WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Jan. 16

The January 16 edition of WWE NXT promised a bold new version of a Battle Royal and the second night of the Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Twenty of the best female competitors in NXT competed in an innovative Battle Royal where the final four competitors would face off in a Fatal 4-Way to determine the next No. 1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship.

Lyra Valkyria had to focus on other issues first, as she would team with Tatum Paxley against Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams hoped to advance in the men's Dusty Classic by defeating Edris Enofé and Malik Blade. Duke Hudson and Riley Osbourne challenged Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro in the final quarterfinal match.

New North American champion Oba Femi addressed his impressive victory last week, and Ridge Holland returned to the gold brand to face Joe Coffey.

Tuesday's show was must-watch for those who are following NXT's journey to Vengeance Day on February 4.

Dusty Classic: Trick Melo Gang vs. Edris Enofé and Malik Blade

Edris Enofé and Malik Blade looked phenomenal against Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes, but Trick would not be denied. He picked up the win with a Flash Knee.

This was a phenomenal opener and the hottest bout in the men's Dusty Classic so far. The crowd is so into Trick that anything he does feels big-time. He is genuinely overshadowing Melo at the moment.

While Trick Melo Gang should have had this kind of tag team run before they began as solo stars (and likely future rivals), it's great to see what they can go together as Trick gets better all the time.

Credit is also due to Enofé and Blade, who remain one of the most reliable veteran tag teams in NXT. They deserve a serious run soon, whether it comes from NXT or a main roster call-up.

Result

Trick and Melo def. Enofé and Blade by pinfall to advance in the men's Dusty Classic.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• NXT used a combined theme for Trick and Melo. Analyst Booker T was not happy whenever Trick's theme became Melo's.
• Enofé and Blade wore yellow-and-black-polka-dot-themed gear in honor of Dusty. The Trick Melo Gang also wore bright yellow gear, which was an odd choice.
• Commentary called out how much the crowd was behind Trick, overshadowing Melo in the same match.
• It was great to see Melo healthy after his scary injury spot on Friday's SmackDown.
• Enofé almost got the win after a diving elbow on Trick. Blade almost claimed victory after a frog splash on Melo.

• Backstage, Ilja Dragunov told Trick that he would face him for the NXT Championship at Vengeance Day. Melo reminded Trick that the Dusty Classic final was on the same night.

Oba Femi Closes Open Challenge for North American Championship

Oba Femi told the NXT Universe that he had reached his destiny as North American champion.

Dragon Lee challenged him for a rematch at Vengeance Day, but Femi refused to accept just yet and said the open challenge was closed.

There is something special with Femi. The Nigerian Superstar has a presence that makes him instantly big-time. He is a power wrestler with style who can also talk for himself.

If he can find a way to match the crowd in his promos, he will become a top act. He still has some work to do, but he genuinely looks like a bigger star next to the better-established Lee.

A full match between Femi and Lee could be special. It will be the biggest test for the new North American champion, but he already looks ready.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• The crowd is already into Femi, who added a rhythmic emphasis to his every line.

Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez

Tatum Paxley kept her promise to protect Lyra Valkyria and took the brunt of the offense on Tuesday.

In the closing stretch, Paxley took a Lola Vice roundhouse kick for Valkyria and fell onto Elektra Lopez for a surprise three-count.

This could have gone longer, but the action was great for the four minutes it had. Paxley especially showed off, selling her athleticism and ability to follow The Valkyrie's offense to the letter.

This angle with Valkyria and Paxley has developed impressively, and it's hard to figure out what Paxley will do next and if she is genuine in her admiration.

This is the best character work of Paxley's career to date and could end up redefining her legacy in NXT. Valkyria can help her become a star.

Result

Valkyria and Paxley def. Vice and Lopez by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Backstage, Paxley warned Lopez and Vice that she would stop them from ever touching "her" champion. She promised to win the Battle Royal to protect Valkyria.
• Paxley arrived in full matching gear to The Valkyrie.
  

Ridge Holland vs. Joe Coffey (w/ Gallus)

Ridge Holland was too powerful for Joe Coffey to overcome. The former rugby league star wiped him out with a clothesline and Michinoku Driver to win.

Gallus beat him down afterward while making a point that the former Brawling Brute has no friends.

This was fine. Holland is still not clicking with audiences, but he has talent. If the goal is to build sympathy for him, the post-match Gallus beatdown helped.

It will be interesting to see who the Englishman can find as a friend to help him after leaving Butch high and dry recently.

Result

Holland def. Coffey by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Holland came out to his old theme song, which is a good one that might help his rebrand.
• JBL found Josh Briggs backstage and told him to become his own man and not just try to follow in his footsteps.
• Drew Gulak made No Quarter Catch Crew go back to basics. They also announced a "catch" clause in their contracts that allowed them to decide on the day who fought for the group in each match.
  

