NXT: Women’s wrestling trumps ECW nostalgia in the 2300 Arena

Offset by the U.S. presidential election, NXT aired on Wednesday night inside the 2300 Arena of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – “the birthplace of extreme.” Similarly to election results, NXT reverted to the past with all-too-familiar ECW nostalgia, featuring acts like the Dudley Boyz, Rob Van Dam, and Nunzio for instance. The limelight was appreciated by the energetic Philly fans, but the spotlight was awarded to the NXT women’s division, which main-evented with a 10-women tag team spectacle.

Lola Vice vs Jaida Parker – Hardcore Match

ECW original Dawn Marie joins tonight’s opening match as special-guest referee, but Vice and Parker go rogue with steel chairs instantly. Ladders, kendo sticks, and garbage cans appear in-ring after break, and the competitors preoccupy themselves with those rather than each other. Parker hip-drops Vice through a ladder to censored “holy sh-” chants, and the latter (no pun intended) recuperates with strikes over a can. They trade weapon shots until Vice cinches a rear-naked choke, broken up by Parker with a disintegrating brick to the face… for a two-count. Parker connects with Hipnotic for victory in a nonsensical affair. But both committed to getting brutalized, so they at least had the spirit. 

Winner: Jaida Parker

Ethan Page and Ridge Holland speak in front of the Rocky Statue, putting title differences aside for their common enemies in Trick Williams and Bubba Ray Dudley. “No statues, no fairytale endings, and especially no tables,” Page surely foreshadows.

Rob Van Dam and Kehlani Jordan flex their flexibility, and he encourages her to beat Fallon Henley tonight. The camera shakes behind Wes Lee, who crashes the stretching session with a steel chair to Dam.

Footage from earlier catches The Family’s interaction with Nunzio and Tony Mamaluke. The Italians take offense to a missed phone call, and Mamaluke gets Ava to pit Adriana Rizzo against Nikkita Lyons next week. Plus, Nunzio lays down a tax: a North American Championship defense for D’Angelo against him tonight. Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen were there too, briefly, afterthoughts as per usual.

Je’Von Evans vs Wes Lee

“Young OG” Evans shows off smooth reversals before Lee connects with a brainbuster to the steel steps before break. He survives and more with an avalanche hurricanrana and signature twisting kick, but Lee recuperates with a poisonrana and Kardiac Kick for two. The latter grabs a steel chair and escapes a roll-up attempt before Evans capitalizes with his gorgeous top-rope cutter. But he crashes over the announce desk in a suicide dive attempt, allowing Lee to regain the chair until RVD makes the no-contact save. Evans scores a second cutter and a finishing frog splash for three, deservedly getting his hand raised by yet another legend.

Winner: Je’Von Evans

NXT General Manager Ava ignores Eddy Thorpe again before heading in-ring with Robert Stone and Stevie Turner. She announces NXT Deadline on December 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, booed by the fans she just complimented. Stone then claims New York and Boston fans are more hardcore before the lights cut out. In the corner appears Rhyno, who obliterates Stone with a Gore to gratifying fanfare.

Kehlani Jordan translates for Stephanie Vaquer, who motivates her super teammates to showcase the NXT women’s division. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson interrupt like main-roster hotshots, and Vaquer and Giulia agree to “show them hell.”

Ethan Page and Ridge Holland vs Trick Williams and Bubba Ray Dudley

In his “Straight Outta Dudleyville” white camo, Dudley returns for his first WWE match in eight years. He puts his glasses on Booker T, who cheers as loudly as the standing fans in the 2300 Arena. Holland immediately shoves him, and Dudley tags in for a pop on a shoulder tackle. He makes a comeback shortly after, and Williams hits a double crossbody to a big ovation before break. Page and Holland take control until Williams receives the hot tag, complete with leg lariats and a Bookend. He attempts Trick Shot before Holland reverses with an abrupt roll-up for three, pinning the NXT Champion and assaulting him post-match too.

Williams and Dudley fight back with a signature diving headbutt and a “get the tables,” but the former can’t find one. Saving the day is D-Von Dudley with a table prepped for Page. Bubba and Williams double-chokeslam him through it, and the NXT Champion earns a pair of glasses himself. Even with a deflating Holland win, this felt like a celebration throughout.

Winners: Ridge Holland and Ethan Page

Karmen Petrovich chastises Ashante “Thee” Adonis for chasing other girls and interrupting a match. Slick Adonis questions the attitude before wishing her a happy birthday, and meanwhile, studious Dion Lennox watches the masterclass unfold. After, the less spectacular five-women team explains their bond over protecting NXT’s women’s division from the newcomers (and Kehlani Jordan). 

Nunzio vs Tony D’Angelo (c) – North American Championship 

Nunzio is accompanied by Tony Mamaluke and D’Angelo by The Family for the most Italian match in NXT history. Nunzio’s mischief is easily countered by the champion, but he connects with a Sicilian Slice to “you still got it” chants. Mamaluke slides in brass knuckles, Channing Lorenzo hands in a crowbar, and a flat “Eddie” moment leads to D’Angelo’s spinebuster for three. They all embrace, and the torch is wholesomely passed to the new Italian mob. Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen watch the monitors, and the former is hungry for Italian next week in Orlando.

Winner: Tony D’Angelo

Footage from last Tuesday shows Mr. Regal congratulating Lexis King from distancing himself from his father. Charlie Dempsey and No Quarter Catch Crew step in, and Regal advises Myles Borne and Tavion Heights to step up to the tag-team division. “This isn’t just his group, this is all of your group,” he concludes.

Nikkita Lyons threatens to take out the NXT women’s division in a promo package, and after, Ava tells NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom that their next opponents will be announced in one week.

Fatal Influence, Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez vs Stephanie Vaquer, Jordynne Grace, Kehlani Jordan, ZARIA, and Giulia

ECW’s Francine watches ringside for NXT’s spectacle of a 10-women tag, a 180 of what the 2300 Arena usually housed. “Women’s wrestling” chants ring out over Vaquer and Giulia’s display of athleticism, and the opposing team doesn’t quite match up. The 10 women brawl before break, and Jordan lands an outside moonsault onto the opposition. Fatal Influence takes control thereafter until Grace makes the incredibly crisp comeback, still labeled by commentary as a TNA wrestler. They trade big maneuvers, finishing with an enziguri by Jade on Grace before Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson appear ringside. Giulia and Vaquer dive onto both, Perez and Jade return the favor, and ZARIA inadvertently spears Grace. But ZARIA counters Pop Rox and connects with an F5 for three, pinning the NXT Women’s Champion and heralding in a new division.

Winners: ZARIA, Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer, Jordynne Grace, and Kehlani Jordan