[dramatic music playing]
[narrator reads out text]
[dramatic bongs, music fades]
[Vic Joseph] Tonight in the shadows of Boston,
home of the 18-time NBA champion, Boston Celtics,
We are in Lowell, Massachusetts,
inside the Lowell Memorial Auditorium,
where WWE history has been made in the past.
And NXT wants to build on the future.
NXT!
NXT! NXT!
[Vic] NXT Champion, Trick Williams,
arrived ready to prove to another hater,
another doubter,
that they are wrong about him as champion.
He will defend the NXT title
against Eddy Thorpe. who lied his way into this matchup here tonight
for the NXT Championship.
There's former champion, Ethan Page,
who is in a downward spiral,
and I feel bad for him.
But there is "The Young OG," energetic as always,
as WWE is back in Lowell.
NXT!
[dramatic music sting]
[narrator] As 2024 comes to a close,
the NXT Universe looks back on a year of history in the making.
And tonight, NXT looks forward,
on the road again in the shadow of Beantown,
in Lowell, Massachusetts.
A city rich with history.
[Cole] Jam-packed to the rafters as usual here.
[Steve Austin] Oh yeah!
[narrator] In a building synonymous with unforgettable moments.
This is the greatest moment of my life!
I did it!
[narrator] The stars of NXT have arrived
to make history of their own within these hallowed walls.
We remain inspired by the heights of yesteryear.
[Cole] No, no, no, no!
[JR] World Heavyweight Champion!
[narrator] And remember the past obstacles faced
by so many in this very venue.
I may never…
be able to wrestle again.
[narrator] While the Superstars of today…
[Page] I say I'm All Ego.
…face hardships of their own.
[Page] But the reality is,
I don't think I am.
I'm just… lost.
[narrator] Tonight is about how much success or failure
one can endure.
[Axiom] Listen, Nathan. I went to Ava,
and I got myself a one-on-one match against Oba Femi.
-When? -Next week.
[Nathan] But I was going to tell you that I went to Ava
and got ourselves a Tag Team title match.
-When? -Next week.
Oh my God.
[commentator] They crossed their wires, and Axiom has to pull double duty.
If anyone can pull it off, it's you, amigo.
How bad could it be?
[narrator] Tonight is about how careers are defined
and live on forever.
Trick, see, I used to see you as this man of the people.
but all there is
is a manufactured
sports entertainer.
A guy that came from Eagles Training Camp
and went to a WWE tryout.
[Trick] I'm sick of all the doubters.
The same doubters in that locker room
who think they got what it takes to see me one-on-one and take my title!
I got no problem proving to everybody
I am exactly what I say I am, and that's the NXT Champion.
You think you can take my title, Eddy?
Well, good. Believe that. You versus me.
[Vic] Trick Williams is not in any mood for games.
NXT title to defend in Lowell, Massachusetts.
[Eddy] Biggest match of my life for the NXT title.
I deserve this.
[Ava] And, Eddy, we're still looking into who attacked you.
[Vic] I know who attacked me. You're looking at him.
[Jim] We've been conned! Hoodwinked. Bamboozled!
[narrator] Tonight, legacies will continue to grow
as we prepare to write the next chapter
in the history of NXT.
[music fades]
[Vic] And you can feel the energy in Lowell, Massachusetts tonight!
["Millions From Now" by 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne playing]
NXT! NXT!
[Oba Femi's theme music playing]
[roars]
[bell rings]
[Mike Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Lagos, Nigeria,
weighing in at 310 lbs,
Oba Femi!
[Vic] And, Booker, we are starting the night
with the men's Iron Survivor,
"The Ruler," "The Destroyer."
And in three weeks, this man could be the NXT champion.
[Booker] You said it! You said it, Vic!
That man, Oba Femi, "The Ruler,"
no bread, no water,
just meat!
Oh yes, man!
Check him out
in all of his glory!
Man!
[Vic] And it'll be Oba Femi who'll have his eyes on our main event tonight.
The winner of the NXT Championship match has a date with destiny
in Los Angeles at New Year's Evil.
[music fades]
[Fraxiom's theme music playing]
♪ Never slow down ♪
[Mike Rome] And his opponent, accompanied by Nathan Frazer,
he's one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions,
Axiom!
[Vic] And Axiom's fighting for his partner tonight,
for what Oba Femi did to Nathan Frazer at Deadline.
I see why he wants to fight for his partner.
I just question
why would anyone wanna challenge someone like Oba Femi?
[Booker] I get it, Vic.
The ultimate Tag Team, Axiom and Nathan Frazer,
but you asked the question why.
Because Oba Femi is the ultimate… the ultimate test, man.
Just like climbing Mount Everest.
[music fades]
[Vic] Well, I know Axium wants to, uh, show unity…
[bell rings]
…with Nathan Frazer.
Frazer, by the way, wanted to show Axiom his focus
is on the NXT Tag Team titles.
Axiom, of course, pulling double duty tonight
because the NXT Tag Team titles also to be defended
here tonight in Lowell against Gallus.
[Booker] Man, pulling double duty tonight.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
We gotta think about what's going on right here, right now
with Oba Femi, "The Ruler," taking on Axiom, one of the best.
One of the best we've ever seen, Vic.
[Vic] I know this is pretty apparent, but Oba is twice the size of Axiom.
Axiom is giving up 150-plus pounds against Oba.
[Booker] You know what I call Oba Femi, Vic?
He's a "munster," man.
A "munster."
Not a monster.
-[Vic] A Munster? -[Booker] "Munster."
-[Vic] Is that with a U or two O's? -[Booker] U.
[Vic] Either way, it's impressive for Oba Femi and everything he has done,
especially in the last few weeks,
becoming the men's Iron Survivor, outlasting the field.
Then becoming the number one contender for the NXT Championship,
that we talked about, in Los Angeles three weeks from tonight
at New Year's Evil.
Still just can't believe,
and I don't mean to sit here dumbfounded,
but the champions got their wires crossed.
I… you know, one's trying to help out,
the other one's trying to help out as well,
but at least, Booker, they're trying to work together.
[Booker] It's all about watching your partner's back, Vic.
The ultimate team, like--
[Vic] Oh no!
[Booker] Wait a minute! Here we go!
[Vic] Better hit and move!
[Booker] Let me tell you something. Axiom, he our man, dog.
He ain't no… he ain't no quitter. He ain't gonna run or anything like that.
I love it!
[Vic] He is standing toe-to-toe right now with a man, as we mentioned,
the size of Oba Femi.
And Femi's done playing games.
[Booker] Takedown right there by Oba Femi.
[Vic] Axiom right now trying to figure out, navigate his way free.
He's able to get back to his feet, create a little bit of separation.
And uh-oh.
Oba put the brakes on!
Oba, of course, had some bold words for Trick Williams last Tuesday.
And just caught and smacked the hell out of Axiom!
Oh, can Axiom bounce back here tonight?
We're back on NXT.
Booker, this really has been a one-sided affair during the break.
It has been all Oba Femi.
[Booker] Too much muscle, Vic. Too much power.
But right now, Oba Femi is like a snowball moving downhill,
getting bigger, stronger, faster.
I don't see a whole lot of promise for Axiom in this match.
[Vic] I don't know if our camera crew can get that shot again.
Look at the handprint on the back of Axiom.
-[Booker] Like a bear claw. -[Vic] Unbelievable!
And, you know,
I bring this up because we were talking about the NXT Championship match,
to come in our main event.
Do you agree that Trick is champion because Oba…
Oh my God!
…has allowed it?
[Booker] You know, that's just bravado, Vic.
I mean, you can call it what you want,
but Oba Femi truly feels like he's the guy.
I can see it. It's written all over his body language, Vic.
[Vic] Axiom taking a big risk!
[Booker] Big shot there by Axiom,
taking the big man off his feet for a second.
[Vic] And now Axiom right now having to keep his foot on the gas
and continue this offensive onslaught right now.
And this is smart strategy.
Trying to chop down the big…
Oh! I'll throw that right out the window!
-[Booker] God, Vic! -[Vic] Clothesline. Cover.
Axiom just able to get that right shoulder up.
