Date: 12/28	7:00 PM
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Nickolye's WWE NXT recap for December 28, 2021 at 8 PM ET! Ahead of New Year's Evil next week, Wade Barrett will host the contract signing between Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong and North American Champion Carmelo Hayes for the Championship Unification Match. Also, Grayson Waller takes on Dexter Lumis one-on-one, Brian Kendrick will go head on with Harland, and in tag team action Raquel González and Cora Jade team up to take on the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction! NXT has a makeover in 2.0 fashion. Hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for the latest updates!

It's the final episode of NXT in 2021, and the go-home show before New Year's Evil! Grayson Waller comes out first to a chorus of boos. Waller talks about his Christmas, went to Detroit last night to show up on Raw, and had a verbal confrontation with AJ Styles. He continues to complain about Styles, mentions Dexter Lumis who he's supposed to face tonight, and the crowd just wants him to shut the hell up. Waller continues to mock and even calls Indi Hartwell a 10 for Lumis but a 3 for himself. Apparently, there's a replacement for Lumis tonight, and it's Odyssey Jones. Waller walks away before the match even begins, but Jones says while Waller calls himself a big-time superstar, he's really a "big-time bitch." Waller gets back to the ring while the crowd chants "big-time bitch" at him.

* Grayson Waller vs. Odyssey Jones

Jones overpowers him by throwing him with a big hiptoss, uses his size as his advantage, plants him with a sidewalk slam, and covers for 2 before our first commerfcial break. We get picture-in-picture here and Jones continues to dominate driving the air out of the loudmouth. Waller gets a small opening and strikes at the big man, goes for a standing cravate, but Jones pries him off. Waller contines the strikes, clubbing forearms to the back of the neck, and he's all punches and kicks at this point with no real offensive moves until locking in a cravate.

When we come back, Waller kicks him down to a knee and superkicks him, then hits the diving crossover elbow drop from the middle ropes and covers for a 2-count. Jones throws him off, knocks him down with body blocks, hits a backbreaker, counters with a powerbomb, and gets a 2-count. Waller ripped off the top turnbuckle pad, Jones crashes into the exposed steel, Waller leaps at him for a rolling Stunner, and shoots the half for 3. WINNER: GRAYSON WALLER!

AJ Styles shows up on the big screen giving him credit for showing up at Monday Night Raw, but he went looking for the wrong attention. AJ promises to be at NXT next week, and he will see him at New Year's Evil!

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Raquel González and Cora Jade. Next week they will be fighting for the championship, but tonight they put any differences aside and team up in tag team action. Io Shirai shows up wanting a shot at the title no matter who wins next week, and Kay Lee Ray walks in wanting the title shot repeating Io. Mandy Rose shows up on the screen behind them, decides to give her girls in Toxic Attracton the night off, and instead suggests the other women fight each other with the winning team as the two women who will face her in the triple threat title match at New Year's Evil!

Grayson Waller is behind the curtain whining about AJ Styles interrupting his victory celebration, accepts AJ's challenge for New Year's Evil, bumps shoulders with MSK, and yells "Screw you!" We get a video for Tiffany Stratton and she makes her debut tonight.

After the break, we get comments from Xyon Quinn giving Elektra Lopez the ultimatum: Quinn or Legado Del Fantasma. He's giving her the rest of the night to make her decision.

MSK head to the ring after many excursions trying to discover their true purpose. Nash Carter and Wes Lee are feeling the love from the crowd this time, the last time they were there was at Halloween Havoc where they lost the tag team titles to Imperium, and Riddle shows up on the big screen to say he could not be there with them tonight. They all went on a journey for a higher learning, and now all that's left for them is to call out Imperium, which they do. Out come the NXT Tag Team Champions to answer the challenge, Fabian Aichner speaks Italian, MSK ask for subtitles, and Marcel Barthel agrees they are not cultured. They tell MSK that the NXT Tag Team Titles will stay with Imperium, but MSK want them to put the championships on the line tonight. WALTER shows up on the big screen now calling MSK a disgrace to the mat, and praises his men as great champions. Riddle makes it split-screen and challenges all of Imperium to a six-man tag match next week at New Year's Evil, and WALTER ACCEPTS!

Two weeks ago, Harland threw Brian Kendrick down a flight of stairs, and tonight they face off after the break. When we come back, McKenzie interviews Edris Enofé and he was excited to win his match last week against Von Wagner. This provokes Wagner to show up calling Enofé lucky to win and they start shouting, Malik Blade shows up saying a win is a win and he will beat Wagner tonight too, and Wagner dismisses him not even knowing who he is. They have to be separated before any more physicality occurs.

Harland and Joe Gacy are in the ring already. Brian Kendrick's music plays but he doesn't show up. Gacy makes up a bunch of excuses saying that Kendrick is afraid of him. Andre Chase comes out to give a teachable moment and wants to set a good example to his students at Chase U. Gacy thanks him for stepping up as Kendrick's replacement.

* Harland vs. Andre Chase

Harland barely budges from Chase's attacks and beats him down then shoves him out the ring with one hand. Harland yanks him into the bottom rope, slams him on his face repeatedly, and the referee stops the match. WINNER due to ref stoppage: HARLAND!

