NXT 31 12 2024 NXT | Wrestling Full Review
wrestling 029 & tv review 070
WWE
NXT
December 31st, 2024
Review
It's a heck of a backlog so let's see...:
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Kelani Jordan v Lola Vice (8m54s) [3.25/5]
The once plucky former cheerleader is getting more and more aggressive by the week, showing her newfound edge against the former cage fighter, appropriately so. Lola is just the latest one caught in Kelani's crosshair and is shocked by her turning over a new leaf, unsuccessfully trying to let her see reason in the opening with words and have to resort to action instead. The clash of styles between them is always interesting to see, with the former's excellent grappling skills and strike offence and the latter's superior agility and ring awareness. Vice's submission attempt is able to slow down the hothead and while she ables to manouver herself out of it once and turn it against her, she can't out-grapple the grappler and ends up in the receiving end yet again. Jordan uses her legs to her advantage to release herself from the hold but her eagerness causes to crash and burn on the second crossbody off the top rope, allowing the Latina to literally take off the glove and hit her patented hip attack. It s followed by her attempt to do the Three Amigos which is countered slyly by her opponent albeit only for a beat since the MMA fighter uses her cage experience to regain the upper hand again. The more experienced competitor here always in the control with Lola snuffing out every attempt to bounce back by Kelani although she does have the last laugh when an interference by COra Jade allows her to roll the other up in a rather well-executed surprise pin. It's difficult to diffirentiate them apart from each other, with only a stroke of luck putting one over the other in this particular exchange.
+ Solid bout between two solid rising stars with different styles + Ending sequence tying up all the small storylines between these talents + the middle roster always have something to do even without being involved with the new middle title ? A lot of potential here between the four that could be given the opportunity to go for the title and even vying for the top one, with two of them already in contention in the past, lifting each other up in turn.
? They certainly can go longer when they run it again in the future, hopefully in the higher rung of the roster.
-.
2025 WWE NXT Talent Exposure Ratings [NXT T.E.R.]
Kelani Jordan ★★ {match} | Lola Vice ★★ {match} + ★ {match winner} | Cora Jade ★ {interference storyline} | Stephanie Vaquer ★ {interference storyline}
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Match of the Year Award winner: Josh Briggs vs Oba Femi & Dijak
[NXT T.E.R.] Josh Briggs ★ {video acceptance}
- Sometimes I wish they all could stay and flourish here in NXT as long as they can, but it's just not to be...
~
[NXT T.E.R.] Guilia ★ {NXT New Year's Evil Women's Championship video promo}
~~
Moment of the Year Award winner: Joe Hendry
[NXT T.E.R.] Joe Hendry ★ {video acceptence}
~~~
Cedric Alexander v Ethan Page (4m26s) [3.5/5]
It might have been a bit of a unlikely pairing on the page but coming into this with the backstory of a former champion being more and more unhinged the longer they lost the title (as per tradition here in NXT) and a kind veteran who is just looking out for his junior who's been unfairly picked on, now getting more and more involved in something that's getting out of hand.
While the former Cruiserweight is certainly over the limit of that weight division with an visible bigger mass of muscles recently, he is still operating with smoothness and finesse all around the ring despite it, executing moves off the ropes and off the ring aprons just like before. The wrestler who lost his smile comes in at the perfect time to play his role as the top dastard heel then and now adding an extra layer of mean to his already main roster-ready character, being more calculative and cruel in dishing out punishment to up-and-coming talents in Je'von Evans and then Dante Chen.
Turning his attention now to a fellow established talent in Cedric, the intensity that is turned up after that heated backstage interview right into the actual match is a great booking decision which plays into the storyline of Ethan just trying to inflict pain as much as he can towards his opponent. While Alexander ables to lead the exchange in the opening minutes with precise kicks and toe-pay between the ropes to the outside, Page is able to oversmart and counter the moves smartly by using his plethora of experience to his advantage, resorting to target the jaw to stay in theme. A decent attempt to fight back by the babyface with a Michinoku Driver to lead to a near-fall but it is just not meant to be for him as the heel snuff that down with a swift big boot to the already injured mandible and ends him with his finisher, Ego's Edge.
+ TSolid match that does not overstay its welcome with great intensity at the start and a fitting beatdown angle post-match + Great spot to showcase the often overlooked talent in Cedric Alexander with his crisp moves as well as wonderful selling especially after that fingers injury angle + Another awesome outing by Ethan Page with that intensity and psychotic demeanour i.e. smiling in the ring after that boot to the jaw & that finger-trap angle.
