After weeks of hype, NXT 2300, emanating from the “ECW Arena” in Philadelphia, PA, kicked off with a video package that perhaps was too good, followed by a live shot of the city, specifically the 2300 Arena’s surroundings. “The past meets the present” was a phrase used by commentary once the live shot finally revealed the ringside setting. There was no ‘kickoff from creative,’ at least not in the manner we have been accustomed to seeing with “Triple H” Paul Levesque or Shawn Michaels welcoming everyone center-ring.
Still, they did show Bubba Ray Dudley with (FILL IN) to tap into some sort of nostalgia for potential lapsed fans eager to see a familiar face.
Lola Vice vs. Jada Parker (Hardcore Heaven Match)-Special Guest Ref: ECW’s Don Marie
Fortunately for everyone tuned in, “The Heartbreak Kid” decided to open the show with Lola Vice and Jada Parker’s hardcore match—offering another early hit of nostalgia to the veins with former Impact Players’ (Justin Credible and Chris Candido) manager Don Marie as the special guest ref. Every staple of the ECW hardcore days was readily available in and around the ring. Trash cans with lids, ladders, chairs, and kendo sticks were eventually utilized in one way or the other and early.
To Vice’s credit, some of the most entertaining moments were her offensive spots without weapons. But, back and forth, the two superstars traded steel and boot heels, leading up to Parker dropping Vice onto the edge of a steel chair from a sidewalk slam position. Lola felt more out of her element, and she continued to use strikes and submissions as a means of departure from the hardcore paraphernalia.
The Finish
Lola had Parker in a sleeper-style submission when Parker managed to grab a brick and slammed it into Lola’s head, which exploded upon impact. That should have been it, but oddly, Vice kicked out only to be pinned by Parker moments later. After a 2024 that has had us, question gimmicked objects made of brick or concrete, this spot worked so well in so many ways that the ‘near-fall’ felt counterproductive.
RVD Ushers In Lee Evans-NXT’s Version Of Van Dam-Jerry Lynn
RVD was attacked by Wes Lee before Lee’s match with Je’Von Evans just moments before the face, Evans, was making his way to the ring. It was a strategic booking because any fan of the golden era of ECW associates RVD with 5-star matches, and he had more 5-star TV matches with his contemporary Jerry Lynn than any other wrestler on the roster.
So, it was fitting when Evans and Lee went out to duplicate that kind of match in front of the crowd, guaranteed to deliver flowers in real-time. There were some overly ambitious spots that were not as excellently executed, but the style match-up was complementary to one another and was capable of offering the most athletic spots on the card. Lee was just that much better in this match, and it was not easy to spot that slight discrepancy, but it was there. The match was booked to showcase as much when Evans overshot his dive to the outside and was thrown across the commentator’s desk in what looked like a brutal landing.
With Evans down, RVD took the opportunity to pay back Lee for jumping him earlier. The distraction allowed Evans to recuperate before landing a frog splash (w/RVD’s blessings) on Lee, positioned on the other side of the ring. It was one of those ambitious spots, but Evans took the win and got the RVD rub. Still, Lee is the guy (IYKYK).
Whoop That… Trick, ‘Get The Tables!!’
Following the booking of Halloween Havoc, Bubba Ray Dudley tagged with NXT’s most promising talent currently on the roster, Trick Williams, and the promotion’s “big belt” holder against Ethan Page and Ridge Holland. Bubba, known as Bully outside the WWE-verse, was dressed in his throwback Dudley camo gear and black boots. Bubba worked far more than you’d expect in this situation, and it was a great pairing between him and Trick, even if Bubba’s place in the actual feud is somewhat motivation-less.
In the end, the entire match basically consisted of setting up one of the premiere nostalgia pops of the night when, after Holland pinned the champ, Bubba got up to help prevent the post-match beat down, and the crowd’s thirst for tables became insatiable. That is when D-Von Dudley made the surprise cameo that ended with Bubba and Trick using the tables on Page.
Cameos & Other Nostalgia Pops
Deadline will be the next NXT PLE with the Iron Survivor Challenge as the gimmick, headlining the event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 7th. NXT GM Ava came out to make the announcement, but it also kicked off the heel talk of “New York’s awesome and Phili sucks” promo that is also a staple of old ECW booking. The segment was all a set up for another nostalgia pop in the form of Rhyno appearing after the lights went dark and to deliver a gore once the lights returned. It was a nice spot, but it probably would have hit harder, at least with that audience, if he had come out with Heath.
This might not have been Paul E. Dangerously returning to the 2300 with the black trench coat and 80’s style cellular phone, but the “NX F’N T” shirts are a nice enough touch to save the missed shot. Francine was later shown in the crowd just before the Fatal Influence match.
FBI Raids NXT?!?!
NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defended his title in the best nostalgia pop of the evening for ECW fans, hoping for a deep cut. Angelo’s Italian schtick lent itself perfectly when Nunzio of the ECW faction FBI (Full Blooded Italians) challenged the NXT standout. It was an entertaining match for how long it lasted, culminating in a hilarious spot where Nunzio made the sign of the cross before being put away for “The Don’s” pinfall victory.
The Fans Running Hot
There was a time in history when WWE could not trust the hostility of the Philly crowd, but today, it is a place to go when you need a smart crowd that appreciates. In a 10-woman tag match pitting the five faces of Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade, Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyxx against the heel team of Jordynne Grace, Kelani Jordan, Zaira, Giulia, and Stephanie Vaquer, the crowd showed real consideration for what commentary called ‘the best women’s division in all of wrestling.” The fans certainly showed more consideration and appreciation than the optics of a match where all the women are thrown out into a match void of stakes just weeks after you booked a similar match at the October PLE.
And, maybe the success of that Halloween Havoc tag match prompted creative to run it back in an overzealous fashion. Still, the women did their best and showed why the NXT women’s roster maintains the most depth. Jordynne Grace showed off her power style, while Kelani Jordan showed a quicker, more agile style of offense.
The worst thing that might have happened tonight is that each wrestler in the main event showed they can perform at an impressively high level regardless of crappy, non-committal booking. The fans chanted “women’s wrestling” in a show of respect before the women put the match into high gear by delivering multiple sequences of offense from each competitor.
Zaira would get the pinfall victory over champion Perez after a match that put everyone over, but even if the main event felt thrown together, it did accomplish the two most important things intended: 1) It got over the upcoming Survivor Challenge gimmick at the Deadline PLE 2) it gave the casual audience that might have tuned in for ECW reminiscence a showcase of their biggest reason to continue to tune in: The NXT Women’s Division.
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