark Angel is here on this not so silent night to shut up her opponent. The Generation of Jade doesn’t care that she’s on the naughty list, but will she get herself on the short list of contenders to a women’s title? Or will Vaquer give Cora a nightmare before Christmas?

The bell rings and Vaquer circles with Cora while the fans rally up. They tie up, Cora pulls hair, but the ref reprimands. Cora puts Vaquer in a corner, lets off, but then Vaquer rushes up. Vaquer waistlocks and SLAMS Cora, then clamps on a facelock. Cora fights up, wrenches out and steps over, La Magistrol! TWO, Vaquer turns things over to a cover, ONE! Vaquer sweeps legs, cover, ONE! Cora sweeps legs, covers, ONE! Cora knuckle locks but Vaquer fights up and RAMS Cora. Cora cranks the wrist but Vaquer RAMS her again. Vaquer then goes up, ARABIAN PRESS ARM-DRAG! Cora staggers away while fans fire up.

Vaquer runs up on Cora, victory rolls her, TWO! Cora scrambles away but Vaquer eggs her on. Cora runs up, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS, then she runs at the ropes! Vaquer dodges, then comes back to 6- NO, Cora ducks the 619 and wags her finger. The fans cheer, Vaquer smirks, and the two rush in. Vaquer catches and wrenches Cora to a snap suplex! Vaquer drags Cora into the headscissors! The fans fire up as Vaquer turns Cora over, but Cora rolls and rolls to get the ROPEBREAK! Vaquer lets Cora go and Cora bails out to the outside. Vaquer hurries after Cora, they cat ‘n’ mouse around the ring, but then Vaquer and Cora slide into the ring.

The fans fire up as things speed up, Vaquer ducks ‘n’ DROPKICKS! Cora sputters, the fans fire up, and Vaquer smirks as she looms over Cora. Vaquer pushes Cora down to then IMPLODER KNEE DROP! Something similar to Cora’s move set, and Vaquer whips Cora to a corner. The fans rally, Cora goes up but waits to lure Vaquer in! BACKSTABBER! Cora laughs at Vaquer and fans boo, but NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Cora has a motorcycle stretch on Vaquer. The fans rally as Vaquer endures and fights to her feet. Vaquer turns things around, arm-drags Cora away, and Cora goes to a corner. Vaquer runs up, Cora dodges then comes back to SHINING WIZARD! Snapmare and cover, TWO! The fans rally but Cora clamps onto Vaquer with a chinlock. Vaquer endures, even as Cora leans on the hold. The fans rally again and Vaquer fights up. Vaquer turns around to JAWBREAKER free! Cora blocks a kick, ROCKS Vaquer, but then Vaquer pulls hair to reel Cora in! BIG back suplex and the fans fire up!

The ref checks, both women stir, and they go to corners. Cora runs in but Vaquer dodges the shining wizard! SOLE FOOD! Vaquer runs corner to corner to LARIAT! Cora sits down, so Vaquer goes again, METEORA! Vaquer drags Cora to center, then wraps on the headscissors! The fans fire up but Cora rolls and rolls to ropes again! Vaquer just puts on the squeeze, and rolls Cora back! HEADSCISSOR DRILLER! Cover, TWO! Vaquer brings Cora up but Cora pulls hair! The fans boo, Cora kicks but Vaquer blocks it! Vaquer turns things into a STANDING STF!! Cora endures, hops on one foot, and she THROWS Vaquer onto ropes!

Cora runs to BACK ELBOW! And then GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! Vaquer stays in this and Cora shrieks. The fans boo Cora’s tantrum, but Cora hauls Vaquer up. Vaquer fights the underhooks to ROCK, SOBAT and underhook in return! PRIMERA BACKBREAKER! Cover, Vaquer wins!

Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall

Cora gets coal for Christmas in the form of a loss, but that’s not all! Kelani Jordan runs out here to SMACK away on Cora with a kendo stick! Vaquer has Kelani stop, if only to keep from wearing out that kendo stick. The Standout still wants to stomp Cora out, when and where will she get her fight with the Generation of Jade?

The D’Angelo Family speaks.

Stacks likes Luca’s vest, and Luca likes Stack’s jacket. Tony D tells his guys that they’ve been doing great, and Luca thanks The Don for getting them an early Christmas present. They have a spot in the Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way! Tony says it’s about time the entire family has some gold. That reminds Stacks of Christmas Eve as a kid: staying up late, camping on the couch, waiting for Santa to come. Stacks remembers one night when he was half asleep, seeing Santa digging through his gifts like a raccoon in a dumpster! Santa was shaking ’em around and acting like he owns the place! Before Stacks could do anything, his mom runs in with a broomstick and starts hitting Santa in the face!

Adriana Rizzo says Diana Lorenzo is a saint among women. Stacks says, “A saint? She’s a freakin’ enforcer!” But turns out, it was just Mr. Fabrizio from down the street. He didn’t go Christmas shopping, the cheapskate. Tony says no one should be snoopin’ around like The Grinch. The point is, “presents under the tree, a tag team title opportunity for Luca and me. So Hank ‘n’ Tank…” “NQCC…” “And OTM… You try to take that from us, we’ll bash your heads in like my mother.” Like his mother! The warning has been issued, will someone be sleepin’ with the fishes for Christmas?

Lexis King prepares backstage.

