NXT New Years Evil took place in the Capital Wrestling Center in Orlando Florida. The show was hosted by Dexter Lumis with highly anticipated matches such as Damien Priest taking on Karrion Kross, Rhea Ripley facing off against Raquel Gonzalez in a Last Woman Standing Match, Tommaso Ciampa fights Timothy Thatcher in the Fight Pit and Finn Balor defends the NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly in an epic rematch from TakeOver 31.
[lawrence-related id=1161889]The show opened with the host Dexter Lumis walking up to the platform and turning on the lights for New Years Evil.
Karrion Kross Defeated Damien Priest
Can @ArcherofInfamy hand @WWEKarrionKross his first pinfall loss at #NXTNYE?! 😲#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/AkhEJp4680
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
The end is here for @ArcherOfInfamy as @WWEKarrionKross stands tall in the first match of #NXTNYE. ❌ ⌛ @Lady_Scarlett13 pic.twitter.com/TKInMraSzD
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
Adam Cole and Roderick Strong is interviewed about his tag match next week in the Dusty Rhodes Classic against Breezango. They say Breezango are good but they will continue their prophecy. They say the prophecy begins tonight as they believe Kyle O’Reilly will become NXT Champion.
Santos Escobar Defeated Gran Metalik To Retain The Cruiserweight Championship
The #WWENXT Cruiserweight Title is on the line at #NXTNYE at @WWEGranMetalik challenges the cunning @EscobarWWE! pic.twitter.com/Y0yv0vWWB9
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
All class, all victory.@EscobarWWE successfully defends the #Cruiserweight Title and the legado against @WWEGranMetalik at #NXTNYE! #WWENXT #AndStill @RaulMendozaWWE @joaquinwilde_ pic.twitter.com/oNlynEixvE
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez are seen working out backstage, preparing for their match.
A vignette for Xia Li’s first match is shown saying that it will be next.
A video promo is shown of Mercedes Martinez talking about wanting the NXT Women’s title and she is waiting for Io Shirai.
Xia Li Defeated Katrina Cortez
She's ready. ⚔️ #NXTNYE @XiaWWE @Bigboawwe pic.twitter.com/xEDTMxS4px
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
The transformation is complete.@XiaWWE is on a completely different level right now at #NXTNYE.#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/yv9p1ZdL9D
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
Regal announced in a video exclusive that Timothy Thatcher will not be able to compete in the Fight Pit match against Tommaso Ciampa due to an injury he suffered during training. He said they will have their Fight Pit match on a later date.
Bronson Reed was interviewed and he said 2021 will be his year. He also predicted that Rhea Ripley will win the Last Women Standing match.
Raquel Gonzalez Defeated Rhea Ripley In The Last Woman Standing Match
Who will be the #LastWomanStanding?@RheaRipley_WWE just shoved @DakotaKai_WWE into a locker and brought the BRUTALITY to @RaquelWWE at #NXTNYE!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/RjY75MS2XG
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
.@RaquelWWE is the #LastWomanStanding.
Words cannot even describe what we just witnessed. WOW.#NXTNYE @RheaRipley_WWE pic.twitter.com/kn4eCTVbwo
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
The Way was driving to the Capital Wrestling Center with a police escort. They came out to the ring. Gargano bragged about breaking his title curse. Candice calls him the most powerful person ever existed. Candice presents him a plaque to break his curse. Theory calls Gargano a real life super hero. Him and Hartwell present Gargano a comic portrait of themselves. Gargano loved all of it and announces that him and Theory are entering the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Shotzi Blackheart interrupted as she came out on her tank. Theory tried to bad mouth her but she shoots him with a missile, knocking him down. Shotzi attacked Indi and Candice, taking them out of the ring. Kushida came out and attacked Gargano. All of a sudden, the bell rang. Lumis rang it and showed a drawing which announced a tag team match featuring Candice and Johnny facing Shotzi and Kushida.
Kushida and Shotzi Blackheart Defeated Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae
The host of #NXTNYE @DexterLumis made a huge mixed tag team match! @ShotziWWE & @KUSHIDA_0904 vs. @JohnnyGargano & @CandiceLeRae#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/JK4AYDtV5k
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
.@ShotziWWE & @KUSHIDA_0904 are starting 2021 off STRONG by defeating #WWENXT North American Champion @JohnnyGargano & @CandiceLeRae at #NXTNYE! pic.twitter.com/Y5bwpoksaF
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
They announce that the next NXT TakeOver will take place on Valentine’s Day.
William Regal was interviewed and he talked about how great of a year 2021 is going to be. He announced that there will also be a Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic along with the Men’s Dusty Classic.
Finn Balor Defeated Kyle O’Reilly To Retain The NXT Championship
"You want to be a champion here at #WWENXT? THIS is what you have to put yourself through!" – @StuBennett @FinnBalor vs. @KORCombat for the #NXTChampionship is as INCREDIBLE and HARD-HITTING as ever!#NXTNYE pic.twitter.com/KeuHy6gmCa
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
Does he have your attention now?
❌ #AndStill #NXTNYE #NXTChampionship @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/lMyzOltoXm
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021
Overall Review: I really enjoyed this show. Whenever NXT does these special shows, they really deliver. My favorite match would have to be the Last Woman Standing match between Rhea and Raquel. They tore it up and they gave Raquel the win which I was really surprised they did but it was definitely necessary with how they have been building her lately. I enjoy her work and I see her facing Io Shirai for the Women’s title down the road to possibly win it. I’m glad Xia Li is back with this new gimmick and hope to see what they have in store for her. It was a shame that the fight pit match didn’t happen with Thatcher and Ciampa but it is what it is. The NXT title match was as good as I expected it to be but I wouldn’t say it was better than their match at TakeOver 31. I do think they should’ve ended it with Kross appearing in the ring after the match and choking out Balor to set up their eventual title match.
Grade: 7/10
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