WWE NXT Results 1/16 - Oba Femi Speaks, Number One Contenders Battle Royal And More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE NXT" on January 16, 2024, coming to you live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida!
Last week's edition of "NXT" ended in shocking fashion when Oba Femi cashed in his Men's Breakout Tournament Contract to dethrone Dragon Lee as North American Champion immediately after the latter had successfully defended his title over Lexis King. In light of such, Femi will be speaking tonight for the first time since.
Lyra Valkyria's next challenger for the "NXT" Women's Championship will be determined tonight, as Roxanne Perez, Fallon Henley, Gigi Dolin, Blair Davenport, Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, Kiana James, and Lash Legend will be among those competing in a Twenty Woman Number One Contenders Battle Royal. This won't be any ordinary Battle Royal, however, as the final four competitors left standing in the match will square off in a Fatal Four-Way match.
Speaking of Valkyria, she will be teaming up with Tatum Paxley to go head-to-head with Elektra Lopez and the 2023 Women's Breakout Tournament winner Lola Vice. All four women found themselves face-to-face last week when Vice and Lopez confronted Valkyria in the ring and blindsided her with an attack before Paxley showed up to even the odds.
Two more first round matches in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be held tonight as Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams collide with Edris Enofe and Malik Blade, and Chase U's Duke Hudson and Riley Osborne take on Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde. Nathan Frazer and Axiom, and Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin defeated Hank Walker and Tank Ledger and Gallus respectively last week to advance to the semi-finals.
Additionally, Ridge Holland will be taking on Gallus' Joe Coffey following a confrontation last week.
We are live! Vic Joseph and Booker T greet audiences at home as Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams make their way down to the ring. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade follow.
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams vs. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade in a First Round Match for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Hayes and Blade begin the action. The bell rings and Blade delivers an arm drag. Hayes trips him before the pair level one another with dropkicks. Enofe and Williams tag in, and Williams connects with a dropkick. He follows it up with a pair of bodyslams and an open palm strike. Blade and Hayes tag back in, and Blade delivers a few back elbows to Hayes. He lands a dropkick on Williams on the apron, but Hayes levels him with a superkick.
Enofe tags in and hits a dropkick. Williams tags in and Enofe delivers a pair of arm drags. He whips him into the corner, then follows it up with a splash. Hayes tags in and delivers a splash of his own in the corner before he and Williams deliver a double shoulder tackle to Enofe. Williams and Blade tag back in and brawl with one another until Enofe tags back in. Blade and Enofe level an interfering Hayes with a double flapjack.
Back from the break, Balde tags in and delivers a backbreaker to Hayes. Enofe tags in and fires off right hands on Hayes, but Williams tags in and delivers a back elbow. He follows it up with a pair of leg lariats on Enofe and a double flapjack to him and Blade, then delivers a spinebuster to Enofe. Enofe responds with a back suplex and ascends to the top, then delivers an elbow drop and goes for a pin. Williams kicks out and sends Enofe and Blade crashing into one another.
Hayes tags in and the now legal Blade delivers a spinebuster to him. He ascends to the top and delivers a splash, then goes for a pin but Williams breaks the fall. Enofe dumps him out of the ring and looks to fly, but Williams catches him with a right hand. Back in the ring, Hayes delivers a codebreaker to Blade. Williams tags in and runs over Blade for the win.
Winners: Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams
Oba Femi then makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Oba Femi
Femi says many are surprised to see him as North American Champion, but it's a prophecy that's been foretold. He says it was said he would be the biggest, strongest, and fastest when he was born, and he would be a war leader. He says he was tested as a young Nigerian Prince, and he destroyed his opposition. He says he was tested in the NCAA, and he made that world his own as a D1 Athlete by winning title after title. He says his goals haven't changed since arriving in "NXT", and he has his divine right to rule over the "NXT" Universe with the North American Championship. He says he will crush every man in his way because he is backed by destiny.