Mr. William Regal walks over to say hello. He has been watching Lexis these past few months, and both his growth and dedication have been remarkable. Lexis deserves this opportunity. Regal would be honored to be in Lexis’ corner again this time. Lexis really appreciates that, he is very honored, because he is finally becoming the best version of himself. So then, is he going to do it? Yes, of course. Lexis will become the NEW Heritage Cup Champion! Lexis heads out, and Regal brings out the brass knuckles. Regal says that wasn’t what he was asking. Will the Drama King claim his crown the right way? Or will he do it regally?

NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Charlie Dempsey w/ Wren Sinclair VS Lexis King w/ William Regal!

It is another clash of second generation superstars, each trying to prove they’re not like their fathers. Though, that only makes it all the more intriguing that Dempsey’s father is trying to help his opponent. Will Lexis finally have his moment? Or will Regal still expect the worst out of him?

The introductions are made, the cup is raised, and we see just how far the King has come!

The bell rings and round one begins. The fans rally as these two tie up, and then King headlocks. Dempsey powers right out, and King goes toa corner. The two reset, tie up, and King waistlocks then headlocks. Dempsey powers up and out, but King runs him over! Things keep moving, King turns hip toss into takedown, roll, ghost pin! TWO, but King is right up, only for Dempsey to deflect the dropkick! Dempsey grabs a leg, ANKLE LOCK! King rolls free, but Dempsey RAMS him, then whips. King reverses and DROPKICKS! Dempsey flounders, the fans fire up with King, but Regal has a point that King needs to focus on Dempsey.

King and Dempsey reset, tie up, and Dempsey waistlocks. King breaks that to switch, but Dempsey drop toeholds into a HEEL HOOK! King hurries to turn but Dempsey floats to the arm! FUJIWARA! King rolls, arm-drags and has the wristlock! King makes it a cording hold and the fans rally. Dempsey bridges, rolls back, then stands. They fight for wristlock control but Dempsey spins, slips through and wrenches for a wristlock! Dempsey wrangles King, twists that arm around, and we hit a minute. King reaches up but Dempsey fights the headscissors. They both stand, and Dempsey shifts to a cravat neck wrench.

King endures, powers up and out, and King hits a hip toss! Cover, TWO as Dempsey bridges, then CRAVAT PLEXES! Cover, TWO, but Dempsey keeps that cravat. King fights up and we’re at 30 seconds. Wren coaches Dempsey but King scoops to SLAM! Dempsey still drags King down! The neck wrench is on tight but King fights up. Ten seconds, King fires hands as the fans count it down. King gets his headlock on Dempsey, the bell sounds for the round!

Round 1 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

King holds on and thrashes Dempsey, but then Dempsey hits a BACKBREAKER! The ref reprimands them both, and tells them to listen better. Both men refresh in their corners, and now it’s round two! Dempsey runs up but King dodges! King CHOPS and CHOPS and whips corner to corner. Dempsey reverses with a BRIDGING whip! King hits buckles hard! Dempsey storms up to KNEE King in the side! King goes to a corner but Dempsey brings him out. Dempsey fires forearms and UPPERCUTS, then ROCKS King again. King hits back but Dempsey KNEES and GUT WRENCH PLEXES! Cover, TWO!

Dempsey keeps on King with a shove and a forearm to the back! King hobbles to a corner but Dempsey is on him. Dempsey digs a knee in, the ref counts, but Dempsey lets off to CLUB King. Dempsey UPPERCUTS King int he back! King CHOSP! And CHOPS! Dempsey knees low then CLUBS King again! Dempsey hauls King up with a GOTCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! King stays in this but Dempsey stays on him with a HALF CRAB! King endures, uses his free leg to push up, but Dempsey digs his elbow into the lower back! Dempsey makes King drop to his stomach and then sits deep on the hold! King endures, we drop under a minute, and King fights!

King turns, kicks free, and goes to another corner. Dempsey CLUBS him again! Dempsey fires a forearm, whips corner to corner, but King SUPERKICKS! King goes up to FLYING SUNSET FLIP! High stack, TWO!! Dempsey gets lucky, and then he blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW! Dempsey waistlocks and GERMAN SUPELXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! King escapes that one but we hit 10 seconds as Dempsey has the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! King endures, so Dempsey stomps away! The bell rings to end the round!

Round 2 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

Dempsey gets more stomps in but the ref backs him off! The ref warns Dempsey, this is two rounds in a row that there’ve been extracurricular activity. But at the same time, two rounds and no score, that is rare for Dempsey. King crawls his way to Regal to refresh while Wren helps “Charles,” and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and apparently round three all happened during break! No one scored a fall, so this is already round 4!

Round 3 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

The bell rings on this fourth round, and both men run up! King CLOBBERS Dempsey! And CLOBBERS him again! The fans fire up as King ducks a shot to then BACK SUPLEX BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! King stays on Dempsey with a chinlock and he grinds Dempsey down. Dempsey fights around, the fans rally up, and Dempsey fights up. Dempsey fires body shots, then he snapmares free. Dempsey CHOPS, so King CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! King whips Dempsey corner to corner hard, and the fans fire up as King runs in! LARIAT, then CHOP, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!

The fans rally and Regal seems impressed as King climbs. Dempsey stands, and King CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! King is frustrated but he and Dempsey rise again. Dempsey UPPERCUTS King, King UPPERCUTS Dempsey, repeat! They go back and forth, again and again! King CHOPS, UPPERCUTS, but Dempsey hooks the arms! King fights it so Dempsey spins him around! King fights the underhooks and SUPERKICKS! Dempsey rebounds to KNEE! We’re under a minute as both men run! DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! Both men fall and the fans fire up! Wren shouts at “Charles” to get up, and the ref tells her to get off the apron.