? Of course this storyline will return back to Evans as the destination to put over the younger talent, hopefully. -.
[NXT T.E.R.] Cedric ALexander ★ {backstage interview} + ★★ {match} + ★ {post-match angle} | Ethan Page ★ {backstage interview} + ★★ {match} + ★ {post-match angle} + ★ {match winner}
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1st Backstage segment
Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson DuPont | Tank Ledger & Hank Walker | Shawn Spears
Short but sweet, highlighting every talent's personality especially Hank and Tank.
[NXT T.E.R.] WL, TI & TD ★ {backstage segment} | H&T ★ {backstage segment} + ★ {personality} | SS ★ {backstage segment}
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Shotzi & Gigi Dolin w Tatum Paxley v Kayden Carter & Katana Chance v Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend (11m24s) [3.75/5]
An unorthodox triple threat tag team match to showcase the tag team division with the textbook embodiment of tag team partners that is perfect for each other in the Party Girls while the newly assembled Chemical X showing their chemistry and the Meta Four girls using their size and speed to their advantage. The KCs of course lead the exchange from the start with their signature one-of-a-kind and stylized tag team offence but the momentum can't be kept going against just a single opponent since they're free to tag in even with an opposing teammate. Being the biggest threat in the ring, Lash as well as Jakara are always on the receiving end of the offense just enough to keep them at bay and while the only former Tag Team Champions here come close to the pinfall a couple of times, the Alt Girls gains a number of close calls as well. They even come close to get the win if not for the interference by the Fatal Attractions, with the Meta Girls are just at the right place and at the right time to use it to their advantage for that all important pin.
+ Hugely entertaining tandem tag team match with three top couples in the division + KCs for the MVPs! + Great pairing of Shotzi with the returning Gigi + The intertwining of storyline to use as many talents as possible is always one of NXT's highlights, with even Alba Fire and Isla Dawn on the titantron posing the victors a challange.
? The unification of the Tag Titles really handicap the division in NXT while the belts are barely in the spotlight on the main roster. - There's always a chance of mistake to happen, with Shotzi unfortunately pulling the short stick this time.
[NXT T.E.R.] Chemical X ★★ {match} | KC2s ★★★ {match's MVP} | Meta Four ★★ {match} + ★ {match winner}
| Fatal Attractions ★ {interference angle} | Unholy Union ★ {post-match angle}
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2nd Backstage segment
Stephanie Vaquer, Lola Vice & Kelani Jordan | Cora Jade & Ava
A nice segment carrying over from the opening match to introduce the participants for the number one candidate for the Women North American Championship.
[NXT T.E.R.] SV ★ {backstage segment} | LV ★ {backstage segment} | KJ ★ {backstage segment} | CJ ★ {backstage segment} | A ★ {backstage segment}
~~~~~
3rd Backstage segment
Lexus King w Mr. Regal & Ava w Charlie Dempsey
After that admittedly controversial finish of the match, the win has been rescinded by the manager for the Cup to return to the original champion, to the disappointment of King with Mr. Regal gladly washing his hands off of this. He will get his chance to right this wrong at New Years Evil at least.
[NXT T.E.R.] LK ★ {backstage segment} + ★ {personality} | MR ★ {backstage segment} | A ★ {backstage segment} | CD ★ {backstage segment}
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NXT Tag Team of the Year Award winner: Fraxiom
A familiar banter between the duo with a new pair of challengers make their intention against the champions known.
[NXT T.E.R.] Fraxiom ★★ {winner interview acceptence} | OTM ★ {backstage segment}
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Sol Ruca v Izzi Dame (4m58s) [3/5]
Sol actually gives Izzi a run for her money at the start of the bout with crisp technical wrestling and agility around the ring but a strong slap to the chest quickly swings the pendulum to her side. It's not for long though as the surfer wrestles back to gain the upper hand again and after some successful combinations, her proclivity for high risk offences becomes her undoing when a backward shooting star press off the top rope to the floor mat lands her her friend Zaria instead of the loner, being pulled into the middle of the danger when she just wants to come out to support her. A swift big boot and a High Drive later, Dame is the winner to the delight of the spectating Shawn Spears.
+ Short but sweet bout + Hang Ten at the turnbuckle. ? The constant approach by Shawn Spears is definitely a new wrinkle that would provide Izzi Dame much needed layer to his character. -.
