SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT TV RESULTS
JANUARY 28, 2025
ATLANTA, GA. AT CENTER STAGE
LIVE ON CW NETWORK
REPORT BY KELLY WELLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
NXTCommentators: Corey Graves, Vic Joseph, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Backstage Correspondent(s): Sarah Schreiber
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
-NXT is on the road again, this time in Atlanta. Shots were shown of tonight’s competitors arriving earlier at what looks like a pretty cool venue. It’s pretty small and intimate. The walk from the ramp to the ring is maybe twenty feet.
(1) GIULIA & BAYLEY vs. ROXANNE PEREZ & CORA JADE
Vic mentioned that this is the first time Bayley’s been on NXT since 2020, when the women’s tag team champions visited the show (they didn’t mention Bayley’s partner…).
The heels bailed almost immediately following the bell to boos. Giulia and Perez were legal. Quick reversls to start, and Giulia pulled off a nifty backslide for two. The two exchanged some more rollups and then Perez went for the hair, so Giulia responded in kind and Perez shrieked. Bayley tagged in to a big pop and worked the arm, but Perez slapped her. Bayley closed in and Perez ran for a tag. Jade jawed in Bayley’s face, so Bayley slapped her and charged her to a corner. Bayley hit a basement back elbow and covered for two.
Bayley set Jade up on the apron, but Jade evaded whatever Bayley had in mind. After a few standing switches, Perez tagged in again and threw a right, but Bayley took over and hit double knees on a draping Perez in the corner. Giulia hit the ring as Jade tried to interfere and the babyfaces hit stereo suplexes. Giulia tagged in and after a mess of activity, Perez hit a tope suicida on both faces and Jade followed up with a 450 from the top rope. The heels were in control as the match went to split-screen. [c]
All the women were laid out. The heels took over again as they double-teamed Bayley and the ref was hung up with Giulia. “Ref you suck” chant. Perez put Bayley in the corner and put the boots to her. Nice running European uppercut by Perez. Perez mocked Bayley’s old wind sock man taunt, and then went for another uppercut but Bayley caught her with a right. Perez took over again as Bayley continued to oddly play face in peril. Perez hit a springboard moonsault and Jade took over for the heels. She worked a headlock and then charged Bayley to a rope, and then missed a shot. Jade hit Giulia with a forearm in the hopes of holding off a tag, but Bayley hit a Bayley to Belly on Perez, then tagged Giulia. Giulia Matrixed away from a right, then put the fists to Perez. Nice double-underhook suplex by Giulia, followed by a missile dropkick for two.
Rope run and Jade made the tag. Jade accidentally elbowed Perez and Giulia laid her out twice for a couple of two counts, with the second broken up by Perez. All four women got involved and Bayley and Perez ended up brawling outside. Giulia laid out Jade in the ring, and tagged Bayley, who hit the flying elbow to finish.
WINNERS: Bayley & Giulia at 12:57.
Bayley and Giulia shook hands, but in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Bayley took a glance at the championship belt over Giulia’s shoulder.
(Wells’s Analysis: Great work from all young women in our first full sixth of the show. It would have seemed like pure fanservice apart from any story until Bayley glanced at the belt. It seems Bayley will stick around for a bit longer and be a stopgap before another NXT heel has to be sacrificed to Giulia and her likely-to-be-long reign)
-Eddy Thorpe pre-taped segment. He invoked his overlooked ancestors and said you could tried to write him off, but he’ll make his mark in NXT and NXT will understand that Eddy Thorpe cannot be broken. Thorpe’s fire is improving. [c]
-Vic hyped Vengeance Day, which is rapidly approaching at February 15th. Man, they’ve had a long time to come up with a better name for that event.
-Waller Effect. Grayson Waller called Austin Theory “Atlanta’s favorite son,” and they mostly cheered Theory. Theory put over the city but Waller undercut it by saying “called ATL because they can’t spell the whole thing” to keep the pair in a heel context. Waller introduced Femi, who looked stylish as always (although last week’s drip set a high bar).
Waller said “Welcome champ” and said to give him a hand. He’s got a funny little dance, and it’s nice. Waller said Femi must be used to having a belt over his shoulder, and Femi said he was. The fans no-sold this and chanted for Austin Theory. He leaned into it and said “You guys want me to talk?” He continued and wondered if Femi had the same potential that he had. Femi asked if those two were ever NXT Champion. He said he’d accomplished more in NXT that those two combined.
