Will Fraxiom continue to survive?

Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price! Will Fraxiom get #OutTheMud?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Stephanie Vaquer VS Shotzi Blackheart; Shotzi wins and will challenge Fallon Henley for the title.
• Ethan Page VS Dante Chen; Ethan wins.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Match: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson; Lash & Jakara win and will challenge Bianca Belair & Naomi for the titles.
• Kelani Jordan VS Cora Jade; Cora wins.
• NXT Tag Team Championships: Nathan Frazer & Axiom VS OTM; Frazer & Axiom win and retain the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

Oba Femi is here!

NXT is home in Orlando, and the Orlando fans fire up for The Ruler as he struts to the ring as the NEW NXT Champion! Oba grabs the mic to say, “Dread it, run from it, destiny will always arrive. Just like I have arrived! And now it’s time for me to take my rightful place upon the throne. Many a men will win something as big as this, and they will come out here and say, ‘I never believed I could do it~!'” The fans laugh at Oba mocking the American accent, and then Oba says, “I ALWAYS believed I could do it!” The fans cheer that! Oba says ever since he came here, he said he was always backed by destiny.

Others said it was a catchphrase, a gimmick, a joke, but no! He was backed by destiny all along. He was backed by destiny when he won the Breakout Tournament! He was backed by destiny when he became NXT North American Champion! He was backed by destiny when he became the longest-reigning North American Champion! And he was definitely backed by destiny when he became THE NXT Champion! The fans cheer that, too, and Oba says all this is his now. It belongs to The Ruler! And Oba shall rule how he sees fit. The fans chant, “You Deserve It!” but Oba wants to talk about Trick Williams first.

Trick put a lot of hard work into the title, and broke records doing it. But like a lot of others back there, Trick has a ceiling! Oba has NO ceiling! And as for Eddy Thorpe, well, he’s a piece of work, isn’t he? He’s a rat! A deceiver! Like a roach that won’t die! Or the gum on the bottom of your shoe that you just can’t get rid of. That is Eddy. But Oba will issue Eddy his first and final warning. Eddy can annoy anyone else he wants in the locker room, but- Tony D’Angelo interrupts! The Don tells Oba, “my guy, how you doing? Congrats on the win, by the way. You’re in the big seat now.” Tony joins Oba in the ring as champion and champion.

Tony says he was in the back and the Family was listening to Oba list all the accomplishments. But Tony’s personal favorite was Oba being the longest-reigning North American Champion. Because, in Tony’s opinion, when it comes to the North American Championship, it is The Don: 2; Oba Femi 1. See, there is no question: Oba is The Ruler. But just remember: Tony is the one man to defeat him. And when Tony decides to go for the NXT Championship, we all know he walks away the Double Title Don. Oba sees Tony found his confidence. Good for him, that’s amazing. But last time we checked… Didn’t Tony get dropped by Santa Claus?

So if Oba was Tony, he’d start worrying about his own title more, and leave Oba alone. Tony says no one gets one on the done without consequences. Tony will take care of Ridge Holland. Speaking of, here comes Ridge Holland! Ridge says hi, Tony, good to see you again. Tony’s looking in better shape than last time they saw each other. Oh, and here is a belated Christmas gift. A framed picture of that night in Philly. Tony says really funny, he’ll come sign it for him. Tony rushes out to go after Ridge, but Ridge takes a swing! Tony dodges the framed picture to then TACKLE Ridge! The fans fire up as these two brawl, but refs hurry out to stop it.

The fans boo, they wan tot “LET THEM FIGHT!” WAIT! Eddy slithers in to CLOBBER Oba! The fans boo but Eddy dropkicks the legs, then hits a DDT! The fans boo more but Eddy has a leather strap! Eddy wraps it around his arm, so he can LEATHER LARIAT! The fans boo as Eddy holds the title belt over Oba! Will the Alpha Wolf finally sink his teeth into the gold he’s been hunting?

Oro Mensah talks with Dante Chen backstage.

Main Man Mensah wants the Singapore Warrior to understand they can- All Ego interrupts. Ethan Page says it’s been a big week for the biggest star in NXT. If you guys didn’t see last week, Ethan’s interaction with “DJ,” aka The Rock… Hey, Dante, what’d you do last week? IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DID! Oh, haha, Ethan… Ethan sniffs something and says he honestly smells… the jealousy in this locker room. Dante says no one is jealous of Ethan, because he’s just obnoxious. After what he did to Je’Von and Cedric, no one wants Ethan here! Aw, and Ethan always cared so much about what others think.

What was it, exactly, Dante? That Ethan broke Je’Von’s jaw? Or that Je’Von can’t eat solid foods? No, no, it was last week, having to hear Je’Von talk through the wires. Dante gets fired up and he shoves Ethan! The others step in to keep this from getting violent. Dante says fine, he’ll go to Ava to get this made. Ethan says good! Dante heads out, will he be the one to avenge the Young OG & Uncle Ceddy?

NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Stephanie Vaquer VS Shotzi Blackheart!

The Dark Angel overcame Cora Jade, Lola Vice & Kelani Jordan to earn a golden ticket to facing Fallon Henley, but then The Wild Child pinned that toxic cowgirl personally. Now these two will battle to see who is truly number one! Who will Fallon have to worry about more in the near future?

