NXT Results – Jan. 6, 2021 – New Year’s Evil, Balor vs. O’Reilly

Jan 6, 2021

January 6, 2021
Orlando, Florida (Capitol Wrestling Center)
Commentary: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, and Beth Phoenix
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

Karrion Kross defeated Damian Priest via forearm shot to the head
NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar (c) defeated Gran Metalik via Phantom Driver
Xia Li defeated Katrina Cortez via spin kick to the face
Last Woman Standing: Raquel Gonzalez defeated Rhea Ripley via one-armed powerbomb through the stage
Mixed Tag Team Match: Kushida & Shotzi Blackheart defeated Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae via roll up by Kushida on Gargano
NXT Championship: Finn Bálor (c) defeated Kyle O’Reilly via abdominal stretch

Intro: Dexter Lumis

Is our host @DexterLumis magic? ✨#NXTNYE starts RIGHT NOW on @USA_Network! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/mRV5BpZFMv

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 7, 2021

Dexter Lumis is shown. He walks up some stairs to a production panel and starts pressing buttons that turn off the lights in the Capitol Wrestling Center. Lumis then grabs a lever and pulls it to light up the center. Lumis is in a red coat and the crowd appears.

Damian Priest vs. Karrion Kross

They lock up at the sound of the bell and fall out of the ring trying to overpower one another. They keep the tie up applied until Kross puts Priest on the apron. Priest knocks him back and gets in the ring. Kross angrily gets in the ring, and they each tease jabs and kicks. Priest connects with a kick eventually, which only serves to anger Kross. Kross charges, but Priest punches and kicks him back. Kross eventually lifts Priest up and slams him down. Priest holds his midsection in pain. Kross quickly jumps on him and lays in some punches. Kross boots him in the corner before sending him to the opposite corner. Kross connects with a corner clothesline, sends him across to the opposite corner, and hits a second corner clothesline. Kross connects with a modified exploder suplex.

Kross applies a surfboard stretch, but Priest fights up. Kross quickly kicks Priest in his injured ribs and clotheslines him out of the ring. Kross goes outside and drives Priest ribs-first into the ring steps. Kross lifts the steps up, but Priest kicks him. Kross drops the steps, but manages to jab him in the ribs and get him back in the ring. Kross gets in the ring and continues to punch away at the ribs. Kross pulls the hair, but Priest smiles and dares him to hit him. Kross obliges, but Priest absorbs the blows. Kross gets frustrated and sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Priest then stuns Kross with a vicious punch. Priest punches away at him before hitting an uppercut. Priest connects with a flatliner. Priest slowly pulls himself to his feet, but Kross gets up in the corner as well. Priest avalanches him and goes for a suplex, but his ribs are too hurt. Kross tries to follow up, but Priest punches him and connects with a clothesline. Priest hits a Broken Arrow for a near fall.

Priest goes for a spin kick, but Kross ducks and goes for a Doomsday Saito. Priest gets out of it and boots him back. Priest then hits an arm breaker and applies a grapevine to the arms. Kross powers up and rolls Priest over to get out. Kross viciously elbows Priest in the injured ribs a few times. Kross gets Priest to his feet, but Priest punches back and big boots him. Kross responds with a big boot of his own. They trade forearms and kicks with Priest coming out on top of that exchange. Priest then hits a springboard somersault senton. Kross avoids an avalanche in the corner and connects with a vicious lariat for a near fall.

Kross stomps Priest’s hand and puts him in the tree of woe. Kross viciously kicks away at the ribs before backing up. Kross pulls his kneepad down and hits a running knee to the injured ribs of Priest. Priest grunts in pain. Kross powers Priest into a sitting position on the top rope. Kross climbs to the second rope and says it is over. Kross sets up for a Super Doomsday Saito, but Priest fights it. Priest head-butts him and kicks him in the face. Priest gets into the ring and connects with a wild Razor’s Edge. Priest crawls over and covers Kross, but Kross kicks out at two and a half.

Priest forearms Kross on the apron and stuns him. Priest kicks him in the face and grabs him by the throat. Kross blocks a chokeslam and goes to get in the ring, but Priest knocks him to the floor with a roundhouse kick. Priest then crushes him with a step-up somersault senton! Priest gets him in the ring and hits a top rope spinning wheel kick. Priest gets to his feet and hits South of Heaven for a near fall!

