This week’s episode of WWE NXT will be a special one as the WWE’s third brand puts on its offering for the WWE New Year’s Knockout Week. The special show, aptly titled NXT New Year’s Evil, is a loaded one that looks to start the year in an exciting fashion. At the time of writing, six matches have been confirmed for the show, with two of those being title matches. Here is all you need to know ahead of the January 2 edition of NXT.
WWE NXT Full Match Card:
- Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Trick Williams – NXT Championship Match
- Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Blair Davenport – NXT Women’s Championship Match
- Riley Osborne vs. Oba Femi – NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament Final Match
- Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton – Ranch Hand or Servant Singles Match
- Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) & Dragon Lee vs. No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Myles Borne & Damon Kemp) – Six-Man Tag Team Match
- Arianna Grace vs. Roxanne Perez – Singles Match
It all goes down TOMORROW at #NewYearsEvil.
👊 @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR defends his #NXTChampionship against @_trickwilliams
🪶 @Real_Valkyria puts her #WWENXT Women’s Championship on the line against @BDavenportWWE
📺 8/7c on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/gp840IAVaM
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 1, 2024
Will Trick Williams Be Able To Topple Ilja Dragunov?
Trick Williams was undoubtedly the NXT breakout star in 2023, even claiming the NXT North American Championship at NXT No Mercy, although his reign would only last three days.
Despite this setback, Williams’ star continued to shine bright and carry him towards the very top of the roster. At NXT Deadline, Williams defied the odds to become the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner, putting him on the fast track to championship glory.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov eagerly awaits his next challenger as he continues to solidify his reign at the helm of the NXT men’s division. Dragunov won the title at No Mercy, and just 94 days into his first reign with the title, he looks to keep the gold for longer.
Williams needs to fully step out of best friend Carmelo Hayes’ shadow (and own title ambitions) to fully realize his potential and look to topple Dragunov, who is just a few days short of celebrating his first 100 days as champion. This match could be a major turning point in the men’s division.
Lyra Valkyria Looks To Start The Year Off Right Against Blair Davenport
Lyra Valkyria won the NXT Women’s Championship on night one of Halloween Havoc, achieving a major goal of hers. At WWE NXT Deadline, Blair Davenport overcame four other women to become the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner. The two now find themselves on a collision course as they clash at New Year’s Evil, and this match has major implications.
The NXT women’s division is currently stacked, with several superstars vying for a chance in the title picture. Davenport is quite the tough opponent and serves as a legit threat to Valkyria’s reign but the champion could spin this in her favor.
Valkyria has been looking for the chance to assert her rule over the entire division truly, and a victory against Davenport could do exactly that. This match could set the pace for the NXT women’s division for the rest of the year.
Riley Osborne And Oba Femi Meet In The NXT Men’s Breakout Final
The NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament reaches its conclusion at New Year’s Evil as the tournament final takes place. The finalists are Riley Osborne and Oba Femi, who have both showcased impressive strength and agility in their previous outings. Former Breakout Tournament stars have gone on to become headliners for TV shows and PLEs alike whilst also finding themselves in the top spots of their divisions.
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