WWE NXT Deadline comes to you live from the Minneapolis Armory in Minnesota on Saturday, December 7. The pre-show is set to stream one hour before the main card, which begins at 7pm ET on Peacock in the US and WWE Network elsewhere.
Speaking of the network, WWE’s long-running subscription service comes to an end December 31. Click here to read what Netflix had to say about RAW’s rating prior to its January 6 debut on the streaming service. That said, here’s our preview and predictions for NXT Deadline.
Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker – Women’s Underground Match at WWE NXT Deadline
Prelude: Lola Vice and Jaida Parker failed to keep their differences aside while battling Fatal Influence back in September. Their tag team match on NXT’s CW premiere saw Jaida walk out on Vice prompting GM Ava to set up a Hardcore Match at NXT 2300. Jaida won the match after hitting Lola with a brick. However, a run-in from Lola would cost Jaida her “last chance” Iron Survivor qualifier. An irate Parker demanded an Underground Match on the go-home episode of NXT for Deadline but Ava scheduled the match for the PLE.
Prediction: Women’s Underground Match may be Lola Vice’s specialty but Jaida has proved she can hold more than her own against the former MMA star. Miss Parker was pretty strategic during their Hardcore Match at the 2300 Arena, using all kinds of weapons to her advantage. That said, Lola is currently 2-0 in Underground Matches, with her wins coming against Natalya and Shayna Baszler. You cannot poke the bear twice and expect to be Iron Survivor especially when you are in its territory, and Miss Vice is the bear when it comes to Underground Matches.
Axiom & Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Myles Borne & Tavion Heights – WWE NXT Tag Team Championship
Prelude: The next challengers to the NXT Tag Team Championship were determined in a battle royal on December 3. New Quarter Catch Crew’s Myles Borne and Tavion Heights won the multi-man match-up to cement their place at WWE NXT Deadline.
Prediction: Frazer seems more focused on winning the Iron Survivor Challenge than working out a strategy with Axiom to retain their titles. Myles and Tavion are one hundred percent on the same page, and we might see them win the tag team titles come Saturday.
Trick Williams (c) vs. Ridge Holland – WWE NXT Championship
Prelude: Ridge Holland got closer to the NXT Championship after he pinned Trick Williams in a tag team match at NXT 2300. Ridge would earn a title shot after defeating Andre Chase in the lead-up to NXT Deadline. Trick Williams, who was on commentary for the match, came face-to-face with his opponent this past Tuesday only to get viciously attacked by the former Brawling Brute.
Prediction: NXT has done with Ridge Holland what the main roster could never: turn him into a main event heel. The only (major) problem here is Ridge’s lack of charisma. He may be a brute inside the ring but he cannot carry a feud on his own. NXT had to bring in Eric Bischoff to build up the title feud on the road to Deadline. Moreover, the brand seems to be (greatly) lacking when it comes to heel players. Ethan Page did a fantastic job but he could only do so much. As for the outcome, Trick retains.
Sol Ruca vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Zaria vs. Giulia vs. Wren Sinclair – Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline
Prelude: NXT GM Ava announced the return of the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT 2300. Sol Ruca earned the first spot in the women’s match-up by beating Cora Jade. Stephanie Vaquer and ZARIA beat Jaida Parker and Wren Sinclair, respectively, to earn their spots. Giulia got the fourth spot after she defeated Kelani Jordan. Wren Sinclair won the “last chance” match-up to become the fifth woman in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge at WWE NXT Deadline.
Prediction: This may be the most stacked Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge line-up to date. Every woman in this match-up brings something special to the ring. From the technical maestro Stephanie to the hard-hitting ZARIA, these ladies will enter the match to deliver something special. This writer wants Stephanie to win the 2024 Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge but has a feeling ZARIA might earn the right to face Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil 2025.
Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Ethan Page vs. Eddy Thorpe – Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge
Prelude: Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans filled the first and second spot by beating Cedric Alexander and Lexis King. Nathan Frazer earned the third spot by defeating Eddy Thorpe though the match had a lot of run-ins. Page got the fourth spot after he beat Axiom. Thorpe punched his ticket to NXT Deadline by winning a “last chance” opportunity on the December 3 episode of NXT.
Prediction: NXT has put a lot of emphasis on Eddy Thorpe since the build-up to Deadline began. Thorpe was in a confrontation with Ava that lead him to getting shoved by Shawn Michaels on live TV. He still managed to win the last chance match-up. That said, NXT won’t probably do a babyface versus babyface for the title at New Year’s Evil. So, it’ll either be Wes Lee or Ethan Page.
WrestleZone will have full coverage of WWE NXT Deadline as it airs on December 7.
