The John Report: WWE NXT 11/26/24 Review
This week on WWE NXT featured Ethan Page against Axiom, Tony D’Angelo facing Shawn Spears, Giulia in action against Kelani Jordan and Fallon Henley battling Tatum Paxley in the main event.
The NXT brand is on the road to the Deadline PLE on December 7th. We know some of the matches on that show while the two Iron Survivor Challenge matches are what really makes that show stand out.
When I do WWE NXT reviews I do summary style for most of the show and then play-by-play for one or two matches.
They are at WWE Performance Center in Orlando for this week’s show. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport, friend me on Facebook, or chat with me on the Bluesky App as well. Let’s get to it.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T as usual. Vic misspoke during the opening when he said that this was the last NXT episode before Deadline. That is wrong because there is next week’s show too.
A video package aired showing highlights of last week’s NXT episode when Ridge Holland beat Andre Chase to end Chase University for good. Ridge also gets an NXT Title match at Deadline against Trick Williams.
Let’s Hear From…Ridge Holland
The Chase U music played for perhaps one final pep rally, but instead, it was a shirtless Ridge Holland. The fans booed. Ridge got into the ring to say “I told you so.” Ridge said he’ll see Trick Williams at Deadline and he dropped the microphone. That was it. Booker T was laughing about it.
Analysis: That was short and simple. It got heat because the crowd wanted a Chase U farewell, but we didn’t get that and instead, it was done to get some heat on Ridge Holland.
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Ethan Page vs. Axiom (w/Nathan Frazer)
Axiom is one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions. His tag team partner Nathan Frazer has already qualified for the Iron Survivor Challenge match. I’ll go play-by-play here.
There was a quick nearfall by Axiom early and then Page bailed to the floor. They went to break there.
(Commercial)
Axiom was in control with a headscissors off the apron that sent Page into the commentary table. They were back in the ring where Axiom went for an armbar and Page turned it over into a pin attempt. Axiom went for a kip-up, but Page decked him with a boot to the face. They showed tag teams in NXT watching the match. Axiom hit a pump kick and Axiom hit a Spanish Fly slam for two. Axiom went for an armbar, but Page countered it with a Powerbomb to get out of it. Page nailed Axiom with a forearm to the back along with two backbreakers. Page sent Axiom hard into the turnbuckle two times in a row. Page nailed Axiom with a forearm to the jaw followed by a backbreaker off the ropes for a two count. Page delivered a kick, but Axiom came back with a jumping kick to the jaw. Axiom hit a Spanish Fly slam for a two count. Axiom went for an armbar on the turnbuckle, but Page gave him a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle. Axiom bumped to the floor as the show went to break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Axiom doing an incredible backflip off the ropes leading to a DDT for two. Axiom worked over Page with forearms and then Page fired back with a forearm. Axiom jumped on Page’s back with a sleeper attempt, but Page powered out of it. Page suplexed Axiom into the turnbuckle followed by Page hitting a slam onto the knee so it was like a backbreaker. Page set up Axiom for a move off the turnbuckle, but Axiom countered it with a top rope hurricanrana. Axiom charged, Page hit him with a running lariat, Axiom did a great flip bump and Page covered Axiom for the pinfall win. This match went 17 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ethan Page
Analysis: ***3/4 That was an awesome match. It might have been Page’s best NXT match so far. I liked how they matched up because Axiom’s speed is always fun to watch while Page has a lot of power moves that he could do against a smaller opponent like Axiom. This was a lot of fun and the right guy got the win.
After that win, the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match looks like this: Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Ethan Page vs. ???
Ethan Page was interviewed in the ring by Sarah Schreiber. Page said that he’s a guy who always finds a way to win. Nathan Frazer interrupted saying the match is 25 minutes of pure chaos while telling Page he won’t keep up with him. Page said that he pinned his tag team partner who carries the team. Frazer said that Axiom is not the driving force…and Axiom was upset about that.
Wes Lee interrupted the promo saying that he’s going to win, so who is going to come in second? Lee said that Page can keep smiling but Lee is finally going to get his opportunity.
Je’Von Evans interrupted and the fans popped for the Young OG. Evans wondered how many times Lee was going to be in the penalty box.
The OTM tag team showed up to confront Frazer & Axiom as the NXT Tag Team Champions and that led to other tag teams spilling out from the back. Frazer hit a somersault dive onto a few guys and Axiom hit a moonsault onto other guys fighting on the floor. Security showed up to try to break it up.
