By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT Deadline
Streamed December 9, 2023 on Peacock/WWE Network
Aired Live from Bridgeport, CT at the Total Mortgage Arena
Kickoff Show Recap
At the WWE Studio set, the usual kickoff team of Megan Morant, Matt Camp, and Sam Roberts checked in. Matt Camp quickly talked about CM Punk being in the town of the PLE. Separate shots of Ilja Dragunov and Baron Corbin were shown as they were arriving to the arena. The panel then ran through the advertised PLE card…
The show cut to Bron Breakker talking smack about his Iron Survivor opponents when a unseen interviewer caught up with him…
The panel ran through the Iron Survivor Challenge rules via a bullet point graphic. Camp announced that the number one contendership won in these matches will be for a title shot at the New Years Evil themed show. The panel then gave their thoughts and predictions on the Men’s Iron Survivor match, particularly Trick Williams. They also talked about how Dijak tends to steal the show at any PLE he’s on…
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Dijak and asked him on his thoughts on the Iron Survivor Match. Dijak talked about always bringing it on the big stage. He then listed his opponents and how he’s going to destroy them. He even tossed in a cheap jab at Eddy Thorpe, who isn’t in the match…
Megan Morant sent the show to the Kiana James vs. Roxanne Perez hype package. The panel gave their subsequent thoughts. The panel then gave their thoughts on the Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King…
Axiom was shown stretching backstage. Nathan Frazer was also warming up…
An ad aired for Raw, featuring CM Punk…
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Briggs, Jensen, and Henley about Henley and Briggs’s upcoming Iron Survivor matches. Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley talked about being hyped to become number one contenders. Brooks Jensen said he’s proud of Henley and Briggs. Matt Camp ran through the Iron Survivor rules again. The panel then gave their thoughts and predictions on the women’s match…
The panel sent the show to the Baron Corbin vs. Ilja Dragunov hype package. The panel then gave their thoughts and predictions…
John’s Thoughts: So far? I don’t see why they needed to do an hour kickoff show because it’s just them stretching out their kayfabe predictions. It also means they stuffed in more ads for the ad-based Peacock subscribers.
The panel then hyped up the kickoff show match between Axiom and Nathan Frazer…
Entrances for the kickoff show match took place. Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Alicia Taylor was the ring announcer. Side note, it doesn’t quite look like they’ve optimized Axiom’s motion-blur entrance for larger arenas compared to the Performance Center…
1. Nathan Frazer vs. Axiom. Both men started the match with chain wrestling. Axiom took down Frazer with a shoulder tackle. Axiom reversed a leapfrog into a sweet looking ankle lock. Frazer quickly rolled out. Axiom reversed a huracanrana with a cartwheel. Both men soaked up a NXT chant. Frazer turned Axiom inside-out with a running knee. Frazer put Axiom in a deep armbar. Axiom escaped, but ate a dropkick from Frazer.
Vic noted that Frazer has been a bit cocky as of late. Frazer planted Axiom face first into the 2nd buckle with a Flatliner. Axiom reversed an Irish Whip into an Octopus Hold. Frazer got a rope break. Frazer put Axiom in a Cobra Clutch, which Frazer grapevined. Axiom escaped with a rollup. Frazer hit Axiom with a Moonsault Scorpion Death Drop for a nearfall. Axiom recovered and hit Frazer with a PK for a good nearfall.
Frazer got a nearfall off an inside cradle. Axiom crotched Frazer on the top rope in the center. Axiom dumped Frazer to ringside with a flying punch. Axiom then hit Frazer at ringside wtih a Triangle Moonsault. A loud “NXT” chant ensued. Frazer hit Axiom with his signature Superplex into a Final Cut for a nearfall. Axiom avoided a Phoenix Splash and enzuigiri. Frazer caught Axiom with a low hook kick to the jaw.
Frazer was swatted out of the air with a Superkick. Frazer reversed a Golden Ratio with a superkick for a good nearfall. Axiom staggered Frazer on the top rope with a gamengiri. The Spaniard hit Frazer with a Spanish Fly. Axiom hit Frazer with the Golden Ratio Superkick for the victory.
Axiom defeated Nathan Frazer via pinfall in 10:50.
Axiom held out his hand for a handshake. Frazer slapped it away and gave Axiom a hug instead…
John’s Thoughts: Great kickoff match that really got the crowd fired up to start the show. Just like on Tuesday, they made the most of every minute, and they got around ten minutes here. I wouldn’t mind seeing these two work a series of matches to entertain the crowd, maybe even throw in a 15 minute match in there somewhere.