Regal takes this distraction as an opening to slide the brass knuckles right into King’s hand! King is dazed, but he knows what those are! King argues with Regal that this is not how he wants to do this! We’re under 25 seconds as REGAL DECKS KING?!? The fans boo but Dempsey sees the knuckles! Dempsey picks those up, we hit 10 seconds, but the ref sees Dempsey with the knuckles, too! The ref assumes the worst and DISQUALIFIES Dempsey!!! That’s an automatic WIN for King!!!

Winner: Lexis King, by disqualification (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Championship)

That’s right! No Champion’s Advantage in a Heritage Cup match! Regal ended up helping King after all, but not in the way anyone thought! King kisses the cup, and even Regal is shocked, though also a bit amused. Will this Christmas miracle lead King to become not only the best version of himself, but the best Heritage Cup Champion yet?

OTM speaks.

Bronco Nima says everyone’s excited about the holidays. But for them, OTM gives it to you real as the realest tag team in NXT. And for them, the holidays ain’t nothing but a facade. Lucien Price says tomorrow, you’ll wake up, open presents, and be disappointed when it hits you like a brick. You’ll look at your family, tell ’em all thanks, knowing damn well what they got you was trash. And let’s be honest, you probably don’t even like your family. You can’t wait for them to leave! Just like NQCC, Hank ‘n’ Tank and the D’Angelo Family. OTM can’t wait for them all to be out of this tag title picture. OMT have next!

And unlike Frazer & Axiom, OTM doesn’t pretend to have each other’s backs, they are for real. And this Christmas Chaos is about to be real. All three other teams will move out the way! Best believe that in 2025, OTM will be the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions! Will Nima & Price drag the rest of the division down so that they can get #OutTheMud?

Kelani Jordan argues with Stephanie Vaquer backstage.

The Standout says La Primera had no right to stop her from going after Cora. Respectfully, Kelani does not need Stephanie to protect her. Stephanie had her match with Cora, she won it, congratu-freakin’-lations! Lola Vice walks over to calm Kelani down. Stephanie was just looking out for her. Kelani tells Lola that Lola cannot tell her to calm down. Lola is the last person to tell someone to calm down! Lola interfered in every single one of Jaida Parker’s matches to get at her, and it’s FINE~! Lola says Jaida started that beef. Kelani says no, they both started it. Kelani says, “Don’t don’t even get me started on you,” Stephanie.

Stephanie and Giulia were best friends one week, fighting the next, and it’s FINE~! But now that Kelani wants retaliation on Cora, now Kelani’s the problem? How about they all practice what they preach and get outta her face! Kelani storms off and both Lola and Vaquer are stunned. Is the Standout about to stand alone against the world?

Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx w/ Fallon Henley VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn!

The Fatal Influence are a bunch of haters hating on the “freaky” girls, such as Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin and Shotzi Blackheart. But according to the Unholy Union, at least those three have unity while Jacy, Jazmyn & Fallon are just faking it. Will Jacy & Jazmyn make sure this NXT homecoming is very toxic for the former tag team champions? Or will Fyre & Dawn make sure there’s a mean girl meltdown for Christmas?

NXT returns as the Fatal Influence makes their entrance. The fans boo but the Influence just soaks it up. Oh hey, “Santa” is in the upper deck, and he has some special guests! It’s KC Squared, Katana Chance & Kayden Carter! They’re also home for the holidays, will they like what they see out of all these former rivals? The teams sort out and Isla starts against Jazmyn in a battle of the pigtails. They circle, tie up, and go around. Jazmyn powers Isla to a corner, the ref counts, and Jazmyn shoves Isla. So Isla SHOVES Jazmyn! Jazmyn runs up, but Isla puts her in the corner and KICKS her!

Isla snapmares Jazmyn then UPPERCUTS her in the back! Cover, TWO! Isla whips Jazmyn, DROPKICKS her down, but Jazmyn flounders away. Tag to Jacy and she tells Isla to back off. Jacy runs up, but Isla dodges! Isla wrenches and SAIDOS! Jacy flounders, Isla runs up and ELBOWS her! Isla sits Kacy down, tells Jazmyn to kiss this, and then she HIP ATTACKS Jacy! Tag to Alba and she drags Jacy up to send her at the corner! Isla catches Jacy into a TARANTULA, and then Alba SUPERKICKS Jacy! Jacy falls, Alba covers, TWO! Alba drags Jacy up but Jacy mule kicks! Jacy shrieks, whips, but Alba wrenches to HOOK KICK!

Alba CHOPS Jacy, CHOPS her again, but Jacy catches a shot to swing around. Alba stays up, swings Jacy but Jacy arm-drags Alba. Alba comes back but Jacy ducks under. Jazmyn sneaks a tag before the RANA! Then PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Alba stays in this, Kayden & Katana are mildly amused, but Jazmyn KICKS Alba in the back. Jazmyn clamps on a chinlock and she grinds Alba down. The fans rally, Alba endures and fights up, and Alba fires elbows. Jazmyn throws Alba down by her hair! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Jazmyn talks smack as she drags Alba up again. Jazmyn snapmares and KICKS Alba again!