Dusty Classic: LWO (w/ Zelina Vega) vs. Chase U (w/ Andre Chase)

Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro found an impressive match in Duke Hudson and Riley Osborne, setting up a fast-paced battle.

However, LWO was too much for them, hitting a combination moonsault and Phoenix Splash to win.

An ill-timed commercial break with no picture-in-picture hurt the momentum of this bout. Even so, everyone involved was too explosive to not deliver a quality contest.

Wilde had the crowd on their feet down the stretch. LWO looked like world-beaters and a team that deserved much more on SmackDown than it has been given.

Either team could have advanced, but LWO has a chance to be the one established tag team to make a real impact in the Dusty Classic. The team can rebuild itself in this tournament and showcase a story beyond the odd-fellows pairing.

Result

LWO def. Chase U by pinfall to advance in the men's Dusty Classic.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• NXT Anonymous caught Jacy Jayne continuing her plan to save Chase U with the women of the university.
  
• Zelina Vega's appearance was a surprise and clearly appreciated by the crowd.
  
• The crowd was more into LWO than Chase U in this match. However, Hudson's signature Chase U taunts got the crowd back.
• Wilde caught Hudson by surprise after a blind tag and hit him with a dropkick followed by a moonsault to the floor on Osborne and tope suicida to Hudson.
• Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin argued over their tag team names in their latest interview.
  

Dijak vs. Trey Bearhill

Trey Bearhill's power surprised Dijak, but Hard Justice still knocked him out with a discus big boot for the win.

Afterward, Lexis King beat down Bearhill and told him to stay out of his business.

It's not clear yet how good Bearhill is, but NXT allowed him to work with Dijak, going longer than expected. He challenged a possible future NXT Championship contender over five minutes.

It was nothing much to write home about, but it did indicate Bearhill is a focus for this company. He and King continue to build a heated rivalry. They just need to execute when they actually meet in the ring.

As King continues to lose in big moments, it's hard to get excited about his immediate future. Perhaps jump-starting this rivalry with Bearhill will get him back on track.

Result

Dijak def. Bearhill by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Bearhill and Eddy Thorpe talked up their culture until Dijak mocked both men and challenged the newcomer.
  
• Joe Gacy joined commentary for this match, putting over the action. When Dijak got in his face, Gacy headbutted the heel. They brawled to the back afterward.
  

• Von Wagner told Mr. Stone that he would win gold in 2024 after challenging Noam Dar for the Heritage Cup.

No. 1 Contender Battle Royal and Fatal 4-Way

After a wild Battle Royal, the final four were Roxanne Perez, Fallon Henley, Kiana James and Kelani Jordan.

When Izzi Dame saved James from Jordan, Perez caught Jordan with Pop Rox to steal the three-count and win.

Lyra Valkyria arrived to stare down her next challenger as the other three women looked on dejected.

This was a wild, fun main event that made the most of the final quarter of the show. So many women showed out, including some relative unknowns. The final four were the right choice as all four could believably win.

It is tough to deliver fresh match types, but this contest really worked. The transition into the Fatal 4-Way was seamless.

The finish was a shocker mainly due to build. Perez is phenomenal but has had no momentum in recent weeks, and she still hasn't settled her rivalry with James and Dame.

Henley and James had the obvious momentum, but this could help legitimize The Prodigy again. She and Valkyria can put on a show at Vengeance Day.

Result

Perez def. Jordan, James and Henley in the final four to become the new No. 1 contender to NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

• Henley promised to make the most of this opportunity. Arianna Grace cleared out the women's locker room as she talked herself up.
  
• The Family talked up Adrianna Rizzo before her match. She and Jaida Parker got into it in the match and got each other eliminated.
• Jordan tried to focus on setting her future while talking with Brinley Reece. She had to make a Kofi Kingston-esque return to the ring after she was dumped onto the announce table early.
• Lola Vice eliminated Elektra Lopez. Tatum Paxley then took out Vice. Vice and Lopez brawled to the back.
  

• Karmen Petrovic kicked Blair Davenport out of the action. Davenport made her pay afterward with a knee strike.
• Wren Sinclair replaced the injured Cora Jade and made it to the final five, but after she eliminated Lash Legend, James took her out.

Overall Show

This was a knockout show for NXT. The pacing was great throughout, and multiple matches overdelivered along with a truly memorable main event that took up the final 30 minutes of the night.

The women especially made an impact. The multiple-segment focus on Lyra Valkyria and the NXT Women's Championship made the division feel even bigger than than the NXT Championship picture.

The men's Dusty Classic delivered big-time matches for the remaining quarterfinals. The growing drama with Trick Melo Gang, possibly setting up Trick Williams to work double duty at the premium live event, adds another interesting NXT hook.

This was as good as NXT has been in a long time, which is a credit to the great talent and the strong building foundations for Vengeance Day.

Grade: A+