Reviews

The John Report: WWE NXT 10/01/24 Review (CW Premiere)

By John Canton • Published 1st October 2024
WWE NXT October 1

This week on WWE NXT had two big title matches featuring NXT Champion Ethan Page and Trick Williams in a match with CM Punk as the referee as well as Roxanne Perez defending her NXT Women’s Title against Giulia.

It’s the highly anticipated debut of NXT on the CW Network. After five years on USA Network, they have a new home. Where I live in southern Ontario, Canada I actually have access to three CW Networks in American cities so I can watch one of those channels or on Sportsnet Plus until the end of the year. Once the new year hits, NXT will be on Netflix for us in Canada.

Normally for WWE NXT reviews I will do a summary style for most of the show and then play-by-play for one or two matches, but for this one, I’ll do a regular review with full play-by-play recap.

They are at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois for this week’s show, which is a nice change from the Performance Center in Orlando. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

There was a new NXT introduction video showing the new silver/black NXT logo along with highlights of the NXT roster. It was a big crowd in Chicago. Here is the new logo.

I saw reports about NXT on CW perhaps being TV-14, but it clearly said TV-PG at the start of the show.

Let’s Hear from Shawn Michaels

The SVP of Talent Development Creative and two-time WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels aka the NXT boss man made his entrance to his classic theme song. Michaels went into the ring and there was some championship under a cover in the ring.

Michaels welcomed us to the show while saying there was no better place to have NXT’s premiere on the CW than right here in Chicago. Michaels pulled the cover off to reveal new NXT and NXT Women’s Titles. Shawn said he had one question for ya…and here’s Triple H to ask “Are You Ready?” The fans were going crazy!

It’s a DX reunion with a lot less hair and a lot more grey in their beards. Triple H told Chicago they said: “Are you ready?!” The fans cheered.

Analysis: That was cool. Seeing the bosses out there to start the show is the right way to ring in the new era of NXT on the CW.

The commentary was Vic Joseph and two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T as usual.

It’s a big match to start the show with the NXT Women’s Championship match up first. The ring announcer Mike Rome did the in-ring championship introductions.

NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia

Perez tried an armbar, so Giulia rolled out of it and broke free. Giulia knocked over Perez with a shoulder tackle and the two women exchanged pin attempts for two count. Giulia connected with a dropkick. Perez shoved Giulia, so Giulia came back with a headbutt. Giulia tried to ground Perez lading to a submission and then Perez went for a Crossface, but Giulia slipped out of that. The two women had a staredown as the show went to break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Perez in control by working over Giulia’s left shoulder. Perez did a hard slap to the face, so Giulia came back with multiple headbutts of her own. Giulia did some hair pulling, so Booker wondered if that was legal. Giulia connected with a clothesline. The fans were chanting for both women as Giulia hit an overhead suplex for two. They exchange strikes leading to Giulia hitting multiple forearms to knock Perez down. Perez did a headscissors to send Giulia out of the ring. Perez hit a suicide dive on Giulia on the floor. There were “NXT” chants. Perez went up top, but Giulia came back with a boot to the head. Giulia hit a double underhook superplex off the top for two. Giulia tried an arm submission, but Giulia countered it into a pin attempt for two. Perez went for a Crossface again, Giulia fought out of it and Giulia applied an STF submission briefly until Perez got her hand on the bottom rope to break the hold. Giulia hit a belly-to-back suplex. Perez countered a charging Giulia with a rollup for two. Giulia hit a rising knee lift to the face for two. Giulia went for a slam, Perez got out of it and got a cradle for two. Perez jumped onto Giulia’s back and hit Pop Rox, but Giulia was able to roll out of the ring to avoid being pinned. There were “NXT” chants again. Perez was near the ropes, so Giulia grabbed Perez and Giulia hit a Northern Lights Bomb on the floor. The referee counted them out on the floor, but both women were back in the ring at nine to break the count. Perez rolled back out after that. Perez grabbed the NXT Women’s Title that was on the floor, so somebody wearing a hoodie grabbed Giulia and they gave Giulia a double arm DDT on the floor. The referee never saw it because he was looking at Perez holding the NXT Women’s Title in the ring. Perez gave Giulia a Pop Rox for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.

The woman in the hoodie revealed herself to be Cora Jade, who was once the best friend of Roxanne Perez and they smiled at eachother from a distance.