Jazmyn taunts Isla, drags Alba up again, but Alba CHOPS! And wait, here come Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi! Jazmyn ROCKS Alba, but now the “freaks” outnumber the mean girls 5v3. Wait, now we see Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen & Niko Vance watching this backstage. The Chair Man still wants female representation in his faction, who could he be scouting this time? As for ringside, Fallon shouts at “the freaks” to go away, but no, they’re here to stay. As for in the ring, Alba rolls up Jazmyn! TWO!! Jazmyn escapes, Alba JAWBREAKERS her! Tag to Isla, and then they GOURD BUSTER to METEORA! The fans fire up with the “freaks” while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Jazmyn taunts Isla while pulling her hair. Isla takes swings on Jazmyn but Jazmyn CLUBS her down. Jazmyn whips Isla to the corner, then tags Jacy. Jacy stomps a mudhole into Isla, digs her boots in, but lets off as the ref counts. Jacy taunts everyone, then runs up to STOMP Isla! Jacy drags Isla up, snapmares her and KICKS her in the back! Then mule kicks her down! Jacy howls, the fans boo, and Jacy does a two-step. Jacy KNEES and ELBOWS Isla, then clamps on a chinlock. Isla endures, the fans rally, and Isla fights up. Isla fires elbows into Jacy, breaks free, then rolls her up! TWO, and Jacy CLOBBERS Isla!

Fallon applauds but the fans boo as Jacy rains down fists. Jacy traps Isla’s arms to rain down more shots, then she lets off to talk more trash. Jacy bumps Isla off buckles, digs her boots in, but lets off to tag Jazmyn. The Influence mugs Isla, then Jazmyn whips Jacy in. Jacy ELBOWS Isla, then feeds her to Jazmyn’s drop toehold. Jazmyn says kiss this, and she hits a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Jazmyn CLUBS Isla. Isla hits back with body shots and forearms! Jazmyn ROCKS Isla, then runs, but Isla dodges! Jazmyn CALF KICKS first! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Jazmyn stays on Isla with a chinlock.

Isla endures, fights up, and fires body shots! Jazmyn KNEES low, whips Isla to the corner, but Isla BOOTS Jazmyn! And ELBOWS Jacy! Fallon freaks out but Isla dodges Jazmyn! Jazmyn hurries to grab a foot, but Isla hops up, reaches out, but Jazmyn drags her back! Isla turns around to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up as Isla crawls, Kayden & Katana are now on the ground floor. Jazmyn grabs legs again, Isla BOOTS her away! Hot tag to Alba! Alba is on fire as she DOUBLE CHOPS again and again! Then she scoops to SLAM Jazmyn! Jacy gets in but Alba SUPERKICKS! Alba wrenches Jazmyn, KICKS Jacy, TORNADO DDT on Jazmyn!

Alba keeps going, GOURD BUSTER! Alba tells Jazmyn to get up, and then SUPERKICKS her down! Cover, Jacy breaks it! The fans boo but Isla TOSSES the toxic rockstar! But then Jacy drags Isla out and SMACKS her off the apron! Jazmyn ENZIGIRIS Alba! Hot tag to Jacy, and Jacy runs up to BOOT Alba! Jacy vows to end this! Jacy whips, Alba reverses, DOUBLE HEADBUTTS collide!! The fans fire up while everyone in the match is down. As for everyone else, Fallon argues with Kayden & Katana about why they’re even here. Jacy BOOTS Alba from the corner, but Gigi SHOVES Jacy down! Tag to Isla!

Alba hooks Jacy up, SOMETHING WICKED!! Cover, Unholy Union wins!!

Winners: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn, by pinfall

Fallon freaks out, realizing what just happened! She got distracted by everyone else and left her supposed friend hanging! And while the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships are out there, there is a title much closer in the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Will the walls close in on the toxic cowgirl? Or can Fallon keep NXT under the Influence?

Myles Borne & Tavion Heights prepare backstage.

They’re both upset over the Heritage Cup match. Dempsey got robbed! Disqualified for something he didn’t even do. Now King has the Cup. Heights says it’ll be fine, Dempsey will figure something out. But for them, they gotta win the Fatal 4 Way tonight so they can go after Frazer & Axiom again! And after how close Deadline was, Fraxiom doesn’t want a round two with NQCC. Myles says yeah, but for tonight, they’ll focus on the Christmas Chaos. Heights says there will be bodies and presents flying everywhere! It’ll be like Christmas growing up for him. What was Christmas like for Myles? Myles says Christmas was always pretty quiet.

Myles says he’ll go get taped up, and Heights thinks on that last part. But can Myles & Heights go the distance against three other teams?

Zaria and Sol Ruca talk backstage.

After last week’s loss to Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson, the Agent of Change has to know: Did Sol mean to push her out of the way of that boot? Sol says yes, she did. Then… thanks. Zaria knows they don’t know each other that well, but- But losing to Meta Four sucks? Yeah, it does. But then in steps Izzi Dame, and she says these two are prime examples of why Izzi doesn’t team up with anyone. She learned early on that she’s better off alone. But then in steps Spears and his team. He says that just because Izzi is alone doesn’t mean she has to be alone. No one should be alone this time of year. Okay, ew, is Spears stalking her?

Plus, what has being with anyone ever done for Izzi anyway? Just leave her alone. Spears and his group move on, and Izzi tells Zaria that she’s better off alone. Zaria tells them all that she’s good for right now. But will things change in the New Year?

Ashante THEE Adonis VS Dion Lennox!

The NXT romcom/dramady/whatever it’s supposed to be continues, but now a misunderstanding has turned Adonis against his “best friend.” Dion says he’s done with the drama, but will he at least leave things with a win? Or will we see that Adonisly, love conquers all?

