WWE NXT Live Coverage - January 30th, 2024
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NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams come face-to-face before Vengeance Day Title Match
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will come face-to-face with the Superstar that will challenge him at Vengeance Day, Trick Williams. Since becoming the Iron Survivor at NXT Deadline, Williams has been looking forward to his eventual title match after their bout at New Year's Evil was called off due to The Mad Dragon not being cleared in time. Tensions between the two are boiling over, due in part to Carmelo Hayes accusing the champion of being the mystery attacker on Trick Melo Gang, so anything can happen when these two Superstars come face-to-face in the middle of the ring on NXT!
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Your announcers are Booker T and Vic Joseph.
We start off with a look back at the contract signing between Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez and what Tatum Paxley did to Roxanne.
We see what happened between Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez.
We also look at the end of Chase University.
We look at what happened with Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes.
We also look at the issues between Josh Briggs and Noam Dar.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinal Match
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes vs Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro
Hayes and Wilde start things off and they lock up. Hayes with a side head lock. Wilde with a waist lock and Hayes is taken down with a running side head lock take down. Hayes and Wilde with waist locks and Hayes with arm drags and a drop kick. Hayes with a side head lock and he avoids a drop kick and hits a bulldog. Trick tags in and Trick with a drop kick. Wilde with a jaw breaker and Cruz tags in. They hit a double back elbow and then Wilde with an assisted slingshot splash. Cruz with a quebrada for a near fall. Cruz with punches and a chop. Cruz goes for a cross body but Trick catches him and he slams Cruz a few times. Cruz escapes and drop kicks Trick in the back of the leg. Cruz with a front face lock. Trick with a pop up punch and Cruz goes down. Hayes tags in and he chops Cruz many times.
Hayes with a back elbow when Cruz charges into the corner. Cruz with a round kick to knock Hayes off the turnbuckles. Wilde tags in and hits a senton onto Hayes while Cruz hits a suicide dive onto Williams. Hayes with a forearm but Wilde with a kick. Wilde sends Hayes into the turnbuckles. Hayes blocks being sent into the turnbuckles again and he sends Wilde into the turnbuckles. Hayes with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Wilde with a clothesline. Wilde with a snap mare and an arm bar and chin bar combination. Wilde pulls Hayes to the mat. Hayes with a punch and Wilde with a forearm. Cruz tags in and kicks Hayes and chokes him in the corner. Cruz with chops and he applies a rear chin lock. Hayes with forearms but Cruz with a drop kick for a near fall.
Cruz with a cobra clutch. Hayes with punches to escape but Cruz holds on to Hayes to prevent the tag. Hayes with more punches but Wilde with forearms. Hayes lands on his knees after a belly-to-back suplex attempt. Hayes with a clothesline and both men are down. Trick and Wilde make the tag and Trick with a jumping side kick or two. Trick with a forearm but he misses a clothesline on Wilde but hits Cruz. Trick with a slam. Trick sets for a uranage but he ends up hitting a double one and he gets a near fall. Trick sends Wilde into the corner and he misses a knee but he tags in Hayes. Trick with a cyclone kick and then Hayes with an assisted splash for a near fall.
Hayes goes up top and Wilde knocks Hayes into the tree of woe. Cruz tags in and he knocks Trick off the apron and then hits a thrust kick on Hayes. Cruz goes up top and they hit a double coast to coast on Hayes. Cruz gets a near fall when Williams makes the save. Hayes has Wilde down but Cruz with a neck breaker that catapults Wilde into Trick for a DDT. Trick and Wilde roll to the floor while Hayes and Cruz exchange forearms and slaps. Hayes with a round kick and an Irish whip but Cruz goes to the apron and he connects with forearm. Cruz with a missile drop kick. Wilde tags in and Cruz goes up top for a twisting senton. Hayes with a Codebreaker and then he goes to the turnbuckles to stop Wilde. Wilde sends Hayes face first to the mat. Hayes with a Codebreaker and Trick tags in. Hayes sends Cruz over the top rope and Trick with a jumping knee for the three count.
Winners: Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes (advance to finals)
After the match:
Oba Femi attacks Cruz and Joaquin. Dragon Lee comes out and he hits an enzuigiri and he punches Femi. Wilde and Cruz join in on the three on one attack but Femi pushes them away. Oba with knees and he tosses Wilde into Cruz. Lee goes up top and he is chopped by Femi as he comes off the turnbuckles.
