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Tonight gave us the final NXT of 2020, and there was plenty to unpack. Not only did we get the annual Year-End Awards, but there were also a handful of matches to enjoy as well. In fact, the main event of tonight's show is one not to be missed. But, we'll get to that eventually.
Next week will be New Year's Evil, which is possibly the first major WWE card of the year. Hopefully, you'll all join us for that, as it's shaping up to be a pretty impressive
So, enough dilly-dallying around, let's get right into the action.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs Bronson Reed opens NXT
Following a tribute card to the late Jon Huber (Luke Harper/Brodie Lee), our show started off with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott coming to the ring. He faced Bronson Reed tonight.
Scott has been towing the line of a heel turn and it's hard to tell if NXT is really on board with it or not. Tonight, sadly, didn't really help answer that conundrum.
Bronson is in the midst of a new push following his return to NXT, and this match showed it. After a few minutes of back and forth, Scott went for the same headbutt on the ropes he used on Jake Atlas last week. However, it didn't have the same effect, as this angered Reed who unleashed a flurry of offense.
The Colossal One finished off Swerve with the Tsunami Splash to continue his winning momentum on NXT
RESULT: Bronson Reed defeats Isaiah "Swerve" Scott
GRADE: C+
Shotzi Blackheart is 2020 NXT Breakout Star of the Year
The first award of the evening was the Breakout Star of the Year. Among competition such as Pat McAfee, Timothy Thatcher, and others, Shotzi Blackheart got the honor this year.
Coming back from break on NXT, Leon Ruff was seen showing up to the CWC along with Jake Atlas. Meanwhile, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano arrived with the rest of The Way, feeling cocky and confident. However, he sees a black cat sitting in front of his locker room and got scared.
Is the curse still on??
Breezango vs Grizzled Young Veterans on NXT
Drake and Gibson, the NXT UK standouts, are already in the ring as Breeze and Fandango made their entrance.
During the early portion of the match, it was announced that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will return to NXT in two weeks.
Fandango climbed up onto a stage pillar and leaped onto GYV with a beautiful cross bodyblock. However, it looked as if he hurt his knee in the process.
Gibson and Drake focussed their attack on Fandango's injured knee and kept him away from his partner.
Breeze went for the hot tag, but Gibson pulled Fandango off the apron. Gibson went for a roll-up but Tyler kicked out. GYV laid out Breeze with their finisher to knock off the former NXT Tag Team Champions and pick up an important win.
RESULTS: Grizzled Young Veterans defeat Breezango
Grade: A-
As they celebrated, Ever-Rise came out to confront the winners, along with a ref. The two are clearly using the ref as an "excuse" to not actually hit the ring and attack, acting as if she was "holding them back." Finally, the ref has had enough and went to the back, indicating that she was dragged into the silliness. Ever-Rise retreated when they saw Drake and Gibson charge towards them.
The Undisputed ERA wins NXT Tag Team of the Year
During their acceptance, Adam Cole announced that he and Roderick Strong will be entering the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, representing the faction.
The commercial break concluded on NXT and we're treated to another vignette of BOA and Xia Li finishing up their training. The two of them walk off into a bright light, along with another hooded figure, and they'll be on NXT next week!
Mercedes Martinez vs Valentina Feroz on NXT
Mercedes Martinez made her in-ring return on NXT was facing Valentina Feroz. She brutalized her opponent tonight with some hard-hitting offense.
Martinez sealed the deal with an Air Raid Crash to get the quick squash win.
RESULT: Mercedes Martinez defeated Valentina Feroz
Grade: D
Io Shirai wins NXT Female Competitor of the Year award
And somewhat appropriately, it's time for the announcement of Female Competitor of the Year. The NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai won the award tonight.
Adam Cole wins NXT Male Competitor of the Year award
Undisputed ERA picked up another award, as Adam Cole is named as the Male Competitor Of The Year. Both Shirai and Cole were now up for Overall Competitor of the Year award.
Following an ad break on NXT, we were going to get Roderick Strong vs Pete Dunne.