Priest sets up for the Reckoning, but Kross counters into a northern lights suplex. Kross attacks the ribs and absolutely CRUSHES Priest with a powerbomb that turns him inside out. Kross covers, but Priest kicks out. Priest rolls out of the ring to recover. Kross follows him out, but Priest connects with a roundhouse kick. Priest hits another kick and goes for a third, but Kross captures him and drives him ribs-first into a scaffold. Kross then scoop slams him onto the bottom half of the steel steps! Kross gets him in the ring and puts a sinister smile on his face. Priest gets to his feet and says he’s still standing. Kross looks infuriated and kicks him in the head. Kross hits a Doomsday Saito before hitting a vicious forearm shiver to the back of the neck for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Karrion Kross

The First Round of the NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic begins next week.

The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) are shown in the crowd. They’ll be in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Backstage: Adam Cole, Roderick Strong

McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Adam Cole and Roderick Strong of the Undisputed ERA. Cole says every year is a big year for the UE. Cole is the longest-reigning NXT Champion. Strong is a former NXT North American Champion. They fulfilled the Golden Prophecy. Strong says Breezango may have good entrances, but they’re veterans that get the job done. Cole says they’ll be better than them and will win gold in this tournament. However, tonight Kyle O’Reilly will fulfill his destiny by beating Finn Bálor for the NXT Championship.

NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Gran Metalik

They circle the ring and lock up. Metalik backs him into the ropes and gives him a cocky clean break. They lock up again, and Escobar powers him to the corner. Metalik ducks a cheap shot. Escobar picks the leg, but Metalik connects with a head-scissor takeover. Escobar quickly pops up and takes him down. Metalik hits the ropes and hits a running hurricanrana that sends him out of the ring. Metalik then teases a dive to the floor, but he instead poses in the ring.

Escobar gets in the ring and kicks Metalik. Escobar sends him into the ropes, but Metalik handsprings off the ropes and lands on his feet. Metalik comes off the top rope with a diving hurricanrana. Escobar gets to his feet and drops Metalik on the apron. Escobar goes for a slide, but Metalik leaps up and hits a springboard moonsault block to the floor! Metalik gets him in the ring and connects with a springboard senton for a near fall.

Metalik hits a fireman’s carry slam before going to the top rope. Metalik lands on his feet from a moonsault when Escobar moves. Escobar charges, but Metalik drops him on the apron and kicks him. Metalik walks on the top rope and goes for a hurricanrana to the floor. Escobar catches him, but there’s near catastrophe as he slips on the apron. Escobar collects himself and doesn’t drop Metalik. Escobar then goes to the floor and slams Metalik into the barricade.

During the commercial: Escobar stretches Metalik around the ring post and stomps away at him. Escobar stretches him with a single leg crab. Escobar lets him up, sends him into the ropes, and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Escobar chops him to the corner and puts him on the top rope.

We come back from the break to see Escobar kick Metalik on the top rope. Escobar climbs to the second rope and faces the ring. Escobar puts Metalik on his shoulders and drops him ribs-first on the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Metalik rolls around in pain. Escobar applies a Mexican Surfboard and drops him back. Both men’s shoulders are nearly pinned.

Escobar attacks and lifts him, but Metalik elbows out. Metalik rolls him up for a near fall. Escobar gets to his feet and connects with a clothesline for another two count. Escobar charges him in the corner, but Metalik boots him back. Metalik hits a superkick and a Sling Blade Bulldog. Metalik twists and turns on the ropes before hitting a missile dropkick that sends Escobar out of the ring. Metalik then jumps off the bottom rope and hits a somersault senton! Metalik gets him in the ring and hits a springboard splash for a near fall.

Metalik viciously chops him, but Escobar sends him hard to the corner. Metalik rolls up the turnbuckles and kicks him back. Metalik hits a springboard, but Escobar hits a knee out of mid-air. Escobar follows up with a stiff suicide dive. Escobar gets him in the ring and covers for a near fall. Metalik fights out of Legado. Escobar punches him back and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Escobar viciously chops him and climbs to the second rope. Escobar rips at Metalik’s mask. Escobar knocks him to the apron and goes to the top rope. Metalik fights him. Lince Dorado takes out Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde at ringside with a dive.

Metalik hits a springboard super hurricanrana. Metalik signals for an elbow drop, but Escobar cuts him off and (sort of) hits Legado. Escobar follows up with a Phantom Driver for the win.

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Santos Escobar

Santos Escobar poses with the NXT Cruiserweight Championship along with Mendoza and Wilde.