Backstage:
Ava is in the back with Ridge Holland. Ava says she has to protect Ridge from himself in his request for a three on one match. Lexis King shows up to suck up to Ava with a gift basket. Ava thanks Lexis for the gift. Ridge asks for all three members of Gallus. Lexis says this is not the time because he has a meeting with Ava. Ava says she was thinking about Lexis. Ava suggests that Lexis face Ridge tonight and then she says she has a meeting to go to. Ava gives Ridge the gift basket and then Ridge re-gifts it.
We see footage of Tatum Paxley swooning over a photo of her and Lyra. She says that she will be there for her.
Backstage:
Lyra shows up and says she got all of her messages. She wants to know why Tatum attacked Roxanne. Tatum says Lyra said she should have done it. Lyra says she didn't want Roxanne taken out. Tatum says when she takes care of Roxanne, Lyra won't have an opponent tonight. Lyra Valkyria joins Booker and Vic at the announce table for the next match.
Roxanne Perez vs Tatum Paxley
Perez with a Thesz Press and she sends Tatum into the turnbuckles. Perez with kicks to Tatum in the corner. Perez with an Irish whip and a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Perez pie faces Tatum and then slams her head into the mat a few times. Perez with a cravate. Perez gets a near fall while holding on to the cravate. Tatum with a snap mare to escape. Perez with forearms. Perez with more forearms. Tatum with a forearm. Tatum with a cross body into the corner and then she applies a double underhook and puts Roxanne in the ropes and hits a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Tatum poses like Lyra and hits a drop kick through the ropes. Tatum sends Roxanne back into the ring and then Roxanne hits a suicide dive when Tatum focuses on Lyra at the announce table. Tatum stops Perez on the turnbuckles and she goes for a swinging slam but Perez with an arm drag and kick. Perez with Pop Rox for the three count.
Winner: Roxanne Perez
After the match:
Tatum attacks Perez and then Lyra gets in the ring and they stop short of exchanging punches while Tatum watches.
Backstage:
Arianna Grace and Wren Sinclair are in the kitchen area and Arianna says Wren came to the right person to learn from. She tells Wren that she sounds like she came from a ranch, while Fallon Henley comes up behind to eavesdrop. Fallon says something smells around here. Arianna says she will show some restraint, but Fallon says Arianna should show Wren what she can do in the ring. She says she will find Ava to make the match.
Backstage:
We see Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice walk in the back.
We go to commercial.
Elektra Lopez vs Lola Vice
Lopez with a take down and punches as the bell rings. Lola with punches to Lopez. Lola with a shoulder tackle to take Lopez to the floor. Lola with a round kick but Lopez sends Lola into the ring post. Lola with a forearm but Lopez with a knee to the head. Lola with Speedball kicks. Lola with a running hip into the corner and she pulls Lopez into the center of the ring for a near fall. Lola with an axe kick to the back and a modified camel clutch. Lopez with elbows but Lola with a kick. Lopez with a rollup for a near fall. Lopez with a punch but Lola with a knee. Lola with a triangle but Lopez with a power bomb. Lola with a forearm but Lopez fires back. Lola with a back heel kick but Lopez avoids a kick. Lopez with chops to Lola followed by a double thrust to the throat and an elbow. Lopez iwth a short arm clothesline or two. Lopez with a uranage for a near fall.
Lola with a guillotine but Lopez escapes. Lola with a round kick for the three count.
Winner: Lola Vice
Backstage:
We go to Dijak and he is watching his match with Joe Gacy. Joe enters the room and he says this is where Dijak comes to think. Dijak says he is thinking about kicking Joe's ass again. Joe sits down even though Dijak tells him not to do it. Dijak asks Joe what does he want. Joe says he doesn't want anything in life. He thanks Dijak for asking about the splinters he got out of his ass. Joe says Dijak can't get rid of him. He says he will keep coming back. Joe plays a recording and Dijak punches Joe but Joe punches back.
Ridge Holland vs Lexis King
They lock up and they go to a stalemate. Lexis pushes Ridge in the back. They lock up and Ridge with a nerve hold and elbow to the bridge of the nose. Ridge with a cover. Ridge with a short arm clothesline. Ridge with a wrist lock. King with a chop and he goes to the floor but Ridge follows after him. King with a side head lock and Ridge with a shoulder tackle. King goes to the apron to recover. Ridge sends King into the ring post. Ridge with a European uppercut but King with a chop. Ridge with a forearm and they return to the ring. Ridge with a back body drop and a front face lock and he swings King around. Ridge with a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. King kicks Ridge and it staggers him. King sends Ridge into the turnbuckles and hits a clothesline followed by a chop. Ridge with chops and forearms. King with a kick. Ridge with an Irish whip and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Ridge with a wrist lock and chops.