Dragon Lee's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says Femi was hungry and took his moment last week, and no one in "NXT" history has made an impact so fast. He tells Femi that he hopes he can gives to others what he and Wes Lee did before him, and he continues the tradition of the Open Challenge for the North American Championship. He requests a title match tonight as his first defense, but Femi declines to give it to him and says the Open Challenges are now closed. Lee then says he wants his title rematch at "NXT" Vengeance Day, and Femi tells Lee he doesn't get to decide anymore. He tells him that he may grant him what he wants and heads to the back.
We then head backstage and see Trey Bearhill introduce himself to Eddy Thorpe. Dijak walks in running his mouth, and Bearhill confronts him, leading Dijak to challenge him to a match later tonight.
Back at ringside, Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley make their way down.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams talking about their win in earlier tonight. Ilja Dragunov walks in and informs Williams that he's now cleared to compete. He offers Williams an "NXT" Championship rematch at Vengeance Day, and Williams accepts. However, as Hayes points out, that same night will see the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic which they plan on being in.
Back at ringside, Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez head down.
Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez
Valkyria and Lopez begin the action. The bell rings and the two go back and forth. Lopez ends up on the outside, and Valkyria delivers a dropkick to Lopez through the middle rope. The now legal Paxley follows suit and does the same to Vice, but Lopez gets in the ring and tags in Vice. Vice delivers a kick to her chest as she's draped through the middle rope.
Lopez tags back in and fires off shoulders on Paxley's midsection in the corner. Vice tags in and delivers a double clothesline to Paxley with Lopez. Paxley turns Vice inside out and tags in Valkyria. Lopez tags in and Valkyria connects with a pair of clotheslines on her. She follows it up with an enzuigiri and a Northern Lights suplex, but Lopez sends her crashing into the corner. Paxley tags in and ascends to the top, then delivers a crossbody. She goes for a pin, but Vice breaks the fall. Vice and Valkyria then begin brawling, and Vice looks to land a kick on her. Paxley takes the hit for Valkyria, landing on top of Lopez to pin her for the win.
Winners: Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley
Ridge Holland then makes his way down to the ring. Gallus follows.
Joe Coffey (w/ Gallus) vs. Ridge Holland
The bell rings and the two lock up. They exchange forearms with one another before Holland sends Joe crashing into the top turnbuckle face first and follows it up with a suplex and a back body drop. He delivers a second suplex and fires off shoulders on Joe's midsection in the corner. Wolfgang captures Holland's attention, allowing Joe to take advantage and deliver a backbreaker. He follows it up with a corkscrew elbow, but Holland delivers a pair of knees to his midsection and a headbutt. He gets Joe up on his shoulders and sends him crashing into the top rope face first, then delivers a bodyslam for the win.
Winner: Ridge Holland
After the match, Wolfgang and Mark blindside Holland and beat him down. Joe joins in and delivers a clothesline to Holland as Mark and Wolfgang hold him in place. Gallus stands tall over him.
Back from the break, we see Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin brainstorming team names with Kelly Kincaid.
Back at ringside, Chase U heads down. LWO follows.
Chase U (w/ Andre Chase) vs. LWO (w/ Zelina Vega) in a First Round Match for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Osborne and Del Toro begin the action. The bell rings and the two take turns locking each other in submission holds and pinning one another. Wilde tags in and delivers an uppercut to Osborne, then follows it up with a dropkick. Hudson tags in and delivers a sidewalk slam to Wilde. Wilde responds with a jawbreaker and tags in Del Toro. Hudson delivers a double suplex to Wilde and Del Toro, then clotheslines both men out of the ring and tags Osborne back in. Osborne goes flying over the top to level the pair.
