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WWE NXT kicks off 2021 with a special episode called New Year's Evil. This show will air on Wednesday, January 6, and it will feature a star-studded lineup.
Vince McMahon may want nothing to do with WCW, but his son-in-law, Triple H surely likes to borrow from them for the black-and-gold brand. He has successfully repurposed several pay-per-views and specials WCW introduced. NXT New Year's Evil is the latest example. The title of this TV special was last used for a special episode of WCW Monday Nitro on December 27, 1999.
The first WWE NXT show of the new year has shaped up to be a must-see program. New Year's Evil will be hosted by NXT Superstar Dexter Lumis. Aside from the five announced matches, the show will also feature the returns of Xia Li and Boa.
Without further ado, here's a look at the card for WWE NXT: New Year's Evil:
WWE NXT: New Year's Evil: NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match - Santos Escobar (C) vs. Gran Metalik
Gran Metalik arrived on NXT last week after he scored an impressive victory over former WWE Champion The Miz on the final WWE RAW of 2020.
Metalik teamed up with fellow Lucha House Party stablemate Lince Dorado to confront Legado del Fantasma. The duo faced Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. Lucha House Party emerged victorious, so Metalik set up a date with Santos Escobar in a match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Considering the in-ring talent of the performers involved, this bout should be full of remarkable offensive maneuvers.
It's unlikely that "The King of the Ropes" will dethrone Escobar with such a minimal buildup. So Escobar will probably retain his title. Still, WWE will probably stretch out this feud a little longer, and it's nice to see someone as talented as Metalik getting a chance to shine.
Our Pick: Santos Escobar retains
WWE NXT: New Year's Evil: Fight Pit Match - Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher have been engaged in a heated rivalry on NXT for a while now. As many fans hoped, the next phase of this feud will see the pair take their animosity into the Fight Pit, one of the most savage structures in all of wrestling .
"The Blackheart" defeated Thatcher at WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames to end his dry singles run at NXT TakeOver shows, but the issues between this pair have continued to escalate.
Ciampa defeated Thatcher's ex-student Tyler Rust, and he stopped Thatcher’s cruel post-match assault of Leon Ruff. The former NXT Champion then accepted Thatcher's offer for a rematch.
Thatcher might have the upper hand on Wednesday night. The master of Thatch-as-Thatch-Can defeated Matt Riddle in the inaugural Fight Pit on WWE NXT. Thatcher's and Ciampa's rivalry has become increasingly bitter, so this barbaric structure is quite fitting
This bout should offer fans a hard-hitting contest, and Thatcher might have the advantage. A win at WWE NXT: New Year's Evil against someone of Ciampa's stature will propel Thatcher to new heights. Ciampa has gotten to a point where he can comfortably eat up a few losses without losing too much ground. Regardless of the result, both men will come out of this match looking strong.
Our Pick: Timothy Thatcher
WWE NXT: New Year's Evil - Damian Priest vs. Karrion Kross
Damian Priest has stepped away from the NXT North American Championship picture to battle Karrion Kross, a man who is clearly gunning for Finn Balor's WWE NXT Championship. An injury forced Kross to relinquish the belt, and he clearly wants to take it back.
On the December 9 episode of WWE NXT, Priest stated his case for a shot at the title. As Balor walked away from his challengers, the sinister siren, Scarlett returned. Priest grabbed the microphone and told Scarlett that if her partner wants a fight, he's willing to give him one. The "Doomsday Deviant" responded later in the night by laying Priest out with a devastating powerbomb.
Kross, the man who halted Keith Lee’s phenomenal rise on the black-and-gold brand, is back in the ring. He's looking to regain his place atop WWE NXT, and a win over Priest will help him get there.
Kross' victory at NXT New Year's Evil is a no-brainer. Unfortunately for "The Archer of Infamy", Kross' title quest will begin at his expense. "The Herald of Doomsday" needs to look strong before he is inserted back into the title picture. As a result, a dominant display against Priest is in the cards.
Our Pick: Karrion Kross
WWE NXT: New Year's Evil - Last Woman Standing Match - Raquel Gonzalez vs. Rhea Ripley
The lengthy rivalry between Rhea Ripley and Raquel González is finally set to culminate in a Last Woman Standing Match at WWE NXT: New Year’s Evil. "The Nightmare" and “Big Mami Cool” have waged war with each other for months. The two women were on the opposing sides of an epic Women’s WarGames Match, where González secured the winning pinfall.
During the main event of the December 16 episode of WWE NXT, González interfered in Ripley's match against Toni Storm, and she cost Ripley the win by launching her into the ring post.
The Capitol Wrestling Center barely contained the pair when the two rivals brawled after Ripley's win over Dakota Kai. The fight only concluded when referees and backstage personnel got involved, and Dexter Lumis used his artistry to make this contest for WWE NXT: New Year's Evil official.
Given how well these two hard-hitting powerhouses work together, the match promises to be an incredible clash. "Big Mami Cool” has grown quite a lot as a performer since she lost to Ripley at NXT: Halloween Havoc. Meanwhile, Ripley has been the victim of some mixed booking since her loss to Charlotte Flair at WWE WrestleMania 36.
As a result, "The Nightmare" could take a loss in this rematch. González is quickly climbing to the top of NXT's women's division. Plus, Ripley could be moving to the main roster soon. All signs point to a victory for "Big Mami Cool."
Our Pick: Raquel Gonzalez
WWE NXT: New Year's Evil NXT Championship Match - Finn Bálor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly
In the main event of WWE NXT: New Year's Evil, Kyle O'Reilly will get another shot at Finn Bálor's NXT Championship.
The first time Bálor and O'Reilly faced each other, Bálor walked away with a broken jaw, and O'Reilly lost some teeth. Though he came out on the losing side, The Undisputed ERA member pushed Bálor to the limit in one of the most hard-hitting affairs in NXT history.
O’Reilly gained another date with "The Prince" after he defeated Pete Dunne with a Tornado DDT and a flying knee drop in a grueling clash.
Bálor vs. O'Reilly II is expected to be a more fast-paced, physical and violent than their "Match of the Year" encounter at NXT TakeOver 31. WWE later added that WWE NXT's first main event of 2021 will air uninterrupted with "non-stop, bell-to-bell action".
As for the result, Bálor will probably win again. He should have another lengthy title reign atop WWE NXT, similar to his first run with the title. Kross could dethrone "The Prince," but for now, Bálor will reign supreme.
Our Pick: Finn Balor retains.
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