NXT return as Shotzi makes her entrance. The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Vaquer waistlocks, Shotzi switches, but Vaquer switches. Shotzi trips Vaquer, Vaquer trips Shotzi, and Vaquer covers, ONE! Vaquer facelocks but Shotzi wrenches out and covers, ONE! Shotzi has a cording hold, then wrenches to a wristlock. Vaquer rolls, handsprings, then wrenches to a wristlock. Shotzi rolls, spins, wrenches from below and has the wristlock again. Vaquer reaches back, drops down, and then rolls to wrench back. Shotzi rolls, trips, and spins Vaquer. The two stand up and the fans fire up!

Shotzi and Vaquer nod, then fist bump in respect. They circle, tie up, and Vaquer wrenches to then slips under and arm-drag! Shotzi goes to a corner, goes up and over, then comes back. Vaquer blocks the arm-drag and smiles. She goes up, Arabian Press and arm-drag! Shotzi stumbles up, Vaquer rolls her up, and bridges! TWO! Shotzi runs up to wheelbarrow, victory roll, TWO! Both women are up again, but Vaquer trips Shotzi. Vaquer has a leglock, rolls it, ties the legs up, then moves around, but Shotzi just powers Vaquer down! Shotzi ties Vaquer’s legs up for a modified Deathlock! Shotzi grabs Vaquer’s arms and has an INVERTED SURFBOARD!

The fans rally and duel, the two roll and it’s a cover, TWO! Shotzi swings but Vaquer ducks! Vaquer swings but Shotzi ducks! Shotzi kicks, Vaquer blocks, but Shotzi ENZIGIRIS! Shotzi brings Vaquerl around, whips her to a corner, and then goes up the corner. Shotzi headscissors to then go along the ropes, HANING TRIANGLE! The ref counts, Shotzi lets go at 4, and Vaquer sputters. Shotzi climbs up fast to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Vaquer stays in this and Shotzi grows frustrated, but she hurries to bring Vaquer up. Shotzi whips, Vaquer reverses, but Shotzi BOOTS her! Vaquer frowns, blocks the next boot, and DRAGON SCREWS Shotzi!

Vaquer sits Shotzi up and the fans fire up for the headscissor DRILLER! Vaquer stops at seven, Shotzi flounders out of the ring, and the fans fire up while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Shotzi GAMANGIRIS Vaquer up top! Shotzi then climbs up, and roars before she hits a SUPER STEINER! The fans fire up and Shotzi aims from the corner. Shotzi runs up to KNEE Vaquer, then ROLLING ELBOW! Then QUESTION MARK KICK! Shotzi hurries to cover, TWO! Vaquer survives that onslaught, but Shotzi brings her up. Vaquer JAWBREAKERS, SUPERKICKS, then wrenches for EAT DA FEET! Shotzi flounders while the fans fire up. Shotzi is in the corner, Vaquer runs in, but Shotzi dodges! Vaquer hits buckles, Shotzi comes back to CANNONBALL! The fans fire up as Shotzi waistlocks!

Vaquer grabs the ropes, but Shotzi clamps onto the arms! Shotzi chicken wings Vaquer for a TIGER PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Vaquer narrowly escapes and Shotzi can’t believe it! The fans rally while Vaquer goes to a corner. Shotzi runs in again, but Vaquer HIP TOSSES her into the buckles! Vaquer scrubs Shotzi’s face with her boot, then roars! The fans fire up again, Vaquer hits a METEORA! Vaquer then drags Shotzi out, covers, TWO! Shotzi survives and now Vaquer’s a bit stunned! Vaquer drags Shotzi up, tucks her in, but Shotzi escapes! Shotzi ROCKS Vaquer, Vaquer ROCKS Shotzi, repeat! Wait, is that Jacy Jayne?

Jacy shouts at Vaquer and Shotzi from the apron, but they both grab her! They drag Jacy in, and they DOUBLE HEADBUTT! Jacy falls, but then Vaquer HEADBUTTS Shotzi! Vaquer puts her on ropes, runs, but FALLON hits Vaquer with the blet! Shotzi doesn’t know it, she rolls Vaquer up! SHOTZI WINS!

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

Fallon & Jacy influence this match, and they make sure La Primera will have to wait her turn. But will Shotzi make sure Fallon doesn’t leave Atlanta with the gold? Or will Fallon shine bright on Center Stage?

The Women’s Division talks about New Year’s Evil.

Sol Ruca tells Kelani Jordan that she was a split-second away from victory. Things will turn around. Just don’t change what got her here. Zaria has to disagree. The Agent of Change says Kelani was the North American Champion just a few months ago. Kelani knows that. Then just change the tide! Use loss as motivation. But Cora Jade isn’t so sure about that. Of course she wouldn’t… Cora says Kelani can just motivate herself to the back of the line. If Kelani wasn’t in the match, Cora would’ve won. Oh don’t even get Kelani started. Yeah? Or what? Cora has no doubt that Cora will win a title before Kelani does.

Kelani can have all the attitude she wants, she’s still just the same little girl from Michigan State- KELANI SLAPS CORA! And she tells Cora that she is NOT the same “little girl.” Kelani storms off, will she prove to Cora that this is NOT The Generation of Jade?

Stephanie Vaquer returns backstage.

NXT is in picture and picture right now, but it is clear The Dark Angel is hunting for The Fatal Influence. They may have messed her up in the match, but she won’t let them get away with it! She even pushes past some people to make her way down the hall. She finds Jacy being checked on, and pushes her against the wall! Vaquer demands to know where Fallon is, Jacy says she doesn’t know, so Vaquer THROWS Jacy down! Vaquer storms back up the hall, back the way she came, and then comes across Tatum Paxley & Gigi Dolin. She asks them, and they assure her, they don’t like the Influence any more than her, but they have no idea where to look.

