WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 29

WWE NXT promised a night of women's wrestling and NXT Deadline announcements for its November 29 edition.

Shawn Michaels brought in WWE Hall of Famers X-Pac, Road Dogg, Molly Holly and Alundra Blayze to help announce the men and women participating in the first-ever Iron Survivor Challenge matches.

Toxic Attraction would be in action against the impressive trio of Nikkita Lyons, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. Roxanne Perez also faced Indi Hartwell with possible Deadline ramifications.

The former Dominik Dijakovic, now just Dijak, made his return to NXT with a new name and attitude, attacking Wes Lee. He would compete in his first match on the brand with this fresh focus.

This show promised to focus on NXT Deadline, WWE's last pay-per-view of 2022.

Indi Hartwell tried to use her strength to keep an edge in this match, but Roxanne Perez kept the pace too fast and finished it up with Pop Rox.

This was a very good match to open the show. Perez and Hartwell worked clean together, never missing a step. While this lacked the heat a future match could, it was a fine introduction to this potential feud.

Indi Wrestling is so much more comfortable as a heel, but she needs to work more with Perez. The two have impeccable chemistry that could help Hartwell find her comfort zone with other wrestlers down the line.

Result

Perez def. Hartwell by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Hartwell knocked Perez off the top rope to the floor. When Perez got back in the ring, Indi Wrestling dominated, hitting a bodyslam and running big boot.
• Perez took out Hartwell with a diving senton to the floor. Indi Wrestling caught her on a jump back in the ring, but Perez reversed into a roll-up for a near-fall.
  

After a brutal one-sided fight in the ring, Dijak knocked out Dante Chen with a big boot and then locked in a sleeper that put his rival to sleep. He finished with Feast Your Eyes to win.

Dijak cut a promo afterward, warning everyone that he would bring pain to NXT's safe haven.

This was a solid reintroduction to one of the most wasted stars of the last couple years. The 35-year-old is a big man with impressive striking-focused offense.

The match itself was nothing to write home about, but it did its job. Dijak will soon be facing much more competitive opponents, and he and Wes Lee could be very interesting together.

Result

Dijak def. Chen by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Dijak planted Chen with High Justice and a pair of brutal back elbows in the corner.
• Tony D'Angelo found Dijak on his way out of the arena and told him he would make sure Lee lost the NXT North American Championship no matter what.
  

Duke Hudson struggled to keep himself composed in this match with Andre Chase and Thea Hail at ringside. There were too many distraction, allowing Grayson Waller to pick up an easy win with a cutter.

This match was not long enough to truly stand out, but the story in the ring was told very well. Hudson continues to struggle in letting go of his heel tendencies. He was especially out of sorts against the opportunistic Waller.

It continues to look more likely that Hudson is not what he says he is through small context clues. However, it is still unclear what the end goal could be. Is he interested in Hail? Does he just want to hurt Chase U?

Whatever happens, NXT has created a rare compelling angle to explore that does not involve any titles.

Result

Waller def. Hudson by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Waller taunted Chase backstage, and Hudson promised to make him pay.
• Hudson struggled to not cheat in this match, allowing Waller to take advantage of his hesitation while Chase watched on closely.
• Hudson almost booted Hail but stopped himself just short. Chase questioned how Hudson stopped himself this time and failed with him last week.
  

Even with an injured arm, Fallon Henley had Kiana James on the ropes, but her rival used her business bag as a distraction.

She knocked Henley into the turnbuckle and then hit the 401K to win.

James has not impressed in the ring, but this was her best match to date. It was not that good, but it was at least the most complete she has looked. The contest was helped by Henley's selling throughout.

The finish was a predictable mess where the referee did nothing about James using her bag. None of it made sense and took away from the action that preceded. Hopefully, Henley can get her win back as she is still the better prospect.

Result

James def. Henley by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• James went after the elbow of Henley, slamming it into the mat followed by a double-knee breaker.

While Javier Bernal gave Axiom more of a fight than he expected, The Superhero made a successful return after injury and ended the contest with the Golden Ratio.

Big Body Javy has been doing his best to get himself over in recent promos, but this was the first time he has stood out in the ring. He looked like a contender working with Axiom, who continues to be an MVP for NXT.

The consistent work of The Superhero, selling his knee, made it clear he was vulnerable. Bernal kept the pace steady and did not lose himself working with a top star.

The wrestling on NXT this week has been consistently strong.

