The John Report: WWE NXT 12/10/24 Review
This week on WWE NXT featured Je’Von Evans in action against Wes Lee and a women’s main event with Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade facing Giulia & Kelani Jordan.
The NXT Deadline PLE took place last Saturday with Oba Femi and Giulia winning the Iron Survivor Challenge matches. That means they will get NXT Title matches on the New Year’s Evil special.
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.
A video package aired showing highlights from the NXT Deadline PLE.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T as usual.
Let’s Hear from Giulia and Roxanne Perez
Giulia made her entrance as the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner. At NXT New Year’s Evil on January 7 in Los Angeles (go Rams), Giulia will challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title. I think there will be a title change.
Giulia said she was the Iron Survivor, which means she’s going to take the NXT Women’s Title from Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil in LA.
Roxanne Perez interrupted with the NXT Women’s Title on her shoulder. Perez said Giulia got lucky and she thought Sol Ruca was the MVP in the match and Wren Sinclair almost won even though she spent a lot of time in the penalty box. Perez said that the ladies proved once again that they had the best women’s division in all of wrestling. Perez said none of them were on her level. Perez said she’s already beaten Giulia and she continues to reign over her division. Perez said that Giulia would fall short against Perez. Giulia suggested that maybe they should do this right now.
Cora Jade walked out to the ring with a kendo stick. Jade said that Stephanie Vaquer wouldn’t be there to save her. They showed a video of Stephanie on the ground selling an attack so Jade was saying she did it. Giulia hit Perez and then Jade hit Giulia in the ribs with the kendo stick. Kelani Jordan ran out for the save, she punched Jade and that led to Jade & Perez retreating.
Analysis: A simple promo exchange to set up a tag team match later in the show. It’s a classic way of booking the opening promo segment to set up a match.
A video aired of a frustrated Ethan Page talking after his loss at NXT Deadline. Page was dejected.
Tony D’Angelo the NXT North American Champion went up to Ethan Page, who was on the couch in the room. Tony said that Page blew it. Tony suggested giving Page a shot at the North American Title because he felt sorry for him. Page said that title is a step down for him as a former NXT Champion. Tony opened it up to the room to see if anybody else wanted the match and then Page said he’d take the match. Page said he needed this. Tony said he’ll see him out there.
Analysis: A random title match just like that. Fine with me.
The Raw is coming to Netflix graphic aired. That’s on January 6th as we all know.
The bouncy guy Je’Von Evans made his entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
Charlie Dempsey, the NXT Heritage Cup, was backstage talking to Lexis King, who said he wanted another shot at the Heritage Cup. Dempsey said he’ll think about it. Wren Sinclair and Myles Borne/Tavion Heights went up to Dempsey, who put over his teammates for a good showing. OTM and Jaida Parker interrupted, so the two teams argued.
Analysis: It was another backstage segment that should lead to a match.
Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans
These guys are two of my favorite wrestlers in NXT. I’ll go play-by-play for this one.
They started out throwing punches. Lee worked over Evans with body shots and Evans sent Lee out of the ring. Evans hit a running suicide dive onto Lee on the floor. That was impressive. Back in the ring, Evans went for a springboard attack, but Lee dropkicked Evans in the gut. Evans tossed Lee out of the ring, Lee tripped up Evans and Lee sent Evans into the barricade. Lee sent Evans into the barricade again. Evans punched Lee off the apron to the floor followed by Evans did a slingshot dive over the top onto Lee. Evans tossed Lee into the barricade. Back in the ring, Evans did a hurricanrana followed by a dropkick to knock Lee out of the ring. Evans ran the ropes, but Lee was back in to kick to the leg. Evans bumped to the floor, so Lee hit a somersault dive over the top onto Evans on the floor.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Lee going for an attack off the turnbuckle, but Evans superkicked Lee to knock him down. Evans hit Lee with a clothesline along with a bounce off the ropes leading to a spinning kick to the head. Evans went up top and hit a springboard clothesline for two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for the great action. Evans and Lee exchanged punches. Lee kicked Evans, who kicked Lee back and Lee countered a move with a hurricanrana. Lee ran the ropes and Evans caught him with a Spanish Fly slam. Evans hit a sitout Powerbomb for a two count. Evans went for a move off the ropes, Lee hit the ropes and Lee tried a cover with his feet on the ropes, but the referee saw the feet on the ropes, so the referee stopped counting. Lee hit an impressive DDT. Lee bounced off the ropes with a Cardiac Kick for a two count. That is a move that won Lee a lot of matches. Evans hit a superkick to knock Lee down. Evans did a twisting splash off the top rope for the pinfall win.
