NXT’s next premium live event, Deadline, happens tonight (Sat., Dec. 6) at 7 p.m. Eastern. Tonight’s card from the San Antonio, Texas’ Boeing Center at Tech Port will be the fourth edition of the WWE Developmental/third brand’s year-end premium live event, which features NXT’s new signature match type, the Iron Survivor Challenge… and more! It all streams live on Peacock here in the U.S., and on Netflix in most of the rest of the world.
In this post, we’ll give you everything you need to get ready for tonight’s show, with a quick recap of how we got to every match, and thoughts & predictions from our motley crew of NXT-following Cagesiders on each.
Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Hendry vs. Myles Borne vs. Leon Slater vs. Dion Lennox in an Iron Survivor Challenge
The retiring John Cena’s picked an intriguing line-up for this battle for an NXT title shot. Everyone believes Evans is a future star, and Hendry’s been on an upward trajectory since his first song from Impact went viral. Borne did pretty well with a trial run in NXT’s main event scene last year, Slater is a current rising TNA star looking to add WWE gold to his X-Division belt, and Lennox just handed over NXT Tag gold to his DarkState partner Saquon Shugars so he can focus on his singles career.
As a reminder, the rules (and trust us, if you’ve never seen an Iron Survivor Challenge before, these work better in practice than you’d guess by reading them) are:
• Five Superstars will compete in this unique 25-minute match as they battle each other and the clock.
• Two Superstars will start the match, and every five minutes a new Superstar will enter the match until all five are in the ring.
• The goal is to have the most falls when the clock hits 25 minutes.
• Falls can be won at any time via pinfall, submission, or disqualification.
• When a Superstar scores a fall, they will earn one point.
• However, when a Superstar loses a fall, that Superstar must pay the penalty. They are forced out of the ring and into a penalty box for 90 seconds.
• Once the 90 seconds are up, the Superstar can re-enter the match.
• The Superstar who has scored the most falls when the clock hits 25 minutes will be named the Iron Survivor and become the No. 1 Contender to the NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship, respectively.
Geno Mrosko: I think I have things figured out sometimes, and then they change all the questions. Evans is the guy, though, and we can stop pretending like that isn’t the case after this one. Pick: Je’Von Evans
Sean Rueter: I went with Evans last year, and I still think he should probably be the pick this year. But considering how on the Hendry train WWE was before they signed him, have to think now that they have, they commit all the way. Pick: Joe Hendry
Claire Elizabeth: Je’Von is my guy, he’s The Guy, c’mon now. Pick: Je’Von Evans
Marcus Benjamin: I’m really intrigued by the DarkState story. I think their unity gives them the edge in a match where it’s every man for himself. I don’t think Dion Lennox is ready to hold the championship, but a match between him and Ricky Saints sounds like a nice pitstop on the road to Stand & Deliver. Pick: Dion Lennox
Sol Ruca vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey in an Iron Survivor Challenge
All but one of Cena’s picks for the women’s match either currently hold or have already held champiopnships in WWE or a partner promotion. Ruca just recently lost the Women’s North American and Speed titles while dealing with Blake Monroe-inflamed drama with Zaria, Jordan was the first Women’s NA chamo, and like Grace is are former Knockouts champ, and Grey currently holds Evolve’s Women’s title.
The same Iron Survivor rules apply in this battle for an NXT Women’s title shot.
Geno Mrosko: When Bayley was booked against her for Saturday Night’s Main Event, that sealed my choice here. Pick: Sol Ruca
Sean Rueter: Tempted to pick Ruca again, and imagine I’d probably be right this year. But as I was typing up my pick in the men’s match, I realized that all of that applies to the Juggernaut since she was signed early this year. Rather than go back and rethink my men’s pick, I’ll double down on the theory behind and say WWE finally accelerates the Grace train tonight. Pick: Jordynne Grace
Claire Elizabeth: Everybody else in the women’s Iron Survivor has been circling the scene for a while, so I expect Kendal Grey to seize the moment and carve her name on NXT here and now. Pick: Kendal Grey
Marcus Benjamin: I’m not picking Sol because I see her and Jacy Jayne as the bigger match down the road. Kendal Grey vs. Jacy at New Year’s Evil sounds right. Pick: Kendal Grey
Ricky Saints (c) vs. Oba Femi for the NXT championship
At No Mercy, the wrestler formerly known by his shoot name of Starks managed to end The Ruler’s dominant reign as NXT champ. Most assumed Femi would be main roster-bound after dropping the developmental brand’s top title, but he returned to set-up this rematch.
Geno Mrosko: I have no idea why Femi is still around NXT. He’s ready for more. I also don’t think it would make sense to have him go up to lose to Cody Rhodes at SNME. Pick: Ricky Saints
Sean Rueter: Looking at these two side-by-side, it feels like I can only in good conscience make one choice. But then I remember this is scripted, and that they put an extra prize on the line for this one last night on SmackDown, and that Cody would love to face his guy on Cena’s last show, and… Pick: Ricky Saints
Claire Elizabeth: The prize of a match against Cody Rhodes definitely affects the math here, but I’m gonna pick what I wanna see, which is the Ruler regains his crown and puts the “Nightmare” in “American Nightmare” next week. Pick: Oba Femi
Marcus Benjamin: Oba’s time on NXT is up. Actually, the alarm went off a long time ago. Ricky’s arc here is about cementing his status as the champ and beating Oba in what he considers a non fluke way. He gets that done here and sends Oba packing to the next chapter. Pick: Ricky Saints
Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame
Dame became the latest on a long list of friends who’ve left or betrayed Paxley. But after her most recent pal cost Tatum the NXT Women’s title, this time the fan-favorite is out for revenge.
Geno Mrosko: Dame is on an upward trajectory and they’ve proven they can do what they want in the booking and Paxley will have her spot. Pick: Izzi Dame
Sean Rueter: The NXT faithful aren’t turning on Paxley time soon, and they show no signs of stopping supporting her in any way. So why not use this to turn up the heat on her rival? It’s the slow season anyway, so Tatum can get her big win later when more folks are paying attention. Pick: Izzi Dame
Claire Elizabeth: Tatum is hot for revenge and who am I to deny her? Pick: Tatum Paxley
Marcus Benjamin: The Culling needs more heel heat and defeating Tatum in this spot will do that and more. Pick: Izzi Dame
Ethan Page (c) vs. Mr. Iguana for the NXT Men’s North American title
Page has had beef with the AAA tecnico pretty much since WWE bought the Mexican company, and they’ve chased each other all over the Americas. Still sore after Page and Chelsea Green won the lucha libre brand’s Mixed Tag titles from him and his various human partners, Iguana’s puppet La Yesca stole Page’s ride while he was bragging to NXT General Manager Ava about having the weekend off. Thus, this late addition to the card.
Geno Mrosko: LOL. Pick: Ethan Page
Sean Rueter: Should be fun, and if the title weren’t on the line, I’d pick the good guy. But it is, and I want a Chelsea Green appearance, so… Pick: Ethan Page
Claire Elizabeth: Mr. Iguana has La Yeska and the element of surprise, but he ain’t even 45% ego. Pick: Ethan Page
Marcus Benjamin: Mr. Iguana got the drop on Ethan the last time we saw them. That means Ethan is bound to get some revenge. Pick: Ethan Page
Now give us your picks! Then follow our coverage of Deadline, and we’ll see how we all did.