Back from the break, Wilde delivers a tilt-a-whirl gutbuster to Osborne and tags in Del Toro. Osborne levels Del Toro and Wilde by flying out of the corner, then tags in Hudson. Hudson delivers a boot to Wilde and fires off right hands on Del Toro, but Del Toro responds with an enzuigiri and a reverse hurricanrana. Hudson sends Del Toro crashing into the mat and goes for a pin, but Del Toro kicks out and delivers a boot to Hudson's jaw.
Hudson levels Del Toro and pins him, unaware Wilde is now legal. Wilde delivers a dropkick to Hudson off the top before the action spills to the outside and Wilde goes flying to level both Hudson and Osborne. Del Toro tags in and ascends to the top, then delivers a 450 Splash for the win.
Winners: LWO
Joe Gacy then joins the commentary desk as Dijak makes his way down to the ring.
Back from the break, we head backstage and see Von Wagner and Noam Dar get into a verbal exchange as Mr. Stone and Oro Mensah flank them. This leads to Wagner challenging Dar to a "NXT" Heritage Cup next week.
Back at ringside, Trey Bearhill heads down.
Dijak vs. Trey Bearhill
The bell rings and Dijak looks to land a boot on Bearhill. Bearhill catches it and delivers a back body drop to Dijak, then fires off right and left hands on him in the corner. Dijak sends him crashing into the top rope face first, then delivers a boot to him and goes for a pin. Bearhill quickly kicks out and Dijak delivers a suplex to him, then follows it up with an elbow to his spine and an elbow drop. He lands a chop on him in the corner, but Bearhill suplexes him into the corner and follows it up with a splash.
Dijak clotheslines Bearhill out of the ring, then sends his face bouncing off the ring apron and whips him into the barricade. He gets in Gacy's face, and Gacy responds by delivering a headbutt to him. Bearhill sends Dijak's head repeatedly bouncing off the ring apron, then gets him back in the ring and delivers a double chop to him. He follows it up with a running crossbody and goes for a pin, but Dijak kicks out. Dijak then delivers a boot for the win.
Winner: Dijak
After the match, Gacy blindsides Dijak and the two brawl up the ramp and to the back. In the ring, Lexis King appears out of nowhere and attacks Bearhill.
We then head backstage and see JBL approach Josh Briggs. Briggs asks JBL for some advice, and JBL tells him to go inwards and reflect on who he really is.
Back at ringside, Kiana James and Izzi Dame make their way down to the ring. The rest of the entrants in the 20 Woman Number One Contenders Battle Royal for the "NXT" Women's Championship follow.
20 Woman Number One Contenders Battle Royal
The bell rings and everyone begins brawling with one another. Adriana Rizzo and Jaida Parker slide under the ring and begin brawling on the outside as Gigi Dolin sends Jakara Jackson over the top and onto the apron. She delivers a headbutt to her to send her crashing onto the floor.
Eliminated: Jakara Jackson
Lash Legend clotheslines Rizzo and Parker over the top onto the apron. Rizzo is sent onto the floor, and Izzi Dame looks to take out Legend. Legend sees her coming, and ducks out of the way. Dame connects with a forearm on Parker to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Adriana Rizzo and Jaida Parker
Kelani Jordan ascends to the top and looks to deliver a crossbody to Legend and Dame, but Legend and Dame catch her. They look to dump her over the top, but Jordan escapes. They then dump her over the top, but Jordan hangs on. Jordan gets sent to the outside by Legend, but she lands on top of Parker. Parker puts her on top of the announce desk to brawl with Rizzo.
Back from the break, we see Jordan climb onto the barricade and jump onto the ring steps to save herself from elimination. Fallon Henley has eliminated Stevie Turner.
Eliminated: Stevie Turner
Reece has Lola Vice on her shoulders and dumps her over the top onto the apron. Elektra Lopez provides Vice with a hand and they eliminate Reece together. Vice then sends Lopez crashing out of the ring over the top before Tatum Paxley sends Vice over the top to join her.
