As if 2025 wasn’t already big enough!

AEW Dynamite not only holds a Casino Gauntlet to determine Jon Moxley’s challenger for Maximum Carnage, but we also welcome back Kenny Omega! What will The Cleaner have to say about the mess The Death Riders have made?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Will Ospreay VS Buddy Matthews; Ospreay wins.
• Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Mark Briscoe; Lashley wins.
• Men’s Casino Gauntlet: “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs wins and will challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at AEW  Dynamite: Maximum Carnage.
• Women’s Casino Gauntlet #1 Spot Triple Threat: Kris Statlander VS Willow Nightingale VS Toni Storm; wins and will enter #1 in the inaugural Women’s Casino Gauntlet.

PLAY BY PLAY

Will Ospreay VS Buddy Matthews!

The Aerial Assassin may not be Continental Champion after Worlds End, but you best believe he is going to shrug that off and keep on fighting. Will Ospreay make 2025 the Year of the Bruv? Or will the Aussie Juggernaut show that even in the New Year, the House Always Wins?

The bell rings and the fans fire up already. Ospreay gets Clarksville even more fired up as he and Buddy circle. They tie up, Buddy wrenches an arm to a wristlock, but Ospreay rolls and wrenches back. Buddy spins, headlocks, but Ospreay powers up and out. Buddy runs Ospreay over, but Ospreay kips up! The fans fire up, then Ospreay kicks low. Ospreay headlocks, Buddy powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders. Buddy comes back to CLOBBER Ospreay! The fans fire up, Buddy runs but Ospreay drops down. Ospreay hurdles, Buddy leaps over, but Ospreay dodges! OSCU- NO, Buddy blocks, then half nelsons!

Ospreay slips out of the suplex to then backslide Buddy, ONE! Buddy sweeps the legs and covers, ONE! Ospreay kicks but Buddy ducks one, then another! The fans cheer the standoff! Buddy and Ospreay reset, the fans duel, and the two tie up. Buddy powers Ospreay to a corner, the ref counts, and Buddy lets off. Buddy then CHOPS! The fans cheer, and then Ospreay puts Buddy in a corner to CHOP! Buddy CHOPS back, then whips. Ospreay grabs ropes, then he puts Buddy on the apron! Ospreay ROCKS Buddy, CHOPS him, then runs, but Buddy slingshots up and over! Ospreay slides out, Buddy DROPKICKS him!

Buddy builds speed, Ospreay is back in, and he runs past Buddy to then come back and RANA! Buddy tumbles out, Ospreay PLANCHAS! Down goes Buddy and the fans fire up! Ospreay grins as the fans chant “BRUV! BRUV! BRUV!” Ospreay puts Buddy in the ring, springboards, but Buddy avoids the flying forearm! Buddy goes to a corner, Ospreay runs in, but Buddy goes up and over to snapmare and KICK! Then Buddy runs to PENALTY KICK! And KNEE DRPO! Cover, TWO! Buddy snarls and he KNEES Ospreay in the back. Buddy clamps on the chinlock, Ospreay endures, and the fans rally again.

Ospreay fights up, fires body shots, but Buddy CLUBS him on the neck. Buddy back suplexes, Ospreay lands out! Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges but then so does Buddy! DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref checks, Ospreay and Buddy are both okay to continue, so a standing count starts. Both men are still down at 5 of 10, but they rise up at 7. They find each other, and Ospreay fires forearms! Ospreay whips, Buddy reverses but Ospreay handsprings! NEURALIZER KICK! Buddy goes to a corner, the fans fire up, and Ospreay runs in, only to be put on the apron!

Ospreay ROCKS Buddy first, then springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Buddy stays in this but Ospreay stays focused. Buddy goes to a corner, Ospreay runs in again, but Buddy BOOTS him! Buddy goes up, but Ospreay tucks him in! CHEEKY- NO, Buddy avoids the superkick! Buddy then KNEES Ospreay in the back, and gives him a LUMBAR CHECK! A shoutout to an old rival, and Ospreay bails out of the ring. Buddy FLIES! Down goes Ospreay, and Buddy just barely clears the desk! The fans fire up and Buddy puts Ospreay in the ring. Buddy goes up, “This is Awesome!” as he METEORAS! Cover, TWO!!

Buddy is frustrated as Ospreay finds a way to survive, but Clarksville still loves it. Buddy goes out after Ospreay on the apron, then brings Ospreay up. Buddy half nelsons, but Ospreay fights with elbows! Buddy BOOTS Ospreay! Ospreay BOOTS Buddy! Then Ospreay blocks a boot, only to get a KNEE! Ospreay SUPERKICKS back! Ospreay goes up the corner, for an APRON OSC- NO! Buddy stops that to TOSS Ospreay at the desk!! Ospreay clutches his jaw while Buddy grins, and Buddy storms over to bring Ospreay up. Buddy CHOPS Ospreay, then he barks on behalf of Brody King. The fans join in and Buddy gets space.

Buddy runs back up, and he BOOTS Ospreay against railing! The fans fire up and Buddy leaves Ospreay to refresh the ring count. Buddy runs back in, but Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Ospreay goes up the barriers, OSCUTTER to the floor! The fans fire up for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Ospreay crawls. Ospreay leaves Buddy behind now, safe in the ring. The count climbs to 7, but Buddy staggers his way over. Ospreay goes out to the other side of the ring, and as Buddy crawls in at 9, Ospreay goes COAST2COAST! Ospreay fires up with the fans, and he hits an OSCUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Buddy survives and the fans fire up again!

Ospreay powers up the arm! Ospreay aims as Buddy sit sup, but Buddy ducks the Hidden Blade! POP-UP KNEE! HIDDEN BLADE ANYWAY!! Cover, TWO!! Buddy survives again and the fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” But this is the first match of the show, it has to end somehow! Ospreay hauls Buddy up, underhooks the arms, but Buddy is a ragdoll! Ospreay lets go so he can fire Kawada Kicks! The fans are torn, but Ospreay stands Buddy up to CHOP! Buddy drops to his knees, the fans rally, and Buddy stands. Ospreay ROCKS Buddy, eggs him on, so Buddy stands again. Buddy blocks a shot to fire his strike fest!

Buddy stomps Ospreay’s foot but Ospreay avoids the knee! But then Buddy BOOTS, BOOTS, KICKS, and runs! But into a TIGER WALL KICK! ENZIGIRI! Ospreay calls it, springboards, but Buddy catches him! Torture rack and REVERSE GO TO SLEEP!! CURB STOMP!! Cover, TWO?!? Buddy gave shoutouts to The Second City Saint AND the Visionary, but it wasn’t enough to stop Ospreay! Buddy hauls Ospreay up, short arm- NO, Ospreay slips through the lariat! He hoists Buddy up, tucks him in, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!!! Buddy survives that phenomenal shoutout, but Ospreay throws his elbow pad away!

Ospreay aims as Buddy flounders. Buddy grins as he dares Ospreay to do it! BONE HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, Ospreay wins!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall

The Juggernaut pushed the limits, but the Assassin still found the way to win! Ospreay does applaud Buddy, then he grabs a mic. Ospreay says, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, whatever you identify as, give it up for Buddy Murphy Matthews.” The fans do cheer, and Ospreay continues with, “Listen. I’ve admired you from afar. I wrestled your best mate, and I can tell you this, my friend. I wrestled you and I wrestled Brody King. Both of you guys don’t need to be following no leader at all, you can definitely do it all by yourself.” The fans cheer that, too.

Ospreay says today, Buddy showed he can go with one of the best, and while Ospreay sees tag gold in the House’s future, he also knows Buddy can have singles gold if he works hard enough. So believe Ospreay, this isn’t the last time they meet. If Buddy ever needs a man in his corner, then Ospreay is his guy. Ospreay offers a hand, and Buddy shakes it! The fans cheer and Ospreay heads out, will what he said have Buddy thinking of his own fortune?

AEW shares highlights from WrestleDynasty.

Don Callis says, “Oh my God, has there ever been two better days in Japan than the ones we just had? Takeshita is the best wrestler in the world!” Brody King says, “AEW and NJPW, these dogs will fight again.” Mercedes Mone says she told us she was going to be Three Belts Mone, but look! She has an extra one! So now, call her FOUR Belts Mone! And Claudio Castagnoli says that, though he lost, the difference between him and everybody else is that he is still here!

And of course, the NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks say that they’ve been working from home for a long time, who knows when they will be back. Maybe soon. They might even bring these tag titles with them to Dynamite on MAX. Maybe. As for Kenny Omega, he says people have been wondering if he’s back. After his brutal match with Gabe Kidd, yeah, he’s back. In fact, we will hear from Omega in person later tonight, what will he have to say to his company?

Private Party is here!

Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy are here, bringing both the AEW World Tag Team Championships and some special VIP guests. Cheesecake lets the ladies beyond the velvet rope, and they drink up while Brother Zay gets the mic. “Ey yo, Tennessee, what’s good?” The fans cheer, and Zay says no no, not like that. Tennessee, what’s good?! The fans get louder and Zay likes it. But last Saturday on Collision, ya bois made history! They were in the first-ever tag team title match to be featured on both MAX and TNT! The fans cheer that, and Zay says they walked into Charlotte, North Carolina the AEW Tag Team Champions, and they left still your tag team champions!

