You know that feeling when a wrestling show just shifts the entire energy of a brand? That’s exactly what happened on January 7, 2025. It wasn't just another Tuesday. WWE NXT New Year's Evil 2025 rolled into the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, and honestly, the landscape of the "developmental" brand hasn't looked the same since.
Moving to The CW was a huge deal for NXT, and this special was basically their coming-out party on the new network. It was the first time they leaned purely into the "WWE" branding for a TV special, and they didn't hold back. Between major title changes and a literal Hollywood legend showing up, it felt less like a Tuesday night show and more like a mini-WrestleMania.
The Night the Ruler Took His Throne
Most people went into the night thinking Trick Williams was going to continue his "Whoop That Trick" era for a long time. Boy, were we wrong. The main event was this chaotic Triple Threat match for the NXT Championship. Trick had to defend against both Eddy Thorpe and the absolute powerhouse that is Oba Femi.
Thorpe had this weird storyline going on where he faked his own injury to get into the title hunt. Kinda messy, right? But the match itself was anything but. It was a physical car crash. The finish was actually pretty wild—Trick was lining up Thorpe for the Trick Shot, but Oba Femi, who is basically a brick wall with a pulse, dodged it. Trick ended up hitting Thorpe instead. Femi didn't miss a beat. He caught Trick with a massive powerbomb and that was it. 1-2-3.
Oba Femi became the first-ever African-born NXT Champion.
Seeing him stand there with the gold while Giulia came out to the ramp to pose with him felt like a literal Changing of the Guard. It was a visual that basically told the world that the old NXT was gone.
Why Giulia Winning the NXT Women’s Title Matters
If the main event was the power move, the opening match was the statement of intent. Roxanne Perez had been the "Final Girl" of NXT for so long, and she was doing some of her best work as a heel. But she ran into Giulia.
If you haven't followed Giulia’s career from Japan, she’s stiff. Like, "really-hits-you" stiff.
The match was about 11 minutes of pure intensity. They actually topped their match from the CW premiere back in October. When Giulia hit the final pinfall to become the new NXT Women's Champion, it felt like the ceiling for the women's division just got raised. Roxanne is likely headed to the main roster now, which is bittersweet, but Giulia as the face of the division? That’s money.
Quick Results from the Night:
- Giulia def. Roxanne Perez (New Champion)
- Stephanie Vaquer won a Fatal 4-Way (def. Cora Jade, Kelani Jordan, Lola Vice) to become #1 Contender.
- Shotzi, Gigi Dolin, and Tatum Paxley def. Fatal Influence.
- Lexis King def. Charlie Dempsey to retain the NXT Heritage Cup (Sudden Death Rules).
- Oba Femi def. Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe (New Champion).
The Rock Shows Up (Wait, What?)
Social media went into a total meltdown when The Rock announced on Raw—and then Instagram—that he was heading to Los Angeles for NXT New Year's Evil 2025.
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It’s The Rock. You don't just "show up" at a developmental show.
His appearance added this layer of legitimacy to the CW era that you just can't buy. It wasn't even about him wrestling; it was about him being there to bless the new generation. When the Final Boss shows up, everyone stands a little straighter. It also fed into the rumors that NXT is becoming a legitimate "third brand" rather than just a training ground.
Lexis King and the Heritage Cup Drama
Can we talk about Lexis King for a second? The guy is a natural heat magnet. The whole situation with the Heritage Cup was peak wrestling nonsense in the best way.
He had "won" the cup a week or so prior, but the decision was reversed because of a disqualification technicality involving brass knuckles and William Regal. At New Year's Evil, they did "Sudden Death Rules" against Charlie Dempsey. King actually won the thing clean this time. It’s a huge step for him because, for a while, people weren't sure if he was just a "legacy" act or the real deal. Winning that cup in a hard-hitting match against a technician like Dempsey proved he's got the chops.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with where NXT is going after the 2025 New Year's Evil fallout, here is what you need to watch:
- Follow Oba Femi’s Reign: He’s being positioned as an unstoppable force. Watch how they build challengers for him because he doesn't have many equals in terms of raw strength.
- The Roxanne Perez Watch: Keep an eye on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown. Her losing the title here is the classic "promoted to the main roster" signal.
- Stephanie Vaquer’s Rise: She won the Fatal 4-Way and is arguably one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. Her upcoming match with Fallon Henley for the North American title is going to be a clinic.
- The TNA Crossover: We're seeing more TNA talent like Leon Slater popping up (he actually challenged Oba later in 2026). This "open door" policy is only going to get bigger.
The biggest takeaway from NXT New Year's Evil 2025 is that NXT isn't the "small" show anymore. They are drawing main roster legends, international superstars, and putting on matches that rival anything on a Premium Live Event. If you stopped watching NXT a few years ago because it felt too much like a "gym show," now is the time to jump back in. The era of Oba Femi and Giulia is just getting started, and it’s going to be a wild ride.