By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live January 21, 2025 on The CW
[Hour One] Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Vic Joseph welcomed Corey Graves back to the commentary booth and joked that this was not AI. Graves said he’s where he wants to be (okay?). Separate shots were shown of Oba Femi, Eddy Thorpe, and Bayley were shown as they were arriving to the WWE Performance Center…
The Tony D’Angelo Family made their entrance first followed by the entrance of Ridge Holland. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions. Vic also plugged TNA’s multi-year partnership with WWE announced last week…
1. Tony D’Angelo (w/Channing Lorenzo, Luca Crucifino, Adriana Rizzo) vs. Ridge Holland for the NXT North American Championship. Ridge got an early power advantage, but D’Angelo came back with a hip toss, shoulder tackle, and side headlock takedown. Holland got to his feet and started throwing hands with Tony D. Tony D came back with a leaping punch and backdrop. Shawn Spears appeared at the ramp, which caught the attention of Tony D.[c]
During the break, Ridge Holland focused his offense on softening up Tony D’s left arm. Tony D hit Ridge with a Fisherman Suplex for a nearfall. Both men traded Yay-Boo right hands. Ridge hit Tony D with a Suplex for a nearfall. Tony D floored Ridge with a Spear. Spears got on the ring apron for the distraction.
Tony D knocked Spears off the apron. Brooks Jensen showed up. Spears and Jensen brawled with Stacks and Luca. Izzi Dame showed up and staggered Holland with a Mafia Kick. Tony D planted Holland with a spinebuster for the victory.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Ridge Holland via pinfall in 7:26 to retain the NXT North American Championship.
Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe, and Tyson Dupont approached Dion Lennox in the locker room. Wes pointed out how Dion was brave for approaching Oba Femi last week. Dion said he’s down to challenge a former champion like Wes. Wes accepted the challenge. Trick Williams entered the locker room to get dressed. Wes started to clown on Trick, but Trick smacked Wes upside his head…
Bayley was shown walking backstage…[c]
John’s Thoughts: I’m confused as to where this Shawn Spears story is going and I’m not interested yet. He talks about being a mentor, yet in the NXT universe he doesn’t necessarily have the best track record with giving his one and only trainee Brooks Jensen any sort of success. Izzi Dame constantly rejecting him makes him look even more like a dork too. We’ll see where this goes next. I am interested to see what’s up with Izzi Dame. She sold this as she was just paying Spears back, but maybe they try to go a different route. This also protects Holland and allows him to get a proper title match down the road.
Bayley made her entrance. The crowd showered Bayley with “Welcome Home” chants. Bayley said the crowd was right that NXT is her home. She said last week she tried to talk to Roxanne Perez because she cares about Roxanne and everything she’s done in the NXT Women’s division. Bayley said all that got was a slap in the face. Bayley said Roxanne compared Bayley to CM Punk and Natalya, which she sees as a complement because they helped build the foundation in NXT.
Bayley said she’s back in NXT to get rid of entitled little idiots like Roxanne Perez. A person in the crowd told Bayley “I love you Bayley”. Bayley cut off her promo to acknowledge the fan. Bayley then talked about Perez distracting her in a match recently. Bayley said that doesn’t prove that Perez is willing to move to Raw or Smackdown, and it doesn’t prove that she can be a leader in the youngest lockerroom in the industry.
NXT Women’s Champion Giulia made her entrance. Giulia said coming from Japan, she wanted to see Bayley and be in NXT. Giulia said Roxanne may not look up to Bayley, but she does. Giulia said she hopes to hold the title with as much honor and love for NXT as Bayley did. Bayley said she’s happy to see Giulia with the title and she’s looking forward to the historic moments Giulia will make. Bayley said the NXT Women’s Title changed the landscape in WWE as a whole.
Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade made their entrance to interrupt. Perez told Bayley to stop acting innocent. Perez said if Bayley cares about the future, she wouldn’t have punched her last night. Bayley said she can’t hear Perez due to all the boos. Cora Jade tried to cut a promo, but she was drowned out by the crowd boos, with Giulia and Bayley acting like they can’t hear Jade. Perez yelled to shut the hell up, which caused the boos to get louder.
