‘WWE NXT’ Review (Dec 27th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. This is the first ACTUAL show for the WWE this week (Raw was a recap show), with that let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Julius Creed def. JD McDonagh
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
A focused and motivated Julius Creed became a huge problem for JD McDonagh. With the disrespect towards Diamond Mine fresh on his mind, Creed used his freakish athleticism to lay waste to his opponent but the crafty McDonagh used his experience and tactical strikes down the larger Creed. As the war waged on, McDonagh went for a moonsault but Creed rolled out of the way, hit a spinebuster, and then clinched the victory with a sliding clothesline. After the match, Indus Sher appeared and challenged the Creed Brothers to a match at New Year’s Evil.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Wendy Choo def. Cora Jade
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The typically mild mannered Wendy Choo used her bottled up anger to take down NXT’s resident mean girl, Cora Jade. Choo wasted no time in attacking, causing Jade to run out of the ring and even try to attack Choo with her bat, but it was to no avail. Both women battled, but Choo’s dragon suplex turned into a uranage put Jade in prime position for a splash from the top rope, giving her the win and her revenge.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Scrypts def. Ikemen Jiro
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The enigmatic Scrypts continued his winning ways in NXT after an impressive showing against Ikemen Jiro. The match started with some mind games as Scrypts flipped into the wearing the same jacket Jiro was wearing, and it sparked Jiro’s offense, but it wasn’t long before the high-flier took control. Jiro rallied and had the NXT crowd behind him, but his attempt at a superplex went awry, and Scrypts landed an incredible flipping senton and pinned Jiro before again mocking him with the matching jacket.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Lyra Valkyria def. Lash Legend
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Since showing up in NXT a few weeks ago, Lyra Valkyria has established herself as a dangerous force in the NXT Women’s division. A very-game Lash Legend showed no fear against the Irish Superstar, knocking her around early in the match. Valkyria countered using her amazing athleticism, and her fighting spirit kept Legend off-balance. Despite Legend’s strong showing, a roundhouse kick from Valkyria planted Legend in the middle of the ring and earned the victory using her signature flying splash from the top rope.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Schism def. Odyssey Jones, Malik Blade, & Edris Enofe
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The team of Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, Jagger Reid, & Ava Raine are as dangerous as they are mysterious and proved it against the trio of Odyssey Jones, Malik Blade, & Edris Enofe. Gacy, Fowler & Reid took on the trio in six-man tag team action and an early, exciting offensive display from Enofe and Blade was promptly extinguished by Fowler. Enofe managed to tag in Jones and the big man quickly went to work, but all six men found themselves in the ring with the referee having to re-establish some order. The incredible action continued with high-flying moves and brutal strikes, but a double doomsday from Schism allowed Gacy to hit Enofe with his springboard lariat, proving that Schism’s roots in NXT are growing stronger by the day.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Fallon Henley def. Kiana James
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
With her livelihood and her family pride on the line, Fallon Henley did whatever it took to win back her family’s bar from the shrewd businesswoman that is Kiana James. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen were at ringside in the corner of Henley, but at times Jensen seemed sympathetic to James as well. Both Henley and James exchanged heavy shots early on, with the crowd firmly behind Henley and her quest to win back her bar. James seemed poised to clinch the win, but a determined Henley continued to battle back. Right before James could hit the 401K, Henley countered and hit a devastating running kick that connected flush with James’s head, giving her not only the win but the rights to her family bar back.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: NXT North American Championship – Wes Lee def. Tony D’Angelo
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Since becoming NXT North American Champion at Halloween Havoc, Wes Lee has successfully pushed back against any and all challengers, with Tony D’Angelo being no exception. D’Angelo spent the first moments of the match mocking the champion, but it proved to be a ploy for him to gain the upperhand after a german suplex. The championship mettle of Lee began to show itself as his innovative offense started to wear The Don of NXT down. As the match wore on, D’Angelo used his strength to try to ground the athletic Lee, working him over with multiple backbreakers and strikes to the champion’s legs.The Don even dropped Lee onto the announcer’s table, but the champion managed to kick out. D’Angelo went for a fisherman suplex, but Lee countered into a DDT, sparking life into the champion. A powerbomb from the challenger allowed D’Angelo to climb to the top rope, but Dijak appeared and carried off Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, distracting D’Angelo long enough for Lee to recover, knock The Don off the turnbuckle, and hit him with a backflipping kick to retain his title.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
A solid show this week, with a fantastic main event. Actually you can’t say any match this week was bad, some were average yes but not bad. In fact this was a rollercoaster of a show, with highs and lows that at least kept this episode interesting (and reflected the year NXT has had if I’m honest). Not the strongest episode to end NXT’s 2022 but it was decent enough.
