While NXT Year End Awards rightfully go to headlining names like Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes, Dijak quietly continues to be the most underrated big man in wrestling. He challenges up-and-comer Eddy Thorpe in an NXT Underground match – no ropes, no countouts, no pinfalls – in the final white-and-gold show of 2023!
Duke Hudson and Andre Chase vs OTM
Scrypts is a sore thumb flanking Lucien Price and Bronco Nima, while opposingly Hudson really has transformed into Chase University’s MVP. He and Chase go “all or nothing” while NXT Tag Team Champions The D’Angelo Family watch from the podium awaiting the professor’s debt collection. Hudson eventually makes his underrated signature comeback, but a blind tag from Chase ultimately leads to OTM’s victory and a future tag team title match.
Winners: OTM
The fan-voted 2023 NXT Year End Awards are revealed: The Creed Brothers win tag team of the year, Tiffany Stratton wins female competitor of the year, and Ilja Dragunov wins male competitor of the year. Except possibly Carmelo Hayes or Becky Lynch, the deserved victors here had little competition.
Hayes and Trick Williams discuss pushing back the latter’s NXT Championship match against Dragunov, who was inadvertently taken out by Ridge Holland last week. “All I’m saying is take your shot. Think about it,” advises scheming Hayes.
Noam Dar (c) vs Josh Briggs – Heritage Cup
Briggs foolishly elected to compete without Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley, despite Heritage Cup rules calling for cornermen anyway. He towers over Dar and dominates the opening two rounds, scoring the first fall with a hellish lariat. The third round ends via double countout, but Meta-Four rejuvenates Dar in their effortlessly comedic fashion. Speaking of, Lash Legend sneakily clocks Briggs with a bucket – which he retaliates back with on Dar resulting in a disqualification. In defeat, Briggs continues to impress in singles competition, and in victory, Dar and co. prove that the Heritage Cup is tailor made for them.
Winner: Noam Dar
“He’s behind me, isn’t he?” asks Nathan Frazer about Bron Breakker – who isn’t concerned about winning NXT’s “popularity contest.” Frazer is unfazed but questions why masked companion Axiom didn’t warn him: “Brother, I was winking at you!”
Cora Jade vs Karmen Petrovic
There’s a lot at stake here for Petrovic, who’s fighting to reclaim her assigned locker; Jade wins with a double-underhook DDT. She attempts a post-match assault, but Gigi Dolin makes the save in Petrovic’s honor.
Winner: Cora Jade
Lexis King vs Riley Osborne – Breakout Tournament
The first semi-finals match in the Breakout Tournament is spectated by Trey Bearhill, who is rightfully petty about being replaced by King. Also spectating is Thea Hail, supporting classroom crush Osborne – who Booker T describes as having a “nice, beautiful smile, looking real pretty.” Bearhill causes a distraction that allows Osborne to connect with a Shooting Star Press in a genuine upset victory – so Chase University isn’t a poverty franchise after all.
Winner: Riley Osborne
Carmelo Hayes versus Ilja Dragunov at No Mercy is awarded match of the year, and The Undertaker showing up Bron Breakker is moment of the year. This Undertaker kid has a bright future, kickstarting with a fan-voted NXT Year End Award.
Ava reveals that Dragunov is approaching the building, ready to announce his condition before his NXT Championship defense against Trick Williams.
Nathan Frazer vs Bron Breakker
“He don’t want no bread, he don’t want no water – all he want is meat!” says Booker T about Breakker, who should really focus on wanting a main-roster promotion. Baron Corbin is watching the monitors while Breakker brutalizes and barks at Frazer through a commercial break. The latter makes a short-lived comeback but is absolutely demolished by the best spear in the business, bar none.
Winner: Bron Breakker
The No Quarter Catch Crew have words for the LWO, ultimately challenging them to a six-man tag at New Year’s Evil.
Brooks Jensen stands by a dejected Josh Briggs and tells Fallon Henley to spread her wings. “I love you guys,” responds Briggs before the most wholesome faction breakup imaginable.
Arianna Grace tells Ava that she was “viciously attacked” by Roxanne Perez and recommends she enlist in anger management classes. Instead, they’ll compete against one another at New Year’s Evil. Also on next week’s card, NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria defends against Blair Davenport preceded by a short and concise sit-down interview.
Oba Femi vs Tavion Heights – Breakout Tournament
The second semi-finals match is a huge battle of bulls, although Femi may be the favorite overall. Both impressively toss each other around with collegiate-like athleticism, and Femi eventually wins with a pop-up powerbomb.
Winner: Oba Femi
Footage of Ridge Holland “injuring” Ilja Dragunov is replayed, and the former will conduct an interview next week. If Holland legitimately takes someone out again, is it now accounted for?
Joe Coffey vs Joe Gacy
Gacy enters through the crowd, because he’s just a different type of cat. “Let’s go, Joe” and “Joe forever” chants are followed by “Joe is gonna kill you and “both these Joes.” Tank Ledger and Hank Walker even the odds against Gallus, and Gacy Joes over with a handspring lariat.
Winner: Joe Gacy
North American Champion Dragon Lee accepts No Quarter Catch Crew’s challenge while Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro reunite with Elektra Lopez – accompanied by Lola Vice who isn’t feeling the vibe.
Eddy Thorpe vs Dijak – NXT Underground Match
War-painted Thorpe has made NXT Underground his signature, but Dijak is a much bigger challenge than Damon Kemp was previously. The ring is ropeless and surrounded by miscellaneous trainees watching heated rivals throw hands. Dijak gains control, escaping an arm triangle with a slam and throwing Thorpe to the floor preceding picture-in-picture. The most underrated big man in wrestling cannonballs to the outside, but Thorpe comes back with consecutive suplexes and a rear-naked choke. Dijak connects with two spinning boots and backflips out of a German suplex to the floor, proceeding to take out people around him.
Thorpe brutally backdrops him onto the apron, stealing Dijak’s strap and utilizing it against him before flipping him back to the floor. “Don’t stop it!” says Dijak to the referee in his distinct Batman voice, coming in and out of consciousness in a chokehold. Atop the steel steps, Thorpe delivers a DDT through the announce table to become victorious via knockout – undefeated in Underground matches after an insane addition.
Winner: Eddy Thorpe
After a strikingly real, gritty battle between Thorpe and Dijak, the movie-like confrontation between Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams is contrastingly contrived. Williams signs the contract and offers more time, but Dragunov – taking off his neck brace – says, “The match is on.”
NXT 12/26/23
Orlando, FL
This was an awesome conclusion to NXT’s 2023, which saw a return to in-ring excellence for the brand. The motif was highlighted with Dijak and Thorpe, but the undercard was just as exciting.