A hype package aired for the Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee which also featured Wes Lee’s emotional speech where he announced his back surgery. The panel then gave their predictions and thoughts with heel Sam Roberts blaming Dragon Lee for nepotism with Rey Mysterio. Megan pointed out that Dom is Rey’s son…
The panel then ran through the advertised PLE Card again…
Main Show Review
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Alicia Taylor was the ring announcer…
The show immediately started out with HBK Shawn Michaels making his entrance to his Sexy Boy theme. HBK was in his usual business suit and cowboy hat. HBK noted that Deadline is WWE’s last PLE of the Year. HBK did Triple H’s usual “Are You Ready” line to fire up the crowd. Queue Cult of Personality. CM Punk made his entrance in a pink Bret Hart hoodie.
John’s Thoughts: It’s still a bit surreal. A few months ago I’m reviewing an episode CM Punk’s personal show AEW Collision, and now CM Punk is on NXT counter-programming his old TV show.
CM Punk joked and wondered if they need to drop the Suck It line. Punk said it’s surreal that he’s making up with HBK now. HBK yelled “nice hoodie!” at Punk wearing the sweater of his longtime former mortal enemy. Punk joked that he forgot to wear his Heartbreak Kid merch. Punk noted that he’s also made up with Triple H and it’s all about healing now. Punk said he has good and bad news. Punk said the good thing about not remembering what they have to say is they can have random moments like taking a selfie with his childhood hero HBK. Punk said people wanted to know if he’s going to be on Raw or Smackdown.
The crowd booed that and did a NXT Chant. Punk then teased signing with NXT. Punk soaked in NXT chants. Cult of Personality then cut in. Guess it was time for Punk to wrap it up…
The intro video aired for NXT Deadline 2023…
John’s Thoughts: The Punk feel good honeymoon tour continues. Similar to his start in AEW, he’s sticking around in “happy to be back” mode. Once Punk makes his decision, I hope he moves away from this happy mode. I can almost guarantee you that Punk’s not “signing” with NXT, especially when Raw and Smackdown stars are freely able to wrestle programs in NXT without being signed like NXT is WWE’s Switzerland. By the way, this did come off as last minute. So much that whoever was sitting in for HBK in Gorilla Position clearly hit the “wrap it up” button. It’d be hilarious if it was a rib from Hunter.
Vic Joseph introduced the show. The show then started with Rey Mysterio making his entrance. Rey was on crutches due to his recent leg surgery. Right behind him, was Dragon Lee, who hugged Rey up the ramp. Dragon Lee then made his full entrance. Dominik Mysterio made his entrance. Rey Mysterio joined Booker T and Vic Joseph on the commentary table where Vic noted that Dom was out without any of Judgement Day. Alicia Taylor handled the formal in-ring introductions. Dom threw a t-shirt in the face of Dragon before the match…
1. Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee (w/Rey Mysterio) for the NXT North American Championship. A “We want Mami” chant ensued. Dragon Lee dumped Dom to ringside and hit him with a Flip Dive. Dragon hit Dom with a high kick and then rana’d him into the corner. Dragon hit Dom with a slingshot wrecking ball kick for a nearfall. Dragon took down Dom into an armbar. Dom quickly got to the ropes for a break. Dom turned the tables by hyperextending Dragon’s leg over the top rope.
Dom then missed a DDT on the apron, sending Dragon to the floor with a bloody mouth. Dom then drew heat from the crowd. Dom hit Dragon with a Power Irish Whip in the corner. Dom continued to draw more heat while also gloating in Rey’s direction. Dom worked on Dragon with methodical offense. Dom threw his t-shirt in Dragon’s face again and continued to taunt Rey as he beat up on Dragon. Dom also did the Eddie Guerrero shimmy in front of Rey.
Dom got a nearfall after a slingshot senton. Dom hit Dragon with the Three Amigos. Dom broke up his own pin to continue to mock Rey. Dragon punched Dom and put him in a disjointed Tree of Woe. Dragon then hit Dom with a Double Stomp to send Dom to ringside. Dom and Dragon beat the ten count. Dragon rallied with strikes and hanging superkick. Dragon hit Dom with a hesitation dropkick and another Tree of Woe double stomp for a nearfall due to Dom getting his hand on the ropes.
Dom stopped a running Dragon with a dropkick for a nearfall. Dom and Dragon traded kicks. Dom slipped out of a power bomb and hit Dragon with a nice looking power bomb for a good nearfall. Dom dialed it up. Rey yelled “I hope he slips”. Dom missed a 619. Dragon hit Dom with a sitout power bomb for a nearfall. Dragon Lee then hit Dominik Mysterio with Destino for the clean win.