King with punches but Ridge with a forearm. King with chops but Ridge with forearms. King sends Ridge into the turnbuckles and he chops him. Ridge with a shoulder tackle. Ridge gets King on his shoulders but King with elbows. Ridge with a clothesline and King goes to the floor. King with a clothesline on the floor. King sends Ridge back into the ring and he connects with elbows to the back of the head. King chokes Ridge in the corner. Ridge with a kick and uppercut. King with a kick and Irish whip followed by a clothesline. King with a snap mare and kick to the back. King gets a near fall. King with a rear chin lock. Ridge with punches but King with a kick to the leg followed by a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. King with knees to the shoulder. King with a running clothesline to the back of the head for a near fall.
King with kicks to the chest. Ridge blocks a kick and Ridge with a t-bone suplex followed by an exploder. Ridge with a splash into the corner followed by an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from King. Ridge with a uranage. King with a thrust kick to the back of the leg but Ridget escapes Coronation. Ridge with a head butt and he gets King up and hot shots King and followed with knees. Ridge with a Northern Lariat.
Joe Coffey comes out and Ridge punches him and Ridge stops Wolfgang and Mark Cofffey. Ridge with a forearm to Joe and sends him to the floor. King with a super kick to Ridge in the ropes and King hits a hanging Coronation for the three count.
Winner: Lexis King
After the match:
Joe, Mark, and Wolfgang attack Ridge and they bring some chairs into the ring. They put Ridge's leg in a chair and they hit the leg in the chair with another chair.
Backstage:
Andre Chase is in the back and he says he can't believe he has to say goodbye to Chase University forever. Duke comes by to tell him they need to do it one last time.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Trick and Hayes are in LOCKER ROOM. They talk about being in the finals. They talk about Hayes being in the Rumble and Trick being on Smackdown. Trick says he didn't trust Theory or Waller. Hayes talks about Ilja playing mind games but Trick says it isn't a problem. Hayes says it is right there. Hayes says Trick can't win if Ilja gets in his head. Trick says tonight they are going to handle this . . . face to face. Hayes says Trick is going to realize that everything he has said to Trick is true. Hayes says he has had Trick's back from the beginning.
In-Ring:
Andre, Duke, and Riley are in the ring.
Andre says it seems like only yesterday he was introducing Andre Chase University to the world. He says he had passion. He knew the impact and imprint it would have on NXT. An institute of higher learning became a home and one of the biggest success stories. The memories they made together will stand the test of time. While he has no one else to blame but himself for the University closing, he says he is grateful that he got to live his dream and that he could share it with everyone.
Duke says Andre has been a positive influence on him and so many others. He was a different man when he entered Chase U, but when Andre named him MVP . . . Chase U is so special to him and everyone involved. Duke says everyone needs to remember Chase U the way they experienced it, in a positive way. Duke says he threatened some students, got some help from the students to make a video to remember what was.
Andre shows some emotion after the video.
He says this whole situation has been a teachable moment. He says he looks forward to what life brings them next. For now this is goodbye . . .
Jacy Jayne's music plays and she comes out with Thea Hail.
Jacy says if you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.
Andre says they are saying their goodbyes.
Jacy says she is the first to admit that she didn't think she would fit in at Chase U and she might have been coming in a bit toxic. For the first time in her life, she was looking for friends. She saw the bond that everyone had. Chase brought light into Duke's life. The way you are so protective of Thea. Jacy says maybe she could change. When she saw that the University was in trouble, she knew she had to do something about it. She says she is fiercely loyal to the people who care about her. She says she thinks she has a solution. She says we will not be saying goodbye to Chase University.
Jacy brings out the 2024 Ladies of Chase U calendar and the models make their way into the aisle.
Jacy says the revenue from the calendar will save the University and it will take them to the promised land. They will start to make money because on Sunday, the calendar will go on sale. It will get them to the next level and launch Chase U into the next decade.
Chase hugs Jacy.
