NXT Results – Dec. 30, 2020 – Gargano vs. Ruff, Year End Awards

Dec 30, 2020

December 30, 2020
Orlando, Florida (Capitol Wrestling Center)
Commentary: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, and Beth Phoenix
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

Bronson Reed defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott via Tsunami Splash
The Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Breezango via Ticket to Mayhem on Breeze
Mercedes Martinez defeated Valentina Feroz via Air Raid Crash
Pete Dunne defeated Roderick Strong via the Bitter End
Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) via top rope elbow by Metalik on Mendoza
NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano (c) defeated Leon Ruff via One Final Beat

NXT Year End Awards Results

Breakout Star of the Year: Shotzi Blackheart
Tag Team of the Year: Undisputed Era
Female Competitor of the Year: Io Shirai
Male Competitor of the Year: Adam Cole
Match of the Year: Finn Balor vs. Kyle O’Reilly (TakeOver 31)
Future Star of the Year: Austin Theory
Overall Competitor of the Year: Io Shirai

In memory of Jon “Luke Harper” Huber: 1979 – 2020.

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Bronson Reed

The bell rings, and they lock up before Reed applies a side headlock. Reed hits a headlock takeover and cinches it in. Scott fights up to his feet and wraps his legs around Reed’s arm. Reed powers him up, but Scott gets out. Scott drops down, but Reed rolls over on him. Reed then clotheslines him over the top rope. Reed then turns Scott inside out with a flying shoulder tackle off the apron.

Reed gets Scott in the ring, and Scott retreats to the corner. The referee backs Reed up as he approaches. Scott then pops out of the corner and hits a chop block. Scott then dropkicks him in the head. Reed rolls out of the ring to recover. Scott kicks him in the face from the apron and pulls him into the ring for a one count. Scott stomps on the knee and hits a flying uppercut to the back of the neck for a two count. Scott grabs the leg and pushes Reed to the corner. Reed clubs him and goes for a powerbomb, but Scott climbs to the top rope and backflips over him. Scott blocks a kick and uppercuts him. Scott then hits a kick to the knee followed by a rolling thunder flatliner for a near fall. Scott applies a submission to hyperextend the knee, but Reed punches out. Scott delivers a straight right hand to the face and kicks him in the midsection. Reed grabs Scott by the throat, but Scott gets out and goes for a sunset flip. Reed counters with a sit-out cannonball for a near fall.

Reed hits a pair of clotheslines before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Reed avalanches him and hits a chokeslam for a near fall. Reed grabs Scott with a waistlock, but Scott grabs the ropes and head-butts him. Reed is infuriated and takes him down before hitting a senton splash. Reed goes to the top rope and hits a Tsunami Splash for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Bronson Reed

NXT Year End Awards: Breakout Star of the Year

We go backstage to see NXT General Manager William Regal ready to announce the Breakout Star of the Year: Pat McAfee, Damian Priest, Shotzi Blackheart, Cameron Grimes, Dexter Lumis, Timothy Thatcher, Raquel Gonzalez, Santos Escobar, and Ilja Dragunov. The winner is Shotzi Blackheart.

Shotzi Blackheart lets out a howl. From the Royal Rumble to Halloween Havoc to leading an army into WarGames… it’s been a dream of a year. Her dad taught her to be a badass. This year he’s really proud of everything she’s done. The good times will roll into the new year.

The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Breezango

James Drake starts against Tyler Breeze. They lock up, and Drake hits a headlock takeover. Breeze fights out and takes him down with an arm bar. Drake rolls through and kips up, but Breeze takes him back down. Fandango tags in and hooks a side headlock. Drake whips him off, but Fandango shoulder blocks him down. Fandango cartwheels over him and hits an arm drag. Drake quickly knees him and tags Gibson in. Fandango gets out of a scoop slam and sends him into the ropes. Fandango takes him down and cinches in a chin lock. Fandango hits a roll-up out of the corner for a two count.

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic returns in two weeks.

