WWE Vengeance Day: The First NXT PLE of the New Era
Coming off the heels of a successful Royal Rumble, NXT returns to the PLE schedule with Vengeance Day. A fatal four-way and triple-threat matches highlight the annual Valentine’s Day weekend event. Giulia defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Bayley, Roxanne Perez, and Cora Jade. Oba Femi will put the NXT Championship on the line against Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. Both champions of the new era look to continue to stake their claim at the top of the mountain on the silver and black brand. Other matches on the card include: Fallon Henley defending the NXT Women’s North American Championship against Stephanie Vaquer. Je’Von Evans taking on Ethan Page. A strap match between Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe plus Fraxiom puts the NXT Tag Team Championships on the line against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura.
Giulia vs. Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade- Fatal Four-Way Match for the NXT Women’s Championship
After losing the title to Giulia at New Year’s Evil, Perez expressed her dissatisfaction with NXT believing she is too good for the brand. This prompted a return from Bayley, an NXT legend to appear and confront her about her disrespect. The two women ended up brawling and have been going after each other ever since. Giulia fits into this equation because Perez wanted a rematch against her and Bayley also has her eyes on the NXT Women’s Championship. Cora Jade entered the match after picking up a victory over Bayley on the February 11th episode of NXT. Jade also has a problem with Perez, her best friend, throwing her under the bus. The 24-year-old announced on her social media accounts that she is gunning for the NXT Women’s title despite Perez’s intention of getting it back. She believes it is her time to be a champion. This should be a fun fatal four-way match and could serve as the main event of the show. This match also furthers the story of Perez and Bayley, which will most likely continue on the main roster.
Oba Femi vs. Grayson Waller vs. Austin Theory-Triple Threat Match for the NXT Championship
Femi has been a dominant superstar ever since winning the Men’s Breakout Tournament last year. The longest reigning North American Champion captured the NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil and has already successfully defended the title as well. The inclusion of Theory and Waller into the championship picture comes from the two heels goading the champion into a triple-threat match on The Grayson Waller Show on the January 28th episode of NXT. Femi will almost certainly dominate the match but could fans finally see the split between A-Town Down Under? There have been subtle teases about a potential split but nothing has come from it, but maybe the opportunity for singles gold for both of them will be their downfall.
Fallon Henley vs. Stephanie Vaquer - NXT Women’s North American Championship Match
Vaquer won a fatal Four-way match at New Year’s Evil to earn an opportunity to challenge for the Women’s North American Championship; however, she lost that opportunity to Shotzi, who pinned Henley on the same night in a six-woman tag team match. Henley helped Shotzi beat Vaquer to avoid defending the championship against La Primera. Vaquer has since taken out her frustration on the other members of Fatal Influence until she gets her opportunity at the Women’s North American title at Vengeance Day. Henley has been a dominant champion since winning the title last October, but this will be her toughest test yet. Can she pull off the surprise of the night or will Vaquer earn her first taste at NXT gold?
Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page
Ethan Page “lost his smile” after Deadline and did not believe in himself anymore. To boost his confidence, Evans tried to get Page to believe in himself and that ultimately did not work. A new aggressive side of the former NXT Champion came out and he attacked Evans and broke his jaw in the process. While the 20-year-old recovered, Page has been dishing out punishment to anyone who stands across from him in the ring. He injured Dante Chen and Cedric Alexander until Evans came back looking for payback. Now, at Vengeance Day Evans will look to get revenge on Page, but the question remains how healthy is Evans’s jaw heading into this match?
Trick Williams vs. Eddy Thorpe- Strap Match
This rivalry started at the beginning of the year and another chapter will be written on Vengeance Day. All Thorpe wanted to do was earn championship opportunities the right way and when that did not happen he decided to turn heel to get those opportunities. After unsuccessfully trying to get the NXT Championship from both Williams and Femi, Thorpe targeted Williams and attacked him with a strap on the February 4th episode of NXT. Not one to back down from a challenge, Williams looks to literally “whoop that trick” with a strap at Vengeance Day to end the rivalry once and for all.
Fraxiom vs. Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura-NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Nathan Frazer and Axiom are the epitome of fighting champions. The duo has successfully defended their titles on NXT and TNA and now their next challengers have been determined. Briggs and Inamura have been vying for an opportunity at those titles for a month. Fraxiom gave them an opportunity after winning a triple-threat match on the February 11th episode of NXT. This will be Briggs and Inamura’s first shot at the tag team championships and by the way that Fraxiom's tag team matches have been going, it should be a hard-hitting matchup between the two teams.
This event looks to live up to its name as there are matchups where superstars are seeking to deliver “vengeance.” The card is loaded with talent and could exceed expectations as usual. As we enter WrestleMania season the superstars of NXT will look to deliver their mark on the road to Stand and Deliver, NXT’s signature Wrestlemania weekend PLE. So, the only question that remains is who will come out on top and start their road to Stand and Deliver on the right foot?
