WWE NXT Review: Year-in-Review – featuring an NXT Women’s Championship Match

This week’s edition of WWE NXT, which aired on Christmas Day, was a recap of some of the best action from 2014, hosted by Renee Young and Corey Graves.

Young and Graves recapped some of the major happenings from the year. They talked about the impact that debuting NXT stars have had on the main roster, like Paige and Rusev.

They also did a brief recap of the year that Adrian Neville has had, before they showed the final minutes of the match between Neville and Sami Zayn, from TakeOver: R Evolution, all the way through to the attack from Kevin Owens. Graves added that an update on Zayn’s future is expected in the coming weeks.

Tyler Breeze provided a special “Merry Christmas” message for all his WannaBreezes, and said that he isn’t changing anything in the New Year, except adding a little gold to his ensemble.

A WWE.com Exclusive aired, featuring Curtis Axel asking NXT GM William Regal asking for a chance to recharge himself in NXT. Regal said that it wasn’t the time for them to talk, and recommended that Axel make an appointment. Axel walked away, clearly feeling slighted.

Graves also announced that Hideo Itami and Finn Balor would rematch with The Ascension next week. An interview with Balor and Itami aired, and they said they would destroy The Ascension next week, with Balor making a subtle nod to The Ascension’s impending main roster debut.

Next, the NXT debuts were recapped, like Baron Corbin, Bull Dempsey, Itami, Balor, and Owens. This was followed by an interview with Owens, who said he will “fight anyone, and everyone, until I’m the one left standing.” He added that that line would be good on a t-shirt.

They showed a video of Rich Brennan catching up with Bayley, who was watching the “Thy Kingdom Come” documentary about Triple H, and using his return from a knee injury as inspiration for her own recovery. She told Rich to tell Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch, that when she comes back, she will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever. Then, in her own adorable fashion, she did the taunt that Triple H does with his arms.

All this, before it was finally time for some in-ring action:

Ric Flair promo

Flair came out to accompany his daughter, Charlotte, to the ring. He said he used to have a saying, “Oh lord, it’s hard to be humble.” He said he used to say that about himself, but now he says it about his daughter. He added that he didn’t pass the torch to his daughter, she just took it.

Flair said that Charlotte and Banks’ match from TakeOver was one of the best in WWE history, not just NXT, and that Banks was good, but she wasn’t good enough.

Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship

Banks had Becky Lynch in her corner, as usual. Meanwhile, Charlotte was accompanied to the ring by her father, Ric Flair.

After the referee had to hold Banks back during the championship introductions, Charlotte came out with control in the early going. Charlotte was working on Banks’ legs, utilizing the ring post, until Banks used her legs and pulled Charlotte face-first into the post.

Banks, as she beat down on Charlotte, was taunting Flair at ringside.

Banks actually hit the Bank Statement, the backbreaker into the crossface submission hold, but she was too close to the ropes, and Charlotte was able to reach out and grab the middle-rope, as the announcers stressed the importance of ring position, and how we might have a new champion if Banks locked the hold in the middle of the ring.

Charlotte got herself back into the match, and looked to wrap things up with the Figure-Four, but Banks rolled her up for a two-count. However, Charlotte still had Banks’ legs wrapped up, and she immediately locked in the Figure-Four, modifying it with a bridge, forcing Banks to tap out.

Charlotte defeats Banks via submission.

4 out of 5 stars – The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and they are both extremely talented, and improving at a rapid pace.

Overall Impression

Despite the fact that it would be available on-demand, I think it’s a smart idea to do a show like this for Christmas and New Year’s, so that you’re not asking people to go out of their way to watch the show in this busy holiday time.

However, for the hardcore fans of NXT, we still got a little in-ring action, another phenomenal effort from Charlotte and Sasha Banks.

If you didn’t watch this week’s show, go back and watch this match.

Also, if you don’t believe in Renee Young, watch the entire show, because she has chemistry with every single person she works with, and she consistently does a great job.

What did you think of this week’s edition of NXT? Let us know in the comments section.

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