Winner by pinfall: Je’Von Evans
Analysis: ***1/2 That was an awesome match between two of the best in NXT. Lee has won a lot of matches with that Cardiac Kick, so having Evans kick out of that felt like a big deal. Evans got his second straight win over Lee, so Evans has the advantage in their rivalry. Evans working with a veteran like Lee will continue to make Evans better as a young star on the rise. I think Lee might be heading to the main roster since the “transfer window” is open, but that’s just me guessing since Lee hasn’t won that often in recent months. I think Evans is going to win some singles gold in 2025. He’s a big star on the rise and I’m excited about his future.
Axiom & Nathan Frazer were backstage as the NXT Tag Team Champions while Frazer had tape on his nose. Axiom said that Frazer did it and Frazer said without Axiom’s performance, they wouldn’t be the champions. Axiom said that Frazer should be Tag Team Champion and Iron Survivor, but Nathan said that Oba Femi screwed that up. Axiom was mad that Oba wasn’t even originally in the match. Axiom said he wanted Frazer to succeed since they are tag team partners and Axiom will do anything for him. Frazer said he needed to make things right, so he told Axiom he’d handle it.
They promoted matches still to come as the show went to break.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Josh Briggs talking about how he fought in Pro Wrestling NOAH earlier this summer. Briggs said in two months there, he was most impressed by Yoshiki Inamura. Briggs said Inamura is a grown man. Inamura said he knows that Briggs and he can do damage in NXT. Briggs said he didn’t want to be in a tag team again, but he thinks there won’t be a tag team division when Briggs and Inamura are done with it.
Analysis: I like that team. It’s just a matter of giving them a shot and letting us see what they can do.
Sarah Schreiber was outside the WWE Medical Room where Giulia and Kelani Jordan walked out of the room. Jordan said that Stephanie Vaquer is banged up, but she’ll be okay. Jordan issued a warning to Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez since Jordan & Giulia were against them in the main event.
Sol Ruca and Zaria were talking in the locker room about how much fun they had in the Iron Survivor Challenge match. The Meta Girls duo of Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson showed up to talk trash. Lash said that Zaria can’t hang with Lash. Ruca said that Lash couldn’t stand up to this powerhouse Zaria. Jackson trashed Sol for being delusional for standing up for Zaria. The Meta Girls left.
Analysis: It is yet another segment to set up a future match. I’m interested to see how Zaria is used moving forward because she should get some wins in the months ahead.
Hank & Tank entered for tag team action.
(Commercial)
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Tyson DuPont & Tyriek Igwe
Tyson used his power to knock down Tank with a shoulder tackle. After Tank knocked down Tyson, Hank tagged in with a leg drop. Tyriek showed off his athleticism with a dropkick. Tank tagged back in leading to multiple splashes, a bulldog and a double splash. The T&T boys took over with Tyson hitting a running splash. Tyriek and Tyson were in control with a running corner splash by Tyson. Tank hit a clothesline and Hank got the hot tag. Hank was on fire including a diving attack on Tyriek on the floor. Back in the ring, Hank hit a Bossman Slam on Tyson. Tank got the hot tag for their powerslam/forearm splash combo move for the pinfall win after about five minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Hank & Tank
Analysis: **1/2 The match was okay to give Hank & Tank a meaningful win to give them some momentum. The Hank & Tank team is full of energy, so they are fun to watch and in the right role as babyfaces.
