On Tuesday, January 13, WWE NXT will address the repercussions of last week’s New Year’s Evil episode, centering on the vacated NXT Championship following Oba Femi‘s unexpected departure. General Manager Ava will unveil new plans for the men’s title as part of the ongoing WWE NXT Championship fallout.
The show will also feature appearances and matches involving recent NXT North American Champion Izzi Dame, and title defenses including the TNA International Championship and the WWE Speed Championship. Fans can expect intense action, rivalries heating up, and the announcement of a key ladder match for the vacant men’s title.
Ava Confronts the Vacated NXT Title and Schedules Ladder Match
The episode opens at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, with a spotlight focused on the men’s NXT Championship belt sitting motionless in the ring, symbolizing Oba Femi’s dramatic decision to relinquish the title on January 6. The scene sets a tense mood as the men’s roster gathers around the ring.
General Manager Ava steps into the ring, lifting the vacant title and acknowledging the uncertainty that Femi’s exit creates. She frames this moment not as a crisis but as an ideal opportunity, describing the men’s division as wide open and ripe for competition.
Suddenly, Ricky Saints arrives in street clothes, confidently claiming to have chased out NXT talents Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Oba Femi. He crows about establishing himself as the present leader, boldly asking Ava to hand him the championship. Ava dismisses his demand, reminding the roster that many have staked claims to the title.
With the roster watching closely, Ava announces a six-man ladder match to settle the vacant men’s NXT Championship, scheduled for February 3. Qualifying bouts for the match will begin the following week. The NXT title belt is hoisted above the ring on a hanger, officially marking the prize for the grueling competition ahead.
As Ava finishes, a chaotic brawl erupts in the ring with wrestlers fighting for dominance. Joe Hendry and Ricky Saints square off, intensifying the melee. The segment ends with the arrival of debuting Keanu Carver, who storms ringside and dominates the brawl, signaling his immediate push as a key contender in the division.
Carver’s violent onslaught concludes with him standing alone in the ring, having dismantled all challengers and established himself as a major threat for the upcoming championship opportunity.
Emerging Rivalry: Kelani Jordan Faces Lola Vice
The women’s division features a high-stakes grudge match as Kelani Jordan battles Lola Vice, stemming from an attack Jordan delivered three weeks prior. Jordan positions herself as a rising force stepping out from under the protective shadow of a “little sister” role to challenge Vice, a recognized locker room leader.
The match plays out through a commercial break, with Vice initially suffering as she sells the damage inflicted before mounting a comeback after the break. Jordan slows Vice’s momentum with a top-rope frog splash, nearly securing the victory with a split-legged moonsault. Vice counters with a triangle choke, escapes, and slams Jordan with a tilt-a-whirl as the contest intensifies.
In the closing moments, an attempted illegal leverage by Jordan on an O’Connor roll is denied by the referee, allowing Vice to land a spinning back fist followed by a pinfall victory.
Match result: Lola Vice defeated Kelani Jordan by pinfall.
Jasper Troy Retains WWE Speed Championship Against Tavion Heights
The fast-paced WWE Speed Championship match between reigning champion Jasper Troy and challenger Tavion Heights proceeds under a stringent five-minute time limit. Troy controls much of the bout, wearing down Heights despite several bursts of offense from the challenger.
In the final minute, Troy executes his finishing maneuver, the Bossman slam, and secures the pin to retain his title.
Match result: Jasper Troy successfully defended the WWE Speed Championship against Tavion Heights by pinfall.
Post-match, Lexis King ambushes Heights backstage, delivering a devastating finisher. King, accompanied by Stacks and Arianna Grace, argues with Chase U before moving out of frame. Meanwhile, backstage interactions suggest upcoming qualifying matches, including Robert Stone reluctantly agreeing to one against Myles Borne.
Elio LeFluer Debuts as Ethan Page’s Challenger for North American Title
A personality profile introduces Elio LeFluer, who is set to debut on NXT with a match scheduled against the current North American Champion Ethan Page. Tension builds as Page requests a qualifying match for his title defense but is told that defending against LeFluer next Tuesday is contingent on him potentially forfeiting the belt.