NXT returns and Adonis makes his entrance. Lowell boos, they apparently don’t like guys who can’t just commit. The bell rings, Dion tries to explain to Adonis that the hug was just a hug. Adonis doesn’t believe him, and he shoves Dion! Dion shoves back, so Adonis UPPERCUTS! Dion drops to a knee, Adonis feels bad because that’s still his friend, but then Dion FLAPJACKS Adonis real high! Then Dion DROPKICKS Adonis and Adonis goes to a corner. Dion runs up, Adonis BOOTS him, then Adonis fires off hands! Adonis ROCKS Dion, whips, but Dion reverses. Dion BACKDROPS Adonis away!

The fans fire up while Adonis flounders to ropes. Dion storms up, scoops Adonis, but Adonis slips free and throat chops! The fans boo but Adonis stomps and KNEES away! Wait, here comes Nikkita Lyons! Fans like seeing the Lyoness, but Adonis doesn’t appreciate her being out here. Lyons says she’s cheering Adonis on! Adonis CLUBS Dion, KICKS him around, then soaks up heat. Adonis drags Dion up and turns him, but Dion turns that into a backslide! TWO, and Adonis CLOBBERS Dion! Cover, TWO! Adonis is frustrated and conflicted, but he kicks Dion around. Dion goes to a corner, but then he fires hands!

Dion fires haymakers and backs Adonis down! Dion whips, Adonis reverses and he ELBOWS Dion down again! Adonis swaggers, Lyons likes what she sees, and Adonis clamps onto Dion with a chinlock. Adonis squeezes tight, the fans rally up, and Dion rises. Adonis throws Dion down and grinds the chinlock tighter. Dion endures, fights back up, and he throws body shots. Adonis clamps on another chinlock but Dion powers out! Dion THRWOS Adonis into a corner, Adonis staggers out, and Adonis takes a swing! Dion ducks it to DECK Adonis! And DECKS him again! Dion runs corner to corner to LARIAT!

Adonis almost goes up and out of the ring, but Dion brings him in to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Dion kips up, and he hits a SPINEBUSTER! Dion is all fired up and the fans are with him! Dion scoops Adonis to POWERSLAM! Cover, Lyons helps with the ropebreak! The fans boo but Lyons acts all innocent. Dion suspects something and argues with the ref. Adonis tries to tell Lyons that he didn’t need help, but Dion O’Conner Rolls him! TWO and Adonis has it, bridging back! Adonis wins!!

Winner: Ashante THEE Adonis, by pinfall

Lyons celebrates with her man, but Adonis keeps trying to refute that. Actions speak louder than words, but will Karmen Petrovic have something to say?

Hank ‘n’ Tank speak.

The smell of peppermint is in the air, and “it’s giving candy cane.” Hank corrects Tank, that’s more like a cinnamon smell. Cinnamon cookies in a peppermint forest? And chocolate chip! It’s that time of year for sure. How much does Tank love Christmas? “Uh, I dunno, Hank, it’s the one time of the year that we get to eat, drink and be merry! You could even say it’s the MO-” Hank stops Tank there. No singing. Okay, good call. But it is the most wonderful time of the year, and how much does Hank like… chaos? Chaos?~ You mean eight men, smashing into each other, anything goes, like a jingle bell mosh pit?!

Yeah, Hank likes that. Then how about adding some stakes. Steaks? Sirloin? No, no, stakes. High stakes! Something on the line! Because when Hank ‘n’ Tank win tonight, they will be the #1 contenders to Fraxiom. Oh, that’s a present Hank wants in his stocking. Then let’s bring those titles ho-ho-home in 2025! Three teams are waiting out there for Hank ‘n’ Tank to deliver that Yuletide HONK HONK! Let’s go! Milk ‘n’ cookies, golden tickets, will Hank ‘n’ Tank have it all for Christmas?

Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi regroup backstage.

They had so much fun messing with Fatal Influence. Gigi’s so smart. Well, she had a plan and it all came together. What a great look on Jacy’s face while she was falling. And then they cross paths with Kayden & Katana. Hello, ladies, they saw you out there tonight. What are they doing back in NXT? Well, same goes for Shotzi. We all know NXT has the best women’s division, so they all wanted to check it out. But then SKIRRRR~! Lash Legend slams on the brakes as she and Jakara pull up. If you wanna talk the Women’s Tag Division, then look no further than the Meta Girls. Oh, yeah, Kayden & Katana do see you, but they aren’t worried about you.

Oh, excuse you! You better recognize. No, you heard Kayden right. Oh snap! Kayden & Katana head out, Shotzi says those girls got balls. Not sure about Meta Four. Ew, wait a minute, why is Shotzi talking? The Bougie Bully & Miss Jackson argue with the Power Goth Girls, will all these teams go after gold in the New Year?

Roxanne Perez speaks.

“When I first walked through the doors of the WWE, nobody imagined that I’d be one of the greatest NXT Women’s Champions. I was just a 20-year-old girl from Laredo, Texas who had some buzz from the little name I’d made on the independent scene. But when the WWE signed me, they didn’t realize that they’d made one of the greatest free agent signings in company history. Is that a cocky statement? Some will say yes. Name the accolade, I’ve achieved it. Women’s Breakout Tournament winner, Women’s Tag Team Champion, Iron Survivor, TWO-TIME NXT Women’s Champion, and I could go on and on and on.