Perez said she’s not going to take anything away from Bayley, who’s done everything in WWE, like win the Royal Rumble, win championships, and inspire young wrestlers like her and Cora. Perez said they don’t need Bayley anymore. Perez stopped and acted annoyed at the crowd. Cora tried to continue the promo, but was drowned out. The crowed then chanted “shut the hell up”. A brawl ensued between the two pairs of women. Giulia and Bayley dumped Perez and Jade to ringside to end the segment…
Jaida Parker was watching the promo in the locker room and pointed out how Bayley shouted her out. Kelani Jordan got in Parker’s face and the two women bickered. Karmen Petrovic showed up and said love was in the air. Jaida Parker said Petrovic just got a kiss from a man who’s bout to leave her in a few months. Petrovic said she initiated the kiss. The camera then cut back to the ring because the two pairs of women from the previous segment started brawling again…[c]
John’s Thoughts: A good make-up segment to set up Bayley being at odds with Perez compared to last week’s broken segment due to NXT having to be cut off due to time constraints. One side note, Giulia’s English vocabuary isn’t the best, but her charisma and delivery more than makes up for it. This segment clearly sets up a tag team match between the four women involved.
Perez and Jade brawled to the Gorilla Position to argue to NXT GM Ava. Giulia and Bayley still had to be held back. Dion Lennox walked past them to get to the ring. Dion Lennox made his entrance. Wes Lee made his entrance…
2. Wes Lee (w/Tyson Dupont, Tyriek Igwe) vs. Dion Lennox. Lennox hit Wes with a right hand. Vic joked that Dion hit Wes so hard, Wes thought his name was “Dezmond” (Wes’s indie name is Dezmond Xavier). Dion got control after a flapjack and shoulder tackle. Dion planted Wes with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Wes escaped a suplex with a knee strike. Wes hit Dion with the Cardiac Kick for the victory.
Wes Lee defeated Dion Lennox via pinfall in 2:22.
Wes took a mic and called out Trick Williams for slapping him in the face. Wes said he’s going to take care of Wes at Atlanta next week. Trick Williams made his entrance. Trick floored Igwe and Dupont. Trick then dumped Wes from the ring. Trick said “you want me next week in Atlanta? Well, you got it dawg!”…
The show cut to a Lexis King promo package. King talked about turning a new leaf recently. He said he doesn’t want to look like some “loose cannon”, like his father. He said people are noticing his efforts to stand out. A replay aired of King winning the title via DQ due to Regal getting involved. They then sold a replay of King’s accidental (?) low blow to win the Heritage Cup after Ava reversed the decision. King said he may not be able to win everyone quickly, but slow and steady wins the race…
NXT Heritage Cup Champion Lexis King made his entrance…[c]
John’s Thoughts: WWE seems somewhat high on Dion Lennox, given they’ve given him TV time and allowed him to mingle in some programs. He does have a good look and camera presence. He also sounds well spoken. This bookworm gimmick is just too dorky and too undercard for him to get any meaningful traction on TV. They need to repackage him ASAP (Maybe do what they did with Brinley Reece recently and send him on a TNA excursion?). Wes Lee isn’t in the best spot character-wise either. As usual, he’s one of the best in-ring guys in WWE. He’s also too likable and hasn’t shown much range as a heel yet. It is easier to be hated than loved, so hopefully he gets that heat in due time.
Sarah Schreiber announced Stacks and Luca Crucifino vs. Niko and Brooks Jensen for later in the show. Sarah Schreiber then interviewed Stephanie Vaquer. Steph talked about Fatal Influence costing her the last number one contender match. Stephanie said that if Shotzi win the title, Shotzi will meet hell soon. Steph then said that Fallon Henley will soon meet El Diablo for what she’s done…
The show cut back to Mike Rome handling the formal in-ring championship match introductions for the next match…
3. Lexis King vs. Charlie Dempsey (w/Wren Sinclair, Tavion Heights, Myles Borne) in a Rounds Match for the NXT Heritage Cup. Both men started with technical wrestling to start. King came back with a dropkick and armdrag into an armbar. Vic wondered if it was smart for King to not have a cornerman as is traditional in WWE Rounds Matches. King worked on Dempsey’s lower back with knees and a Hammerlock. Both men traded quick rollups.
