Posted on 12/10/125 by Bob Magee
It’s past Deadline, so I guess this episode is… late? Or
something? Anyways, NXT is on the air with open challenges!
New champions! A guy named Shiloh! And to kick it all off
the new 2x NXT Champion Oba Femi!
-Femi danced his way to the ring to kick off the show, fresh
off his crowd appearance on Monday Night Raw. Femi began a
speech about the nature of power, how it never begs and
stands still, etc. He gave respect to Ricky Saints and said
that his reclaiming of the NXT Title was the will of the
universe. Next, he mentioned Cody Rhodes, who Femi will face
in a non title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He said
that Rhodes will get him in all his glory.
Suddenly, Ricky Saints music hit and the man himself
dejectedly sauntered to the ring, mic in hand. Saints said
that he is man enough to admit that Femi was better man at
Deadline. Saints said that there was a moment when he
thought his chance to be NXT Champion had passed. But then
he remembered that he is Ricky Saints and that he wants a
rematch for the title.
Continuing the promo parade, Je’Von Evans’ music hit and the
Young OG came out to interrupt. He reminded everyone that he
won the Iron Survivor Challenge and has a title shot coming
at New Years Evil. But why should he wait? He challenged
Femi to a match tonight.
Saints asked “what’s the rush?” Evans said that he’s no
longer “the future” he’s the “now” and no one is touching
him right now. Saints agreed and said that Evans could go
first. Then Femi got upset, wondering why these “beltless”
guys were dictating terms.
Femi said that he’s not afraid of Evans, because he’s never
beaten Femi. He then gave him the title shot for tonight!
-After a break, Tatum Paxley cut a promo about her loss to
Izzi Dame at Deadline. She said that she has nothing left to
lose, but Dame does. She then held up action figures of
Shawn Spears and Niko Vance. Paxley laughed on her way off
camera.
Kelani Jordan vs Jordynne Grace
Jordan and Grace have had a long history of battling not
just in NXT, but over the TNA Knockouts Championship as
well. At Deadline, they pretty much cost each other the
match and started a Sheamus/Rusev fight in the back. No word
on when that fight actually ended, but they are here tonight
to go one-on-one in the actual ring.
Grace and Jordan started brawling before Grace even made it
to the ring. Grace dropped Jordan with a serise of scoop
slams and a Michinoku driver. Jordan fought back and
delivered a big boot to Grace off of a suplex attempt.
Grace sent Jordan into the corner but missed the Grace Under
Pressure, giving Jordon an opening to start working Grace’s
leg. She dropped a bunch of elbows on it then hung Grace up
on the ropes. Jordan joined her on the apron where they
traded shots.
Grace tried to suplex Jordanoff the apron, but had it
blocked. They went back and forth until Grace went to drop a
knee and Jordan moved, causing Grace to slam her kneecap
against the apron (the knee-est part of the ring!).
Back in the ring, Jordan went back to working the knee,
wrapping Grace’s leg around the ring post and stretched it
both ways. Then she went for a cover, but Grace kicked out
at two while Booker T talked about absolutely nothing.
Honestly, never have I heard a man take soe many words to
say so little.
Anyway, Jordan stomped the knee and hung Grace up in the
tree of woe in the corner. Grace pulled her off the
turnbuckle by the hair though and the two traded forearms in
the ring.
Grace went for a stretch muffler, but Jordan got out of it,
slamming Grace’s head to the mat and sliding out of the
ring. Grace followed and Jordan chop-blocked her knee. She
then bounced Grace’s head off the steel steps and went under
the ring for a chair.
She swung, but Grace moved and she hit the stairs with the
chair. Grace used that to jump back into the ring with
Jordan. She locked on a leg hold, but Jordan wouldn’t tap.
Grace threw a few short arm clotheslines and Jordan whiffed
on a kick.
On the outside, Grace managed to hit a Grace Under Presssure
and grabbed a chair. Jordan then drove Grace through the
barricade. Dragging her back into the ring, Jordan went up
and nailed a 450 splash to get the pin and the victory.
Match Result: Kelani Jordan defeated Jordynne Grace
-After a break, the women of NXT were shown warming up(?) in
the back. Jordynne Grace was lamenting her loss to Kelani
Jordan. She was told by Thea Hale to buck up, she’s Jordynne
Grace after all.
