Posted on 12/24/125 by Bob Magee
NXT was taped in front of a live studio audience. From a
sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando, NXT is on
the air with a holiday-themed episode.
Opening the show is a singles match in the women’s division.
Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame (with The Culling)
—
The match goes through a commercial break, with Dame
escaping a sleeper hold just before the show cuts to
commercials. When the show returns from the break, Vice
escapes a Boston crab. Vice then begins a comeback with a
few near falls and an Umaga splash.
At ringside, Shawn Spears distracts Vice trying to trip her
feet. That allowed Dame to boot Vice in the face. Suddenly,
the noise a chain saw fills the arena. Tatum Paxley is
Chainsaw Charlie, as she busts through a gimmicked section
of the set wielding a chainsaw. No actual chain on the saw
but the motor was revved up, so Shawn Spears ran for his
life.
Dame was distracted by the chain saw run-in, and she walked
into a spinning back fist from Vice. Dame drops like a
stone, and Vice covers her.
Match results: Lola Vice defeated Izzi Dame via pinfall.
In a post-match angle, Kelani Jordan runs in and ambushes
Vice. Jordan pummels Vice and stands over her with a scowl.
— NXT Women’s North American Champion Thea Hail talks with
Jordynne Grace in a locker room skit. They are watching
Hail’s title win from last week. Hail then leaves, as she
heads to the ring for a monologue.
— NXT Men’s North American Champion Ethan Page cuts a cocky
promo on Myles Borne in another backstage skit. Page talks
down to Borne. Page also says people think the main roster
is the shark tank, but Page insists that NXT is the shark
tank. Sharks from all over the ocean come here. Page says
live up to the task or move on. Page also tells Borne he can
watch Page take care of TNA’s best talent next week in a
match.
Blake Monroe confronts Thea Hail
—
Thea Hail enters the ring with her newly won Women’s North
American title belt. Hail acknowledges last week was
controversial, and though she cannot believe she won, Hails
still won the title! This has been the greatest week of her
life.
Hail gets emotional as the studio audience chants she
deserved it. Hail emotions Andre Chase teachings, along with
lessons from her friendships have all lead to her becoming
the youngest Women’s North American Champion in history.
Blake Monroe interrupts the monologue, and Monroe still
looks panicked after last week. Monroe also appears
disheveled. Monroe rants about Hail’s title win being a
fluke and a mistake. Monroe wants her title back, but Hail
says no. Hail insists that Monroe lost clean. Monroe buries
the referee from the match.
Hail eventually says she will grant Monroe a rematch next
week for the title. Monroe then hits Hail with a cheap shot,
and they brawl around the ring until officials separate
them.
— Sarah Schreiber interviews Sol Ruca and Zaria. “You can’t
control the wave, but you learn how to ride them,” Ruca
says. Sage advice from Sol Ruca. She won a match on Saturday
Nights Main Event. Thus, Ruca earns a title shot against
Chelsea Green. Zaria says Sol deserves her title back, and
Zaria will be in her corner to help.
Eli Knight vs. Tavion Heights in a Speed tournament match
—
Of course, the match was quick with a three-minute time
limit, but it was pretty dang good while it lasted. Heights
won with a belly-to-belly suplex. Knight got a fly, and he
shined during the match. He and Heights shook hands and
embraced in a show of good sportsmanship.
With the win, Heighs advanced from the first round of the
number one contender’s tournament for a shot at the WWE
Speed Championship.
Match result: Tavion Heights defeated Eli Knight via pinfall
to advance in the WWE Speed Championship number one
contender’s tournament.
— TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater and NXT Champion Oba
Femi are sitting down for a face-to-face interview alongside
Kelly Kincaid.
TNA X-Division Champ Leon Slater face-to-face with NXT Champ
Oba Femi
—
The successful year of Femi is discussed first, with them
pointing out many of Femi’s highlights like his run as
champion of NXT and wrestling Cody Rhodes. Femi has proven
himself as “The Ruler” in NXT. When he recently returned,
Femi looks to prove he is the ruler of not just NXT — but
WWE itself.
Slater talks about being turned on to wrestling via video
games, DVDs, and action figures. He started training at nine
years old. It is not so crazy when you have his passion for
it. Slater makes moment, and me will make another moment
next week at New Year’s Evil when he defeats Femi for the
NXT title.
Femi responds by warning Slater’s story will not have a
happy ending. Slater insists they will see who speaks louder
in their title match. Femi smirks as he agrees, and they
shake hands.
Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints face-to-face
— NXT General Manager Ava is in the ring to host the face-
to-face meeting of Saints and Evans. Ava is flanked by
security as Saints and Evan enter separately.
Evans wonders why they are talking and not throwing hands.
Saints remarks that Evans is so impulsive while speculating
he lacks emotional intelligence. Saints takes a dig at Evans
over him being too young to rent a car, let alone be the
face of the NXT brand.
