WWE NXT New Year's Evil - Best & Worst - Huge title change, Top star pays tribute to Randy Orton

Tommaso Ciampa and AJ Styles were at NXT New Year's Evil.
Tommaso Ciampa and AJ Styles were at NXT New Year's Evil.

#2 Best: Carmelo Hayes wins a classic at NXT New Year's Evil

New Year's Evil kicked off with a unification Match for the NXT North American and Cruiserweight Championships, as Carmelo Hayes bested Roderick Strong. The two wrestled a classic filled with impactful moves like a Super X-Plex.

There was hardly any wasted motion in sight. Strong did a brilliant job in shining a spotlight on Hayes, who grasped the opportunity with both hands. He eventually got the win following a Top rope leg drop.

It was well deserved - a true indication of how bright NXT's future is, with stars like Carmelo Hayes at the forefront. New Year's Evil may have been his best night so far.


#2 Worst: Von Wagner should be a silent monster

Von Wagner's NXT career hasn't been the greatest among all the new prospects, but he still has potential. However, as things stand, it may not be realized if NXT doesn't play to his strengths. Wagner is solid in the ring and should let his actions do his talking.

His heel promo at New Year's Evil was an improvement from recent times but still left a lot to be desired. With other heels like Grayson Waller cutting way better promos, Von Wagner should stick to decimating his opponents. He did destroy a few audience members after the promo.

This new edge to Wagner's character is a step in the right direction, but there is still a way to go for him to be a complete success on NXT.

Quick Links