Xia Li vs. Katrina Cortez

Xia Li makes an intense entrance with lots of theatrics. A mysterious figure is shown sitting on a throne.

The bell rings, and Cortez grabs a waistlock. Li reverses a whip, but misses a kick. Li knocks her back and connects with a vicious spin kick to the head. Li looks at the person sitting on a throne and bows. Li grabs Cortez and knees her in the face before hitting a spin kick to the midsection. Cortez fights back, but Li blocks out the pain. Li viciously knees Cortez in the jaw before hitting a NASTY spin kick to the face for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Xia Li

Xia Li and Boa march up to the figure sitting on the throne and bow to the person.

Segment: William Regal, Timothy Thatcher

NXT General Manager William Regal is shown earlier today announcing that Timothy Thatcher is unable to compete tonight after sustaining a minor injury while training. Once Thatcher heals, he’ll face Tommaso Ciampa in the Fight Pit.

Backstage: Bronson Reed

McKenzie Mitchell is at ringside with Bronson Reed. Reed says he’s had to sit home with injuries, but it made him aggressive. Reed says 2021 will be his year and NXT is on notice. It will be a colossal year. As far as the Last Woman Standing Match, he’s got his money on Rhea Ripley.

Last Woman Standing
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez

The bell rings, and Ripley dropkicks her down. Ripley shoulders her in the corner a few times. Gonzalez shoves her back, but Ripley hits a Lou Thesz Press. The two women brawl in the ring, exchanging vicious punches. Gonzalez gets to her feet, waits for Ripley, and wipes her out with a clothesline. Gonzalez connects with a fallaway slam, scoops her up, and hits a second fallaway slam. Gonzalez gets back up, grabs Ripley, and hits a third fallaway slam. Gonzalez yells for the referee to count, but Ripley is up at four. Gonzalez talks trash and wrenches the arm. Ripley stuns Gonzalez with a right hand. Ripley kicks Gonzalez in the ribs and hits a leg trip. Ripley connects with a low dropkick that sends her out of the ring. Ripley goes outside and drives Gonzalez into the ring apron. Ripley goes under the ring and grabs a kendo stick. Ripley belts Gonzalez with three kendo stick shots. Gonzalez blocks a fourth shot and puts her in the ring. Ripley quickly rolls out and jumps off the steps for a diving dropkick, but Gonzalez hits her with a chair out of mid-air! Gonzalez then drives her into the barricade.

Gonzalez breaks the kendo stick over Ripley’s back and grabs a pair of handcuffs. Ripley fights her and sends her headfirst into the mesh around the barricade. Ripley then handcuffs Gonzalez to the fencing around the ringside area. Ripley taunts her and chops away at the chest. Ripley grabs the kendo stick, but Gonzalez big boots her back. Gonzalez then rips the fence apart to get out. Gonzalez hits Ripley with a fistful of handcuffs and torn metal from the fence. Ripley screams in pain before driving Gonzalez into the ring post. Ripley grabs the ring bell hammer and swings, but Gonzalez blocks it and slams her face into the ring bell. The referee begins to count Ripley down, but she’s up at six. Gonzalez clears the commentary table and hits a back body drop on Ripley. Ripley lands on half the table, which collapses, and lands on the back of her neck! Gonzalez buries Ripley under the rubble, but Ripley is up at the count of eight. Gonzalez angrily gets Ripley in the ring.

During the commercial: Gonzalez slams Ripley in the ring and stands on her. Gonzalez drives her into the corner and punches her down. Gonzalez clubs away at her before connecting with a clothesline over the top rope. Ripley slowly gets up. Gonzalez grabs the top half of the steps, but Ripley boots them out of her hands. Ripley then DDTs Gonzalez on the steps! Gonzalez gets up before being counted down.

We come back from the break to see Gonzalez hit Ripley with the stairs twice! They’re on the stage, and Gonzalez big boots her down and off the stage. Gonzalez slowly stalks her and says this is her NXT now. Gonzalez bounces her off a table backstage. Ripley tries to fight back, but Gonzalez immediately cuts her off. Ripley elbows her back and drives her through a glass door! The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Both are up at the count of eight.

Ripley boots Gonzalez in the face, and they’re fighting through a narrow hallway. Ripley sends Gonzalez headfirst into some lockers and a crate. Gonzalez grabs a table of gimmicks and snacks, and puts Gonzalez on it. Ripley punches her and climbs to the top of the lockers. Ripley then ANNIHILATES Gonzalez with a senton bomb through the table!

