WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Dec. 19

WWE NXT is looking forward to 2024, but a few scores needed to be settled first on the December 19 edition of the gold brand.

Fallon Henley and TIffany Stratton would meet one on one, hoping to finally put an end to a rivalry that has grown more violent with each week.

Izzi Dame looked to prove herself in a new alliance with Kiana James, battled the established duo of Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne.

Dragon Lee put his North American Championship on the line against any one member of Drew Gulak's No Quarters Catch Crew,

The Men's Breakout Tournament continued as Lexis King hoped to steal his way to a title shot. NXT champion Ilja Dragunov was set to appear.

While not a massive show on paper, NXT was certain to keep its momentum into a new year.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley

The referee barely rang the bell before this brawl started. It was physical throughout before Fallon Henley flipped Tiffany Stratton into a surprise pinfall. The Center of the Universe beat down Henley and dumped trash onto her.

These two have chemistry to spare. It is just a shame that the battle was so short. The quick finish does allow for a bigger match down the line without wasting any big spots.

Especially after the heinous attack post-match, NXT has set up a big stipulation grudge match in the coming weeks.

Henley winning here was a nice surprise, but she needs to win the decisive match to truly rise up the ranks. The Center of the Universe can then head to the main roster starting with the women's Royal Rumble match.

Result

Henley def. Stratton by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Henley pummeled Stratton in the corner with the right hands. When Stratton caught her in a powerbomb position, Henley reversed into a headscissors.
• In Stratton's post-match attack of Henley, she threw a table at her and even wiped her down with a mop.
• Noam Dar agreed to defend the Heritage Cup against Josh Briggs. After an angry Henley stormed off, Briggs told Brooks Jensen to stay in the back next week.
• Stratton challenged Stratton to a match at New Year's Evil where Henley would become Stratton's servant if she lost.
  

Ridge Holland Challenges Ilja Dragunov

Ridge Holland interrupted Ilja Dragunov, telling him that he wanted to rewrite his legacy starting with The Mad Dragon. Dragunov agreed to a non-title match in the main event.

Dragunov vs. Holland is an odd match to rush, but the former rugby player does fit the NXT atmosphere better than the main roster at this moment. He is a talented big man that has not refined himself as a performer.

If the plan is to keep him in NXT while Butch ventures out on his own, Holland should slowly turn heel as he is more natural in that role.

Hopefully, he will find a way to refine his explosive offense safely. He still has a high ceiling long term.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Holland said he needed to rebuild his legacy as a main event guy due to his in-ring history including the injuries suffered at his hands.
  
• Backstage, Carmelo Hayes tried to convince Trick Williams to allow his NXT Championship match to become a triple threat at New Year's Evil.
• Trick questioned Dragunov defending his title before New Year's Evil.
• Trick was frustrated with Holland jumping the line, and Melo told him to trust him.
  

Men's Breakout Tournament: Lexis King vs. Dion Lennox

Lexis King talked a big game before he headed to the ring, but he was thrown around by Dion Lennox. The loudmouth heel caught Lennox with the Coronation to win.

Trey Bearhill arrived with a steel chair after the match, running off King.

This was a fine match, clearly carried by the more veteran performer. It can be considered a success as Lennox could come out with some buzz.

King is the obvious favorite in this tournament following his surprise entrance. However, the Men's Breakout Tournament has many unknowns that have been fascinating to watch.

Lennox did not do much in this match, but he was crisp with his offense. If he can continue to improve his repertoire with time, he could be a breakout star in the next couple years.

NXT has put Bearhill in an odd position where he is out of the tournament but has a clearer direction than those in the tournament. Hopefully, there is a plan for Bearhill to get some spotlight out of working with King.

Result

King def. Lennox by pinfall to advance in the Men's Breakout Tournament.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Vic Joseph explained that Lennox signed with WWE in February and is already debuting in December.
• King teased walking out withe the contract until Lennox grabbed him and threw him back into the ring.
  

Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail vs. Kiana James and Izzi Dame

While Thea Hail was rolling with the Chase U student section, she lost track of the legal competitor with Jacy Jayne recovering outside. Hail caught Kiana James in a Kimura Lock, but Dame big booted her for a surprise three.

Dame looked better here than she did in the Women's Breakout Tournament. Jayne and Hail pushed her to compete while also highlighting her height and strength,

James has shown a strong affinity for tag team wrestling and already has some basic chemistry with Dame. Hopefully, this is only the beginning for the partnership.

While the businesswoman has built some momentum on her own, Dame could be the key star to elevate her as a potential powerhouse heavy in the style of a Diesel or Raquel Rodriguez. She just needs to prove she belongs.

While Hail and Jayne were the losing team here, they have found their chemistry all the more in recent months and should remain together as a rare reliable women's tag team.

Result

James and Dame def. Hail and Jayne by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Riley Osbourne led the Chase U student section cheering Hail. Hail especially had them rocking during her hot tag roll.
• Watching backstage, Roxanne Perez promised she was not done with James or Dame. Arianna Grace taunted The Prodigy, who slapped her.
• Eddy Thorpe challenged Dijak to an NXT Underground match next week. Hard Justice gladly agreed.
  

North American Championship: Dragon Lee (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey vs. Joe Coffey

Charlie Dempsey revealed that he would fight for The No Quarter Catch Crew. Joe Coffey arrived to deliver his own challenge. Dragon Lee agreed to fight both.

Coffey was rolling until Joe Gacy pulled him under the ring. The luachador then planted Dempsey with Operation Dragon to retain.

