Cora Jade Starts the Show, Meta-Four VS Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley: Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams pulled up to the building together, but they were then separated after interviewers wanted to ask Trick a few questions. Then, after a recap of NXT Deadline, we came to the live feed to see Melo laid out on the floor clutching his ankle. The story continues! We then cut to Cora Jade who was standing in the middle of the ring as NXT’s Resident Mean Girl talked about how happy all the fans are now she’s back. This brought out Lyra Valkyria who reminded people (including myself) that these two used to be enemies before Blair Davenport arrived to say she has her eyes fully locked on the NXT Women’s Championship. It then looked like the two Heels were going to gang up on the Champion before Nikkita Lyons came out and we eventually got a brawl which resulted in the Babyfaces standing tall. This was a rare occasion where NXT didn’t start with a match, but that was totally fine as this actually set up the Main Event match of the night. However, no one’s promos were particularly good.
Grade: C+
After Dragon Lee said he’s going to defend his NXT North American Championship with honour just like Wes Lee, it was time for the first match of the night as Meta-Four’s Lash Legend, Oro Mensah, and the NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar took on Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley in Six-Person Mixed Tag Team action. I thought this was a totally fine and acceptable match that showcased how underrated Josh Briggs and Lash Legend are. That’s not to say Fallon Henley isn’t underrated either as she can go in the ring whilst Noam Dar is always entertaining to watch. However, I’ve found out in the last couple of weeks that Supernova 11 sucks in any match other than when the NXT Heritage Cup isn’t on the line as for the second straight week, Dar was pinned, this time courtesy of Josh Briggs’ terrific clothesline as Meta-Four lost again. I should also mention that Henley played no part in the final moments of the match as she’d already left in a brawl with Tiffany Stratton.
Grade: C+
Myles Borne VS Oba Femi: 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament (Round 1), Dragon Lee VS ?: NXT North American Championship Open Challenge
It was confirmed by a “medical professional” that Carmelo Hayes hasn’t received an injury before Melo told Trick Williams that he’s going to call out the man who attacked him later on tonight. We were then introduced to the 8 men competing in this year’s NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament before Lexis King arrived to smash Trey Bearhill in the back with a steel chair. It was then time for the Tournament to begin as Myles Borne went one-on-one with Oba Femi. This match surprised me in the sense that I expected both guys to at least make the Semi-Finals and amazingly, despite Myles Borne having an onscreen character, he got absolutely wrecked by Oba Femi who hit some really good moves before he dropped Borne with a monster Powerbomb to get the victory. This was completely unexpected, and that’s not at all a bad thing.
Grade: C+
Lyra Valkyria and Nikkita Lyons decided that the best way they can get on is to focus on how much they hate their opponents before Tiffany Stratton cut a promo about how much better she is than Fallon Henley. Dragon Lee then made his way down to the ring as the NXT North American Championship was about to be defended in an Open Challenge. The Open Challenge was accepted rather quickly by Tyler Bate and this was probably the match of the night. Both guys are really good in-ring workers that are both very agile whilst also being pretty strong. In the end, Lee hit Operation Dragon from absolutely nowhere to get the victory over Tyler Bate and I’d definitely be up to seeing these two guys go at it again down the line.
Grade: B-
Dijak VS Eddy Thorpe, Keanu Carver VS Riley Osbourne: 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament (Round 1), Lyra Valkyria and Nikkita Lyons VS Blair Davenport and Cora Jade
Brooks Jensen didn’t seem to be overly excited at the fact that Josh Briggs wants a shot at the NXT Heritage Cup before Fallon Henley said she’s going to deal with Tiffany Stratton for good next week. Ava then confirmed to Lexis King that he will be taking Trey Bearhill’s spot in the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament. I have very mixed feelings about this. It was then time for a match between Dijak and Eddy Thorpe, but to be honest, this wasn’t really a match at all. Dijak got busted open pretty badly early on when Thorpe threw him into the steel steps before the top rope broke which allowed Dijak to continuously hit Eddy with a metal bar which resulted in a Disqualification. I really don’t know what this was if I’m being honest.
Grade: C
Chase University Students were trying to think of more ways to raise funds for the University before Scrypts walked in with a briefcase that I’m guessing had a ton of money in it. Scrypts said he had a proposition for Andre Chase so I guess we’ll find out more about it next week. Blair Davenport and Cora Jade then had a very passive-aggressive conversation with one another before it was time for more action in the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament as Keanu Carver took on Riley Osbourne. Somehow, Osbourne was representing Chase University and it didn’t really work out to well for him as he got absolutely destroyed by Carver who looked really good. However, from out of absolutely nothing, Riley dropped Keanu before he delivered a Shooting Star Press which was enough for him to pick up the victory. I think I was as confused as Booker T and the rest of the NXT Universe because this literally came out of nowhere. Still, at least Chase U have something good going for them right now.
Grade: C+
“The Gangs of Gulak” (that’s what I’m deciding to call them) confronted Dragon Lee backstage and said they accept Dragon’s NXT North American Championship Open Challenge for next week before we saw an interaction where Thea Hail clearly has feelings for Riley Osbourne. What on earth is going on! Kiana James and Izzi Dame then walked over to make fun of Thea before Jacy Jayne defending her “friend”. That Tag Team match will take place next week whilst this week’s Main Event match saw Nikkita Lyons return to action as she teamed with the NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria to take on this year’s “Women’s Iron Survivor” Blair Davenport and the also returning Cora Jade. I enjoyed this match, mostly because the NXT Women’s Division is now even more stacked than it was just a few weeks ago. Nikkita Lyons is a better in-ring performer than people give her credit for whilst Cora Jade has been one of NXT’s top stars (Male or Female) over the past few years. I also really liked the finish as after Blair Davenport KO’d Lyra Valkyria with her Knee Strike, Lyons pulled BD out of the ring and dropped her with a good-looking kick. However, Cora was actually the legal woman so she actually pinned Valkyria for the 3 to show that The Generation of Jade may well be beginning again. This was smart as technically, both Jade and Davenport beat the NXT Women’s Champion in this match whilst Nikkita Lyons also showed that she has the edge over her main rival (that being Blair).
Grade: B-
Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams Come Face-to-Face
After a small segment between Gallus and Hank and Tank (Joe Gacy also appeared), Trick Williams made his way down to the ring to the delight of the NXT Universe. Trick thanked everyone for their support at NXT Deadline before Ilja Dragunov came out to show his respect to this year’s Men’s Iron Survivor. However, the NXT Champion made it very clear that he won’t be losing his Gold at NXT New Year’s Evil and that as good as Williams’ momentum is, it will come to a screeching halt on January 2nd. Carmelo Hayes’ music then hit which seemed to bother both men in the ring before Carmelo said that “The person who attacked Trick is the same person who attacked me, and that person is you Ilja Dragunov.” Dragunov laughed this off before Melo brought up some good points as to why The Mad Dragon would attack both men before Melo went to grab the NXT Championship off of Dragunov, only for the belt to crash into the face of Trick Willy. Whilst the ending was slightly odd, I thought the Dragunov-Trick stuff and the inclusion of Melo worked well. Hayes’s line about the same man who attacked Williams attacked him was particularly good and interesting.
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