| NXT: New Year's Evil | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 NXT: New Year's Evil logo | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand | NXT | ||
| Date | January 4, 2022 | ||
| City | Orlando, Florida | ||
| Venue | WWE Performance Center | ||
| NXT special episodes chronology | |||
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| NXT: New Year's Evil chronology | |||
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The 2022NXT: New Year's Evil was the second annualNXT: New Year's Evilprofessional wrestlingtelevision special produced byWWE, and third New Year's Evil overall. It was held primarily for wrestlers from the promotion'sNXTbrand division. The event took place on January 4, 2022, at theWWE Performance Center inOrlando, Florida and airedlive as aspecial episode of WWE's weekly television seriesNXT on theUSA Network. This was the final event to feature theNXT Cruiserweight Championship, as it wasunified into theNXT North American Championship at this event.
Four matches were contested at the event. In the main event,Bron Breakker defeatedTommaso Ciampa to win theNXT Championship. In other prominent matches, North American ChampionCarmelo Hayes defeated Cruiserweight ChampionRoderick Strong in the opening bout tounify both titles, andMandy Rose defeatedCora Jade andRaquel González to retain theNXT Women's Championship. The event also marked an appearance byRick Steiner, who had not appeared in the company since 1994. After the event went off-air, Steiner celebrated with his son, Bron Breakker, after he had won the NXT Championship.
New Year's Evil was originally produced by the formerprofessional wrestling promotionWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) as aNew Year's-themedspecial episode of itsMonday Nitro television program on December 27, 1999; in 2001, WCW was acquired byWWE, at the time still known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; renamed WWE in 2002).[1] After 21 years since that WCW event, WWE revivedNew Year's Evil for itsdevelopmental brandNXT as aspecial episode ofNXT on January 6, 2021.[2] AtNXT WarGames on December 5, 2021, it was announced that a secondNXT: New Year's Evil would be held as the January 4, 2022, episode ofNXT and take place at theWWE Performance Center inOrlando, Florida and broadcast on theUSA Network. This in turn establishedNew Year's Evil as an annualtelevision special ofNXT.[3]
The card includedmatches that resulted from scriptedstorylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on their weekly television program,NXT.[4][5]
On October 26, 2021, atNXT: Halloween Havoc,Tommaso Ciampa defeatedBron Breakker to successfully retain hisNXT Championship.[6] AtNXT WarGames, Breakker's team defeated Ciampa's team in aWarGames match when Breakker pinned Ciampa.[7] On the December 21 episode ofNXT, Ciampa told Breakker that he earned his second chance at the title, and would get it at New Year's Evil.[8]
AtNXT: Halloween Havoc,Mandy Rose defeatedRaquel González in aChucky's choiceTrick or Street Fight match to win theNXT Women's Championship.[6] At NXT WarGames,Cora Jade,Io Shirai,Kay Lee Ray, and González defeatedToxic Attraction (Rose andNXT Women's Tag Team ChampionsGigi Dolin andJacy Jayne) andDakota Kai in a WarGames match, with Jade pinning Jayne to win for her team.[7] On the December 21 episode ofNXT, after beating Kai in a Street Fight match, González called out Rose to demand a title rematch but got Jade instead. Moments later, Rose appeared on the TitanTron to challenge both of them in atriple threat match for the title at New Year's Evil.[8] On the December 28 episode, Rose arranged a tag team match pitting Jade and González against Shirai and Ray for that episode's main event, where the winning team got to challenge her for the title at New Year's Evil. The match was won by Jade and González.[9]
Raw roster memberAJ Styles was scheduled for an appearance on the December 21 episode ofNXT afterGrayson Waller went after him on social media. On that subsequent episode, Styles praised the talent on NXT except for Waller. Waller was about to attack Styles, but backed off.[8] Waller then made a surprise appearance on the followingRaw, where he confronted Styles from the front row during Styles' promo and held a sign that said, "The Grayson Waller Effect is Phenomenal". Waller stated that he visited Raw in response to Styles' visit to NXT. Styles responded by saying that Raw is where stars are made, and Waller was "not a star."[10] AtNXT the next day, following Waller's match, Styles appeared on the TitanTron and told Waller that he got the wrong type of attention onRaw. Styles then stated that he would see Waller at New Year's Evil.[9]
AtNXT: Halloween Havoc,Imperium (Fabian Aichner andMarcel Barthel) defeatedMSK (Nash Carter andWes Lee) in aLumber Jack-o'-Lantern match to win theNXT Tag Team Championship for a second time.[6] The following month saw Carter and Lee go on a journey to find the person responsible for the legend of MSK called "The Shaman".[11][12][13][14][15] On the December 7 episode ofNXT, The Shaman was revealed to be Raw roster member andRaw Tag Team ChampionMatt Riddle, who helped them find themselves on their way to regaining the tag titles.[16][17] On the December 28 episode, MSK returned and called out Imperium, who said they were the best tag team in the division.Walter then appeared on the TitanTron and said that Imperium showed "dignity and respect" to the tag titles, and MSK did not deserve a title match but a beating from his hands. Riddle then appeared on the TitanTron and proposed asix-man tag team match between him and MSK against Imperium, which Walter accepted.[9]