Winner by pinfall: Roxanne Perez

Analysis: ***1/2 This match was very good with a cheap ending, so that’s why I’m putting it just under four stars. There was a lot of great technical wrestling by Perez and Giulia throughout the match with a lot of counters, which showed how talented both women are. I didn’t watch much of Giulia before coming to WWE, but obviously, she’s very talented in the ring. I thought they might put the title on Giulia in this match, but instead, we got a controversial finish due to the surprising attack. Cora Jade has a long history with Perez as friends and also enemies, but they are both heels, so maybe they will be aligned again.

Roxanne Perez celebrated with her NXT Women’s Title in the ring while smiling at Jade, who stayed in the aisle.

They showed the arrivals of special guest referee CM Punk, challenger Trick Williams, and NXT Champion Ethan Page earlier in the day.

(Commercial)

The NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom were at home playing the WWE 2K24 video game. They were playing as themselves and lost to Austin Theory & Grayson Waller in the game. They argued a bit about it since they have a title match next week against Theory & Waller. There wasn’t much to it.

CM Punk was backstage talking to NXT GM Ava, who mentioned she knows Punk has a lot on his plate this week with the Hell in a Cell match. Punk made sure he’d call the NXT Title match down the middle. Lexis King walked in to talk to Punk, so Ava left. King had a star shaved into the side of his head and King said that it was Chicago star. King said he wanted to be a better man than his father (Brian Pillman) King mentioned his issues with Oro Mensah that saw Oro beat Pillman. Punk advised King saying he has to figure out that he should win at all costs or fight him with the genes that you were born with. King thanked Punk and left.

Analysis: Lexis King is a solid midcard heel who will probably cheat to get back on track. It’s a fine way to use CM Punk as a mentor to the younger talent.

A video package aired about the Wes Lee/Zachary Wentz rivalry leading up to their match. Lee turned heel after Wentz and himself failed to win the NXT Tag Team Titles. Wentz beat Lee at NXT No Mercy one month ago, so now they have a Street Fight.

Wes Lee made his entrance for the Street Fight.

(Commercial)

The theme song for NXT is “Millions From Now” from 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne.

The tag team of Lola Vice & Jaida Parker were talking about their match. They argued about who was in charge. Kelani Jordan walked in saying they needed eachother. Parker and Vice left while arguing. Jordan said she had a backup plan.

Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz

Wentz is from TNA, but he was in NXT in the past as Nash Carter. Lee tried a dive onto Wentz on the floor, Wentz avoided that and Wentz hit a suicide dive on Lee on the floor. Wentz sent Lee hard into a shopping cart that had a trash can with weapons in it. Wentz rolled the shopping cart into Lee, who was against the steel steps. Ouch. The fans chanted “we want tables” so Wentz pulled out a wooden board from under the ring. Lee hit a suicide dive into the wooden board. Lee tossed several chairs into the ring. Lee used a kendo stick to hit Wentz in the back a few times. Wentz came back with a superkick and a chair shot to the back. Wentz hit another chair shot to the back. They battled on the apron while there was a wooden board on the floor that was supported by four chairs. They did a spot where Wentz had Lee in a move like a sleeper and they went off the apron and crashed through the wooden board at ringside.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Wentz hitting a Coast to Coast dropkick into a trash can that was against Lee by the turnbuckle. The fans were chanting “holy s**t” so there was muting going on as Wentz got a two count. Lee hit a running dropkick that sent Wentz back first into the turnbuckle where a chair was. Wentz caught a charging Lee and sent Lee ribs-first onto a chair. Lee was selling that one a lot. Wentz hit Lee with a kendo stick to the body a few times. Wentz hit a trash can that was on Lee’s upper body. The trash can was on Lee’s upper body, so Wentz went up top and Wentz hit a twisting splash onto the trash can that was on Lee for a two count. There were “NXT” chants. Wentz went for a move off the ropes, but Lee shoved him and Wentz barely touched the table that was on the table, so the table didn’t break. It was a bump onto the floor. Back in the ring, Lee jumped off the top with a double stomp to the back while Wentz was on a chair. The fans chanted “this awesome” for them. Lee brought a steel chain into the ring, Wentz had the other end of the chain and they punched eachother in the head at the same time with the chain. Wentz teased a chair shot, so Lee kicked Wentz in the groin. Lee used the chain to punch Wentz in the face a few times. Lee put the chain around his knees and Lee jumped off the turnbuckle with double knees (along with the chain around the knees) for the pinfall win after about 14 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Wes Lee

Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was an excellent Street Fight with a lot of big moves from both guys and it felt like a fight the whole way. The finish was creative with Lee putting the chain around his knees, which led to the double knee attack with the chain for the win. It was a decisive ending for Lee over Wentz, who is not a NXT guy, so I figured it made more sense for Lee to win. It’s like when Joe Hendry got his pushed and then lost to NXT Champion Ethan Page. They’ll use the TNA talent to a certain degree, but they aren’t going to go over the NXT-contracted talent when the feud ends. Lee winning was the right result for this feud ending match.