Roderick Strong vs Pete Dunne on NXT
Strong and Dunne were once tag team partners. If you remember, Strong attacked his partner to join the Undisputed ERA and get them the win - and the NXT Tag Team Championships.
The match started off with Pete Dunne having the upper hand. However, Strong would mount a comeback until he was pushed on to the barricade by The Bruiserweight.
In the end, Strong nearly got Dunne into the Stronghold, but Pete bends his fingers to break away and get the advantage. A Bitter End later, Dunne walked away with the big on NXT
RESULT: Pete Dunne defeated Roderick Strong
Grade: A
Finn Balor vs Kyle O'Reilly wins 2020 NXT Match of the Year
The battle between Balor and O'Reilly at TakeOver 31 bagged the match of the year accolade tonight.
Finn arrived to accept the award from William Regal but told him he'll take Kyle O'Reilly's trophy to him personally.
The NXT Champion headed off to the ring to do just that and came across Pete Dunne. Dunne talked some trash and Balor told the Bruiserweight that if he wants a shot at the champ, he has to "get in line."
After the commercials, Finn was in the ring, complimenting O'Reilly and invited him to the ring to discuss their match at New Year's Evil. Kyle doesn't even hesitate and came out.
The two cut some pretty intense promos, when Scarlett and Karrion Kross came out to lay out a warning to both men that the former NXT Champion wants his title back. However, Damien Priest snuck up behind him.
Priest and Kross began fighting all across the stage area, neither one really getting the upper hand over the other. Eventually, Kross slammed Priest into some backstage equipment and the two are out cold. Scarlett was sitting next to them and was enjoying the destruction.
Back from the break on NXT, we got a really awesome video package on the Rhea Ripley/Raquel Gonzalez match at New Year's Evil. There's a lot of personal history between the two and showcasing it did a lot of really hype up their match next week.
Legado del Fantasma was in the ring, and Santos Escobar told us all that nobody was good enough to face him for his Cruiserweight Championship.
To the surprise of the NXT Universe, Lucha House Part came out to confront the villainous trio and took them out. After the break, the team from RAW was going to face Mendoza and Wilde.
Lucha House Party vs Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza on NXT
As the match began, Vic Joseph reminded the audience that Gran Metalik actually defeated The Miz on RAW this week. Mendoza and Wilde were struggling to keep up with their opponents and offered very little tonight.
Following a top rope elbow from Gran Metalik on Mendoza and LHP pick up the win.
RESULT: Lucha House Party defeat Legado del Fantasma.
Grade: B-
After the win, Metalik signalled to Escobar that he wants a shot at the Cruiserweight title.
Austin Theory wins NXT Future Star of the Year for 2020
Theory, with encouragement from Johnny Gargano, gave a speech about how he's always told everybody that he was the "future" and that he had "found The Way." He then turned to Gargano and assured him that the North American champ was going to beat Leon Ruff and "break that curse!"
Gargano screamed at his protege and grabbed Theory's jar of Gargano Whey protein powder and tossed it across the room - and into a mirror, breaking it. Not a lucky day for the NXT North American Champ.
Io Shirai is named 2020 NXT Overall Competitor of the Year
In our last award of the evening, Io Shirai won the NXT Overall Competitor of the Year award. Io cuts a short "thank you" video from home and... that's it.
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano vs Leon Ruff
Leon Ruff gets an early advantage on Gargano as the match began quickly. Johnny Wrestling ended up on the floor, and Austin Theory jumped onto the ring apron to distract the former champion. Gargano raced into the ring and dived through the ropes, hoping to catch Ruff unaware. However, Ruff moved out of the way.
Near the end, Ruff nailed Gargano with a gorgeous Frog Splash, but the champion kicked out.
Gargano tosses Ruff off of the top turnbuckle and drops him face-first onto it. One Final Beat later, Gargano not only retained his title but broke the curse as well!
RESULT: Johnny Gargano defeats Leon Ruff
Grade: A-
Dexter Lumis stood over the crowd and we're treated to drawings of New Year's Evil's match-ups. It was confirmed during this segment that Gran Metalik would be facing Santos Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Title.
That's all for tonight's NXT! See you all in 2021!
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