They banter back-and-forth. Evans accuses Saints of being
jealous, so that is why Saints attacks Evans during his
match with Oba Femi. Saints scoffs as he rants about how he
could be on Good Morning America. Saints further insults
Saints about the way he talks.
Evans says that may be true, but Evans points out he was on
Raw and Smackdown. Saints was not there. Nor was he on the
card for John Cena’s last match like Evans. They banter some
more before Ava cuts them off and says they will settle this
feud next week in a match. Security keeps them apart. And
scene.
— In a backstage skit, Fatal Influence confronts Wren
Sinclair and Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. NXT
Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne challenges Sinclair to a “warm-
up match” next week on NXT. Sinclair accepts the challenge.
Shiloh Hill & Skylar Raye vs. Arianna Grace & Channing
“Stacks” Lorenzo in a mixed “Christmas Chaos” match
—
This was a hardcore match with a Christmas theme, and it was
pretty decent in spite of the cheesy holiday gimmick. They
took some crazy bumps in the name of comedy. Cliches are
king, with holiday-themed weapons like a kendo stick wrapped
as a candy cane. Ornaments, presents, wreaths and some
yuletide are all used as props.
Hill & Raye jump the heels before the bell, and the brawl is
under way. Gimmicks come into play earlier and often, as
they brawl through a commercial break. They play on the
bowling ball spot from ECW decades ago, except this time it
is slapstick comedy. With Hill tied in the corner by a
strand of Christmas lights, Grace presents Stacks the gift
of a bowling ball. Except she inadvertently gives Stacks a
low blow and drops the ball on his foot. Comedy ensues.
On the floor, Grace takes a bump on a Christmas tree in
another comedy spot. Hill puts a wreath around Stacks before
delivering a guillotine legdrop. Hill & Raye then toss sugar
cookies into the crowd, until they are cut off. Moments
later, Hill takes Santa’s sack and dumps pines cones on a
table. Hill then powerbombs Stacks through the table. Raye
then leaps off the top rope with a frog splash on Grace, and
Raye covers her for a three count.
Match result: Shiloh Hill & Skylar Raye defeated Arianna
Grace & Stacks in a Christmas Chaos match when Raye pinned
Grace.
— Joe Hendry appears in a skit where Darkstate are in Ava’s
office. Dion Lennox and Darkstate offer warnings to Hendry.
After Darkstate leaves, Hendry pitches to Ava a live concert
for next week.
— OTM and Swipe Right are on a collision course after
another backstage skit. Kelly Kincaid is interviewing OTM
when the Vanity Project trio roll up to give Kincaid gifts
they originally got for Blake Monroe. OTM take exception to
the interruption of their interview, and they issue a
warning to Swipe Right.
Andre Chase vs. Lexis King in a WWE Speed tournament match
—
They both had inset promos like this was an old episode of
Superstars of Wrestling from back in the day. Much like
matches on that show, this bout was short. That was more
because it was a Speed match, instead of a squash. Chase got
to shine, but King wins after executing The Coronation.
King advances to the final round of the tournament, where he
faces Tavion Heights for a shot at WWE Speed Champion Jasper
Troy.
Match result: Lexis King defeated Andre Chase via pinfall to
advance in the WWE Speed Championship number one contender’s
tournament.
— Hank & Tank gives Tavion Heights a pep talk in a backstage
skit that also involved Myles Borne.
Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre & Ethan Page) vs. Sol Ruca
(with Zaria) for the WWE Women’s United States Championship
—
On commentary, Booker T is able to reference Killer Tim
Brooks. That popped me at least. Booker was unhinged at
times, and it was hilarious. Meanwhile, a title bout ensues
that goes through a commercial break. Green takes a bump
outside the ring, which sets up Ruca doing a back flip off
the top into a moonsault on the floor. Green and the Secret
Hervice are the target.
Ruca gets to shine, and they go on to trade near falls. They
also took some big bumps. After Ruca does her signature
cartwheel into a DDT, she hooks a leg on Green. Ethan Page
interferes by putting Green’s leg on the rope, thus breaking
up the pin attempt. Zaria confronts Page at ringside, and
she yells at him. Suddenly, Moose runs down to attack Page.
They brawl their way off stage.
For the finish itself, Ruca goes for her finisher. However,
Alba Fyre interferes by grabbing Ruca’s foot. That allows
Green to counter Ruca, and Green drops her with an
Unprettier. Green then covers Ruca for a three count. And
still…
Match result: WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea
Green defeated Sol Ruca via pinfall to retain her title with
the help of outside interference.
In a post-match attack, Zaria spears Green and Fyre. Ruca
then executes a double Sol Snatcher on Green and Fyre. Happy
ending of sorts as they send viewers into the holidays. But
first, a hard sell for next Tuesday night on NXT.