“Were there some bumps along the road? Yeah, absolutely. Everyone knows that the climb to the top is never a straight line. But I have dedicated the last three YEARS of my life to get in the conversation of NXT greats that have carried the NXT Women’s Division, and now I am at the forefront. I’ll put this division against any NXT Women’s Division of the past. I called my shot the day that I stepped foot in the ring and called myself the Prodigy, and every single day, I live up to that legacy. At 23 years old, most women don’t even know what they wanna do with their lives, and here I am, breaking records and writing down history.

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand the greatness that they see before them, but maybe if you were someone like Simone Biles or Caitlyn Clark, you would understand. In two weeks, Giulia walks into New Year’s Evil the underdog to someone who is a bit younger, a little smaller, and the woman who is gonna carry this division into 2025. That doesn’t speak to how good Giulia is. That speaks volumes to how great The Prodigy, Roxanne Perez, is.” The most confident she’s ever been, will Roxie be able to survive Giulia a second time at New Year’s Evil?

Lexis King is backstage with the Heritage Cup.

Sarah Schreiber finds him to congratulate him, but she does want to ask him about how it happened. Lexis says this is his first championship. His first championship! And he just knew that if he stuck to being a man of integrity, stuck to his gut, that he would take the night, and he did it! Yes, but the fact is- Lexis says he could’ve cheated. He could’ve taken shortcuts. But he proved to himself, to everyone here and to everyone back home that he is a man of integrity who doesn’t need those shortcuts to win. Then Sarah does need to know how-

Lexis knows she needs to talk to him as the new Heritage Cup Champion, but there is a lot going through his head, he’s very emotional, and a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He needs some time to let that sink in. Lexis heads out, but then… does he not know that a misunderstanding and a disqualification led to this moment?

Ethan Page speaks.

“I’ve seen the outrage on social media. ‘Ethan Page, how could you break the jaw of NXT’s favorite son, Je’Von Evans?’ Well, the person to blame for my heinous act is Je’Von Evans. I had to listen to you carry on about how great your year was. Well now, it’s ending with you eating through a straw, thanks to me. Je’Von, you’ve talked about my personal life. You want to show the world the real Ethan Page? Well, you’ve got it. I can still hear the sound of your mandible cracking. You laying there in shock, pain, and fear. No longer the kid with an infectious smile. Because I took that from you.

“I’ve had a week to reflect on my actions. Maybe I should feel some remorse or regret. But I don’t. Last week was the highlight of my year. So thank you, Je’Von, for helping me find my smile… by taking yours.” Ethan does smile a sinister smile, is there no stopping the Ego Maniac now?

NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino VS OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank!

‘Tis the night before Christmas, and right here in Lowell are four hungry tag teams all with the same goal. There can be only one team that heads for the gold, who will be the three left out in the cold?

NXT returns as the NQCC have already made their entrance, and the same for Nima & Price. That leaves Hank ‘n’ Tank and their entrance for last! The bell rings and the brawl is on! Hank CLOBBERS Heights with a Christmas tree! Myles goes out to help Heights while the D’Angelo Family brawls with OTM! The fans fire up as Hank pushes the shopping cart, with Tank inside! HONK HONK, Christmas tree JOUST! Down goes Myles! The brawl in the ring spills outside, and OTM storms up on Hank ‘n’ Tank. Hank ‘n’ Tank just pick up their cart and RAM it into OTM! It’s like a Black Friday sale but somehow less violent.

Wait, hold on, Luca & Stacks are setting up a table in the ring, but not on its legs. They’re using it as a barricade so they can SNOWBALL FIGHT! Stacks is chucking baseballs at Hank ‘n’ Tank so they take cover under the apron. The fans fire up already with “This is Awesome!” Hank ‘n’ Tank both rush in, but Luca uses a fire extinguisher to blast ’em!! That’ll cool off Hank ‘n’ Tank a bit, but now Myles & Heights get in! Myles CLOBBERS Stacks with a present box, Heights throws one to Luca, and Myles DROPKICKS it into Luca! Heights then takes the extinguisher to BLAST Stacks! Heights is all fired up and the fans are, too!

Myles puts the table aside, Nima gets in with a chair, but Heights BL- Wait, no, hold on. BLA- Uh oh. Is it out? Heights wants Nima to forgive him, but Nima JAMS him with the chair instead! And then he JAMS Myles! SMACK for Heights, but Myles DROPKICKS the chair into Nima! Price is back to LARIAT Myles! The fans are torn as OTM regroups, but Hank ‘n’ Tank are back, and so is the Christmas tree! TANENBAUM LARIAT! The fans fire up and even Santa approves! The fans cheer on “SANTA! SANTA!” but Stacks & Luca have regrouped. Luca SMACKS Tank with a present box while Stacks uses a stocking madball on Hank!

The fans fire up with every SMACK, and hey, it’s a briefcase! Just what Luca wanted! Thanks, Santa! Luca CLUBS Tank down with the briefcase, then he and Stacks each have the legs! The fans wanna see it, and we get STEREO LEG SPLITTING LEG DROPS! Somewhere, the Charismatic Enigma is smiling. The D’Angelo Family see Tank go to a corner, so Luca whips Stacks in to CANNONBALL! Rizzo hands Luca a present, and he opens it up. It’s a bowling ball! The fans fire up for this, and Luca takes aim. The Legal Eagle bowls himself a STRIKE!! Hank’s jingle bells are rocked and the fans fire up!