-And now I ask this. -[Booker] Man!
[Vic] Does Axiom need to think about conserving some energy
because he still has to defend the NXT Tag Team titles later tonight?
[Booker] He cannot think about that right now at this moment.
The only thing he can be thinking about right now is called survival, Vic.
Survival!
[Vic] Oba in just complete control.
And now we go back and talk about the Iron Survivor.
Do you agree with Ava's decision to add Oba
to that Iron Survivor challenge matchup in Minneapolis?
[Booker] Come on, Vic.
Oba Femi has proved his mettle inside that squared circle.
[Vic] Not arguing.
[Booker] One man goes down, the next man goes up.
Who's the next man? Oba Femi.
He goes in and takes it at the last minute.
How impressive is that?
[Vic] And it's hard to argue with the track record.
It's also hard to believe the depths that Eddy Thorpe went to
to even get a championship matchup here tonight.
-And look at Oba Femi! -[Booker] Axiom…
[Vic] The 300-pounder overpowering Axiom!
[Booker] Beautiful move by Axiom.
Trying to sink the big man,
but nothing's working!
And I'm talking about nothing with this big man!
"The Ruler" on gas!
[Vic] Starting to wonder what Frazer is saying to Axiom.
Frazer's gotta be wondering, too, on the outside.
He's got to be worried
that maybe, just maybe, later on tonight
those NXT Tag Team titles will slip away
and it will once again become Gallus's kingdom.
[Booker] Looking at Frazer, I don't think he could be delivering a message.
It could just be, "Survive. Come on. Suck it up."
"Suck it up, brother. You can do this."
"I get it. I get it."
Ah-ah.
[Vic] Skillet-sized right paw
just dropping Axiom.
And Axiom's fired up.
Adrenaline will make a man do crazy things,
but at some point, you gotta separate your brain from your heart.
Swing and a miss.
Dropkick rocked over.
[Booker] Beautiful dropkick right on the butt!
[Vic] And I gotta look at this the other way now, Book.
This would be huge for Axiom, to carry this momentum
into that championship matchup later tonight, if he can pull it off.
[Booker] It would be explosive
for this team to go in with a big win over one like Oba Femi,
who's coming off a huge win himself.
-Oh, here we go! -[Vic] Finish it!
[Booker] Ah-ah-ah!
[Vic] Oba kicked out at one.
[Booker] That was a half a count.
[Vic] Combination offense.
Another cover. Another count.
And Oba rolling through.
-[Booker] Oh! -[Vic] Oh my!
-[Booker] Whoa! -[Vic] Counter!
-Cover! -[Booker] You got to be kidding me!
-[Vic] Ooh! That was close. -[Booker] Whoa!
Talk about crafty.
This is Axiom at his finest right now!
Look at the big man, Oba Femi, on his backside.
What's gonna happen?
Can Axiom pull it off here tonight?
[Vic] We are in Lowell, Massachusetts, and you wonder,
Axiom maybe, possibly,
could've just draped an arm over Oba Femi in that moment.
[crowd] Axiom! Axiom!
[Vic] That's the NXT Universe willing on Axiom.
[Booker] Can't question the heart of this young man, Vic.
You cannot do it.
He's definitely one of the heart… the heart… the heart-tested, Vic.
Here we go. Here we go!
[Vic] All the way to the top.
Looking down!
Missile dropkick connects!
[Booker] Right on the butt!
Don't waste any time! Don't waste any time with it.
[Vic] Maybe that's what Frazer is saying on the outside, "Go, go, go!"
"Move like a blur. Strike like a cobra."
Axiom setting his sights,
looking for that Golden Ratio…
Oh my Lord!
-[Booker] Wow! -[Vic] Just got tossed!
[Booker] Oh, I can feel it in my bones!
[Vic] And the Iron Survivor with a Fall from Grace for Axiom.
[crowd counts] Three!
[bell rings]
[Oba Femi's theme music playing]
[Mike Rome] Here is your winner,
Oba Femi!
-[Booker] Wow. -[Vic] What a way to kick off tonight.
[Booker] Uh-huh.
[Vic] And it's gonna be a long evening for Axiom and Frazer.
Well, Axiom was rolling
until he got caught,
until he got planted.
-[Booker] Man! -[Vic] And then he got dropped!
Oba Femi in one word tonight?
-Impressive. -[Booker] "The Ruler!"
"The Ruler," Vic!
Nice job.
[Vic] Oh, he is "The Ruler."
He is the Iron Survivor.
And he has a date with destiny
at New Year's Evil in LA three weeks from tonight.
But who will be challenging for the NXT title?
We find out in our main event.
Eddy Thorpe, you shocked the world last week
by admitting you staged your own attack,
taking you out of the Iron Survivor challenge,
only to get an NXT title match tonight against Trick Williams.
What do you have to say for yourself?
I'm brilliant.
For all the know-it-alls out there,
I fooled everyone.
You sit here and give me a look like,
"Eddy, how could you do something like this?"
Save it.
If it was anyone else, you'd call 'em a mastermind or a genius.
But I do it, and I get labeled a cheater?
Eddy, listen. You can try to spin this however you want.
But you and I know that you took a shortcut.
Now, unfortunately, the contract is signed and there's nothing I can do about it--
Yeah, it doesn't feel good, does it?
Taking the blame for something that you didn't do.
You wanna know how many times I've heard "work smarter, not harder."
That's all I did.
And I probably would've got screwed in the Iron Survivor anyways.
So you can call me whatever you want, Ava,
but by the end of tonight,
you will call me
the new NXT champion.
Back to you, guys.
[Sol Ruca's theme music playing]
[Zaria's theme music playing]
[bell rings]
[Mike Rome] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
the team of Sol Ruca and Zaria!
[Vic] Well, this duo has come together
based on mutual respect
Women's tag team action next on NXT.
[music fades]
[Meta-Four's theme music playing]
[Mike Rome] And their opponents, representing Meta-Four,
Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson!
[Vic] Talk about a friendship. I think of the Meta-Four girls…
-[Booker] The Meta girls! -[Vic] Meta Girls!
-[Vic] Hey, we did that in-sync. -[Booker chuckles]
-[Vic] We're on the same page. -[Booker] No, we're not.
[Vic] We are. Are these two getting too full of themselves?
[Booker] I wouldn't say that, Vic. I mean, getting high on themselves.
When you're being scouted, invited to Raw,
hanging with the big time, hey, man…
[Vic] Oh!
[Booker] …you deserve what you get.
And look at Miss Jackson, looking great!
[Vic] I don't know if you noticed, off the dropkick,
Zaria and Sol were trying to figure out who was gonna start the matchup here.
Jakara made that decision for them.
[Booker] Sol Ruca and Zaria, that's an odd couple.
I watched their body language on the way out.
It doesn't seem like they're on the same page.
I could be wrong.
[Vic] You never know. We'll see how it plays out.
But look at Ruca, catching Jackson.
Taking her for the ride.
And then, bam! Face-planting Jakara right in front of Lash.
And then Riding the Wave.
We talk about riding waves. We talk about momentum.
With 2024 coming to an end,
how important is it to carry momentum into the new year?
Into the cover, hook of the leg, and near-fall.
[Booker] It's very important to carry momentum into 2025.
But I'm looking at what I'm seeing now,
and that's Sol Ruca out here being a solo act.
That's what this is.
This team of Sol Ruca and Zaria, that's not gonna work.
[Vic] The thing's been going on for 60 seconds, Booker.
What do you mean?
Are you back to being Miss Cleo on a Tuesday?
[Booker] Oh, beautiful! Oh, beautiful!
-That could be it! -[Vic] Cover.
Sol with a kick-out.
[Booker] Beautiful tag team work by Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend.
Where's Zaria? Where's Zaria, Vic? Where is she?
[Vic] She's in her corner waiting for a tag.
[Booker] That's what I'm saying.
You got two solo acts in here thinking about themselves.
Individual acts. That's what I'm talking about, Vic.
[Vic] Well, "The Boujee Bully" has been facing the best
and only to get better, to your point,
was in the Women's United States Championship.
By the way, congratulations to Chelsea Green,
first woman to hold that title, winning it this past weekend.