And y’know what? Zay says it’s time to celebrate! Tennessee, you wanna celebrate, right? The fans cheer, so Zay says how ’bout this? Let’s celebrate- WAIT! The Hurt Syndicate is here? The fans cheer as Montel Vontavious Porter leads Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley out here, and Zay tells Cheesecake that it’s alright. MVP says what a party! The Syndicate wants to party, too. They like having a good time. They’re not all business. And the velvet rope and the VIP room, MVP invented this! Zay says that’s true, that’s true. Quen gives the Syndicate glasses, and MVP says how about they all raise a toast to Private Party?

The fans cheer, and MVP asks for a shot. Zay says go ahead. MVP picks up a glass, and he proposes a toast to these young and incredibly talented athletes, who successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships! Zay loves that! And Bobby adds, “Here’s to the Hurt Syndicate… taking those tag team titles.” Okay, now there’s a problem. Lashley DUMPS the shot into the ice bucket, then he heads to the ring, ready for his match tonight. Will The All Mighty strike fear into the hearts of all the champions of AEW? Or can the Sussex County Chicken #ManUp and bring down the Rocky Mountain Machine?

MVP joins commentary to explain that this match is happening because Briscoe “interfered” with Hurt Syndicate business, which is to say Briscoe saved Daniel Garcia from them. The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. Briscoe and Lashley tie up, and Lashley powers Briscoe to a corner. The ref counts, Lashley lets off slowly, and the fans cheer for #DemBoys. Lashley pats Briscoe on the head, then opens ropes for Briscoe to step out. Briscoe shoves Lashley and tells him he’s playing with the wrong one. Lashley and Briscoe reset, circle, but then Briscoe dodges Lashley and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” while Lashley scowls.

Briscoe ROCKS and CHOPS, then runs, but into a clinch! FLATLINER! Lashley brings Briscoe up for another FLATLINER! Lashley then snap suplexes Briscoe! Briscoe goes to a corner, Lashley runs up and RAMS him! Then Lashley turns Briscoe for a NECKBREAKER! Lashley drags Briscoe up, gut wrenches, and he hits the AK47! Cover, TWO! Briscoe survives but Lashley stalks him to ropes. MVP says it is courageous for Briscoe, but it’d be much safer if he just stayed down. Lashley puts Briscoe in the corner, whips him corner to corner, but Briscoe goes up and out! Briscoe UPPERCUTS and the fans fire up!

Briscoe climbs, leaps, but into Lashley’s arms! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Briscoe tumbles out of the ring, but Lashley goes out the side and runs in, to CLOBBER Briscoe! MVP is having fun, “Like a Mack truck with no brakes, Bobby Lashley coming through!” Lashley hauls Briscoe up and throws him OVERHEAD again! Briscoe writhes, Lashley grins, MVP mockingly says Briscoe looks hurt, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Lashley high-fives MVP and Shelton, then goes back to Briscoe. Lashley drags Briscoe up to then RAM him into the railing! The fans fire up and Lashley grins as he brings Briscoe around, to RAM him back into railing! The ref reprimands, Lashley leaves Briscoe to the ring count, but Briscoe is in at 5 of 10. Lashley stomps away on Briscoe at the ropes! The ref counts, Lashley steps off, but then Lashley CHOKES Briscoe! Lashley fires crossface forearms, but he stops as the ref counts to 4.

Lashley drags Briscoe up, RAMS him in the corner again and again, then brings him around to TOSS out of the ring! Briscoe sputters, Lashley argues with the ref, but Shelton steps a little closer to Briscoe. Shelton takes off his winter coat, but Briscoe is up already! Briscoe dares Shelton to do something, but Lashley goes out to fetch him first. Lashley gives Briscoe an APRON SPINEBUSTER! Lashley grins as he soaks up cheers and jeers, then goes into the ring. Lashley stalks Briscoe to ropes, CHOKES him, but he lets off at 4. Lashley ELBOWS Briscoe again and again, but again lets off at 4. Briscoe gets up to fire back!

Lashley throat chops Briscoe! The ref reprimands but Lashley RAMS into Briscoe the corner! Then Lashley whips Briscoe corner to corner hard, and Briscoe bounces off buckles. Briscoe slumps down, Lashley says one more time, and he whips Briscoe hard the other way! Briscoe slumps down again, Dynamite returns to single picture. and Lashley whips a third time! Briscoe goes up and up to FLYING FOREARM! Briscoe CHOPS, forearms, and repeat! The fans fire up as Briscoe fires more strikes, then whips. Lashley reverses but Briscoe goes up, only to get caught! Lashley puts Briscoe on the apron, and throat chops again!

The ref reprimands but Lashley runs to ELBOW Briscoe down! Briscoe hits the floor hard and MVP asks if they know a good chiropractor. Lashley soaks up the cheers and jeers again, then goes outside, but where’s Briscoe? Lashley looks under the ring, and Briscoe JAMS Lashley with a chair! MVP protests but the ref didn’t see it so he can’t call it! Briscoe then sets the chair up in the ring, runs and FLIES! Down goes Lashley and fans fire up while MVP is freaking out! MVP demands to know, where’s the disqualification? Briscoe high-fives fans, then brings Lashley up, but Lashley fireman’s carries!

Lashley aims for a corner, but Briscoe CLAWS Lashley’s eyes! Then he BITES Lashley’s face! Then Briscoe POSTS Lashley, and he climbs the corner! SUPER MARIPOSA! The fans are thunderous but MVP says this is a travesty! Briscoe puts Lashley in, gets moving, and he SLIDING LARIATS! Briscoe calls his shot and climbs a corner! FROGGY-BOW! Cover, ONE?!?! Lashley is angry, MVP says this is what cheaters get! Briscoe gets the fans fire dup more, then runs up, but Lashley ELBOWS him away! Briscoe just fires up more! But Lashley BOOTS him away! Briscoe comes back again, but Lashley dodges!

Lashley runs and he SPEARS Briscoe down! But that’s not all, MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! And then HURT LOCK!! Briscoe flails, but he’s stuck! Briscoe is OUT, Lashley wins!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission

But Lashley holds on until MVP & Shelton join him in the ring! They get him to drop Briscoe, and now The Hurt Syndicate adds on! They all punch and stomp, but here comes Private Party! The fans fire up as Quen & Zay storm the ring! They’re friends with Daniel Garcia and with Mark Briscoe, so they won’t let this stand! MVP says that’s fine, he respects that. The Syndicate stands down, but will they put Private Party through a world of hurt once those tag titles are on the line?

Men’s Casino Gauntlet!

The AEW World Championship will be on the line next week when Jon Moxley returns home to Cincinnati, Ohio, and it will be against the man who wins tonight’s big gamble! The Switchblade won the right to start this match, but will he be able to run the Casino Gauntlet? Or is first truly the worst?

Joining Jay White out here is… HANGMAN PAGE! A fitting way to start given the grudge between these two. The bell rings and the fans fire up for this already. Hangman and White stare down but the third man could join any time. White and Hangman talk trash, but Hangman points out how White took the fall at Worlds End. White counters with how Hangman didn’t win, though. They poke at each other, then shove! Then White CHOPS! The fans “WOO~,” Hangman CHOPS back, but so does White! Hangman CHOPS again, White staggers, but comes back to CHOP! They fire hands, then Hangman tells the ref to shut up.

White CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! But Hangman headlocks, only for White to power up and out. Hangman CLOBBERS White, covers, ONE! Hangman stays on White with a CHOP, then he fireman’s carries. White fights free, CHOPS again, then whips. Hangman reverses to scoop, but White drags Hangman into a cradle! TWO, and White TOSSES Hangman out! Hangman ROCKS White, slingshots, but into the BLADE- NO, Hangman fights free to a DEAD- NO, White fights free to CHOP! Hangman ROLLING ELBOWS! Hangman runs up but White turns things around and hoists Hangman up top!

White hurries up to the very top, SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Wait, we get a countdown, and the third man is… WHEELER YUTA! The Decoder is a Death Rider, so he must be here just so he can hand Moxley an easy win next week. Yuta also takes his time entering from the crowd, watching White writhe. Yuta then slides in and runs up, but into a BLADERUNNER!! Cover, Hangman breaks it! Hangman stomps White, stomps him some more, then stalks him while fans rally. White CHOPS back, CHOPS again, then whisp. Hangman reverses but White ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Hangman to scoop! FALL AWAY SLAM!

The fans fire up while Hangman aims from a corner. Hangman runs corner to corner to LARIAT! The fans rally, Hangman whips corner to corner, then hits another LARIAT! Hangman whips yet again, but White dodges Hangman, and he CHOPS! White runs up, is put on the apron, but he blocks a shot! Hangman HOTSHOTS White, Yuta is on the apron, Hangman triangle jumps and White ducks, the LARIAT hits Yuta! White swings, Hangman dodges, and he triangle jump LARIATS! White is down now and the fans fire up again! The countdown is back, and the fourth man is… SWERVE STRICKLAND!

The fans fire up, Hangman is incensed, but then “SURPRISE, B*TCH! AHA~!” It’s RICOCHET!? How dare he swerve us like that! But at the same time, The One & Only has made it home from Japan. Ricochet takes his time walking down the ramp, and Yuta slithers in! Yuta whips Hangman but Hangman reverses to TOSS him out of the ring! Ricochet springboards in to FLYING LARIAT! The fans boo but Ricochet runs to DIVE! Direct hit on White, then Ricochet hurries back up, a springboard CROSSBODY for Hangman! LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Hangman stays in this but Ricochet says this is HIS house!

