‘WWE NXT: Halloween Havoc 2024’ PLE Review
Welcome to this review of the latest NXT premium live event, Halloween Havoc, right here on Nerdly. Last year was two weeks of special NXT epsiodes but we’ve switch back to a PLE/PPV format for this one, so let’s get straight into it and see what went down…
Match #1: NXT North American Championship Tables, Ladders and Scares Match – Tony D’Angelo def. Oba Femi
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The North American Championship remains with Tony D’Angelo after a remarkable show of courage and unity from The D’Angelo Family. The Don was a man possessed to begin Halloween Havoc as he attacked The Ruler before the bell, knocking him to the outside before crushing him through the barricade with a rib-cracking Spear. A determined Femi powered through the pain and unleashed a hellacious attack on D’Angelo using steel chairs and ladders to crush the champion before using unbelievable athleticism to plant him through a table. D’Angelo dug deep to rally from Femi’s assault, planting him with a spinebuster onto a steel chair, but a gorilla press from the challenger injured the champion’s knee. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Adriana Rizzo and Luca Crusifino hit the scene to help D’Angelo, and when The Ruler went after Rizzo, The Don crushed him through a ladder on the outside. Femi refused to stay down and hit a Fall From Grace Powerbomb, but D’Angelo kicked out, leading to The D’Angelo Family launching an all-out assault on the challenger before Tony D planted him through a table to win the match.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer def. Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The dream team of Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer scored a major tag team victory over NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. Giulia and Vaquer looked flawless early, using their history as enemies to form a united union and bring the fight to the NXT Women’s Champion and the newly returned Jade. The villainous duo of Perez and Jade used underhanded tactics to gain control, but the match quickly became an even contest between four of NXT’s best. Giulia isolated Perez and hit her with a huge double underhook superplex before Vaquer nailed a twisting splash, securing the win for NXT’s newest Superstars.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Ambulance Match – Ridge Holland def. Andre Chase
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The rampage of Ridge Holland against Chase U culminated in a convincing win in an Ambulance Match against Andre Chase. The two Superstars warred in and out of the ring to start, but Chase found himself in the unenviable position of being in the ambulance. However, Chase kicked out the door and sprayed Holland with a fire extinguisher. Holland continued his brutal assault on his former mentor, smashing him with a steel chair and a Kendo stick before Chase turned the tables by using weapons of his own. The two found themselves on the announce table, and after planting Holland with a DDT, Chase unsuccessfully attempted to get Holland into the ambulance. Chase and Holland battled on the stage, but Holland took control and hit a Redeemer DDT before throwing a lifeless Chase into the ambulance to win the match.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: NXT Women’s North American Championship – Fallon Henley def. Kelani Jordan
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kelani Jordan’s reign as NXT Women’s North American Champion is over as Fatal Influence wore her down, allowing Fallon Henley to win the Gauntlet Match and capture her first-ever singles championship. The champion was first tasked with Jazmyn Nyx, and despite Nyx’s best efforts, Jordan nailed her signature Split Legged Moonsault to win the first match. Jacy Jayne was next, and she used her freshness and veteran savvy to pummel the champion, only for Jordan to catch her in a crafty pinfall combination to eliminate Jayne. Jayne decked Jordan after their match, allowing Henley an even greater advantage to begin her night. The champion fought back and nearly won the match on several occasions, but Nyx and Jayne interfered and allowed Henley to hit a Shining Wizard and become the new NXT Women’s North American Champion.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: NXT Championship Devil’s Playground Match – Trick Williams def. Ethan Page
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Trick Williams is still the NXT Champion after a hard-fought Devil’s Playground Match against his bitter rival, Ethan Page. All Ego jumped the champion to begin the match, setting the tone for the brutal affair. Page tried to humiliate Williams by smashing a pumpkin on his head, but the champion reversed it and embarrassed the challenger by planting him with the pumpkin and promptly kicking it off of his head. The challenger regained control thanks to a steel chair, but Page’s attack using nuts and bolts backfired as Williams hit a neckbreaker to send them both into the metal mess. The two Superstars battled at ringside, and Page crushed Williams’ midsection with the steel steps before obliterating him with an Ego’s Edge through the table. A clearly hurt Williams battled through his injuries, but a low blow from Page forced the champion to respond with one of his own before landing an incredible Trick Shot to retain his title.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Let’s be honest, this PLE was a two-match show, everything else felt like it could’ve, and maybe should’ve, just been on a regular episode of NXT. The main event had zero suspense as you could tell from the get-go that RTick would retain, the women’s NA title match fell flat, with current champ Kelani Jordan looking like she couldn’t be bothered – maybe because she felt deflated knowing she was dropping the belt? The ambulance match went on for about 5 minutes longer than it should have. So that left us with the opener, which – and I’ve said this before given how I felt about D’Angelo – was surprisingly good, with both men looking like they were determined to get the win (the exact opposite of Jordan in her title match); and then there’s the women’s tag match… Easily the match of the night, this one showed just how much Gulia and Vaquer bring to NXT. Seriously, I think moving to WWE instead of AEW was the right move for both of these women after seeing this match, their presentation was on point and they both looked like the proverbial million dollars! So a mixed bag overall, it will be worth watching the first two matches in full but skipping through the rest!