-On Saturday night's main event. -[Booker] Oh, baby!
Man, beautiful!
Beautiful shot.
[Vic] And now I would agree with you.
Sol didn't go make the tag. Is that what you were about to tell me?
[Booker] Exactly my point.
-But back to what you just said. -[Vic] Told you we're on the same page.
[Booker] What you just said a second ago about "The Boujee Bully…"
[Vic] Tag. Tag.
[Booker] Bubba Ray said something just last week about Lash Legend,
said she has been growing at an enormous pace.
Right now, she could be the female wrestler of the year
here in NXT.
That's what he said. I didn't say that. That's what he said.
[Vic] Well, finally, a tag was made, and Zaria's in.
It took one or two to finally get on the same page.
[Booker] I can almost guarantee you
that Sol Ruca and Zaria has never broken bread before.
That means they can't be friends. They can't be friends.
You and I, at least we've broken bread together, Vic.
[Vic] That's right, 'cause we're friends. You invited me to your house.
[Booker] I wouldn't say that. We're co-workers.
[Vic] Got caught!
Zaria able to counter.
Lash was looking for that chokeslam. Zaria trying to turn things around.
How impressive has Zaria been since her debut?
[Booker] Lash Legend is not gonna be able to overpower Zaria
because she is a powerhouse in herself, Vic.
Oh, baby, look at this switch though.
Beautiful switch. That's what I'm talking about, Vic.
That's the learning curve of Lash Legend.
Beautiful. Beautiful action.
[Vic] Big bodyslam. Nobody there.
And Zaria made the tag,
and maybe now Sol Ruca and Zaria can get on the same page, so to speak.
[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] Maybe it just took them a bit to get going.
-[Booker] I think it's-- -[Vic] Uh-oh!
[Booker] I could be wrong, but I think Zaria did that out of desperation, Vic.
Out of desperation.
[Vic] Well, I don't know about desperation,
but what the hell is Zaria and Sol thinking in this moment?
[Booker] What the hell?
[Vic] Look to be on the same page now, Book!
Incoming!
[Booker] Oh, baby!
-[Vic] Sol, Zaria are rolling on NXT! -[Booker] What the hell?!
Yeah!
[Vic] Back on NXT.
And Sol Ruca not gonna like the landing,
as she is back in the grasp of the powerful Lash Legend.
And Lash letting Sol think about it for a moment.
Sol able to counter.
Picking up the pace.
Ooh. Whoa.
Trying to get Lash over.
-[Booker] Ah-ah, baby. -[Vic] And Lash too strong.
[Booker] Beautiful tag team work, Vic.
Oh, wait a minute.
[Vic] Sol from behind one more time.
Another near-fall.
And we always talk about the ability
to gel together.
Lash and Jakara, we do have to note,
have competed for the WWE Women's Tag Team titles.
They did so at Crown Jewel.
I think that's, too, what you were saying before we went to the break.
[Booker] Not just that, Vic. You gotta understand.
It doesn't happen overnight.
Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend has been doing some beautiful work
since becoming the Meta girls.
Oh, yes! Beautiful work. Beautiful work!
[Vic] What a double underhook suplex.
Jakara taking time to taught Zaria.
Landed an elbow of her own.
Sol Ruca's in trouble.
Ruca able to kick out,
but she desperately right now, Book,
needs to go make a tag to her partner, Zaria.
[Booker] No wasted motion right now by Jakara Jackson, Vic.
-That's the growth of this team. -[Vic] And who knows?
One of these four could represent NXT in the Women's Royal Rumble.
The Road to WrestleMania begins February 1st,
Lucas Oils Stadium in Indianapolis.
But right now, Sol Ruca is worried about getting to her partner, Zaria.
Zaria desperately wants to get back into this matchup,
but Jakara Jackson taking Sol back down.
And really, they have grounded the high flyer.
[Booker] Talking about being on top of their game here tonight,
Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson…
I mean, this is textbook, Vic
-[Vic] Up and over. -[Booker] Wait a minute. Wow!
[Vic] Had to relinquish the hold to kick out.
But so much has been taken out of Sol.
She couldn't even look over to her partner in that moment.
Nice elbow though.
And the door might've just opened.
[Zaria] Come on!
[Vic] Jakara doing her best. Sol another counter. Standing switch.
[Booker] Beautiful switch. Wait a minute.
See what I'm saying, Vic?
Sol Ruca still trying to do it all on her…
Come on, you gotta agree with me here. You've got to agree with me.
[Vic] They've had some issues in terms of gelling inside this matchup.
[Booker] They've had several chances to make a mark in this matchup,
but still, Vic, still, they're sitting on the sidelines.
Look at Zaria, wishing and hoping.
-[Vic] Counter! -[Booker] Whoa!
-[Vic] Kick! -[Booker] Whoa.
[Vic] She's right there, Booker!
Tag! And in comes Zaria.
And everything you said,
I'm not saying you're lying,
but Zaria just changed the complexion of this matchup.
And you gotta like the moxie of Zaria. You gotta like the moxie of Sol Ruca.
[Booker] Yeah, but Zaria right now, she's come in and she's fresh.
-She's fresh as a daisy. -[Vic] Yeah!
-[Booker] But whoa, whoa. Here we go. -[Vic] This could be it!
[Booker] There we go. Back to my point.
Beautiful tag team work.
Sol Ruca has been beaten down, bruised, battered, and torn.
And I don't think she's gonna be ready to get back in this match anytime soon.
Oh!
[Vic] And Lash with the distraction.
Chop block from Jakara.
[Booker] Beautiful tag team work, Vic. Beautiful work.
[Vic] And they've certainly, Lash and Jakara, cut this ring in half.
But Lash can't overpower Zaria.
Zaria trying to overpower Lash.
Legend this time.
Couldn't get it done.
Now Zaria. See-saw back and forth!
[Booker] Whoa!
[crowd] Oh…
[cheering]
[Vic] The NXT Universe willing Zaria on.
Tag. And they may be gelling now, Book.
Springboard Splash!
[crowd] One! Two!
-Oh! -[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] Jakara broke up the count by jumping off Sol's back
and dropping Zaria.
But Sol back up with an X Factor.
Down goes Jakara. Big forearm.
-Down goes Sol. -[Booker] What a shot!
[Vic] Ooh, whoa!
Pump kick!
[Zaria yells with effort]
[Vic] And look who's up.
Miss Jackson saving things for her team.
As Zaria dunked to the outside.
It's now two-on-one,
but Miss Jackson looking to fly
and wipe out the competition.
-[Booker] You believe me now? -[Vic] Seek and destroy!
[Booker] What a team right here in Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend.
Boujee Bully Drop!
One. Two. Three.
[Vic] And the Meta girls' stock continues to rise.
[Mike Rome] Here are your winners,
Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson!
[Vic] Well, quite the tag team encounter right here tonight,
but let's go back to last week,
It was Hank and Tank.
It was Tyson and Tyriek.
It was about sportsmanship. It was about friendly competition.
But as we learned,
Tyriek was having none of it.
Did not want to shake hands. Wanted to get out.
And you gotta wonder what's going through the mind of Tyson and Tyriek.
-[crowd booing] -Where are you going?
-I'm getting real tired of this. -Bro, we'll get 'em next time.
-Next-- -Yo, what was that about?
What was what about? We lost!
No, I mean blowing off Hank and Tank like that.
Hank and Tank? I don't care about Hank and Tank!
I'm tired of being buddy-buddy with everybody around here.
Where has that gotten us? Nowhere!
We're competing every day, trying to make it to the top.
-Did you forget that? -Of course not!
It's about checks and championships, wins and losses!
Bro, I'm not here to be friends with nobody!
I get that, bro, but there's a way to do things without being disrespectful
or coming off like a sore loser.
You really need to change this.
Does he though?
I mean, I don't really see anything wrong with it.
Tyson, maybe you're the one that needs to start re-evaluating the way things go.
Tyriek, you're right.
It's cutthroat and friends are overrated.
Keep that same energy, dog. It'll take you places you wanna go, a'ight?
[Vic] Well, Booker, that sounded quite familiar.
