NXT: Ilja Dragunov attacks Trick Williams?

Trick Williams being the hottest name in NXT is an unexpected year-end highlight, bookending a highly discussed Deadline event and transitioning towards New Year’s Evil. Carmelo Hayes is found taken out backstage while cameras catch up to Williams – a welcomed 180 on what this duo’s dynamic once was.

The returning Cora Jade opens in-ring with a microphone, still half the orator of her wrestling idols, but the obnoxiously piped-in boos steal attention anyway. NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria, number-one contender Blair Davenport, and Nikkita Lyons interject consecutively leading to an abrupt brawl. “She back!” says the ever-entertaining Booker T.

New North American Champion Dragon Lee is interviewed backstage and gives well wishes to Wes Lee before issuing an open challenge tonight. Despite the injury, the division is in good hands under an exciting new champ.

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Meta-Four vs Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley

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Speaking of brawls, footage from Saturday catches a scuffle between the teams, who jumpstart the opening mixed tag. Both women have improved immensely, especially Lash Legend whose bodyslam to Otis is still being talked about; partners Noam Dar and Oro Mensah have always been smooth, and that needs to be talked about more. At some point, Tiffany Stratton emerges to attack Henley – who demonstrates poor teamwork by leaving Jensen and Briggs. But the latter wins anyhow, shoving down Meta-Four further, but inversely seeming to continue Briggs’ slight shine of light.

Winners: Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley

Carmelo Hayes is cleared for Smackdown, threatening to call out whoever attacked him earlier. Meanwhile, Trick Williams looks towards arch nemesis Ilja Dragunov in the greatest comeback story NXT has produced in years.

The 2023 Men’s Breakout Tournament begins: Trey Bearhill, Dion Lennox, Luca Crusifino, Tavion Heights, Keanu Carver, Riley Osborne, Myles Borne, and Oba Femi. In comes the inadvertently hilarious Lexis King, backshotting Bearhill with a chair before the following match.

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Myles Borne vs Oba Femi – Breakout Tournament

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Borne is a familiar face under the Drew Gulak Catch Point spinoff, but Femi is a literally huge gem waiting to be uncovered. The match puts over his 6’5” frame, and a pop-up powerbomb earns Femi the relatively quick victory.

Winner: Oba Femi

WWE-style dialogue precedes Lyra Valkyria opening her locker to find Tatum Paxley’s face taped over her photo with Becky Lynch. Valkyria teams with Nikkita Lyons tonight to face Cora Jade and Blair Davenport.

Tiffany Stratton is “over her entire existence” when asked about Fallon Henley, whose rivalry prolongs an internet-infamous spot from their Iron Survivor match at Deadline.

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Dragon Lee (c) vs Tyler Bate – North American Championship

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Bate answers the open challenge to dismay that he’s still here. That guy who never graduated is neck-and-neck athletically with the champion, taking control after break with a big outside dive. Lee returns the favor, but Bate recuperates with an Airplane Spin and rebound lariat. They trade high-paced reversals until Lee hits his finisher for victory, showing respect to Bate thereafter a great sneak peak of this new reign.

Winner: Dragon Lee

Josh Briggs is looking forward to a Heritage Cup Championship match after pinning Noam Dar, but Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley seem a bit apprehensive. No team is safe inside the Shawn Michaels kitchen. 

Lexis King brags about blindsiding a Breakout competitor to Ava in an aura vacuum of a segment. He’ll be replacing Trey Bearhill in the tournament, proving his plan foolproof.

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Eddy Thorpe vs Dijak

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The heated rivalry continues with Dijak getting busted open and slamming Thorpe into the top turnbuckle. The turnbuckle becomes weaponized by Dijak, resulting in a disqualification and a myriad of officials trying to separate them.

Winner: Eddy Thorpe

Chase University works together to financially cover the interest scandal of Andre Chase until Scrypts appears with a briefcase and a “proposition.” After, partners Cora Jade and Blair Davenport reluctantly talk gameplan for tonight’s main event.

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Keanu Carver vs Riley Osborne – Breakout Tournament 

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Osborne represents Chase University, but commentary thinks he’s cooked against Carver – who demolishes the student with a clothesline for Booker T’s “shucky ducky quack quack” moment of the night. Osborne survives longer than expected with some nice dropkicks, eating a huge pounce that gets Orlando standing, and actually pulls off the upset with a Shooting Star Press.

Winner: Riley Osborne

No Quarter Catch Crew (huh?) catches up with Dragon Lee “in peace,” accepting next week’s North American Championship open challenge but not revealing which member. Later, Thea Hail tries flirting with Osborne to the embarrassment of Jacy Jayne and amusement of Kiana James and Izzi Dame.

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Nikkita Lyons and Lyra Valkyria vs Cora Jade and Blair Davenport

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NXT Women’s Champion Valkyria controls, but the opposition reverses momentum on Lyons through picture-in-picture. While the former makes a comeback, Tatum Paxley perches on the barricade to spectate the action breaking loose. Jade steals a win over Valkyria after Davenport connects with a knee strike, and Paxley crawls towards the fallen champion to an astute “this is creepy” comment by Vic Joseph.

Winners: Cora Jade and Blair Davenport

Hank and Tank are approached by Gallus, interrupted by Joe Gacy in a forklift – making about as much sense as Schism did.

2023 Iron Survivor winner Trick Williams makes the most hyped entrance in wrestling, and Vic Joseph compares his Deadline comeback to LeBron James in 2016 – “I’m Trick James, b-!” The standing-ovation celebration is interrupted by NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov, admitting to be proud of rival Williams. They respectfully banter until Carmelo Hayes enters to reveal who attacked him and his partner: “Ilja, it was you!” Hayes tries justifying his answer, but Dragunov and everyone else sees through it. The two tug-o-war over the NXT Championship, but Hayes inadvertently takes out Williams to end the show.