After the match, Hank & Tank wanted a handshake. Tyson shook hands, but Tyriek walked away from it. The fans booed that.
Analysis: It’s finally a storyline for Tyson & Tyriek since Tyriek appears as if he’s ready to go heel.
Oba Femi was up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Oba Femi and Trick Williams
The Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner Oba Femi made his entrance. Femi talked about winning the Iron Survivor Challenge and how at New Year’s Evil he’s coming after the NXT Title to show he’s the ruler of NXT. Femi said it would be time to find out who the real top guy is. NXT Champion Trick Williams made his entrance to a good ovation. They are about the same height while Booker was excited: “YEAH!”
Eddy Thorpe interrupted the staredown. Thorpe said that he’s not going to ignore what Oba did to him. Thorpe said that Femi attacked him and took him out. Thorpe said that Oba took his spot in Iron Survivor and he’s not going to stand for this.
Oba Femi asked Eddy Thorpe if he saw him attack Thorpe. Eddy said he’s never been hit with so much power and he’s looking at the man with that kind of power.
Trick Williams said that he’s won Iron Survivor Challenge and he knows everybody has been waiting for Trick to face Femi. Trick said that in Los Angeles, it’s Trick against Oba Femi at New Year’s Evil. Trick said he’s glad that Oba is there. Trick said that the legacy of a title reign is defined by who you defeat while you carry the title.
Femi said that the truth is that the only reason Trick has been the number one guy is because Femi allowed it. Femi said that the only reason there was a Whoop That Trick Era is because he allowed it to happen. Femi said that at New Year’s Evil, they have a date with destiny – Trick vs. Oba. Femi said that the beginning of 2025 will be the end of Trick’s era. Femi left.
Analysis: That was a good promo exchange. Femi made great points about how he didn’t come after Trick before this, which is why Trick has been champion, and now Femi thinks he can take the title from him. Femi has a lot of credibility due to his great NXT North American Tag Team Title reign.
Thorpe got in Trick’s face saying that Trick didn’t press Oba once about what he did to Thorpe. Trick said that he used to see Trick as a man of the people who is followed everywhere that you go. Thorpe said that Trick is just a manufactured sports entertainer. Thorpe told Trick he wouldn’t last two weeks in the Japanese dojos that Thorpe was in. Thorpe trashed Trick for going from Eagles training camp to a WWE tryout. Trick said he’s sick of the doubters. Trick bragged about his accomplishments. Trick said that if Thorpe thinks he can take that title then Trick has no problem defending the title. Trick said next week, it’s Thorpe against Trick and Trick told Ava to set it up. Trick punched Thorpe, who was laughing on the mat.
Analysis: A title match for next week sounds great. It shows Trick is a fighting champion even though Thorpe really didn’t earn the title shot.
The Fatal Influence trio was backstage talking to Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne having theories about Gigi Dolin being back. Jazmyn Nyx said that they needed to get rid of Gigi Dolin.
Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley were walking backstage with Gigi saying it was two of them against three of Fatal Influence, but Paxley teased having a friend. Izzi Dame said she’s not done with Dolin. Shawn Spears and his friends interrupted. Dolin and Paxley were not impressed, so they left. Spears tried to talk to Dame, but Dame wasn’t interested and walked away.
Fatal Influence entered for tag team action.
(Commercial)
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs. Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx (w/Fallon Henley)
Dolin was in control of Nyx with a dropkick that sent Nyx out of the ring. Nyx managed to send Dolin into the ring post. Jayne worked over Dolin in the heel corner. When Dolin broke free, Paxley was in control with clotheslines and a double underhook suplex. Paxley hit a cross body block on both opponents. Nyx distracted the referee, so Henely shoved Paxley off the top rope. Jayne hit the Rolling Encore forearm on Paxley for the pinfall win after three minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Fatal Influence – Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx
Analysis: ** A cheap win because Henley got involved to help her Fatal Influence friends. It set up what happened after the match.