Ripley is up at seven. Gonzalez looks like she’ll be down, but Dakota Kai runs in out of nowhere and viciously beats Ripley with a kendo stick. Gonzalez is up before ten. Ripley fights up and beats Kai down, slamming some locker doors on her head. Ripley stuff Kai into a locker and puts a crate in front of it to trap her inside. Ripley goes to the stage, and Gonzalez greets her with a chair shot. Ripley quickly takes her down and applies a Prism Trap! Ripley puts a chair around her face to add to the pain. Gonzalez somehow twists out and kicks Ripley into some staging. Gonzalez charges, but Ripley lifts her and hits a slam into the LED wall! Gonzalez lands on her head! Ripley is up at seven, and Gonzalez is up at nine.

Ripley grabs her and climbs the steps that are on the ramp, but Gonzalez sweeps the feet. Ripley lands hard on the steps. Gonzalez then lifts her up and hits a one-armed powerbomb off the steps through the stage! The referee is counting. Gonzalez emerges from the hole in the stage and is declared the Last Woman Standing!

Winner: Raquel Gonzalez

In-Ring: The Way, Shotzi Blackheart, Kushida

The Way drives into the Capitol Wrestling Center in a motorcade. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Austin Theory get in the ring. There is something covered up on an easel. Gargano talks about the Curse of the Bambino and the Curse of the Billy Goat. He even talks about the cursed fan at ringside that can never get a girlfriend. Gargano has reversed the curse.

Candice LeRae says she loves Gargano and gives him a plaque symbolizing when he broke the curse. Theory says Gargano is like a real life superhero, but superheroes never get anything in return. Hartwell says that’s not how they roll. Theory and Hartwell remove the cloak and reveal a comic book drawing of The Way as the Fantastic 4. Gargano has a way to make this night better: he and Austin Theory are entering the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Shotzi Blackheart drives out to the stage in a mini-tank. Theory gets out of the ring and says she won’t disrespect The Way like that. Blackheart shoots a projectile from the tank at the groin if Theory. Blackheart charges the ring and kicks LeRae off the apron. Gargano gets on the apron and yells at Blackheart. Kushida pulls Gargano off the apron and stands tall with Blackheart.

A bell is rung, and Dexter Lumis, the host of NXT New Year’s Evil is holding it. A drawing of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae vs. Shotzi Blackheart and Kushida is shown!

Mixed Tag Team Match
Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Kushida & Shotzi Blackheart

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are infuriated with this impromptu match. Blackheart starts against LeRae and dropkicks her. Blackheart splashes her against the ropes.

We come back from the break to see LeRae wrenching Blackheart’s arm. LeRae takes her down and slams the arm off the mat for a two count.

Dexter Lumis is “on commentary” for this match, only he’s not talking.

LeRae applies a chin lock, but Blackheart fights up with her on her back. Blackheart hits a backpack stunner and tags Kushida.

Kushida hits a springboard clothesline on Gargano, who has to come in automatically. Kushida runs wild on him and kicks him in the head. Kushida hits a hip toss into an arm bar submission. Gargano fights out, but Kushida fights back with a cross arm breaker. Gargano desperately gets a foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Gargano gets out of a German Suplex, but Kushida takes him down with an arm breaker. Gargano tries to fight back, but Kushida stuns him with a shot to the jaw. Kushida charges him in the corner, but LeRae stands in his way. Gargano charges, but nearly hits LeRae when Kushida moves. Blackheart runs in and hits LeRae with Sliced Bread #2. Blackheart and Kushida hit stereo arm breakers and kicks to the face on LeRae and Gargano. Kushida hits a cartwheel kick to knock Gargano to the floor. Blackheart then connects with a DANGEROUS suicide dive on LeRae!

Kushida goes to the top rope, but Theory knocks him to the canvas. Kushida pulls Theory into the ring and gives Gargano a drop-toe-hold into Theory’s groin. Kushida rolls Gargano up for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Shotzi Blackheart and Kushida

Backstage: William Regal

#WWENXT GM has just announced the first-ever Women’s #WWENXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic!#NXTNYE pic.twitter.com/EoGAZ2WxH2

— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2021

NXT TakeOver returns on February 14.

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic starts next week. We’ll see the Undisputed ERA take on Breezango. We’ll also see Ever-Rise take on the Grizzled Young Veterans.