Analysis: The NXT brand loves booking wild brawls all over the arena more than any wrestling show. It’s a way to get more people on the show, but it does feel repetitive since it happens so often.
A clip was shown from earlier today in the women’s locker room. Brinley Reece told Sol Ruca that she is her pick to win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge match. Lola Vice spoke to Stephanie Vaquer in Spanish and Vice ended it saying she had to make sure that Vaquer won. They spoke in Spanish. Wrenc Sinclair said that Lola going after Jaida Parker again is a mistake. Vice said that she’ll show Jaida Parker that these fists don’t lie.
That led to Lola Vice facing Wren Sinclair up next.
(Commercial)
Ashante “Thee” Adonis was backstage talking to Nikkita Lyons, who mentioned that Adonis was interested because he texted her. Karmen Petrovic walked up to Adonis looking angry. Lyons said that a man is going to pick her over a little girl like Karmen. Adonis tried to talk to Karmen, but she shoved him aside and said that she is done.
Analysis: I don’t have much interest in how this story goes, but at least NXT does a good job of getting a lot of people on the roster in a storyline.
Lola Vice vs. Wren Sinclair (w/Charlie Dempsey)
There was an armbar attempt by Lola early in the match, but Wren managed to fight out of it. Vice hit the Three Amigos vertical suplexes for two. Wren got some offense by wrenching on the left arm. Wren delivered a clothesline to knock Vice out of the ring. Wren dropkicked Vice into the steel steps. They went back into the ring where Wren got a rollup for two. Vice got back up and hit a spinning back fist for the pinfall win after 4 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Lola Vice
Analysis: *3/4 Easy win for Vice. Wren showed off her submission wrestling skills for some of the match, but this was all about giving Vice a win. Vice got the win after just one move.
Lola Vice spoke into the camera saying it’s not over with Jaida Parker and said that very soon they will go Underground.
Analysis: That means a Lola Vice-Jaida Parker NXT Underground Match is coming soon.
The Tony D’Angelo-Shawn Spears match was next as we saw both sides getting ready for it. Brooks Jensen told Spears he was brilliant with how manipulated things to get this match.
(Commercial)
They showed crazy Tatum Paxley playing with her dollhouse backstage. Paxley told her dolls she’d shut the mean girls up and become a champion. Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx interrupted to say Paxley will never be a champion and playtime is over, freak. Jayne & Nyx left. Paxley said your past will haunt you. A woman’s hand picked up an orange-haired doll from the floor.
Analysis: That last line from Paxley and the doll pick up at the end was a tease for what was coming later.
NXT North American Championship: Tony D’Angelo (w/Adrianna Rizzo) vs. Shawn Spears (w/Brooks Jensen)
Tony was in control early with punches and then Tony was selling the left knee injury. Spears took over with a knee drop to the back of the left knee. That led to a break.
(Commercial)
Spears was in control working on the left knee. Tony came back with a superplex. They showed NXT tag teams brawling in the parking lot area. Tony hit a belly-to-belly slam, but then Tony stumbled when he charged. Spears locked in the Figure Four Leglock submission. After about one minute, Tony got his hands on the bottom rope to break the hold. Tony kicked Spears out of the ring and when Spears was back in, Tony hit a spear for two. Each guy got two counts and then Tony hit his massive Spinebuster for the pinfall win after about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Tony D’Angelo
Analysis: **3/4 It was a pretty good match with the champion retaining as expected. Tony D did a nice job of selling the knee injury while Spears attacked it a lot in the match. It’s still early in Tony’s title reign, so I didn’t expect a title change here.
After the match, Jensen attacked Tony, but Tony was ready for it with a back body drop. Tony knocked Spears down too. The newcomer Nico went into the ring and clotheslined Tony. The three guys stared at Rizzo while Tony was down on the mat.
Analysis: The Shawn Spears group is getting stronger with Nico in the mix.
The NXT tag teams were still fighting outside in the parking lot. Referees and security guys were there to try to stop it.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Andre Chase dealing with Chase U ending. Chase put some Chase U merchandise into boxes along with his classic sweater. Chase left the room and looked sad. Somebody shouted: “Hey, Mr. Chase.” Andre looked to see who it was and it ended there.