The Miz was shown walking backstage to host his Miz TV talk show.

(Commercial)

They showed some CW Network executives sitting at ringside to watch the show.

Miz TV with Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo

The Miz was in the ring in a black suit to host Miz TV. The fans booed since Miz turned heel on R-Truth one night earlier on Raw. The Miz said he wants to talk about the NXT North American Championship match that takes place next Tuesday in St. Louis. The Miz introduced “The Ruler” Oba Femi, who is the NXT North American Champion. Next up was the “Don of NXT” Tony D’Angelo, who made his entrance joined by the D’Angelo Family’s Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Luca Crusifino & Adrianna Rizzo. The family stayed in the back while Tony went to the ring.

The Miz sat between both men in the ring. Miz said that Tony admitted that he was afraid of facing Oba again, so what makes this match different than what happened at No Mercy? Tony said that Oba dominates the game in every facet. Tony said he felt Oba’s power, aggressiveness, and his explosiveness. Tony said next week he’s going to stand toe to toe with Oba, dethrone the dominant champion, and become the new NXT Champion.

Femi responded saying Miz knows when a man really believes what he is saying and when he doesn’t believe it. Femi said he didn’t think Tony believed what he was saying. Femi said that a man like Tony is at a certain level, but he can not be the North American Champion because this is Femi’s title.

Tony said that he grew up 20 minutes from this building and he grew up in the streets of Chicago, which led to cheers. I don’t think the fans knew that, but they knew that now. Tony said that he had friends and family who believed in him. Femi said that they can’t fight for Tony and the Family can’t fight for Tony. Femi said that we both remember what happened the last time they were in the ring together. Femi beat him and planted doubt in his mind. Femi told Tony that he couldn’t beat Femi.

Femi and Tony got out of their chairs while Miz watched on in the background. Tony told Femi he was just a man. Femi said he is inevitable. Femi told Tony he was still broken. The Miz reminded us that this match will be next week on NXT and from the looks of it, that match will be…awesome. Femi held up the NXT North American Title to end it.

Analysis: I think Tony D is going to beat Oba Femi next week to end the very long title reign of Femi. Tony D has been part of NXT for three years, he held the Heritage Cup for a bit, but I think it’s time for him to win one of the major titles like the NXT North American Title.

There was a recap of Cora Jade helping Roxanne Perez earlier in the day.

Cora Jade was shown walking backstage calling herself the savior of the women’s division. Roxanne Perez walked up to Jade what the hell was that? Jade said she liked the woman that Perez has become and said you’re welcome. Perez said: “Who knows? Maybe a common enemy will bring us back together.” Perez left.

Analysis: I think Perez & Jade should be heel allies again. Why not? I do think Giulia will win the title before year’s end, Perez will be in the Royal Rumble and Perez will be moved to the main roster either right away or during the 2025 Draft.

Jaida Parker made her entrance for tag team action followed by her partner Lola Vice.

A commercial aired for WWE Bad Blood this Saturday, October 5th and they promoted WWE Champion Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns facing The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu.

(Commercial)

Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley (w/Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jaida Parker & Lola Vice

The NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan was on commentary.

Parker ran over Jayne with a shoulder tackle. Vice tagged in with a scissors kick on Jayne. Jayne did a hair pull takedown on Vice. Henley tagged in, Parker was back in there and Paker smacked Henley a few times. Parker put Jayne on top of Henley and then Parker hit a butt splash on both women by the turnbuckle. Vice connected with her running hip attack. Vice worked over Henley with punches, then Parker tagged in with shoulder tackles and Vice tagged back in Parker tagged back in again leading to two shoulder tackles on Henley. Parker hit double knees to the left arm. Henley hit a jawbreaker on Parker. Vice went into the ring illegally to hit Jayne with a superkick. Parker thought Vice was trying to kick her. Henley hit Parker in the back with a forearm. They went to break there.

