Greg DeMarco’s Top 5 format continues with a look at WWE NXT from 12/27/2022–the final NXT of the year featuring Wes Lee defending against Tony D!

As you might know by now, I am testing out formats for potential analysis next year. So far, we’ve had:

• Greg DeMarco’s Review & Analysis: AEW Dynamite “Winter Is Coming” 12/14/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Review & Analysis: WWE Smackdown 12/16/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: WWE Monday Night Raw: 12/19/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: AEW Dynamite “Holiday Bash” 12/21/2022

Tonight we continue might be an easier format for me–but does it translate for you? We’re looking at my Top 5 moments from the final WWE NXT of 2022!

Don’t forget, you can get your full recap thanks to Steven Mitchell here.

Honorable Mention

• Why are we still thinking we can make SCRYPTS a thing? It’s not going to be a thing. The fans didn’t care when he won–just let him be Reggie!
• I legitimately forgot Lash Legend works here.
• Lyra Valkyria is good in the ring, but I can’t get behind her character one bit. I’d take her off of television and retool the presentation.
• Really effective backstage promo by Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. No burial of Mandy Rose, rather they actually put on her a pedestal without even saying her name. Plus, defenses against both Dolin and Jayne is the perfect start for Roxanne Perez’s reign.
• I still don’t see the value of Picture-In-Picture.
• Grayson Waller’s video package was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I do think Bron Breakker overreacted a little bit to it, but he IS a hot head. I am interested to see how this contract signing goes. I almost made this my #5.

And Now … Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: WWE NXT 12/27/2022

5. Fallon Henley vs. Kiana James: The Battle For The Bar

I like the story. I like the performers. I like how we got here. But there was just something missing rom this match. It flowed like a competitive midcard match, not a match with the stakes that this was supposed to have as “The Battle For The Bar.” The only one who really had any fire was Josh Briggs–and fire is sort of his thing. Hell, the guy is just a physique away from being a huge star for WWE.

The story is there, and Fallon is the one with the most experience at 5 years. But she hasn’t really had to deliver a major moment in those five years. And I guess that’s what I was looking for here–a moment. Maybe the Battle For The Bar happened too soon, I am not sure.

But I’m also not sure this is the least bit over, given the fact that Brooks Jensen was openly rooting for Kiana James and wanted to console her after the match (wearing the shirt she bought him). I see a split coming, and I’d imagine a push for Briggs.

4. The Schism (vs. Odyssey Jones, Edris Enofe & Malik Blade)

This is more about the act than the match. I really think The Schism is poised for big things. They are the deepest characters on the roster, are built to be hated, and they relish in it. That’s actually a recipe to be babyfaces someday, but hopefully they milk this first. Ava Raine is the prefect compliment to the group, and I am starting to miss the Grizzled Young Veterans gimmick less and less.

This match showed how well they have grown as a unit, too. Now Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid both have 13 years of experience under their belt, and Joe Gacy has 16 to his credit as well. So they are not new, but NXT does sneak experience in there to help the younger talent learn.

But as a gimmick and a unit, they are quietly becoming one of the best parts of NXT.

3. Cora Jade vs. Wendy Choo

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Cora Jade was a jobber to the stars here. She got offense in, but she didn’t have a moment where it appeared she had this thing won. Choo, however, kicked ass immediately and took names later.

This was really a mini-feud with Choo being the victim of Jade’s bullying–which brought out bad memories of her childhood. But is this over?

I really think it isn’t. We have New Year’s Evil coming up, but we also have Vengeance Day that will likely be a 5 or 6 match show. Jade might win out in the end, but on this night, all the momentum was going with Wendy Choo.

2. Wes Les defends the NXT North American Championship against Tony D’Angelo

A worthy main event–more than worthy. Tony D’Angelo is almost there, and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo has a tremendous amount of potential, too. Wes Lee? When he was in MSK, I opined that he could easily be a great NXT Cruiserweight Champion if the team were to split. That happened for different reasons than any of us could have imagined, and there is no Cruiserweight Championship to speak of, but Wes Lee as NXT North American Champion is working for this writer.

The match itself was great, delivered as a TV main event and would have felt well-placed on a Premium Live Event for NXT. I was fine with the DIJAK finish, even if DIJAK (the character) isn’t working for me. We don’t need Mall Cop Dijak, we need ass kicking Dijak. Don’t overcomplicate this one.

There was a nice little interaction during the match where Stacks was giving Tony some advice that Tony blew off with a “gimme a break!” Tony D followed the advice anyway (going for the legs) and it failed miserably. Not sure if that will lead to anything, but it was one of those “little things” that I love so much.

1. Julius Creed vs. JD McDonagh

A great opener for the show this week. Commentary did a great job telling the story of both men, along with a great reminder of their last encounter (that I didn’t have at the forefront, mentally).

JD McDonagh reminds me a lot of Bret Hart when he was a member of the Hart Foundation–whenever he worked singles matches. He was always at the top of his game, and even in defeat he hade sure that both he and his opponent looked like a million bucks. I see the same thing in JD each time out, and this was no different. Be it his command throughout the Iron Survivor Challenge Match (where he scored zero points), or his job here taking his 16 years of experience and making Julius’ 16-months look like a seasoned veteran.

And then we have Julius Creed himself. To cop an infamous Hulk Hogan phrase from his days as the TNA on-screen figurehead, Julius IS the guy (brother). Both Creed Brothers are talented, but Julius is the Shawn Michaels, the Edge, the Scott Steiner, and the Bret Hart of this duo. I see a ton of success in the Creed Brothers’ future, but I see a WrestleMania main eventer in Julius Creed.

Let me know what you thought of my analysis for this edition of WWE NXT, and if you want me to continue this format over the other option! As I said, I want to get to writing more often, and this could be a good way to make it happen.

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Until next time, remember: enjoying wrestling is a choice…make the right choice!