-Blake Monroe made her way to the ring next for her Women’s
North American Title Open Challenge. She grabbed a mic and
said that the women of NXT see her as a role model and with
the Holidays coming up, she feels like giving back. She then
asked to see who will be answering the challenge.
Literally all the women of NXT came out and Monroe started
calling for Ava. Suddenly Thea Hale arrived and jumped
Monroe from behind. She pinned her quickly and celebrated,
but oops! The Open Challenge had never started. Whomp-Whomp.
#LOL
-Shilo Hill was interviewed about his upcoming debut singles
match and he used a lot of $10 words to say he’s ready. Then
he put in a mouthguard and left.
Shiloh HiIl vs Lexis King
King was already in the ring as we came back from break, but
Hill, winner of LFG Season 2, got a big entrance. King tried
to jump him during his opening pose, but Hill saw it coming.
The bell rang and Hill started throwing King around the
ring.
King sent Hill into ther corner for a dropkick and slowed
the pace down, chopping and punching Hill. King got cocky
though and played a little too much to the crowd. Hill
charged out of the corner and he and King collided in stereo
clotheslines.
Hill began to hulk up, which to him means removing his mouth
guard? Anyway, King hit a superkick, but Hill no-sold it as
if he loved the pain. He put King up for a Whisper To The
Beast cutter and that was it. Hill gets the victory and
King’s transformation into CJ Parker is almost complete.
Match Result: Shiloh Hill defeated Lexis King
-After the break, Oba Femi was interviewed in the back about
his upcoming title defense against Je’Von Evans. Femi said
that he has learned to expect the unexpected and he hopes
Cody Rhodes is watching because he’s going to see what Femi
can do. He promised to break Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main
Event and to break Evans tonight.
-Ethan Page then made his way to the ring. Page said that he
came to NXT to ask the hard questions and do things Old
School, body by body. He ran down other wrestlers using
social media to try and gain clout. Page then said that John
Cena will be forgotten in a week after his retirement,
leaving a space for someone with a “huge ego” (aka Page).
Page said that he is 1 of 1 and the most important guy in
WWE. Suddenly the lights went out and the same footage of
Tony D’Angelo that was shown at Deadline aired. When the
lights came up, a very sad-looking D’Angelo picked up Page
in the ring and smashed him to the mat.
-After a break, GM Ava called the participants of the men’s
Iron Survivor match to her office. She is going to give them
a fatal four way #1 Contender’s match because they were all
tied. Suddenly, Ethan PAge burst in complaining about Tony
D’angelo. Then it was over.
Sol Ruca vs Wren Sinclair
Ruca was in the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline with
Sinclair’s best friend (and eventuial winner of the match)
Kendal Grey, who accompanied Sinclair to the ring. Ruca came
out alone, but she is facing Bayley at Saturday Night’s Main
Event, so she’s got that going for her.
The bell rang and they locled up with Rucal sending Sinclair
to the corner. Sinclair shook off Ruca and her attempts at a
waist lock and sent her into the ropes. Sinclair tried to
roll Ruca up, but only got a teo count.
Ruca landed an X-Factor for a two count of her own when
Zaria appeared in the crowd. Ruca looked at her forlornly,
and Sinclair tried to steal one with a rollup. Rucak kicked
out, but Sinclair hit a big bulldog and turned her attention
to Ruca’s previously injured knee.
As Zaria watched, Ruca hit a back elbow and missile
dropkick. Sinclair got her with a butterfly suplex though.
Ruca turned it back around with a backstabber and Soul
Snatcher to get the pin and victory.
Match Result: Sol Ruca defeated Wren Sinclair
-After the match, Ruca exited through the crowd to try and
catch up with Zaria. Fatal Influence’s music hit and NXT
Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, NXT Women’s Speed Champion
Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid made their way to the ring.
Kendal Grey and Sinclair were still in the ring and Jayne
started in on the Evolve Women’s Champion, Grey. She told
her that it’s never going to get better for her so she
should enjoy these moments of crowd support. Jayne said that
Grey’s 15 minutes of fame are going to be up when they meet
at New Years Evil.