(Commercial)

The heels were in control with Jayne using a body scissors around the waist of Vice. Jayne connected with a superkick on Vice while also taunting Parker. Jayne hit a running cannonball on Vice against the turnbuckle. Jayne hit a splash against the turnbuckle and Henley tagged in with a running forearm on Vice. Henley and Vice exchanged holds, which led to a running double clothesline that knocked them both down. Parker was distracted by Nyx on the floor, so Vice complained about Parker not being on the apron. Parker left the match while Henley splashed the back of Vice against the ropes. Vice fought back against the heels wit ha spinning kicks. Jayne came back with a rolling forearm to the face. Henley tagged back in. Henley hit a running kick on Vice while Jayne hit a knee smash at the same time for the double team finisher. Henley covered Vice for the win. It went about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley

Analysis: **1/2 It was a good match most of the way and then Vice was left alone after Parker left. I thought this might be a match where Parker continued her babyface turn by getting the win for her team, but instead she acted heelish by walking out on her partner when she was frustrated by Vice getting mad at her. Fatal Influence getting the win is okay because it puts them over as a cohesive unit.

After the match, Jacy Jayne said statement made. Fallon Henley said that their next target was the Women’s NXT North American Championship. Jordan said that they can fight right now, but Jordan didn’t come to Chicago alone.

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill made their entrance as the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Belair gave Jayne a body slam and Cargill hit a pump kick on Henley. Belair hit a spinebuster on Jayne. Cargill hit a fallaway slam on Henley. Jordan hit a dropkick to knock the Fatal Influence women out of the ring. Belair & Cargill posed with Jordan to end it.

Analysis: That was cool. The fans loved it. Belair & Cargill are easy to like as two powerful babyfaces who are easy to like. I also think it would be cool to see Jayne or Henley with the NXT Women’s North American Title at some point since they have been on NXT for three years and deserve a singles title run at some point.

(Commercial)

There was an “NXT Focus” feature on Je’Von Evans talking about how he is facing Randy Orton next week on NXT. A clip was shown of Orton saying he wanted to give Orton an opportunity. Evans said he’ll get to face one of his idols. Orton said he wants to test his mettle and see what Evans is made of. Orton said this could be the match that makes Evans the number one prospect in NXT. Orton said he wanted to see if he could give Evans an RKO that knocks everybody’s socks off. Evans said he’ll be ready for him.

Analysis: It should be a fun match that Orton wins. And yes, there will be a massive RKO on Trick, who is an amazing leaper and that should lead to an incredible ending.

Next week on NXT in St. Louis:

* Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans

* NXT Tag Team Championships: Nathan Frazer & Axiom vs. A-Town Down Under – Austin Theory & Grayson Waller

* NXT North American Championship: Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo

* Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Kelani Jordan vs. Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx

Analysis: It’s a good lineup next week. It looks like they are going with four matches again just like this week.

A video package aired to set up the Ethan Page-Trick Williams match for the NXT Title.

CM Punk made his entrance as the special guest referee with the fans singing his theme song. Punk said to the camera: “It’s referee time.” Punk was wearing pants as the referee rather than the unique shorts look he had on in a post on social media. The main event was next.

(Commercial)

There was a brief video of Australian women’s wrestler Delta walking on a highway. There were signs indicating her NXT debut will be on October 27, which is when the Halloween Havoc PLE is.

Trick Williams made his entrance to a huge ovation while the fans were chanting “Whoop That Trick” loudly for him. Booker was very excited shouting his adlibs throughout the song. The NXT Champion Ethan Page was next with a big smile on his face as usual. Ring announcer Mike Rome did the championship introductions.

NXT Championship: Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams (CM Punk is the special guest referee)

