As WWE prepares for the upcoming NXT Vengeance Day event, fans eager for action can look back at some of the most compelling matches from previous editions of this modern NXT brand show. These contests highlight intense rivalries, rising stars, and unforgettable moments from recent years, showcasing why WWE NXT Vengeance Day remains a key event for wrestling enthusiasts.
Highlights from Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day 2021
WWE brought back the Vengeance name in February 2021 at NXT TakeOver, hosting the event at the WWE Performance Center, rebranded for the occasion as the Capital Wrestling Center. This setting resembled the Thunderdome, featuring screens with virtual fans watching from home during the pandemic.
The main event was a historic first-ever meeting between NXT Champion Finn Balor and former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne. Their intense technical wrestling battle lasted over 25 minutes, with Dunne controlling the early action through targeted joint manipulation and ground work. Despite Dunne’s dominance in the opening exchange, Balor fought back with a mix of hard strikes, submission holds, and high-impact moves.
Close to the finish, Balor countered several of Dunne’s signature moves, including Bitter End and powerbomb attempts. He secured victory with his finishing sequence, including the dropkick, coup de gras, and his 1916 move. What added drama to the event was the post-match angle in which Adam Cole turned heel, attacking Balor and Kyle O’Reilly, shocking fans and altering NXT’s faction landscape.
This match stood out as a pandemic-era gem, demonstrating the resilience and creativity of WWE during challenging times.
Excitement in the Triple Threat: Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Lola Vice at Vengeance Day 2024
The 2024 Vengeance Day featured a highly competitive NXT Women’s Championship contest involving Lyra Valkyria, Roxanne Perez, and Lola Vice. Perez earned her title opportunity by co-winning a battle royal and triumphing in a subsequent four-way match, reflecting her rapid ascent within the women’s roster.
The match began explosively, with Perez attempting a daring tope suicida that was met by Valkyria’s powerful forearm strike. As the battle intensified, the stakes grew higher, especially since Perez was aiming to reclaim a title she had controversially lost two years earlier after passing out post-defense against Meiko Satomura.
Lola Vice surprised the audience by cashing in her Breakout contract mid-match, turning the bout into a triple threat. The fight was fast-paced and dramatic, displaying impressive offense from all three competitors. Interference came from Tatum Paxley, who attacked Perez towards the end, enabling Valkyria to retain her championship after delivering a decisive move on Vice.
This encounter demonstrated the depth and skill of NXT’s women’s division, with all participants showing why they have become mainstays on WWE’s main roster and developmental brand alike.
Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams Clash in a Brutal NXT Championship Match at Vengeance Day 2024
The 2024 edition also featured a gripping NXT Championship bout pitting champion Ilja Dragunov, known as The Mad Dragon, against Trick Williams. Williams, fresh off a loss in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic final alongside his best friend Carmelo Hayes, headed into this high-stakes contest unaware of the brewing tension within his alliance with Hayes.
Dragunov opened a deep cut on his own nose early in the match but fought with increased ferocity. Williams matched the champion’s brutality, suffering his own bleeding mouth while showcasing impressive resilience. The match was marked by highly physical exchanges, including German suplexes and Death Valley Drivers on the apron carried out by Dragunov while locking eyes with Hayes at ringside.
A pivotal moment occurred when the referee was incapacitated after Hayes’ interference, leading to Williams being unable to capitalize on a pinfall opportunity. In the end, Dragunov landed a finishing Torpedo Moscow to claim victory. Despite the loss, Williams’ gritty performance against such a demanding opponent earned him significant recognition among fans and critics.
Stephanie Vaquer Overcomes Fury and Interference in a Tense NXT Women’s North American Title Match at Vengeance Day 2025
In 2025, Stephanie Vaquer was the favored victor in her NXT Women’s North American Title match against Fallon Henley, but the contest offered plenty of tension and drama. The two wrestlers were evenly matched initially, engaging in methodical mat wrestling and fluid transitions. The dynamic shifted as Henley’s stablemates, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx, interfered, attempting to tip the scales in Henley’s favor by disrupting Vaquer.
This strategy briefly succeeded as Henley took control, even pulling Vaquer down by the hair. The tide turned when Vaquer intensified her offense, delivering a powerful kick, a 619 maneuver, and her signature Devil’s Kiss finisher. Gaining momentum, she fended off the outside interference, showcasing an extensive in-ring arsenal that includes meteora, Eat Defeat, dragon screw, SVB, and Spiral Tap moves.
Vaquer’s resilience shone through as she decisively neutralized her opponents outside the ring before returning to dispatch Henley, reinforcing her status as an emerging force poised for bigger challenges, such as her later double title match against the NXT Women’s Champion Giulia.
Four-Way Battle for the NXT Women’s Championship: Giulia, Bayley, Cora Jade, and Roxanne Perez at Vengeance Day 2025
The 2025 NXT Women’s Championship match saw Giulia defending her title in a dynamic four-way against Roxanne Perez, Bayley, and Cora Jade. The bout emerged from ongoing intertwined storylines, including Perez’s fluctuating relationship with Jade and her bitter rivalry with Bayley.
Following Giulia’s victory over Perez to end her second championship run at New Year’s Evil, tensions escalated weekly, culminating in this complex title defense. The match featured an intense pace with multiple finishers exchanging hands and numerous near-falls. Perez stunned with two Pop Rox moves, but Jade countered with a DDT and nearly secured the pin. Giulia ultimately sealed the victory with a running knee strike and Northern Lights Bomb on Perez.
The drama extended past the match itself when Stephanie Vaquer confronted Giulia, foreshadowing future title challenges, followed by Jordynne Grace joining the confrontation, adding fuel to the unfolding narrative.
All participants, except Cora Jade who now competes in TNA as Elayna Black, had since progressed to the main WWE roster, highlighting this match as a milestone showcase of rising talent and the quality of competition on NXT Vengeance Day.
Why These Matches Matter in the Evolution of WWE NXT Vengeance Day
Each of the highlighted matches from 2021 through 2025 captures a moment of intense competition, evolving storylines, and the emergence of new stars within WWE’s developmental milieu. From Finn Balor and Pete Dunne’s gripping technical showdown to multi-competitor women’s matches layered with rivalries and interference, these bouts illustrate the unpredictability and passion that define NXT Vengeance Day.
For fans following WWE NXT Vengeance Day, revisiting these encounters offers insights into the performers’ growth and the brand’s continual reinforcement as a launching pad for future main roster success. The blend of physicality, storytelling, and emotional investment seen across these matches reflects not only the dedication of the wrestlers but also the significance of Vengeance Day as a marquee event within the WWE calendar.
With each succeeding year, NXT Vengeance Day has delivered matches filled with high stakes and personal drama that keep fans anxious and immersed. Looking ahead, anticipation builds for the new narratives and rivalries that will unfold at the next Vengeance Day, promising more unforgettable moments that will define the future of WWE’s premier developmental showcase.