[NXT T.E.R.] Sol Ruca ★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match} | Izzi Dame ★★ {match} + ★ {match winner} | Zaria ★ {backstage segment} + ★ {mid-match sequence} | Shawn Spears ★ {backstage segment}
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NXT Tag Team of the Year Award winner: Roxanne Perez
[NXT T.E.R.] Roxanne Perez ★★ {winner interview acceptence}
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Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson DuPont v Hank Walker & Tank Ledger & Andre Chase (12m) [3.25/5]
The opening exchange is quite even between the two trios with the babyfaces able to gain the advantage early on but it doesn't last long as the heels overpower them to basically control the match moving forward. A couple of hope spots for Ledger first to run wild all over the ring successfully but when Chase is just gettng back to his usual Chase U groove for the second, the missing Chase U segment in the crowd that he usually points to stops him in his tracks and brings him back down to the sad reality of his current predicament. Walker who gets tagged in involuntarily just cannot fight off the numbers game despite his best effort, succumbing to a pin after a modified stunner.
+ Solid bout between two opposing teams of pretty heavy duty wrestlers between the explosive babyfaces and the hard-hitting heels. + Pretty effective storyline being told here with an entertaining match. ? I wonder where they will go with the Chase U storyline... -.
[NXT T.E.R.] WL,TI & TD ★★ {match} + ★ {match winner} | H&T ★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match} | AC ★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match} + ★ {mid-match breakdown}
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5th Backstage segment
A nice follow-up on the romance angle between Ashantee "Thee" Adonis and Carmen Petrovic with Nikkita Lyons always an instigator. The Shawn Spears' recruitment angle continues here with the Angelo Family trying to come to Izzi Dame's rescue.
[NXT T.E.R.] ATA ★ {backstage segment} | NL ★ {backstage segment} | SS ★ {backstage segment} | IZ ★ {backstage segment} | TDA ★ {backstage segment}
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NXT Men Wrestler of the Year Award winner: Oba Femi
That's just a perfect segment of confrontation between the champion and the couple of challengers.
[NXT T.E.R.] Oba Femi ★★ {promo acceptence & battle} + ★★ {main event spot} | Trick Williams ★ {promo battle} + ★★ {main event spot} | Eddie Thorpe ★ {cheap shot spot} + ★★ {main event spot}
~~~~~~~~~
[in order of appearence]
Kelani Jordan (+2)
★★ {match} + ★ {backstage segment}
Lola Vice (+4)
★★ {match} + ★ {match winner} + ★ {backstage segment}
Cora Jade (+2)
★ {interference storyline} + ★ {backstage segment}
Stephanie Vaquer (+2)
★ {interference storyline} + ★ {backstage segment}
Josh Briggs (+2)
★★ {Match of the Year winner acceptance video}
Guilia (+1)
★ {NXT New Year's Evil Women's Championship video promo}
Joe Hendry (+2)
★★ Moment of the Year winner acceptence video
Cedric Alexander (+4)
★ {backstage interview} + ★★ {match} + ★ {post-match angle}
Ethan Page (+5)
★ {backstage interview} + ★★ {match} + ★ {post-match angle} + ★ {match winner}
Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson DuPont (+6)
★ {backstage segment} | H&T ★ {backstage segment} + ★ {personality} + ★★ {match} + ★ {match winner}
Shotzi & Gigi Dolin <[Chemical X> (+2)
★★ {match}
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (+3)
★★★ {match's MVP}
Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend <Meta Four> (+3)
★★ {match} + ★ {match winner}
Fatal Attractions (+1)
★ {interference angle}
Unholy Union (+1)
★ {post-match angle}
Ava (+3)
★ {backstage segment}A ★ {backstage segment}
Lexus King (+2)
★ {backstage segment} + ★ {personality}
Mister Regal (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Charlie Dempsey (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Fraxiom (+2)
★★ {winner interview acceptence}
OTM (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Sol Ruca (+3)
★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match}
Izzi Dame (+4)
★★ {match} + ★ {match winner} + ★ {backstage segment}
Zaria (+2)
★ {backstage segment} + ★ {mid-match sequence}
Shawn Spears (+2)
★ {backstage segment} + ★ {backstage segment}
Roxanne Perez (+2)
★★ {winner interview acceptence}
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger (+3)
★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match}
Andre Chase (+4)
★ {backstage segment} + ★★ {match} + ★ {mid-match breakdown}
Ashantee "Thee" Adonis (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Nikkita Lyons (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Tony D'Angelo (+1)
★ {backstage segment}
Oba Femi (+4)
★★ {promo acceptence & battle} + ★★ {main event spot}
Trick Williams (+3)
★ {promo battle} + ★★ {main event spot}
Eddie Thorpe (+3)
★ {cheap shot spot} + ★★ {main event spot}
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