The NXT episode that aired on December 31 served as a crucial lead-up to the highly anticipated New Year’s Evil event scheduled for next Tuesday in Los Angeles. As this was a pre-taped showcase broadcast on New Year’s Eve, fans were treated to a unique experience, as they tuned into a special presentation featuring The B-Team—though not the iconic duo of Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel from 2018-2019. This episode aimed to capture the essence of the closing year while building excitement for the upcoming event.

Discover Geno’s live blog coverage here. Let’s delve into the highlights of NXT’s final show of the year.

Oba Femi’s Dismissive Attitude Towards Awards

While many Year-End Award winners were revealed through pre-recorded segments, last night’s main event was designated for the live announcement of the coveted Male Superstar of the Year. Oba Femi seized the moment, interrupting announcer Mike Rome to deliver an intense promo asserting that the award was meaningless. He claimed that, although fans believe they shape the narrative, they are inconsequential compared to a dominant presence like his. This statement set a provocative tone for the evening, emphasizing Femi’s self-confidence and disregard for public opinion.

In response, Trick Williams entered the fray with a compelling rebuttal. Despite an evident lack of enthusiasm from the Performance Center regulars regarding the call-and-response dynamic with the champion, Williams energized the crowd with his humorous nickname list for Femi. His message was clear: Oba is not invincible, or else their title match at New Year’s Evil wouldn’t feature a Triple Threat stipulation. This exchange underscored the competitive spirit prevalent in NXT.

As the tension escalated, Eddy Thorpe made a surprise entrance, stealthily positioning himself behind Femi, leading to an unexpected collision with Williams. The third participant in next week’s match seized the moment, smashing the award over Oba’s head before triumphantly raising Trick’s title to conclude the segment. This dramatic twist added an unexpected layer of intrigue going into the title match.

The overall execution felt somewhat lackluster, particularly since the award winner was not even disclosed during the Awards episode. This sequence left me unconvinced that Thorpe’s inclusion in the New Year’s Evil match serves any purpose beyond being a potential fall guy. It’s challenging to see what could have been done differently to enhance this conclusion.

Women’s Division Showdown: Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

The episode kicked off with an electrifying women’s match featuring a showdown between Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan. This encounter stemmed from a misunderstanding during the previous week when Stephanie Vaquer intervened, preventing Jordan from taking on Cora Jade. Vice, having recently allied with Vaquer, took it upon herself to address the situation, turning it into a personal rivalry.

While simply labeling this as a rematch from last year’s Breakout Tournament finals would have been sufficient, the miscommunication narrative continued to play a pivotal role throughout the match. Cora Jade made a surprise appearance, seeking vengeance against Jordan but inadvertently caused Lola to get caught in a precarious pinning situation. As both women exchanged kendo stick shots, Vaquer rushed in for the save, only to unintentionally take out Lola in the process.

This entertaining match kept viewers guessing, as I likely wouldn’t have been able to predict its outcome had I not read spoilers beforehand. Both Vice and Jordan are on the cusp of breakout success; they simply require a gimmick that resonates with audiences. Lola, in particular, possesses immense potential that could translate into significant marketability. WWE recognizes this and seems poised to capitalize on her talents.

Later in the show, Vice was shown backstage attempting to clarify her actions to Vaquer when Jordan appeared, mocking them both. This led to a physical confrontation, with the camera zooming in on Ava chatting with Jade, who was observing the altercation from a distance. The General Manager subsequently announced that Cora would compete in a North American title #1 contender match next week against Vaquer, Jordan, and Vice, setting the stage for further drama.

NXT’s Tag Team Scene Heats Up with New Faces

With the transfer window now open, it seems women’s tag teams have found their way back to NXT without any particular pretext. In an exciting match, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter returned to the ring, participating in a Triple Threat encounter against former SmackDown talent Shotzi—making her comeback after a lengthy knee injury—and Gigi Dolin, along with frequent main roster guests Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend from The Meta-Four.

I must admit I had forgotten that Carter and Kacy had previously won the main roster Tag Team championships in late 2023 until Vic Joseph brought it up during commentary. They are definitely in need of a character overhaul; while their party girl persona has potential, it doesn’t align well with their babyface status, and their in-ring style doesn’t comfortably fit a heel role either. Nevertheless, they are talented performers who deserve better.

The match was entertaining, culminating in the right team, The Meta Girls, emerging victorious through interference from Fatal Influence, thereby sustaining the ongoing feud involving Jacy Jayne, Dolin, Shotzi, and Tatum Paxley. This will set up a trios match next week, maintaining the narrative momentum.