The No Quarter Catch Crew attacked the North American champion after the bell. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro ran in to make the save.

This was by far the best match of the night. Dragon has not missed in the ring as of late, and the time he gets in NXT is only elevating his standing. He worked very well with Coffey and Dempsey.

At some point, NXT should revisit the champion defending against Coffey because those two have chemistry left to explore.

Wilde and Del Toro's arrival would indicate that Dragon will be joining LWO officially soon. This should also give the LWO's most forgotten members a chance to show out in NXT again for a while.

Result

Dragon def. Dempsey and Coffey by pinfall to retain the North American Championship.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• Gallus got thrown out of ringside early after grabbing the luchador's leg.
• Coffey blasted Dragon with a Glasgow Send-Off into Dempsey in the corner. Lee responded with a corner double foot stomp and running knee to nearly win.
• Andre Chase and Scrypts agreed to a match next week where Chase could make his money to pay back The Family. If they lost, they would lose the money and O.T.M. would get a title shot.

Men's Breakout Tournament: Luca Crusifino vs. Tavion Heights

Luca Crusifino took some cheap shots early at the legs of Tavion Heights, but his opponent got rolling and did not stop. Heights picked up the win with a running belly-to-belly.

While NXT fans had not gotten a chance to see Heights until this point, he made an immediate impression thanks to his Greco-Roman wrestling background. He hit some snappy suplexes.

WWE has developed many great amateur wrestlers into quality Superstars, and Heights looks like the newest project to watch.

This match was largely a squash. Crusifino got in a couple decent shots, but it was all about highlighting Heights. He will have a much bigger challenge in Oba Femi next week.

Result

Heights def. Crusifino by pinfall to advance in the Men's Breakout Tournament.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• The piped-in crowd reactions were obvious tonight though no more so than a "Tavion" chant breaking out during the newcomer's entrance.
  

Nikkita Lyons vs. Tatum Paxley

Nikkita Lyons pummeled Tatum Paxley with kicks and punches. She finished the job with a roundhouse kick and split-leg drop.

This was a complete squash. While Lyons is not all the way back physically, looking a little rusty with her offense, she remains one of NXT's highest priority stars in the women's division.

It would not be surprising if Lyons was the one to dethrone Lyra Valkyria in 2024. She need to find her stride first though and deliver in the most important match of her career against Blair Davenport.

Paxley has fully embraced her oddball character and is standing out even when she cannot win a match. Hopefully, the road ahead will build back up her credibility.

Result

Lyons def. Paxley by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• In the locker room, Lyons warned Valkyria that she wanted the NXT Women's Championship after she was done with Davenport.
• One of Lyons's strikes hit hard, causing Paxley to bleed from her nose.
  

Gallus (w/ Joe Coffey) vs. Hank and Tank

Gallus ran over Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. Mark Coffey and Wolfgang hit the Gallus Gate to win.

Hank and Tank remain an interesting tag team without serious backing. They are powerhouses that can move and could find their footing with a few wins.

This was more about Gallus keeping momentum as a unit. Wolfgang and Mark looked solid when on offense and pick up a necessary win to get back into title contention before long.

It just would have been nice to get something a bit bigger after weeks of teasing for this clash.

Result

Gallus def. Hank and Tank by pinfall.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Joe Coffey looked noticeably nervous returning to ringside after Joe Gacy attacked him earlier. Gacy was shown watching closely.
  
• Tank hyped up Hank at ringside as Booker T for some reason called for Tank to get disqualified.
• Cora Jade took back her locker room spot from Karmen Petrovic, throwing Petrovic's things out of the way.
  

Ilja Dragunov vs. Ridge Holland

In a competitive back-and-forth battle, Ridge Holland planted Ilja Dragunov with a brainbuster that left the NXT champion unable to continue. He had to be stretchered out.

Holland and Dragunov were rolling before the premature finish, which was clearly a stage injury angle based on the build-up. Corey Brennan of Fightful.com reported as much when it was taped.

It is good to know that The Mad Dragon is not actually hurt, but it is questionable to play up Holland's history in this way. It makes him look bad and draws unnecessary heat on him that may not translate to a true heel run.

This all feels ill-timed when there was an easy match between Dragunov vs. Trick Williams that everyone was looking forward to. Hard to believe it happens at New Year's Evil after selling a serious injury.

Until the whole story plays out, it is hard to say anything of this angle. Hopefully, it pays off in a way that can elevate Holland while reinforcing he is not actually an unsafe worker.

Result

Dragunov vs. Holland goes to a no contest by referee stoppage.

Grade

B (for the action)/D (for the angle)

Notable Moments

• Holland hesitated on the Beats of the Bodhrán, allowing Dragunov to fight back then plant his opponent with a DDT.
• The Mad Dragon caught Holland with an H-Bomb then enzuigiri, but The Brawling Brute responded with a rolling big boot.
• Holland watched in the corner dejected while officials told him what happened.
  

Overall Show

This was a down week for NXT, particularly because of a lack of big moments. Dragon Lee's title defense was the only outstanding performance of the night.

Multiple matches were rushed, leading to an overloaded card. Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallin Henley deserved more time and attention. Kiana James and Izzi Dame vs. Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail could have been more involved.

The main event was a solid match that became a messy angle, further complicating an NXT Championship scene that might actually lose heat from this angle.

The Men's Breakout Tournament presented some interesting prospects in lackluster fashion.

Overall, while there was nothing egregious, there was too little that was outstanding on a night that had real potential. It was a case of a night that was less than the sum of its parts.

Overall Grade: D+