The fans boo, Yuta is back, Ricochet says hold on a minute, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

White runs in but Ricochet kicks White first. Yuta throws White down by his hair, then SENTONS! Ricochet STANDING MOONSAULTS! Ricochet and Yuta have an unlikely alliance right now, perhaps bonded by how they’re awful. Ricochet goes after Hangman, Yuta stomps White out of the ring, and then Ricochet CHOPS Hangman in the corner. Yuta punches Hangman, Ricochet stomps Hangman, repeat! Then they both stomp a mudhole in! Ricochet goes out to THROW White into barriers, and Yuta JAWBREAKERS Hangman! Hangman ends up on the apron, Yuta DROPKICKS him to the floor!

Ricochet drags Hangman up, POSTS him, then dusts his hands. Ricochet talks trash on Clarksville, Yuta throat chops White! Ricochet whips Hangman, but Hangman reverses to send him into railing! Hangman storms up on Ricochet white Yuta digs his boots into White. Hangman puts Ricochet in the ring, but Ricochet CLOBBERS Hangman in return! Ricochet CLUBS Hangman down, stomps him, but White turns things around on Yuta! White SMACKS Yuta off a chair! Ricochet stomps away on Hangman, then he CLOBBERS White once he’s in the ring! Yuta is back and he rains down fists on White! Ricochet fires hands on White in a corner.

Yuta rains down some HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS, then he puts White in a corner. Hangman storms up on Ricochet, Ricochet apologizes, but Hangman fires hands! White CHOPS away on Yuta, Ricochet DEROPKICKS Hangman! Yuta CLAWS White’s eyes, and has him back in the corner. Ricochet brings Hangman up to ROCK him! Yuta does the same with White. Ricochet CHOPS Hangman, Yuta CHOPS White, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Yuta and Ricochet trade to LARIAT White and Hangman at the ropes! Then they go back the other way, only for White and Hangman to DUMP them both out!

The fans fire up as Hangman and White turn around to see each other, but now the fifth man is here! White has Hangman hold on a moment, and it’s… ADAM COLE BAYBAY! The fans fire up as the Panama City Playboy storms down to the ring, and he dodges White! SUPERKICK! Hangman waistlocks, Cole breaks free to PELE! Then SUPERKICK! Hangman tumbles out, Cole SUPERKICKS Yuta out! Cole runs up on Ricochet, Ricochet blocks a haymaker to ROCK Cole! Ricochet springboards, into a SUPERKICK! The fans fire up for “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” Cole then goes to a corner and he aims at Ricochet!

Ricochet staggers up, into the PANAMA City SUNRISE!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives, and we’re already getting the sixth man! Cole hurries to his feet, and it’s DANIEL GARCIA! The TNT Champion is looking to add some more hardware to the collection! The fans fire up as Garcia slide sin, dodges Cole, and he fires hands! Cole fires back, the fans fire up as Garcia gets the edge! But then Cole 52 Fake Out, suplexes, but Garcia fights that to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up again and Garcia has Cole in a corner. Garcia climbs up, rains down fists, but White brings Garcia down! Garcia knees low, puts White in the corner, then climbs up!

Garcia rains down fists, Hangman storms up, but Garcia just adds him to the mess! Garcia climbs up to rain down fists on three former Bullet Club members! Then he tops it off with TEN! The fans fire up, but here comes Yuta! The fans boo Yuta but Garcia steps to him. Yuta SLAPS Garcia, Garcia CHOPS, repeat! The fans fire up and then Garcia CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Garcia winds up, but Yuta pokes him in the eye! Ricochet is back and he KNEES Garcia down! The fans boo Ricochet and Yuta, but they haul Garcia up to TOSS him out! The fans tell them, “You Both Suck!” but they just soak that up.

The countdown is back, and the seventh man is… “POWERHOUSE” WILL HOBBS! Ricochet & Yuta stand their ground, but then Hobbs SLINGSHOTS Ricochet out onto the others! Yuta LARIATS, but Hobbs doesn’t budge! Hobbs hooks Yuta up for an EXPLODER! Cole returns but Hobbs scoops him, for an EXPLODER! White is in, but Hobbs catches him, for an EXPLODER! Hangman fires hands, ROCKS Hobbs, then mocks Hobbs’ big muscles. Hangman runs corner to corner, SPLASHES, but Hobbs catches Hangman?! And then he gives Hangman an EXPLODER! The fans fire up for Hobbs as Dynamite again goes picture in picture.

Hobbs soaks up the cheers, then he goes out to LARIAT White against railing! Hobbs LARIATS Yuta, CLOBBERS Ricochet, then LARIATS Garcia! Hobbs keeps going and he CLOBBERS Cole, puts him in the ring, and he runs up to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, EVERYONE breaks it! Garcia HAMMERS away on Hobbs, White adds on, and so does Yuta. Yuta stomps Hobbs’ legs, Garcia stomps Hobbs’ arms, but then White CHOPS Yuta out of the ring! Garcia goes after Hangman in a corner, Ricochet goes after Garcia! Ricochet ROCKS Garcia, fires off in a corner, Yuta and White brawl outside. Ricochet fire smore hands on Garcia, then CHOPS!

Ricochet CHOPS away at the ropes, then runs, but Garcia ELBOWS him! Garcia snap suplexes Ricochet, then snarls. White APRON GOURD BUSTERS Yuta! Hangman CLOBBERS Garcia! Hangman storms around, he brings Yuta up, and CHOPS! White steps in and says he’ll handle Yuta, then he CHOPS! Hangman fires hands on Ricochet, CHOPS him in a corner, and then White brings Ricochet around to CHOP!  Yuta and Garcia brawl outside, Garcia sends Yuta into barriers! Hobbs and White fire hands, and Hobbs DECKS White! Garcia SHOTGUNS Yuta against barriers! Hobbs paces, Garcia goes back to the ring, but Hobbs TOSSES him back out!

Hobbs has Clarksville fired up, but Ricochet runs up to fire hands! Hobbs doesn’t budge, and he dares Ricochet to fire more shots. Dynamite returns to single picture as Ricochet fires another. The fans tell Ricochet he messed up, and then Hobbs LARIATS Ricochet inside-out! Ricochet flops out of the ring, White LARIATS! White runs, LARIATS again, but Hobbs just grins! White tries again, but Hobbs scoops him! Hobbs SLAMS White down, then watches him flounder. The fans rally for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs runs corner to corner, but White drop toeholds him into buckles! Hobbs sputters, and the countdown is back!

White gets space from Hobbs, and the eighth man is… RODERICK STRONG! Strong gets in to give White a BACKBREAKER! Hangman runs up, into a BACKBREAKER! Yuta is in, Roddy SLAMS him onto Hangman! Roddy KNEES Hobbs in a corner, then brawls with Ricochet! Ricochet kicks the legs out, then CLUBS Roddy down! Ricochet talks trash, but then Cole and Garcia step in. They whip Ricochet to  a corner, and Roddy KNEES Ricochet down! Roddy, Cole and Garcia all stomp away and the fans fire up! Hobbs is back, he DOUBLE LARIATS Cole and Garcia! Roddy runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and he SICK KICKS Hobbs down!

Hangman DISCUS LARIATS Roddy! Ricochet dodges Hangman to handspring and BACK ELBOW! White is back, he hits the CUTTHROAT PLEX on Ricochet! White clinches Ricochet, but Yuta shoves the ref so he can LOW BLOW White!! The fans boo Yuta, and he shakes his head at White. But the countdown is back, and the ninth man is… LANCE ARCHER! The Murderhawk storms to the ring, but Yuta PLANCHAS! Only for Archer to catch him! APRON CHOKE SLAM! Archer storms in to grab White, CHOKE SLAM! Roddy jumps in, as does Cole, but Archer catches Roddy, BOOTS Cole down, then he CHOKE SLAMS Roddy onto Cole!

The fans fire up and Garcia CHOPS Archer! Archer grabs Garcia, and he CORNER CHOKE SLAMS Garcia! Ricochet jumps in, but Archer catches him! Archer TOSSES Ricochet, but now Hobbs is up! Hobbs puts Ricochet in a corner, then TOSSES him back to Archer! The fans are thunderous as the biggest men stare down. Archer puts Ricochet in another corner, and TOSSES him back to Hobbs! Hobbs ignores Ricochet this time, he and Archer circle. Archer runs up, Hobbs dodges, and Hobbs SNAP POWERSLAMS!! But Archer’s right up!? Archer scoops Hobbs for the HELLICOASTER! The fans fire up as Hobbs rises!

Archer and Hobbs get face to face, “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” The forearms start flying, Archer gets the edge and has Hobbs in the corner! But the countdown is here! The tenth man is… KYLE O’REILLY! He fires off strikes on Yuta, and SWEEPS the leg! Archer wants it, and he runs up on Kyle! Kyle dodges the boot to then DRAGON SCREW! Archer falls out to the floor, Kyle BOOTS Ricochet into Roddy’s clinch! GUT BUSTER, then KING KONG KNEE DROP! The Undisputed boys are fired up, but Hangman returns! Hangman BOOTS Roddy, blocks a kick to spin and Alabama Lift Kyle! Kyle slips free, and shoves him into Roddy’s BOOT and ENZIGIRI!

Cole’s back, he fireman’s carries Hangman for UASHIGOROSHI! Kyle adds a PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up with The Undisputed trio, but Hobbs fires hands on them all! Garcia is back, he hops onto Hobbs for a SLEEPER! Hobbs SLINGS Garcia off, but Cole SUPERKICKS! Kyle and Roddy give Hobbs TOTAL ANNIHILATION! But the eleventh man is… JEFF JARRETT!! Double J said he was aiming for the world title, and he might’ve picked just the right spot! But Yuta CLOBBERS Jarrett from behind! The fans boo Yuta as he beats down on the Last Outlaw and takes him to the back! Back in the ring, Archer rises up!