Eliminated: Brinley Reece, Elektra Lopez, and Lola Vice
Vice and Lopez brawl with one another up the ramp. Dolin delivers an STO to Blair Davenport and looks to send her packing. Davenport lands on the apron and hangs on, but Dolin delivers a forearm and a dropkick. Davenport still manages to hang on, and Dolin charges at her. Davenport low bridges her out of the ring to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Gigi Dolin
Thea Hail goes after Davenport, and Davenport pulls her over the top to join her on the apron. Karmen Petrovic delivers a kick to Davenport's head to send her crashing onto the floor.
Eliminated: Blair Davenport
Davenport pulls Petrovic from under the bottom rope and attacks her on her way to the back. Inside the ring, Legend uses Paxley as a weapon to level a couple competitors. She sends her over the top onto the apron and Paxley looks to fly back inside. Legend catches her with a pump kick mid-air to send her packing.
Eliminated: Tatum Paxley
Arianna Grace brawls with Wren Sinclair, but Kiana James attacks her. Grace looks to eliminate Legend, but Legend prevents her from doing so and begins brawling with Thea Hail. Grace goes after Petrovic and gets her up on her shoulders, then dumps her over the top to eliminate her. Grace celebrates, but Hail dumps her over the top to send her packing.
Eliminated: Karmen Petrovic and Arianna Grace
Back from another break, Hail delivers a running uppercut to Jordan in the corner. She levels Legend with a DDT and takes down Roxanne Perez, then goes after Sinclair and delivers a springboard senton. She catches Perez with a flipping senton and a springboard senton, then catches James with a suplex and looks to land a springboard senton on her. Dame catches her and sends her over the top.
Eliminated: Thea Hail
Henley sends James over the top and onto the apron, but James hangs on. Dame comes up behind her and sends her crashing into the mat before exchanging forearms with Legend. The pair then level one another. Henley and Perez surprise Dame and clothesline her over the top to send her packing.
Eliminated: Izzi Dame
Legend goes Perez and Henley. She sends them crashing into one another and dumps Perez over the top onto the apron. She looks to eliminate her, but Perez hangs on. Sinclair comes up behind her to send her over the top and onto the floor.
Eliminated: Lash Legend
James fires off shoulders on Sinclair's midsection in the corner and ascends to the top. James pushes her out of the ring to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Wren Sinclair
We are down to the final four: James, Jordan, Perez, and Henley as Dame stays at ringside to support James. The Fatal Four-Way match kicks off with Henley brawling with James as Perez does the same with Jordan. Perez goes after Henley, but Henley levels her with a chop. James and Henley end up on the outside, and Jordan and Perez go flying to take them down respectively.
Perez and Jordan go after one another in the ring, and Perez sends Jordan crashing into the mat face first. She goes for a pin, but Henley breaks the fall. Henley delivers a kick to Perez's midsection in the corner, then delivers a second kick to her head before she sends Jordan crashing into the mat. James sends Henley crashing into the ring post shoulder first, then delivers a shoulder on both Perez and Jordan's midsections. She connects with a spinebuster on Henley and goes for a pin, but Perez and Jordan both break the fall up.
Perez sets up for Pop Rox on James, but Jordan prevents her from landing it with a dropkick. James delivers the 401K to Jordan and looks to pin her, but Jordan rolls out of the ring before she can. Perez looks to hit James with Pop Rox, but James avoids the maneuver. The pair end up on the top rope, and Perez delivers an avalanche hurricanrana to James. Jordan then delivers a Frog Splash to James from the top and goes for a pin, but Perez breaks the fall. She superkicks Henley off the apron, but Jordan sends her crashing to the outside. She looks to land a split legged moonsault out of the corner on James, but Dame pulls James out of the ring before she can. Perez delivers a kick to Jordan's midsection and follows it up with Pop Rox for the win.
Winner (and new Number One Contender): Roxanne Perez
After the match, Lyra Valkyria's music hits and she appears with her "NXT" Women's Championship in hand. The two stare one another down as the show goes off the air.