On the September 21 episode ofNXT,Roderick Strong defeatedKushida to win theNXT Cruiserweight Championship.[18] Three weeks later, Carmelo Hayes cashed in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract and defeatedIsaiah "Swerve" Scott to win theNXT North American Championship.[19] After the two men brawled with each other on the December 21 episode ofNXT,Malcolm Bivens challenged Hayes to a match on Strong's behalf, leading to a contract signing the following week,[8] which would be achampionship unification match at New Year's Evil.[9]
The television special began with NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong (accompanied byHachiman andMalcolm Bivens) taking on NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (accompanied by Trick Williams) to unify both titles. The two began with chain wrestling, which was dominated by Hayes. In the climax, after more back-and-forth action, Strong prevented a diving leg drop attempt and went for a superplex, but Hayes countered into a cutter on Strong, who got the worst of the impact. Hayes then performed a diving leg drop on Strong to win the match and unify the titles. The NXT Cruiserweight Championship was immediately retired, with Hayes being recognized as the final NXT Cruiserweight Champion and going forward as the North American Champion.[20]
Following this, the 2022 Men's and Women'sDusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournaments were announced, with the women's tournament beginning in February and the men's tournament beginning in two weeks.[20]
After that, AJ Styles made his advertised appearance. Styles talked about his championship wins, but also having a few regrets. He mentioned his WWE debut at the2016 Royal Rumble, but never went through NXT. Styles stated that NXT had something special, which was the passion of the fans and wrestlers. Styles talked about Grayson Waller being bigger and better than this place when Waller interrupted. Waller talked about Styles' loss toOmos the previous night onRaw, stating that Styles lost that night because he was thinking about Waller. Styles then stated that he was not 100% ready for a fight. Waller then teased a fight, but preferred that they have a match as the main event of the following episode ofNXT. Afterwards, Styles and Waller brawled, with Styles getting the upper hand after performing a Pele Kick. Styles attempted a Phenomenal Forearm, but Waller backed away to end the segment.[20]
Next, a backstage segment took place where Amari Miller talked withKacy Catanzaro andKayden Carter. Catanzaro and Carter talked about winning the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament beforeIndi Hartwell andPersia Pirotta interrupted, challenging them and Miller to a match for the following episode ofNXT. Tiffany Stratton passed up the offer of being Hartwell and Pirotta's partner, that spot being filled byWendy Choo.[20]
In the second match, Imperium (Walter and NXT Tag Team Champions Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) took on MSK (Wes Lee and Nash Carter) and Raw Tag Team Champion Riddle. Imperium dominated the early moments until Lee tagged in. Aichner performed a lariat on Lee. Lee ducked Aichner and tagged in Riddle before Walter tagged in. Walter then dominated Lee and Carter before Aichner and Barthel performed stereo Tree of Woe dropkicks on Lee. In the climax, Riddle escaped a European Bomb attempt before performing a High Knee on Barthel. Riddle performed a German Suplex on Walter. Lee and Carter performed a Dommsday Blockbuster on Aichner. Riddle then performed a corkscrew senton on Aichner before performing an RKO on Barthel to win the match.[20]
In the penultimate match, Mandy Rose defended the NXT Women's Championship against Cora Jade and Raquel González in a triple threat match. Rose arrived at the Performance Center with a helicopter, while González entered the Performance Center on a motorcycle. After González dominated Jade and Rose, Rose brought the fight to González before Jade cleared Rose from the ring. Later, Jade performed a hurricanrana on González before doing the same to Rose. González performed a backbreaker on Jade before lifting her up and throwing her out of the ring. González then brought Rose, who tried to escape, back inside the ring. Rose performed a Codebreaker on González for a nearfall. In the closing moments, González performed a Chingona Bomb on Rose, but Jade broke up the pin with a senton. González went for a superplex on Jade, but Jade shoved González off the top rope. Jade then tried to pin Rose, however, Rose countered into her own pinning combination to retain the title.[20]