Dragon Lee defeated Dominik Mysterio via pinfall in 10:33 to become the new NXT North American Champion.
Rey cheered and pointed out that he knew Dragon would win as long as Judgment Day wasn’t involved. Rey and Dragon hugged at ringside with Rey telling Dragon to go out and represent Mexico…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Good title match. I remember a few years ago where Dom was looking a bit rough when they were trying to push him as the white meat high flying babyface. Even though he still has some growing pains in terms of missing a few moves (everyone makes mistakes) he’s really doing some awesome work as a brat heel, out of the ring and in-ring. This was one of his better “more epic” matches and there were some good nearfalls. He also got a chance to be in there with a solid veteran in Dragon Lee. A bit of a surprising title change, but hopefully this is the start to Dragon being protected a bit more after eating a handful of losses recently on the main roster.
Different shots were shown of Baron Corbin and Ilja Dragunov arriving from earlier in the day…
Vic Joseph thanked The Hives for providing the song “Countdown to Shutdown” as the theme for Deadline…
Vic sent the show to Alicia Taylor in the ring who laid out the Women’s Iron Survivor Match rules. A bullet point graphic was also shown. The penalty box was set up right next to the announce table at ringside (last year it was next to the entrance ramp)…
Fallon Henley and Blair Davenport started out the Iron Survivor Match (I’m not surprised, as they are two of the best hands in the current NXT Women’s Division). A points and time scoreboard overlay was placed at the bottom of the screen (Thank you WWE for that)…
2. Women’s Iron Survivor Match. Both women traded quick pin attempts to start the match. There were over 20 rollups to start the match. In fact the match started off with a minute and a half of rollups. Davenport caught Henley with a Yakuza Kick and Baseball Slide Leg Lariat for a two count. Booker noted that Henley is a former tag team champion (I totally forgot about that due to her being off TV for a hot minute). Davenport worked on Henley’s lower back. Davenport worked on Henley for a stretch.
Vic Joseph joked to Booker T that the Penalty Box should remind Booker T of the Michael “Cole Mine” back when Booker called Raw with Heel Michael Cole (fun joke). Henley tripped up Davenport and hit her with her signature baseball slide punch for a two count. Tiffany Stratton was the third entrant. Davenport took down Henley with a lariat and Stratton tossed Henley into the barricade.
The two heels took turns taking shots at Henley. Henley whipped both heels into each other and rallied at them with chops. Stratton regained control with a Clothesline. Davenport and Stratton put Henley in stereo armbars. Stratton went back to taking turns hitting Henley. Stratton then turned on Davenport when she turned her back by nailing her with a Superkick. Stratton stacked both women in the corner and hit them with a backflip into a leg lariat.
Stratton got a two count on Henley. Stratton had the advantage over both opponents 9 minutes and a half into the match. Stratton hit Henley with an Alabama Slam. Davenport tossed Stratton to ringside to steal the pinfall and the first point. Henley must now enter the penalty box. Kelani Jordan was the fourth woman out. Kelani Jordan hit Stratton with a reverse DDT. Davenport broke up Kelani’s pin. Kelani knocked down Davenport and hit her with a split legged moonsault.
Stratton did that signature drop to ringside on Jordan. Henley was released from the penalty box. Henley hit Stratton with a Blockbuster, facebuster, and Shining Wizard to pick up a point on Stratton. Stratton must now head to the penalty box for 90 seconds. Henley and Jordan traded pin variations. Henley put Jordan in a deep armdrag. Henley put Jordan in a deep armdrag. Stratton was released from the box, where she made a beeline to Henley.
Jordan brawled with Davenport while Stratton brawled with Henley. Stratton and Henley traded fatigued strikes. Lash Legend was the last entrant at minute 15. Lash quickly hit Tiffany and Henley with a Tower of Doom. Lash then dragged Jordan and Davenport to the top for a double Superplex. Lash hit Stratton with a Choke Slam and hit Henley with a Power Bomb. Lash stacked and pinned both Stratton and Henley to earn two points. Henley and Stratton will now both be in the box together.
Davemport put Lash in a sleeper and Jordan put Davenport in a sleeper at the same time. Lash slammed both women in the corner to shrug them off. Jordan hit Lash with a huracanrana to send her to ringside. Jordan hit Lash with an Asai Moonsault (which she almost overshot, but Lash caught her thankfully). Noam Dar , Jakara Jackson, and Oro Mensah ran out to hold the penalty box close when Henley and Stratton were set ot be released. Henley escaped through the roof, but was shoved off the roof throguh the announce table.