-[Booker] Checks and championships? -[Vic] Yep.
[Booker] Uh-huh!
[Jaida Parker's theme music playing]
[bell rings]
[Mike Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by OTM,
Jaida Parker!
Well, the mood just changed.
Jada "Don't Play" Parker, Sinclair next.
[Wren Sinclair's theme music playing]
[Mike Rome] And her opponent, representing No Quarter Catch Crew,
Wren Sinclair!
[Vic] Take a look at Wren Sinclair.
No Quarter Catch Crew's Tavion Heights on the outside,
along with Myles Borne.
She's gonna need all the support she can get
in this matchup with Jaida Parker.
[Booker] Somebody that's been on a high, Vic, is Jaida Parker.
Let me tell you,
somebody that's got a bright, bright future is Jaida Parker.
Wren Sinclair could upset all of that tonight with a victory.
[Vic] And I… I gotta admit I was wrong.
-Can't argue. -[Booker] About what?
[Vic] Wren did stand out in the Women's Iron Survivor challenge.
I will say that.
You were speaking very highly of Wren Sinclair.
[Booker] She just spent too much time in that damn penalty box, Vic,
but she did a hell of a job.
A hell of a job!
[Vic] As Wren Sinclair right now…
Oof!
Jaida Parker right now taking it to her.
Hey, look, I also have to talk about the altercation between OTM…
between the No Quarter Catch Crew just last week.
-A lot of things were said. -You hear me?
[Booker] Hot stepping, baby! Hot stepping!
[Vic] A lot of smack talk, and bam!
-And a teardrop! -[Booker] Great dodge there.
[Vic] And that teardrop in the corner. Falcon arrow connected as well.
from Parker, who quickly gets into the cover, hooks the leg,
and Wren quickly on the way out.
Now, why does OTM have these issues, though, with the No Quarter Catch Crew?
[Booker] You know why, Vic? Because it's competition.
Everybody wanna be on top in this business.
And you talked about momentum going into 2025,
that's what it's all about, man.
[Vic] OTM, NQCC, we're throwing a lot of letters around here on NXT,
as Wren, from behind, trying to take down Jaida.
It's really been Miss Parker since the start.
And now full nelson!
-Sinclair locking in a full nelson! -[Booker] Yeah, one thing--
[Vic] Look at Heights on the outside along with Myles Borne!
-Oh, counter! Counter! -[Booker] Oh, beautiful.
That's one thing about Jaida Parker, is that strength, Vic.
That strength factor.
I call her "The X Factor," Vic.
[Vic] Still to come, the NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line.
Axiom, of course, pulling double duty.
Into the cover goes Parker, hook of the leg, and a near-fall.
But our main event tonight for the NXT Championship.
Trick Williams taking on Eddy Thorpe.
Speaking of champions,
the Heritage Cup Champion is not here, that being Charlie Dempsey,
and it's been an ongoing challenge from Dempsey to Wren,
to the rest of No Quarter Catch Crew to step up.
Speaking of Dempsey, though,
he's starting to take to the side Lexis King.
We'll see if King can keep up with Dempsey
and the training for another championship opportunity.
[Booker] Lexis King.
What a man, Vic.
What a man. A man with integrity.
A man with a lot of courage. You gotta give him a lot of credit.
A man who wanted to step out of the shadow of his old man.
[Vic] I also give a lot of credit to Wren,
who was able to figure out her way out of that submission hold,
trying to get back to her feet, but Jaida Parker slamming that door shut.
[Booker] Too much woman, Vic. Too much woman.
And Jaida Parker right there just rag-tagging Wren Sinclair.
[Vic] Oh, speak about getting tagged.
And I don't necessarily know
if Wren wants this to turn into a slugfest.
-[Booker] Oh, baby! -[Vic] Ooh!
[Booker] Oh, baby!
[Vic] And Jaida Parker believes, actually, that Wren owes her one,
owes her a thank you.
Let's go, bitch!
What's up?
[Booker] Oh, yes!
Oh, yeah!
[Vic] Jaida said bring it, and Wren brought it!
[Booker] It's about to get hot up in here, baby!
[Vic] And that may have just woken Wren Sinclair up!
-Yeah, bitch! -[Vic] Wren's fired up.
Borne's fired up.
Heights' fired up.
Double underhook suplex!
-[Booker] Beautiful execution, Vic. -[Vic] Sinclair's rolling.
-I'll back you up. -[Booker] Uh-oh.
[indistinct chattering]
[ref] Guys, back up. Oh. Hey.
[Vic] The referee's gonna have his hands full.
Finally… [indistinct] …exploding!
[Booker] Everybody's jockeying for position, Vic!
[Vic] And I think Jaida just pulled Wren Sinclair to the outside.
But OTM, No Quarter Catch Crew… Trying to look up from the monitors.
…they're fighting all the way to the back.
Wren trying to turn things around right now in this moment.
[Booker] Chomping at the bit.
But right now, we still got action in the middle of the squared circle.
Who's it gonna be, Vic? Who?
-[Vic] Oh boy! -[Booker] Oh, baby!
-Oh, baby. -[Vic] Got caught!
-Got caught! Near-fall. -[Booker] Not enough.
[Vic] Was looking for that hypnotic hip check.
-Help! -[Vic] Wren had it scouted.
Wren right now, I think, is trying to lock in another submission.
Just got overpowered by Parker.
-Oh! -[Booker] Beautiful back elbow.
-[Vic] That just knocked her into Boston! -[Booker] Oh yeah!
[Vic] That would've knocked her back into Orlando!
-Parker is back on her winning ways. -[bell rings]
[Jaida Parker's theme music playing]
[Mike Rome] Here is your winner,
Jaida Parker!
[Vic] I was actually surprised it took that long
for things to pop off between these two teams.
Big win for Parker.
[Booker] Pop off?
-[pensive music playing] -Outcasts.
Loners.
Badasses.
I see so much of myself in you two,
especially because we've had labels stamped on us
from the minute people see us.
You guys saved me! [chuckles]
[Vic] Gigi trying to save Tatum again.
Hold on.
Shotzi's here!
"The Ballsy Badass" is back!
[Tatum] You were the two friends that I didn't know that I needed most,
and, Shotzi, you brought us all together last week.
And now,
I don't have to play by myself anymore!
-[all giggle] -Right.
But first, we gotta take care of Fatal Influence.
Jacy Jayne was my best friend.
As much as I despise that girl,
I know everything there is to know about her.
And she's stronger when she has someone by her side.
Right now, that's the champion
and her new… "best friend."
[laughter]
No one loves Jacy more than Jacy.
And just like they do to my dolls,
I'll rip their heads off!
[all laugh]
-Dolls out, balls out. -[Gigi] Yeah.
[all laugh]
[Gigi] They're going down.
They're not gonna see it coming.
-[Gigi] Mm-mm. -[all laugh]
Aww, how cute. The freaks of NXT all found each other.
[laughs] I know.
-Too bad they don't have what we have. -Right?
Yeah. Style. Aura. Unity as a team.
-A championship. -True.
-[giggling] -Fatal Influence.
New name, same old Jacy Jayne.
Oh, and look, she managed to round up Fallon as well.
And, oh, you made a cute little new friend.
What are you two doing here?
-It's like we attract the freaks. -I know.
Freaks? You better choose your next words wisely.
You know, what I find freakier in here
is the lack of unity in Fatal Influence.
Mm-mm. No clue what you're talking about.
When I see them, I see harmony.
When I look at you three,
it's giving turmoil.
[both laugh]
[mock laughs] You see nothing. Let's go.
-Freaks. -[both giggle]
[Vic] Well, Booker, we gotta turn our attention
to the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Frazer, can he carry the weight tonight?
Titles on the line next.
[woman] NXT was the birthplace of a revolution
that changed and shaped WWE forever.
A shift in attitude from its arrival
that grew to taking over main events,
TV specials, and premium live events.
The NXT Women's division.
The proving ground where Superstars and future Hall of Famers got their start.
Hard working, athletic, and driven women
all working towards one goal.
The NXT Women's Championship.
[various announcers overlap] Here is your winner and new NXT Champion…
[woman] Holding this title means you're the best woman
in the best women's division in the world.