Gacy tells Harland something, which sends Harland back to the ring, but one of Chase's students protects him. Harland pulls the student out the ring and carries him to the back. Coming up next will be Tiffany Stratton's NXT debut.

After the break, a cameraman asks Santos Escobar for his thoughts on Xyon Quinn's comments towards Elektra Lopez. They kick him out of the hallway, but Elektra Lopez walks up asking if they're waiting for her. Escobar asks her what the situation is, Solo Sikoa steps out into the hallway, assess the situation and turns around saying "My bad." For some reason, Santos takes offense to this for interrupting a family moment, Solo turns to walk away but they surround him, and Santos demands an apology from Sikoa. Solo tells him, "You've got misplaced anger. And if you wanna hash this out tonight, we can do that in the ring too." Elektra is left standing by herself in the hallway as they all walk off.

* Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley

Stratton is making her NXT 2.0 debut tonight after numerous vignettes. They lock up, Stratton pushes her down with strength, counters a waistlock, Henley reverses the arm wrench, and Stratton does a springboard backflip to reverse into an armbar. Henley puts her in a side headlock, Stratton reverses, Henley pushes her off, Stratton hits a shoulder block, claps for herself, ducks a leapfrog, blocks a hiptoss, and does a scoop slam. Stratton sends her into the corner, backflips into a clothesline, hits the flatliner, and covers for 3. WINNER: TIFFANY STRATTON!

After the break, we get a video from Tony D'Angelo proud of his actions last week when he hit Pete Dunne's hand with a crowbar.

Wade Barrett is in the ring to host the contract signing for the Championship Unification Match. The former Intercontinental Champion introduces first the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, the leader of Diamond Mine, Roderick Strong. Strong is accompanied by Ivy Nile, The Creed Brothers and Malcolm Bivens. The latter speaks on the champ's behalf to talk mention not seeing Trick or Carmelo backstage before this segment, and attributes that to gas prices being high so they could not make it. Trick Williams interrupts and he comes out along with the NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes. Williams speaks to Strong saying, "We decided we're gonna call you the B champion, because you won't be champion for much longer." Trick continues saying that Roddy has never been bout it, bout it. Bivens translates for Diamond Mine, Wade Barrett and everyone else at home, to basically say that Trick Williams called Strong a second-tier champion who will not be able to unify the championships. Strong wants Bivens to tells Williams that he will kick his ass, so Bivens adds: "Roderick Strong said 'Ay bruh, if you come at the king, you best not miss! Knuck if you buck. Around here, this is his block. If you want some, come get some cause right now you are outnumbered!'" Trick Williams takes offense to this, talks about being 6'4", 235, 8 abs, 3 chains, 2 women, 2 feet, and tells him to do the match. Bivens just complains that he doesn't get paid enough to do all of this translating. Now that was funny!

Wade Barrett brings us back to reality to get things back in motion. Barrett: "I have not got any clue what anyone is talking about right now. I'm completely lost, so let me reign it in, let me regain control because I would really really like to speak with the two champions here." Barrett asks Hayes to sit down and speak what is on his mind. Carmelo Hayes talks about having great aim and will not miss, and he claims he will take what he wants, and that includes the championship to unify both titles. Hayes: "I will truly be the A champion of NXT because I am the most scintillating champion in NXT. That's all it is, and that's all it's even gon' be!" Roderick Strong talks finally to say that was impressive for Hayes to say that to his face, and also that they will both going to have a life-changing experience next week. Strong: "For me, it's gonna be the greatest night of my career when I unify these two championships, and I walk out a two-time North American Champion! For you Carmelo, you're gonna be carried out and forever known as humbled Hayes. And that's all it's gonna be!" Barrett time for talking is over and time to sign. Strong signs the contract, Hayes signs the contract, they fling it back and forth, tensions rise, Barrett excuses himself, and it's official! Bivens has the music cut, Ivy Nile steps up behind Trick Williams, and Bivens taunts: "Hey Trick, you know what's bout it bout it? Dexter Lumis whoopin' your ass last week. THAT is bout it bout it!" Williams steps around Ivy, gets in Bivens's face, vows to make an example out of him, Bivens backs off, then The Creed Brothers pick Williams up and slam him through the table!

After the break, we get video package to highlight the four teams Grizzled Young Veterans, The Creed Brothers, Briggs & Jensen, and Jacket Time all with the same goal of being future NXT Tag Team Champions.

* Solo Sikoa vs. Santos Escobar

They lock up, clean break in the ropes, Escobar slaps him on the chest, and Sikoa no-sells it. Escobar with a waistlock, schoolboy rollup for no-count, tries for another roll-up, Sikoa misses a stomp, Escobar with a hammerlock, and Sikoa trips him up. Escobar takes him down for a rear mount, Sikoa stands with Santos on his back, Escobar goes for an abdominal stretch, but Sikoa throws him off with a hiptoss. Sikoa blocks an Irish whip, sends him to a corner, hip attack, clothesline, scoop slam, falling headbutt, and covers for 2. Sikoa follows him outside the ring, Escobar hits double knees against the ringpost, and backs him against the ring apron. All of Legado Del Fantasma are proud of this before a commercial break.