Before the main event,Andre Chase talked about being grateful for one of hisChase University students protecting him the previous week and forHarland not throwing that student off the roof beforeVon Wagner interrupted. Wagner stated that he was the real star of NXT before attacking Chase. Wagner then attacked a few Chase University students in attendance before being escorted to the back to end the segment.[20]
In the main event, Tommaso Ciampa defended the NXT Championship against Bron Breakker. While Breakker made his entrance, he broke a giant X, signaling how a new era of NXT was starting. After an evenly contested match between the two, Ciampa attempted a DDT on Breakker onto the exposed concrete, but Breakker countered and performed an Alabama Slam on Ciampa through the announce table. Back inside the ring, Breakker performed a Military Press Powerslam on Ciampa, who grabbed the bottom rope to break the pin. Ciampa then kicked the ropes into Breakker's midsection and followed up with two Running Knees and a Fairytale ending on Breakker for a nearfall. In the closing moments, Ciampa attempted an Air Raid Crash on Breakker from the second rope, but Breakker shoved him off and followed up with a diving bulldog. Breakker forced Ciampa to submit to the Steiner Recliner to win the title for the first time.[20] After the event went off the air, Breakker's father,Rick Steiner, who had not appeared in WWE since 1994, celebrated the moment with Breakker.[21]
New NXT Champion Bron Breakker opened the following episode ofNXT to talk about his win atNXT: New Year's Evil. Breakker gave thanks to Tommaso Ciampa for congratulating him on his win and paying respect to Breakker's father, Rick Steiner. Breakker then stated that he would prove why he was the champion every week.[22]
Also onNXT, Wendy Choo (in her first WWE match), Indi Hartwell, and Persia Pirotta defeated Amari Miller, Kacy Catanzaro, and Kayden Carter.[22]
After Von Wagner attacked Andre Chase and the Chase University students in attendance atNXT: New Year's Evil, it was revealed that the WWE disciplinary committee had fined and suspended Wagner indefinitely. However, later that night, it was revealed that Wagner paid his fine and that the suspension was lifted.[22]
AJ Styles and Grayson Waller had their match on the following episode ofNXT, where Styles was victorious. After the match, Styles called Waller "good, but not phenomenal." He then introduced one of Waller's friends, which was revealed to beLA Knight, in his first appearance since being attacked by Waller in the parking lot on the December 14, 2021, episode ofNXT. Knight then attacked Waller before standing tall with Styles as the show ended.[22] This resulted in Knight and Waller continuing their rivalry.
MSK (Wes Lee and Nash Carter) entered the 2022 Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and made it to the finals at Vengeance Day,[23][24] where they were eliminated byThe Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed andJulius Creed).[25] AtNXT: Roadblock, MSK replaced The Creed Brothers after the latter were mysteriously attacked backstage and took on defending champions Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) for the NXT Tag Team Championship, only for the match to end in a no-contest when The Creed Brothers attacked both teams,[26] making atriple threat tag team match between the three teams for the titles being made official forNXT Stand & Deliver on April 2.[27]
After Cora Jade and Raquel González failed to defeat Mandy Rose for the NXT Women's Championship, González initially rejected Jade's offer to be her partner in the 2022 Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.[28][23] On the February 1 episode ofNXT, González defeated Jade, after which, González accepted Jade's offer to be her partner in the tournament.[29] They then spent the next few weeks preparing for the tournament.[25][30] They made it to the semifinals atNXT: Roadblock,[31] where they were eliminated after interference from NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne).[26] A week later, Jade stole the title belts from Rose, Dolin, and Jayne, but was attacked by Rose in the parking lot, setting up a match between Jade and Rose for the NXT Women's Championship at Stand & Deliver.[27] On the March 29 episode, González saved Dakota Kai from a 3-on-1 beatdown by Rose, Dolin, and Jayne, leading to a match pitting Dolin and Jayne against González and Kai for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship at Stand & Deliver.[32]
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times[20] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carmelo Hayes (North American Champion) (withTrick Williams) defeatedRoderick Strong (Cruiserweight Champion) (withHachiman andMalcolm Bivens) bypinfall | Singles match tounify theNXT North American Championship andNXT Cruiserweight Championship[33] | 15:29 | ||
| 2 | Matt Riddle andMSK (Nash Carter andWes Lee) defeatedImperium (Walter,Fabian Aichner, andMarcel Barthel) bypinfall | Six-man tag team match[33] | 13:50 | ||
| 3 | Mandy Rose (c) defeatedCora Jade andRaquel González bypinfall | Triple threat match for theNXT Women's Championship[33] | 12:33 | ||
| 4 | Bron Breakker defeatedTommaso Ciampa (c) bysubmission | Singles match for theNXT Championship[33] | 15:27 | ||
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