2025-01-07 WWE NXT (New Year’s Evil) - REVIEW

2025 Malapert Smark Podcast Review System:

🤯 - Mind Completely Blown!!! [+10]

🔥 - This Was Fire!! [+5]

❤️ - Loved It! [+3]

👍👍 - REALLY Liked It! [+2]

👍 - Liked It [+1]

1/2 👍- Kinda Liked It [+0.5]

👊 - Indifferent [0]

👎 - Didn’t Like it [-1]

👎👎 - Hated It [-2]

🤮 - Made Me Sick [-5]

🙋‍♂️- Chris Jericho Bad [-10]

Catch our review of this episode of NXT on episode #143 of the Malapert Smark Podcast with Vlad "The Wrestling Expert" and Robert "The Frozen Asian!" Robert attended this show!
https://youtu.be/f1ujrlqtIqg

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Overall Show Comments:

⭐️Robert: Didn't watch this on TV since I attended the event, which is a different vibe energy compared to watching from home. My reviews might be different if i watched on TV.

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STORYLINES (In order of appearance):

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(1) Roxanne, Giulia

-Giulia defeats Roxanne Perez to win NXT Women’s Title.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: I like Roxanne but this was the right thing to do. I don’t think Roxanne should be a top girl in WWE. She could certainly fit in and do great work, but shouldn’t be champion. 

(2) Ava, Eddy Thorpe, Oba Femi, Trick

-Backstage, Eddy Thorpe is down and looks hurt. Ava is skeptical that he's been attacked after last time. Ava walks off and officials tend to Eddy.

-Backstage, Ava is interviewed and reiterates that she thinks Eddy Thorpe is faking. Oba Femi comes in and admits to attacking Thorpe as payback for Thorpe nailing him last week. Ava decides that regardless, the match will remain a triple threat.

-Eddy Thorpe enters the triple threat NXT Title match late, and hurt. He figures into the finish as a chair shot landed on Trick leading to Oba Femi covering Trick. New NXT Champion, Oba Femi. 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Eddie Thorpe as the boy who cried wolf is pretty damn funny. The ending was a bit overbooked to me, didn’t seem natural. But i’m ok with the title change. I suppose this will lead to a feud between Trick and Oba. 

(3) JeVon Evans, Ethan Page, Ava, The Rock

-Video package shows JeVon’s jaw has been wired shut but he still tries to cut a promo promising revenge for what Page did to him and Cedric. Subtitles aid the viewer understand JeVon.

-In Ava’s office, Ava berates Ethan Page for breaking JeVon’s jaw. Page retorts saying it’s been played ok every episode of NXT, since. The Rock comes in and a respectful meeting with Page ensues. Rock tells Page that Ava is the Final Boss on NXT. Page walks off promising there will be no problems.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - ❤️

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: I am actually impressed that they used attempted Je’Vons promo with this jaw wired shut😆. The segment finally actually makes sense of Ava being an authority figure on the show.

(4) Stephanie, Kelani, Cora, Lola Vice

-Stephanie Vaquer wins 4-Way against Kelani, Cora & Lola Vice to become #1 contender for NXT North American Title.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: This is a star studded match. Maybe one for the highlight DVDs when we look back on this era.

(5) Unholy Union, Ava

-Ava informs Unholy Union there will be #1 Contender’s match for WWE Tag Team Titles. 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Kinda disappointing seeing Unholy Union back in NXT. The 3 hour smackdown is such a slog to get through, you’d think they can make use of some more wrestlers to spice that show up, and Unholy Union is near the top of that list for me. Main roster frieda for Unholy Union!

(6) OTM

-Video package shows OTM cutting a promo on their upcoming match with Fraxiom. 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Decent promo but it didn’t steal the show or anything.

(7) Fatal Influence, Shotzi, Gigi, Tatum

-Shotzi, Gigi & Tatum defeat Fatal Influence in 6 Woman Tag Team grudge match. Shotzi pins NXT North American Champion Fallon Henley.

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Not that big on Fatal Influence but I like everyone on the other side and they went over so i’ll give this one some credit.

⭐️Robert: 

(8) Ava, The Rock

-In Ava’s office, the Rock asks Ava for advice. Ava advices to feel the NXT crowd and it will come to him. The Rock “still doesn’t know what the fuck he’s going to say” when he goes to the ring later to cut a promo.

-The Rock cuts an in ring promo, addresses the fans for backlash to now being friends with Cody, telling them to know their roles and shut their mouths. He proceeds to put over the importance NXT, discussing his early run as a wrestler. 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 🤮

Robert TheFrozenAsian -👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Putting aside my disdain for the Rock, this was such a nothing promo. The only thing substantial that came from this is the Rock running down the fans for criticizing the Rock’s friendship with Cody. Well. Yes. that’s lame. and other than that this whole promo was lame.

(9) Charlie Dempsey, Lexis King

-Lexis King defeats Charlie Dempsey in Sudden Death Heritage Cup match to retain Heritage Cup. 

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍👍

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Excellent work. I’m glad for Lexis King finally getting a big win.

(10) Ava, Stephanie, Fallon, Shotzi

-In Ava’s office, Shotzi busts in saying she deserves to be #1 Contender for North American Title after just having pinned the champion. Stephanie retorts, having just beat 3 top superstars. Fallon is happy to see the two fight over it. Ava says we will figure this out next week, as Shotzi and Stephanie stare off.  

🌪️REVIEWS🌪️

Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍

Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊

➡️COMMENTS⬅️

⭐️Kayhan: Wasn’t Stephanie’s win literally for the #1 Contendership? Seems like she kinda got a raw deal having to have another match after beating such high profile opponents. But it also makes sense that Shotzi has some pull, having made some noise on the main roster and HAVING HOSTED HALLOWEEN HAVOC!

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