NXT Halloween Havoc was presented for the first time in a special event format instead of the weekly TV slot. There were some standout moments like the ladder match, Wes Lee finally getting his moment, his first ever singles championship. Bron Breakker getting redemption in triple threat matches. Roxanne Perez gets a one up over Cora Jade. Brutus Creed is not going to be banned from NXT. Apollo stands tall and Mandy Rose is approaching the one year mark as champion.
Halloween Havoc looks to be an entertaining show with multiple high profile matches and multiple first time evers. During the pre show, Apollo Crews and Grayson Waller were given the stipulation of a Casket Match. We have Mandy Rose defending the championship against Alba Fyre. A Five Man Ladder match and a triple threat war for the main event.
AMAZING Carmelo Hayes Vs Oro Mensah Vs Von Wagner Vs Nathan Frazer Vs Wes Lee – NXT North American Championship Ladder Match:
NXT Ladder matches always seem to deliver. We saw multiple holy s**t chants in the match. The crowd was hot and ready for this match to deliver and it did. The crowd had an anybody but Von Wagner vibe with how they were responding to the action. Nathan got multiple highlight reel spots including a reverse Spanish fly onto a ladder with Carmelo and a frog splash through a bridged ladder.
Trick Williams and Mr. Stone had an encounter that resulted in Mr. Stone being crotched on the top rope. Mensah and Frazer ended up burying Wagner outside of the barricade and under a ladder. Wes Lee got the shocking moment by delivering a meteora on Carmelo through a ladder before getting the title for a win.
Very solid opener with unique spots, crowd was electric, no noticeable botches and all men sold greatly. Outside of lacking in a storyline this match was amazing.
Results: Wes Lee via Retrieving The Championship
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Mandy Rose Vs Alba Fyre Cinematic Portion. (Summed up later on)
GOOD Grayson Waller Vs Apollo Crews – Casket Match:
This match started off decent and had some enjoyable spots but with Apollo falling through the casket and breaking the lid. The lights turned on with music playing. Once the lights were back on, Apollo was standing with the druids bringing out a new casket.
The whole spooky element was unneeded as you could have had the druids bringing out a new casket and Apollo getting out of the new casket. The crowd truly got lost after this part of the match. It took a bit for the crowd to get back into the match. By the end of it we had some very near fall-like moments with the casket lid. The final shot was Apollo slamming Grayson into the casket before getting the victory.
Outside of the somewhat unique spot of needing a new casket because the new one breaking there wasn’t that much to take out of this match. This was a match that could have had a less halloween themed stipulation and just had the two have an entertaining match. The casket match was rightfully put in this spot in the show.
Results: Apollo Crews via Slamming The Casket Lid Closed on Waller.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
Duke Hudson is now a student at Chase U?
GREAT Cora Jade Vs Roxanne Perez – Weapons Wild Match:
This match truly excelled in the story being told. Having Roxanne bring out a skateboard during the entrances and putting Roxanne in that underdog role. Cora Jade had good looking spots with Roxanne fighting back. Jade worked on getting heat with the crowd as she choked Roxanne with the rope and chain.
Outside of war games last year, we never really see wrestlers use the crowd in NXT and Cora running away to get on the elevated platform was great. The huge spot of the match was done well with Cora needing to bring Perez down with her. After Cora almost getting the double underhook ddt, Roxanne got a back body drop on a pile of chairs and then the Pop Rox for the win.
Opposite to Waller and Crews, this stipulation did not hinder this match.
Results: Roxanne Perez by Pinfall via Pop Rox on a pile of chairs.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Shotzi and Quincy address the crowd once again. Lash Legend critiques the choice of Shotzi as the host before being hit with a ddt. Shotzi and Quincy stand tall.
GREAT Julius Creed Vs Damon Kemp – If Damon Kemp Wins, Brutus Creed can no longer be a member of the NXT Roster, Ambulance Match:
This match was just the match that had two men beating each other down. Julius Creed really had this match as his first standout match. Julius had some standout moments including having Damon slam the door on his fingers to spot Damon from winning. He got to put Damon through a stretcher with a powerbomb. As well as a ten crowd chanted chair shots to Damon’s back.
Overall this match was handled uniquely as there was like a pathway in the performance center for the ambulance. Out of the main fan’s eye. The crowd was very firmly behind Julius in this match and he got the victory.
Results: Julius Creed Via Closing the Ambulance Door on Kemp.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GOOD Alba Fyre Vs Mandy Rose with Toxic Attraction – NXT Women’s Championship:
So this match was done in two parts. After the opener, Toxic Attraction arrived at the abandoned house and went looking for Alba. After Toxic split up, Alba was able to get to all individually. Abducting Jacy, interrupting Gigi’s tea party with Chucky. Mandy was left and she and Alba brawled in the house before Fyre took her out to Toxic’s car. Alba drove off with Mandy heading back to the arena.
Once they arrived, they went to the ring, no entrances and the match had begun. The in ring component of the match was decent. We saw Mandy get a nice spinebuster. Alba get a nice Swanton. Toxic Attraction made it back to the arena and were able to stop Alba from winning. Mandy got the win with her signature knee.
The match excelled in the story told through both parts, the crowd were into it and overall the match wasn’t horrible. I enjoyed it because it provided the best cinematic Halloween havoc stuff in NXT History I would say.
Results: Mandy Rose by Pinfall via Kiss By The Rose
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
MUST WATCH JD McDonagh Vs Ilja Dragunov Vs Bron Breakker – NXT Championship:
I can’t do this match justice. All men had their chance to shine and looked great. McDonagh truly played the heel in stopping both men from getting their chance to win. There were a lot of innovative spots and the crowd were electric for the match. This match is the type of main event you want on your show. This is truly a must watch match to check out.
Results: Bron Breakker By Pinfall via Spear On Dragunov
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.75 Stars
Overall
NXT Halloween Havoc was presented for the first time in a special event format instead of the weekly TV slot. There were some standout moments like the ladder match, Wes Lee finally getting his moment, his first ever singles championship. Bron Breakker getting redemption in triple threat matches. Roxanne Perez gets a one up over Cora Jade. Brutus Creed is not going to be banned from NXT. Apollo stands tall and Mandy Rose is approaching the one year mark as champion.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 1/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.501 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.00/5 Stars
Photo Credit: (Wwe) For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