Waller said while Femi sits in the back sipping on his juice box watching Raw and SmackDown, he hopes and prays for the day that he can be on the main roster like he is. Theory continued talking about the big leagues, and he’s seen top prospects flame out in six months and end up trying to sell t-shirts on the indies. There was a “turn on Grayson” chant, so the two of them leaned into that as well, and Theory turned his back to Waller and Waller played off like he was offended.
Femi said he didn’t get to where he is by running his mouth like Grayson. He said he was building it brick by brick. He said if these guys like title opportunites, here’s one: which one of you will step up to me to challenge me at Vengeance Day? During that bit, Trick Williams was shown pacing in the back, watching on a monitor. Ava went out to the ramp and said that as much as Oba wants to make the matches, he doesn’t do that – she does. “Whoop that Trick” played and Williams hit the ring and got in Femi’s face.
The two of them jawed for a bit, and then predictably, but amusingly, turned against the heels and cleared them from the ring. Without warning, Femi snatched Williams up and hit him with a powerbomb. Vic said that Williams has to face Wes Lee tonight, and it’s supposed to be next. [c]
-Sarah Schreiber wanted to ask Izzi Dame what was up between her and Tony D’Angelo. She said there’s nothing going on, but they have a common enemy in Shawn Spears. She worked “bada-bing, bada-boom” into the promo. Ridge Holland showed up and said she had something to explain after costing him a match. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo showed up and told him not to talk to a lady like that. Like what, like she cost him a championship match? She did! The two were held apart.
-Trick Williams was still selling the effects of the attack from Oba Femi as Wes Lee was introduced.
(2) TRICK WILLIAMS vs. WES LEE (w/Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont)
Lee hit a shotgun dropkick right on the beel to boos. He worked over Williams on the mat an jawed down at him. Williams got in a couple of shots but Lee took over quickly with body blows. Williams tossed Lee into the corner but again, Lee took over. Lee hit a snap mare and a basement dropkick for a one count.
Lee continued the heat segment to a “Wes Lee sucks” chant. Lee hit a dropkick, mugged at the fans, and then went to the top. He tried a cross-body but Williams caught him. Lee threw some elbows and Williams couldn’t capitalize. Basement lariat and a cover for two by Lee. Lee slapped Williams, who was on his knees. Williams fired up and slapped Lee so hard he flew over the top rope. Lee charged Williams into the announce table and hit double knees on him on the table, which didn’t break. There was an “NXT” chant as the match went to commercial. [c]
Lee was still in control, working a half-crab. Williams hit his feet and the two exchanged rights. Williams hit a back body-block, and then after a rope run, hit another one, this one with serious lift. Uranage by Williams. He set up the Trick Shot, but Igwe and Dupont yanked Lee to safety. Williams pulled Lee back into the ring, and Dupont interfered. Williams hit a shot that was supposed to put Dupont over the top, but he didn’t make it and had to lamely roll underneath. Williams hit a plancha on him too, because why not? Williams unloaded on Lee, then threw the ref across the ring and got DQed. He continued raging and grabbed a chair and swung it wildly, keeping everyone at bay, including the ref. Other officials showed up try to calm Williams, who wasn’t having it.
WINNER: Wes Lee by disqualification at 10:12.
(Wells’s Analysis: Lee is killing it with his heel act, both from a wrestling and a character standpoint. He managed to not look small in this one as he worked more of a brawler/striker role to the point where it’s hard to see the same guy who was an underdog babyface)
-Oba Femi went into Ava’s room and she threw a little fit about Femi trying to make the matches. Stop trying to make Ava happen, NXT. She said at Vengeance Day, it would be Femi vs. Waller vs. Theory in a triple threat match for the NXT Championship. It’ll be interesting to see what’s up for Williams at the show, in that case. [c]
-Ava stormed into the men’s locker room and a couple guys went “whoa, whoa, whoa!” She got in Trick’s face this time. Are they trying her out as a heel authority figure? It might be an attempt to be badass, but she’s coming off more snotty than authoritative. She said it isn’t Trick’s turn at Vengeance Day, but if he wants to prove his spot, next week he can face Waller and Theory alongside the man he’s chasing – Oba Femi. Okay, so we can likely bank on a four-way when all is said and done.
[HOUR TWO]
(3) SHOTZI (w/Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley) vs. FALLON HENLEY (c) (w/Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx) – NXT Women’s North American Championship
Mike Rome handled formal intros. Jazmyn was wearing a face guard for reasons I apparently can’t remember.