Twenty reigns by 17 women.
What began with an anti-Diva,
we turned the page to an era of Horse Women,
who rode it to the mainstream.
To asking ourselves, "Who's ready for Asuka?"
Nobody is ready for Asuka!
[woman] To the tap, nap, or snap world of MMA.
To witnessing the genesis of "The Eradicator."
To the Genius of the S0ky. To a powerhouse of the ground.
To an attraction so toxic.
To winding our clocks to Tiffy Time.
To a Prodigy hell-bent on living up to the moniker.
[Roxanne] And still your NXT Women's Champion,
"The Prodigy" Roxanne Perez.
[women] In 12 short years, compelling stories have been told,
careers launched,
and the world has watched every second.
At New Year's Evil,
two women fight for this prestigious title,
for one to gain entry into this exclusive club.
[Vic] Giulia is now the Women's Iron Survivor.
She'll face Roxanne Perez at New Year's Evil for the Women's title.
[woman] And for the other to continue to climb up the list of greatest
to hold it.
What will happen at New Year's Evil?
The only certainty
is we will witness history.
[Vic] Three weeks from tonight,
live from Los Angeles, the Women's title will be on the line.
Perez, Giulia.
Who makes history at WWE New Year's Evil?
♪ A million dollars from now I won't remember you ♪
♪ Soon as I land, they come with a bag ♪
♪ Tell her, I just got it It don't have a tag ♪
[Gallus's theme music playing]
[Vic] Well, we got our first championship match of the night.
[shouts indistinctly]
[bell rings]
[Mike Rome] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT Tag Team Championship!
Introducing first,
accompanied by Joe Coffey,
representing Gallus,
Wolfgang and Mark Coffey!
[Vic] Well, obviously Gallus has the advantage here in this matchup.
Axiom has already competed once.
But I do wanna ask you this.
Why hasn't Gallus been able to get their kingdom back?
[Booker] Well, I think this is a business of ebbs and flows,
But I can tell you this.
Axiom and Nathan Frazer,
this is gonna be their toughest test to date.
Trust me on that.
[Fraxiom's theme music playing]
[Vic] I don't… Axiom can't even walk to the ring.
[Mike Rome] And their opponents, they are the NXT Tag Team Champions,
Nathan Frazer and Axiom!
[Vic] Axiom is struggling right now. You can see he's bandaged up.
He's obviously not 100%.
Roles certainly reversed from what happened at WWE Deadline
in Minneapolis.
Can Frazer return the favor?
On that night, it was Axiom who carried the team.
=Can Frazer carry the team tonight? -[Booker] He's gonna have to.
-[Vic] But can he? That's the question. -[Booker] I can't answer that.
But I can tell you you better have a doctor close.
Because tonight, this may truly need a doctor
if Axiom can't continue in this matchup at some point.
I don't think he's gonna be able to. Trust me.
[Vic] Well, last night on Raw, from Boston,
The War Raiders were able to capture the World Tag Team titles,
beating The Judgment Day.
Will we have new Tag Team Champions here tonight?
One hundred days as champions.
They just surpassed that milestone, did Axiom and Frazer.
As you see Frazer…
saying, "Yeah, maybe I do need to tag in to start."
That is smart. He's wearing a mask on his face.
That's a protective measure. He has a deviated septum.
So he's not even coming into this match at 100%.
And, Booker, look over to our left right now.
Axiom is on his knees trying to breathe, I think, trying to relax.
He is definitely hurting more so, I believe, than Frazer was at Deadline.
[Booker] Vic, this thing could be academic.
-[Vic] Takedown. Cover! -[Booker] Oh, beautiful.
'Cause like I said, this is gonna be the toughest match for Axiom and Frazer
in that 100-day run. Trust me.
[Vic] Nice deep arm drag from Nathan Frazer.
And I don't wanna say we're sleeping on the champions,
but only four teams, only four teams,
have held the NXT Tag Team titles for more combined days
than Frazer and Axiom.
But did you see? Axiom did not wanna tag in right there.
He was reluctant,
much like you were saying with Sol Ruca and Zaria earlier.
They're in partnership. They're a team.
But right now, I don't necessarily know if Axiom even needs to be in this match.
-A backslide. Shoulders down. -[Booker] Ow! Beautiful.
-[Vic] A knee right to that broken nose. -[Booker] I'll tell you something.
Wolfgang just dropped a bomb on Nathan Frazer right there, man.
[Vic] Oh my!
I thought we were talking about a pin.
No, it was punishment from Wolfgang to Frazer.
NXT Tag Team titles, again, are on the line in this moment.
And, well, take a look who's watching this matchup very closely.
Crusifino, Stacks, part of the family.
Tag was made, though, as we get back to the action in the ring.
And it's Axiom. It's Frazer.
They're gonna have to stick. They're gonna have to move.
They're gonna have to not stop and not slow down.
[Booker] Yeah, I'm looking at Axiom right now.
The quickness is just not there, Vic. He's trying his heart out.
Oh, beautiful. Beautiful.
[Vic] Well, Mark Coffey in front of us. Wolfgang on the other side.
We've seen this plenty of times in the past!
Frazer.
Axiom just took down Joe Coffey!
[Booker] Did he take himself out as well?
[Vic] Frazer taking out Mark Coffey again.
These two will not…
As you mentioned earlier, referee's discretion in…
Oh! Just got levitated!
[Booker] Wow!
Just got planted! And spine just meets steel.
Gallus turning things around.
Are we gonna crown new champions tonight?
NXT Tag Team Championship on the line,
and it has not been a good night for Axiom and Frazer.
Axiom you see bandaged. He's banged up.
He opened the night facing Oba Femi,
pulling double duty,
much like the champions did several weeks ago,
but Axiom is in a lot of trouble, Booker.
[Booker] Yeah, man. Axiom and Frazer are such a dynamic tag team.
Always been able to lean on each other, but not the situation tonight, Vic.
This is different.
This is different, against a hell of a tag team.
Wow!
Mark Coffey just dropped him right there, Vic.
[Vic] Followed by Wolfgang, who's the legal Superstar.
And a near-fall.
Gallus as dangerous as they come.
We gotta go back a little bit. Take a look at this.
It was Wolfgang just levitating Axiom like Dua Lipa.
And then it was bam! Just getting planted where steel meets wood.
It has been all Gallus.
And let's remember,
497 days, Gallus was the NXT UK Tag Team Champions.
They held the NXT Tag Team titles for over another 170 days.
They know how to get the job done.
[Booker] Not just that, Vic, they just walked right in,
and within about what, 30 days of their hiatus
came back Tag Team Champions.
And now they're looking to do it just one more time here, Vic.
[Vic] Well, Axiom able to duck, dive, and fly.
Springboard by Frazer!
And now Frazer's been waiting on the outside.
This is what Frazer's gonna have to do. He'll have to carry this team tonight.
Picking up some speed, and he's flying right in!
[Booker] Oh, baby!
Here we go!
Here we go, Vic! This young man is so prolific.
-[Vic] Gotcha. -[Booker] That could be it.
-[Vic] Wolfgang. -[Booker] Couldn't get a cover.
[Vic] As he saw Wolfgang come,
who just got unceremoniously dumped to the outside. Back to his feet.
Standing Shooting Star into the cover!
Putting him away to retain, and…
-[Booker] Man! -[Vic] Mark Coffey just able to kick out.
And Joe beside himself on the outside.
But look around. There's no Axiom at this moment, at this juncture.
A man who has already competed.
[Booker] No, Axiom's gonna have to lean on Nathan Frazer, Vic,
till he gets his mind set, till he gets his game back right.
But right now, this man, like I say, he's so dynamic, so prolific.
Right now, he's doing it all on his own.
-[Vic] Sling blade! -[Booker] Beautiful sling blade!
[Vic] To the top.
Could be looking for that Frog Splash!
Got all of it, and into the cover.
And once again, Wolfgang just bulldozing through.
[Booker] He can't keep eyes in the back of his head or anything.
He's doing a hell of a job,
but it's always two-on-one in every instance.
