NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 Notes: Results, Ilja Dragunov Pulled, Carlito, Grayson Waller, & Kevin Owens Make Appearances, Men’s Dusty Tag Tourn. to Start Jan. 9, Oba Femi Wins Men’s Breakout

WWE

Steve C.

Jan 2, 2024

WWE NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 Results – Jan. 2, 2024

January 2, 2024
Orlando, FL – WWE Performance Center
Commentary – Vic Joseph and Booker T

Quick Match Results

NXT Women’s Championship – Lyra Valkyria (c) defeated Blair Davenport via Cradle Shock (pinfall)
LWO (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, & Carlito) defeated No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, & Damon Kemp) via 450 Splash (pinfall)
Roxanne Perez defeated Arianna Grace via Pop Rox (pinfall)
- Following the match, Perez attacked Grace and refused to listen to the referee to break it up. After more referees came out to break up the attack, Perez tried to go after Grace again. This led to the referee calling for the ring announcer and informed her that he reversed the decision and awarded the match victory to Grace.
Loser Becomes Winner’s Servant or Ranch Hand match – Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton via Shinning Wizard (pinfall)
2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament Finals – Oba Femi defeated Riley Osborne via Pop-up Powerbomb (pinfall)
Trick Williams defeated Grayson Waller via Leaping Knee Strike (pinfall)

Ilja Dragunov Announced to Not Be Medically Cleared to Compete, Dragunov & NXT Title Match Pulled from New Year’s Evil 2024 Show

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show featured the announcement of both Ilja Dragunov and the originally scheduled NXT Championship match being pulled from the show.

It was announced that NXT doctors were not willing to medically clear Dragunov to compete despite him wanting to work through his storyline neck injury for tonight’s show. It was also announced that both Dragunov and his scheduled NXT Championship match with Trick Williams have been pulled from tonight’s show as a result.

BREAKING: @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR has not been cleared by WWE Medical Personnel. The #WWENXT Championship Match with @_trickwilliams will NOT take place tonight. #NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/9SqPtK0IzH
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024

Carlito Makes Surprise Appearance at Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 Show

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show also featured Carltio making a surprise appearance and official NXT debut.

Prior to the show, Dragon Lee had announced on Monday that he would be unable to make an appearance nor compete in his scheduled Six-Man Tag Team match for the show due to visa-related travel issues.

During tonight’s show, LWO’s Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro came out for their Six-Man Tag match and pointed to the entrance way. After a brief pause, Carltio’s music played and he came out revealing that he was Lee’s official replacement for tonight’s match against No Quarter Catch Crew.

Now that's COOL!@Litocolon279 is the special guest tag team partner 🍎#NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/ozpmPX4eHw
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024

Grayson Waller Makes Surprise Return at NXT New Year’s Evil 2024

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show also featured SmackDown brand talent Grayson Waller making his surprise return to NXT.

During a backstage interview segment, Trick Williams was asked for his thoughts about his NXT Championship match being pulled. Williams stated that it was unfortunate but he hopes for Dragunov to get well soon. Waller then showed up and interrupted leading to some back-and-forth insults banter between Waller and Williams & Carmelo Hayes. Hayes then suggested for Waller to prove he’s the better Iron Survivor Challenge winner than Williams challenged Waller to a match against Williams. Hayes also stated that he was so confident that Williams would win that he would even include the stipulation of Williams’ guaranteed shot at the NXT title be on the line for this match. Waller agreed and left while Williams was upset over Hayes making that match without his consent. Afterwards, it was announced that this match was made official for tonight’s show.

"He'll put up his No. 1 Contender shot tonight!"

Oh no, what did you just do @Carmelo_WWE 😬#NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/Ry2rnKVdu0
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024

IT IS OFFICIAL!@_trickwilliams puts his #WWENXT Championship shot on the line when he goes up against @GraysonWWE in our Main Event of #NewYearsEvil TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/nCZ1f3ABba
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 3, 2024

2024 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament Announced to Start at Next Week’s Show

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show also featured the official announcement of this year’s Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will be starting at next week’s show on January 9th.

This announcement was made by Ava who confirmed in a backstage interview segment that she has been working in an official capacity as a match maker in NXT under Shawn Michaels’ leadership. Ava also announced that this year’s Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will officially start at next week’s show.

Per @avawwe_, The Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic begins NEXT WEEK!!!#NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/ZRoOA0HAMV
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024

Wins 2023 Men’s NXT Breakout Tournament

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show also featured Oba Femi defeating Riley Osborne in the Finals of the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament.

The finish to this match involved Osborne hitting a roundhouse kick to Femi to lay him out. Osborne then went to the top rope and setup a Shooting Star Press only for Femi to get up and rush at Osborne leading to Osborne leaping over him. Osborne then hit a leg lariat and went to the top rope again. Osborne attempted another Shooting Star Press only for Femi to counter it by putting his knees up. Femi then tossed Osborne onto the ropes followed it with a brutal looking pop-up powerbomb for the pinfall victory to become the winner of the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament.

Unreal.

Oba Femi is your 2023 Men's #NXTBreakout Winner!#NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/ElHoPzhnPQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024

As a result of his victory, Femi earned a future shot at the NXT Championship.

Kevin Owens Makes Surprise Appearance at NXT New Year’s Evil 2024

Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil 2024 show also featured Kevin Owens making a surprise appearance.

During the show, it was announced that a former NXT Champion would be making an appearance. This turned out to be Owens who appeared during the Trick Williams vs. Grayson Waller match that took place in the main event. Near the end of the match, Carmelo Hayes ran out and caused a distraction on the apron leading to both Williams and the referee being preoccupied with him. Waller who was on the outside was preparing to do his rolling stunner move but before he could do anything, Owens suddenly appeared besides him. Owens punched Waller while the referee was not looking and tossed him back into the ring leading to Williams hitting a leaping knee strike for the pinfall victory.

IT'S KEVIN OWENS!!!@FightOwensFight #NewYearsEvil pic.twitter.com/hADTlW7sE6
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2024