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Dexter Lumis kicked off the NXT New Year's Evil special with the pull of a lever in a dark ring before we headed straight to our first match of the night: Damian Priest vs. Karrion Kross.
Damian Priest vs. Karrion Kross at NXT New Year's Evil
Kross and Scarlett came in with an elaborate intro and Priest started things off with some big jabs before he was sent into the corner for a series of clotheslines. Priest was sent outside before the steel steps came into play before Kross brought him back in the ring.
Priest got back in control with a lariat and a brainbuster before focusing on Kross' left arm with an armbar. Kross fought back and managed to recover before the two traded kicks in the center of the ring before Priest hit a springboard senton.
Priest went for The Reckoning, but Kross reversed it with a Northern Lights suplex. Outside, Kross caught Priest and sent him into the steel steps before dragging him back in. Kross hit a Saito suplex followed by a running forearm to the back of the head, picking up the win.
Result: Karrion Kross def. Damian Priest
Match rating: A
Roderick Strong and Adam Cole had a message for Breezango backstage during NXT New Year's Evil.
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Gran Metalik - Cruiserweight Championship match at NXT New Year's Evil
Metalik started off the match strong and hit a huge moonsault to the outside before getting a near fall in the ring. Escobar blocked a Hurricanrana on the apron and sent Metalik into the barricades.
After a break, Santos took control and hit a knee to the face, taking Metalik down. The two went to the top rope before Escobar dropped Metalik and Lince took out Escobar's teammates at ringside before they could interfere at New Year's Evil.
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Gran Metalik - Cruiserweight Championship match at NXT New Year's Evil (contd...)
Metalik tried to get a rollup off the distraction at New Yea's Evil but Escobar caught him with the Phantom Driver and picked up the win.
Result: Santos Escobar def. Gran Metalik to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
Match rating: B+
Xia Li vs. Katalina Cortez at NXT New Year's Evil
Cortez managed to evade Li's strikes for a second but took a big kick and went down. Xia paused to bow to her trainer/cult leader before going for more kicks. Cortez fought back for a but Li did not seem to take any damage now, after her training. Xia hit a few more kicks before ending the match quickly with a spinning back kick for the win at New Year's Evil.
Result: Xia Li def. Katalina Cortez
Match rating: C
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez - Last Woman standing match at NXT New Year's Evil
The weapons came out right away and Raquel was handcuffed to the barricades at ringside but she managed to rip the railing out before attack Rhea with the twisted metal.
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez - Last Woman standing match at NXT New Year's Evil (contd...)
Gonzalez dropped Ripley onto the announce table at New Year's Evil, smashing it, and buried Ripley in the bits of furniture and steel around the ring. After a break, Gonzalez was attacking Ripley with the steel steps on the ramp before kicking her off the stage.
Ripley drove Gonzalez through a glass door backstage before sending her through the snack table. Dakota Kai attacked Ripley with a Kendo stick but the former NXT Women's Champion kicked her and stuffed her in a locker, blocking it with a crate.
Ripley had Gonzalez in the inverted Cloverleaf and even used a steel chair to wrap around her neck on the stage. Both Superstars went crashing through the stage and Gonzalez was the one who managed to climb out before the count of ten and claim the victory at New Year's Evil.
Result: Raquel Gonzalez def. Rhea Ripley
Match rating: A+
The Gargano family was out next and Johnny said that he had defeated he curse. Candice gave him a plaque to remind him of his win against Ruff before they revealed a poster of the four of them as Superheroes as a surprise to Johnny.
Gargano announced at New Year's Evil that he and Austin will be joining in the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Shotzi Blackheart and her tank interrupted the show and with the help of Kushida, took out the Gargano family.
The ring bell was rung and Lumis motioned to the announcement that Johnny and Candice will face Shotzi and Kushida in a mixed tag match.
Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Kushida at NXT New Year's Evil
Blackheart and Candice kicked off the match and LeRae left the ring to dodge some hits before we headed for a break. LeRae was in control when we returned and Lumis was at the commentary table but silent as usual.
Gargano and Kushida got the tags and the champ was locked in an armbar right away. LeRae and Gargano were in the ring when Kushida and Blackheart hit huge double team moves before wiping them both out at ringside.
Austin Theory and Indi interfered before they too got taken out before Kushida rolled Johnny up for the win at New Year's Evil.
Result: Shotzi Blackheart & Kushida def. Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae
Match rating: A
At New Year's Evil, William Regal announced the first-ever Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kyle O'Reilly - NXT Championship match at NXT New Year's Evil
O'Reilly went for Balor's jaw but Balor returned the favor with a headlock of his own. They traded holds and O'Reilly managed to break it up by using his teeth to grab the ropes.
Balor hit a suplex and went back to the headlock before O'Reilly fought back with some kicks. Balor kneed Kyle in the jaw before O'Reilly took himself out from a kick to Balor.
O'Reilly beat the count of ten and tried for a triangle choke but Balor got out of it. Balor got another hold in but had to break it up before O'Reilly got a near fall off a top rope suplex.
Balor had the abdominal stretch in and took O'Reilly down to the match before he tapped out and Balor retained his title.
Result: Finn Balor def. Kyle O'Reilly to retain the NXT Championship
Match rating: A+
Episode rating: A
NXT New Year's Evil kicked off the new year with a huge opening match as well as a hard-hitting Last Woman Standing match that ended in a big win for Gonzalez. We got the announcement of the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic while Finn Balor's epic return was a fitting end to the night.
