WWE NXT 1/9/2024

WWE NXT 1/9/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/01/wwe-nxt-122024.html

Blair Davenport attacks Nikkita Lyons as she arrives in the parking lot and they fight to ringside. Lyons throws her in the ring.

Nikkita Lyons vs Blair Davenport

Lyons hits kicks and slams her. Lyons suplexes her then flying forearms her in the corner. Lyons spin kicks her for 2 then is thrown shoulder first into the post. Blair double stomps her back off the apron then double stomps her off the buckles. Lyons is holding her in the air and suplexes her.

They trade forearms. Blair boots her then Lyons hits kicks. They botch a suplex and Blair goes over the hard way. Lyons germans her then hip drops her down in the corner. Lyons samoan drops her for 2. Blair shotgun dropkicks her then Lyons kicks her in the gut.

Lyons lariats her over the top then kicks the post when Blair moves. Blair kicks her as she enters the ring then hits a kamigoye and wins it.

It was an okay opener with the two being a little rough with each other. They timed it just about right and it didn't go on too much longer than it should have.

Trick and Melo talk in the back. Melo says he has good news for him. Melo said Trick asked him for help, so it's his responsibility to make sure he succeeds. Melo said since Ilja is out, he asked for him and Trick to get in the Dusty Classic. Trick says he wants to say locked in and doesn't know about this. Melo says he knows they will win this whole thing. He says they will call Trick, "Two Title Trick" at the end of this. Trick agrees.

Dusty Classic First Round - Gallus (Wolfgang and Mark Coffey) vs Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin

 

Bron shoulders Mark over then side headlocks him. Mark side headlocks him and slides out so Wolf can get in. Wolf side headlocks Bron. Wolf goes for a thesz press and is caught and slammed. Baron corner lariats Wolf then Mark shoulders Corbin off the buckles. Mark euros Corbin. Corbin goes over Mark on the mat then is stun gunned by Wolf. Wolf sentons Bron then Bron and Baron regroup outside.

We go to PiP break and return. Mark and Corbin are trading nice forearms. Corbin misses a corner charge then 2nd rope lariats him. Wolf wastelands Bron then Baron spinebusters Wolf. Mark running lariats Baron then Baron hits a deep six on him. 

All 4 men pair off and fight. Wolf is lariated over the top then Baron death valley drivers Mark. Baron punches the post outside when Wolf ducks. Mark baseball slides Baron then bangs Baron's hand off the apron and table. Mark gets Wolf in and Wolf sends Baron into the buckles. Wolf splashes Baron. Corbin kicks Wolf and Bron gets the hot tag in. Bron beats up on both opponents and fireman's carry gutbusters Wolf. Bron flips Mark out of the backdrop into a stunner.

Bron running lariats Wolf. Bron makes Wolf carry Mark then germans Wolf, causing Mark to take a fallaway slam. Baron tags himself in then Bron spears Wolf. Baron hits an end of days on Mark and gets the win.

It was an entertaining, heavyweight tag as expected. Bron debuted two new spots here, though the backdrop > stunner didn't quite hit. It was what you would want with hard shots and power moves. 

We see Tiffany Stratton being Fallon Henley's ranch hand. Tiff is late and Fallon promises Tiff will get dirt under her finger nails. Tiff arrives in a skirt and pink fur with a glitter cowboy hat. Fallon tries to get her not to wear this and said she has clothes for her. Tiff said she's not wearing it and says she's good. Tiff is grossed out and losing her mind as Fallon goes down the daily chores list nd we cut away.

Lyra Valkyria walks in the back and looks like Saraya with her hair down.

Lyra comes out to talk. She said she will finish 2024 just as she started it - women's champ. she said she knows Blair will follow and asks who she will face at Vengeance Day. She said there will be a 20 person battle royale where the final four fight in a fatal four way.

Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez come out. Lola says she's only here because Tatum saved her last week. Lola said she can cash in her title contract anytime she wants. Lyra says she thought she would turn this place upside down with her MMA background but all she does is talk. Lyra said she's not here to watch her shake her butt on instagram, she wants to fight Lola Vice, the cage fighter. Lyra said some people don't like her, but some do.

Lola says everybody loves her and follow her every footstep. Lola says they love her latina heat. Lyra asks where the latina heat is as she only sees it coming from Lopez. Lyra asks Lola when she will tell Lopez that she will not use the title contract for a tag title shot. Lyra said they should have the match now then Lola and Lopez beat up Lyra. Tatum Paxley then comes in to fight and the heels back off.

We see Meta Four watching the breakup video of Briggs and Jensen and laughing about it. Briggs comes in and Lash said they triggered Briggs' group break-up. Briggs said they all have different goals and Briggs wants to become champ. Briggs said he deserves a rematch with Dar and Dar says back of the line. Oro has words for Briggs and Brigg says they can handle it tonight.