Page locked up with Trick, they went to the turnbuckle and Punk pulled Page off. Trick pulled Page into the turnbuckle, so Punk pulled Trick off. Page got a rollup for just a one count. Trick got a rollup for two. Page was against the ropes, so Trick tried a punch and Punk blocked it. Page rolled up Trick and tried a pin with his feet on the ropes, but Punk stopped it so there was no count. Trick hit a leaping clothesline. Page sent Trick into the middle rope followed by a boot to the face for two. Trick dropkicked Page out of the ring. Trick left the ring where he sent Page into the barricade and Trick sent Page into the ring apron. Page countered Trick on the floor and Trick sent Trick crashing into the barricade.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Page punching Trick a few times along with Page arguing with Punk. Trick kicked Trick, who blocked a kick and Trick hit an uppercut punch. Page came back with a DDT for two. Page charged, Trick avoided it and Trick hit a jumping neckbreaker. Trick hit a jumping lefty side kick two times in a row. Trick hit a flapjack into the mat while the fans came alive. Trick hit a spinning boot to knock Page out of the ring. Trick followed Page out of the ring so Page sent Trick into the steel steps. Page picked up Trick and gave him Ego’s Edge onto the commentary table, which broke the table. Punk checked on Trick while Booker said that Punk should in the ring administering a countout. Trick got back in the ring and Trick hit a jumping knee smash, so Page bounced off the ropes and Page fell onto Trick for two. That’s how Page won the title in a four way match back in July. Punk encouraged both guys to get up and fight. Trick and Page exchanged punches. They each avoided kicks, then Page hit a kick to the head, but Trick hit an uppercut. Trick hit a running neckbreaker. Trich hit a Book End on Page for two. Trick charged, Page avoided it and Trick hit the turnbuckle. Page hit a Trick Shot jumping knee smash for two. Page complained to Punk about the count. Page picked up Trick on his shoulders and Page hit a Go To Sleep on Trick for two. That was CM Punk’s finishing move. Page tried a lift, Trick powered out of it, Trick landed in Punk’s arms and Punk let him go. Page went for a running kick, Trick avoided it, Trick bounced off the ropes and Trick hit a Trick Shot knee for the one…two…and three. It went about 13 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Champion: Trick Williams

Analysis: ***1/4 A good match with an obvious title change since this was the right time and there was the right referee there to raise Trick’s hand as the new NXT Champion. Page knows what he’s doing as an old school heel was busy complaining to Punk throughout the match, which ended up costing Page because it allowed Trick to be fresh and Trick finished off Page with ease. This was one of the more obvious title changes you’re going to see on this brand or any brand. I would like to see Trick with a finisher that’s more devastating than a Trick Shot jumping knee, but it is what he’s using for now.

There was a big ovation for Trick winning back the NXT Title. Punk handed Trick the NXT Title and raised Trick’s arm as the new NXT Champion. The crowd was very loud chanting “Whoop That Trick” for Williams, who posed with the title.

CM Punk argued with Ethan Page, who shoved Punk, so Punk shoved back. Punk hit Page with the Go To Sleep. A graphic said Executive Producers Paul Levesque, Lee Fitting & Shawn Michaels. Trick was shown celebrating some more. That was the end of the show a few minutes right before the 10 p.m. ET hour.

Analysis: The match result was a happy ending for the fans and CM Punk hitting a GTS on Ethan Page added to it. A fine way to end the show.

After the show, CM Punk paid for pizza for everybody at the show. That’s cool.

===

Three Stars of the Show

  1. Trick Williams
  2. Wes Lee/Zachary Wentz
  3. Roxanne Perez/Giulia and Ethan Page.

====

The Scoreboard

This week: 7.75 out of 10

Last week: 6.25

2024 Average: 7.17

====

Final Thoughts on WWE NXT

I enjoyed the show and thought it was one of the better NXT episodes of the year. It had a different feel from the typical NXT show since it was a big arena and had a setup similar to what we see on Raw & Smackdown every week. I thought that both title matches could end in title changes, but they only went with Trick Williams beating Ethan Page for the NXT Title. That finish was obvious to me because the only reason Trick lost the title in the first place was to get it back on him for this show on the CW.

That NXT Women’s Title match with Roxanne Perez beating Giulia was very good. Cora Jade cost Giulia the win, so we could see Perez & Jade as friends again, this time as heels. It makes sense to try to build up Giulia’s win more. I’d expect it before the end of the year. That Wes Lee-Zachary Wentz Street Fight was excellent and I thought it was the best match of the night. A decisive win for Lee, which was the right call against a TNA guy. I could see Lee elevated to the level of NXT Title challenger for Trick Williams.

There were way fewer backstage skits compared to the usual NXT shows, which tend to have too many of those backstage segments to try to get more people on the show. I like this show format better and it might continue next week as well in St. Louis, so we’ll see what it looks like in two weeks when they are back home at the WWE PC in Orlando for NXT shows. Lastly, I like the silver/black NXT logo design. It looks slick.

===

Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.

John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X @johnreport