Roddy hits a KNEE on Archer, Cole SUPERKICKS! Kyle and Garcia work together, but then Kyle KNEES Garcia! The Undisputed trio argue about whether or not Garcia was still on their side. But Hobbs is back, and he CLOBBERS them all! Archer is up to BOOT Hobbs! Archer BLASTS White off the apron, ELBOWS Hobbs in a corner, then he hoists Hobbs up! Archer has the crucifix lift! BLACK- NO, Hobbs slips free and shoves Archer! Hobbs LARIATS Archer up and out, but Kyle KICKS Hobbs’ legs! Kyle fires off more kicks, Hobbs kneels, and Kyle runs! But into a SPINEBUSTER!! Cover, HOBBS WINS!!

Winner: “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW World Championship)

The Powerhouse puts an end to the gauntlet, and Renee Paquette steps in for an interview. The fans chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” as Renee says huge congratulations are in order. It is now official for next week, January 15th, Maximum Carnage, Moxley VS Hobbs for the AEW World Championship! Hobbs has been through so much just to make it to this point, what does it mean to him to have this world title match? Hobbs says, “Let’s shoot for a second. Let it be told that Jon Moxley is the one that brought me to AEW. But next week, I plan on shocking the world. But not only that, I plan on making Jon Moxley my B*TCH!”

The fans fire up for that, and next week will be a massive rematch from the night Hobbs went out with injury. Will the Book of Hobbs finally have a chapter about the world title? Or will The Maniac refuse to lose in his hometown?

Jeff Jarrett returns to the ring.

Ian Riccaboni meets The Last Outlaw there to say that we were hoping for a more “storybook ending” in the Casino Gauntlet. Tennessee is a state the Jarrett Family helped put on the pro-wrestling map, so how is he feeling? The fans cheer Double J, and Jarrett says it is 2025, and the Last Outlaw just has to ask himself one question: “Do I still have what it takes to climb that mountain?” The fans sure feel so! But wait! MJF makes his way out here! The fans are a bit torn as Maxwell Jacob Friedman joins Jarrett and Ian in the ring, and MJF tells Ian, “You Bible thumping p*ick, get outta my ring.”

Ian exits, and MJF tells “Jeffrey” that they’ve yet to officially meet. “You are looking at the longest-reigning and greatest AEW World Champion of all time. My name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, M J F.” And MJF wants Triple B back, but the title scene is just a lot of hard work. “Dictator Jon” has the belt, Hobbs is the #1 contender due to Jarrett’s failure, because he got beat up by Wheeler Yuta…? Wow. Then there’s Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Hangman Page, a regular Dr. Seuss nightmare of names. But none of these men are worthy of holding the Triple B. But MJF can think of one man who just might be.

“A man who has beaten some of the biggest icons in the history of this sport. A man who has given his blood, sweat and tears to this game for 35+ years. A 12-time world champion, a two-time Hall of Famer, Tennessee’s own Double J, Jeff Jarrett!” Fans cheer the surprising amount of respect MJF is showing for Jarrett. MJF says, “Not that I knew any of that personally, I had to google all that because I’m not a dinosaur. But hey, kudos, because my dad told me he was a big fan of yours when he was a little kid, so good job.” MJF knows Jarrett wants to be world champion here, but based on what he said last week about this being his last wrestling contract… Clock’s ticking.

But MJF did some digging, and apparently Jarrett’s not been completely honest with the people. MJF imagines that is more out of sheer embarrassment. Because it turns out the contract Jarrett signed with AEW is only… for one more year. Oh, was MJF not supposed to say that? And the reason that is embarrassing is because that is not what Jarrett wanted. He doesn’t wanna retire yet. He had to sign that contract, because that is all pro-wrestling thinks Jarrett has left to give. The fans boo but MJF says hey, no, guys, he’s just telling the truth. He’s a facts man. He’s not here to piss off Double J. He’s here to help!

Because as MJF sees it, Jarrett only has one year to prove that he’s still got it. The fans chant, “You Still Got It!” MJF says one year to make sure Jarrett can listen to those chants for years to come! To prove himself! To make it back to the top of the mountain. MJF says he can help Jarrett become champion of the world one more time. He can. Because without MJF’s help, Jarrett probably can’t even win another match. MJF laughs, but he says hey, hey, all he is asking is one tiny little favor. When MJF helps Jarrett procure the Triple B, then MJF is first in line for the next shot. Okay, Tennessee, MJF knows you ain’t bright, but he’s still talking!

The fans boo but MJF Fargo Struts his way back to Jarrett. MJF asks J E Double F, J A Double R E Double T~… Wanna make a deal with lil’ ol’ MJF? The fans boo, don’t make a deal with the AEW Devil! MJF says shut up, who even asked them?! Jarrett takes the mic, and he tells Max, MJF was AEW World Champion. And just like MJF said, MJF was the longest-reigning champion in this company’s history, and that is impressive. But MJF’s still too damn young to understand that you learn more from your failures than you do your successes. Just because MJF was on top before doesn’t mean he’ll get there again

In fact, does MJF know what kids like him around here? “One hit wonders.” The fans echo that, and Jarrett tells Max, Jarrett knows the road he has to go down. He’s been at the bottom, and is comfortable there. This business, and this life, has put him there many times. But Jarrett knows that all gives him the opportunity to crawl, to scratch, to fight his way back to the top of the mountain. Max, you know it and Jarrett knows it. MJF could’ve entered tonight’s Casino Gauntlet, but what does he choose? To come out here later, to scheme and connive. That is what MJF does. Jarrett has been on top 12 times, and is looking for number 13 in 2025.

And like that old expression goes, “What a difference a year can make.” Jarrett sure as hell will make the most of 2025. So it comes down to this: Jarrett doesn’t need MJF! And as far as what MJF’s trying to sell him, Jarrett ain’t buying, “You entitled p*ick!” The fans fire up as Double J turns down MJF, but will the Wolf of Wrestling make him regret it?

Adam Copeland is here!

Clarksville fires up for the Rated R Superstar, and “Cope” makes his way to the ring. Cope gets the mic to call out Jon Moxley! “You and your Death Riders, right? While I was gone, you took out Bryan Danielson, possibly for good. As we just saw (on a replay), you threw Darby Allin down a flight of stairs, we haven’t seen him since. But man, the sin you can’t repent in my world is you tried to go after FTR. Now, I don’t know if you know this, but we’re very close friends, so massive mistake.” The fans applaud that. Cope continues by saying Moxley has named guys like Hangman, Jay White, Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin “don’t have what it takes to endure the grind.”

The fans boo and Cope says yeah, he also disagrees with Mox. But Cope wants them to know that no one, and he means no one, has fought through what COPE has fought through, just to be standing here in this ring! The fans cheer that! Cope says he will DIE on that hill, because he is a different animal entirely! “You’re looking at a man who broke his neck in a match with Eddie Guerrero!” You wanna know what Cope did? HE GOT UP! He wrestled another 20 minutes, and he WON that match! The fans cheer that, too! Cope says you are looking at a man who fought Malakai Black in a barbed wire steel cage match, broke his leg, and what’d he do?

HE GOT UP! Cope wrestled another 10 minutes, and he WON that match! So please, Moxley, as much as we know you’re one of the toughest bastards to ever step in this ring, please “enlighten” Cope what Moxley can do to him that hasn’t been done before?! But wait, here come the Death Riders! Jon Moxley himself makes his way out from the back, leading Yuta and Claudio. Cope is wary, because where could Marina and Pac be? The Maniac, the Swiss Cyborg and The Decoder seem to be the only ones making their way out here, but wait! FTR attacks them in the crowd! The fans fire up as Cash & Dax take care of Claudio & Yuta!

Cope storms out of the ring and goes after Moxley! He SMACKS Mox off the steel steps, then puts him in the ring! But Moxley stomps away on Cope now! Trash goes flying in the crowd, Cash sends Yuta into barriers! Moxley knees low, runs, but Cope BOOTS him down! The fans fire up for Cope and FTR keeps the Death Riders at bay! But now Marina Shafir is here! She slides the briefcase to Moxley while she goes after Cope, but Cope grabs her by the hair! But despite his rage, Cope has morals, so he lets her go. But PAC ATTACKS! The fans boo as The Bastard gets Cope down! Claudio & Yuta send FTR into barriers!

Moxley is back up, Pac sits Cope up for him, and Moxley clamps on the BULLY CHOKE! Cope is turning red already! The fans boo but The Death Riders all surround Cope as he fades out! FTR keep fighting but Claudio keeps them out of the ring. Marina gives Moxley a plastic bag!! But wait! Hobbs makes his way back out here! Hobbs may not be a friend of Cope’s but he wants to get at Moxley early! The straps come down as Hobbs storms up, and The Death Riders retreat! Not even all five of them want to mess with Hobbs! Will Powerhouse Hobbs be unstoppable at Maximum Carnage?

Happy New Year’s Evil!

NXT raises Hell in the City of Angels, but also raises the stakes! It’s a Triple Threat as Trick Williams defends THE NXT Championship against Oba Femi AND Eddy Thorpe!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia; Giulia wins and becomes the new NXT Women’s Champion.
• NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; wins and will challenge for the title.
• Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence; Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi win.
• NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey; King wins and is the rightful NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
• NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe; Oba wins and becomes the new NXT Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

As NXT counted down to a New Year…

…we looked back on 2024, a year that brought NXT moment after moment. The biggest Stand & Deliver ever, NXT moving to CW, and even entered the ECW Arena. But as one countdown ends, another begins. A countdown to validation, a countdown to new challenges, a countdown to new opportunities, and a countdown to long awaited vindication. Forget the countdown to 2025, the countdown to New Year’s Evil, ends now!