Backstage:
We go to Tony, Channing, and Adrianna. He says those who want respect take respect. He says it is time to take over. Adrianna says she heard that she is the girl with a big mouth but no one has been able to shut her up. Tony says Adrianna had a reputation on the playground. She is wise and battle tested. If there was a problem, you call Rizzo. All you need is a lady's touch. Rizzo says you need a lady who will crash someone in the mouth. Tony says OTM and Jaida are going to find out why the streets of NXT belong to D'Angelo and his family.
Backstage:
Fallon Henley is in the back and Brooks Jensen shows up and he wants to talk to her. He asks if she remembers celebrating after they won the NXT UK titles. Fallon cuts off Brooks before he asks her an important question.
We go to commercial.
Fallon Henley (w/ Wren Sinclair) vs Arianna Grace
Fallon with a wrist lock when Grace wants her to kiss her hand. Grace rolls through to escape and she celebrates and poses for the crowd while blowing kisses. Fallon with a wrist lock and arm wringer. Fallon with an arm bar. Grace with punches and Fallon with a back elbow. Fallon with a snap mare and Grace begs for mercy to avoid a kick. Fallon with arm drags. Grace with a forearm and she goes for a slam but Fallon escapes. Fallon with a shoulder tackle. Fallon trips Grace and hits a jumping side kick to the head. Fallon slides to the floor and she punches Grace. Grace with a back elbow and she sends Fallon into the turnbuckles. Fallon with a punch and she sends Grace into the turnbuckles. Fallon with a rollup for a near fall. Grace with an Irish whip but Fallon with a body scissors for a near fall.
Fallon with a wrist lock but Grace with a wrist lock take down. Fallon holds on to the wrist lock and turns it into a hammer lock. Grace goes to the apron and sends Fallon into the turnbuckles. Grace with a Saito suplex. Grace with a forearm to the lower back. Fallon with forearms but Grace with a forearm to the back. Grace with an Irish whip and a running back elbow. Grace with a suplex and she gets a near fall. Grace with an Irish whip and kicks in the corner. Grace with kicks in the corner and she chokes Fallon in the ropes. Grace with a snap mare and a rear chin lock. Grace with punches but Fallon with a punch. Grace misses a kick and Fallon with a rollup for a near fall. Grace with an Iris whip but Fallon with a back elbow. Fallon gets Grace on her shoulders but Grace with a fish hook followed by a forearm to the back and she sends Fallon to the mat.
Grace with a rear chin lock. Grace rubs Fallon's face in the mat. Grace slams Fallon's head into the mat. Fallon blocks a kick and connects with a back heel kick and punch. Fallon with a flying clothesline and a flying shoulder tackle. Fallon with a back elbow into the corner and running hair take down. Grace rolls to the floor but Fallon punches Grace and Fallon sends her back into the ring.
Jakara Jackson distracts the referee and Lash Legend with a bicycle kick to Fallon. Grace rolls onto Fallon to get the three count.
Winner: Arianna Grace
Backstage:
We go to OTM and Jaida says people have been trying to put her in a box but they can't fit her in it. Nima says they are about taking over NXT and causing disruptions. They are going to find out why they are more than a phrase or acronym. They are a lifestyle. Parker says she is not going to stop and she will wipe up the floor of the women's locker room. She says they all came from nothing. SCRYPTS says you don't play games with them. It is time for them to play their game. Price says that Tony and his gang will learn they should have stayed on the sidewalk.
Backstage:
We go to the back and Dijak and Gacy are fiighting on a production truck. Dijak punches Gacy and he holds Gacy over the side. Gacy with kicks and Dijak with punches and he sends Gacy off the truck.
We go to commercial.
Heritage Cup
Noam Dar (w/ Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend, and Oro Mensah) vs Von Wagner (w/ Robert Stone)
Round One
Dar with a kick to the leg and another one. Dar with a side head lock but Wagner with a shoulder tackle. Von sends Dar into the turnbuckles when Dar tries to escape. Dar with kicks but Von blocks a kick. Von with a shoulder tackle. Von with a front face lock but Dar with kicks to the arm and a wrist lock. Dar with a kick. Von with an arm drag. Dar slaps Von and Von runs Dar into the corner and connects with shoulders followed by a take down.
Von with a gutwrench suplex. Voin with a gutwrench suplex. Von gets Dar on his shoulders and he spins Dar to the mat. Von taikes off someo f his wist tape. Dar kicks Von in the leg but Von with punches. Von with more punches as the round ends.
Von with a few punches after the end of the round.
Von tries to grab Dar when he is being carried to his corner.
Round Two
Von with a splash to Oro and he punches Dar. Von clotheslines Oro over the top rope to the floor. Dar with a Nova Roller for the three count.