Jayne said that 2025 was the year of Jacy Jayne. She held
the NXT and TNA women’s titled at the same time and everyone
realized this year that she is a rock star and the glue that
holds NXT together. Grey doesn’t stand a chance.
Grey responded by saying that she understands she’s the
rookie, the up-and-comer and has a lot to learn. But no one
(even her) expected her to win the Iron Survivor challenge.
She has shown that she can rise to the occasion and Jayne
shouldn’t underestimate her. Becuase this underdog bites
back.
Reid and Sinclair jawed a bit and Henley sucker punched Grey
and the beatdown was on. The damned numbers game got to
Sinclair and Wren with Fatal Influence beating up both until
the segment came to a close.
-Next, Hank and Tank appeared in kimonos, back from their
trip to Japan. Their return was cut short when OTM showed up
and said they should have stayed in Japan. So, as you do,
Hank and Tank challenged them to a match next week.
-After a break, Blake Monroe barrelled into GM Ava’s office.
She blamed Ava for the fiasco that was her open challenge.
Monroe declared “no more open challenges ever.” Ava said
that was fine becuase she is going to defend her North
American Title against Thea Hale next week.
-The scene shifted and Sol Ruca finally tracked down Zaria
in the parking lot. Ruca invited Zaria to Saturday Night’s
Main Even and they hugged and made up.
NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs Je’Von Evans
Evans cashed in his title shot from the Iron Survivor
Challenge to get this match tonight instead of at New Years
Evil. Ricky Saints was there and agreed to hold onto his
rematch with Femi and step aside so Evans could take his
shot first. Femi for his part shrugged his shoulders and
said “sure, whatever” but in a way much more menacing way.
Just let me say, I cannot wait for the day when Oba Femi has
to dance his way down a 200ft Wrestlemania ramp.
The two locked up off the top with Femi driving Evans into
the corner. Evans hit a superkick out of the corner into a
cutter, trying to steal one, but Femi blocked it. Evans hit
a surprise knee and actually got a 2.5 count out of it.
That fired Femi up though and he started chopping the much,
much, much smaller Evans. Femi sent Evans off the ropes and
Evans turned it into an insiguri for another two count.
Evans’ strategy was clearly leveraging his explosive
bounciness.
Femi picked Evans up in a stalling backbreaker and folded
Evans in half. He put on a face lock and Evans started
throwing elbows. He hit a dropkick that sent Femi out of the
ring. Evans followed and went for a springboard, but Femi
caught his ankle and threw him at the ground. Femi threw
Evans at the ring apron, but Evans jumped up and turned it
into a spingboard.
Femi caught him and slammed him against the ring. Femi
dropped Evans face-first on the ring apron (the faciest part
of the ring!) and climbed back in.
Femi threw a big lariat and stomped Evans in the center of
the ring. Femi slammed Evans knee into the mat and stalked
over to him for more stomping. The he did a little ab
workout after suplexing Evans, who looked like he had the
wind knocked out of him.
Evans and Femi traded punches until Femi grabbed Evans for
another backbreaker. Femi set Evans up for a powerbomb, but
Evans crumpled to the mat. Evans tried swinging from his
knees, but Femi just knocked him back down.
Femi pciked up Evans who used his legs to send him out of
the ring. Evans followed and Femi looked to powerbomb him
through the table. Evans reversed it and Femi backed off and
charged. Evans dodged and Femi went flying across the
Announce table.
Both made it back to the ring to break the count, but Evans
was waiting for Femi with two frog splashes for a 2.75
count. Evans started taking shots into Femi’s gut and hit a
spinning kick to send him out of the ring. Evans dove after
him and landed it, tossing Femi back into the ring. He went
for a springboard, but Femi caught him with forearm on the
way down.
Evans hit a quick cutter, but Femi kicked out. Femi came
back with a huge shot, but this time Evans kicked out at
two. Femi threw Evans across the ring and Evans came back
with another two cutters and a pin 1-2- and Ricky Saints
pulled the ref out of the ring!
Evans ate a big lariat from Femi in the ring who hit the
Fall From Grace on Evans to get the win and retain the NXT
Title.
Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Je’Von Evans