[Vic] And you have to feel slightly bad, don't you, for the champions?
-[Booker] I don't, no. -[Vic] They wanted to show unity.
[Booker] I don't. Vic, this is what it's all about.
This is the business. This is about going in and stepping up.
[Vic] Back to the face. Back to that deviated septum.
Wolfgang now hoisting up. Mark Coffey with a kick.
Followed by a powerslam combination to become champions,
and a near-fall.
That was close.
And I'm still looking around, Book.
I don't see Axiom anywhere.
This truly is two-on-one.
[Booker] I think Frazer's gonna have to just hold on as long as he possibly can.
But one thing about this young man.
He's got a lot of resilience. He's got a lot of toughness in his body.
Oh, but right now he's being taken apart piece by piece.
That's it. That is it, Vic.
[Vic] Axiom just coming in at the last moment!
-A spurt of energy. -[Booker] What the hell?
[Vic] Joe beside himself, doesn't know what to think. Gallus.
[crowd chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT NXT!
NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Vic] Mark charging… Golden Ratio!
-Frazer! -[crowd] One. Two.
[Vic] Oh! Almost able to put away Wolfgang.
Somehow, someway, I don't know how Axiom is continuing to go.
But now Frazer on the back of Wolfgang, trying to lock in a sleeper.
[Booker] Got it locked in. Oh, baby! What the…?
[Vic] Miscommunication. Golden Ratio to Frazer!
I got it!
[Vic] Frazer is the legal Superstar.
Coffey's up.
-Canadian destroyer though. -[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] Wolfgang beside himself.
Big knee right into the back of Axiom.
Poisonrana!
All four men down!
[Booker] How the hell did Axiom pull that off, Vic?
[Vic] Never mind Axiom. What about Nathan Frazer?
He's carrying the team tonight.
To go through this.
First that Golden Ratio wiped out Frazer.
Axiom by himself. He was tossed to the outside.
Frazer looking to get back into it with that poisonrana.
And these are the two men standing for the NXT Tag Team titles.
Got caught. Big kick rocking Wolfgang.
Joe Coffey right in front of us trying to get Mark Coffey back to his feet.
And just got caught. Got dropped.
Big lariat!
[Joe Coffey shouting indistinctly]
[Booker] Joe Coffey's barking out orders right now, Vic.
[Vic] And Wolfgang
to the top.
Gallus here… Wait a minute.
A tag was made. Did you see the tag?
Axiom is the legal Superstar.
Don't know if Wolfgang realizes that.
Axiom is legal.
And Axiom.
We've seen this so many times in the past.
Spanish Fly!
[Booker] Got all of it! Got all of it, Vic!
[Vic] That's the first part of the equation.
The second part is Nathan Frazer.
Wait a minute! Axiom wiped out Gallus!
Frazer to the top!
Phoenix Splash!
Can they do it again?
-[crowd] One! Two! Three! -[Booker] No way!
-[Vic] The Champions survive! -[Booker] No way! Wow!
[Mike Rome] They are your winners,
and still the NXT Tag Team Champions,
Axiom and Nathan Frazer!
[Vic] I don't know how…
[Booker] Wow.
Wow!
[Vic] I don't know what else to say
about Axiom and Frazer.
[Booker] All for the team, Vic.
[Vic] Frazer able to carry the team tonight.
Who will be next to try and dethrone the Houdinis of the Tag Team division?
Okay, but look, boys. Look, boys.
I just wanna tell y'all
that that was a huge W against Tyson and Tyriek last week.
-Aw, yeah! -It felt good.
Could say the same about you beating Wes Lee.
-Oh. Okay, hear me out. -Go.
-2025. -Okay?
Hank and Tank…
NXT Tag Team Champions!
-Oh! -Honk, honk! I like the sound of that!
We're just trying to keep up with you, Young OG.
-No. -Yeah. We are.
-Okay. Hear me out. Hear me out. -Yeah?
-Debuted in April. -Mm-hmm.
-Right, right, right? -Right.
Got respect from "The Mad Dragon."
-Yes, you did. You did that. -Okay, okay.
Won a Battle Royal.
-Yeah. -Right, right?
And my first PLE was Heatwave!
Which was a main event, may I add.
-It was a main event! -Two in one.
-I… I went against Randy Orton, right? -Yeah.
-Wrestled in the ECW arena. -He's rubbing it in.
-Dapped up X-Pac. -Yeah.
-And… and… and… -And?
-Almost won Iron Survivor. -It was very close.
I thought we had a good year. Oh my gosh!
-It's fire though. -You're on fire. You're--
Never mind.
He seemed so sad.
You all right, Lexis?
Well, I'm ready to earn my Heritage Cup match, Charlie.
-Been waiting for you. -[chuckles]
[Charlie sighs]
What's that? What, are we playing poker?
It's a deck of cards workout, Lexis.
We're gonna keep going till there's no cards left.
-Ah. -Let's see if you can keep up.
First card, five of clubs. We're gonna double 'em.
So that's ten reverse Hindu push-ups.
-Ready? -[exhales slowly]
[energetic music playing]
[music fades]
-[both breathing heavily] -[music resumes]
Lexis, you know what? I'm actually impressed.
Oh! No shortcuts.
No cheating.
[exhales] Just old-fashioned hard work.
You kept up with me, so I'm gonna keep my promise.
Next week, you've got your Heritage Cup match.
-Let's do it. -Uh-huh.
[music fades]
♪ A million dollars from now ♪
♪ I won't remember you I done forgot ♪
♪ I won't forget how I got what I got ♪
♪ Cry me a river 'cause I'm on a yacht… ♪
[Vic] Book, how about what we just heard, what we just saw?
Lexis King is gonna get another Heritage Cup opportunity
against Charlie Dempsey.
Didn't I tell you? He's a hell of a kid.
-That kid got a-- -[Page] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, everybody. Please.
-[Vic] Um, we don't-- -Booker.
Vic, I'm… I'm… Guys.
I'm very sorry. I'm sorry to everyone here trying to enjoy the show.
I just really need to get this off my chest, if you guys don't mind.
[Vic] I said earlier I felt really bad for, uh, Ethan Page.
Everyone has every right to boo me.
[crowd booing]
Honestly, it's the same energy I've been getting at home for the last couple weeks.
I deserve it.
I… I, uh…
I don't think anyone watching understands the journey that I've been through to…
to get here in this ring.
I don't think anyone understands the promises
that I've made to my family.
I promised…
I promised my daughter that I would win the big one.
And I did.
I did it here in NXT.
I became champion.
And not only did I become champion…
I did it in record time.
I did it faster than Kevin Owens, Finn Bálor, Sami Zayn.
I made history.
I went through 18 years of hell
to keep my promise to my daughter,
and I did it.
[crowd cheering, clapping]
I did it for her.
I did it for my son.
I did it for my wife.
All of you can do what you want. You paid your ticket.
You wanna boo, cheer, that's fine. But right now, I wanna talk to my wife.
[crowd booing, jeering]
Without you, Viviana,
there is no Ethan Page.
I wouldn't be standing in this ring…
these lights would not be on me…
[crowd] What?
…these cameras would not be on me…
[crowd] What?
…these people would not be having the time of their lives what-ting me
without you.
[crowd] What?
Let them do what they want.
I got to live my dream…
[crowd] What?
…because of you.
[crowd] What?
And that's the part that rips me apart.
[crowd] What?
I did it, but now every time I lose, you lose.
My daughter loses.
My son loses.
The people that blindly supported me,
they lose.
When I come home,
and my daughter looks through my gear bag,
and she's looking for that NXT Championship,
and she's empty-handed.
When I'm on the road,
and my wife sends me videos of my son crying
because I can't… win.
And the worst part…
is when I come home and I see the look in my wife's eyes…
of disappointment.
That's the part
that's eating me alive. I…
I don't know…
[sniffles]
I don't know if I love this anymore.
And to be honest with everybody,
I've just lost my smile.
[crowd jeering]
[crowd booing]
[sighs heavily]
You guys can mock me for being an emotional guy.
-This job is-- -[The Young OG's theme music playing]
[Young OG] Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, bro.
