WWE NXT RESULTS: Battle of the Bar Ensues, Valkyria Gets a New Opponent and Choo Looks to Close Chapter with Jade (December 27th 2022)
Welcome all to this weeks NXT report. Following up from last weeks episode that saw Zoey Stark snag a controversial win over Nikkita Lyons while Kayden Carter and Katana Chance retained their thrones as NXT Womens Tag Team Champions, defeating Toxic Attraction and Tatum Paxley and Ivy Nile, its now onto other battles. To stop Kiana James meddling in personal affairs, Fallon Henley takes her on one on one, with her family bar at risk. Plus, Wendy Choo gets one more showdown with Cora Jade, and Lyra Valkyria obtains a new opponent in the form of the charismatic Lash Legend.
Early into the night comes womens match one of three, following up the nights opening bout. Its Cora Jade taking on Wendy Choo, and Cora is out first, Wendy wasting little time when her entrance follows by darting to the ring to start a brawl. Late into the match, a frustrated Cora kicks around Wendy after scoring a near fall and is drawn into a small package pin which ends the same way. Cora underhooks Wendy after but Wendy escapes her move set up and whips her hard into a nearby corner, then pulling her out and driving her to the mat before performing her inverted splash off the top rope, pinning Cora to follow. Wendy wins the match.
Later is a promo package featuring Alba Fyre. Alba, who was attacked by Isla again recently amid a match with Sol Ruca, references Isla and how her meddling darkness has pushed her to a breaking point. She tried to blind her vision, tried to fracture her hand, but in turn, has awakened a barbaric but also familiar fire inside her soul. The light of her ancestors is more powerful than the darkness of Isla’s spirits. They will see whose laughing last, because next week anything goes. It wont just be an extreme resolution to end the year, but to end Isla Dawn as well.
In the ring a little later is Lash Legend, set for her latest singles match. Her opponent, getting a full entrance for another week running, is once NXT UK Star Lyra Valkyria. The irish star made her debut weeks back against Amari Miller, and in successful fashion. Despite Lash taking over mid way by sweeping Lyra onto the outside floor off the apron, a series of kicks begins Lyra’s comeback back in the ring. Lyra counters Lash’s own counter with a DDT, then, after taking her back to the mat with a roundhouse, she ascends to the top rope and performs a crossbody onto the powerhouse Lash Legend for the three count. Lyra wins the match.
Then theres a promo from the Toxic Lounge featuring the remaining members of Toxic Attraction, Jacy Jayne and GiGi Dolin. GiGi calls 2022 the year of Toxic Attraction, that they built an empire, that they were the greatest womens group in NXT, and the greatest faction in WWE history. Jacy quizzes GiGi to name another faction who, despite their success, didnt experience heartbreaking loss. Despite what they lost, even in their lowest point, the eyes of the world have not shifted from the attraction of NXT. GiGi knows the fans are wondering what they will do next, but they were a group created from doubt, motivated by the people writing them off. They reached superstardom while climbing up the backs of the non believers. Jacy vows that they will rebuild, reconstruct and return to glory, and it starts by taking down the woman who took down their empire, Roxanne Perez.
Then theres an appearance from the Schism, as Ava Raine accompanies Joe Gacy, Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler to a six man tag team match against Edris Enofe, Malik Blade and Odysssey Jones. The end of that match sees tag team wrestling on display on the heel side, as Jagger double clotheslines Enofe and Blade off the backs of Gacy and Fowler, followed by Fowler and Reid performing their tag team finisher before Gacy finalises with the upside down lariat to Enofe for the three count. The Schism win the match, celebrating with Ava Raine.
Not long on from that, its back to the ring for the last womens match of the night, as Kiana James battles Fallon Henley, where a loss for Henley means turning over her family bar to the sinister opponent. Fallon has Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs in her corner, while Kiana enters alone. Despite Fallon welcoming the fight early, Kiana gets in the first strikes on Fallon, but it doesnt take long for Fallon to take back over, targeting Kiana’s arm. Later, Kiana comes close to victory as Fallon escapes a post gutbuster pin attempt before three. Fallon then rebounds with a shining wizard, levelling Kiana who she then pins. Fallon wins the match, celebrating with Briggs and Jensen, though Jensen appears to feel sorry for Kiana, still carrying feelings for her despite her ways.
Following that, McKenzie Mitchell stands backstage to speak with the NXT Womens Champion, Roxanne Perez. She questions Roxanne on if becoming champion has sunk in yet for her, to which Roxanne replies that it hasnt. Its a dream that she doesnt want to wake up from but NXT moves so fast and she knows the honeymoon phase will phase off quick. As Champion, she has to be on point, because as champion, she could lose the title just as quick. Looking through the many names that have held the title, she believes every single one will go into the Hall of Fame someday, whereas shes not even close to that, nowhere near to those ladies so she has to live up to the history of the championship, a pressure she doesnt take lightly, but she will do everything she can to represent the championship.
Then its over to Alba’s fellow Scot, the villainous Isla Dawn. She knows evil exists in Alba and shes reaching in and dragging it out to the surface. Her challenge is just another step in the process, and next week, the extreme resolution will happen, but it wont be for her, but for Alba.
(Cora Jade vs Wendy Choo)
(Alba Fyre Promo)
(Lyra Valkyria vs Lash Legend)
(Jacy Jayne and GiGi Dolin Backstage Segment)
(Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid w/ Ava Raine vs Odyssey Jones, Malik Blade and Edris Enofe)
(Kiana James vs Fallon Henley w/ Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen)
(Roxanne Perez Backstage Segment)
(Isla Dawn Promo)
Thoughts On:
Cora vs Wendy: A good match between Cora and Wendy again, and with Wendy starting it off hot by racing to the ring to brawl early on, it represented the animosity between the sides perfectly. I felt like it could have been longer, but the right result was definitely booked.
Lyra vs Lash: I didnt think Lyra and Lash meshed well here to be honest. It could have done with some build too but Lash did, at times, look more a threat to Lyra than Amari. I wouldnt be surprised if they make this into a full fledged feud to try and build some chemistry between them.
Kiana vs Fallon: I do wish this match had gone on a little longer considering the stipulation and because the finish had, in my opinion, such an anti climatic feel to it. But Fallon and Kiana did the best with what they had. This would seem like a feud ender, but theres obviously unaddressed feelings from Brooks towards Kiana that might keep the feud going. Kiana, also, in my opinion, is one of the fastest rising talents in NXT alongside Tiffany and others and its crazy how quickly shes evolved with her character work.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 