Breeze tags in and whips Gibson to the corner, but Drake blocks it. Gibson then takes Breeze down. Drake tags in and strikes away at Breeze. Gibson hits a scoop slam for a one count. Gibson knees Breeze in the spine and applies a chin lock. Breeze gets out and tags Fandango in. Fandango runs wild on the Grizzled Young Veterans before giving Gibson a front suplex on the top rope. Breeze tags in, and they sandwich Gibson’s head with stereo kicks. Drake gets involved, so Fandango hits a double baseball slide. Fandango climbs some scaffolding and hits the Grizzled Young Veterans with a wild cross-body block!

We come back from the break to see the Grizzled Young Veterans hit a double-team knee breaker to Fandango at ringside. Gibson continues to work on Fandango’s injured knee in the ring. Gibson scoop slams the legs into the ropes. Fandango screams in pain. Fandango finally rolls away and tags Breeze in.

Breeze runs wild on Gibson and Drake. Drake blind tags in, but Breeze clotheslines him over the top rope before sending Gibson out of the ring. They quickly double-team Breeze before Fandango gets involved. Gibson pulls Fandango off the apron and sends him into the steps. Drake rolls Breeze up for a two count. Breeze quickly stuns Drake with a forearm. Breeze takes Gibson and Drake down. They hit Breeze with Ticket to Mayhem for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The Grizzled Young Veterans

Ever-Rise comes out to the stage and shout at the Grizzled Young Veterans. A referee holds them back. She decides not to hold them back, so they cowardly back away.

NXT Year End Awards: Tag Team of the Year

The Tag Team of the Year nominees are Undisputed ERA, Breezango, Imperium, Gallus, Legado del Fantasma, and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. The winners are the Undisputed ERA.

The Undisputed ERA receive the award backstage. Adam Cole says he and Roderick Strong will represent the UE in the Dusty Rhodes Classic in 2021. They have another tournament to win. That is undisputed.

Segment: Xia Li, Boa

Xia Li and Boa are shown in the mysterious location with the two individuals. The hooded figure rubs war paint on them. They all walk into the light. They’ll be back next week.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Valentina Feroz

Martinez immediately takes Feroz down, but misses an avalanche. Martinez quickly grabs her and hits a slam. Martinez clubs her and chokes her on the ropes. Feroz soon jumps on her back for a sleeper hold, but Martinez powers her to the corner. Martinez sends her into the ropes for a vicious spinebuster. Martinez screams in her face and lifts her. Feroz tries to counter into a sunset flip, but Martinez powers her up and hits a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Martinez follows up with an Air Raid Crash for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Mercedes Martinez

Martinez shouts into the camera that every woman is on her radar. She simulates firing a gun.

NXT Year End Awards: Female Competitor of the Year

It’s time to announce the Female Competitor of the Year. The nominees are Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Kay Lee Ray, and Tegan Nox. The winner is Io Shirai.

NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai thanks everyone for voting for her. The women’s division is stacked, but she’s the best of the best.

NXT Year End Awards: Male Competitor of the Year

Now it’s time for the Male Competitor of the Year. The nominees are Finn Bálor, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Keith Lee, WALTER, and Tommaso Ciampa. The winner is Adam Cole.

Adam Cole receives the award. Last year he said he’d win this award again, and he did. He also said he’d be the longest-reigning NXT Champion, and he did. Cole puts over the Undisputed ERA and says Kyle O’Reilly will win the title back.

Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne

The bell rings, and Strong hits a takedown before punching away at him. Strong chops away at Dunne’s chest. Dunne fights back with some kicks, but Strong fights back with a headlock takeover. Strong hits the ropes, avoids some strikes from Dunne, and hits a clothesline for a two count. Strong punches him down against the ropes, but Dunne soon takes him down and applies a side headlock. Strong fights up and boots him down. Dunne fights back and takes him down with a head-scissor. Dunne then starts to manipulate the wrist. Strong screams in pain and powers up with Dunne hanging on him. Strong falls into the ropes to knock him off. Strong charges, but Dunne gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Dunne quickly goes outside and boots him in the face before putting him in the ring.