Ethan, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I just wanted to come out here… I wanted to come out here and apologize
for what I said back there, bro. I saw…
I saw how you acted.
But it doesn't feel too good
hearing about other people's accomplishments, does it?
Because…
because since you've been here, that's all we've heard, Eth.
"Oh, Ethan Page did this."
"Ethan Page did that."
And you walked into NXT with a little cocky attitude
and a cocky ego.
But, Ethan,
that's not… that's not really you, bro.
That's not really you, bro.
I know the real Ethan Page.
No, hear me out. Hear me out. For real. I want you to look at me.
I've seen the real Ethan Page. I saw the real Ethan Page at Heatwave.
And it's not what you did in the match.
It's what you did after the match.
You won the title,
and you looked at your kids, you looked at your wife,
and looked them right in the eye and said, "I love you."
And I'mma be real with you, bro. I'mma be deadass with you.
Not everyone can do that.
The joy you had when you saw your family after that match, bro,
the way you looked when you saw your kids, the way you looked when you saw your wife…
The smile that you had, bro.
This wasn't no regular smile, bro.
This was a proud dad smile.
This was a proud husband smile, bro.
This was a smile
from somebody that's been busting their ass
for 18 long years
to get to where they deserve to be.
That smile came from you, bro.
You deserve to be here.
They know you deserve to be here.
[crowd cheering]
And from now on, bro,
drop the All Ego, bro.
We wanna see the real you.
We wanna see the girl dad. We wanna see the proud husband.
We wanna see the real Ethan Page, bro.
And if nobody gonna say it, I'mma say it for 'em.
I'm proud of you.
NXT, we're proud of you.
And look at me. Look at me, for real.
We're all proud of you. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
[drops mic]
[crowd claps, calls out encouragement]
You hear that? You hear that?
You deserve to be here, bro.
Thank you, Je'Von. [clears throat]
[sniffles]
Honestly, you're right.
Everything you said just made everything so clear for me.
I should not be worried about
losing my smile.
I should worry about taking yours.
[crowd roars]
[Booker laughs]
You know what that is?
-That's "Shut up, bro." -[Vic] What the hell is this?
-[Booker] That's what that is. -[Vic] Oh, this is funny to you?
[Booker] That's what that is, Vic. You see that?
[Vic] The slimy son--
-[Booker] Mind your own damn business. -[Vic] That's disgusting!
[Booker] Mind your own damn business, Vic. You've heard me say that.
-[Vic] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. -[crowd booing]
-[Vic] Oh boy. -[Booker] Oh!
You want the real me? You want the real me?!
This is the real me!
[Vic] Oh my God!
[Ethan] This is the real me!
This is the real me!
[officials scrambling]
Je'Von?
This is the real me, Je'Von!
["Millions From Now" playing]
[Vic] Just outside of Boston in Lowell,
NXT is back in the state of Massachusetts.
And, I'm sorry, I just can't get over what we just witnessed
a few moments ago. I…
I even hate to go back to it.
I should not be worried about
losing my smile.
I should worry about taking yours.
[crowd roaring]
-[Vic] Book, I don't even have the words… -This is the real me!
…for what we saw.
And I don't want to worry any of
Je'Von's family that may be watching this right now…
Make room. Make room, folks.
…but I'm pretty sure I saw some of Je'Von Evans' teeth in the ring.
Trick Williams, you seem charged up moments away from your NXT title defense.
Look, first things first,
I want nothing but well wishes and prayers for Je'Von Evans.
We saw what he went through tonight. We wish you a speedy recovery.
Now on the Eddy Thorpe.
We all saw how he lied and manipulated into getting the NXT Championship matchup.
Eddy gets what he wants, huh?
Cool. So does Trick Williams.
Because the first time I won this NXT Championship,
I was happy just to win the NXT Championship.
This time it's different. I'm proving all the doubters wrong.
Forget that. I'm proving myself right
and showing everybody I am the man to carry this NXT brand.
Sarah, tonight we are in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The home of hard work and getting the job done.
Now, Trick Williams don't got no Boston accent,
but best believe I got the fighting spirit like Irish Micky Ward. Let's talk--
I just came to tell you good luck in your match with Eddy tonight.
Because whoever wins
becomes NXT Champion and faces me.
And for what it's worth,
I hope you win tonight.
Because in three weeks, at New Year's Evil,
I'm gonna be taking the NXT Championship from somebody,
and I hope that person is you.
Oba,
I'm looking forward to it.
[unsettling music playing]
["The Dark Angel" speaking Spanish]
[Vic] Welcome to NXT, to "The Dark Angel."
[speaking Spanish]
[crowd] One, two, three.
[bell rings]
[Vic] Hell hath no fury
like "The Dark Angel's" scorn!
["The Dark Angel" speaking Spanish]
[Vic] Well, get ready, Booker,
because next week, it'll be Stephanie Vaquer taking on Cora Jade
on a Christmas Eve edition of NXT.
And our general manager, Ava, made this match in the spirit of Christmas
because with all the chaos going on here in NXT,
we're gonna have a Christmas Chaos Fatal 4-Way Tag Team match
to determine the number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles.
And that's not all. Christmas spirit?
-Santa Claus is coming to town! -[laughs]
That's right. The man himself will be right here on NXT.
[Booker] Santa!
[Eddy Thorpe's theme music playing]
[Vic] But it is main event time.
Even our production team knows he's on the naughty list.
Can Eddy Thorpe walk out tonight with the NXT title?
Championship on the line. Williams, Thorpe, next!
[music fades]
[music resumes]
[Vic] It is main event time here on NXT,
and there is the challenger to the NXT Championship.
And here comes the champion!
[Trick Williams' theme music playing]
Oh!
[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
-[Booker] What? -[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
-[Booker] Yeah! Uh-huh! -[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
-Whoop that, Trick! -[Booker] I like it!
[Vic] This place… this place is shaking, Booker!
[Booker laughs]
-That man! -[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
-[Booker] That's the champion, man! -Whoop that, Trick!
[Booker] Give it up!
Stand up right now!
Oh yeah, man!
[Vic] I don't know if this is good or this is bad,
but we've been talking about all the history in this building.
The NXT Championship has changed hands right here.
It was April 21st, 2016.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] But for Trick Williams,
tonight is about a lot more than just the gold around his waist.
[Booker laughs]
[Vic] He's looking to prove the haters wrong one more time.
[Booker] Look at that vibe right there, Vic.
He's coming in tonight with a whole lot of purpose and intent!
Yes, man!
[Vic] Let's go up to our ring announcer, Mike Rome.
[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
[bell rings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT Championship!
Introducing the challenger,
from Reno, Nevada,
weighing in at 223 lbs,
Eddy Thorpe!
[crowd booing]
It's coming home tonight!
And his opponent,
from Columbia, South Carolina,
weighing in at 240 lbs,
he is the NXT Champion,
Trick Williams!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Whoop that, Trick! Whoop that, Trick! Whoop that, Trick!
Whoop that, Trick!
[Vic] Booker, this is quite the atmosphere.
Big fight feel.
[crowd] Whoop that, Trick!
[bell rings]
[Vic] And when it comes to this championship matchup,
do you feel that Trick still needs to prove himself?
[Booker] Yes, I really do. I mean, Trick has had a meteoric rise.
I mean, North American Champion, two-time NXT Champion, Iron Survivor,
but there's still so much more.
That's called a "meteoric rise," Vic.
[Vic] Only six other men can say that they've done that,
become a two-time NXT champion.
Eddy Thorpe trying to wear his first piece of gold here in NXT.
And there's no doubt who the NXT Universe…
[Booker] Oh, baby!
…does not like here tonight.
[Booker] You can't confuse Trick Williams that way.
You're gonna have to do a little bit more than that, Eddy.
[Vic] We were talking about Trick Williams wanting to defuse
and take out the haters and silence the doubters.
As Eddy Thorpe trying to silence the NXT Universe here tonight.
And it might've just baited in Trick Williams.
-And Williams… Whoa! -[Booker] Whoa!
[Vic] Williams done playing around.
And this is what I was trying to get to, is the frustration…
[Booker] Man!