Vaquer continues on, only getting frustrated with every person that says they haven’t seen Fallon. Refs tell Vaquer to calm down, but she isn’t hearing it. Ethan Page is headed to gorilla, he says to cheer up. Her glare tells him to keep walking, so he does. The hunt continues, will La Primera find her prey?

Oba Femi enters Ava’s office.

He interrupts her talk with Robert Stone & Stevie Turner, and she asks what she can help him with. Oba said he already warned Eddy and everyone else that he would eliminate Eddy once and for all the next time they saw each other. Ava says she understands that, and would love to see that. Oba says if Eddy wants his title match, then they give him the title match. No, they don’t do anything. Ava is not rewarding Eddy for anything. Oba says it’ll be Eddy’s last shot one way or another. Stone says Oba needs to hold on. Big Guy, champ, if you don’t know this or not, but Eddy’s playing you like a fiddle! Don’t let him do that to you!

Oba picks Stone up and pins him against the wall! Oba is the champion, so if he wants Eddy, he gets Eddy! Ava tells Oba that as fun as this is, put Stone down! Then they can talk about this. Oba drops Stone, and Ava says fine, Oba VS Eddy will be next week. Oba heads out, will Eddy regret coming back for more?

Ethan Page VS Dante Chen!

All Ego’s ego has only grown since The Rock gave him a pseudo seal of approval, and it’s only gotten on everyone else’s nerves. Will the Singaporean Warrior make sure Ethan really does lose his smile? Or is the ego only going to grow exponentially?

Dante winds up for his pose, but Ethan CLOBBERS him! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Ethan throws down fists and stomps! The ref gets Ethan to back off, then asks if Dante wants this match. Dante says YES! The bell rings and Ethan runs up! Dante dodges to fire off in return! The fans fire up for Dante as he and Ethan scrap! Dante ROCKS Ethan, bumps him off buckles, then runs. Ethan dodges but Dante ELBOWS, UPPERCUTS, and SUPERKICKS! Dante runs to BOOT Ethan down! The fans fire up and he powers up again. The fans join in, but Ethan hurries away from Dante.

Dante pursues but Ethan YANKS him into ropes! Ethan drags Dante up, for a TWIST OF FATE! Cover, ETHAN WINS!

Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall

Between Dante’s anger and Ethan’s cunning, Ethan takes Dante out fast! But now Ethan rains down fists on Dante again! The fans boo but Ethan drags Dante to the apron. Ethan pulls Dante’s boot off his foot, then he YANKS Dante to the floor! Ethan puts Dante’s leg between steps and post! The fans boo, Ethan says Dante wanted this! Ethan DROPKICKS the steps!! Dante writhes, that was his repaired leg! Refs rush out here to tell Ethan to leave, but Ethan takes his time admiring the pain he just inflicted. All Ego is going all psycho, BUT JE’VON IS HERE! Je’Von goes after Ethan with fast hands! Those aren’t broken!

But then Ethan ROCKS Je’Von in the jaw! Ethan grins as he asks Je’Von, “Gimme a smile now!” Je’Von tried to be a hero but Ethan made him pay for it. Will anyone in NXT be able to stop Ethan?

Oba Femi walks the halls.

Dion Lennox walks over and congratulates Oba on the win. Oba thanks Dion, and Dion says one day he’ll be challenging Oba for the title. Oba says sure… Oba moves on, and meanwhile, we see Shawn Spears talking with Adriana Rizzo. Rizzo says she’s seen and heard enough of Spears and she’s done with him. But Spears says that while Rizzo understands the value of family, The Family doesn’t understand her value. Does Rizzo feel Tony appreciates her? Izzi Dame says she’s so sick and tired of Spears. She told Spears that she doesn’t need him, and Rizzo definitely doesn’t need him!

Spears says he isn’t so sure about that. Spears heads off, Rizzo says she had that handled, and Izzi says, “Sure you did.” But make sure to tell “Don Don” this makes them even. Tell him yourself! These two go their separate ways, and now we see Ashante THEE Adonis talking with Karmen Petrovic. Karmen says she got his text, and he says no more playing games. And he chooses her. Adonis offers her a rose, she takes it, and she says about damn time. She kisses Adonis! Adonis smiles and these two head out. Victory for #Adonivic, will love conquer all of NXT?

Backstage interview with DIY.

Sarah Schreiber is with the WWE Tag Team Champions, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, and asks what brings them back to NXT. Ciampa says first off, it is TWO-TIME WWE Tag Team Champions. And what brings them home is #Fraxiom. They’ve heard so much about those guys. There are people saying Fraxiom is the greatest tag team in NXT history. But as the BTTITW, Best Tag Team in the World, DIY is at the top of the mountain. That means they have to be ten steps ahead. And they know that one day, DIY will step in the ring with Fraxiom, and the world will rejoice.

So Gargano asked his “good buddy, Heartbreak” for some tickets to tonight’s show so they can watch Fraxiom up close and in person. Ciampa assures us that they are not here to cause any problems, you can trust them. Can we…? Or will Frazer & Axiom just become the next DIY project?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Match: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson!

Bianca Belair & Naomi are the newEST championship duo, but that means they need new challengers. Will The Unholy Union use every trick in the book to make it back to the gold? Or will the Bougie Bully & Miss Jackson show what the Meta Girls can really do?