Dempsey cupped his balls and King stopped in his track to prevent a low blow similar to their last match. Both men showed respect to each other. Dempsey reversed a pin into a Rear Naked Choke, which King quickly escaped. Dempsey got a few nearfalls. The clock ran out when Dempsey had King in a Crossface Chickenwing. [End of Round 1]
The camera panned over to King’s supply bucket in the corner. There were brass knuckles next to the water and towel. Round 2 started during the commercial break.[c]
During the break, Lexis King lowered his weight to sit down on Dempsey and pick up the pinfall. [End of Round 2]
Lexis King pinned Charlie Dempsey 2:33 in Round 2 to go up 1-0.
Dempsey dragged King into the ropes to damage King’s shoulder. Dempsey then focused his attack on King’s shoulder. King recovered and caught Dempsey with a superkick for a nearfall. Dempsey hit King with a knee lift and Underhook Bridged Suplex for a pinfall. [End of Round 3]
Charlie Dempsey pinned Lexis King 2:28 in Round 3 to tie the match 1-1.
[Hour Two] King teased using the Brass Knuckles, but thought twice. King hit Dempsey with a Dragon Screw. Dempsey hit King with a suplex. King started to crawl to his supply bucket. King dumped Dempsey to ringside after Dempsey caught up with him. King hit Dempsey and NQCC with a flip dive. King clocked Brne in the face when he got in his face. Dempsey got a few nearfalls in.
When the ref was pressured into the corner by King, King hit a mule kick into the balls of Dempsey for the low blow. King hit Dempsey with his swinging neckbreaker finisher for the victory. [End of Match]
Lexis King defeated Charlie Dempsey via pinfall 2:50 into Round 4 to retain the NXT Heritage Cup (2-1)
The show cut to a promo from WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Naomi and Bianca Belair, who hyped up their upcoming match against Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson…
Karmen Petrovic and Ashante the Adonis made their arms locked. Petrovic had her usual Katana sword with her…[c]
John’s Thoughts: It was obvious that King would turn dirty sooner or later, and now it’s clear that he’s still aligned heel. They can’t benefit-of-the-doubt him now because it’s clear as day that his mule kick was on purpose. I’m actually intrigued to see where he takes his character next as they did manage to make a compelling enough story out of King trying not to be dirty like his daddy. Will he go back to working more of a heel style again? (I actually think his in-ring has improved since moving to a babyface style).
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger were trying to cheer up a depressed looking Andre Chase backstage. Chase told Hank and Tank to break up because all teams eventually do. Chase apologized for saying that. Chase walked to a different room where developmental wrestler Kale Dixon. Dixon called Chase a badass. Chase dismissed Dixon, saying that Chase U was dead…
Jaida Parker made her entrance to new music. Vic Joseph pointed out that Ashante the Adonis wrestled last week on the TNA Genesis pre-show. Vic noted that Jaida Parker had the 2nd best win-loss record in 2024 for the women in NXT, behind Roxanne Perez…
4. Jaida Parker vs. Karmen Petrovic (w/Ashante the Adonis). Petrovic took down Parker and mocked Parker’s strut. Petrovic got a two count after a Rolling Sobat and facebuster. Parker reversed a Rolling Sobat into an Electric Chair Drop. Parker hit Petrovic with her signature draping Banzai Drop. Parker hit Petrofic with a Lightning Spiral for a nearfall. Petrovic escaped a Gory Special and rolled up Parker for a two count.
Petrovic got a two count after reversing an Electric Chair. Petrovic rallied with running strikes. Petrovic hit Parker with a Slingblade for a two count. Parker came back with a back elbow. Parker hit Petrovic with a Gourd Buster. Parker was about to go for Hip-notic, but Kelani Jordan got up on the apron for the distraction. Petrovic rolled up Parker for the victory.
Karmen Petrovic defeated Jaida Parker via pinfall in 5:08.