Noam Dar 1 Fall
Von Wagner 0 Falls
Round Three
Dar with a running forearm and punches. Von pushes Dar away but Dar with kicks to the leg. Dar with a sliding kick to VOn and then he poses in front of Stone's kids. Dar wrings the leg itno the ring post. Dar punches VOn from the floor. Dar with a sliding kick to sennd the leg into the ring post. Dar with a Northern Lariat for a near fall.
Dar comes off the turnbuckles but Von catches him and hits a choke slam for a near fall. Von with a delayed vertical suplex. Dar rolls to the floor. Von follows Dar to the floor and sends him back into the ring. Oro gets on teh apron and Lash and Jakara grab Von's leg. Wren and Fallon pull them off Von. Dar goes for the knee bar but Von blocks it. Dar applies the knee bar but the round ends.
Dar takes his time releasing the hold.
Round Four
Dar with a forearm as the round stars. Von with a punch for a near fall. Von grabs Dar by the throat but Dar with a back elbow. Von with an elbow to the head. Von blocks an elbow and Von with a slam. Von misses a boot and he goes over the top rope to the floor. Dar with a boot that sends Von into the ring steps. Dar with a drop kick to the knee against the ring steps. Dar runs into a boot when he tries for a Nova Roller.
Dar escapes Von but Von with a Harley Race knee. Von misses a shoulder in the corner and hits the ring post. Dar with a jackkknife cover for the three count.
Winner: Noam Dar
After the match:
Dar and Oro taunt Stone's kids. Von goes after Dar and Oro and then he removes the hood of the announce table. Von grabs Dar and sets for a power bomb but Oro tries to kick Von. Dar gets away and then he kicks Dar before he sends Oro through the announce table with a power bomb.
Ava yells at Dijak and asks if he wants to be suspended.
Dijak says he wants Gacy in a No DQ match.
Ava asks how is Gacy in a condition to compete on Sunday.
Gacy climbs out of the dumpster and he says that sounds fun.
He falls back into the dumpster.
Ava tells Dijak to get out of here.
Trick Williams and Ilja Dragunov walk in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the card for Vengeance Day.
Trick Williams says he has a lot on his mind and he wants Ilja to come to the ring.
Ilja obliges.
Ilja says he loves the look on Trick's face. He says Trick looks ready to fight on Sunday and Ilja says he is too. He is ready to face the hottest star in WWE. They will whoop that trick.
Ilja offers his hand and Trick refuses.
Trick says you are smarter than you look. You call yourself a tsar and he says that he knows that a tsar will do whatever it takes to stay in control.
Ilja says maybe a voice is in your head giving you the wrong information. You shouldn't listen to Carmelo and their relationship is built on respect.
Trick says Ilja respects Trick to push back their match to have an advantage.
Ilja says he wasn't cleared to wrestle. Ilja says he destroyed his body in 2023 for this brand. He says he pushed it to the next level. He says he pushed Trick to the next level. This is how you are going to talk to him. Ilja says Trick wouldn't face him at less than 100 percent.
Trick says Ilja pushed the match back so Trick would be double booked.
Ilja says he offered Trick the match and you accepted it. Ilja says he played his cards. Baron Corbin made things personal. You are a victim of your own success. You went through the Dusty Cup but is it his fault? You should be worried about Melo. Carmelo had his moment at the Rumble, but now Hayes needs you for further glory.
Trick says he is focused. Trick says they are going to win the Dusty Classic and he is going to take the title from Ilja.
Ilja says Trick says he is focused but you are not. You don't know who to trust. Ilja says their rivalry made Trick more the man he is today than Melo ever did.
Trick says to keep Melo out of it.
Ilja says it isn't about Melo, it is about you. The slightest sign of weakness will make me destroy everything that you have built.
Trick says there is no one, including the Mad Dragon who can destroy what he built. This isn't the same Trick Williams you were in the ring with last time. Trick says he knows who he is and he will show you his destiny.
Ilja says he knows Trick will give him everything. You will write history on Sunday, but not the history you want.
Trick offers his hand and Ilja shakes it.
Ilja hugs Trick and Trick is confused.
Baorn Corbin and Bron Breakker attack Trick from behind.
Hayes comes ot the ring but Bron grabs Hayes. Trick and Hayes take care of Baron and Bron and send them to the floor.
Ilja gets up and he gets in Trick's face.
End of show.
