NXT Halloween Havoc 2021 - Star ratings for every match

NXT 2.0 had its most important night yet with the Halloween Havoc 2021 special. It was an evening that featured four titles on the line and the holiday theme sprinkled throughout the show.

Three of the championship matches were "Spin The Wheel: Make A Deal," a throwback gimmick of the original Halloween Havoc that WCW highlighted as a pay-per-view.

Tommaso Ciampa defended the NXT Championship for the first time since recapturing "Goldie." His challenger was one of the biggest new stars of the 2.0 era, Bron Breakker. Toxic Attraction looked to win all the women's gold on this special episode as well.

With this highly anticipated show in the books now, it is a great time to look back on the matches on display for the night. Despite the big title matches, there were some contests that you would see on a regular NXT 2.0 episode as well. In this article, let's give the star rating for every match at NXT Halloween Havoc 2021.

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Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. Toxic Attraction vs. Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta in a Scareway To Hell Ladder Match for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

NXT Halloween Havoc 2021 kicked off with a death-defying, Scareway To Hell Ladder Match for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. Io Shirai and Zoey Stark defended against Toxic Attraction's Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne, as well as Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta.

This marked the second ladder match for WWE in the week following Seth Rollins defeating Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio, and Finn Balor in the same stipulation to win the Number One Contender spot for the WWE Championship. The Halloween Havoc 2021 opening bout had all the crash and burn spots that fans have become accustomed to.

Persia Pirotta stood out at one point, using her power to dominate the opposition. Io Shirai and Zoey Stark used their high-flying expertise to keep their challengers on the back foot. Indi Hartwell pushed Shirai off the ladder onto a ladder bridge at ringside for the sickest bump of all the high impact moments in this action-packed affair.

However, Gigi Dolin kicked Hartwell off the top of the ladder and captured the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships for herself and Jacy Jayne. It seemed likely going in that Toxic Attraction would walk out with the gold, and this was the right decision to start things off at Halloween Havoc. It wasn't the best ladder match of the week, but certainly a good opener for the show.

Star rating: ***1/4

Joe Gacy vs. Malik Blade (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

Joe Gacy continued his campaign for inclusivity here on NXT Halloween Havoc 2021 in a matchup against Malik Blade. There wasn't much to this contest at all. The commentary team focused on security footage of Harland arriving at the CWC with the mysterious big man coming down to ringside. He was about to attack Blade until Gacy called him off.

Joe Gacy hit his handspring lariat to defeat Malik Blade here in just over two minutes. The story was more about Harland and Gacy's developing relationship as it seems like Joe is trying to change the former NCAA star. Joe Gacy's character is polarizing, but his relationship with Harland is at least intriguing.

Star rating: *1/2

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Roderick Strong vs. Odyssey Jones (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

Diamond Mine came out next for the next contest on Halloween Havoc 2021. Malcolm Bivens made an open invitational to anyone in the locker room to face any member of his group. Odyssey Jones accepted the challenge and wanted a piece of the NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong in a non-title bout.

Roderick Strong can have a good match with anyone on the roster, but Odyssey Jones is still being seasoned and growing. It wasn't his smoothest bout here. However, it was entertaining with the Diamond Mine causing a distraction long enough for Strong to hit a pair of knees to beat the larger opponent.

Star rating: **

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Mandy Rose in a Trick Or Street Fight for the NXT Women's Championship (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

Heading into NXT Halloween Havoc 2021, Raquel Gonzalez has had a dominant reign as NXT Women's Champion, defeating the likes of Mercedes Martinez, Ember Moon, and Franky Monet along the way. Mandy Rose and Toxic Attraction targeted the champ and looked to add the top prize in the women's division to their stable.

The spin of the wheel landed on a Trick Or Street Fight, and this was the type of smoke and mirrors that this contest needed. The ladies used an assortment of weapons, from steel chairs to kendo sticks to fire extinguishers. After a spear through a table on Rose, Gonzalez looked set to win until the returning Dakota Kai under a hood cost her the title.

Mandy Rose being crowned the NXT Women's Champion felt like a critical moment here. She has returned to the brand and found more success than she ever did on the main roster. This win gave Toxic Attraction all the gold in NXT coming out of Halloween Havoc 2021. The finish also sets up Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez to resume their rivalry without the title now.

Star rating: ***

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MSK vs. Imperium in a Lumber-Jack O'Lantern Match for the NXT Tag Team Championships (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

MSK looked to add another successful title defense to their NXT Tag Team Championship reign at NXT Halloween Havoc 2021 against Imperium. The spin of the wheel made this a Lumber-Jack O'Lantern Match. It felt like a rather unnecessary stipulation, especially with the superstars not doing much to keep the action inside the squared circle and leaving before the finish.

However, the two tag teams delivered a quality bout that escalated in intensity as it went on. It was an evenly matched contest, with Imperium's power blending nicely with MSK's high-flying arsenal. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel isolated Wes Lee towards the end, giving him a brainbuster and the Imperial Bomb to win the NXT Tag Team Titles for the second time.

Star rating: ***3/4

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship (NXT Halloween Havoc 2021)

The biggest match of NXT Halloween Havoc 2021 was the main event for the NXT Championship, with Tommaso Ciampa defending against Bron Breakker. On the first 2.0 episode, Ciampa regained the NXT Championship in a Fatal Four Way Match against Pete Dunne, LA Knight, and Von Wagner. In the same episode, Bron Breakker made his debut on the brand.

That first NXT 2.0 episode ended with the new champion going face to face with the upstart, teasing this eventual showdown. Bron Breakker accepted the Halloween Havoc challenge of Tommaso Ciampa to give a date for their clash. Over the past few weeks, the two men have expressed respect for one another while showing increased tension.

Ciampa and Breakker came out very intense and motivated in this Halloween Havoc 2021 main event. Bron showed that he had an advantage in the power and strength department almost immediately. Ciampa tried to ground with a headlock, but Breakker suplexed his way out of that.

The CWC crowd was split right down the middle for both men. Half of the fans were chanting "Let's Go Ciampa," while the other half were doing dog bark, reminiscent of Bron Breaker's father, Rick Steiner. After Tommaso slowed down Breakker, he started to make a comeback and hit an impressive Frankensteiner in a callback to his uncle Scott.

Breakker followed up with a double underhook powerbomb for a nearfall. Ciampa got the better of a strike exchange, but the fight went to the floor where the NXT Champion hit a DDT on the exposed concrete, busting open Bron. Ciampa followed up with the Fairy Tale Ending for a two count. He then hit a series of knees, and another Fairy Tale Ending to win and retain the title.

This was an excellent main event for the Halloween Havoc 2021 show. It was an exceptional outing for the rookie Bron Breakker. He was impressive in his first headline bout with the company.

Breakker is clearly being groomed to be the future of the brand and showcased why this is a smart choice. NXT 2.0 may not be the NXT of old, but Halloween Havoc 2021 showed that the future is now.

Star rating: ***1/2