A truck pulls into the arena.

And out steps THE ROCK! He promised on social media that he would be here, and so here he is! What will The People’s Champion get up to on the first NXT of 2025?

NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia!

These two met before, but there was some controversy to how that one ended. The Prodigy still thinks she’s the best in the world today, but now there will be no one coming to save her! Will Roxie make it past day 276? Or will she succumb to the Beautiful Madness?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the first match of NXT’s 2025 is already epic!

The bell rings and the two tie up. The fans rally, Roxie hits a headlock takeover but Giulia headscissors. Roxie kips free, roles reverse as Giulia headlocks for the takeover. Roxie headscissors, Giulia kips free, and the two reset. The fans cheer as they circle again, and then they tie up. Roxie waistlocks, then she spins Giulia and has a hammerlock. Roxie wrangles Giulia into La Magistrol and then BRIDGE, TWO! ARMBAR! Roxie flails, rolls, but Giulia keeps her grounded. Roxie fights to a stack, TWO! Roxie headlocks, Giulia powers up and out, then drops down. Roxie cartwheels, and then she SLAPS Giulia!

The fans fire up while Roxie takes a bow. Roxie talks some trash, but then Giulia HEADBUTTS her! And HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS! Giulia has Roxie in a corner, the ref counts, but Giulia lets off to whip corner to corner. Roxie reverses, runs up, but Giulia dodges! Giulia ROCKS Roxie, shoves her down, then climbs up the corner. The fans are fired up as she MISSILE DROPKICKS Roxie down! Roxie ends up in the corner, Giulia runs up and BOOT WASHES her! Roxie flops to the floor but Giulia pursues. Giulia kicks Roxie around, then puts her in the ring. Giulia goes up but Roxie grabs an arm! HOTSHOT!

The fans are torn but Roxie drags Giulia through the corner! Roxie bends Giulia’s arm against the crossbar, then DOUBLE STOMPS it! The fans are torn again, and maybe Giulia’s arm is busted, but NXT goes picture in picture.

Roxie drags Giulia into the ring, wrenches the arm, then throws Giulia down by her hair! But Giulia avoids the knee drop! Ghost pin, TWO! Giulia hurries to whip, Roxie reverses, CODE BREAKER to the arm! Giulia clutches that elbow, but Roxie pushes her to a cover, TWO! Roxie is frustrated but she STMOPS the bad arm again and again! Then she traps the arm for the KNEE DROP! Roxie mocks the fans, talks trash, then drags Giulia around ot whip her to the corner. Roxie runs up to UPPERCUT, then she wrenches and clinches, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, ONE!! Roxie is furious but she throws Giulia down by her hair!

The ref reprimands but Roxie digs her shoulder into Giulia’s shoulder. Roxie pulls the arm, talks trash while she SLAPS the arm over and over, then YANKS it back! Cover, TWO! Roxie is only getting angrier, and she clamps on a top wristlock. Roxie pulls on that bad arm, then wrangles Giulia to trap the arm. BRIDGING HAMMERLOCK! Giulia fights around, ROPEBREAK! Roxie lets off, just to CLUB Giulia on the back. Roxie keeps the hammerlock as she stands Giulia up, then she RAMS Giulia into buckles! Roxie reels Giulia in, wrenches, hammerlocks again, and then whips, but Giulia reverses! Roxie hits POST!

NXT returns to single picture and Roxie staggers back. Roxie ROCKS Giulia, Giulia ROCKS Roxie! Roxie rebounds to ROCK Giulia! Giulia ROCKS Roxie again! Roxie ROCKS Giulia once more, but then Giulia ROCKS Her back! The fans fire up as the forearms go faster and faster! Roxie gets the edge, then whips, but Giulia DROPKICKS her down! The fans fire up while Roxie flounders away. Giulia and Roxie slowly rise up, and Giulia goes to the apron. Giulia climbs, the fans rally, but Roxie ROCKS her first! Roxie climbs up after Giulia, then SUPER STEINERS! High stack, TWO!! Giulia survives and Roxie is furious!

Roxie stomps away on Giulia’s bad hand! The fans boo but Roxie drags Giulia up to ELBOW BREAKER, then she UPPERCUTS the arm! Another wrench, another wrench, and- SAIDO from Giulia! Roxie shrieks as she rises up! Roxie dodges Giulia, and she SAIDOS! But Giulia roars as she rises! The fans are thunderous as the SLAPS fly! Both women wobble, but they both SLAP again! Giulia fires hands from all sides, then winds up, HAYMAKER! Roxie staggers to ropes, Giulia storms up on her, but Roxie WRINGS the bad arm! The fans rally while Giulia bails out. Roxie says this is why she’s the champ! Roxie DIVES and down goes Giulia!

Roxie puts Giulia in the ring, fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Giulia UPPERCUTS Roxie! Giulia goes up, the fans fire up, and Giulia underhooks the arms! SUPER BUTTERFLY PLEX!! The fans are thunderous, and then Giulia hammerlocks, scoops, and swings Roxie for the GLORIOUS DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as Roxie survives, and Giulia brings her up. Scoop and- NO, Roxie slips free, and she wrangles Giulia right down! CROSSFACE!! Giulia endures, fights around, and reaches out, but Roxie kicks off ropes to roll things back! But Giulia gets up! Roxie hops on, Giulia slips free!

But Roxie SHOTGUNS Giulia outta the ring! The fans are thunderous again as Roxie hurries to get Giulia up. But Giulia scoops! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB on the floor!! Both women are down, and a ring count starts! They’re still down at 5 of 10! WAIT! CORA JADE puts Roxie in the ring! She interfered after all! But then Giulia slips in at 9.9!! But Roxie hops on! POP ROX!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Giulia shocks everyone, but Roxie clamps on! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! The ref EJECTS Cora, that’s what she gets! Roxie THEASHE the arm, but Giulia rolls her! TWO!! Roxie staggers up, into ARRIVEDERCI KNEE!!

Giulia roars, the fans are with her! Scoop and NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!!! Cover, GIULIA WINS!!

Winner: Giulia, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s Champion)

The Prodigy is indeed one of the greatest champs in NXT history, but she finally falls to one of the greatest champs in international wrestling history! The New Year has a new champion, will all of NXT succumb to the Beautiful Madness?

Refs find Eddy Thorpe down and out!

Eddy writhes on the steps, and Ava Raine walks in. Oh, okay, she gets it. Big Triple Threat, Eddy, time to get going. Hey, he didn’t fake this one! He really got attacked! Oh? And she’s supposed to believe him? The Alpha Wolf cried wolf before, but is he telling the truth now? Or will it not matter once he steps into the ring with Oba Femi and Trick Williams?

Je’Von Evans speaks.

The Young OG, jaw wired shut, fights through the pain to tell Ethan Page, “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t talk. But I’m going to find you. For what you did to Cedric. For what you did to me. Ethan, I’m gonna make you feel my pain.” When and where will All Ego pay for all his crimes?

NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade!

The NXT Women’s Division continues to grow stronger and stronger, and this match is proof of that! The Standout wants payback on everyone in this match for looking down on her, will she overcome the odds to make it back to her title? Or will someone else be going after the Fatal Influence’s toxic cowgirl?

NXT returns and Lola makes her entrance, everyone else already waiting in the ring. The bell rings and the four watch each other. Cora talks trash on the other three, so Lola KICKS her, Vaquer ROCKS her, and Kelani ROCKS her! Lola mule kicks, Vaquer HEADBUTTS, and Kelani kicks low! Kelani TOSSES Cora, but then Cora drags Kelani out of the ring! Vaquer and Lola talk while Kelani DECKS Cora! Kelani gets back in, she shoves Vaquer into Lola and rolls Vaquer up, TWO! Lola runs up, Kelani rolls her up, TWO as Vaquer rolls Kelani! But Lola rolls Vaquer! Cora CLUBS Lola, DECKS Kelani, and TOSSES Lola!

Lola ends up on ropes, so Cora runs up to ELBOW her in the back! Cora STOMPS Kelani down, covers, but Vaquer drags Cora right up. Vaquer snapmares Cora, then wraps on the headscissors! Vaquer gives Cora the DRILLER into the mat, but Lola stomps Vaquer! The fans boo as Lola puts on the SLEEPER, but Kelani SUPERKICKS Lola! Kelani runs up to slingshot arm-drag Lola, then she DOUBLE DROPKICKS Lola and Vaquer !Kelani kips up, the fans fire up, and Kelani dodges Cora to CLOBBER her! Kelani keeps moving, she rolls over Cora’s dropdown, but Cora dodges Kelani to tilt-o-whirl RANA! But Kelani handsprings through!

The fans fire up as Kelani wags her finger. But then Cora and Kelani DOUBLE LARIAT! Lola and Vaquer brawl on the outside, and Lola BOOTS Vaquer down. Kelani PLANCHAS onto Lola! Cora CANNONBALLS Kelani! The fans fire up while Cora laughs sat Kelani. Cora mocks Kelani’s tears while NXT goes picture in picture.

Cora drags Kelani up, puts her in the ring, then stalks her to a corner. Cora stomps a mudhole into Kelani, and doesn’t have to stop as she digs her boots in because there’s No Disqualifications! Cora still does let off so she can SLAM Kelani down, though! Then she whips Kelani to a corner, runs up, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cora pushes Kelani down, covers, TWO! Cora stalks Kelani to ropes, puts her in a corner, then whips her corner to corner. Kelani blocks it, but Cora SLAPS her! Then runs up, but Kelani dodges the wizard! Roll up, TWO! Kelani brings Cora around, bumps her off buckles, then bumps her off more buckles.