The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” for giving them this gift of a main event. Then Luca slides out to go after OTM while Stacks PLANCHAS at NQCC! They both get caught! APRON POWERSLAM for Luca on one end, and then DOUBLE SPINEBUSTER through a table for Stacks! There go the cookies for Santa! The fans fire up more as NQCC and OTM stare down from across the way. They all rush in and start throwing hands! Price DECKS Myles but Heights TACKLES Nima! Nima and Heights fall out of the ring, Price hauls Myles up. Price choke grips, and CHOKE- RKO?! Myles is looking like a Legend Killer as he covers, but Hank ‘n’ Tank break it!

The fans are thunderous as all eight men are down around ringside, and NXT goes to break!

NXT returns once again and NQCC is literally gift wrapping Price up! Then Myles goes out to fetch a particularly long gift box. He opens it up and surprise! It’s a kendo stick! Myles gives that to Heights and he SMACKS Price! Myles finds a candy cane kendo stick, and he SMACKS everyone else around! Then he joins Heights to SMACK Price! Then NQCC winds up, but Hank ‘n’ Tank slide in! Hank LARIATS Heights up and out while Tank LARIATS Myles up and out! And then they HONK HONK! BIG BELLY SANDWICH for Price! Hank scoops Price but Nima slides in! Hank has to drop Price so he can dodge Nima!

Tank then runs up to get the BOOSTED LEG LARIAT! Cover, but Heights SMACKS it apart with the kendo stick! Myles returns so he can SMACK away on Hank! NQCC take it to Hank ‘n’ Tank, and put them in corners. They climb up, CHOKE Hank ‘n’ Tank with the sticks, but then Luca & Stacks return, with extra big candy canes! They use those hooks to trip up Myles & Heights! Then they use the candy canes to CHOKE Myles & Heights! Myles & Heights endure, reach out for each other, but OTM gets in! Luca & Stacks let go of Myles & Heights to swing on OTM! but OTM both block the candy cane strikes!

Price TOSSES Luca while Nima BREAKS Stacks’ candy cane! Nima then TOSSES Stacks out the side! OTM see Hank ‘n’ Tank still in corners, so Nima BOOT WASHES Tank while Price LARIATS Hank! Nima fetches a chair and slides that in to Price. Price positions it just right, brings Myles up, but Myles fires hands first! The fans fire up as Myles runs, but Nima clinches! URENAGE onto the chair! Nima then gets Heights up, back suplex FACEBUSTER onto the chair! Price drags a table into the ring and the fans fire up! The table is propped up in a corner, OTM gets Myles up. They aim and DOUBLE HIP TOSS him through the table!!

The fans are thunderous while OTM is all fired up! But Hank FLYING LARIATS Price! Tank dodges Nima to go up, up and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans are going wild as Hank ‘n’ Tank clear the ring. Then they both climb a corner, to STEREO VADER BOMB to the outside!! But wait, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont attack Hank ‘n’ Tank?! It seems what Wes Lee said last week not only got through to Tyriek, it convinced Tyson to do the same! They brawl with Hank ‘n’ Tank to the back and the fans boo. The Don says now’s the right time, and he gives Stacks & Luca some candy cane crowbars! And they use those to CRACK Myles! Then they CRACK Heights!

The family waits on Price as he staggers to his feet, SHATTER MACHINE!! Cover, Nima breaks it! Tony is upset, but wait, Santa attacks Tony!? We know The Don’s been a touch naughty but c’mon! REDEEMER DDT?!? Nima HEADBUTTS Luca, then he hauls Stacks up. OTM hit the GTA!! High stack, OTM wins!!

Winners: OTM, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships)

Nima & Price waited for their opening and they took it! The fans boo them and they boo Santa, because surprise! That’s RIDGE HOLLAND! The Yorkshire Grinch just stole Christmas away from The D’Angelo Family, is he gonna take that North American Championship in the New Year? Will OTM do the same to Fraxiom?

Trick Williams is here!

Lowell chants along, “Whoop Dat Trick!” as the NXT Champion returns after last week’s clearly controversial conclusion to his match with Eddy Thorpe. Trick echoes Booker T on the mic, “Uh-huh! I like it!” But let’s talk about it. Last week, all y’all saw what happened! Wait, here comes Oba Femi! The Ruler has a mic already and he says no, we’re done talking about last week. Now, we look to the future. Well, no, because here comes the Alpha Wolf himself. Eddy has them cut his music so he can tell Oba that while Oba may not care about last week, Eddy sure does. So Oba will have to deal with this, too.

Eddy joins Trick and Oba in the ring, and he claims he didn’t get pinned last week. Eddy’s foot was under the rope, and the referee raised his hand in victory. Trick did not beat Eddy, he escaped! And he should be ashamed to call himself a champion. Trick says Eddy should shut the hell up! The fans cheer that! Trick says we all know Trick had Eddy beat. In fact, the idea of them being on the same level just sounds crazy. Oba says hold on, Trick. Trick is champion right now, isn’t that right? Yes, Trick IS the champion. Then it only remains that way for two more weeks, up until New Year’s Evil.

Eddy tells Oba that while Oba won the Iron Survivor Challenge (pause for the massive booing), Eddy and Trick have unfinished business. Oba’s title match will just have to wait. Wait? Is Eddy telling Oba to wait? Oba is done waiting! Two weeks ago, Eddy came out here, claiming Oba screwed him out of the Iron Survivor, and he put that on his people! HIS PEOPLE! And then he still got a title opportunity, because he LIED. Trick says both Oba and Eddy need to shut up. Trick is tired of Eddy talking about the past, and he is tired of Oba talking about the future. Let’s talk about right now. The fans like that.

