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NXT kicked off as the new NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley came out to celebrate. She was interrupted by Toni Storm who challenged her to a match for her belt at NXT Worlds Collide and Ripley agreed.
The UK Women's champ Kay Lee Ray came out followed by Io Shirai. Bianca Belair was out next and picked a fight with everyone before Candice LeRae joined the group.
Ripley got tired of the interruptions and started a brawl that eventually ended up as a match thanks to William Regal.
Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae & Toni Storm vs Kay Lee Ray, Bianca Belair & Io Shirai
Shirai and LeRae were in the ring when we returned from commercials and Lee Ray tagged in followed by Belair as they kept the pressure up by keeping Candice away from her team. We returned from commercials to see Storm dominating against Kay Lee Ray in the ring.
Shirai was about to finish the match when Belair forced a tag from her and went for the finish herself. Shirai hit Belair with the missile dropkick, leaving her to get pinned by Ripley.
Result: Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae & Toni Storm def. Kay Lee Ray, Bianca Belair & Io Shirai
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Backstage, Keith Lee was confident he was winning the North American Championship this year.
Forgotten Sons vs. Imperium - Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic round 1
Imperium got the momentum early on with huge doubleteam moves. Blake hit a DDT and Cutler hit a backbreaker as the tides turned but only for a moment. The Sons hittheir finisher but the pin was broken at the last second.
The match could have gone eitherway but a swift European Uppercut - Powerbomb combo from Imperium ended the match in their favor.
Result: Imperium def. Forgotten Sons
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
Backstage, Matt Riddle explained how the Broserweights came into existence.
Austin Theory vs. Joaquin Wilde
Theory was in control early on and hit a huge suplex off the ropes. We got a lot of back and forth including a top rope frankensteiner from Wilde but Theory nailed him with a dropkick and then a TKO (fireman's carry into a cutter) and got the win.
Result: Austin Theory def. Joaquin Wilde
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
Undisputed Era vs. Gallus - Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic round 1
Fish and O'Reilly were assaulted by Wolfgang early on and sent them back to the rest of the Undisputed Era who were ringside. After the commercials, Fish and O'Reilly had Wolfgang down for a short time but he managed to make the tag.
Coffey was thrown outside as a weapon when Adam Cole hit Wolfgang with a big shot from outside and handed Fish the win.
Result: Undisputed Era def. Gallus
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Johnny Gargano was out next and spoke about Finn Balor abandoning NXT and that NXT didn't need Balor to succeed. Balor came out and challenged him to a match at TakeOver: Portland but 'only if he reaches there'.
Mia Yim vs. Kayden Carter
Yim dominated the match and after a bit of back and forth got the Protect Ya' Neck for the win. Chelsea Green attacked Yim and Carter after the match before Robert Stone came out and claimed Green was the first signing to the Robert Stone Brand.
Result: Mia Yim def. Kayden Carter
Match rating: C
Rate this match here.
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes - No.1 Contender's match for NXT North American Championship
Lee picked up Priest and used him as a weapon before hititng a powerbomb on Dijakovic's body. Grimes and Dijakovic teamed up on Lee on the outsdie but Lee overpowered them.
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes - No.1 Contender's match for NXT North American Championship (contd...)
The three men were brawling on the outside when Priest hit them with a top rope dive. Lee hit a Superplex on Priest before Grimes and Dijakovic were going at it in the ring. Priest hit the reckoning but Dijakovic broke the pin with a kick to the face.
Lee hit Dijakovic and Priest with the double chokeslam and the crowd went nuts. Grimes took out Lee with the collision course for a near fall. Grimes hit a moonsault on Priest but Lee shut him down in the ring. Lee hit the Spirit Bomb for the win.
Result: Keith Lee def. Cameron Grimes, Dominik Dijakovic & Damian Priest
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Episode rating: A
The episode was a good start to the new year and the opening match stole the spotlight although the main event didn't disappoint.