When we come back, Escobar is in control with a surfboard stretch, but Sikoa fights back until he telegraphs himself, Escobar hits a Russian legsweep, then rolls him up for 1. Escobar hits a forearm to the back, dropkick to the back, and stands on his back for good measure with a one-foot cover for 1. Escobar puts him in a modified half-crab, basement dropkick, covers for 1, then applies an armbar, and covers for 1 again. Escobar calls for the Three Amigos, but Sikoa doesn't allow one as he hits a front suplex throw, uppercut, and a back elbow. Sikoa hits a Samoan drop, running senton, knocks Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza off the apron, Escobar hits the chopblock, followed by a super hurricanrana from the top! Escobar with a bloody nose spots Xyon Quinn at ringside, so he attacks him with a suicide dive! Escobar demands Elektra to make her choice, Sikoa superkicks him as he gets back in the ring, hits the Samoan Splash, and gets the 3-count to remain undefeated. WINNER: SOLO SIKOA!

We go backstage to McKenzie Mitchell to talk about tonight's main event and she runs down the card:

• NXT Women's Championship: Mandy Rose {C} vs. ?? vs. ??
• Championship Unification Match: Roderick Strong {C} vs. Carmelo Hayes {C}
• Riddle & MSK vs. Imperium
• AJ Styles vs. Grayson Waller
• NXT Championship: Tommaso Ciampa {C} vs. Bron Breakker

We cut to the outside on the ROOF with Harland and Joe Gacy! Luckily, Harland puts the young Chase U student down without harm. After the break, we get words from Solo Sikoa but he's jumped by Boa! Several referees have to pry a fully face-pained Boa off of him as he knocks down a cameraman, then another camera shows Boa standing over Sikoa and the refeees confused and without the facepaint. From there, we get a video package to highlight the feud between Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker over the NXT Championship.

* Von Wagner vs. Malik Blade

Wagner works over the midsection at the bell followed by elbow strikes. Blade tries to fight back, gets a couple of kicks in, but Wagner tosses him around. Robert Stone is watching the match backstage on a monitor. Wagner is all over this match with a gutwrench suplex, short-arm clothesline, Blade fights back again, but Wagner clotheslines him. Blade dropkicks him twice, hits a springboard crossbody, Wagner catches him for a flatliner, Blade counters a powerbomb with the sunset flip for a near-fall, Wagner hits the Olympic Slam, spinning double arm slam, and gets the 3-count. WINNER: VON WAGNER!

Wagner goes for more, but Edris Enofé makes the save.

* Raquel González & Cora Jade vs. Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray

The winners of this match will be added to the NXT Women's Title triple threat match next week with Mandy Rose at New Year's Evil. Cora and Io start the match, Io messes with her, Cora does a headscissors, Io lands on her feet, does a flapjack, Cora rolls her up for 2, does a springboard headscissors takedown, and hits a high knee on the ropes. Raquel tags in, knee to the face, 2-count, lifts her up and shoves her to her corner. KLR tags in, chops to González, ducks a clothesline, Cora tags in, KLR climbs the ropes and somersaults onto González followed by an Asai moonsault before our final commercial break!

We go to pictre-in-picture, KLR puts Cora in a cravate, takes her down, Io tags in, basement dropkick to the back, covers for 2, body slam, handstand kneedrop, and gets a 2-count. KLR tags in, puts her in the surfboard stretch, KLR keeps her down, delivers a front suplex, and gets a 2-count.

When we come back, KLR hits a body slam, slams her knee down, then puts her in the single leg crab. Cora counters the KLR Bomb with a sunset flip for 2, slams KLR into the turnbuckles, Io tags in, KLR with a snap suplex, and Io goes top, but Raquel saves her partner. KLR hits González with the suicide dive, and Io looks to cancel this order. Io dropkicks her, hits the feint kick, connects with the missile dropkick, and covers for 2. Cora side-steps her in a corner, KLR gets the tag, Cora hits an enzuigiri, and Cora finally makes the big tag!

Raquel comes in full of energy, does an alloey-opp into the ropes, clotheslines her, hits a fallaway slam, does the springboard senton, KLR superkicks her, and Raquel catches her for the Chingna Bomb! Cora tags herself in, they disagree for a second, Raquel catches Io in mid-air, dumps her out the ring, Cora makes the cover, and Raquel breaks it up! Even though they're on the same team, González wanted to get the pinfall victory, so now they're just arguing about it. KLR shoves Cora into Raquel, rolls her up, and Raquel breaks it properly, and that shifts Cora onto KLR to pin her for 3! WINNERS: CORA JADE & RAQUEL GONZALEZ!

Raquel shakes down Cora for stealing the win, they keep arguing in the ring, and Mandy Rose shows up on the screen again saying she's shocked that they won. Mandy them that they'll be arguing amongst each other so much that they'll quickly lose the match. "See you next week at New Year's Evil." Good night!