Henley got in Shotzi’s face and jawed upon the bell. Shotzi laid Henley out and then hit a headscissor takedown, and then – hit? – a weird attempt at a slam where the two didn’t line up on the plan. Graves covered by calling it “chaotic offense.” Henley bailed to her mates on the outside, and Shotzi hit a plancha on all of them. The extra babyfaces showed up and the illegal women brawled to the back. Henley charged Shotzi’s knee into the steps and Vic sold a kayfabe possible injury as they went to split-screen. Henley looked into the camera and said “I ALWAYS – ” but then the split-screen started and we didn’t catch what she said. Whoops. [c]
The Meta Girls were shown getting loose backstage ahead of their big match. In the ring, Shotzi took over and hit a cannonball in the corner. She missed and both ended up on the apron, where Henley struck Shotzi and laid her out, then beat her head into the announce table. Back inside, Henley drove Shotzi’s head to the mat and covered for two. Shotzi got a quick rollup for two but Henley went back on the offensive. Shotzi fought off a rocker dropper and Shotzi hit sliced bread for two. Shotzi continued selling the knee (the one with the brace from her actual injury). Shotzi went high, but couldn’t move quickly, and Henley met her there. Henley wanted a suplex but Shotzi shoved her off and hit a nasty senton for a long two. That one looked like it had to sting a little.
Henley got in a kick to the worked knee. Shotzi hit an inside cradle for two. Shotzi went for sliced bread again but Henley trapped her in the tree of woe, then stomped her. Exploder and a rocker dropper (now called the Hoedown) to finish.
WINNER: Fallon Henley at 10:15.
Henley posed on the ramp, but Stephanie Vaquer’s music played. Henley wasn’t happy. She held her belt in Vaquer’s face and Vic said the match between them was official.
(Wells’s Analysis: They didn’t always look seamless, but they worked an old-school match with the heel targeting a previously injured body part that was previously injured. Shotzi continues to have a ceiling she’s never been able to break through. Henley is a champion but has in some ways been an afterthought on the show for a while as the new talents are getting their shine)
-Karmen Petrovic and Kelani Jordan talked in the back. Petrovic tried to thank Jordan for the save last week, but Jordan said she did it for herself because she doesn’t like Cora. Jordan told Petrovic to listen to them because it’s only a matter of time before Ashante thee Adonis leaves her ass. She walked off, and Petrovic said “What a bitch.”
-Ethan Page entered ahead of the next segment. [c]
-Schreiber talked with Ava, who reiterated the triple threat and then she went to the women’s division. She said at Vengeance Day, it’ll be Ava against – and then Roxanne Perez showed up and said it had better not be Bayley. Cora Jade was along as well. Perez said she wasn’t even the one who got pinned – Cora was. Cora wasn’t happy about that comment. Ava told her to let her finish and said it was Giulia vs. Bayley vs. Perez for the championship. Perez said “Okay, good.” Jade said “no, we aren’t good” and she walked off.
(4) CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. ETHAN PAGE
Alexander charged Page before the bell, selling his anger over what Page has been doing lately. Alexander kept up the attack and put the boots to Page early, getting a couple of near-falls. He hit a dropkick and then put some dismissive kicks into a grounded Page. Alexander choked Page over a rope. Vic pointed out that Alexander is doing all of this with one good hand as one of his hands is taped after the tool box attack last week.
Alexander kept up the beating but occasionally sold the pain in the bad hand. He put Page on the outside, where it was a very short distance to the barricade in this small venue. Page ended up catching Alexander with a backdrop on the apron. Page tried to rip off the protection on Alexander’s hand. He got enough of it off, then charged it hard into the post to a chorus of boos. The match went to commercial. [c]
Alexander and Page exchanged control. Alexander hit a Michinoku Driver for a long two. Brainbuster got another two. Alexander worked a Koji Clutch, one of Koji Kanemoto’s finishers, which you don’t even see much in NJPW. Page escaped and got in a few strikes before hitting his finishing cutter.
WINNER: Ethan Page at 11:10.
Page tried to keep up the attack, but Je’Von Evans sailed into the ring with a flying fist. Page should’ve seen it coming, since they played Je’Von’s music.