NXT General Manager William Regal announces we’ll soon have a Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

NXT Championship
Finn Bálor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly

NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are in the front row with Pete Dunne.

The bell rings, and they cautiously approach one another. They twist through hammerlock attempts. O’Reilly applies a side headlock, but Bálor whips him off. O’Reilly immediately shoulder blocks him down. Bálor quickly grabs his jaw. They go for a test of strength, but O’Reilly hooks the arm. O’Reilly takes him down and grapevines the face. Bálor kips up and backs to the corner. They circle the ring, and O’Reilly dives for the ankle. Bálor kneels down and applies a rear chin lock. O’Reilly fights up, but Bálor hits a headlock takeover. O’Reilly rolls him onto his shoulders, but Bálor quickly rolls out of a pin. O’Reilly then grapevines the head and applies some torque. Bálor rolls over, but O’Reilly rolls out. O’Reilly then applies an arm bar. Bálor fights up and twists out, but O’Reilly just as quickly takes him back down. O’Reilly hits an arm breaker and shoulders him in the injured shoulder. Bálor counters into an abdominal stretch, but O’Reilly counters with a hip toss and an arm bar. Bálor tries to twist out, but O’Reilly keeps him down. Bálor rolls O’Reilly over and cinches in an abdominal stretch. O’Reilly pulls himself to the ropes, but Bálor turns him to prevent the rope break. O’Reilly bends over and grabs the rope with his mouth to break the hold. Bálor then kicks the rope into O’Reilly’s mouth!

A ringside doctor comes over to check on O’Reilly’s jaw. Balor takes O’Reilly down and applies a chin lock. O’Reilly fights up. Bálor hits the ropes, but O’Reilly takes him down by the arm. O’Reilly drives a knee into the injured arm followed by a sliding kick. O’Reilly holds his jaw in pain. Bálor is on the apron and forearms O’Reilly back. O’Reilly grabs the arm and hits a twisting pull over the ropes. O’Reilly hits the move a second time. O’Reilly grabs him, but Bálor stretches him out on the ropes. Bálor releases the hold before being disqualified… then he goes back to it. Bálor stomps away at O’Reilly’s jaw before hitting a dropkick for a near fall. O’Reilly hits a back suplex, but Bálor holds on and applies a crossface submission. O’Reilly manages to get out of it. Bálor chops him in the corner and grinds the forearm into O’Reilly’s mouth. Bálor sends him into the ropes and hits a running back elbow for a two count. O’Reilly fights back and goes for another back suplex, but Bálor fights it. They hit the ropes, and O’Reilly turns Bálor inside out with a knee to the midsection. O’Reilly avoids some strikes and takes him down before hitting an arm breaker. O’Reilly rolls him over for a two count.

Bálor avoids a running knee in the corner and chops the chest. O’Reilly reverses a whip and kicks Bálor. Bálor hits a kick to the back of the neck, but O’Reilly applies a leglock. Bálor then hits a nasty kick that sends O’Reilly out of the ring. O’Reilly manages to get back in the ring at the count of nine.

Bálor attacks and grabs the arm, but Bálor forearms him. O’Reilly fights back and applies a guillotine submission. Bálor fights it, so O’Reilly transitions to a triangle choke. Bálor punches out, so O’Reilly takes him down and applies a double leg heel hook. Bálor quickly strikes him in the injured jaw to break out of the hold. Bálor hits some dropping forearms and hits a fallaway elbow. Bálor hits the Reverse Bloody Sunday and rolls him over to apply a crossface. O’Reilly manages to break out of the hold.

They’re both on wobbly legs and trade kicks. O’Reilly charges, but Bálor hits a Sling Blade. Bálor takes him down and hits a double stomp to the midsection. Bálor follows up with a Woo Dropkick into the corner. Bálor goes to the top rope, but O’Reilly cuts him off. O’Reilly hits a superplex and goes to roll. Bálor counters into a roll-up and we nearly have a double pin. O’Reilly fights up and hits a suplex before applying a cross arm bar to Bálor! Bálor rolls over and somehow gets to the bottom rope.

Bálor is bleeding from the eyebrow. O’Reilly punches him in the corner and backs up. O’Reilly charges, but Bálor kicks him in the liver. Bálor takes him down with a crucifix and applies a grounded abdominal stretch for the submission.

Winner by Submission and still NXT Champion: Finn Bálor