Strong forearms Dunne as he lifts him. Dunne goes for a boot, but Strong gives him a backbreaker that sends him out of the ring. Strong follows up with a baseball slide that sends him over the barricade.

We come back from the break to see Dunne send Strong sternum-first into the corner. Dunne attacks the chest, but Strong fights back. Dunne tries to backflip over him, but Strong comes right back with a beautiful dropkick.

They get to their feet and trade punches and stiff clotheslines. Strong slams him down on his face and knees him. Strong hits some running forearms before connecting with an Olympic Slam for a near fall. Dunne avoids a baseball slide and sends him into the steel steps. Dunne tries for the Bitter End on the floor, but Strong gets out and slams him on the apron. Strong gets in the ring for a near fall. Dunne takes a moment to recover before rolling him up for a two count. Dunne kicks him, but Strong kicks back and goes for a double underhook slam, but Dunne counters into a triangle choke. Strong somehow powers him up and hits a nasty backbreaker for a near fall!

Dunne tries for another triangle choke, but Strong forearms him in the face a few times. Dunne grabs the arm and snaps the fingers. Dunne follows up with the Bitter End for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Pete Dunne

NXT Year End Awards: Match of the Year

The 2020 #NXTAwardMatch goes to @FinnBalor & @KORcombat for #OReillyVsBalor at #NXTTakeOver 31!

…but Finn wants to 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 give Kyle O’Reilly his award. 🤨#NXTYearEndAwards #WWENXT @RealKingRegal pic.twitter.com/NZ9BYTOGpC

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 31, 2020

It’s time for the Match of the Year Award. Fatal 4-Way 60-Minute Iron Man Match featuring Finn Bálor, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, and Tommaso Ciampa, Men’s WarGames Match featuring The Undisputed ERA vs. Team McAfee, Finn Bálor vs. Kyle O’Reilly, WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov, and the NXT Women’s Championship featuring Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Io Shirai. The Match of the Year for NXT is Finn Bálor vs. Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 31.

NXT General Manager William Regal is backstage with NXT Champion Finn Bálor. Bálor doesn’t want his award, but wants to give O’Reilly his. Bálor walks off and bumps into Pete Dunne. Bálor says if he wants a shot at the champion then he needs to get in line.

In-Ring: Finn Balor, Kyle O’Reilly, Karrion Kross, Damian Priest

NXT Champion Finn Bálor is in the ring with Kyle O’Reilly’s NXT Match of the Year Award. Bálor says his match against Kyle O’Reilly at TakeOver 31 for the NXT Championship was the Match of the Year. O’Reilly surprised a lot of people that night, but not Bálor. O’Reilly proved he belongs in the ring with him. O’Reilly deserves this award.

The Undisputed ERA’s music cuts Bálor off, and Kyle O’Reilly marches down to the ring. O’Reilly retrieves his award. Bálor says he doesn’t need a trophy because he has the NXT Championship. Bálor doesn’t need that trophy to remind him of that match. He has three steel plates in his jaw to remind him of that. The trophy will just gather dust.

O’Reilly says this award means something to him. It means proof that he belongs at the top of NXT. That said, he doesn’t need it and won’t carry it around anywhere. It’s a consolation prize, a participation award. O’Reilly has been participating for 15 years. It’s a reminder that in the fight of his life he came up short. O’Reilly wants the real prize. O’Reilly respects Bálor, but will beat him down to take that title. It’ll make the 15 years worth a damn and prove Kyle O’Reilly is worth a damn. Bálor says that’s very nice, but he’ll do everything in his power to make O’Reilly suffer. The last time they wrestled, O’Reilly broke his jaw. The next time they wrestle, he’ll make O’Reilly pay. He’ll drag O’Reilly all over this canvas and make him wish – something got censored here.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett come out to the stage. She says what’s in that ring belongs to them. It’s irrelevant who wins in 7 days because their fates are sealed. Kross says, “Doomsday is here! Tick. Tock.”