Kelani TOSSES Cora out, but Lola TOSSES Kelani! Kelani RAMS into Lola, then slingshots to sunset flip! TWO, and both women hurry to their feet. Kelani gets around Lola, snapmares and runs, to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Lola stays in this but Kelani stays on her, KNEE to the back again and again! Then she pulls on Lola’s arms, digging her boots into Lola’s back! Lola endures, powers up, and pushes back to stack Kelani! TWO as Kelani kicks Lola away in time! But then Lola mule kicks Kelani! Lola whips Kelani to ropes, KNEES her low, then shakes her hips. Lola whips and KNEES Kelani again, more shaking hips!

Lola whips, Kelani wrenches, but Lola ducks the roundhouse, only for the CALF KICK to hit! Kelani crawls to ropes, but Cora is there. Kelani DECKS Cora, and Vaquer runs in! Lola dodges Vaquer to have a SLEEPER! Lola thrashes Vaquer around, but then Cora has a SLEEPER on Lola! Lola holds onto Vaquer, and now Kelani has a SLEEPER on Cora! Cora holds onto Lola, but Vaquer slips around to TRIPLE JAWBREAKER! All four women stagger around, and NXT returns to single picture as Vaquer serves Lola some SOLE FOOD! Vaquer then brings Cora around to bump off buckles, and she fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!

Vaquer runs side to side to BOOT Lola, then corner to corner, only for Kelani to stop her! The fans boo but Vaquer has Kelani’s leg! Kelani apologizes, but Vaquer still DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Kelani writhes, Vaquer gives Cora METEORA! Vaquer drags Cora back, but Lola has the SLEEPER again! Vaquer drops down, rolls Lola, TWO! Lola SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS again! Kelani runs up but into LIGHTNING KICKS! The fans fire up as Lola sits Kelani down! Lola has targets in all corners, “I’M A LATINA~!” HIP ATTACK on Vaquer! HIP ATTACK misses Kelani! Cora DROPKICKS Lola!

Cora shrieks, runs up, and SHINING- NO, Lola stops the wizard to DUMP Cora out! But Vaquer DROPKICKS Lola! Vaquer goes up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODIES Lola and Cora! All three women are down, but then Kelani rises up! Kelani grins as she has a target, and she climbs up! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as Kelani ARIHARA MOONSAULTS them all! Kelani drags Vaquer up and in, “This is Awesome!” as Kelani leaps again! CROSSBODY! But roll through! TWO!! Kelani escapes, Vaquer runs up, but Kelani gets around! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Vaquer has the GEDO CLUTCH, but then BRIDGES!

Lola is back to drag Vaquer away from Kelani! Cora rolls in while Lola TOSSES Vaquer! SHINING WIZARD at the ropes! But Kelani wrenches Cora into a RIGHT ANGLE SLAM! The fans fire up as Kelani steps on Cora, goes up, up, and FIVE STAR- FLOP!! Cora avoided disaster, Lola URAKENS Kelani! Vaquer SUPERKICKS Lola! Lola shrieks as she stays up, but Vaquer TOSSES her out! Vaquer has Kelani, tucks her in, SVB!! Cover, Vaquer wins!

Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship)

That Stephanie Vaquer Backbreaker gets the job done, and now she is aiming for Fallon Henley! Will Vaquer parallel Giulia by becoming the new champion in the New Year? Or will NXT stay under the Influence?

Ava Raine meets with the Unholy Union.

The NXT General Manager notes that with Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn winning over Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx, they will battle Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson next week, the winners becoming NEW #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Alba says that is fantastic, Isla thanks Ava, and the wicked witches head out. Sarah Schreiber walks in to ask about Eddy Thorpe. Ava says Eddy is fine, this is just what he did last time. He can moan and groan and pretend he’s hurt, but she isn’t falling for it, the match stays as scheduled. Oba Femi walks in and says no, Eddy isn’t pretend. Oba did attack Eddy this time.

And Oba did it because Eddy smashed Oba in the face with the NXT Championship. We all saw that, so this is Oba returning the favor. Oh, well, then the match is still a Triple Threat. Oba says that’s fine, because that’s if Eddy makes it to the ring. But one way or another, the result remains the same. The Ruler is ready to become THE NXT Champion, will New Year’s Evil see the entire landscape change?

OTM speaks.

Bronco Nima & Lucien Price got #OutTheMud in the NXT Tag Division, and are proving the haters wrong. They got outta the hood, and look at them now: the NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships. Nathan Frazer, Axiom, they’re smooth, move like no one else in the game, but they ain’t never been in a dog fight. They’ve never had to fight for their food. So you will learn that you can’t see pain, you can only feel it. And you will feel it! Fraxiom thinks having two matches in one night is a struggle, but their problems and OTM’s problems are not the same! Try having to be 17 years old and you gotta put food on the table for your whole family!

So while OTM’s been dealing with some real-life struggles, Fraxiom been arguing like little kids. They’re dealing with some grown-ass men! Remember, they warned you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in sync or out, cuz next week, OTM takes those belts off Fraxiom’s shoulders to put around their waists. Next week, Fraxiom gets dragged through the mud! Will Nima & Price finally be golden? Or will Fraxiom prove they never slow down?

Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence!

As if things weren’t tense between the “freaks” and the Mean Girls of NXT before, the back and forth of screw jobs has only turned up the hostility. Will the outcasts prove they belong? Or will Fallon, Jacy & Jazmyn continue to influence NXT’s future?

NXT returns and Gigi makes her entrance, Tatum by her side, followed by Shotzi making her entrance. But the Influence doesn’t wait, Jacy DECKS Gigi off the corner! Jazmyn & Fallon go after Tatum & Shotzi while the fans boo and the ref reprimands. Jazmyn goes out to KICK away on Gigi! The bell rings, Tatum dodges Jacy to fire off forearms! Jacy shoves Tatum back, but Tatum SHOTGUNS Jacy down! The fans fire up with Tatum and she CROSSBODIES in the corner! Then BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, ONE!! Jacy crawls away but Tatum drags her up. Jacy fights free, then throws Tatum down by her hair!

The ref reprimands but Jacy PENALTY KICKS Tatum! Tag to Jazmyn, she PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Jazmyn runs, but Tatum kicks Jazmyn’s leg! Jazmyn hobbles, into a KNEE SMASH from Tatum! Tag to Gigi, then Gigi tags Shotzi. Tatum whips Gigi and she SHOTGUNS Jazmyn at the ropes! Tatum then sends Shotzi in, SENTON at the ropes! Tatum ELBOW DROPS, Shotzi covers, TWO! Shotzi drags Jazmyn up, but Jazmyn wrenches sand SWEEPS! Tag to Fallon and she runs up, but Shotzi dodges! Victory roll, TWO! Fallon stands, into a KNEE from Shotzi! Then a ROLLING ELBOW! Fallon flounders, Shotzi brings her around, snap suplex into buckles!

Shotzi drags Fallon to a cover, TWO! Fallon is tougher than that, but Shotzi watches the Influence closely. Shotzi fires forearms on Fallon while the fans cheer her on. Fallon kicks back, then talks trash on Shotzi. Fallon whips and KNEES Shotzi low, then runs, to YEEHAW FACEBUSTER! Cover, Gigi & Tatum break it! Jacy & Jazmyn storm in, the brawl is on again! LA loves it as Shotzi’s team TOSSES the Influence. Shotzi then builds speed, and she DIVES into a FOREARM! Fallon shoots Shotzi outta the sky, then stands her up. But Shotzi ROCKS Fallon back! Gigi hurries to check Shotzi, Jazmyn storms up, Gigi HEADBUTTS her!

Jacy CANNONBALLS Gigi down! Tatum CLOBBERS Jacy for it! But then Fallon swings on the corner to KICK Tatum down! Fallon turns around, Shotzi kicks her! Snap suplex to the floor! All six women are down, the fans fire up, and NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Fallon whips Tatum to the corner. Tag to Jazmyn, then a feed to the drop toehold! Tag to Jacy and she KICKS Tatum in the back! Then SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tatum toughs it out but Jacy clamps on a chinlock. The fans rally as Tatum endures being thrashed around. Tatum fights up, pries at the hold, but Jacy puts her in a corner. Jacy takes a bow but the fans boo. Jacy goes back to Tatum but Tatum ELBOWS her! Tatum kicks, Jacy blocks, but then Tatum gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! Both women are down, the fans fire up, and their teams coach them up. Tatum crawls, hot tag to Gigi!

The fans fire up as Gigi runs to BLAST Jazmyn & Fallon! Gigi runs up but Jacy runs away! Gigi catches Jacy to fire off forearms! And a KNEE! Gigi roars, and she CLOBBERS Jacy! And CLOBBERS her again! Gigi wrenches, ROUNDHOUSES, then shoves Jacy so she can follow and STO! Cover, TWO! Jacy stays in this, but Gigi hauls her up. Jacy fights the underhooks, Jazmyn runs in to CLUB Gigi! Jacy SUPERKICKS Gigi down, hot tag to Fallon! Fallon gets Gigi up, she and Jacy double suplex, but Gigi lands out to DOUBLE NECKBREAKER! Hot tag to Shotzi, she goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Gigi & Shotzi get Fallon up!