Stratton then hit Lash, Blair, and Noam Dar with an impressive Swanton Bomb. Lash hit Davenport with a standing splash for a nearfall. Lash hit Tiffany with a standing splash for a nearfall. Lash blocked Kelani’s Dragonrana and used Jordan to hit her opponents. Lash blocked a Sunset Flip, but Stratton hit Jordan and Lash with double stomps. Henley broke up Stratton’s pin. Davenport flew in and pinned Jordan to tie the match up 2 to 2 with Lash.
Lash carried both Henley and Blair into a double modified rack. Stratton dropkicked Lash (to send her full body atop of Henley, ouch). Lash caught Stratton with an elbow drop. Jordan was released from the box where she nailed Stratton with a jump kick. Jordan hit Lash with a Stundog Millionaire. Lash tossed Fallon into Tiffany and Kelani. Blair hit Lash with a double stomp. Henley dumped Davenport to ringside.
Kelani hit Lash with a High Fly Flow for a nearfall. Stratton hit Jordan with a Rolling Senton. Stratton hit Lash with a Prettiest Moonsault Ever for her first point. Jordan pressed slammed Davemport and Tiffany. Jordan hit both women with a 450. Henley broke up Jordan’s pin attempts and went for two counts on Davenport and Tiffany. Henley had Tiffany in a Half Crab.
Davemport hit Jordan with a Super German Suplex. Davenport kicked Henley to take the lead with 3 points. Davemport ran away from Lash to run the clock out.
Blair Davenport (3) defeated Lash Legend (2), Tiffany Stratton (1), Fallon Henley (1), and Kelani Jordan (0) in a 25 minute Iron Survivor Match to earn a NXT Women’s Title Shot at NXT New Years Evil.
Blair Davenport got the mic to trash talk Lyra Valkyria. Lyra Valkyria made her entrance to confront Blair. Cora Jade then ran through Lyra Valkyria. Cora Jade posed with the NXT Women’s Title Belt to end the segment…
John’s Thoughts: Great Iron Survivor match as usual and NXT hasn’t disappointed with this match concept yet (it is the third time they did it). The women worked really hard here and went above and beyond to step up some of the risks and high flying spots. I was a bit weary of some of WWE’s developmental types like Kelani Jordan and Lash Legend being in the match, but both women did a great job here. Lash Legend in particular is showing the fruits of her labor after she was taken off TV (due to WWE putting her on TV way early than she was ready for). It was smart to put her in last, but to her credit she made the most of her time as the powerhouse and “base” of the match (as Jim Ross would put it). A bit surprised that Blair Davenport won given her feud with Nikkita Lyons, but she has worked with Lyra in Europe and should put together a great match. Blair is the most main roster ready of the women in the match. Things are also more interesting given Cora Jade returning to NXT coming off a long hiatus.
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes were warming up backstage. Melo asked Trick how he’s feeling. Trick said he’s locked in. Trick said Melo better also take care of business with Lexis King. Melo said he’s definitely going to take care of Lexis for trying to break apart Trick Melo Gang…
Lexis King made his throne entrance (which actually looked better in an arena as opposed to the PC). Carmelo Hayes made his entrance. Vic noted that Melo’s entrance is a bit tame compared to his past PLE entrances…
3. Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King. Lexis asked for a handshake and Melo yelled that he won’t given how he’s trying to mess with he and Trick. Melo put Lexis in a deep headlock. Lexis took down Melo with a right hand. Melo dragged King down for some ground and pound. Lexis rolled to ringside to stall a bit. Melo used the top rope to drag Lexis in to the ring slingshot style. Melo hit King with a series of armdrags and dropkick. Lexis rolled to ringside again to stall.
Melo and Lexis traded chops at ringside. Lexis hurt his own hand on the ringpost with a chop. Melo then stomped on Lexis’s injured hand on the steps. Melo rallied with chops while also working on Lexis’s injured hand. Melo caught Lexis with an enzuigiri. Lexis hit Melo with a wrecking ball dropkick. Lexis worked on Melo with methodical offense and got a two count. King hit Melo with a kick and draping double stomp for a nearfall.
Vic noted that Lexis has been trying to cause drama between friends backstage. Booker joked that that must mean Lexis is a “Drama King” (no! That’s Matthew Rehwoldt). Lexis got Melo with a Northern Lariat for a two count. Lexis then worked on Melo with a half crab. Lexis hit Melo with a couple of backbreakers. Melo blocked a third backbreaker with a crossbody. Lexis turned Melo inside out with a running knee.
Lexis then asked Melo to shake his hand to show people the snake he is. Melo took Lexis’s hand and then flipped him the bird. Melo dragged Lexis to the top rope. Both men traded hands. Lexis then had a nasty spill to ringside with Melo also falling, selling his left knee. Both men beat the ten count and traded right hands. Melo rallied with clotheslines and a springboard lariat. Melo hit Lexis with a La Mistica slam for a two count.
Lexis used his knee to block a Final Cut. Lexis reversed Melo into a Jackhammer for a two count. Melo escaped a suplex. Both men traded kicks. Lexis blocked a springboard with a punch. Lexis hit Melo with a Backbreaker, but Melo came right back with a codebreaker. Melo hit Lexis with Nothin’ But Net for the win.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Lexis King via pinfall in 11:12.
As Melo was hobbling to the back, Lexis grabbed the Mic and yelled “MELO!”. Lexis said it was not him who attacked Trick Williams. Lexis then thanked Melo for giving him a spotlight in a PLE. Melo was about to rush the ring, but decided to head to the back. Lexis’s theme played to end the segment…
John’s Thoughts: Solid match between Melo and the young Pillman. This might have been King’s most high profile match since feuding with MJF back in the MLW days (he was never really pushed in AEW past Dark and Dark Elevation). This was one of Lexis’s better performances overall, and credit to the veteran Melo in carrying him to this match. I’m a bit surprised that Melo won clean, but Lexis’s simple yet cryptic post match promo did give him some heat back due to the slow burn whodunit storyline he’s in.
Kelly Kincaid interviewed Cora Jade. Jade gloated about coming back. She noted she’s been gone for 4 months and back in the deepest women’s division in all of WWE, NXT’s. Cora teased her next move, but then told Kelly to see her on Tuesday…
An ad aired for NXT’s next PLE in Clarksville, Tennessee, which is Vengeance Day…
Trick Williams apologized to Carmelo Hayes backstage about doubting him. Trick then praised Melo for whooping Lexis’s ass. Melo said Trick needs to do one thing in the Iron Survivor, “whoop dat trick”. Trick left the locker room hyped up…
Alicia Taylor was in the ring, where she laid out the Men’s Iron Survivor Match rules…
Dijak and Josh Briggs were the first two in the Iron Survivor Match (Two good picks to go the long haul). Booker T noted that there is a lot of beefy big men in this match, along with Tyler Bate being a “Big Strong Boy”…
John’s Thoughts: I know Vic made the joke earlier. But I do get a chuckle out of the Penalty Box essentially being a re-purposed Michael Cole “Cole Mine” back from when Michael Cole was a heel play-by-play commentator, where he used the booth to save him from Jerry Lawler and babyfaces. Bad era of announcing, but I did get a chuckle back in the day from the Cole Mine (Funny enough, heel Michael Cole was born from the bad gameshow version of NXT where he was annoyed at calling the bad gameshow and even served as Daniel Bryan’s first feud in WWE).
4. Men’s Iron Survivor Match. Both bit men started out at a stalemate. Briggs caught Dijak with a huracanrana. Booker noted how both men in the ring remind him of JBL. Briggs caught Dijak in the corner with a big boot and gutbuster. Briggs hit Dijak with a Pounce for a two count. Briggs got a two count after a right hand. Dijak got a moment of respite with a suplex.
Dijak caught Briggs with a back elbow combo. Dijak then hit Briggs with the Time to Fly Suplex. Dijak hit Briggs with the South of Heaven for a nearfall. Briggs recovered and went for a chokeslam. Briggs caught Dijak with a back elbow. Dijak hit Briggs with Feast Your Eyes for the first point. Briggs must go to the penalty box.
Tyler Bate was the third entrant of the match. Bate rallied with running strikes and a knee lift. Bate hit Dijak with a diving uppercut. Bate hit Dijak with an impressive T Bone Suplex for a two count. Bate put Dijak in a Helicopter Spin. Briggs got out of the penalty box and hit Dijak with a Big Boot. Briggs hit Dijak with a Clothesline From Hell to get his first point. Briggs tossed Bate into the steps. Bate came back with an uppercut. Bate crotched Briggs on the top rope and hit Briggs with a springboard uppercut.
Briggs kicked out at two. Vic noted that Dijak was so knocked out that he hasn’t stood up in the penalty box yet. Dijak got out while both opponents were recovering. Bate hit Briggs with the Tyler Driver 97. Bate then reversed a Feast Your Eyes with a Small Package for a point. Dijak punched Bate. Bate fell onto Briggs for a two count. Bate, Briggs, and Dijak are all tied at 1 point, 9 minutes in. Trick Williams was the fourth entrant with Booker doing his usual interjections to the theme.