Analysis: I’m not mad about the Chase U gimmick ending because it’s been three years. I hope it works out for the talent involved with it.
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Giulia vs. Kelani Jordan
This should be fun. I’ll go play-by-play for this match.
Jordan was in control early on with an armbar followed by a cross body block. Giulia and Jordan exchanged pin attempts with each woman getting two nearfalls. They shook hands since they are both babyfaces. Giulia got a headscissors takeover leading to Giulia trapping Jordan on the mat with an armbar where she pulled back on the arm. Jordan did a bit of a hair pull, so Giulia came back with a headbutt along with a headscissors. Jordan kicked Giulia down and went for a move off the turnbuckle, but Giulia was there to wrench on the arm across the top rope. They were back in the ring where they slapped eachother in the face at the same time. They had a staredown, which led to a break.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Giulia hitting a jumping side kick to the mouth. Jordan hit a twisting dive over the top onto Giulia on the floor. They did another sequence where each woman got pin attempts for two. Jordan hit a running uppercut followed by a dropkick. They battled on the turnbuckle where Giulia hit a headbutt followed by a missile dropkick attempt, but Jordan avoided it. Jordan went for the One of a Kind moonsault off the top and Giliua was ready for it with a counter into a triangle choke. Jordan tried to counter it by getting a pin attempt for two. Jordan picked up Giulia and hit a Powerbomb for two. The NXT Champion Roxanne Perez was shown watching on a TV backstage. Giulia and Jordan exchanged forearms. Giulia hit a sitout slam and then Jordan got a pin attempt. Giulia hit a running knee strike followed by a Northern Lights Bomb for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Giulia
Analysis: ***1/2 Terrific match. I enjoyed that. They worked well together and matched up evenly. It was a fun match with both women coming close to winning a few times until Giulia found a way to put Jordan away. I’m not surprised by the result since Giulia has been pushed strongly since joining NXT.
The Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match looks like this right now: Sol Ruca vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Zaria vs. Giulia vs. ???
There was a backstage scene with NXT GM Ava talking to Axiom (with Nathan Frazer), Cedric Alexander, Cora Jade, Lexis King, Jaida Parker and Eddy Thorpe to let them know that next week there will be Men’s and Women’s 4-way matches for the final spots in the Iron Survivor Challenge Matches. Thorpe complained about how he had interference and now he has to beat three guys. Lexis King thanked Ava for being fair.
Ava spoke to Axiom and Frazer to let them know that there will be a battle royal next week between NXT tag teams. The winners of that match will face Axiom & Frazer for the Tag Team Titles at Deadline. That led to NXT tag teams arguing again. Thorpe went up to Ava, who opened a door, Thorpe grabbed Ava by the arm and Ava said don’t touch her. Mark Coffey was shoved into the door, so the door hit Ava lightly and she bumped to the floor.
Analysis: I like that there will be 4-way matches next week for the final Iron Survivor Challenge spots. Those should be fun. The tag team battle royal is a good idea too. It seems like Thorpe is going heel with this complaining gimmick he has had of late.
(Commercial)
They showed Ava getting checked on by doctors and NXT boss Shawn Michaels was there. Ava said she was talking to Eddy. Michaels shoved Thorpe against a garage door. Michaels told Eddy to not put his hands on her and told Eddy to get out of there.
Analysis: The bump that Ava took really wasn’t a big deal and she is a former wrestler, but Michaels reacting that way shows they have some story with Eddy Thorpe brewing. I’m glad for Thorpe because they haven’t used him much of late.
Let’s Hear from Trick Williams
The NXT Champion Trick Williams was in the ring for a promo. Trick said that he’s sure Ava will be okay because we know who her Bloodline is. Trick said as we all saw last week, we might have seen the end of Chase U. Trick said it was sad because he saw kids crying and a lot of shocked faces, including his own. Trick said he saw Ridge Holland’s face with a pure evil grin on his face like he was proud of what he did. Trick said that he came up in this business with people who love NXT. Trick mentioned #DIY, Bron Breakker, Tiffany Stratton, Ilja Dragunov, and even people like Carmelo Hayes. Trick said even more importantly than that, people like Chase U. Trick said that they have built something special here at NXT, but all Ridge knows how to do is destroy things. Trick said he won’t let Ridge become NXT Champion. Trick said everything that they worked so hard to create would die.
