Our WWE NXT results for tonight include former NXT Heritage Cup Champion Charlie Dempsey challenging the current champion Lexis King, Tony D’Angelo defending the NXT North American Championship against Ridge Holland, and NXT Champion Oba Femi battling Eddy Thorpe. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE NXT Card:
- NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Eddy Thorpe
- NXT North American Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Ridge Holland
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Lexis King (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey
WWE NXT Results:
NXT North American Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Ridge Holland
Holland takes control early. Shawn Spears comes out midway to watch the match. A fight breaks out outside the ring between The Family and Shawn Spears’ crew. In the confusion, Izzie Dame rolls in the ring and boots Holland in the face. D’Angelo lands a spinebuster for the win.
Winner- Tony D’Angelo
After the match, Dame shouts at D’Angleo that they are even now.
Grade: B-
Standard stuff here. The interference from Dame was interesting, even though she owed D’Angelo one, who thought she would make good on it. D’Angelo’s run with the NA title has been uneventful to this point; all the momentum D’Angleo had after beating now NXT Champion Oba Femi is non-existent. The Don needs a real feud.
The Role Model Returns
Bayley notes that NXT is her home and runs down Roxanne Perez for being an entitled little idiot. Bayley says Perez showing up and trying to attack her on Raw doesn’t prove that Perez is ready for the main roster. It doesn’t even prove that Perez can lead the NXT locker room. NXT Women’s Champion Giulia interrupts. Giulia notes that she came to NXT because of wrestlers like Bayley. Perez may not respect Bayley, but Giulia does. Cora Jade, and Perez interrupt. Perez mocks Bayley for being a loser. Jade tries to speak, but the crowd drowns her out in boos. Perez says Bayley is only here because she wants the NXT Women’s Championship. The crowd chants for Perez to shut the hell up. A brawl breaks out.
The brawl continues through the break.
Grade: B
The promo was so-so, but the brawl afterward was epic. The crowd can add a lot to a promo or a match, but the booing here clearly threw Jade and Perez off, leading to what seemed like Bayley and Giulia calling an audible and starting the brawl early.
Dion Lennox vs. Wes Lee w/ Dupont and Igwe
As soon as the bell rings, Lee tosses his coat at Lennox and surprises him with a Justin Liger-esq Koppo kick. Lennox rolls out. Lee lands a dive. Lennox tosses Lee high in the air for a backbody drop out of nowhere. Lee eventually finishes Lennox off with the Cardiac Kick for the win.
Winner- Wes Lee
After the match, Lee grabs a mic and says he’s going to take care of Trick Williams next week in Atlanta. Williams’ music hits, and he power walks to the ring. Williams and Lee brawl. Lee is sent over the top by a clothesline. Williams grabs the mic and says Lee can get it next week. As Williams leaves, he shoulder-checks Lennox on his way up the ramp.
After the match, Lee grabs a mic and says he’s going to take care of Trick Williams next week in Atlanta. Williams’ music hits, and he power walks to the ring. Williams and Lee brawl. Lee is sent over the top by a clothesline. Williams grabs the mic and says Lee can get it next week. As Williams leaves, he shoulder-checks Lennox on his way up the ramp.
Grade: C+
Standard TV match. The brawl after was brief, but that’s the second one tonight. These aren’t different enough to make them stand out, which is making this episode of NXT drag a bit.
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Lexis King (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey
After both men gain pinfalls, King grabs a pair fo brassnucks and contemplates using them. He thinks better of it. After both men gain pinfalls, King grabs a pair of brass knucks and contemplates using them. He thinks better of it. King eventually low-blows Dempsey while the referee is distracted. King lands the Coronation for the deciding pinfall in the fourth round.
Winner- Lexis King
Grade: C+
Good match. Nothing earth-shattering here, but King’s character development is taking an interesting turn.
Karmen Petrovic w/Ashante “Thee” Adonis vs. Jaida Parker
Petrovic lands a flurry of strikes. Parker uses her power move arsenal to take control. After some back and forth, Kelani Jordan runs down to ringside. Parker takes a swing at Jordan. Petrovic rolls up Parker for the win.
Winner- Karmen Petrovic
Grade: C+
Parker’s new music… this writer can’t get jiggy with that. Interesting that Adonis didn’t get involved, but it’s for the better. Petrovic doesn’t get many big wins, it’s just a shame it was at Parker’s expense.
The Family (Stacks and Crusifino) vs. Brooks and Niko w/Spears
Niko pins Stacks after a lariat.
Winners- Brookes and Niko
Grade: C+
Quick match. Not much to discuss here, but Niko looks solid. Brooks has been stuck in tag teams for most of his NXT career, but Niko is a different animal than Josh Briggs. This could be interesting.
NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Eddy Thorpe
Femi dominates early. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory are watching the match from the bird’s nest. Thorpe gets a few near falls before Femi ends this with a Powerbomb.
Winner- Oba Femi
Grade: B-
Femi thankfully put Thorpe down with a vicious powerbomb. Hopefully, Femi can move on to a more significant challenge and further cement his dominance as NXT Champion. Thorpe manages to get in a good amount of offense and a few tight near falls.
After the match, Femi yells at Theory and Waller. Trick Williams appears in the ring and faces off with Femi. Thorpe tries to get involved but Williams drops him with the Trick Shot.
WWE NXT Review:
This episode of NXT had its moments, but it struggled to maintain momentum throughout the night. Repetitive brawls, underwhelming finishes, and any real lack standout lead to a somewhat mediocre episode of NXT. Hopefully the renewed feud with Trick Williams and Oba Femi will reinvigorate the NXT title picture.
Rating C+
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
Read More: Netflix Shares Viewership Information For 1/13 WWE RAW
WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!