Saturday’s NXT Deadline proved to be a pivotal checkpoint for the women’s division, with Kendal Grey emerging victorious in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge and securing both an NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship opportunity at New Year’s Evil on January 6. That momentum carried directly into this week’s episode of WWE NXT, which aired on December 10, 2024, setting the stage with Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan, Blake Monroe’s ill-fated open challenge, and another heated chapter in the growing Jacy Jayne vs. Kendal Grey rivalry.
Before the in-ring action began, Tatum Paxley was shown seated in a dimly lit room, surrounded by dolls, addressing Izzi Dame. Paxley said she had nothing left to lose and revealed dolls resembling Shawn Spears and Niko Vance, ominously declaring that it was now time to play her game. Paxley warned that two would be taken out, leaving only herself and Dame standing.
Dame winning the first match felt inevitable, with Paxley taking the rematch later. This direction still feels like the cleanest path forward.
Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan
Grace immediately brought the fight to Jordan, flooring her with a clothesline on the outside before hammering away once they returned to the ring. Grace followed with two crisp body slams and a Michinoku Driver for an early two count. The tone shifted when both women stood toe-to-toe, trading hard slaps to the face.
Jordan fired back with a kick to create separation, but Grace shoved her into the turnbuckle and delivered a knee smash followed by an elbow drop. Grace went airborne from the ropes, but Jordan smartly rolled out of the way, immediately targeting the left knee with a dropkick. From there, Jordan zeroed in on the leg, wrenching it repeatedly as the match spilled onto the apron. Jordan landed a superkick and then slammed Grace’s knee against the apron before the show cut to commercial.
After the break, Grace muscled through the injury with a suplex but continued selling the knee. On the floor, Jordan slipped out of a maneuver and chop-blocked the injured leg before sending Grace into the steel steps. Jordan teased a chair shot (why?), but Grace avoided it just in time.
Back inside, Grace scored a spinebuster for two, then transitioned a backslide into a pair of clotheslines. She rolled through into a rolling German suplex that nearly sealed it. Grace wasn’t done, launching Jordan off the steps with Grace Under Pressure onto the floor.
When Grace grabbed a steel chair, the referee intervened. That moment gave Jordan the opening she needed, booting Grace into the barricade and sending her crashing through it. Jordan capitalized, returning to the ring and landing a 450 Splash to score the pinfall victory.
Winner by pinfall: Kelani Jordan
This was fast, physical, and sharply structured. Jordan’s opportunism contrasted well with Grace’s power, and the barricade spot was the turning point. While Grace could have benefited from a major win here, Kelani picking up momentum as a calculating heel made sense and keeps her firmly in the mix.
Backstage, NXT Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe was shown preparing for her upcoming open challenge. Jordynne Grace appeared later in the women’s locker room, clearly dejected. Several women lingered nearby in gear, teasing their interest in the challenge. Thea Hail tried to encourage Grace, only for Grace to question taking advice from someone she thought was 16. Hail quickly corrected her. She’s 22, has been in NXT since 18, and considers herself a grizzled veteran now.
Blake Monroe’s Open Challenge
Monroe made her entrance, proudly declaring herself the woman other competitors look up to. Leaning into the holiday spirit, she claimed she wanted to “give back” by offering an open challenge, proudly noting that Ava had approved the idea.
Multiple women flooded the entrance ramp, but referees held them back. Suddenly, Thea Hail slid into the ring and locked Monroe in a Kimura Lock, forcing her to tap out. Crucially, no referee was present and the bell never rang.
Chaotic and abrupt. This was clearly designed as an angle rather than a match, giving Hail a symbolic “win” to set up a proper match down the line.
Sol Ruca vs. Wren Sinclair (w/ Kendal Grey)
Sinclair surprised Ruca early with a quick roll-up, but Ruca answered with an X-Factor planted hard into the mat. Zaria was shown watching from the crowd, momentarily distracting Ruca. The two traded rapid pin attempts before Sinclair connected with a running bulldog for two.
Ruca answered with sharp elbows and a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Sinclair countered with a double underhook suplex, but momentum shifted decisively when Ruca blasted her with boots to the back. Moments later, Ruca soared off the ropes, landing Soul Snatcher to end things quickly.
Winner by pinfall: Sol Ruca
A straightforward rebound victory for Ruca. Sinclair continues to show promise, but this was about re-establishing Ruca after Deadline. Post-match, Zaria offered light applause before leaving. Ruca immediately followed her.
Fatal Influence Addresses the NXT Women’s Division
NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, along with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, stood tall in the ring as Fatal Influence. Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair joined them.
Jayne dismissed Grey’s success as fleeting, claiming this moment was as good as it gets for her. She mocked Grey’s Iron Survivor win, insisting potential doesn’t win championships and declaring 2024 the year of “Jacy Freakin’ Jayne.” Jayne called herself the rock star and backbone of the division and insulted Grey as a “bootleg Kurt Angle with a ponytail.”
Grey calmly responded, acknowledging Jayne’s momentum but pointing out that momentum now belongs to her. She reminded everyone that no one expected her to win Iron Survivor, just like no one expected Jayne to dethrone Stephanie Vaquer. Grey emphasized that unpredictability is what makes wrestling special and warned Jayne not to underestimate an underdog.
Wren chimed in, teasing that the Wren QCC could be adding more gold soon. That prompted Reid and Henley to strike, leading to a three-on-two beatdown. Fatal Influence stood tall to close the segment.
This did exactly what it needed to do. Jayne remains supremely confident, Grey is framed clearly as the underdog with belief, and the numbers game suggests backup could soon be coming.
Backstage, Blake Monroe confronted Ava over being embarrassed during the open challenge. Ava reminded her it was Monroe’s idea, then booked her into a Women’s North American Championship match next week against Thea Hail. Monroe was visibly unhappy.
In the parking lot, Sol Ruca caught up with Zaria. Zaria said she was only there to support Ruca and wished her luck in her Saturday Night’s Main Event match against Bayley. Ruca invited her to be there in person, leading to a hug.
Things seem patched up… for now. With SNME looming, that trust could easily crack.
Announced for Next Week’s NXT:
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail