This was a good episode of NXT. The highlight of the night was the tag team match between the New Day and Briggs and Jensen. The match was great and we even got to see Briggs fly. The lowlight of the night was the match between Elektra Lopez and Indi Hartwell. The action was decent but it ended dirty way too quickly. The overall rating loses in the matches category because a couple of matches in the middle were above average. The show structure loses points because the tag title match was a good high to end on but the show carried on with another segment that was good but very short. The atmosphere was good throughout but a little weak in the Crews-Hayes segment. The storytelling lost points because some of the title pictures have unclear next steps, both of the women’s titles. Production was good, as usual, but there wasn't any kind of special theme.
On tonight’s episode of NXT: Indi Hartwell faces off with Elektra Lopez. Who will emerge with the win? A triple threat match for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships. Will Katana Chance and Kayden Carter retain them? Axiom takes on Carmelo Hayes. Will Axiom prove himself a real superhero or will Melo come out on top? And The New Day defends the NXT Tag Team Championships against Briggs and Jensen. Also, how will Grayson Waller respond now that the other iron survivor is now a champion?
GREAT Carmelo Hayes vs Axiom:
Two athletic men were on display in this matchup, as they traded reversals and quick pins early on. Later, Hayes attempted several elbows from the middle rope, connecting on the second. For some reason, the referee didn’t count after Carmelo Hayes powerbombed and covered Axiom. In the finish, Trick Williams helped Hayes pick up the pin. Williams threw down Axiom, opening the door for a Carmelo Hayes leg drop.
Results: Carmelo Hayes by Pinfall via Leg Drop
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Grayson Waller said he wanted his title match tonight. McKenzie Mitchell informed him that Breakker wasn’t at the arena.
Tony D’Angelo said he wants a title match with Wes Lee. Then, he sent Stacks Lorenzo to tell Dijak to stay out of the Don’s way.
GOOD Zoey Stark vs Nikkita Lyons:
These two couldn’t wait for the bell, brawling before the match even started. Early in the match, Stark had the crowd oohing and aahing after some hard chops. Later, Stark had Lyons wobbling after a superkick but could not get the pin. In the finish, Zoey Stark rolled up Lyons and used the rope to get the three count.
Results: Zoey Stark by Pinfall via Rollup
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Cora Jade complained about how Roxanne Perez stole her moment but Wendy Choo attacked her.
GOOD Toxic Attraction vs Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley:
Triple threat rules allowed competing teams to tag each other in, something that was used many times. Carter used this to tag her team in. Later, Chance hit Paxley with a hurricanrana from the ring corner. In the finish, Ivy Nile had Kayden Carter in a submission but Carter reversed it into a pin to retain the titles.
Results: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Roxanne Perez sat down with her mentor, Booker T, to talk about her rise to stardom in NXT.
ABOVE AVERAGE Apollo Crews and Carmelo Hayes:
Crews promised he would challenge whoever won the title match between Bron Breakker and Grayson Waller. Then, Carmelo Hayes came to the ring, telling Crews he needed to get to the back of the line. Apollo Crews ended by telling Hayes he would demonstrate anytime that he is the better wrestler.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 stars
The New Day sent Pretty Deadly Christmas shopping to earn a title shot.
Alba Fyre got misted backstage with some kind of red substance. As the trainer attends to her, Grayson Waller enters looking for Bron Breakker.
Schism degraded Odyssey Jones, Edris Elba, and Malik Blade for being so focused on having fun.
ABOVE AVERAGE Indi Hartwell vs Elektra Lopez:
Between two women who both needed a win, Lopez held the advantage early on. Later, Lopez climbed up on the corner of the ring. She grabbed brass knuckles and hit Hartwell with them, getting the easy pin.
Results: Elektra Lopez by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
Isla Dawn incapacitated Alba Fyre, preventing Fyre from having her match with Sol Ruca.
Chase U had a Christmas party where Duke Hudson took credit for someone else’s gift.
Kiana James interrupted an interview to wish Brooks Jensen luck ahead of the tag title match.
Hank Walker asked for advice from Drew Gulak. Gulak invited Walker to observe his seminar the following week.
GREAT Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs vs the New Day for the NXT Tag Team Championships:
Kofi Kingston was dancing a literal circle around Jensen at the beginning of this match. The New Day kept the momentum throughout the beginning of the match, preventing Jensen from making a tag. Just before the break, Kiana James was shown in the crowd watching the match. Smartly, Jensen broke up a pin attempt after an SOS from Kingston. Amazingly, Josh Briggs pulled off a moonsault on Kofi Kingston. In the finish, Kingston landed a poisonrana and a Trouble in Paradise. Then, Woods landed an elbow drop, allowing the champs to retain.
Results: The New Day by Pinfall via Elbow Drop
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Julius Creed told Sanga and Veer to stop making excuses and face them in a match.
GOOD Grayson Waller:
After searching the entire Performance Center for Bron Breakker, Waller took his search to the ring to demand his title match. Breaker finally showed up and immediately speared Waller in the ring. Breakker fell to the ground and Waller revealed a metal plate under his coat.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25
Overall…
This was a good episode of NXT. The highlight of the night was the tag team match between the New Day and Briggs and Jensen. The match was great and we even got to see Briggs fly. The lowlight of the night was the match between Elektra Lopez and Indi Hartwell. The action was decent but it ended dirty way too quickly. The overall rating loses in the matches category because a couple of matches in the middle were above average. The show structure loses points because the tag title match was a good high to end on but the show carried on with another segment that was good but very short. The atmosphere was good throughout but a little weak in the Crews-Hayes segment. The storytelling lost points because some of the title pictures have unclear next steps, both of the women’s titles. Production was good, as usual, but there wasn’t any kind of special theme.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
