‘WWE NXT: New Year’s Evil 2026’ Review (Jan 6th 2026)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT: New Year’s Evil 2026, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down on this week’s “special” show!
Match #1: Tatum Paxley def. Izzi Dame
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The peculiar Tatum Paxley scored a major victory by defeating Izzi Dame in one-on-one action. Dame was out to prove a point and used her size advantage to keep her opponent at bay, but Paxley’s unusual offense and strength advantage evened the odds. With the crowd firmly behind her, Paxley hit Cemetery Drive to get herself back in the win column.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: NXT Women’s Championship – Jacy Jayne def. Kendal Grey
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT Women’s Championship remains with Fatal Influence as Jacy Jayne overcame a stiff test from Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. An irritated Jayne brought the fight to the challenger, but Grey had her perfectly scouted and hit a devastating moonsault onto all three members of Fatal Influence. Jayne regained the momentum and used her veteran savvy to keep the 2025 Iron Survivor off balance. Grey finally managed to lock in a sleeper hold, but it caused chaos when Fatal Influence and Wren Sinclair got involved, leading to Fallon Henley helping Jayne hit a Rolling Encore to retain the title.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #3: NXT Women’s North American Championship – Izzi Dame def. Thea Hail
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Izzi Dame captured the NXT Women’s North American Championship after answering Thea Hail’s open challenge. Still feeling the effects of Blake Monroe’s ambush from earlier in the night, Hail fought valiantly, but in the end fell victim to Dame.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: NXT Championship – Oba Femi def. TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Oba Femi retained the NXT Championship against TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, but made a shocking decision afterwards. Slater refused to back down despite the massive size difference, but The Ruler didn’t relent as he tossed the challenger across the ring. The TNA star finally found his footing thanks to supreme athleticism, but in the end he fell to a thunderous Fall From Grace. In a shocking twist, Femi left the NXT Championship in the ring.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This year’s New Year’s Evil delivered exactly what you’d expect from an NXT special: solid wrestling, a couple of standout moments, and just enough intrigue to keep the wheels turning into the new year. The women’s division once again carried the night, with Jacy Jayne vs. Kendal Grey stealing the show in a genuinely compelling title match, while Tatum Paxley continued her rise as one of NXT’s most oddly magnetic performers. Izzi Dame had a busy night, falling early before rebounding to capture gold, which nicely reinforced her positioning as a serious threat. The main event was good rather than great, but Oba Femi’s post-match twist gave it the kind of talking point NXT thrives on. Not an all-timer, but a confident, well-paced special that reminded us why NXT remains WWE’s most consistently watchable brand.
