‘WWE NXT’ Review (Dec 20th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Without further ado, let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Carmelo Hayes def. Axiom
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Axiom and Carmelo Hayes collided at NXT Deadline as two of the competitors in the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge, only for both of them to come up short. Now in a one-on-one contest against each other, both men showed off their supreme athleticism and their savvy technician skills early on. Axiom took the match to another level thanks to an incredible dropkick and a snapping German Suplex as he flew through the ropes. A top rope Hurricanrana seemed to spell doom for Hayes, but interference from Trick Williams allowed Hayes to counter and follow up with Nothing But Net that delivered him the win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Zoey Stark def. Nikkita Lyons
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Before their match even began, Zoey Stark attempted to attack Nikkita Lyons from behind once again, but Lyons was ready for it and thwarted the assault. Lyons came out strong with her offense, but Starks threw her into the ring post to gain the upperhand. The bad blood spilled over, as every strike seemed to have even more force behind them. An attempted roll-up by Lyons went awry as Starks countered it into one of her own, grabbed the ropes to give herself more leverage, and steal the victory away from Lyons with the referee unaware of the illegal use of the ropes.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Match – Kayden Carter & Katana Chace def. Toxic Attraction and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The chaos of last week’s brawl between all three teams carried over to this week’s NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match. A tag team top rope hurricanrana from Chance & Carter on Paxley nearly ended the match, but the other three women entered the ring and four straight kicks left everyone down in the middle of the ring. Each team had their chances to win, but it was Chance & Carter who came out on top as Carter brilliantly countered Nile’s Dragon Sleeper into a pinfall, retaining their Tag Titles in the process.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Elektra Lopez def. Indi Hartwell
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Weeks of backstage assaults led to Indi Hartwell and Elektra Lopez finally locking up in an NXT ring and it was Lopez that controlled most of the match. Both Superstars went for a crossbody splash which knocked them both down, and it led to Lopez making her way to the top rope. It was there that she snuck a pair of brass knuckles and hit Hartwell with them without the referee realizing it, giving her the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: NXT Tag Team Title Match – The New Day def. Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Now as Triple Crown Tag Team Champions, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods defended their NXT Tag Team Titles for the first time against the young team of Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs. As the more experienced team, The New Day used their savviness and their teamwork to isolate Brooks Jensen in their corner. However, Jensen rallied and tagged in his partner Briggs so the pair could use their own tandem offense. The upstart Brooks & Jensen continued to give New Day all they could handle, with Jensen even managing to kick out of Kingston’s S.O.S. Briggs followed that up moments later by hitting Kingston with a soaring top rope moonsault. On the verge of a historic upset, Brooks was shoved off the top rope by Woods, allowing Kingston to hit Briggs with a poison rana. He followed that up with a Trouble in Paradise and then tagged in Woods who hit his signature coast-to-coast elbow drop to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
We only got five matches this week, with a sixth not even getting to the bell. I think, despite some good matches, this week’s show suffered from being pre-Xmas AND having to build up to the next pay-per-view, sorry… “premium live event” New Years Evil. Still, that opening match was a belter!