NXT returns and the wicked witches make their entrance. The teams sort out and Jakara starts against Alba. The two circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Alba and Jakara go around, Alba wrenches and wristlocks. Jakara endures, Alba snapmares Jakara and covers, ONE! Alba wrenches Jakara again, YANKS the arm, then wristlocks. Jakara wrenches back but Alba wrenches right away! Alba keeps Jakara from Lash, so Jakara uses the ropes to flip through! Jakara wrenches Alba but Alba breaks free to CHOP! The fans fire up and Alba grins, but Jakara ROCKS Alba right back! Jakara fires body shots, but Alba shoves her!

Alba swings, Jakara blocks to knuckle lock and CHOP! Jakara goes up and up and FLYING ARM-DRAG! Then DROPKICK! Jakara tags Lash but Alba tags Isla. Isla runs in but Jakara dodges and Lash runs Isla over! THen Lash runs Alba over! Lash wrenches Isla, knuckle locks, and straight arm levers! The fans fire up for the power, then Lash throws Isla. Isla dodges, waistlocks, but Lash ELBOWS her! Lash brings Isla around to THROW to the corner! Lash runs up to SPLASH, then tag to Jakara. Jakara taunts Alba, runs and back body blocks Isla! Jakara then wrenches and wrangles Isla to step over the arm.

Jakara hooks Isla to drag her into a cradle, TWO! Jakara storms up but Isla RAMS her! Isla ROCKS Jakara, whips, but Jakara reverses. Jakara then dodges to SLINGBLADE! The fans are torn as Jakara runs, HANDSPRING ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Isla stays in this but Jakara keeps her from Alba. Tag to Lash, they whip and scoop! Lash LSAMS Isla, then Jakara wheelbarrows with Lash, WHEELBARROW SPLASH! Lash covers, TWO! Isla survives but Lash keeps her from Alba. Lash fireman’s carries, but Isla fires forearms! Isla fires fast hands, but Lash DECKS her with one! The ref checks Isla, Alba HOTSHOTS Lash!

Lash takes a swing on Alba but Isla jumps onto Lash! SLEEPER! Alba tags in, the Unholy Union mugs Lash! The ref reprimands, Alba digs her boots in, but Alba lets off at 4. Isla fires hands, then ELBOWS Lash in the corner. Isla RAMS into Lash, Lash shoves Isla, but Alba tags in. Alba digs her boot in again, but stops at 4. Tag back to Isla, and Alba feeds Lash to the TARANTULA! Lash BOOTS Alba, then throws Isla away! Lash fires knees into Alba, but Isla jumps back on! SLEEPER! Lash stays up, and she FLINGS Isla off her! Tag to Jakara, and Jakara climbs up onto Lash’s shoulders! But Alba CLIPS Lash, Jakara falls to hit buckles!

Isla hurries to drag Jakara out, and she METEORAS to the floor! Lash whips Alba, but Alba RANAS Lash! The fans fire up with Alba, and she builds speed to go up, up and ESCALARA SWANTON! Down go the Meta Girls, and the fans fire up with Alba & Isla while NXT goes picture in picture.

Alba & Isla drag Lash up, whip her hard into the apron, then they mug Jakara! Isla pushes Jakara into the ring, covers, TWO! Isla keeps on Jakara, CLUBS away, then pulls hair! The ref counts, Isla lets go, and then Isla brings Jakara over. Tag to Alba, Alba reels Jakara in, GOURD BUSTER! Isla hits another METEORA! Cover, TWO! Jakara stays in this but Alba stays on her. Alba DECKS Jakara, then steps over her arm. Alba taunts Lash by holding the hand out, only to bend the fingers back! Alba then kicks Jakara down, and she drags her up. But Jakara rolls Alba up! TWO, and Alba LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Jakara toughs it out but Alba drags her over. Tag to AIsla, and a feed to the TARANTULA! Then a SUPERKICK! Jakara falls, Isla covers, TWO! Isla drags Jakara up just to SMACK her off the mat! Isla clamps on a chinlock and stretches Jakara. Jakara endures, Lash coaches her up, and Jakara stands. Jakara fires body shots, but Isla CLUBS her on the back. Isla digs her boots in, the ref counts, and Isla stops at 4. Isla argues with the ref, and that lets Alba CHOKE Jakara! Isla then runs in, but Jakara BOOTS her away! Jakara dodges Isla, Isla grabs her legs! Jakara BOOTS Isla away! Alba tags in and she drags Jakara back!

Jakara stands, hops and hops,  and she ENZIGIRIS Alba! NXT returns to single picture as Lash tags in! Lash DECKS Alba, DECKS her again, then wrenches and scoops Isla! The fans fire up as Lash SMACKS Alba using Isla, then hits a FALL AWAY SLAM! Lash kips up, the fans fire up, and Lash FLAPJACKS Alba onto Isla! Lash is all fired up and the fans are with her! Lash choke grips Alba for the SLAM DUNK CHOKE SLAM! Cover, Isla breaks it! But then Lash is just mad! Isla backs off, but Alba CHOP BLOCKS Lash! Isla goes up, Alba hits a TORNADO- NO, Lash powers out of the DDT and she LARIATS!