Jaida Parker Returns in Confrontation With Blake Monroe
Blake Monroe delivers an in-ring promo reflecting on her recent attack on Thea Hail, asserting her dominance and talent during a lengthy self-praise. Her speech is interrupted by the returning Jaida Parker, who receives a warm response from the live audience.
The two trade blows as Monroe tries to speak, but Parker quickly gains the upper hand and stands tall in the ring following a signature move. Their heated encounter clearly signals a developing feud leading to an imminent match.
Stacks Defends TNA International Championship Against Shiloh Hill
Arianna Grace accompanies champion Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo as he defends the TNA International Championship against Shiloh Hill. Despite Grace’s interference, including attempted tripping and rope-holding for illegal leverage, the referee enforces the rules, negating some of the cheating tactics.
The contest features several nearfalls, including Hill reversing a roll-up and then attempting a small package, only for Grace again to intervene. Ultimately, Stacks capitalizes on these distractions to maintain his hold on the title.
Match result: Channing Stacks retained the TNA International Championship by pinning Shiloh Hill.
Izzi Dame Faces Tatum Paxley’s Reckoning After Recent Championship Win
Following her hard-fought open challenge victory at New Year’s Evil, new NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame arrives accompanied by The Culling’s Shawn Spears and Niko Vance, though they remain backstage rather than escorting her to the ring.
Dame’s promo boasting her achievement is violently interrupted by Tatum Paxley, her former ally seeking retribution. Paxley storms past security and attacks Dame, targeting her former friend with a vicious assault. A referee is knocked out during the melee, adding chaos as Dame escapes with her title.
Later backstage, it’s reported that Paxley has been banned from the building following her aggressive actions.
Backstage Tensions Rise Amidst Talent Skirmishes and Interviews
The Vanity Project boasts about their own prowess in an exclusive interview conducted by roving reporter Blake Howards. Their bravado is cut short when they spot Keanu Carver’s intense backstage storming, which includes a physical confrontation with a camera operator.
The backstage atmosphere becomes increasingly volatile as multiple factions prepare for upcoming matches and conflicts, setting the stage for explosive encounters in the coming weeks.
Joe Hendry and Dion Lennox Clash in No Disqualification Match Fueled by Intense Rivalry
The main event pits Joe Hendry, supported by OTM, against Dion Lennox of Darkstate in a brutal no disqualification match characterized by relentless brawling and heavy weapon usage. The match begins with a technical lock-up before escalating into an all-out fight.
Key moments include a superplex from Hendry, chair shots traded between the competitors, and outside interference attempting to sway momentum. Saquon Shugars’ chair interference backfires, and Hendry retaliates with blasts modeled after Roddy Piper’s style. The drama intensifies as both wrestlers employ loaded fists, kendo sticks, and high-impact slams.
The stage is set for chaos when Lennox spears Hendry through a table plastered with Slim Jim stickers, yet Hendry survives the onslaught with multiple shoulder kicks out to the crowd’s amazement.
The turning point arrives when Tony D’Angelo, debuting a new look, runs in to assist Hendry but then shockingly betrays him by delivering a chokeslam and pinning Hendry atop Lennox to claim the victory.
Match result: Joe Hendry defeated Dion Lennox in a no disqualification match.
Post-match, Ava orders security to remove D’Angelo from the ring. Defiant, D’Angelo battles through security and stares down Ava before exiting the arena, leaving tensions high and uncertainty looming over the NXT landscape.
Upcoming Events and On-Going Storylines to Watch
With Ava setting the men’s division on a collision course through the scheduled six-man ladder match, the coming weeks promise fierce competition as qualifying matches unfold. Meanwhile, the heightened rivalries in the women’s division, including Izzi Dame’s championship reign challenged by Tatum Paxley, signal intense confrontations ahead.
Keanu Carver’s rapid rise and Tony D’Angelo’s shocking betrayal add layers of unpredictability that could reshape alliances and title pictures. The WWE NXT Championship fallout is far from settled, ensuring that fans remain captivated as the landscape evolves.
