WWE NXT Deadline is mainly featuring Iron Survivor Challenges that serve as a bridge to future title matches at NXT New Year's Evil in January. Despite the randomness in NXT booking on weekly shows, the PLEs tend to deliver. On this show, five matches have been officially scheduled: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Oba Femi for the NXT Title, Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame in a Personal Rivalry, Ethan Page (c) vs. Mr. Iguana for the NXT North American Title, the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge, and the Men's Iron Survivor Challenge. With that being said, here are the official NXT Deadline Predictions.
Ricky Saints (c) vs. Oba Femi [NXT Title]
Ricky Saints should not have to defeat Oba Femi again to solidify his reign. Beating Femi once to become champ was good enough, and Femi should have already been called up to the main roster to continue his dominance. If Femi wins the title back, it would be booking malpractice because he would have to overstay his welcome in NXT. However, it's also unfortunate that he has to eat an unnecessary loss that could have been easily avoided. Femi has nothing left to do in NXT right now. This should be his official sendoff, and Saints can move onto new challengers at New Years Evil.
Prediction: Ricky Saints
Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame [Personal Rivalry]
Tatum Paxley is a classic example of someone who was not ready to be NXT World Champ right now, and that's because she had an abysmal win/loss record, lackluster momentum, and thereby minimal credibility to be at the top of the card. Henceforth, it was not surprising that she lost the title back to Jacy Jayne in what was a transitional reign. NXT has been teasing the idea of Izzi Dame betraying Paxley, and that betrayal was what cost Paxley the title. Paxley could win here to get her revenge, but Izzi Dame needs to solidify heel turn with a victory, so that her run with the Culling is taken seriously.
Prediction: Izzi Dame
Ethan Page (c) vs. Mr. Iguana [NXT North American Title]
Ethan Page's recent work with Chelsea Green as the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions have been commendable to the point that it is drawing more eyes to the NXT Product. The Canadian gimmick is a traditional way to draw heel heat on top of the heel heat Page and Green are already drawing from their nefarious victories inside the squared circle. This rivalry with Mr. Iguana was drawn out from AAA is now taking place on NXT Deadline. Page & Green continuing their tyranny as champs is the right call at this point in time, so Mr. Iguana has no chance in hell of dethroning Page at this PLE.
Prediction: Ethan Page
Sol Ruca vs. Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Kendal Grey [Iron Survivor Challenge]
Jordynne Grace is the betting favorite to win this match, as she has been long overdue to become NXT Champ, especially after winning that epic feud with Blake Monroe, who had screwed Grace out of the title picture against Jacy Jayne at Evolution this past summer. Now that Jayne is champ, Grace will get her revenge and dethrone Jayne at New Years Evil. Sol Ruca is the runner-up, but she recently graduated from the mid card with her North American Title run, so it would be too soon. Lola Vice is the dark horse, but she already squandered her world title shot and is trapped in the mid card vortex.
Prediction: Jordynne Grace
Je'Von Evans vs. Leon Slater vs. Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox vs. Myles Borne [Iron Survivor Challenge]
Je'Von Evans is the betting favorite, as he has been a rising star on NXT for quite a while and has not captured gold as of yet. However, he already squandered so many title shots that he is now trapped in the mid card vortex. Myles Borne is the runner-up, and he has been getting a massive push recently. In fact, he even won a match to get an advantage in choosing what number he draws for the Iron Survivor Match. If he is strategic, he could win here and even turn heel in the future for a massive payoff against babyface champ, Ricky Saints. Joe Hendry is the dark horse, but he's just a meme.
Prediction: Myles Borne
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