Lash catches Isla and SLAMS her! Tag to Jakara and Jakara climbs back onto Lash’s shoulders! They try this again, META CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Alba survives for her team and Jakara grows frustrated. Jakara drags Alba up, but Isla goes after Lash on the outside! Alba JAWBRAEKERS Jakara, then BLASTS Lash! Alba tags Isla and they get Jakara up. BACKSTABBER and SWANTON BOMB! Cover, Lash BARRELS through Alba to break it! The fans fire up, but Isla hits a CODE BREAKAER on Lash! Jakara DECKS Isla! Alba SUPERKICKS Jakara! Lash runs up, but the Unholy Union DUMPS her out!

The fans are torn, but Jakara grabs Alba in a SLEEPER! Alba throws her away, Isla SUPERKICKS Jakara! Isla ROUNDHOUSES, then back suplexes, but Jakara lands out! EDGE-O-MATIC! Both women crawl, but Lash is still down! Hot tag to Alba! Alba taunts Jakara, blocks a kick, then hooks her up! But Lash returns to sneak the tag! She BOOTS Isla down! Jakara sunset flips Alba and Lash wheelbarrows her! Jakara runs up, META CUTTER!! Cover, Meta Four wins!!

Winners: Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)

Alba & Isla put Lash & Jakara to the test, and the Meta Girls passed with flying colors! Will Lash & Jakara soon prove that they are the strongEST team in the WWE? Or will they just feel the StrongEST Glow instead?

Lexis King finally adds his plaque to the Heritage Cup.

The Drama King tells the guy to secure it nice and tight so it doesn’t go anywhere. This is awesome. Ava congratulates the champ, and Lexis says that coming from the “Final Boss of NXT” makes it so official. Just look at this. This is four months of hard work and dedication. Charlie Dempsey & Wren Sinclair walk over and Dempsey also congratulates Lexis. He finally went and did it. But Wren brings up Lexis hit Dempsey in the- Wren, please, no excuses. Lexis won, his name is on the cup. Wren says it isn’t an excuse, it’s about the rematch. We all saw Lexis hit Dempsey in the-

Lexis says no, that was all an accident. Well, she doesn’t believe him. Wait, do you all hear that? Wren hears “Rematch! Rematch!” Wren does the chant and a dance, but Ava says she should get her hearing checked. But also, she does agree, there should be a rematch. Wait, what just hit the garage door from the outside? Ava hurries outside, and we see Ridge brawling with Tony! Security separates these two but things are clearly not getting any less chaotic in NXT! When and where will the Yorkshire Grit get his shot at the North American Championship?

Kelani Jordan VS Cora Jade!

Speaking of North American Championships, the inaugural Women’s North American Champion is sick and tired of everyone looking down on her or thinking that she’s just “the girl next door.” Will The Standout finally stand out and head back for the title she lost? Or will Cora once again make things all about her?

NXT returns and we see the NEW TNA Knockouts Champion, Masha Slamovich, watching this from the crowd. Cora makes her entrance, seems to take notice of of TNA’s best, then goes to the ring. The bell rings and Cora talks trash on Kelani. Cora shoves Kelani, but Kelani shoves back! Kelani then blocks a punch to SLAPO Cora! Then she dodges Cora’s lariat to DROPKICK, kip up, and slingshot arm-drag! Cora stands, Kelani TAKLCES her and rains down fists! The fans fire up, Cora pushes Kelani away and bails out. Kelani goes to the ropes, but bails out of the plancha as Cora moves. Kelani chases Cora around the outside!

The fans cheer but Cora rolls into the ring. Kelani slides in, drops down, then hurdles over Cora. Kelani ELBOWS Cora down, then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Cora stays in this, Kelani goes to the apron. Cora storms up but Kelani RAMS into her! Kelani then goes up, but Cora trips her up! Cora TOSSES Kelani off the top, and then laughs at her pain. Cora storms up on Kelani, stomps her at the ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. Cora drags Kelani up, brings her into the ropes, and fires forearms! The ref counts, Cora lets off, but she CHOPS! Cora runs, and she DROPKICKS Kelani down! The fans boo but Cora taunts Kelani more.

Kelani goes to ropes, Cora runs to IMPLODER STOMP! Cover, TWO! Cora drags Kelani up, puts her back on ropes, and then CHOKES her! The ref counts, Cora steps off and runs, but Kelani moves! Cora runs into ropes, then Kelani snatches her for a cradle! TWO, and Cora swings. Kelani dodges to CHOP, CHOP, and whip. Cora reverses and SHINING WIZARDS in the corner! Cora shoves Kelani down to cover, TWO! Cora is immediately frustrated, and she clamps onto Kelani with a chinlock. The fans rally as Kelani endures, and Kelani fights up to fire body shots. Kelani wrenches and hits a BIG back suplex!

The fans fire up while both women are down. Both women stand, Cora fires a forearm, but Kelani fires back! The forearms go back and forth, Kelani kicks low, but Cora wrenches out. Cora ROCKS Kelani, kicks, but Kelani blocks! And she ducks the enzigiri! Kelani runs to CLOBBER Cora! And CLOBBER her again! Kelani reels Cora in, SPLIT-LEG DDT! Cover, TWO! Kelani grows frustrated now, but she unleashes some DRAGON STOMPS! The fans fire up and Kelani snarls. Kelani stalks Cora to a corner and stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Kelani stops at 4, and then she jukes to fire off fast hands!

The fans fire up for Kelani but the ref backs her off! Cora CLAWS Kelani’s eyes! The fans boo but Cora underhooks Kelani, FUTURE SHOCK! Cover, Cora wins!