Sol Ruca and Zaria confronted Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend backstage. Sol pointed out how Lash and Jakara have a chance to bring the tag titles back to NXT. Lash pointed out that Atlanta is her home town and how they are going to win the tag championships there. Parker said that they will bring it and Sol and Zaria will have their chance at the belts. Vic Joseph plugged Belair and Naomi vs. the Meta Girls for next week…
Separate shots of Oba Femi and Eddy Thorpe were shown as they were warming up in separate locker rooms…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Not a great finish and I feel like we’ve gotten this wonky protection finish before. The problem here is it takes more effort to stop the momentum of the Hip-notic finisher than it does to execute the move, to the point where her stopping the move via distraction doesn’t make any sense.
Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen, and Niko Vance made their entrance. Stacks, Luca, and Rizzo were already in the ring. Both teams brawled before the bell. Vic pointed out that it was a bit odd that Tony D wasn’t around…
5. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Luca Crucifino vs. Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance (w/Shawn Spears). Stacks and Vance were the two in the ring when the bell rang. Stacks hit Niko with a draping boot. Stacks dropkicked Jensen off the apron. Stacks hit both opponents with a hip toss assisted flip dive. Jensen tripped Stacks and dragged him to ringside. Niko tackled Luca into the corner. Niko and Jensen cut the ring in half on Luca.
Luca hit a messy Codebreaker on Niko. Stacks tagged in and cleaned house. Stacks caught both opponents with a Missile Dropkick. Luca caught Niko with a superkick. Jensen held on to the ropes to prevent a Shatter Machine. Niko tackled Luca into the steel steps. Jensen caught Stacks with a heel kick. Niko turned Stacks inside-out with a lariat for the victory.
Niko Vance and Brooks Jensen defeated Channing Lorenzo and Luca Crucifino via pinfall in 4:26.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Nathan Frazer and Axiom. The both talked about almost losing last week to OTM. Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura showed up to confront Fraxiom. Frazer asked Briggs and Inamura who’d they ever beat to deserve a title shot. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price showed up and brawled with both teams on-sight…
Vic Joseph advertised Ethan Page appearing after the break…[c]
John’s Thoughts: The commentary team were really hyping up Niko Vance in his debut, but he didn’t really get to show much to really warrant the high praise yet. I understand, developmental type. It takes time and character development. It’s just tough to stand out initially when every good looking NIL prospect is dubbed as yet another football linebacker or lineman. At least Shawn Spears’s crew finally gets a win.
Dion Lennox was throwing a fit backstage and tossing around equipment. Dion yelled “F*ck this place” (censored). The camera panned over to Tony D chatting with Izzi Dame. After Dame left, Stacks, Rizzo, and Luca confronted Tony D about why he wasn’t in their corner. Stacks told Tony D they needed him. Tony D said Stacks has been the Underboss for years and should have figured out how to win himself…
Vic Joseph, Booker T, and Corey Graves checked in on commentary. They sent the show to an Ethan Page promo package. Page said he didn’t want to have to hurt Dante Chen. Page said he was riding high after shaking hands with The Final Boss, The Rock. Page said Dante tried to stand on a moral high ground, but now can’t even stand at all.
Page said echos went through his head and he didn’t think he would enjoy the sound of human bones breaking. He said Chen cried in pain like Cedric Alexander and Je’von Evans. Page said Evans must not want to speak normal again, or else why show up last week in injured condition. Page said he’s issuing a warning to Evans because next time it won’t be one punch. Page said next time he won’t stop…
The show cut to Je’von Evans meeting with GM Ava. His jaw was still wired shut so he was hard to understand. Evans said he wanted a shot against Page. Ava said Evans wasn’t cleared medically, but Cedric Alexander was. Cedric showed up and said he’ll take care of Page next week. After Ced and Evans left, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory showed up to suck up to Ava.
