Major Title Change at NXT Vengeance Day

Paxley continued to taunt The Culling, leading to a match against Dame at NXT: New Year’s Evil in which Paxley was victorious. Later that night, NXT Women’s North American Champion Thea Hail held an open challenge for the title, where she stated that whoever got to the ring first would get a title shot. However, when Paxley was close to the ring, Dame appeared and attacked Hail from behind, being the first to reach the ring. Dame subsequently defeated Hail for the title.

Their rivalry continued, and on the February 10 episode of NXT, Paxley said in a vignette that she had lost sight of who she was while in The Culling and that she had felt a sense of clarity after leaving the group. After responding to the vignette the following week, Dame announced that she would face Paxley for the title at Vengeance Day.

The Match

Paxley came out swinging, jumping on Dame and throwing punches. She wrapped Dame up in a sleeper, trying to put her away early. Dame shook her off and rolled out of the ring. Paxley followed, slamming her against the barricade. Paxley hit a flipping kick off the stairs, then hooked Dame up, but Dame drove her into the steps, then dropped her onto the ring apron. They slid back into the ring, where Paxley got a slam and quick cover in, but no joy.

Paxley hit a crossbody in the corner and then an underhook sulpex on Dame. She went for Cemetery Drive, but Dame countered it. Paxley got back up, though, and the two collided in the center of the ring. Dame threw a knee into Paxley’s gut and sent her to the corner for a high kick. She planted Paxley with a big boot and then kicked her while she was down, with Spears directing traffic from ringside.

Dame took over, throwing knees and lariats off the ropes, wearing Paxley down. Paxley countered into a crucifix, but couldn’t get the pin. Dame continued the midsection assault, stomping Paxley in the corner. Dame went for an abdominal stretch, twisting Paxley in the centre of the ring. Paxley managed to counter into a stretch of her own, but Dame overpowered her with a side slam. Paxley came back with some open-hand strikes, sending Dame to the corner. Dame got the knees up on Paxley’s charge, though, and hit a backbreaker and a senton for a two count.

Dame tried a Liontamer as Spears screamed at her from the ring apron. Paxley held on, though, and kicked Dame in the gut to get out of it. Paxley rolled through into a Boston Crab, but Dame was able to get to the ropes to break it. They moved to the outside, where Paxley shoved Dame into the ringpost. They moved back into the ring to break the count, and Paxley landed a superkick. Paxley threw hands on the dazed Dame, hitting a German Suplex and a step-up enzuigiri.

The Dame is done

She hit a guillotine and went for a cover, but Dame just got her shoulder up to beat the count. Paxley went up top, but took too long, and Dame joined her up there. The two threw hands on the turnbuckle until Paxley shoved her off and went for a 450, but Dame moved. Dame then hit a dropkick and rolled to the ring apron for advice from Spears and Nico.

They got to their feet and started slugging it out in the middle of the ring. Paxley landed a superkick and then a sit-out powerbomb. She went up top again and landed the 450 from the turnbuckle. She didn’t get all of it, though, and Dame kicked out. Dame went to the apron and screamed for help from Spears and Nico. They didn’t have any great ideas, and Paxley used the opening to leap over the ropes and powerbomb Dame to the floor from the apron, stunning everyone.

Paxley threw Dame back in the ring, but Spears stepped in front of her on the outside. She ran back to the ring just in time to beat the count, and Dame slammed her, but Paxley kicked out at two. Dame went for a gutwrench, but Paxley countered. She shoved her to the ropes where Spears was standing. Dame charged, and Paxley ducked, causing Dame to knock Spears off the ropes. Paxley then hit a Cemetery drive and pinned Dame to become the new NXT Women’s North American Champion.