Winner: Cora Jade, by pinfall

Kelani unlocked her aggression, but Cora steals this one from her all the same. Will Cora make her way to the title now? Will Kelani figure out what she needs to do if she’s to get back to gold in her own right?

Eddy Thorpe speaks.

Via his Instagram, The Alpha Wolf smiles and laughs. “It feels good. I’ma wait, cuz I’ve got some stuff to say. I’ll take my time. You wanna see? Look at that. Full moon.” The first full moon of the New Year, aka the Wolf Moon. Eddy says it’s so pretty out here. And what a good night at work! He set the bait, again, and Oba took it, again. Just like Eddy knew he would! It was so easy, so predictable! And shoutout to GM Ava for making the match happen. It almost makes up for Ava calling him a liar last week. Almost. But that’s all behind him now. Soon enough, all will be well when he is crowned the NEW NXT Champion!

Eddy tells Oba that Oba may call himself The Ruler, but next week, he will be overthrown. One more week. In the meantime, Eddy’s gonna go celebrate. You have no idea how good he feels right now. The Alpha Wolf is smiling like a coyote, but will he still have the last laugh?

Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura talk with Nathan Frazer & Axiom backstage.

Briggs says he and Inamura went about this all wrong. What’s Briggs talking about? Fraxiom has their tag title match in like two minutes. Inamura says, “EXACTLY!” Briggs reminds them that a few months ago, they saved Fraxiom. Briggs & Inamura pulled them out of that wild brawl int he parking lot. Yes, which they appreciated. But- But it didn’t get their attention, did it? Because they were defending their titles against OTM then. So while Briggs & Inamura didn’t have their attention then, they have it now. So Briggs will say this to their faces: Briggs & Inamura got next, understand?

Oh, OTM understands. Bronco Nima & Lucien Price walk in, and Nima says Briggs & Inamura are talking to the wrong ones. Cuz after tonight, Fraxiom won’t be the champs. Frazer says we’ll see about that. Fraxiom heads out, and Nima tells Briggs & Inamura that OTM’s been chasing the belts since day one. And when they get it, they ain’t giving it up. Got that? Price promises that if you step to them, you get dragged through the mud. Inamura asks, is that mud wrestling? Inamura will pass. Oh, Inamura’s got jokes? Is he some kinda comedian? Inamura says he’s NO comedian. But he is about CHAOS!

Inamura throws hands, he and Briggs brawl with OTM! Refs and security rush in, OTM has to make their main event match! Will OTM be able to focus on Fraxiom with this fight going down?

Trick Williams tweets.

The former NXT Champion simply says, “Need to figure out what my next move is gonna be.” Will Trick return to NXT to make it Tricky Times Three? Or will he consider the Transfer Window to main roster an option?

NXT Tag Team Championships: Nathan Frazer & Axiom VS OTM!

Fraxiom had quite the wild 2024, with each of them splitting their focus from time to time, yet (almost) always finding a way to hold onto these titles. They once again have a run-in with Bronco Nima & Lucien Price, will they finally hit a wall? Or will they continue to #NeverSlowDown?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if this is where rubber hits the road!

The teams sort out and Price starts against Axiom. The bell rings, Price runs up, but Axiom goes up and over! Axiom CHOPS Price, fires hands, then gets away. Price pursues, corners Axiom, but Axiom dodges to CHOP! Price leans into the CHOPS and he backs Axiom down! Axiom and Price circle, knuckle lock, and Axiom KICKS a leg! And KICKS it again! Axiom then headlocks Price, but Price powers out. Frazer tags in, Axiom jukes Price, and Frazer RAMS Price! Price doesn’t budge, so Frazer runs, redirects, redirects again, then slips around to come back, only for Price to RUN him over! Price drags Frazer up, tag to Nima.

OTM double whip, DOUBLE ELBOW, then Nima FALLING AX HANDLES! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer because they see DIY up in the perch! Nima wrenches Frazer to RAM shoulders, then he SMASHES Frazer off his knee! Nima puts Frazer in the corner, RAMS into him again and again, then talks trash. Frazer fires body shots and haymakers, but Niam BODY SHOTS! Nima TOSSES Frazer to the corner, fires body shots, then knuckle locks. Nima goes up the ropes, tags Price, then FLYING STOMPS Frazer! Price covers, TWO! Frazer stays in this but Price ROCKS him. Frazer kicks in return, but Price YANKS him up from the ropes!

Frazer lands on his feet to PELE! Tag to Axiom, they fire forearm after forearm, then basement DDT! Nima storms in, but he gets a mule kick and boosted DROPKICK! Axiom KICKS away on Price, but Price snarls! Price blocks a kick, THROWS Axiom, then LARIATS him down! Price roars, fans are torn, and even DIY is impressed. Price nods as he looms over Axiom, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Price LARIATS Axiom in a corner! Price throws Axiom down, tags Nima, and Nima clamps onto Axiom with a standing crossface! The fans rally while Axiom endures, but Nima thrashes him around. Axiom fights up, Nima KNEES low, then he whips Axiom to the corner. Axiom ROCKS Price, BOOTS Nima, then goes up to BOOT Nima again! Axiom goes up and up to CROSSBODY, but Nima rolls through! Nima deadlifts Axiom, pops him into a fireman’s carry, but Axiom makes that a crucifix takedown! TWO, and Nima swings! Axiom dodges, hot tag to Frazer! Price tags in, but Frazer springboards to FLYING LARIAT!

The fans fire up as Frazer runs to forearm again and again! But Price scoops Frazer, only for Frazer to slip free! Frazer ELBOWS Price away, then runs to tilt-o-whirl DDT! Nima is back, he blocks a superkick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! Frazer runs to SHOOTING STAR Price! Cover, TWO! Price stays in this but Frazer puts him in the drop zone. Frazer goes up and up and PHOENIX- NO, Price moves, Frazer rolls through the splash! Price hauls Frazer up to URENAGE! Tag to Nima and the fans rally! POP-UP EXPLODER! Cover, Axiom breaks it! The fans fire up and DIY nods, still impressed.

Price TOSSES Axiom, then he tags back in. OTM whips Frazer to FLAPJACK- NO, Frazer ROCKS Nima in midair! Frazer then PELES Price! Price wobbles, Frazer goes to his corner, but there’s no Axiom! Price runs up, Frazer BOOTS him! Axiom returns to sneak the tag! Price returns but Frazer clinches, FLATLINER GAMANGIRI COMBO! Then they hook Price up and Axiom climb! MISSILE DORPKICK HIGH-LOW!! Frazer SUPERKICKS Nima, Axiom covers, TWO!! Price survives, but Axiom has the ARMBAR! Frazer DIVES onto Nima! Nima hits desk, Axiom shifts to keep Price down! Nima is back, Frazer intercepts with a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!

OTM endures submissions, the fans duel, and both Price & Nima stand! They’re fading, but they head for each other! Nima GOURD BUSTERS Frazer onto Axiom! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” while all four men are down! Axiom and Price crawl, but Axiom brings Price up. Axiom CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Price still stands, but Axiom kicks the chop away! Axiom runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, goes up the ropes and tags Frazer. Price CHOPS Axiom out of the sky! But then Axiom avoids the boot! Axiom kips up, but Price catches him to a dragon sleeper! Frazer leaps in, but Price catches him! UREANGE DDT COMBO!! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as Frazer survives! Price hurries and tags in Nima! OTM gets Frazer up, Canadian Rack and BOOT YOYO COMBO!! Cover, TWO!?! Frazer survives but Nima HAMMERS him down! Price goes out to CHOP Axiom! Nima hoists Frazer up, Price CHOPS Axiom again! Price clears off the desk! The fans fire up and Price goes back to Axiom. Price grins as he clinches Axiom, but Axiom fights free! SUPERKICK! Price is on the desk, and Frazer ROCKS Nima! Frazer puts Nima up top, but Nima shoves him away! But then Frazer springs right back up! Axiom sneaks the tag, Nima SHOVES Frazer away!

Frazer backflips to land out, and Axiom ENZIGIRIS Nima! Frazer goes to an adjacent corner, and he SUPER FROG SPLASHES Price through the desk!! The fans are thunderous and Axiom hits a SPANISH FLY on Nima!! Then GOLDEN RATIO!! Cover, FRAXIOM WINS!

Winners: Nathan Frazer & Axiom, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)

Another match, another instant classic, and another incredible victory for Frazer & Axiom!

A car pulls into the parking lot.

But who is this that’s just arrived? We don’t get to see who, will we get to see before the end of the night?

Roxanne Perez is in the ring.

The Prodigy has the mic, and she says, “When I first won the NXT Women’s Championship for the second time at NXT Stand & Deliver, no one expected that I would hold it for 276 DAYS.” The fans cheer that! Roxie says that she had nine title defends, and with every single one, the NXT Women’s Division continued to rise. Roxie was making history, and that is because all she ever wanted to do was to make Women’s Wrestling special. The fans cheer that, too. Roxie says all she wanted to do was make a Women’s Division that could main event, that the fans could be proud of, and she feels she did that. The fans cheer in agreement there, too.

Roxie says NXT attracted the best women from all around the world, because this is the BEST Women’s Division in wrestling today! But… Here she stands without the title because unfortunately, last week, Giulia was the better woman. So yes, congratulations to Giulia, and to all the fans, because as sad as it makes Roxie, it is what they wanted. But you wanna know what’s even sadder? The state of the Women’s Division without Roxie as champ! You really think Giulia can take NXT to the heights that Roxie did?! NO ONE is gonna love this Women’s Division more than Roxie!

And that feeling you get when you say, “Women’s Wrestling is changing! Women’s Wrestling is the focus! NXT has the best Women’s Wrestling!” Well, go ahead and kiss all that goodbye, because without Roxie, this division will be lost. The fans boo, but Roxie says NXT no longer deserves her. The fans no longer deserve her! And as much as fans love to live in nostalgia, trust her, it will not be the same. In the past, the fans NEEDED the Four Horsewomen. But this generation only needed- WAIT, is that Bayley!? The fans go wild and Roxie is stunned silent as The Role Model returns to NXT!

Bayley heads to the ring, mic in hand, and she says, “Ding dong, Roxanne! Happy Tuesday Night, Rox.” The fans chant, “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!” Bayley thanks them and is excited to be back. She had to come back, because she knew Roxie would not be happy about her title loss last week. But hey, where Bayley sees it, this is a crossroads in Roxie’s career. So Roxie can either keep acting how she is now, or adapt to the situation. Roxie says she didn’t ask for Bayley’s advice. Oh… Well, Bayley was sure Roxie’s been asking for advice since the day she walked into the WWE, and since they met back when Roxie was a little bit shorter than she is right now, which is crazy!

