NXT Deadline 2023: notes and full results as Ilja Dragunov retains

December 9, 2023 Neal Flanagan NEWS
Image Courtesy: WWE

** Megan Morant, Matt Camp and Sam Roberts presented the kickoff show from a WWE studio. They ran down the card and presented video packages teeing up the matches.

** Also on the kickoff show, Nathan Frazer and Axiom put on a very good high-paced match, which amped up the crowd in exactly the way you would want ahead of the official card. Axiom won with a Spanish Fly followed by the Golden Ratio.

** On English commentary for the main card were the usual NXT duo of Booker T and Vic Joseph.

** Shawn Michaels came out as the main show began. CM Punk joined him for a short segment to tease which brand he would sign with. They seemed to completely forget their lines.

** Dragon Lee defeated a lone Dominik Mysterio to become the new NXT North American Champion.

** The Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge was next. Blair Davenport would emerge the winner after scoring 3 points. After the match, Davenport said she would challenge for the title at New Year’s Evil. Lyra Valkyria came out and was attacked from behind by Cora Jade.

** Carmelo Hayes got the win over Lexis King, who has been a thorn in his side since arriving in NXT. King has attempted to drive a wedge between Hayes and Trick Williams, claiming he helped Hayes attack Williams before Halloween Havoc.

King accidentally chopped the ring post, with Hayes taking advantage of the injured hand. King would manage to regain momentum, though. Melo finally won with the Nothing But Net.

After the bell, King grabbed the mic and said it wasn’t him who attacked Trick Williams but thanked him for “the PLE spotlight.”

** Trick Williams and Carmelo were shown backstage. Williams apologized for doubting Hayes.

** Vic Joseph announced that the New Year’s Evil special would take place on Tuesday, January 2nd.

** The men’s Iron Survivor Challenge was next up. Trick Williams won the contest with four points in the dying seconds.

** The steel cage match between Kiana James and Roxanne Perez came next, a tough spot ahead of the main event. The crowd were a little muted until the pair exchanged strikes at the top of the cage.

James grabbed a chair as she attempted to escape the cage, and then Izzi Dame appeared and slammed the door in the face of Perez. A chair shot later, and James got the pinfall.

** The main event was preceded by an excellent video package recapping the Corbin-Dragunov feud.

Corbin got the better of the early going, using his size advantage over Dragunov. The champ then rallied with a series of strikes and maneuvers outside the ring, including hitting a German suplex to Corbin on the floor.

Corbin would grab back the advantage by dumping Dragunov ribs first onto the announce desk. A prolonged period with Corbin in charge would follow, with some stellar selling from the champion.

A Deep Six and a Brainbuster by Corbin would lead to two big near-falls before Dragunov just about managed a jackknife powerbomb.

The champion then countered the End of Days and landed three H-Bombs followed by a Torpedo Moscow for the win.

NXT Deadline 2023 Results:

  • NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov def. Baron Corbin
  • Steel Cage Match: Kiana James def. Roxanne Perez
  • Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Trick Williams def. Josh Briggs, Bron Breakker, Tyler Bate & Dijak
  • Carmelo Hayes def. Lexis King
  • Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Blair Davenport def. Tiffany Stratton, Lash Legend, Kelani Jordan & Fallon Henley
  • NXT North American Championship: Dragon Lee def. Dominik Mysterio
  • Kickoff Show: Axiom def. Nathan Frazer

Join Braden Herrington and Davie Portman for their live review of NXT Deadline (and a special announcement) on YouTube after the PLE concludes.

About Neal Flanagan 1098 Articles
Based in Northern Ireland, Neal Flanagan is a former newspaper journalist and copy editor. In addition to reporting for POST Wrestling, he co-hosts The Wellness Policy podcast with Wai Ting and Jordan Goodman.
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