(Wells’s Analysis: Crazy Ethan Page continues to run roughshod on undercard talent heading into a feud with Evans that I’m not sure who will win and I’m not even sure who should win. Page doesn’t have the same gravitas without the championship, but they’re doing something with him here)
-Fatal Influence got some mic time. Henley said nobody should be cutting her off in her moment like Stephanie just did. Amusingly, Jacy Jayne cut her off to cut her part of the promo and Henley looked mildly irritated. Henley said Jayne will take care of Jayne next week.
-Both Kelani Jordan vs. Karmen Petrovic and Ridge Holland vs. Stacks were made for next week.
-The two Women’s tag teams walked through the back ahead of the main event. [c]
-Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs, in a promoted segment, talked about Briggs’ time in Pro Wrestling NOAH. Briggs thanked Inamura for taking him in, and he gave Inamura a jacket to match his. Inamura loved it and Briggs said they had to look like a tag team. They made a promise to take down Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the tag championship.
-Vengeance Day hype. The men’s triple threat and women’s triple threat were promoted, as well as Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fallon Henley.
(5) BIANCA BELAIR & NAOMI (c) vs. META-FOUR (Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Mike Rome handled formal introductions. The Meta Girls got a nice reaction, but it was dwarfed by the one for the champs.
Naomi & Jackson opened up. Mat reversals to start, followed by a reset. Jackson was surprisingly kind of keeping up with Naomi. Jackson’s improvement while not getting a ton of TV matches has been pretty impressive. Jackson got a nice trap in for two. Naomi reversed for two, then hit a dropkick. Belair tagged in and the champs hit some tandem offense. Jackson evaded a body slam and made the tag. Bianca did a little “come on” motion to the powerhouse and there was a big pop for the moment. Very cool. Legend got the better of the first exchange, but Belair got in some strikes and a standing splash for two. Bianca did her spank taunt on the second rope and flipped over Legend. Legend managed a big backbreaker, then a running moonsault for two. The announcers sold the move as impressive and unorthodox from Legend. After another exchange, the two kipped up and there was another huge appreciative pop. Bianca did another spank taunt and Legend nodded like “okay, okay” as the match went to split-screen. [c]
They showed some highlights from the break. Naomi was dominating Legend, and after some selling, both made the tag. In an inset, Cora Jade was shown stepping up to Ava and demanding an audience with her. Belair dominated Jackson, and did a 12-punch count-along in the corner. Big press slam by Belair, who’s just ragdolling poor Jackson. Moonsault by Belair got two.
Everyone got involved and there was a lot of double-teaming in the next segment as time grew short. We know CW will just cut the feed when it’s time, so here’s hoping they’re ready to finish. Everyone got in a spot in the ring and all four sold to cheers. Naomi got in a back kick on Legend, but ran right into a pump kick. Jackson tagged and the two went for a double-team spot, but Naomi fought it off. Outside, Belair laid out Legend using the steps. Inside the ring, Jackson got a very long two (probably three, but the momentum didn’t shift in time so the ref just didn’t hit the three) and there were boos. Shortly afterward, the champs hit their team finisher and the show had to cut quickly. Weirdly, there was a test pattern that just said “WWE Transmission.” Those words were then deleted and the words “Vengeance Day” were added. It seemed like something big was going to happen, but that was it. Of course, anything more interesting might have been coming in the next few seconds but they got cut.
WINNERS: Bianca Belair & Naomi at 12:58.
(Wells’s Analysis: Tons of fun. It was a spirited affair and the four had the crowd in the palm of their hands throughout. The near-fall that Jackson had on Naomi was egregious enough that Vic had to call it out and invoke the Kansas City Chiefs getting all the calls, and he said “a lot of people will question” the finish. I don’t think it’s an angle – I think he had to cover for the fact that Naomi couldn’t reverse momentum in time. Other than that, it was a very strong affair and if it was a test for Legend and Jackson ahead of a possible callup, I would say it’s likely they passed, based on the official read of the weird moment aforementioned)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Kind of a weird PLE feel here, as there weren’t a lot of backstage segments, and every match went over ten minutes, which is an extreme rarity on a show that features budding talent that usually runs at least three matches in the three to five minute range. Of course, four of the five matches featured main roster talent, so it’s not like there was a lot of worry about wrestlers not being able to go longer. The build for Vengeance Day is in full swing as three matches were made, though I’d still bet on Trick Williams either getting into the NXT Championship match or at least putting himself in a position for his presence to be felt. Nate Lindberg and I will cover the show on PWT Talks NXT shortly. Check us out tonight or stream tomorrow.
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