Deadline last Saturday in Minneapolis, Minnesota featured another installment of NXT’s Q4 tradition – the Iron Survivor Challenges, won this year by Oba Femi and Giulia. Already NXT Championship prospects, the two will receive their matches on January 7 at New Year’s Evil in Los Angeles, California, presumably ushering in a new era for 2025. The motif of looking ahead held strong in tonight’s episode, where WWE on Netflix teasers flashed after most segments, and promotion for next week’s special edition of NXT in Lowell, Massachusetts began.
Giulia opened the show in-ring by confirming her NXT Women’s Championship match against Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil. Perez quickly interrupted with her see-through AJ Lee tribute, shrugging off her new challenger as Cora Jade appeared ringside. Cameras revealed Stephanie Vaquer floored backstage, and the responsible duo assaulted Giulia until Kehlani Jordan made the save, stealing Jade’s weaponized stick.
The locker room watched Ethan Page’s post-match promo from Saturday where he accepted having “no clue how to get back (to the top).” The D’Angelo Family told him to “get over it,” offering him a North American Championship tonight that Page declined as a “step down.” Jealousy hit as the locker room swooped in to substitute, and Page ultimately admitted, “I need this.”
After break, Lexis King asked Charlie Dempsey for another shot at the Heritage Cup Championship. The latter considered and congratulated No Quarter Catch Crew for an impressive Deadline showing before OTM and Jaida Parker arrived to opposingly talk smack.
Je’Von Evans vs Wes Lee
The competitors had a pull-apart scuffle on Saturday, leading to another match between two of NXT’s quickest wrestlers. Lee’s new look differentiates himself from a frankly younger and more agile Evans, whose high-flying offense is stifled by the former. Evans’ big superkick spurs a comeback that includes a bouncy springboard clothesline and a sit-out powerbomb. The referee catches Lee’s rope leverage attempt, but he recuperates with the Kardiac Kick for a two-count that doesn’t process. Evans connects with a twisting splash for victory, his second against Lee that symbolizes his true ascent past the veteran.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
Axiom apologizes to a battered Nathan Frazer after retaining the NXT Tag Team Championships, expressing that he’d do anything for him. Fraxiom is more than fine.
Josh Briggs recounts his excursion to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he met Yoshiki Inamura, who compares his new partner’s fighting spirit to Stan Hansen. “Josh san and Inamura are ready to create chaos in NXT,” the latter says.
Meanwhile in the medical room, Giulia and Kehlani Jordan share that Stephanie Vaquer will be okay. In the locker room, Zaria and Sol Ruca discuss their Iron Survivor Challenge struggles as Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend step in to gloat. “It’s giving delusional,” Jackson says to Ruca’s support of her previous opponent.
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe
Igwe refused to shake Walker’s hand in last week’s battle royal, prompting this tag team match with “a lot of beef,” as Booker T states. It’s jorts versus Timbs respectively and a respectable showcase of two fledgling duos. Timbs excel with a mix of beefy size and unexpected agility, but jorts secure the victory with an assisted powerslam. Dupont embraces the winners, but once again, Igwe declines in a huff.
Winners: Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner Oba Femi struts in-ring, celebrating the victory that many predicted and further predict will precede an NXT Championship run. He announces his NXT Championship match against Trick Williams at New Year’s Evil, and the champ sternly arrives for a face-to-face that foreshadows the future of WWE. But Eddy Thorpe interrupts to rightfully ask for justice against Femi, who allegedly attacked him and stole his opportunity. Williams and Femi continue with their aura battle, and the latter says, “The only reason that you have been the number-one guy around here is because I let you… the beginning of 2025 will be the end of your era.” Thorpe sticks around, calling the champion a “manufactured sports entertainer” who “wouldn’t last two weeks in the Japanese dojos.” Williams declares a match for next week before dropping a right hand, and the NXT men’s division is back.
Fatal Influence vs Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley
Beforehand, Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley argue over who Dolin is back for, and Izzi Dame approaches the latter for another bout. Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen, and Niko Vance run Dolin and Paxley off, and Dame rejects their approval – and slimy vibes – too. Jayne and Dolin of course have history with Toxic Attraction, and they’re still here as NXT super seniors. From ringside, Henley knocks Paxley off the ropes and Jazmyn Nyx distracts the referee, allowing Jayne to capitalize for victory. Fatal Influence commits a post-match assault, but Shotzi returns to even the odds for NXT’s resident weirdos. She lands a solid outside dive, joining together with Dolin and Paxley to match their freak.
Winners: Fatal Influence
“Welcome back” chants ring over Fraxiom’s backstage segment, where Axiom reveals having a match against Oba Femi next week. Nathan Frazer looks spooked, revealing that he got them an NXT Tag Team Championship defense for next week too. Fraxiom is evidently not fine.
Ethan Page vs Tony D’Angelo (c) – North American Championship
Bizarrely, Page arrives without a smile. Evened up in the opening goings, they clothesline each other to ringside as Vic Joseph pitches to the first picture-in-picture break since the CW move. D’Angelo makes a comeback with suplexes and a spear, but Page recuperates with big boots and a commemorative Twist of Fate. The champion counters Ego’s Edge with a finishing spinebuster, pinning Page fair and square.
Winner: Tony D’Angelo
Lexis King chats with former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, who commends the former’s soul searching. Charlie Dempsey steps in and accepts the Heritage Cup Championship match request, only on the condition they have a notorious catch training session.
Cameras catch Page leaving the building, and the former NXT Champion says, “I say I’m ‘All Ego,’ but the reality is I don’t think I am… I’m just lost and ashamed.”
Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade vs Giulia and Kehlani Jordan
Perez and Jade jumpstart on Giulia in the entranceway, but Jordan quells them with an outside dive. The former duo regains control in picture-in-picture, and Giulia makes a comeback before a striking exchange with the NXT Women’s Champion. Jordan dives onto Jade, Perez hits Pop Rox on her ringside, and Giulia brawls away with her rival somewhere. Meanwhile, Jade connects with a DDT on Jordan for the victory, and Stephanie Vaquer appears to enact revenge.
Winner: Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade
Eddy Thorpe signs a contract for his NXT Championship match in Lowell, Massachusetts next week. NXT General Manager Ava reaffirms they’re still looking for his attacker, but Thorpe reveals it was him. “I got my title match, and I didn’t have to go through 25 minutes of hell to get it.”