Trick took down both opponents with crescent kicks. Trick hit Bate with a flying lariat. Briggs was launched into Bate. Trick hit both Briggs and Dijak with a neckbreaker and got a double two count. Dijak caught Briggs with a boot. Trick jumped off the back of Briggs to caught Dijak in the air with a lariat. Bate broke up Trick’s pin attempt on Dijak. Bate put Trick in a Helicopter Spin. Trick then put Bate in a reverse helicopter spin. Bate then spun Trick in an Argentine Helicopter Spin for about 20 seconds until Trick spun out. Briggs and Dijak broke up Bate’s pin.
Trick dumped Dijak and Briggs to ringside. Bate hit Briggs with a Suicide Dive. Dijak hit Trick with a neckbreaker. Bate tossed Dijak into the steps. Bate hit Trick with a rebound Lariat. Bate hit Trick with the Tyler Driver 97 to earn a point and send Trick to the penalty box. Bate has the lead with two points. Briggs and Bate traded fatigued shots. A “Free dat Trick” chant ensued (clever).
Bron Breakker was the last entrant. Breakker caught Briggs, Bate, and Dijak with 3 spears to pick up 3 quick points. Trick’s time clicked down where he traded hands with Bron. Trick hit Bron with a dropkick. Bron caught Trick with a rev’d up shoulder tackle. Breakker put Trick in the Steiner Recliner. A Brawl ensued with the three men in the penalty box. Trick caught Bron with a Book End. Bron rolled to ringside as the three penalties expired.
Trick caught all four opponents with a top rope crossbody at ringside. Dijak caught Trick with a Cyclone Boot to pick up a fall on Trick and send him to the box. Dijak now has two points. Breakker hit Dijak with a Frankensteiner which sent him into Bate’s Tyler Driver to give Bate a point. Bate glared at Bron with a cocky grin. Breakker hit Bate with a gutbuster for a nearfall. Bate and Breakker are tied at 3. The crowd chanted “Free dat Trick” as Trick was freed. Breakker hit Bate with a Top Rope Spanish Fly Power Slam for a nearfall on Bate.
Everyone ended up getting freed from the box. Bate hit Briggs with Bop and Bang. Dijak and Briggs then hit Bate with a double chokeslam. Briggs then got on the same page to nail Breakker and Trick with lariats. Briggs and Dijak hit Breakker and Trick with stereo moonsaults to both earn themselves falls, sending Trick and Breakker to the box. Bate hit Dijak with a Tornado DDT. Bate hit Dijak with a top rope clearing dive. Briggs hit Bate with a rebound ball lariat. Dijak caught Bate and Briggs with kicks.
Bate sidestepped which made Dijak and Briggs take each other out with stereo Yakuza Kicks. All three men in the ring were laid out. Trick and Bron were freed. Bron tossed Trick into the ringpost and speared Trick through the barricade in the timekeeper area. Dijak hit Bron with a chokeslam. Bate and Briggs brawled to the top rope. Trick rolled up Briggs for a fall and his first point 24 minutes in. Dijak hit Trick with Feast Your Eyes. Eddy Thrope ran out and pulled the ref away to cost Dijak the visual pinfall.
Trick rolled up Dijak for a two count. Bate hit Trick with a Spiral Tap. Trick reversed a Tyler Driver into a jackknife pin for a third point. Trick blocked a spear with 10 seconds left to pick up his fourth point on Bron Breakker for the comeback win.
Trick Williams (4) defeated Bron Breakker (3), Tyler Bate (3) , Dijak (3), and Josh Briggs (2) in a 25 minute Iron Survivor Match to earn a NXT Title Shot at NXT New Years Evil.
Trick was fired up in the ring as the crowd was fired up with “Whoop Dat Trick” chants…
John’s Thoughts: Another wonderful Iron Survivor match and WWE has found a way to have all four Iron Survivor Matches so far in existence have completely different dynamics and stories. HBK and crew are showing that this match type can have a multitude of storytelling possibilities (somewhere out there, King of the Mountain Jeff Jarrett is shedding a tear for coming up with the prototype). I wasn’t afraid here given the talent level of everyone involved here. Any time you add Dijak or Bate to the match, the match just gets better. Josh Briggs looked really good in his highest profile match as a singles competitor. Bate was almost the “counter base” for the four other big men. Breakker continues to show that he’s main roster ready and he was explosive. Trick continues to take the ball WWE is giving him and running with hit as he was great with the timing of his comeback and plucky pinfalls. Only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was Eddy Thorpe costing Dijak the visual win (avenging his ribs and tree that Dijak hit with a belt). Trick winning definitely sets up more friction between him and Melo with Trick having more success these days.
