Wrestling is weird. You’ve got people hitting each other with chairs in one ring and then a literal ticking clock determining the fate of the next decade of stars in another. WWE NXT Deadline 2024 wasn’t just another show on the calendar. Honestly, it felt like a shift in the tectonic plates of the developmental brand. If you weren’t watching the Minneapolis Armory on December 7, 2024, you missed the moment the "internationals" officially took over.
Chaos. That’s the only way to describe the Iron Survivor Challenge. It’s a 25-minute sprint where the rules are just confusing enough to keep you stressed. You get a point for a pin, submission, or DQ. If you lose, you go to a "penalty box" for 90 seconds. It’s basically hockey with more spandex and fewer teeth.
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The Night Oba Femi Broke the Clock
Most people thought the men’s opener would be a showcase for the high-flyers. You had Je’Von Evans doing things with his body that shouldn't be physically possible. You had Nathan Frazer, who is basically a human blur. Then there was Ethan Page, playing the veteran snake in the grass. But the story changed when Eddy Thorpe got "injured" (storyline-wise) and was replaced by the colossal Oba Femi.
Femi is a problem. He’s not just big; he’s inevitable.
The match started fast. Wes Lee grabbed an early point on Evans with a crafty roll-up using the ropes. Classic Wes. But as the clock ticked down, the scores started looking like a messy spreadsheet. Ethan Page got two. Evans got two. Frazer was sitting on one. For about twenty minutes, it felt like anyone’s game. Then Oba Femi decided he was done playing.
With less than a minute left, Femi did something we rarely see in these matches. He grabbed both Nathan Frazer and Wes Lee by their throats. A double chokeslam. A double pin. Two points in the span of three seconds. That put him at three points, vaulting him over Evans and Page right at the buzzer. Je’Von Evans tried a last-second OG Cutter, but the horn blew before he could even think about a cover.
Oba Femi won the Men's Iron Survivor Challenge. He didn't just win it; he conquered it.
Why WWE NXT Deadline 2024 Felt Different
The middle of the card usually acts as a breather, but not here. We saw Lola Vice continue her absolute tear through the NXT Underground matches. She faced Jaida Parker in a match that looked more like a sanctioned assault than a wrestling match. No ropes. Just a mat and a lot of bad intentions.
Vice won by technical submission. She’s now undefeated in the Underground format, having already put away names like Shayna Baszler and Natalya. It’s a niche, sure, but it’s a niche she owns entirely.
Then you had the Tag Team titles. Axiom and Nathan Frazer (collectively known as Fraxiom) are a miracle of modern chemistry. They defended against No Quarter Catch Crew’s Myles Borne and Tavion Heights. Heights is a legit world-class wrestler, and it showed. He was tossing people around like they weighed nothing. But Fraxiom is too fast. A Spanish Fly from Axiom followed by a Phoenix Splash from Frazer kept the belts around their waists.
The Trick Williams Problem
The main event was preceded by the NXT Championship match. Trick Williams vs. Ridge Holland.
People have opinions about Ridge. Some think he’s too stiff; others think he’s finally found his groove as the "Redemption" seeker. This match was a slugfest. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't meant to be. Ridge hit some massive power moves, but Trick is the franchise for a reason. One "Trick Shot" knee later, and Williams retained.
But here’s what most people get wrong about that match: it wasn't about the win. It was about setting up the collision course with Oba Femi. Trick is the charismatic king, but Femi is the mountain that doesn't move.
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Giulia and the International Takeover
If the men’s match was a display of power, the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge was a masterclass in drama. This was the match everyone was texting about. Look at this lineup:
- Giulia (the Japanese-Italian superstar)
- Stephanie Vaquer (the pride of Chile and Mexico)
- Zaria (the powerhouse from Australia)
- Sol Ruca (the freak athlete with the Sol Snatcher)
- Wren Sinclair (the underdog)
This wasn't just an NXT match. It was a world war.
For the first fifteen minutes, it was a stalemate. Then the floodgates opened. Giulia got a point on Wren with a Northern Lights Bomb. Sol Ruca hit a Sol Snatcher for a point. Zaria leveled Giulia with an F-6 to tie it up. By the time there were two minutes left, four women were tied with one point each.
Wren Sinclair actually looked like she might pull it off. She pinned Sol Ruca with a sunset flip at the 24:20 mark. She was in the lead! For thirty seconds, the internet started to melt down. But then Giulia—who is essentially the "Final Boss" of the division—hit the Arrivederci on Zaria.
Giulia got the second pin with only nine seconds left on the clock.
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Stephanie Vaquer desperately tried to roll Giulia up as the seconds melted away. Two count. The buzzer sounded. Giulia is your winner. She is now the #1 contender for Roxanne Perez’s title.
The Actionable Fallout
So, what does this actually mean for you as a fan?
First, mark your calendars for New Year’s Evil. That’s where the "Deadline" becomes a reality. Oba Femi is coming for Trick Williams, and Giulia is finally getting her hands on Roxanne Perez. These aren't just TV matches; these are the matches that will define the brand heading into the Netflix era in 2025.
Second, watch the development of Zaria and Stephanie Vaquer. Even though they didn't win at WWE NXT Deadline 2024, they were the MVPs of that match. The depth of the women's division right now is insane. If you're looking for a dark horse to follow, keep your eyes on Sol Ruca. Her recovery from injury and her performance in the Iron Survivor proves she’s ready for a top-tier singles run soon.
The biggest takeaway? NXT isn't just a "B-show" anymore. With the level of international talent like Giulia and Vaquer, it’s becoming the most exciting hour and a half in wrestling.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Re-watch the final 5 minutes of the Women's Iron Survivor on Peacock; the timing is genuinely incredible.
- Keep an eye on the Tuesday night episodes leading into New Year's Evil for the Oba Femi vs. Trick Williams face-offs.
- Pay attention to the "penalty box" stats—WWE is leaning harder into these sports-like analytics for their PLE events.