Waller hyped up the “Waller Effect” happening next week. Austin Theory said that next week’s NXT will happen in A-town, his hometown. Waller told Ava that they were just here this week to watch the show and not interfere in anything…
Vic Joseph ran through the following segments advertised for next week’s NXT in Atlanta: Naomi and Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade vs. Giulia and Bayley, Trick Williams vs. Wes Lee, The Grayson Waller Effect with the NXT Champion, and Fallon Henley vs. Shotzi Blackheart for the NXT Women’s North American Championship…
Separate shots of Oba Femi and Eddy Thorpe were shown as they were walking backstage…[c]
Diamond Dallas Page was shown watching the show in the front row…
Eddy Thorpe made his entrance first followed by the NXT Champion Oba Femi. Vic hyped up Oba Femi being an NIL prospect who made his way to become NXT Champion. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship introductions…
6. Oba Femi vs. Eddy Thorpe for the NXT Championship. Eddy used strikes to keep footsies with Oba to start the match. Eddy hit Oba with a slam and fist drop for a one count. Oba no sold kicks by Eddy and took down Eddy with a clothesline. Oba manhandled Eddy around the ring with his power. Eddy rolled to ringside for a breather but was tossed back by Oba.
Eddy used a jawbreaker and gamengiri to stagger Oba on the apron. Eddy dropkicked Oba off the apron. Vic noted that Eddy’s WWE record was 22-8-1. The camera then showed Austin Theory and Grayson Waller watching the match from the Crow’s Nest area.[c]
Back from break, Oba tossed Eddy across the ring. Oba gave Eddy power strikes in the corner. Oba hit Eddy with a Thrust Kick and Sidewalk Slam. Oba caught Eddy with two European Uppercuts and a spinebuster for a nearfall. Eddy countered a Chokeslam into a Triangle. Eddy got a two count after a headscissors. Oba turned Eddy inside-out with a clothesline.
Eddy reversed Oba with a Stunner. Eddy hit Oba with a top rope fist drop for a nearfall. Both men traded right hands in the center of the ring. Eddy triped Oba with a basement dropkick. Oba came back with a back elbow. Eddy came right back with a Snap German Suplex. Oba reversed a leaping fist drop into a choke. Oba hit Eddy with a chokeslam. Eddy kicked out at two.
Eddy sidestepped Oba to send Oba into the ringpost. Eddy hit Oba with a Shotgun Dropkick. Oba reversed a Yakuza Kick into a boulder toss. Oba hit Eddy with a Pop-Up Power Bomb for the victory.
Oba Femi defeated Eddy Thorpe via pinfall in 10:19 to retain the NXT Championship.
Waller and Theory jawed with Oba from a distance. Oba turned around and Trick Williams was there. Oba and Trick jawed a bit. Eddy tried to sneak up on Trick, but Trick saw the steal-on attempt comin’, and gave Eddy a Trick Knee. The show then quickly cut off to local news…
John’s Thoughts: Well? Slightly better timing to close out the show this week. Still abrupt and jarring, but at least they got to finish the match and get the message across with Trick Williams hitting a knee before the hard out. NXT does have to do a better job allocating time though. It’s becoming a bit of a bad habit, because NXT has been on CW for months now, and it’s felt like they’ve gotten worse at timing the show to finish before local news.
As I mentioned in my TNA revivews, NXT is actually struggling to give wrestlers TV time in only two hours (They have so many TV wrestlers, especially the women, that this is a good problem to have). Hopefully they can ship some of these stories over to TNA which will give a lot of developmental women TV time, while also hopefully making it easier for NXT to trim down their show and feature more talent. Symbiotic relationship. Decent enough television main event. I did think Vic Joseph was laying it on too thick with the nearfalls. Eddy Thorpe is not built enough yet, in terms of in-ring ethos, to be taken seriously as a threat to the dominant Oba.
They did get me a bit with Eddy kicking out of Oba’s chokeslam, but at the same time I think that hurt Oba’s move by having the chickens*it heel Eddy kick out of it when it would have been more beneficial for Oba to establish a secondary or tertiary finisher. Plus side of this program is Eddy Thorpe has finally found a character that clicks. Hopefully for him, he gets a chance to now establish his strong in-ring style that he hasn’t gotten a chance to showcase yet. Meanwhile, with Mania in the horizon, I expect the Oba vs. Trick run-back match to be what they build toward with Stand and Deliver (but they also have a intermediary Vengeance Day PLE in between).
He’s where he wants to be?
Hmmmmmmmm….