Damian Priest shows up behind Kross, and they go face-to-face. Priest says this is how you step up like a man. Priest hits a nasty forearm and punches away at him. Kross big boots him, but Priest fights back. Kross hits a big forearm shiver, but Priest boots him back. Kross fights back with a slam into the scaffolding. Priest then tackles him through the barricade. They fight to the back. They fight onto some crates before Kross goes for a slam. They both crash through some tables. Scarlett is shown happily sitting nearby watching the carnage. Kross raises an arm up to signal he is alive.

Video Package: Rhea Ripley, Raquel Gonzalez

Video Package: The personal history between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez

Rhea Ripley will battle Raquel Gonzalez in a Last Woman Standing Match next week on New Year’s Evil.

Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado)

Legado del Fantasma is in the ring. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar tells Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza to look around and think about the year they had. The NXT Universe can vote all they want for the Undisputed ERA to be the Tag Team of the Year. It’s a sham. Escobar isn’t here to be popular. He’s here to dominate. That’s exactly what he’s done. NXT General Manager William Regal is out trying to find the next challenger for the Cruiserweight Title. No one can touch him. Regal can look all across the earth. Regal can’t and won’t find anyone who belongs in this ring with him… with them… the leaders of Lucha Libre, el Legado del Fantasma.

This will continue in 2021 because he knows exactly what they’ll do. Their first order of business…

The Lucha House Party’s music hits. Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado of Monday Night Raw come out to the stage. Dorado says it’s nice to come to a place where they’re not chasing champions. They have a question for Escobar: does he really think he owns Lucha Libre? No one owns it. Lucha Libre is for everybody. Mendoza shouts at them in Spanish.

They charge the ring and send Wilde and Mendoza out of the ring. Escobar tries to blindside them, but he’s scared back. A referee comes out and says this will be a tag match. Legado del Fantasma blindside them, but Dorado comes back with a double stunner. Metalik then dropkicks them out of the ring.

We join this match in progress to see Metalik flipping around. Metalik hits a dropkick on Mendoza before hitting Wilde with a hurricanrana for a two count. Metalik boots Wilde back and tags Dorado in. Dorado hits Wilde with a hurricanrana. Mendoza tags in, but Dorado takes him down and hits a springboard moonsault block. Wilde cuts off a move from Dorado, and Mendoza dropkicks Dorado. Mendoza and Wilde tag in and out to avalanche Dorado. They hit a double-team suplex for a near fall. Wilde applies an arm bar and powers Dorado to the corner. Dorado fights back and hits Wilde with a cross-body block.

Metalik and Mendoza tag in. Metalik flips over Mendoza and superkicks him before hitting a reverse sling blade. Metalik jumps onto the ropes and hits a dropkick for a near fall. Metalik kicks Mendoza back as Dorado tags in. Metalik hits a super hurricanrana, and Dorado follows up with a huge splash. Wilde breaks up the pin before knocking Metalik off the apron. Dorado puts Wilde on the apron and helps Metalik hit a WILD hurricanrana off the apron to the floor!

Dorado hits Mendoza with a poisonrana and tags Metalik in. Metalik walks on the top rope and drops an elbow for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Lucha House Party

Gran Metalik signals that he wants the NXT Cruiserweight Championship from Santos Escobar.

NXT Year End Awards: Future Star of the Year

It’s time for the NXT Future Star of the Year Award. The nominees are Austin Theory, Jake Atlas, Leon Ruff, Kacy Catanzaro, Kayden Carter, Indi Hartwell, Xia Li, A-Kid, Aoife Valkyrie, and Pretty Deadly. The winner is Austin Theory.

Austin Theory receives the award with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell. Theory says he found a Gargano Way. Tonight, Gargano is going to break that curse. Gargano says you can’t mention the curse and angrily throws Theory’s Gargano Whey. A crash is heard and Gargano flips out. When he threw the whey, it broke a mirror.