This matchup highlighted the differing levels of readiness among the competitors, as Jackson and Legend showcased main roster potential while Shotzi and Gigi still appear to be developing. In a particularly notable moment, Legend executed a striking crucifix bomb onto Dolin, showcasing her growing skill set, while Shotzi seemed to struggle with a diving maneuver, raising concerns about her safety.

The Meta Girls are slated to face off against the Unholy Union next, a team that previously defeated Jackson and Legend during their reign as NXT Women’s Tag champions last July. It will be intriguing to see how Kacy and Kayden adapt their strategy as they continue to navigate the tag team landscape.

It remains to be seen whether Kacy and Kayden will remain fixtures on Tuesday nights and if they’ll experiment with their character moving forward.

Highlights and Insights from NXT’s Year-End Awards

• Josh Briggs delivered a heartfelt shout-out to (Donovan) Dijak during his acceptance speech for Match of the Year, creatively incorporating a Dijak catchphrase as he expressed gratitude to all who “feast their eyes” on the thrilling Triple Threat match for the North American Championship at Stand & Deliver.
• A compelling spotlight was shone on Giulia ahead of her upcoming NXT Women’s title match next week. Through a video package filled with Marigold highlights, Giulia articulated her motivations for joining WWE in a lengthy speech delivered in Japanese with English subtitles. While the content was typical face material about proving her worth, her emotional delivery resonated well, raising anticipation for her one-on-one clash with Roxanne Perez.
• A clever moment unfolded during Joe Hendry’s Moment of the Year speech, where a graphic for Raw on Netflix appeared after he reminded viewers that he can show up anywhere, anytime. This added an unexpected layer of humor to the segment.
• The production team executed seamless transitions between backstage segments and matches, a feat that can be challenging during non-live broadcasts. This was exemplified by Ethan Page’s victory over Cedric Alexander, which began with Page interrupting an interview with Cedric about his actions towards Je’Von Evans. Page has consistently committed to his role, enhancing the overall storytelling.
• In an interesting twist, Ava overruled the referee’s decision, reclaiming the Heritage Cup from Lexis King and returning it to Charlie Dempsey. Their match is set to be revisited next week in a “sudden death” format, deviating from the traditional British Rounds. William Regal expressed his disapproval of King’s behavior, indicating potential future tension.
• Fraxiom’s win for Tag Team of the Year was an obvious choice, and during their acceptance interview, OTM made it clear that they are eyeing the tag titles for 2025.
• We spotted some WWE ID personnel in the audience at the Performance Center, including Kylie Rae, which serves as a reminder of the unique developments in 2024.
• Izzi Dame’s winning streak on Level Up culminated in a significant victory over Sol Ruca. This victory resulted from Dame cleverly manipulating the situation, pulling Zaria into the path of Ruca’s corkscrew moonsault, showcasing her strategic prowess. Booker T emphasized from commentary that Sol needs to embrace a more solitary and aggressive approach.
• Shawn Spears made an appearance from the balcony, contributing to the ongoing storylines. This prompted Tony D’Angelo to instruct Stacks to take out Spears due to his previous interactions with Dame and his mockery of D’Angelo.
• Roxanne Perez’s win as Female Superstar of the Year was widely anticipated, as she has consistently been portrayed as a leading figure in WWE. Though her microphone skills require further refinement, her acceptance speech indicated improvement, particularly considering her young age of just 22 years. If she can enhance her delivery, Perez is poised to maintain her status as a significant player in WWE.
• A heartfelt thank you to Hank Waller and Tank Ledger for filling the void left by Heavy Machinery. While they faced defeat against Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, and Tyriek Igwe, it’s clear that Waller and Ledger have a dynamic reminiscent of Otis and Tucker. Their loss was partly due to the absence of their third teammate, Andre Chase, who wandered off mid-match, leading to a poignant moment of reflection.
• Meanwhile, at NXT Jr. High, Ashante Adonis struggled to reach Karmen Petrovic, leaving her a message expressing his commitment to her. Nikkita Lyons invited him to a New Year’s Eve celebration, but he ultimately chose to prioritize his feelings. This humorous interplay adds a layer of relatability to the wrestling narrative.

My expectations were modest, but I found the December 31 NXT episode surprisingly enjoyable. It managed to deliver an engaging and impactful show under the circumstances. However, for those who missed it, there’s no pressing need to rearrange your 2025 schedule to catch up.

Now it’s your turn to share your thoughts. Sound off in the comments below.

On behalf of the Cageside Seats A and B-Teams, we wish you a Happy New Year!