It’s time for WWE NXT’s Spring Breakin Week 1 as we have Roxanne Perez defending her Women’s Championship against Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley whilst Trick Williams puts his career on the line against The Mad Dragon Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship. Vic Joseph and Booker T will be our commentary team. This is set to be a great show so let’s jump into it.

The show starts with all three WWE general managers: Ava Raine, Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce in a meeting. They hype up the upcoming WWE Draft and Aldis and Pearce make it very clear there is some NXT talent on their radar. Raine tells her fellow GM’s that regardless of what happens in the draft the NXT roster are ready to step up and take their chance. Raine finishes the promo by promising us after tonight, NXT will never be the same.

Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams arrive ahead of their huge title match.

Roxanne Perez (c) v Lyra Valkyria v Tatum Paxley NXT Women’s Championship

NXT General Manager Ava Raine made this match following Roxanne Perez claiming Ava’s job was far too easy last week, we also have the ongoing rivalry between Valkyria and Paxley with Pax;ey determined to take out Valkyria before claiming the NXT Women’s Championship.

Summary: This was a great match fought at 3x pace, Perez, Paxley and Valkyria all turned up here and gave everything they had. Paxley particularly shined here given it was her first venture into the main event title picture, her 450 splash was excellent and the crowd were really hot for her here. One thing I think harmed the match was the commercial, I know there is no avoiding it but in a match like this where the pace is so quick and the wrestlers are giving so much it’s just a shame.

The match really played on the rivalry between Valkyria and Paxley they went after each other straight away with Perez routinely attempting quick pins to catch the brawling rivals unaware. Valkyria was able to take control early on with a springboard cross body block before hitting a great looking Northern lights suplex.

Valkyria hits a double powerbomb off the top rope before getting a near fall on Paxley with a brainbuster following an excellent chop off on their knees. The match goes back and forth with everyone getting a near fall on rollups and sunset flips before the aforementioned 450 splash from Paxley onto Valykria. Roxanne sneaks into with a jackknife pin on Tatum Paxley to get the three count and retains her title at 12 minutes.

Winner: Roxanne Perez by pinfall

Stitch’s Rating: 7/10. A really solid title match and a great opener here, this could easily have been on a PLE for me so I hope we get to see more of these types of matches in the future. Perez winning was expected and I can see Paxley being the one to dethrone her following the conclusion of her rivalry with Valkyria, the crowd was so into paxley here and I can see why. Right now she really seems like the future of the brand.

Throughout the show we here from some NXT alumni who are all here to hype up our main event NXT Championship match. They all provide their predictions for the champion come the end of the night.

Our next promo is backstage in the women’s locker room. Thea Hail, Fallon Henley and Kelani Jordan are present as Thea thanks them for being there for her. They are interrupted by Jaida Parker who insults Henley calling her a loner before a huge brawl ensues. This sets up Henley v Parker for tonight.

We next get a promo for NXT’s newest tag team, Tyson Dupont and Tyrek Igwe, they debut next week.

The D’Angelo Family (Tony D’Angelo, Channing Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino) v No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne) Six Man Tag

Summary: This follows last weeks promo where Tony D’Angelo demanded payment for some The Family dealt with on behalf of NQCC, D’Angelo made his intentions clear that he wants the NXT Heritage Cup.

This match was okay for me given the buildup, everyone got their chance to shine here with this really feeling like a showcase for the future of NXT. Dempsey just seems to look better and better every week, his work here was great and I can see a one on one match with D’Angelo down the line. D’Angelo hits the spinebuster on Dempsey for the win.

Winner: The D’Angelo Family by pinfall

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. This moved the story on nicely and showcased all six men, the challenge here was going on after the Women’s title match and they delivered. I’m excited to see where this goes, D’Angelo is great and I really hope he can build some momentum here.

We next get a promo with Baron Corbin who talks about Bron Brekker and his main roster call up. Corbin is interrupted by Lexis King who asks Corbin if he is being called up to which Corbin has no idea. King makes some hints that he wants to be Corbin’s next partner before leaving. Corbin labels him a toolbag which will lead to a match tonight.

Jaida Parker v Fallon Henley

Summary: A quick match that serves to elevate Parker and give her quite a win, Parker had control for most of the match and fought through a Henley fight back late on to seal the win with a running hip.

Winner: Jaida Parker by pinfall

Stitch Rating: 5/10. A quick sprint that did what it was meant to but didn’t have much time to do anything else

Next Jacy Jayne cuts a promo trashing Thea Hail, this is to set up their match next week. Next up is the Lola Vice/Natalya contract signing.

Contract Signing: Natalya v Lola Vice NXT Underground

Summary: Ava starts the segment off introducing our two participants (Natalya has Karmen Petrovic in her corner). The ring ropes have been removed here which always throws me off, can’t explain why it’s just bizarre. Vice makes her entrance and both women sign the contract before we sit down for a chat.