Result

Axiom def. Bernal by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• In an interview with McKenzie Mitchell, Bernal tried to sell a pillow and cologne without success. Axiom confronted him to announce he was cleared to wrestle.
• Axiom struggled to keep balance on his right leg, and Big Body Javy took advantage, wrenching at the knee and trapping his leg in the ropes.
• Before the match with Toxic Attraction, Zoey Stark attacked Lyons from behind and injured her right knee. It looked like the contest was called off.

Sanga and Veer Mahaan arrived to watch this match closely.

JD McDonagh was more interested in hurting Julius Creed than winning. The Irishman swung at Julius with a steel chair, but Sanga pushed the Creed brother out of the way.

This caused a disqualification. Afterward, Indus Sher explained that they wanted The Creed Brothers at 100 percent for NXT Deadline on December 10.

This was a solid match, even if the result left it feeling half-finished. Julius looked like he could hang with the top talent, and WWE protected him despite McDonagh's status as a top heel in NXT.

This may be a major feud one day. NXT has something special with both of these men. For now, they are on different paths. WWE has made The Creed Brothers vs. Indus Sher feel like a main event feud.

Result

Julius def. McDonagh by disqualification.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• McDonagh invaded the Diamond Mine Dojo to chat up Ivy Nile and warn The Creed Brothers about Indus Sher.
• Julius went for a delayed vertical suplex. The Necessary Evil used repeat knees to the head to send him to his knees, but Julius got back up and hit the suplex.
• Bron Breakker met Apollo Crews at his favorite diner. The two talked about what the NXT Championship meant to them. Both sold why they would win at Deadline.
  

Malik Blade went after Von Wagner with aggression, but he was no match for the big man and fell to his rival's inverted F5.

Afterward, Wagner tried to do more damage, but Edris Enofé made the save followed by Odyssey Jones laying out the big man.

This was a plain squash that did not click. Wagner and Blade had to move in slow motion for spots to stay on track. Because of that, little was gained from what should have been a big showcase for Wagner, who needed a win.

The intention is to build up Wagner vs. Jones, but no one wins in that feud. Either the latter will lose his first real feud in NXT after injury, or the former will continue to lose credibility.

Wagner is close to getting to Xyon Quinn levels of wasted potential.

Result

Wagner def. Blade by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Before the match, Blade mourned the destruction of his sweater at Wagner's hands.

After consulting with X-Pac, Road Dogg, Alundra Blayze and Molly Holly, Shawn Michaels came to a choice on the four best men and women for the NXT Iron Survivor Challenge.

For the men, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller, JD McDonagh and Joe Gacy got the first four spots. Von Wagner, Andre Chase and Axiom would face off next week for the final place.

On the women's side, Cora Jade, Roxanne Perez, Zoey Stark and Kiana James were named. Indi Hartwell, Wendy Choo and Fallon Henley will fight for the final spot next week.

This was presented well, even if the segments between the WWE Hall of Famers were too long. However, the presentation did not lead to understandable results.

Gacy and James especially stand out as odd inclusions who would have been better as wild-card options at best. Plenty of talent was ignored who should have been considered at least.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• There were multiple non-PG lines from X-Pac and Road Dogg especially throughout.

• Lyra Valkyria promised to make her arrival in NXT soon.

• Elektra Lopez made fun of Indi Hartwell and promised to leave her mark.

• Alba Fyre warned Isla Dawn about testing her.

• Pretty Deadly promised a special Christmas celebration next week.

Earlier in the night, Zoey Stark injured Nikkita Lyons' right knee. After she was cleared to compete, Toxic Attraction took advantage. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne hit her with a Hit-Low combination to win.

Mandy Rose was surprisingly uninvolved in this main event, which highlighted Dolin and Jayne. Lyons sold well throughout to make this bout interesting. It was a shame that it felt short, but the women made the most of the time.

It is surprising that Lyons is seemingly being sidelined going into Deadline. She would have seemed like an odds-on favorite in the Iron Survivor Challenge. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance should have a solid match with Toxic Attraction.

Result

Toxic Attraction def. Lyons, Chance and Carter by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Lyons refused to acknowledge the pain she was in, leading to the trainer uneasily clearing her for the match.
• Rose took out Carter at ringside and then Chance dived onto her outside, leaving Lyons alone in the ring for the home stretch.
  
• Stark was shown gloating afterward from the stage.