Shotzi runs, Gigi lifts, BLUE THUNDER NECKBREAKER!! Cover, Jacy & Jazmyn break it! The brawls on again, but Gigi & Tatum TOSS the Influencers! Fallon runs back in, but Gigi wrenches her, she and Tatum DOUBLE ENZIGIRI! Gigi hurries to the apron with Tatum, then they climb! Tatum ASAI MOONSAULTS Jacy, Gigi CANNONBALLS onto Jazmyn! Shotzi goes up, and she BALLPIT SENTONS Fallon! Cover, the “freaks” win!

Winners: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall

A great win for the Wild Child, and wait, she pinned the NXT Women’s North American Champion. Vaquer has her own shot at the title, will the walls start closing in on the Influence?

Ava Raine talks with Ethan Page.

She knows he heard what Je’Von said. Or at least, what Je’Von barely managed to say, given his jaw is wired shut from Ethan breaking it in half! Ethan says yes, and yet that moment has played one very episode since. For some reason, this big historic episode, New Year’s Evil 2025, and Ethan is nowhere to be seen on the card. Ava tells Ethan that she’ll make this very clear: this is HER show, this is NXT, and she calls the shots! Oho, hey, perfect timing. Ethan says there’s nothing perfect about this. But The Rock says oh no, there is something perfect about this. All Ego stares down The People’s Champ, and the fans can be heard from here!

Rock smiles and says, “Ethan Page.” That is correct, Final Boss. That is also correct. The Rock says good to meet Ethan, and Ethan says great to meet The Rock. They shake hands, and Rock says he’s heard a lot about Ethan. Not all good, a lot of bad actually. Apparently, Ethan broke a guy’s jaw. Is that right, Ava? Yes. Je’Von Evans. He deserved it. Oh, well, payback’s gonna be a b*tch, just so Ethan knows. Ethan highly doubts that. Well, Ethan also broke another guy’s wrist. Right, Ava? Ethan corrects The Rock that it was just Cedric’s fingers, but sure. Well, then Rock will tell Ethan as he told everyone else here on NXT that he’s talked with today…

If they need anything, come to The Rock. That includes Ethan. Wow, Ethan likes the sound of that. They shake hands, and Rock says one more thing. He IS The Final Boss. But uh, here on NXT, Ava’s the Final Boss. So if he and Ethan are gonna be cool, then Ethan and Ava need to be cool. Cool? Yeah, they’ll be cool. Then see him on main roster one day. Ethan sure hopes so. Rock says good, and he gives Ethan a pat on the butt as he leaves. Ava says she can’t wait for Ethan to be main roster’s problem. Ava says NXT is all about moments, and she feels like this is a good one. But speaking of, what’s Rock gonna say?

Rock has no idea! It’s crazy out there. But can she give him some advice? She can. No one has Rock’s record, no one can do what Rock does. Rock’s been in front of millions, and millions, but he’s never been in front of an NXT crowd. That passion hits different. We can literally hear that. So while Rock may not know what to say right now, he’ll feel it when he gets out there. Okay, Rock will feel it, and say it from the heart. They fist bump and Rock gets ready. “I dunno wtf I’m gonna say… CHEE-HOO~!” Will this be the one time The Great One is found speechless?

NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew!

While The Drama King did win the Cup, it was the controversial nature of a disqualification caused by outside interference that has him having to “win it back.” And this time, it’s under standard rules, aka a single fall! No time limits, no breaks, and no Champion’s Advantage! Will the King finally and for truly have his crowning achievement? Or will the Cup stay with the No Quarter Catch Crew?

Entrances are made in picture in picture, then we return to single picture for the introductions. The Cup is raised, the bell rings, and there’s nothing to it but to do it!

The two tie up, Dempsey waistlocks but King wrenches. Dempsey wrenches back, wristlocks, but King spins, headlocks, and grinds the hold. Dempsey powers up and out, then ducks down, but King blocks the hip toss! Dempsey blocks in return, but King arm-drags and DROPKICKS! King hits a headlock takeover, Dempsey fights around, then rolls back to then hammerlock. Dempsey goes for the other arm, King resists, but Dempsey grabs the leg! Then he gets the arm, steps over, and King is being bent back! The fans rally while King endures, but Dempsey shifts to a cover, TWO!

Dempsey keeps on King with a wristlock, but King endures. King pushes through to spin Dempsey, headlock him, but Dempsey powers out to knuckle lock and wrench. Dempsey wristlocks again, but King rolls, wrenches, and wristlocks in return. Dempsey fights to a snapmare, but King holds onto the arm! King wrenches again, but Dempsey spins, breaks free, and he snapmares King. But King slips free to wristlock! Dempsey repeats the break and snapmare, and uses the cravat for a cover, TWO! Dempsey holds that cravat as King stands, and Dempsey fires knees! Dempsey whips, King goes up, but Dempsey catches him to a waistlock!

King goes to the corner, uses that to pivot and switch, O’Conner Roll! TWO, but King hurries to arm-drag! King has the cording hold and the fans cheer! Dempsey fights up, King pushes on the elbow, but Dempsey pulls hair. Dempsey puts King in the corner, but King dodges the haymaker to CHOP! King stalks Dempsey along the ropes, but Dempsey blocks the chop! Dempsey ROCKS King, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Dempsey whips, King grabs ropes, but then King DUMPS Dempsey out! Dempsey stands up, but King DROPKICKS him into the NQCC! Then King goes up, up and CROSSBODIES!

The fans fire up as King wipes out Dempsey, Tavion & Myles! Wren Sinclair is freaking out, but King has Dempsey up while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Dempsey has the cravat, but King fights up! Dempsey ripcords, but King CHOPS! Dempsey KICKS King, then Dempsey wrenches to SLAP King! Dempsey wrenches again, but King fires forearms and a CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! King whips, Dempsey reverses but King CLOBBERS Dempsey! And LARIATS! The fans rally up, but Dempsey wrenches. King SLAPS Dempsey, wrenches him and whips him to a corner. King runs up to LARIAT! Then CHOP! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! And Dempsey has an arm! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! King endures as Dempsey kneels on King’s head!

King fights as the fans rally, and he RAMS Dempsey into a corner! Dempsey keeps on the arm, KNEES King away, then runs up, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! King hurries to a corner, climbs up, and the fans fire up for the CROSSBODY! But Dempsey rolls through! ARMBAR!! The fans go nuts, as does NQCC, but King fights around! King stacks Dempsey, then deadlifts him! POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dempsey is still in this, and King grows frustrated. The fans rally, King ROCKS Dempsey, then reels him in. But Dempsey powers out of Coronation into a CROSSFACE CHICKEN WIGN!

King hurries to the ROPEBREAK! Dempsey holds until 4, then Dempsey ROCKS King! Dempsey fires off forearms but he might’ve even gotten a knockout! Dempsey CLUBS King, whips him, and ELBOWS him! Dempsey whips King to a corner, then runs up, but King BOOTS him! Dempsey whips again, but King goes up, around, and the two COLLIDE! Both men fall back and the fans fire up! Dempsey manages to stand, then runs back up. Backslide! TWO!! King stands, dodges Dempsey, but Dempsey drops down. King comes back, Dempsey hurdles, but not high enough as King runs right into Lil’ Charles!

The ref checks both men, and King says no, not again! He doesn’t wanna win like this, but what choice does he have? King brings Dempsey up. CORONATION!! Cover, King wins!

Winner: Lexis King, by pinfall (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Champion)

King was a new champion before, but now he is TRULY the new Heritage Cup Champion! King can finally put his name on the Cup, will he be able to survive the New Year with it?

Ava meets with Vaquer and Fallon.

She knows that Fallon just had her match, but so did Vaquer, and we have our next title match set. Shotzi steps in and asks Ava to hold on a moment. Before anything is made official, Shotzi points out she just pinned Fallon in that ring. Shotzi makes the case that SHE is #1 contender here. Vaquer says hey, she won the Fatal 4 Way that Ava made, and she beat three of the top stars in this division by herself. What’s that supposed to mean? Fallon says she loves this. They should fight it out, she fights the winner. Fallon leaves, Shotzi and Vaquer are all for it. Ava says she’s also all for it, just next week, not in the office.

The Wild Child and the Dark Angel are ready for a massive showdown, but who wins out to be THE #1 contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship?

NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe(?)

Ava said that one way or another, this is the main event. And The Ruler said that one way or another, he’s going to win it! Will Oba beating down The Alpha Wolf really improve his chances of winning? Or will Tricky Two-Time Two-Time make sure this is still the Whoop Dat Era?

Trick’s entrance is made with picture in picture, but NXT returns to single picture for Oba. And though we wait a moment, it doesn’t seem that Eddy is going to be joining us. The introductions are made for Oba and Trick, the belt is raised, and no matter what, New Year’s Evil is going to end with a bang!

The bell rings, the fans fire up, and Trick ties up with Oba. Oba powers Trick to a corner, RAMS him again and again, but then Trick slips away. Trick and Oba tie up again, and Oba powers Trick back. Trick powers Oba back, but then Oba slips around to waistlock and SLAM! Oba holds onto Trick, the fans rally and duel, “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” “HOOT!” Trick fights up, fires elbows, but Oba holds on! Trick jumps to JAWBREAKER free! Trick fireman’s carries, to DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Oba gets out of the ring while the fans rally up, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and the fans duel as Oba grinds Trick down. Trick endures the chinlock, even as Oba thrashes him, but wait! We get a shot of backstage as Eddy storms into gorilla, armed with a chair! The fans rally up, Trick stands and pries the hold open, but Oba ROCKS Trick in the back! Oba then hoists Trick up to back suplex! Trick lands on his feet and goes to a corner. Oba runs up, Trick dodges, and Oba POSTS himself! Oba is stuck in the ropes, the fans rally as Trick hurries over, and while Oba falls back, Trick goes up. But Oba SWATS Trick first! Oba climbs up after Trick and the fans fire up!