Brooks Jensen tried to console Briggs and Henley for losing their matches. Briggs lashed out at Jensen and apologized. Noam Dar and Meta Four showed up to mock Henley and Briggs for losing. Henley pointed out that Lash Legend also lost. Lash said she didn’t lose, she just ran out of time. After more trash talk from Meta Four, Henley slapped Lash and a brawl ensued. Of course, Jakara Jackson avoiding physical contact due to her arm injury…
For some reason, Kiana James was shown walking out of WWE Headquarters (upgrade over her cheap “office” set)…
The show then cut to a Kiana James vs. Roxanne Perez hype package for the ad-free users. Commercials for the rest of us…
Back from the break, the cage was set up and the entrances happened for the Steel Cage Match. As usual, Booker referenced Roxanne starting out at his Reality of Wrestling school. James had an extended entrance that had her getting out of a luxury SUV…
5. Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James in a Steel Cage Match. James went for a shot with the loaded bag and missed. James eventually gained control by tossing Perez. Perez reversed a catapult into her own catapult. James tried to escape the cage but was dropped by two dropkicks. Perez caught James with a kick. James blocked a crossbody with a catch. James then tossed Perez into the cage. James tangled Perez’s hand in the cage and then gave the cage boots. James worked on the got of Perez with tackles.
Kiana ended a comeback with a spinebuster for a two count. Perez sidestepped a tackle to send Kiana into the cage. Perez hit James with a seated senton and shotgun dropkick. Perez tossed James into the cage a few times while giving James trash talk. Perez hit James with a Side Russian Legsweep. Perez gave James a Northern Uppercut for a nearfall. Perez climbed to the top of the cage. James climbed to the top with her. Vic noted that the cage is about 20 feet tall. Kiana and Perez traded Boo-yay punches.
James crumpled to the top rope. Perez kicked Kiana down. James shoved Perez into the cage. James hit Perez with an Avalanche Power Bomb. Kiana got a nearfall at two. Kiana rammed Perez into the cage a few times. Perez reversed a power bomb into Pop Rocks, but Perez had to recover. Kiana kicked out once Perez got to the pin. Kiana escaped a Pop Rocks attempt and tried to escape the cage. Vic kept noting that you can’t win by escaping the cage (for some reason).
James brought a chair in the ring. Perez ducked a chair shot and kicked the Chair out of the hands of James. NXT Developmental Wrestler Izzy Dane slammed the cage door in the face of Perez. Kiana James hit Roxanne Perez with a chair-assisted Inverted Overdrive for the victory.
Kiana James defeated Roxanne Perez via pinfall in 11:27.
John’s Thoughts: Hard work from both women, but unfortunately this will be seen as the “buffer” match. Part of what would make the match a bit forgettable was the screwy finish to introduce a random developmental wrestler that no one has heard of yet (only time we ever saw her to my memory was when she checked on Kiana this past Tuesday and was not given a last name at the time). Good work, but it didn’t kick into third gear before the angle which will continue the feud. I wonder if they pair Perez with a random developmental wrestler to even the numbers.
Riley Osborne, Keanu Carver, Tavion Heights, Dion Lennox, Trey Bearhill, Luca Crucifino, Miles Borne, and Oba Femi were announced as the competitors of the men’s breakout tournament. Osborne is the only known indie wrestler of the group (as Josh Terry). The rest are WWE Developmental/NIL wrestlers…
Dijak vs. Eddy Thorpe and Meta Four vs. Briggs, Jensen, and Henley was announced for the next episode of NXT…
The show cut to the Ilja Dragunov vs. Baron Corbin hype package for the ad-free viewers. Commercials for everyone else…
Baron Corbin made an entrance on his motorcycle (American Badass style). He also wore a sports coat before the match. Vic Joseph noted that this match feels like Ilja is the challenger as opposed to Corbin due to the way Corbin has been building towards it. Ilja Dragunov made his entrance. Ilja had fog cannons for his arena entrance. Alicia Taylor handled the formal in-ring introductions…
6. Ilja Dragunov vs. Baron Corbin for the NXT Championship. Corbin put Ilja in a side headlock takedown to start the match. Ilja broke up a boxing block and landed a quick chop on Corbin. Corbin quickly went back into a side headlock takedown. Corbin actually got some “Let’s Go Corbin” chants, followed by “Corbin Sucks” (probably the 2nd time I’ve ever heard Corbin get any level of cheers at a PPV, the other time was when the crowd hated the guts of Gable Steveson). Ilja escaped a waistlock and gave Corbin shortarm shoulder tackles and a chop.