After the match, Fatal Influence beat up Dolin and Paxley. Shotzi made her return to make the save for Dolin & Paxley. Shotzi cleaned house with kicks, the heels were sent out of the ring and Shotzi hit a suicide dive onto Fatal Influence on the floor. Shotzi celebrated with Dolin and Paxley.
Analysis: Welcome back to Shotzi after a long layoff with a torn ACL in her left knee. She was on Smackdown before, but putting her back on NXT with babyfaces like Dolin & Paxley fits, so that’s fine for Shotzi for now.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Axiom and Nathan Frazer spoke backstage. Axiom said he spoke to Ava about facing Oba Femi next week on NXT. Frazer said he was going to tell Axiom he felt bad about Axiom carrying them at Deadline and Frazer said their title match will be next week. Axiom said that means he’ll have two matches next week. Axiom wasn’t thrilled about it while pointing out Frazer’s face was busted and Frazer goes: “Well, you wear a mask.”
Analysis: It’s more danger for Axiom & Frazer as the Tag Team Champions. They continue to be put in positions to make them look like vulnerable champions.
There was backstage walking to set up Tony D’Angelo’s NXT North American Title match against Ethan Page.
(Commercial)
NXT North American Championship: Tony D’Angelo (w/Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Luca Crusifino & Adrianna Rizzo) vs. Ethan Page
Page was in control after a punch and a body slam. Tony took control with a hard whip into the turnbuckle and a clothesline that sent them both over the top to the floor.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Tony in control with a running knee lift. Page came back with a shoulder tackle for two. Tony connected with a belly-to-back suplex, so both guys were down selling for a few minutes. Tony hit a belly-to-belly side slam. Page came back with a roundhouse kick, but Tony was back up with a Spear for two. Page hit a big boot to knock Tony down for a two count. Page fought against a superplex and hit a kick followed by a Diamond Cutter-like move for two. Page went for Ego’s Edge, Tony slipped behind it and Tony hit a huge Spinebuster on Page for the pinfall win after about 9 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Tony D’Angelo
Analysis: *** A competitive match that was kept under 10 minutes. It was more of a faster pace than you might expect from these guys. The result will continue the story that Page is sad about things after losing another match. It also gives Tony D a credible win over a former NXT Champion.
Ethan Page was shown after the match sitting on the apron looking sad.
Lexis King was backstage talking to former NFL player Ryan Leaf, who is now a football announcer and a mental health advocate. Leaf said that King can make a hell of an ending for his life and said he’s looking forward to seeing how King does. King thanked Leaf for his advice. Charlie Dempsey walked up to King to say he could have his Heritage Cup match in two weeks, but he wanted King to make it through a workout with him. King agreed to it.
Analysis: Ryan Leaf is one of the biggest busts in NFL history, but he turned his life around after hitting rock bottom, so good for him for doing that.
The tag team of NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade entered for tag team action.
(Commercial)
Ethan Page was shown leaving the arena. Page said he can’t talk. Page said he knows he’s better than this, he’s been better than this and he’s just lost his way. Page said he says he’s All Ego, but he doesn’t think he is. Page said he has no clue how to get back to the NXT Title and he’s just lost and ashamed. Page walked off.
Analysis: Poor Page. I think with the transfer window being around in storylines, it might lead to Page going to Raw or Smackdown soon.
Next week on NXT from Lowell, Massachusetts:
* NXT Championship: Trick Williams vs. Eddy Thorpe
* Oba Femi vs. Axiom
* NXT Tag Team Championships: Nathan Frazer & Axiom vs. Gallus
* Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson
The babyface team of Giulia and Kelani Jordan and they were attacked by Perez and Jade. The faces fought back and the four women went into the ring. Jordan & Giulia hit dropkicks to clear the ring. Jordan followed up with a twisting splash over the top onto the heels on the floor. The bell rang to start the match.
Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade vs. Giulia & Cora Jade
Jordan hit a running cross body block on Perez. Giulia was in there against Perez with Perez getting a crucifix pin for two. Jade distracted Giulia, so that led to a cheap shot by Perez. Jade tried a charging attack, Giulia avoided it and Jade hit the ropes, so Giulia got a rollup for two. Jordan tagged in leading to a jumping kick by Giulia. Jordan hit an impressive armdrag on Jade and Giulia tagged in, so Jordan hit two more arm drags along with a dropkick. Jordan sent Perez into the turnbuckle. Giulia went for a corner splash, but Jade saved Perez by pulling the champ out of the ring.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Perez hitting an uppercut to knock Jordan out of the ring. Perez hit a suicide dive onto Jordan on the floor. Jade hit a running back elbow on Jordan. Jade worked over Jordan with a knee along with a boot to the throat. Perez tagged in, Jordan sent Jade over the top to the floor and Giulia got the hot tag. Giulia decked Perez with three forearms in a row. Giulia hit a running kick to the face while Perez was against the ropes. Giulia hit an overhead suplex on Perez for two. Giulia went for a spinning slam, but Perez got out of it and went for Pop Rox, but Giulia avoided that. Giulia and Perez exchanged forearms. Giulia hit a belly-to-back suplex. Jordan got the tag while Giulia hit a slam and Jordan jumped off the top with a Frog Splash for two because Jade broke up the pin. Perez got an inside cradle on Jordan. Perez dropkicked Jordan. Jade got the tag and Giulia pulled Perez out of the ring. Jade hit a knee on Giulia to knock her out of the ring. Jordan hit a jumping side kick on Jade. Jordan did a slingshot dive over the top onto Jade. Perez hit Pop Rox on Jordan on the floor. Giulia saw it and hit a dropkick on Perez on the floor. Perez and Giulia went fighting to the floor. Jade capitalized on Jordan taken out on the floor leading to Jade hitting a double underhook DDT on Jordan for the pinfall win. It went 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Cora Jade & Roxanne Perez
Analysis: ***1/4 I liked the match as a main event with a good finish that gave Cora Jade a much-needed win. I have said many times that Jade has lost far too much, so it was cool to see her get a win. I know it was a bit cheap because of Perez hitting the Pop Rox on Jordan on the floor, but it also puts over how smart Perez & Jade are as heels.
After the match, Stephanie Vaquer’s music hit. Vaquer attacked Jade from behind with forearms and a headbutt. Jade bailed to the floor. Vaquer broke Jade’s kendo stick over the knee. Jade ran away and Vaquer ran after her.
Analysis: That obviously sets up a Vaquer-Jade match.
There was a scene in Ava the NXT GM’s office with Eddy Thorpe signing the contract for the NXT Title match. Thorpe said it was the biggest match of his life. Ava said that they were looking at who attacked him. Thorpe said he knows who attacked him and said he did it. Thorpe said he’s getting his NXT Title match and didn’t have to go through 25 minutes of hell to get it. Eddy handed Ava the contract and that was the end of the show.
Analysis: Nice reveal to end the show. Eddy Thorpe admitted there was no cheap attack on him to take him out of the Iron Survivor Challenge match. He faked the whole thing. I like that craftiness. I also think that Trick will beat Thorpe next week, but it’s still cool to see Thorpe becoming heelish like that.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Je’Von Evans
- Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade
- Tony D’Angelo
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7.5 out of 10
Last week: 6.75
2024 Average: 7.19
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
A good show as usual with a nice balance of entertaining matches and plenty of story advancement throughout the broadcast. I was impressed by the in-ring action. The Je’Von Evans-Wes Lee match was my favorite of the night while the women’s tag team main event was fun too. Tony D beating Ethan Page was also fine for being under 10 minutes while continuing Page’s frustrating loser gimmick.
That story with Eddy Thorpe was also cool because he got in Trick Williams face and got a NXT Title match without being in the Iron Survivor Challenge match. Thorpe also admitted he faked a backstage attack, so that will get him heat as a heel. I like that was booked.
They have a solid lineup for next week as well and I’m looking forward to New Year’s Evil on January 7th with some big matches set for that show.
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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport