NXT Dec. 2 Recap: Zaria Turns, Deadline Go-Home Show Results

Opening Segment: Iron Survivor Challenge Competitors Set the Tone

The show opened with general manager Ava in the ring alongside all five competitors in Saturday's Iron Survivor Challenge: Kelani Jordan, Jordynne Grace, Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, and Kendal Grey. Sol Ruca spoke first, making her case for why she should win. When Jordan's turn came, the crowd erupted in boos—she knows exactly how to draw heat. Before she could finish, Fatal Influence interrupted (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid). Jayne did what any good heel should—insulted everyone in the ring. The segment gained real momentum when Jayne reminded Jordan about losing her TNA Knockouts title last week. Moments later, Jordan slapped Jordynne Grace, and Grace took her down as the other women rushed in to separate them.

Thea Hail (with Joe Hendry) vs. Arianna Grace (with Stacks)

After some early taunting, Arianna Grace took control and held the advantage over Hail. The tide turned when Grace went outside, and Hail launched herself through the ropes with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Hail bounced off the ropes to attempt a move, but Stacks grabbed her foot. That's when Joe Hendry ran over and delivered a chokeslam to Stacks on the apron. Thea Hail ended the match with a body scissors kimura lock. This was a quick match designed to warm up the crowd, and it hit its mark.

Winner: Thea Hail via submission

Josh Briggs vs. Tavion Heights

These two didn't wait for the opening bell—Briggs and Heights started brawling on the outside. Once both competitors finally made it into the ring, Briggs slowed things down with a nasty chokeslam that looked like it might end the night early. It didn't. Heights gained control by using his amateur wrestling background to take Briggs down twice, then began working him over with strikes. There was a close call when Heights executed a beautiful exploder suplex. For a moment, it looked like Briggs had an opening when he lured Heights outside the ring. Bad idea—Heights simply picked up Briggs and drove both of them through the barricade.

After the commercial break, Briggs had shifted his focus to Heights' right arm. He grounded Heights and worked the arm with what looked like a grounded top wristlock. Briggs showed off his submission skills by applying an armbar, but Heights managed to get to his feet. Later, Briggs ripped the chain from around his neck, but the referee spotted it and confiscated it. Heights pulled off a belly-to-belly suplex that looked like it might end the match, but when he went for a grapevine on the inside leg, Briggs got a foot on the rope. The timing looked awkward and unnatural. One vicious lariat later, and Heights was staring at the lights for the three-count.

Winner: Josh Briggs via pinfall

Backstage Segment: Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Kendal Grey, and Zaria discussed their six-woman tag match later in the show. This segment did a great job establishing tension and jealousy from Zaria toward Sol Ruca. Something's brewing between these two, either later tonight or Saturday.

Izzy Dame In-Ring Promo (with Shawn Spears and Niko Vance)

The early part of Dame's promo was drowned out by fans vociferously voicing their displeasure. Dame delivered a funny line about people not being able to be alone (ironic, considering she's in a stable). She ripped into Tatum Paxley, saying that turning on her was "making a correction." Dame was ticked off because she felt her advice was being treated as mere suggestions. The crowd chanted "We Want Tatum"—along with other stuff that couldn't be broadcast over the air. Dame fed off the crowd's energy and delivered a solid heel promo on Paxley. Paxley eventually appeared on the screen and spoke passionately about making Dame feel her pain. After the talking these two did in this segment, I'm more interested in seeing how their match unfolds at NXT Deadline in San Antonio.

Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid) vs. Evolve Women's Champion Kendal Grey, Lola Vice, and Sol Ruca

All six women started brawling in the ring before seemingly everyone went airborne. Sol Ruca landed a moonsault on the group outside before everyone made their way back into the ring. Once inside, it was Ruca against Reid. Reid controlled briefly and tagged in Henley while Ruca brought in Kendal Grey. I'm not sure if everyone had dinner plans, but this match moved at a breakneck pace—and it was enjoyable.

A little later, Jacy Jayne entered the match, and we headed to commercial with Kendal Grey stuck in the wrong corner. When we returned, Fatal Influence was still working Grey over. She finally managed to tag in Lola Vice, who took on all three members of Fatal Influence. There was impressive team offense from both sides, but this match wouldn't last much longer. Sol Ruca hit one of the prettiest moves in wrestling—the Sol Snatcher—on NXT Women's Champion Jacy Jayne for the three-count.

Winners: Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, and Kendal Grey via pinfall

After the match, Zaria ran down and broke up the celebration by spearing Kendal Grey. She was aiming for Sol Ruca but hit Grey instead. Guess we didn't have to wait until Saturday for Zaria to show her hand.

Backstage Segment: Dion Lennox gave his NXT tag team title to stablemate Saquon Shugars. Oba Femi showed up, and Lennox told Femi he hopes he remembers a conversation they had last year—and that he hopes Femi wins in San Antonio so they can face each other. Femi advised him not to get ahead of himself. Good promo from everyone. Even if Femi doesn't win, it looks like he'll have unfinished business with Lennox.

OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) vs. Chase U (Uriah Conners and Kale Dixon)

Chase U started fast when Uriah Conners hit a swanton bomb on Lucien Price. Conners rolled over and tagged in Kale Dixon, who probably wished he'd stayed on the apron—he became fodder for OTM's power moves. After a couple minutes of total domination, Conners was back in and used his speed, agility, and an array of kicks to turn the match around. That display of offense was temporary—OTM quickly regained control and ended the match.

Winners: OTM via pinfall

Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Joe Hendry, Leon Slater, Je'Von Evans, and Myles Borne vs. DarkState (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, and Osiris Griffin)

Myles Borne and Osiris Griffin kicked things off. After a couple moves, Griffin tagged in Saquon Shugars, and it didn't go well for him. Not much of consequence happened over the next couple minutes. Evans and James ended up in the ring, and Cutler used a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to try keeping the athletic Evans grounded. DarkState showed solid ring psychology, using quick tags to keep a fresh man in the ring.

Eventually, all eight men ended up in the ring, throwing hands. The chaos spilled outside, where DarkState used their power and the environment to take the lead heading into the break. When we returned, Evans was in the ring with Shugars, who initiated the offense. Evans tagged in Hendry, but nothing changed—Lennox and then Griffin kept up the pressure with strikes and kicks. At this point, Hendry's team hadn't been able to get much going. Hendry was able to stem the tide briefly by countering a standing choke submission in the middle of the ring and tagging Leon Slater. Slater got to Evans for a tag, and Evans unleashed a dazzling array of aerial moves, including a top-rope cutter.

Mild controversy emerged when Myles Borne hit his finisher, Borne Again, and secured the pin on Griffin. Slater was the legal man and was going for the pin, but Borne tagged himself in to get the pin—and earn the right to choose his entry number for Saturday's Iron Survivor Challenge.

Winners: Joe Hendry, Leon Slater, Je'Von Evans, and Myles Borne via pinfall

Contract Signing: Ava Presides Over Ricky Saints and Oba Femi

Ricky Saints expressed confidence tempered with doubts about whether he can beat Femi. His willingness to express vulnerability is what makes this a highly anticipated match. Their final exchange tonight built on a solid foundation. Ava then made a surprise announcement: the NXT title match will open the show on Saturday at NXT Deadline in San Antonio. Having this match kick off the PLE puts the event on track for a wonderful night of wrestling.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Zaria turns on Sol Ruca after six-woman tag match
• Myles Borne earns right to pick Iron Survivor entry number
• Ricky Saints vs. Oba Femi contract signing for NXT Championship
• Fatal Influence reminds Kelani Jordan of TNA Knockouts title loss
• NXT title match confirmed to open Saturday's Deadline

Final Thoughts

This show did something wrestling fans wish we'd see more often—good action, good promos, and matches that didn't make you want to change the channel. The matches moved at a faster pace without becoming total spotfests, and every match seemed to tell a story. Zaria turning on Sol Ruca set up a fair amount of unpredictability for Saturday's Deadline event. How will she interfere in the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge? Will she align herself with Fatal Influence? There's also Sol Ruca getting the pin over NXT Women's Champion Jacy Jayne—those two are going to have a match at some point.

The eight-man tag will be interesting to watch as well, because after that ending, you'd figure there won't be any friends in the ring once that Iron Survivor Challenge begins. The Femi and Saints segment featured some strong promo work. If Saints lose Saturday, could we see a main roster call-up? Solid show tonight—this was a go-home show done right.