Luca Crusifino talks to Ava Raine in the back. He said his feet were under the ropes during his match and said it should have been a rope break. Ava said she will pass his concerns along. Dragon Lee comes in. He said he is sorry for last week and said he's back and ready to go after having visa issues. Lexis King walks in. He said with the visa issues done, that means open challenges are back.

Lee says he is already ready and so does King. King says he has the contract ready already and just needs Lee to sign it. Lee then signs it and King says it's a done deal. Lee says, "see you tonight, cabron". King asks what he just called him and Ava said not to worry about it.

Oro Mensah vs Josh Briggs

Oro rushes him then takes punches. Oro is slammed then elbow dropped. Briggs shoulders over Oro then corner splashes him. Oro fish hooks him then jumping knees him. Briggs side slams him and Oro rolls out. Briggs chases Oro back into the ring then is superkicked. Oro nails him in the back of the neck.

Oro euros him then legsweeps him. Oro lariats him in the back of the head then knee drops Briggs. Briggs takes corner lariats then has his head banged off the buckle. Oro springboard rider kicks Briggs for 2. Oro hits kicks to the back and grabs his hair. Briggs lifts him up and powerbombs him. Jakara gets on the apron and Dar grabs Briggs. Briggs gets out and lariats Oro. Briggs then pins Oro.

Briggs was beaten up all match long then won at the end here which was unusual booking.

Out The Mud walk towards the ring.

We go back to Fallon's farm. Tiff is spraying a hose everywhere and dropping hay. Tiff says she is done and ask to sit down. Fallon says that was only task #1. We then see a girl say they need to wash a horse named Buttercup. Tiff says she is not doing that then we see her with the horse. Fallon gives her a bucket and sponge to clean the horse with. Tiff is dirty and mad then goes up to Fallon. She said she is done and needs a shower and to be disinfected. Tiff said she hopes she enjoyed the show. Fallon said you can't put a clean horse in a dirty stall, then Fallon says its time to muck spas. Fallon then gives her a pink rake and Tiff has to clean the stall.

WWE NXT Tag Titles - The D'Angelo Family (c) vs Out The Mud

 

Adrianna Rizzo is with Tony and Stacks. Stacks pushes Nima then is pushed into Nima's knee. Nima shoulders him over. Stacks hits punches. Tony hits punches on Nima. Nima takes a knee lift then a flying shoulder from Tony. All 4 men get in. Price corner spears Stacks then Stacks dropkicks him. Stacks hits pounces on Price's gut.

Tony hiptosses Stacks into Price. Tony slingshot elbow drops Price then gorilla presses and throws Stacks onto Price. Nima kicks Stacks from the apron and is knocked off the apron. Stacks is put on Nima's shoulders and Price runs the apron, hitting a facebuster on Stacks on the floor.

We go to PiP break and return. Nima hits forearms on Stacks. Stacks hits punches to Nima's gut then Nima hits him in the gut as Price holds Stacks. Stacks is thrown out under the bottom rope and Stacks pushes Nima into the post. Tony is tagged in and hits shots and a belly to belly on Price. Tony hits punches to the gut of Nima then suplexes him. Tony spinebusters Price for 2.

Prices takes a german + 2nd rope euro combo. Nima hits a single leg M. Bison stomp on Stacks. Tony then takes a double team torture rack drop for 2. Tony is lifted into a Price powerslam. Stacks lariats Nima over the top and goes with him. Tony rolls up Price then throws him out. Tony hiptosses Stacks over the top onto their opponents. Price takes a bada bing, bada boom for 2.

All 4 men trade shots Scrypts goes up top and Rizzo pushes him off onto Price. Stacks triangle plancha's Nima outside then Tony fisherman suplexes Price to win it.

Not a classic, but a good match. Easily the best match of OTM's career so far. OTM's offense as mostly simple but they hit everything clean and there were no issues with it. OTM got to kick out of a decent bit of stuff here and were not buried in this loss. 

NXT Anonymous spies on Chase U in the back. Jacy says this place is going under and said they haven't come up with enough money. She said he has an idea that can save the university but she needs them to do what she says. We see the newly signed Madi Wrenkowski as one of the students in this segment.

Oba Femi is interviewed. Oba says his contract means he can become a champ anytime he wants. Lexis King walks in. He says if it wasn't for Trey Bearhill, it would have been him in the finals with Oba. King tells him to keep doing his thing because he thinks he is looking at the future NXT champ, Oba Femi. He said Oba is looking at the new NXT North American champ then tells Kelly the interviewer that drinks are on him tonight.

Gallus talk in the back. They are arguing and Wolf pushes stuff over. Ridge Holland walks in. Joe said he was very touching last week. Ridge says he should be worried about his team. Joe said he's not scared of him but Ridge should be scared of him. Ridge says there's no fear in his eyes and Joe said he should have stayed a Brawling Brute, because he doesn't know how long he will survive in NXT. Ridge says he'll be seeing them.