Corbin dumped Ilja to ringside with a clothesline. Ilja came back with a Yakuza Kick and dumped himself and Corbin to ringside with a lariat. Ilja gave Corbin a German Suplex on the floor. Corbin hit Ilja with a front suplex at the edge of the announce table. Vic noted that the table was “reinforced” due to the matches earlier. Corbin sidestepped a kick and gave Ilja snake eyes on the buckle. Corbin continued to work on Ilja with methodical offense.
Corbin avoided a comeback Senton and gave Ilja a diving lariat for a nearfall.Ilja escaped a fireman carry and gave Corbin a chop to the back of the neck. Ilja’s ribs gave out on a German Suplex. Corbin reversed Ilja into a DDT that Ilja sold as if he were in a daze. Corbin hugged Ilja to mock this past tuesday. Corbin yelled “You want a hug? You got it!” as he gave Ilja a Uranage. Corbin deadlifted Ilja into a gutbuster. Ilja used overhead kicks to block a Dragon Sleeper.
Both men traded CQC strikes. Corbin escaped a Choke Slam with a knee strike. Ilja caught Corbin with a drive by knee. Ilja struggled to get to the top rope and ended up landing a diving senton on Corbin. Ilja sold the worst of the dive by selling his injured ribs. Booker noted that Ilja may have landed on Corbin’s hip bone. Ilja and Corbin traded strong style right hands. Both men ended up crumping to the mat after taking each other out.
Both men got to their feet and traded fighting spirit right hands. Ilja draped Corbin in the corner and landed machine gun chops to crumple Corbin to the bottom buckle. Ilja gave Corbin Paint Brush Boots and a running bottom rope boot. Ilja gave Corbin a Bridged German Suplex for a nearfall. Ilja’s ribs gave out on him again during another Suplex attempt. The referee went to check if Ilja was OK.
Ilja staggered Corbin with a big boot. Corbin punched Ilja on the top rope in the injured ribs. Corbin hit Ilja with a Super Chokeslam. Corbin then sold fatigue when falling down to get the nearfall on Ilja. Corbin grapevined a Dragon Sleeper. Ilja escaped the grapevine. Corbin blocked a German Suplex with a back elbow. Ilja put Corbin in a fireman carry and hit him with a Death Valley Driver into the bottom buckle.
Ilja went for Torpedo Moscow, but Corbin reversed it into Deep Six for a nearfall. Corbin hit Ilja with a Death Valley Driver and Brainbuster for another nearfall. Ilja escaped End of Days. Ilja’s ribs gave up during a Power Bomb attempt. Ilja got back to his feet and hit Corbin with a Jackknife Power Bomb. Ilja got to the top rope and hit Corbin with Coast-to-Coast. Ilja sold the worst of it again, by selling the ribs. Corbin reversed another Torpedo Moscow. Ilja slammed Corbin to the mat and hit two H Bombs.
Ilja then hit Corbin with a Jumping H Bomb. Corbin sat up and Ilja hugged him. Ilja whispered something in Corbin’s ear. Ilja then led the crowd in “unbesiegbar” and hit Corbin with Torpedo Moscow to pick up the win.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Baron Corbin via pinfall in 20:55 to retain the NXT Championship.
After the match, Trick Williams made his entrance. The show closed with Trick and Ilja jawing at each other. Carmelo Hayes made his entrance too, cut the show cut away after the WWE copyright signature…
John’s Thoughts: The match did drag a tiny bit during the Corbin heat drawing sequence, but it played into the match well to set Ilja up with the rib handicap. I like how Corbin main events have a different flow to it because you aren’t going to have people kicking out of End of Days for false finish fests (but as such it Corbin’s matches would be so much better if he could pick up a win with Deep Six to enhance those false finishes). By the end, both men did some hard work to tell a good story here. Vic Joseph framed it perfectly too by saying how the feud has been building up as Corbin making Ilja out to look like the challenger instead of champion.
Even though the main event was good, the two Iron Survivor Matches are both the selling points of these deadline shows and the matches you should go out of your way to see. Both were just unique and you only see two of these a year, so they are protected as special. The CM Punk appearance was a lotta nothing, but him appearing in general is a draw as the fans get to be in his presence for a good moment, and he wasn’t advertised anyway other than some quick tweets from him, Hunter, and HBK (maybe it came up in short order because they did interrupt Punk with Cult of Personality like it was Dave Chapelle’s wrap it up button). I’ll be by tonight with my same-day audio review for the Dot Net Members and Patreon Patrons.
So now we have two “Jades” in WWE.
I wonder what Vince thinks about this.
*JadEd
It doesn’t matter what Vince thinks!