On December 30th, WWE officially announced the addition of a grudge match between Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil 2026, intensifying their ongoing rivalry. The highly anticipated encounter will be part of the event scheduled for January 6th at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, reflecting the escalating tensions between the two wrestlers.
Paxley and Dame’s Rivalry Reaches New Heights
The announcement comes after several weeks of bitter exchanges and confrontations on WWE NXT. This week, fans watched as Izzi Dame entered the ring to address Tatum Paxley during the televised episode. In a bold move, Paxley—herself a former NXT Women’s Champion—interrupted Dame and directly challenged her one-time ally, raising the stakes for their future clash.
Paxley made it clear during this on-air segment that Niko Vance and Shawn Spears, both of whom have past ties to the competitors, would be banned from ringside to ensure a fair contest. The two previously faced off at NXT Deadline 2025, where Dame secured victory after interference from The Culling played a decisive role. Excluding outside participants underlines the determination to resolve this grudge without distractions.
NXT New Year’s Evil 2026: Lineup and Title Matches
The WWE NXT New Year’s Evil 2026 event will unfold in Orlando, Florida, highlighting four matches already locked in for the card. In addition to the grudge match between Paxley and Dame, championship bouts will take center stage. Jacey Jayne is set to defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Kendal Grey, while Oba Femi will challenge Leon Slater for the NXT Championship. Thea Hail and Blake Monroe will go head-to-head over the NXT Women’s North American Championship.
The WWE Performance Center in Orlando, the regular venue for NXT’s major events, will provide the backdrop for these high-stakes showdowns, ensuring fans in attendance and watching from home can expect a competitive and dramatic evening. With a week remaining until the event, anticipation is building as more details about match stipulations and potential story twists may be revealed.
Anticipation Builds for Resolution and Surprises
The Tatum Paxley versus Izzi Dame match stands out as a personal conflict set to be resolved, especially following the controversy of their previous bout. By barring Niko Vance and Shawn Spears from interference, NXT aims for a decisive outcome, which could shift the dynamics of the women’s division. As Orlando prepares to host WWE NXT New Year’s Evil 2026, both fans and the competitors themselves are looking forward to seeing if the grudge match will deliver an ending worthy of its build.