The two start a verbal exchange as Natalya is really hot here with the crowd, we get GOAT chants as Natalya promises Lola Vice she will “Tap your ass out”. Lola tells Natalya she has fast hands and will have even faster hands thanks to her training partner: Shayna Baszler!!!!

Baszler makes her entrance to a huge pop, Baszler enters the ring to tell Natalya she might as well tear up that contract, this ends with Karmen Petrovic drops Baszler and Natalya literally throws Vice halfway across the arena.

Stitch’s Rating: 7/10. Solid promo that builds up the anticipation for the big match next week, the crowd was so into this and its so good to see Baszler do her thing. I really like this it was what it needed to be and has really excited me for next week.

We next get three back to back promo’s, first we have Shawn Spears and Ridge Holland where i’m still not really sure what happened, it ends with Holland telling Spears he won’t be riled by him. Next we have a final testament promo that hypes up AOP and makes their intention clear, to be the NXT Tag team champions again. Finally, Axiom and Nathan Fraser are mocked by The Godbrothers after claiming they don’t want former main roster talent coming down to their division. Edris Enofe tries to stand up to the Godbrothers before breaking mirror.

Sol Ruca v Blair Davenport Beach Brawl

Summary: Essentially a no hold barred match with beach equipment, this match continues Ruca’s return story as she seeks revenge for Davenport kayfabe causing her ACL injury that put her on the shelf for a year. This was solid but i’m still not sure how I felt about the stipulation, I do love silly wrestling but i’m just no sure this hit the right balance. However the wrestling was solid and Ruca got a solid win with the Soul Snatcher.

Winner: Sol Ruca by Pinfall

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. As mentioned i’m just not sure if the stipulation was as good as it maybe could have been but it definitely doesn’t take away from the action here. Davenport is the kind of person you want in these matches and Ruca finally gets to build some well deserved momentum. I’m so excited to see where she goes next.

Next is a really good promo that begins with Trick Williams talking on the phone before his big match, Johnny Gargano then enters the locker room hyping Trick up, he tells Trick that whilst Dragunov has beat him in the past, that loss is what made him the Trick he is now and that Trick has not been beaten by Dragunov. This was brilliant.

Lexis King v Baron Corbin

Summary and Stitch’s Rating:5/10. A short match that I think will signal the end of Corbin’s NXT run, this was a very simple Corbin match getting in his offence but ultimately putting over younger talent and giving them a push in the process. King could really be a star here and this was the right call to give him a big win here. I’m excited to see what’s next for King.

We build up to the main event as the Creed Brothers, Ivy Nile, Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate and Johnny Gargano are all in the crowd for this one.

Ilja Dragunov v Trick Williams NXT Championship

Summary: It’s Dragunov’s title versus Trick’s NXT career in our main event, the atmosphere is electric as we get an excellent video package before the match. Dragunov cuts a pre entrance telling Williams Trick has gained his respect but won’t gain his title. He is interrupted by Damien Priest who wishes him good luck. Trick promises to fight, he says he fears no man and is ready to Whoop That Trick.

Dragunov comes storming out the gate with some brutal suplexes before delivering some tough kicks. Trick responds with kicks of his own before Dragunov tee’s off in the corner. Early on Trick keeps fighting back every time Dragunov tries to take control before getting hit by a DDT. Dragunov quietens the NXT crowd brilliantly as Trick and Ilja embrace before a festival of back elbows.

Dragunov gets a near fall with a coast to coast before missing a double dropkick from the top rope. The crowd rallies here as Trick rallies with a huge powerbomb and a H Bomb but only gets a two. The match goes back and forth as these two are giving everything they have in this brawl.

The match spills outside as Trick hits a Rock Bottom from the barrier into the announcers table, as Trick tries to get back in the ring Dragunov counters into a suplex from the top rope. Dragunov delivers a H Bomb of his own from the second rope for a one..two.. Trick Kicks out! The crowd goes absolutely wild, even more so when Trick kicks out from another H Bomb that injures Dragunov’s hand.

Trick gets a near fall with a knee to the back before Trick hits the Trick shot for a three as the crowd errupts.

Winner and New NXT Champion: Trick Williams By Pinfall

Stitch Rating 7.75/10. This was all about Trick and getting his moment, the storytelling was great, the crowd were so in Trick’s Corner and have been all night. It really added to to the main event feel and made that moment so much sweeter. They got the psychology of this match bang on, Dragunov played with the crowd so well and had them in the palm of his hand in the way they paced this match.

Dragunov will now go up to the main roster as he deserves, he has been brilliant as champion and with the right booking he’ll be a star. Now it’s Trick’s time, he is so ready to lead NXT forward and this showcased it.

After the match Dragunov hands over the belt and the two embrace before Trick celebrates his win.

Final Thoughts: 7/10. I really enjoyed this show, the two title matches were the standouts and of course the main event is an amazing moment that will go down in NXT history. This really excites me going forward, there’s so much to like on this show, with the Women’s definitely stealing the show right from the first and Trick getting his moment. A really great show that sets us up nicely for Spring Breakin Week Two