Here are my NXT Thoughts & Facts & Stats. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to do my Preview for NXT Vengeance Day, but will have it done later this week. Sorry.
NXT:
Trick Melo Gang VS The LWO was incredible. Everyone got their frequent flyer miles in. I like Oba Femi attacking The LWO afterwards to bring out Dragon Lee just to beat him up too.
FACTS: This was Carmelo Hayes' 1st NXT match & opener since January 16, Trick Williams' 2nd week in a row on NXT & his 1st opener since January 16, making him the 1st wrestler of 2024 to go from the NXT main event to the following week's opener. This was the 1st time they teamed up in 2 2-on-2 Matches in a row on NXT since they defeated Charlie Dempsey & Drew Gulak (May 16, 2023) & lost to The Judgment Day (July 11, 2023). This was Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde's 1st NXT since January 16 & their 1st NXT opener of 2024.
OK segment with Ava, Ridge Holland, & Lexis King to set-up Holland VS King later. It's cool that Ava & Lexis were in the same segment as The Rock & Brian Pillman were both in WWE at the same time, but Ava wasn't born then. She was born in 2001.
Weird segment with Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley.
Roxanne Perez VS Tatum Paxley was a pretty good match. Lyra Valkyria was OK on commentary. Their match should be excellent at Vengeance Day. FACTS: This was Roxanne Perez's 1st NXT since January 16 & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she lost to Arianna Grace by Disqualification on January 2. This was Tatum Paxley's 1st NXT since January 16 & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she lost to Nikkita Lyons on December 19, 2023. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on June 13, 2023, which was also won by Perez.
I have no comment on the segment with Fallon Henley, Wren Sinclair, & Arianna Grace.
Lola Vice VS Elektra Lopez wasn't anything special. They worked hard. FACTS: This was Lola Vice's 1st NXT since January 16 & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Tatum Paxley on NXT on December 5, 2023. This was Elektra Lopez's 1st NXT since January 16, her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she lost to Indi Hartwell on Main Event on December 21, 2023, & 1st on NXT since she lost to Thea Hail on July 18, 2023. This was the 5th week in a row that NXT had 2 Women's Matches.
Cool fight between Dijak & Joe Gacy, but I still don't like Gacy's new gimmick.
Ridge Holland VS Lexis King was a solid match. I like Gallus getting involved to continue their feud with Holland. FACTS: This was Ridge Holland's 1st NXT since January 16 & the 1st time he wrestled a 2nd Generation wrestler in his Career. This was Lexis King's 2nd week in a row on NXT & the 1st time he wrestled someone from the UK in his Career.
Another good segment with Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams.
Fun segment with Chase University. I love the video especially the throwback of Tell Me A Lie & then it went to Andre Chase's meltdowns. I love that Chase U will stay open thanks to Jacy Jayne & her calendar.
OK promo with The Family. The Mixed Tag at Vengeance Day should be good.
Alright promo with Brooks Jensen, Fallon Henley, & Wren Sinclair.
Good segment with Chase U & Lexis King to set up a future match with Riley Osborne. I love Dijak & Joe Gacy still brawling. I think a match between them will be made for Vengeance Day.
Fallon Henley VS Arianna Grace was an awful match (sorry I can't think of anything positive about it). Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson getting involved was stupid. FACTS: This was Fallon Henley's 1st NXT since January 16 & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Tiffany Stratton on January 2. This was the 1st time she wrestled someone other than Tiffany Stratton on NXT since she lost to Cora Jade on May 16, 2023 & the 1st time she wrestled a 2nd Generation wrestler since her last match against Arianna Grace on Level Up on September 29, 2023. This was Arianna Grace's 1st NXT since January 16 & 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Roxanne Perez by Disqualification on January 2. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after Level Up on September 29, 2023, which was won by Henley, so they each won 1 match. This was the 1st NXT since January 16 to have 3 Women's Matches.
OK promo by OTM.
Wow. Guess we're not getting Dijak VS Joe Gacy after he got thrown into the dumpster. I think Gacy's dead. The NXT Parking Lot strikes again.
I loved the segment with Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin. They are one of my favorite teams in NXT. As much I want Bron to move up to the main roster, I want him & Baron to stay a Tag Team in
Von Wagner VS Noam Dar was a pretty good match. I like Wagner putting Oro Mensah through the table. I love Mr. Stone's kids in the crowd. FACTS: This was the 1st Heritage Cup Rules Match of 2024 & the 1st since NXT on December 26, 2023 & the 1st Heritage Cup Championship Match of 2024 & 1st since NXT on December 26, 2023. This was Von Wagner's 1st NXT match & main event of 2024, 1st NXT since he lost to Bron Breakker on November 7, 2023, & 1st Heritage Cup Rules Match in his Career. This was the 1st time he wrestled someone other than Bron Breakker on NXT since he defeated Javier Bernal on July 25, 2023. If Von Wagner would have won, he would have been the 1st 1st-time Heritage Cup Champion since Nathan Frazer & the 1st 2nd Generation wrestler to be Heritage Cup Champion & the 1st member of his family to win a Championship in WWE. This was Noam Dar’s 1st NXT match of 2024, his 1st since he defeated Josh Briggs on December 26, 2023, 22nd Heritage Cup Rules Match in his Career & 1st since NXT on December 26, 2023, giving him a Heritage Cup Rules Record of 15-4-2. This was the 1st time he wrestled a 2nd Generation wrestler since he defeated Dragon Lee at Battleground on May 28, 2023. This was Noam Dar’s 5th Heritage Cup Championship Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1st since himself who lost to Mark Coffey on NXT UK on July 14, 2022 to lose in his 5th Defenses, which is the Most Defenses of All-Time. As of NXT, Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup Championship Reign has lasted 161 Days, so if he wpuld have lost, he would have been the 2nd to lose in 161 Days after Tyler Bate (5/20/21-10/28/21, which is tied for the 3rd Shortest Reign of All-Time ahead of Nathan Frazer (6/13/23-8/22/23, 70 Days) & Mark Coffey (7/14/22-8/25/22, 42 Days). The Heritage Cup Championship has never changed hands in 2024, with the last title change taking place when Dar defeated Nathan Frazer on NXT on August 22, 2023. It has changed hands 7 times in History.
Unbelievable, Joe Gacy is OK. Dijak VS Gacy in a No DQ Match at Vengeance Day will be awesome adding to an already great card.
Tonight was the 1st NXT of 2024 that Blair Davenport did not wrestle, therefore no one has wrestled on every NXT of 2024.
Excellent segment with Trick Williams & Ilja Dragunov. I can't wait for Sunday. Loved that closing shot.
Here are my NXT Match Rankings:
1) Trick Melo Gang VS The LWO
2) Von Wagner VS Noam Dar
3) Ridge Holland VS Lexis King
4) Roxanne Perez VS Tatum Paxley
5) Lola Vice VS Elektra Lopez
6) Fallon Henley VS Arianna Grace
An exciting NXT. I love all of the matches getting 2 segments with PIPs. Not all of the wrestling was good, but I wasn't bored & there really was nothing to complain about. It got me excited for Vengeance Day.
Ends NXT Thoughts & Facts & Stats. For more visit,
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will have a preview for Vengeance Day later this week.
But visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/nxtvd for the Complete History of Vengeance Day, which will be updated on Sunday.