Oba clinches Trick, but Trick clinches Oba in return! SUPER BOOKEND!! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives and the fans fire up! Trick and Oba rise, and Oba ROCKS Trick! Trick ROCKS Oba! They go back and forth with those heavy shots, and Trick gets the edge! Oba avoids the roundhouse to ROCK Trick! Trick BOOTS back! Oba RAMS Trick, Trick LEAPING LARIATS Oba! The fans are thunderous, and Trick dodges Oba to JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Trick scoops and SLAMS Oba! Trick whips Oba to ropes, and FLAPJACKS him! Trick kips up and the fans fire up with him! Trick aims from a corner as Oba rises, and SPIN- NO, Oba catches Trick!

POP-UP CHOP!! Oba storms after Trick, brings him around, FALL FROM- DDT!! Trick turns things around, and he takes aim again! SPIN KICK! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives again and Trick shakes his head. “This is Awesome!” as Trick goes back to a corner. Trick runs up at Oba, but Oba UPPERCUTS first! Trick staggers, Oba hauls him up! FALL FROM GRACE!! Cover, EDDY YANKS THE REF OUT!! The fans boo but Eddy storms into the ring. But Oba grabs Eddy first! And TOSSES him around! Then BOOTS him down! And BACK ELBOWS! Oba whips Eddy to a corner, Eddy bounces off buckles, and Oba hits a SPINEBUSTER!

The fans fire up for Oba as he hoists Eddy into the SHOTPUT BOMB! Oba aims, runs corner to corner, UPPERCUT! Oba keeps moving, UPPERCUT! But then TRICK SHOT for Oba!! Cover, TWO!??! Oba survives, Trick shakes his head, and the fans fire up again! Trick lets his hair down, LA duels between Trick and Oba, but Eddy is lurking! Oba dodges Trick, FULL METAL TRICK SHOT for Eddy!! Eddy flops out, Trick staggers on the bad leg, Oba gives him a FALL FROM GRACE!!! Cover, OBA WINS!!

Winner: Oba Femi, by pinfall (NEW NXT Champion)

Oba tries to remove Eddy from the equation, but The Alpha Wolf ended up a deciding factor in Oba’s victory! The Ruler is now THE champion in NXT, and he stands on stage alongside the other new champion, Giulia! Confetti flies as they hold up the gold, will they dominate this new era in NXT?

NXT goes picture in picture as the new champions return backstage. They are greeted and congratulated by many members of the NXT staff, and surely the celebration will begin after the show.

The Rock heads to the ring!

Los Angeles is fired up for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” even before the music hits, and they only get louder once The People’s Champion is on stage. The Rock goes down the ramp, high-fives the fans, and even makes sure the one fan’s shirt, “Pro-wrestling is real,” gets some attention. Rock then steps into the ring, poses on the corner, and then catches a mic. The Rock raises the eyebrow, revels in the cheering a little more, then shows the goosebumps. Fans “CHEE-HOO~!” and Rock takes a moment to soak in the moment. The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” and Rock nods. Rock echoes the CHEE-HOO~! “And I love you, thank you.”

Rock says he has effin’ chills right now! This is crazy! Rock hears the fans continuing to cheer him on, and he says hold on, he has to get hold of his emotions. Rock finally catches his breath, sees he has about six minutes, but it’ll be the best six minutes ever. “The Rock has a lot of nicknames: People’s Champ; THE Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment; The Sexiest Man Alive! And, most proudly, The Jabroni Beating, Pie Eating, Trailblazing, Eyebrow Raising, Electric, Iconic, Holds All the Stock, THE Final Boss, The People’s Champ, The ROCK!” The fans cheer that, and again chant for “ROCKY! ROCKY!”

Rock then says that he needs them to help out. They all feel it, he feels them, so help him with this. This time last year, The Rock, everywhere he went, every gym, every restaurant, every church, every strip club… The same thing! “Oh, why you so mean to Cody? Don’t be mean to Cody! Cody gotta finish his story! Don’t be mean!” UGH. Okay, okay, but a year later, just last night, Netflix’s Raw premiere, WOO! An amazing night! Electric, historic! Rock wanted to give Cody his flowers. Cody’s been kicking ass! Carrying the company on his shoulders! And now, what’re “they” saying? “YoU cAn’T bE nIcE tO cOdY~! Don’t drink tequila with Cody~!”

Rock says F that noise! At the end of the day, let us all remind “them” that The Rock is the Final Boss, 20 steps ahead. The best thing to do is know your role, shut your mouth, and enjoy the ride The Rock is taking you on! LA cheers that! Rock says this is a rowdy crowd right here. Two-minute warning, though. Now, Rock’s in charge, F that, they can go all night if they want! The fans love that idea! Oh, “they” are sweating back there, sorry for the language. But here’s the thing: Rock knew he was coming to NXT even a couple weeks ago. He talked with Nick Khan and Triple H, he told them he should go to NXT.

We all knew it would be Intuit Dome on Monday, so Rock can go to NXT in The Shrine on Tuesday. They liked that idea, but then Rock didn’t know what to say. Think about it. Rock talked with Ava, Ava said he was gonna come out here and FEEL this crowd! She said the crowd would inform him on what he’d say. He loves them, he appreciates them, but he wants to say something very important. The main thing is, he wants to tell us all thank you. And here’s why. Because going to the Intuit Dome last night, that was a sexy ticket. LA, Netflix, Raw, the stars of WWE, celebrities of Hollywood, that’s the one you “have” to go to.

NXT, The Shrine, this is the one you WANT to go to! The fans cheer that! Rock will tell you something, the chills won’t stop! See, it is easy to go to the place with all the stars. Not that there aren’t stars here! But that’s what Rock needs us to know. Every single one of the fans here, how important and critical they are to this whole thing, because the thing is: the guys ‘n’ girls back there, they come out here, and who knows? In three years, they could be the main event of WrestleMania! But as we all know, they could also be out of the business. What it depends on, whether you boo or cheer, it is about how you react!

Rock has been down this road, wrestled in Memphis as “Flex Cavana,” he knows, probably the worst name in all of wrestling, but he knows what it is like to depend on the crowd. He wants us to know that we matter more than anything. His job takes him to a lot of places, but he will always come back home! WWE, NXT, Rock loves you! IF YA SMELLLLLL~… What The Rock is Cookin’!! The fans cheer The Great One, will this electrifying endorsement strap a rocket to NXT’s back?

My Thoughts:

An awesome NXT with New Year’s Evil, but also just a great LA crowd. The Rock had a great promo to close, clearly very genuine, and a lot of fun with The Rock being himself. Between Rock showing up and events like tonight’s New Year Evil being WWE coded, it is clear WWE is elevating NXT. Not so much that it’ll be the third main roster brand, but it’s certainly more than “just developmental.” Rock also had a very good promo with Ethan Page and Ava to help set up the closing promo, and I do like the idea of The Rock wanting All Ego to respect Ava, aka his daughter. Je’Von also had a very good promo, that grudge match is going to be some awesome stuff.

Speaking of grudge matches, all these titles matches were great given all the story and heat going into them. The NXT Women’s Championship opening was a little surprising, but that let it breathe and go as hard as it could. And as such, awesome win for Giulia, as expected. Same goes for the main event match, though I did like the outside the box idea: Eddy actually got attacked but gutted it out to join the match about halfway through. Oba VS Trick on its own was great, and then Eddy bringing a chair was good stuff. Oba winning was also expected, and Trick eating the pin could indicate Trick’s being called up. Roxie surely moves on, too, SmackDown being three hours could use some fresh faces to fill it out.

Great Fatal 4 Way, though I think one of the ads for the show messed up saying it was just Vaquer and Cora. That aside, great win for Vaquer, which for one lets Kelani and Cora settle things on their own, maybe even with Lola in the mix. The Six Woman Tag was also really good, though some of those wide shots made it hard to see what was going on. Great win for the Faces, but I’m partly disappointed that Shotzi pinning Fallon gives us Shotzi VS Vaquer, winner gets Fallon, and not just a Triple Threat. Though, it’ll also be a shame no matter who wins, as both Shotzi and Vaquer deserve a shot. But when things all sort out, I’m pretty sure Vaquer beats Fallon to be the champ.

Very good promo from OTM to hype up their tag title match, and there’s a chance they do win. Fraxiom has had such a good run as tag champs, this is definitely the time to have them move on and each become great singles champs. Good promo that was really more an announcement for Unholy Union VS Meta Four, winners get Bianca Belair & Naomi. Regardless of who wins, I feel like they could get the titles off Bianca & Naomi thanks to a Jade Cargill return. Jade can appear, shocking everyone, and she’ll even reveal whodunnit, aka probably Naomi at this point. Bianca will be confused and upset, Naomi will run away from Jade, Bianca takes the pin to crown new champs.

And while not really a new champ, Lexis King truly winning that Heritage Cup was good stuff. A little odd that they’d have an “incidental” head to the groin spot, like they did months ago when King first started his redemption story… But maybe this is to communicate that the real lesson for King is that it doesn’t matter what people think of him, he knows he’s a better person that his father. Maybe Dempsey moves on to the North American Championship from here, letting King face some fresh faces in the Heritage Rules Division. Then King can continue to ride that Tweener line with every victory until someone comes along that again makes him question where he stands.

My Score: 8.9/10