Gigi Dolin vs Cora Jade

They lock up. Gigi arm throws her then Cora forearms her. Gigi chops her in the back of the neck then kicks her. Gigi hits Kawada kicks then misses a low dropkick. Cora jumps off the bottom rope and stomps her down. Cora hits corner spears then clubs her back.

Cora lariats her then back elbows her against the 2nd rope. Cora step up knees her in the corner. Cora chinlocks her. Gigi headbutts her in the gut and hits a knee. Gigi short arm clotheslines her then dropkicks her against the bottom rope. Cora holds on to the ref to stop a gigi driver then Cora double arm ddt's her to win.

It was a basic match and not that interesting. Pretty much just basic strikes and moves here.

Out The Mud talk in the parking lot. They said they need to do something. They run into Jaida Parker in the parking lot. Parker says they need to open their minds up and said they are better than falling for that. Parker asked who had Rizz during that match and said she's the missing piece. They agree to talk business.

Dusty Classic First Round - Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs Axiom and Nathan Frazer

 

Ax hits shots on Hank. Hank misses a face kick by a mile but it is sold anyway. Ax hits a nice dropkick on him. NF gets in and is splashed by Hank. NF takes a sandwich bodyblock. NF enzugiri's Tank. Tank takes forearms from both opponents then NF ddt's Tank.

Ax kicks Tank Ax jumps up and is caught and thrown into the buckles. Hank drops Ax on his chest. Hank slams Ax and Tank slingshot splashes Ax. NF running forearms Tank then flying forearms him. NF springboard dropkicks Tank then superkicks Hank. Tank full-nelson bombs NF then NF is popped up into a backdrop.

NF pulls Hank over the top. Ax topes Hank then NF topes Tank. Ax topes Hank again and NF topes Tank again. Ax takes a nice lariat from Hank. Ax cradles Hank for 2 then knees him. Ax superkicks Hank then NF phoenix splashes Hank to win it.

This was short but fast paced and action packed. It was maybe the best match Hank and Tank have had so far. They did their part well as the bigger guys throwing around the smaller guys and NF/Ax flew around at high speeds at them. This was a big success and was done well.

We go back to the farm. Tiff is cleaning the stall and complaining. Fallon's friends are laughing at her. Fallon said she wouldn't be a bad addition to the farm. Tiff tells herself she can do this. Tiff drops some of the junk and everyone laughs. Fallon asked her how this felt to do real work. Tiff said it was hell and the worst day of her life. She said for one day, she got to feel what it was like to be Fallon. Tiff said she pities her for enjoying this crap and says something is wrong with her. Tiff said she is finished and leaving. Tiff then steps in horse crap and falls into water. Tiff then screams and cries as she splashes the water around. As expected, this was a fun angle.

Enofe and Blade talk in the back. They say next week can't come fast enough and say their names will get on the cup. Enofe said everyone just seems to talk about their opponents and said they will put an end to it. Enofe says this is what they need to turn their careers around. Brinley Reece walks in and asks if they are ready to change their lives. Brin wants them to do stretches. She said when they stay active and Brin active it will change their lives. They say they don't need her help and Brin says if they need a program, she's their girl. It looks like Brin is working a Simon Dean esque athletic trainer gimmick with some Thea Hail high energy mixed in.

NXT North American Title - Dragon Lee (c) vs Lexis King

King's wrestling in a headband. Lee backs up King on the ropes. Lee headlock takeovers him. Lee is put into a pin attempt then King headlock takeovers him. King shoulders over Lee. Lee dropkicks him. Lee is sat up top and dropkicked to the floor.

King goes to dive up on him, but Trey Bearhill comes out and King is distracted. Lee tope con hilos King. Back in the ring and King lariats Lee. King slaps him then takes punches. Lee back elbows him and lariats him. Lee slingshot hurrianrana's King into the corner then hits combinacion cabron.

Lee corner dropkicks King for 2. They trade chest slaps. King superkicks him then takes a pumping knee. King lariats him in the back of the neck and ki krushers him. King single leg crabs him and Lee ropebreaks. Lee superkicks him then hits desinto for the win.

This really wasn't anything special and I thought King outperformed Lee here. Lee just semed to have trouble with a lot of his spots. 

Oba Femi comes out with his contract and said he wants to cash in.

NXT North American Title - Dragon Lee (c) vs Oba Femi

Lee topes him and throws Oba in. Lee hits punches then step up enzugiri's him. Oba throws him from the backdrop position. Lee superkicks him out of the corner then tornado ddt's him. Lee goes for destino and Oba hits a last ride off of it. Oba gets the win.

I don't really love this on the surface. Maybe there's more to it though. It is a way to push Oba and make him seem like a big star, but him upsetting Lee in a normal match would have been a better way to do it. We'll have to see where it goes but it really was out of nowhere.

Overall thoughts: It was a good show overall with the Tiff skits, the two Dusty Classic matches being good and the tag title match being good. I didn't love Oba winning the title the way he did it and it was not a heavy storyline show.