Kickoff Show: Axiom VS Nathan Frazer
Before NXT Deadline properly kicked off, we got a Pre-Show match between Axiom and Nathan Frazer. These two guys know each other so well and I feel like I could always watch these two wrestle against each other and never not enjoy it. The speed on show was absolutely insane as both Axiom and Nathan tried everything to pick up the victory. In the end, that right went to Axiom as The Spanish Superhero pulled out a terrific Spanish Fly before he dropped Frazer with the Golden Ratio to get the victory. This was really good stuff.
Grade: B
NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio VS Dragon Lee
After NXT Deadline kicked off with Shawn Michaels and CM Punk (yes, CM Punk) getting the crowd excited for the show, the NXT North American Championship was the first Title on the line as Dominik Mysterio looked to retain against Dragon Lee. Rey Mysterio was on commentary for this and what I enjoyed about that was Booker T kept praising Dominik. As for the match itself, I thought it had some pretty good bits in it, but there were also a couple of iffy moments where things just didn’t quite go to plan. However, it was still good enough, and in the end, it resulted in a new Champion being crowned as Dragon Lee dropped “Dirty” Dom with Operation Dragon to secure the biggest victory of his WWE career (so far). It’s crazy to think that this is the second time that Mysterio’s lost his Title against someone who wasn’t even meant to be in the match.
Grade: B-
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Blair Davenport VS Fallon Henley VS Kelani Jordan VS Lash Legend VS Tiffany Stratton
The Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge was next up on the show as Fallon Henley and Blair Davenport came out to start the match. Tiffany Stratton was then the next woman in as she and Blair worked together to ground Fallon Henley before Davenport stole the first fall away from Stratton by pinning Henley. Kelani Jordan then entered the match at the 10-minute mark whilst Fallon dropped Tiffany with the Shining Wizard to get her first fall of the night. Lash Legend was then the final woman to enter the Iron Survivor Challenge and she completely cleaned house before Lash pinned both Henley and Stratton to take the lead. As Tiffany and Fallon went into the Penalty Box, Meta-Four arrived to block them from leaving the box before the two women climbed out from the top and it ultimately resulted with The Center of the Universe sending Henley crashing through the announce table. In the final two minutes, Tiffany Stratton picked up a fall courtesy of pinning Legend with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever before, in the final 20 seconds, Blair Davenport dropped Fallon Henley with a knee to score her third fall of the evening (she pinned Kelani Jordan earlier in the contest) which was ultimately enough for BD to be called the Women’s Iron Survivor. I enjoyed this match, I thought Lash Legend particularly broke out in this one whilst the feud between Stratton and Henley is quite good. Also, Davenport winning whilst also not being pinned in 25 minutes is pretty badass! Also, Lyra Valkyria appeared on the ramp only to get blindsided by the returning Cora Jade which was cool to see.
Grade: B
Carmelo Hayes VS Lexis King
After a chat between Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams backstage, Carmelo made his way down to the ring as it was time for him to go one-on-one with Lexis King. For a Melo match, this felt a bit mid and I don’t really know why. The action was alright, but it just didn’t seem to click for me. That might well just be because Hayes’ matches are usually so good, but yeah, this one wasn’t. Anyway, the former A-Champion was able to pick up the victory by dropping Lexis with Nothin’ but Net before King proclaimed after the match that he wasn’t the one who attacked Trick Williams. The plot thickens!
Grade: C+
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Bron Breakker VS Dijak VS Josh Briggs VS Trick Williams VS Tyler Bate
It was then time for the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge and it kicked off with Dijak and Josh Briggs going at it. They were pretty evenly matched before Dijak dropped Briggs with Feast Your Eyes to score the first fall right as Tyler Bate was making his way down to the ring. To be honest, there were so many pinfalls in this match that it’s very hard to remember/bring up everything. What I will say is Dijak got pinned plenty of times before my favourite part of the match took place as Bron Breakker arrived last only to take the lead in about 30 seconds after dropping Dijak, Briggs, and Bate with Spears. Trick Williams, who was by far the fan favourite in this match, just couldn’t score a fall simply because he kept getting sent back into the Penalty Box. What also didn’t help Williams is with just 2 minutes to go, Breakker Speared him through the barricade. Dijak then followed this up by sending “The Badass” through the announce table with a chokeslam before Dijak would’ve won if it wasn’t for Eddy Thorpe’s interference. Whilst Dijak and Tyler Bate both have claims to say that they should’ve won had the referee done his jobs correctly (Bate was cost two falls), it was amazingly Trick Williams who fired back with 3 quick pinfalls before he dropped Bron Breakker in the final few seconds to miraculously end up as this year’s Men’s Iron Survivor! My first thought after watching this match was it was really good, but maybe not quite as good as the Women’s. However, I’ve changed my mind after reading what I’ve put.
Grade: B+
Kiana James VS Roxanne Perez: Steel Cage Match
After Kiana James got a special entrance, it was time for James and Roxanne Perez to go at it inside a Steel Cage. I’ve enjoyed Kiana and Roxanne’s feud and I thought their Devil’s Playground Match at NXT Halloween Havoc was pretty good. However, I can’t say the same about this one as it just felt a little flat and it didn’t feel like the Steel Cage was nearly as much of a factor as it should’ve been. Near the end of the match, Roxanne looked poised to win the match before she was attacked by Izzi Dame which allowed KJ to hit the Deal Breaker for the victory. I actually think Kiana James winning this match was the right call as she arguably started to breakout at NXT Deadline last year, but I do think the match could’ve been better.
Grade: C+
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov VS Baron Corbin
In the main event of NXT Deadline 2023, Ilja Dragunov put his NXT Championship on the line against Baron Corbin. I thought parts of this match were really good as Ilja showed his unmatched fire whilst Corbin also showed his talent. I also liked that you could tell at times just how personal this feud has got. However, “at times” is a problem because there were parts in this match where it once again felt a bit flat. I think what didn’t help this match is for the second straight year, the Iron Survivor Challenge should’ve been the Main Event. Having said that, I did like the ending as Dragunov delivered not 1, not 2, but 3 H-Bombs to Baron Corbin before he dropped Corbin with Torpedo Moscow to get the victory and retain his NXT Championship. I would have to assume that this is the end of Baron’s run in NXT which is both a good and a bad thing, and the show itself went off the air with Trick Williams coming out to Ilja Dragunov with Carmelo Hayes just lurking in the background.
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