NXT Year End Awards: Overall Competitor of the Year

NXT General Manager William Regal is ready to hand out the 2020 Overall Competitor of the Year. The winner is Io Shirai.

Io Shirai thanks everyone very much for voting for her to receive this award.

NXT North American Championship
Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Leon Ruff

The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Gargano grabs the arm and wrenches the arm. Gargano hits a headlock takeover before applying an arm bar. Ruff kips up a few times, does a backflip, and takes Gargano down with some roll-ups for two counts. Gargano goes outside to recover with The Way. Ruff scares Austin Theory off the apron and avoids a slingshot spear. Ruff hits some arm drags before taking Gargano down and kicking him in the head. Ruff chops the chest and jumps up to the second turnbuckle. Gargano quickly pushes him over the top rope to the floor.

Gargano chops the chest at ringside and sends him into the barricade. Gargano gets in the ring to break the count-out. Gargano whips him into the barricade, but Ruff leaps up to the fencing, jumps to the steps, jumps back to the fencing, and hits Gargano with a hurricanrana on the floor. Ruff gets him in the ring, but The Way distracts him. Gargano snaps his neck off the middle rope before hitting a suicide dive. Gargano sends him into the ring steps and poses.

During the commercial: Gargano poses with Theory. Gargano kicks Ruff before putting him on the apron and elbowing him. Gargano shows off The Way’s shirt and stretches Ruff on the ropes. Gargano hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Gargano kicks him in the head a few times for a two count. Gargano applies a neck vice and cinches it in.

We come back from the break to see Gargano still holding that neck vice in. Ruff fights up and punches out. Gargano quickly cuts off the momentum and hits a backbreaker. Gargano attacks the shoulder and stretches him. Ruff fights back and kicks him in the midsection before hitting an uppercut. Ruff hits a pair of twisting elbows. Gargano avoids an avalanche, but misses one of his own. Ruff hits an enzuigiri kick followed by a neckbreaker. Ruff ducks a clothesline and hits a German Suplex. Ruff hits a nice corkscrew cannonball in the corner for a near fall.

An “NXT” chant fires up. Gargano fights back momentarily, but Ruff cuts him off. Gargano quickly stuns him with a superkick before hitting a lawn dart into the corner. Gargano feigns a kick and kicks him in the face for a near fall. Gargano goes to the arpon, but Ruff follows him and kicks him in the face. Gargano counters a crucifix bomb into a backbreaker. Gargano hits a discus lariat followed by a powerbomb for a near fall. Gargano immediately transitions into a Gargano Escape. Ruff pulls himself to the bottom rope and gets his legs on it.

Gargano slaps the mat in frustration. Gargano gets him out of the ring and goes for a lawn dart into the barricade, but Ruff gets out. Ruff then hits a flying cutter off the apron to the floor! Ruff gets Gargano in the ring and goes to the top rope. Ruff hits a frog splash for a near fall. Ruff puts him on the top rope and punches away at him. Ruff climbs to the top rope, but Gargano slides out and pulls him face-first onto the top turnbuckle. Gargano connects with One Final Beat to break the curse and retain the championship.

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT North American Champion: Johnny Gargano

Next Week

A picture is worth 1,000 words…

NEXT WEEK at #NXTNYE!
🔥@RheaRipley_WWE vs. @RaquelWWE #LastWomanStanding Match
🔥Timothy Thatcher v. @NXTCiampa in a #FightPit
🔥@ArcherOfInfamy v. @WWEKarrionKross (w/ @Lady_Scarlett13)
🔥 @EscobarWWE v. @WWEGranMetalik #Cruiserweight Title! pic.twitter.com/pDCaxAXrza

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 31, 2020

Dexter Lumis is shown on a platform. He will host New Year’s Evil next week. Here’s what’s booked for next week’s show:

— NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar (c) vs. Gran Metalik
— Fight Pit: Timothy Thatcher vs. Tommaso Ciampa
— Karrion Kross vs. Damian Priest
— Last Woman Standing: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez
— NXT Championship: Finn Bálor vs. Kyle O’Reilly