Trick says right now, he and Eddy have a problem. Right now, he and Oba have a date for New Year’s Evil, correct? Then this is how we do it. They’ll just make it a TRIPLE THREAT! Trick is putting his title on the line, and before anyone gets carried away, yes, Trick Willy does know that he doesn’t have to get pinned to lose the title. But he also knows that once he beats both Eddy and Oba, he’ll shut up all the haters and the doubters, and he’ll prove to everyone he can Whoop Dat Trick. Oba laughs, and says Trick sure is slick. This is very slick. Trick might be the slickest man in all of WWE today.

Because see, Trick knows he can’t beat Oba 1v1, so he added Eddy to make it a Triple Threat so Trick can just pin Eddy and escape with the title. Eddy speaks up, fans boo, and Oba tells Eddy to be QUIET. Oba says Eddy couldn’t beat Trick 1v1 either, so now with Oba in this match, Eddy’s chances are literally zero. ZERO. Wait, here comes Ava Raine to sort this mess out. Before this goes any further, if this is what Trick wants, then she is more than happy to sign off on it. Trick says yeah, set it up, Ava, this is what he wants. Ava says okay then. In two weeks, in Los Angeles, for New Year’s Evil, it will be Trick VS Oba VS Eddy for the NXT Championship!

The fans cheer and Trick nods. Eddy swings on Trick! Trick ducks, the haymaker hits Oba, so Eddy just keeps swinging! Trick turns Eddy around to fire hands on him! Oba runs up, Eddy & Trick both dodge, but then Oba comes back with a DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! Oba has the fans all fired up, and he UPPERCUTS Eddy in a corner! UPPERCUT for Trick! Repeat! Trick staggers up, into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Oba brings Eddy over, but Eddy slips away! The Alpha Wolf is more like a chicken right now, but Oba holds up the belt. Will this still be the scene at New Year’s Evil? Or can Trick find a way to still be NXT Champion?

My Thoughts:

A great NXT, lots of great build towards New Year’s Evil but also all the other stories. Great opening match from Vaquer VS Cora, and great win for Vaquer, but Kelani does have a point that she didn’t need to stop Kelani from beating up on Cora. I feel that Kelani getting upset with Vaquer and Lola is them bringing back that unfinished “new attitude” storyline Kelani had going with Dana Brooke. Mean Kelani is here, and I feel like the counterpoint will be Lola and Vaquer just wanted Kelani to keep that positive attitude. Cora might even take credit for corrupting Kelani, only making Kelani angrier to where that’ll be her downfall.

Very good promo from Regal and Lexis before the Heritage Cup match, clearly foreshadowing what was going to happen in the match. I’m a little disappointed round 3 was skipped during a commercial, but I really liked that finish. Regal got mad, tried to screw Lexis over, but then they use the fact there’s no Champion’s Advantage in the Heritage Cup Division. And Lexis’ promo after was great, because he was clearly still out of it from getting punched, and had no idea what rule even won him that match. I’m sure Dempsey will bring that up next week, maybe there’s another Heritage Cup match for New Year’s Evil, it’s going to be great stuff.

The tag match of Fatal Influence VS Unholy Union was a lot of fun, especially with the overbooking happening. Good promo from Tatum’s trio with KC Squared and Meta Four, and that’s certainly some sort of tag team match in the making. Speaking of, good promo from Zaria, Sol, Izzi and Shawn Spears. Spears’ group needs a name already, I can’t keep typing out all the names or just saying “Spears’ group.” But clearly Spears still wants Izzi on his team, she doesn’t care, and she even takes a jab at the short lived team-up of her and Kiana James. Zaria and Sol don’t really need to be a real tag team, but there do need to be loose alliances between Faces for when Heel groups like Fatal Influence come around.

A good match from Adonis VS Dion, and I should’ve figured Lyons would show up on behalf of Adonis. The drama continues, and I’m sure there will be more of this for New Year’s Evil, such as another mixed tag. I know I said this should end on Vengeance Day, aka the NXT Valentine’s Day special, but I overestimated them being able to stretch this out. Good promo from Ethan Page, though he didn’t exactly add much from what he physically did to Je’Von. And good promo from Roxanne Perez, though what is there to add when she pretty much already is a top star? Plus, it’s a rematch with Giulia, they already did plenty the first time around.

Very good promos from all four tag teams tonight going into their great Christmas Chaos Fatal 4. Lots of fun stuff with the winter and Christmas themed weaponry, and I’m rather surprised Tyriek & Tyson got on the same page so quickly. They’re both Heels, they’ll feud with Hank ‘n’ Tank a little more, and then depending on how the tag title match goes, maybe Hank ‘n’ Tank win to get at the titles themselves. OTM winning was itself a surprise, but I suppose with Myles & Heights already having a turn, Ty & Ty taking Hank ‘n’ Tank out of the equation, and the D’Angelo Family being Faces, it had to be OTM.

And we also got payoff on Santa showing up here and there, but I’m pretty sure it changed to Ridge before the end of the night. For all anyone knows, Ridge mugged the guy who was in the costume off camera, then came out in the suit so he could get closer to Tony D. Ridge going for the North American Championship is fine, and I feel like that should’ve been his first step before trying for Trick and the NXT Championship, but whatever. And speaking of Trick, very good promo from him, Oba and Eddy, and I suppose we should’ve seen this Triple Threat coming. Oba has a good point, Eddy’s taking that loss. And unless they just leave go-home math behind, Trick probably does pin Eddy to retain the title. Oba stood tall, and when you stand tall, that usually means you don’t win.