Ridge Holland made his entrance while referees showed up to try to stop him. Ridge said he didn’t care that everywhere he goes, controversy follows him.
Eric Bischoff, the WWE Hall of Famer, showed up on the video screen. Bischoff said next week he’s coming to NXT. Bischoff said he’s going to find out how bad and he’s going to find out what makes both guys tick. Bischoff said by the time he’s done, you guys are going to want to destroy eachother at Deadline. Eric said he’ll see them next week.
Analysis: It was a solid babyface promo from Trick talking about how much he loves the brand. Eric Bischoff showing up next week to mediate some sort of Trick and Ridge promo sounds good to me. That should be good.
The Fallon Henley-Tatum Paxley main event match was next.
(Commercial)
Wren Sinclair was talking to Charlie Dempsey in the parking lot. Wren said she’s fine. Myles Borne & Tavion Heights were there to say they are in the tag team battle royal next week. Wren said that Lola hits very hard. Dempsey told Wren she is in the last chance fatal four-way match. Wren wondered how she could win and Charlie said she’s got this.
Next week on NXT:
* Women’s Last Chance Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Jaida Parker vs. Wren Sinclair vs. Cora Jade vs. Kelani Jordan
* Men’s Last Chance Iron Survivor Qualifying Match: Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King vs. Axiom vs. Cedric Alexander
* NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal – The Winners challenge for the NXT Tag Team Titles at Deadline
* Karmen Petrovic vs. Nikkita Lyons
A tweet from Sean Waltman aka X-Pac was shown saying he’ll be on NXT next week.
Analysis: I think Kelani Jordan and Axiom will win the 4-way matches. Cora Jade could win too. I think Jaida Parker will lose because of Lola Vice getting involved. I’m not sure about the tag team match. I might go with Gallus for the win.
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Fallon Henley (w/Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Tatum Paxley
Henley was in control early on working on the left arm and Paxley got a two count. Paxley pulled on Henley’s arms in a unique submission move and it led to a pin attempt. Paxley kicked Henley out of the ring to the floor. Jayne got in Paxley’s face on the floor, so Henley did a spinning kick to knock Paxley down.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Henley hitting a running forearm. Paxley countered a suplex into a pin attempt for two. Henley and Paxley did a double cross body block spot to knock eachother down. Paxley got some momentum going with a clothesline and a step up enziguri kick. Paxley hit a spinning slam like a reverse Samoan Drop for two. Paxley went up top, Jayne yelled at her from the apron, so Henley was back up and Henley hit a pumphandle fallaway slam for two. Paxley came back with a slam off the ropes. Paxley hit a 450 Splash off the top for a two count. Paxley went for a pin, Henley kicked out and Paxley kicked Jayne when she tried to interfere. Paxley went for her Psycho Trap move, but Henley got out of it and Henley hit a Fameasser/Rocker Dropper for the pinfall win. The match went 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Fallon Henley
Analysis: ***1/4 It was another good match with the champion Henley keeping the gold. They really brought it in the final few minutes. Jayne tried to interfere, but Paxley was ready for it and it wasn’t enough because Henley still found a way to win. That was a clever finish.
After the match, Fatal Influence attacked Paxley, but Gigi Dolin made her return. Dolin hit a clothesline on Jayne. Paxley and Dolin each hit enziguri kicks to knock Jayne and Henley out of the ring. The fans chanted “Welcome Back” to Dolin. Paxley and Dolin celebrated in the ring while Fatal Influence was down on the floor. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: Welcome back Gigi since she missed about eight months with a torn ACL. She returned to action at live events recently, so I’m glad she’s back. Gigi is somebody who has been on this brand for over three years like Jayne & Henley. I hope Gigi finds some success now that she’s back. They teased her return in that segment that aired earlier in the show, so it was nice foreshadowing.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Giulia
- Ethan Page
- Axiom & Kelani Jordan
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.75 out of 10
Last week: 7.5
2024 Average: 7.19
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
This was a great episode of NXT. The match quality was stronger than a usual episode, so that was nice to see. They are doing a great job of building to Deadline too. I enjoyed it.
The NXT Deadline PLE is on December 7th with this lineup so far.
* NXT Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Ridge Holland
* Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Ethan Page vs. ???
* Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Sol Ruca vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Zaria vs. Giulia vs. ???
You can watch NXT Deadline on Saturday, Dec. 7, streaming live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport