NXT: 2024 Iron Survivor qualifying matches begin

Vic Joseph and Booker T energetically welcome back NXT to home-sweet Orlando, Florida, thereafter pitching to a recap of last week’s 2300 Arena episode. Exiting is the inclusion of ECW nostalgia acts like Bubba Ray Dudley and entering is this year’s Iron Survivor qualifying matches in preparation for Deadline on December 7.

Meta-Four vs Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia

Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend’s pre-tape regarding their interference in last week’s main event shows a main-roster confidence for whenever their time comes. The charisma doesn’t fully equate in-ring, but they have tough competition in Vaquer and Giulia in comparison. Legend utilizes her size and strength advantage, and Jackson dives off her shoulders to ringside before break. Giulia makes a fired-up comeback and dropkicks Legend from the apron, Vaquer delivers a backbreaker to Jackson, and stereo knee strikes earn them the victory. The duo is interviewed in-ring about the Iron Survivor Challenge, and Vaquer respectfully tells her partner, “See you at Deadline.”

Winners: Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia

A necessary package explains the convoluted Iron Survivor Challenge rules, which when evidently done right, can produce classic moments like Trick Williams comeback win in 2023. He, Lola Vice, Wes Lee, and Roxanne Perez are later announced as participants in The CW’s Trivial Pursuit this Thursday.

Sol Ruca vs Cora Jade – Iron Survivor Qualifier  

Jade contends the NXT women’s division needs her, although it’s been just fine amidst her back-to-back injuries. Ruca’s been a rising name in the meantime; Jade stifles her springboard comeback, but the former hits her spectacular Sol Snatcher to qualify.

Winner: Sol Ruca

Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander are “locked in” for their respective qualifying matches, and in the background, Dion Lennox chats up Karmen Petrovic. Ashante “Thee” Adonis interrupts in a huff, and the former proposes a mixed tag match with Brinley Reece next week.

NXT General Manager Ava heads a packed boardroom to “discuss the state of the NXT tag team division.” Josh Briggs immediately walks out, leaving Gallus, Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, No Quarter Catch Crew, Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, OTM, and The Family into consideration. “I need all of you to show me,” is the gist of the meeting that at least solidifies a shallow division.

Wes Lee vs Cedric Alexander – Iron Survivor Qualifier

The match begins uncharacteristically slow until Lee starts flying, and an aged Alexander misses an outside dive before break. “He got all of that dropkick,” says Vic Joseph about Alexander’s counter to the Kardiac Kick though. Lee chops Alexander down and follows with another Kardiac Kick for two, getting Orlando behind the latter. Alexander hits the Michinoku Driver as the referee fixes an exposed turnbuckle, but Lee exposes it again to precede a Meteora for three.

Winner: Wes Lee

Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen walk in on North American Champion Tony D’Angelo’s dinner. Spears wants Jensen to challenge on his behalf, and the former makes this sinister segment work. “That’s how you deal with the boss. Isn’t that right?” Spears says to his driver and new protege Niko Vance.

Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx interrupt Kehlani Jordan’s first promo made with conviction. “It’s on sight,” Jordan says about the Fatal Influence members in tonight’s championship main event.

NXT Champion Trick Williams enters the ring swagged in corduroy, as Booker T enthusiastically points out. He calls out Ridge Holland but gets Andre Chase instead, who shares a common enemy. NXT 2.0’s best success stories also share respect, and Holland appears at the idea of Chase receiving a championship match. Holland is drowned in jeers and rejects a rematch with Chase, but Williams suggests a number-one contenders match for Deadline. The former, drowned in boos, adds the stipulation that Chase must lose Chase University too in defeat. “You’re on. Next week, I’m gonna give you an Andre Chase-sized ass whooping,” Chase says before hitting heroic C-H-A-S-E-U stomps alongside the champion.

Jaida Parker tells the women’s division to “clock it” when vowing to become the 2024 Iron Survivor in a promo package. After, Josh Briggs brings in Pro Wrestling Noah’s Yoshiki Inamura to Ava’s office before Eddy Thorpe butts in. He uneventfully leaves when finally getting an opportunity, a chance to become Iron Survivor.

Nikkita Lyons vs Adriana Rizzo – Iron Survivor Qualifier

Lyons, Rizzo’s mystery attacker, dominates with ease before The Family member’s awkward comeback. Lyons ends it with a splash, winning the messiest qualifying match of the night. But Rizzo isn’t done, flooring her opponent from behind with a crowbar.

Winner: Nikkita Lyons

Riley Osborne, Thea Hail, and Duke Hudson voice their concerns about the status of Chase University. Chase leads with the utmost faith, asking his students to trust him against Ridge Holland. “He’s gambling with our future again!” Osborne says.

“I thrive in carnage,” ZARIA says in a promo package about the Iron Survivor. She speaks on NXT for the first time, which maybe shouldn’t become the norm.

Je’Von Evans vs Lexis King – Iron Survivor Qualifier

King tries keeping up with Evans’ speed, resorting to cheeky counters instead. Evans successfully hits his outside dive, but King inadvertently headbutts his crotch and refuses to capitalize. “Young OG” makes an effortlessly smooth and springy comeback, wins a striking exchange, and connects with a Frog Splash for two. He superkicks King and delivers a twisting splash for three, expectedly heading to Deadline as a key player. The competitors embrace, and King continues to transition into a very unlikeable face.

Winner: Je’Von Evans

Nathan Frazer shocks Axiom about getting an Iron Survivor qualifying match. OTM and The Family surround Axiom, more interested in the NXT Tag Team Championships than Frazer himself.

Ashante “Thee” Adonis daps up Dion Lennox for not telling Karmen Petrovic about his other girls as a defeated King walks into the locker room. Hank Walker, Tank Ledger, and Dante Chen congratulate him on wrestling respectfully until Gallus steps in for more tag team tension.

Kehlani Jordan vs Fallon Henley (c) – Women’s North American Championship

The Fatal Influence entrance has aura, but the appeal stops there amidst a more stacked NXT women’s division. Jordan hits a moonsault off the announce desk before break, and meanwhile, No Quarter Catch Crew brawls with Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont in the back. Henley shows much more snap than methodical Jordan, whose energy matches a burnt-out Orlando. The challenger hits an Avalanche Spanish Fly for two and a split-legged moonsault before Jacy Jayne puts Henley’s foot on the rope. The challenger takes out Jazmyn Nyx, but an unseen elbow from Jayne precedes Henley’s Famouser for victory.

Winner: Fallon Henley

OTM steals Vic Joseph’s headset to put the tag team division on notice, and The Family jumps them thereafter. Gallus, Hank Walker and Tank Ledger join the fray, ending the episode by giving the NXT tag team division the attention it badly deserved.