…the aggression in Trick,
part of the maturity and growth that you experienced
when you became champion.
[Booker] Let me tell you something. Being that man, Vic,
being the NXT champion,
it is so much pressure being in that… that position.
Everybody wants a piece of you.
Everybody wants to…
Oh! Big shot there. Big shot.
Everybody wants, you know,
what you got, as well, your spot.
So yes, a very, very tough situation.
[Vic] And I don't know if you noticed this, Booker,
but off that high crossbody, Trick Williams quickly grabbed his neck.
Let's not forget the injuries
that Trick Williams has sustained over the last several weeks
dating back to Deadline,
when he successfully defended the title against Ridge Holland.
But he is certainly fighting on adrenaline!
-You talk about the power of a punch! -[Booker] Oh, baby!
Big shot! Oh, yes!
[Vic] Big side kick. Into the cover.
[crowd] Two!
[Vic] Near-fall for the NXT Champion.
[Booker] I'll tell you something, Eddy Thorpe is smart.
He's been studying.
He knows all about that neck injury, about Trick Williams.
Trust me on that.
[Vic] Trick Williams bringing it right now. Question…
Oh! Trick just got caught up.
Forget about my question right now 'cause Trick not liking
that he just stuck that landing.
And the door now open for Eddy Thorpe.
-[Booker] Big shot. -[Vic] NXT Championship on the line.
Who walks out with the gold?
[Vic] The NXT Championship is on the line,
and Eddy Thorpe has been in control.
And I gotta go back to something Eddy Thorpe said earlier tonight.
Do you agree with the challenger
that if anyone pulled off the same plan that he did…
Into the cover. Hook of the inside leg. And another near-fall.
…that they would be called a mastermind, they would be called a genius,
but because it was him who lied to Ava, lied to all of us
to sneak in the back door to this matchup,
we call him a cheater?
[Booker] 100%. I agree with Eddy Thorpe. Here's why, Vic.
Eddy has realized that it takes more than just talent to get to the top.
You gotta have a few tricks up your sleeves.
So yeah, I agree with him 100%.
[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[pained yelling]
[Vic] I look at what's going on right now,
and I'm sure you like Eddy's comment, then, to work smarter, not work harder.
The man lied, Booker.
The man lied to our general manager to get this opportunity.
But it might bring him the NXT title.
-And Trick kicks out. -[Booker] Oh man!
You gotta understand. Eddy Thorpe… I mean, let's think about it for a second.
How many title shots has Eddy Thorpe had? How many?
[Vic] How many has he earned?
[Booker] I don't remember Eddy Thorpe getting any title shots.
They put him in Underground. That's what he's been given.
Now he's made his own break. You gotta give it to him, Vic.
You gotta give it to him.
[Vic] Thorpe made us believe he was attacked.
He insinuated it was Oba Femi.
He got in the face of Trick last week. In the end, it was all part of his plan.
There was no attack.
There was no foul play.
There was a Superstar who cried wolf,
and right now, that man is in control.
And it's disgusting,
but he's three seconds away from becoming NXT Champion.
[Booker] Ava got played, Vic. That's exactly what happened.
Ava got played.
There's cameras all over. She could've did her research.
[Vic] NXT Championship on the line.
Trick Williams defending… against Eddy Thorpe.
The winner of this matchup will head to New Year's Evil
three weeks from tonight in Los Angeles
to face the number one contender,
that being the Men's Iron Survivor, Oba Femi.
And we know Oba Fena… Oba Femi, excuse me, is looking on.
[Booker] Are you telling me
Eddy Thorpe hasn't earned a title shot since he's been here?
-I've been here almost three years. -[Vic] To me, when I'm sat here?
[Booker] You telling me Eddy Thorpe honestly hasn't?
-He's the King of the Underground. -[Vic] He is.
He's been sidelined by a few injuries. He had a few… bits of bad luck.
-[Booker] Everybody did. -[Vic] He hasn't been able to compete.
No, he hasn't earned an NXT Championship opportunity.
He lied about it.
As he just hit Rock Bottom!
Into the cover. Hook of the leg.
-And-- -[Booker] Ooh!
[Vic] That was close.
-Take another look. -[Booker] Man!
[Vic] Planting Eddy Thorpe.
Not able to get the job--
[Booker] Talk about Trick's doubters. What about Eddy Thorpe's doubters?
I'm sitting next to one right now, Vic. I'm sitting next to one.
[Vic] I call it how it is. He went through the back door.
He didn't wanna go through the Iron Survivor.
He tried to weasel his way into this matchup, which he did.
There's nothing great about that. That's not a fighter.
-That's not a champion. That's a liar. -[Booker] What are you talking about?
[Vic] What do you mean? You said it six times. Did you confuse yourself?
Eddy Thorpe is in control of this match. There's nothing confusing there.
And Eddy Thorpe called Trick "manufactured" last week.
Can he earn the title, though, tonight?
I can't take it away from him
if he were to beat Trick Williams, though, tonight.
[Booker] Eddy Thorpe is one of those doubters.
Eddy Thorpe is one of those guys to say, "You gotta prove something.2
"Not just prove something to these fans."
"You gotta prove something to me in the middle of that squared circle."
The King of the Underground.
[Vic] You may say that I'm a doubter of Eddy Thorpe,
but you seem like you're a doubter of Trick Williams sometimes.
[Booker] What? I'm one of Trick's biggest supporters, Vic.
It's all about competition. It's all about opportunity.
And Eddy Thorpe hasn't had the opportunities
of Trick Williams.
It's a fact. That's a fact.
[Vic] You're crediting him with creating his own opportunity.
[Booker] Like I say, sometimes you got to make your own breaks, Vic.
That's what it's all about in this business.
Trust me. I made all of my own breaks in the middle of that 20 by 20…
-Oh, big shot! Big shot by Trick. -[Vic] Got caught.
Trick now coming right back around, trying to turn Thorpe around.
But Thorpe! Nice counter in this NXT Championship matchup.
It has lived up to the hype.
It has lived up to the "buil." As now Eddy Thorpe--
-[Booker] The building. -[Vic] Thank you.
Eddy Thorpe right now trying to drag Trick over to the corner.
Getting a little excited here myself, Book.
As now Eddy Thorpe trying to hoist up Trick Williams.
He was able to connect earlier with a German suplex.
Trick trying to block, to lower his hips, looking for a standing switch.
Able now to hoist up with one arm the challenger, high up.
As Eddy Thorpe…
Thorpe right now gets taken down!
[Booker] Big shot by Trick right there, and he's…
Oh, baby!
He's letting the hair down!
I know what that means, Vic.
[Vic] You can say that one more time. Coming right back in. Trick…
Oh, Trick got caught!
-Bang! -[crowd] Oh!
-[Vic] The official taken out. -[Booker] Come on, ref!
[crowd] Three! Four! Five!
Six! Seven! Eight! Nine!
[Vic] Eddy was looking for that…
almost like Impaler DDT,
and he wiped out
our official.
A second official, though, has come down.
He's in position! Trick…
And oh man, that was close!
Got a new official now in the game.
Thorpe going behind. Big German suplex.
Nice job by the official, being right there on cue.
There's a boot by Thorpe.
Thorpe right now charging right back in.
Bam! A second time.
And right now, Trick Williams' championship
could be slipping through his fingertips.
Trick Shot!
[Booker] Right on the button!
[Vic] Trick falls into the cover!
[crowd] One!
Two!
-Three! -[Vic] Trick got him!
[crowd cheering]
No. No, I…
Yo, what are you doing?
I came down here. I finished the match.
-I saw you down. -He won.
-[indistinct arguing] -[crowd chanting] Fight! Fight! Fight!
[Vic] Let's go back to the replay.
Trick…
Trick's shoulders were down.
Eddy Thorpe's shoulders…
Eddy's hand was on top of Trick.
[Booker] Look.
-[Vic] That's our general manager, Ava. -I counted him out.
-What did you see? -I counted.
-His shoulders were down, Ava! -[Vic] Booker, who's the NXT Champion?
-You assigned me as the ref! -Eddy's the champ.
-It doesn't matter, Tom! She's… -No, I ran out! s the NXT Champion?