Although it doesn’t technically fall into the category of “WWE premium live events,” NXT New Year’s Evil 2023 certainly has a big-event feel to it. From the NXT Championship being defended in the main event to the 20-women battle royal that will determine the next title challenger, the New Year’s Evil match card is jam-packed with intriguing matches. With the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season looming, it’s wise to expect the unexpected when making WWE picks and predictions for what might go down at NXT New Year’s Evil.
The following offers up a full preview of the NXT New Year’s Evil 2023, complete with the event’s start time, how to watch the action and WWE picks and predictions for every match on the card.
WWE NXT New Year’s Evil Event Info
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023
Start Time: 8 p.m. EST
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center – Orlando, FL
Coverage: USA Network
Main Event: Bron Breakker vs. Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship
NXT New Year’s Evil 2023 Match Card, Odds and WWE Betting Picks
All WWE betting odds for NXT New Year’s Evil are taken from BetOnline Sportsbook.
NXT Championship Match: Bron Breakker (c) vs Grayson Waller
Moneyline Odds to Win:
- Bron Breakker: (-700)
- Grayson Waller: (+400)
Grayson Waller earned this title opportunity against Bron Breakker by winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline in December. The challenger has largely gotten the better of the champion when it comes to segments building the match in the weeks since. However, Breakker turned the tables last Tuesday when he took out Waller on his very own show, The Grayson Waller Effect.
When it comes to talking on the mic and getting under the skin of opponents, Waller is one of the best in the business. As for in-ring talent, bravado and acumen, Breakker holds a decisive edge in this matchup. Even Waller’s victory in the Iron Survivor Challenge took on the character of being “lucky” and/or “stolen”.
When the bell rings to begin this match, Breakker will have held the NXT Championship for 280 days. A title reign of that caliber seems highly unlikely to end on a Tuesday night, even if this is New Year’s Evil we’re talking about. However, NXT is currently void of any heel champions. The women’s title, the men’s and women’s tag team titles and the North American title are all held by superstars who fall under the “face” category.
Given the current landscape of the black and gold brand, Waller may have a better shot than most would think at emerging from New Year’s Evil with the belt around his waste. The possibility of a tainted victory would also open the door to a potential rematch at NXT Vengeance Day next month. At 4-1 odds, it’s worth taking a shot on the underdog.
WWE Betting Picks: Grayson Waller (+400 at BetOnline Sportsbook)
Men’s Singles Match: Tony D’Angelo vs Dijak
The build to this match has also involved Wes Lee and the NXT North American Championship. It was Dijak who dragged Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo out of the ringside area during Tony D’Angelo’s title match against Lee two weeks ago. Of course, this was in response to how Lorenzo went about telling Dijak to stay out of D’Angelo’s business. After watching Lorenzo get destroyed in an actual match last week, D’Angelo challenged Dijak to go one-on-one at NXT New Year’s Evil.
Although the WWE isn’t labeling it as such, this is a de facto No. 1 Contender’s Match for the NXT North American Championship. Lee even said that he would join the announce desk and watch this showdown at ringside. Given how the storyline has been progressing, a tainted result is a very likely outcome. This would work to set up a triple threat match for the belt at NXT Vengeance Day next month.
WWE Picks: Dijak via Disqualification (Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo interferes)
Men’s Tag Team Match: Indus Sher vs The Creed Brothers
There have been rumblings of the reformed Indus Sher taking on The Creed Brothers going back well over a month now. Veer Mahan and Sanga are out to gain the respect of the American fanbase. In order to do so, they only wanted this match to take place once the Creeds were 100% healthy, hence the month’s long delay.
Simply put, there’s no way that Indus Sher loses this match. Mahan and Sanga have been touted as a tag team that is capable of reigning over all of NXT in the not-so-distant future. The bigger question here is what will become of Diamond Mine after Julius and Brutus Creed take the loss as Ivy Nile has been openly against them even stepping into the ring with Indus Sher.
WWE Picks: Indus Sher
20-Women Battle Royal No. 1 Contender Match
The Field:
- Gigi Dolin
- Jacy Jayne
- Cora Jade
- Zoey Stark
- Nikkita Lyons
- Indi Hartwell
- Fallon Henley
- Kiana James
- Wendy Choo
- Lyra Valkyria
- Ivy Nile
- Tatum Paxley
- Elektra Lopez
- Thea Hail
- Sol Ruca
- Lash Legend
- Amari Miller
- Valentina Feroz
- Jakara Jackson
- Dani Palmer
Last week’s segment that began with Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne promising to reclaim championship gold in 2023 ended with the entire NXT Women’s Division brawling in the ring. As a result, 20 women are now set to compete in a battle royal at NXT New Year’s Evil. The winner of the match will earn a title opportunity against Roxanne Perez next month at NXT Vengeance Day.
The fact that Perez is a total face naturally leads one to believe that a heel will emerge as the No. 1 Contender on Tuesday night. Of those that are participating in the battle royal, Perez’s one-time best friend Cora Jade feels like the most likely winner.
Although the year-long feud between the two was supposedly put to bed back at Halloween Havoc, what went down in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline helped set the stage for another clash. Perez’s late pinfall on Jade proved to be the decisive point that she needed to win that match. The look of disbelief and hatred on Jade’s face afterward said it all.
Now that Perez has gone on to dethrone Mandy Rose and capture the gold, it’s only fitting that her first defense come against her former friend and tag team partner.
WWE Predictions: Cora Jade
Related | Top 5 WWE Matches of 2022
Men’s Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Pretty Deadly vs TBD vs TBD vs TBD
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day continue to make Pretty Deadly complete an endless list of tasks in order to earn a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship. Apparently, Elton Prince and Kip Wilson have had enough of receiving marching orders as last week, the British duo said that they would rather earn their title opportunity in the ring via a gauntlet match. The New Day promised to make that match happen at NXT New Year’s Evil.
The caveat here is that we still don’t know which three teams Pretty Deadly will have to try and outlast in the match itself. Kingston and Woods only said that it would be against three of the best tag teams on the NXT roster. The other critical element to keep in mind when making WWE predictions is that this is a true No. 1 Contender’s Match.
Following a backstage encounter between The New Day and all four members of The Schism last week, Kofi Kingston wound up defeating Joe Gacy in singles competition. Thus, not only does it seem likely that Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler will not only take part in the gauntlet match but that they could spoil the party as well. Delaying Pretty Deadly’s title rematch certainly makes for an entertaining storyline as well.
WWE Predictions: The Dyad
Men’s Singles Match: Hank Walker vs Charlie Dempsey
Drew Gulak has taken Hank Walker under his wing after the latter approached him for some coaching and advice. Although Gulak has taken on the appearance of being a mentor for some of the up-and-coming talent on the NXT roster, failure to heed his own advice on letting go of submission holds on time seems to indicate that there is still a sinister side to him.
At present, it’s hard to view Walker as anything more than a stepping stone for Charlie Dempsey on the path to an in-ring match against Gulak. This matchup was supposed to take place last Tuesday, but Dempsey faked an injury to push it back to NXT New Year’s Evil 2023. One has to believe that Dempsey will emerge victorious, but what takes place outside of the ring with Gulak could prove more important when it comes to shaping the feud for the coming weeks.
WWE Predictions: Charlie Dempsey
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