That was when Roxie was just 14 back in Austin, Texas. Bayley loves NXT, they all know how much this place means to her. And Bayley has been following Roxie’s career and how much she’s believed in her. But sis, the division’s gonna be fine. Kelani, Jaida, even Cora, they’ll all be fine without Roxie. And that doesn’t mean what Roxie did wasn’t important. It just means that NXT is bigger than that. Roxie’s title run was amazing, one of the best- Roxie says this is just like Natalya and CM Punk! And Roxie hates that Bayley is trying to tell her the same things. Y’know what that shows? It shows that Bayley is just like everyone Roxie used to look up to.

Why is Bayley even here? What? Bayley thinks NXT owes her something? Yeah, Bayley set records, but guess what? Roxie broke them. Let’s face it, Bayley, you were Roxie’s role model. Maybe Roxie can be Bayley’s. Bayley tells “Rox” that the biggest difference between the two of them is that Roxie’s gonna be stuck in her own way all along, while Bayley goes on to WrestleMania after winning the WWE Women’s Championship this Friday Night SmackDown! But then Roxie SLAPS Bayley! So Bayley TACKLES Roxie!! These two scrap on the mat while the fans fire up, but NXT has to go off the air! Will Bayley come back to settle things with Roxie after she’s settled things with Tiffany Stratton?

My Thoughts:

A great episode of NXT to not just turn the corner from New Year’s Evil but apparently start some NXT VS main roster stories. Great tag match of Meta Four VS Unholy Union, and a great win for Lash & Jakara. Lash & Jakara VS Bianca & Naomi will be great stuff, and depending on how they want to play this Jade Cargill story, the reveal of “It was Naomi!” (again, that’s the going theory) that could cost Bianca & Naomi the titles. Awesome tag title match in the main event, but I suppose DIY showing up to call out Fraxiom was foreshadowing that Fraxiom would win. Fraxiom VS DIY can be some awesome stuff, and I would think happens at Vengeance Day next month.

Roxie had a great promo to close the night, especially with Bayley making a surprise return. Their brawl to finish the show is also clearly a sign they’ll have a match, probably also at Vengeance Day. I don’t see Bayley bring a title to that, but this match doesn’t need that. This is a generational showdown as one of the more underappreciated Four Horsewomen takes on a true prodigy of her generation, and definitely a great way to bring Roxie to the main roster. Trick having just a tweet is good stuff, it adds some mystery to his next step, but I would think he goes to the main roster with a Royal Rumble debut.

As for more NXT centric stories, Briggs & Inamura putting the tag teams on notice was good stuff. I suppose them brawling with OTM was also a level of foreshadowing that Fraxiom would win. Briggs & Inamura VS OTM will be some good stuff, too, and that can help give Briggs & Inamura momentum going into a title match. Perhaps DIY is the reason why Fraxiom loses the titles, and it’d be great for Inamura as a Pro-Wrestling Noah wrestler getting a title here in NXT. For that matter, great cameo from Masha Slamovich to restart the NXTNA crossovers. We really need a Worlds Collide style event so we can get proper interaction of both companies.

Great stuff in setting up both an NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship match, though I’m surprised there wasn’t an odd “can they coexist?” tag match where Oba and Tony would have to work together against Eddy and Ridge. At the same time, I’m actually okay with that because clearly Tony and Oba would clash and that’d cost them, giving away that they’re both retaining the titles. Now, there is a chance someone loses a title, but it’s more likely Tony loses to Ridge than Oba does to Eddy, even with Eddy doing some great Heel work. And good taking advantage of the Wolf Moon for the Alpha Wolf.

Speaking of great Heel work, Ethan Page is perhaps the top Heel. Good promo with the midcard Faces, and good on Dante Chen being the one to step up. Ethan VS Dante was good but quick, and then Ethan goes and makes Dante his third victim. Great return spot from Je’Von, but yeah, with that jaw still nowhere near 100%, Ethan easily knocks Je’Von back down. Maybe NXT can give us their own take on an “Unsanctioned” match, seeing as how (in kayfabe) Je’Von isn’t 100%, and probably won’t be for months. It’ll even work as the Vengeance Day main event given the name, and Je’Von obviously wants vengeance.

Great promo with Oba with Ava, Stevie and Stone. While Stone is right, Oba picking him up with ease was funny. And then they did a great string of promos in one backstage segment, with Oba shrugging off Dion, Izzi and Rizzo finding a common annoyance in Shawn Spears, and then the surprising climax of the Karmen & Adonis love story. I still feel like Vengeance Day could be big for them since it’s right after Valentine’s Day and we could get a really fun Mixed Tag where they settle things with like Nikkita Lyons and a male superstar who could use the spotlight.

Very good promo segment to set up Kelani VS Cora, such as Sol and Zaria being opposing opinions. Those two probably need to have a 1v1 match or two, as well. Cora cheating to win makes sense, it brings her up the ranks while also adding to Kelani’s story of sharpening that edge. Vaquer VS Shotzi was a great opening match, but I should’ve figured the Fatal Influence would get involved. I almost didn’t recognize Jacy with her hair down and no hat or anything. Vaquer going on her rampage backstage was a good picture-in-picture bit, and I’m sure Vaquer will have a match or two with Jacy & Jazmyn in the background of Shotzi VS Fallon. That said, I would think Fallon wins, perhaps even with some help, but then ultimately loses to Vaquer at Vengeance Day.

My Score: 8.9/10