This past Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil kicked off with the NXT Women’s Championship match between Lyra Valkyria and Blair Davenport. Valkyria was able to retain the title. After the match, Lola Vice attempted to cash in her contract, but Tatum Paxley attacked her. Elektra Lopez then assaulted Paxley. NXT Women’s Champion attacked Lopez. The officials separated the four women.
LWO (Carlito, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) defeated No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne) in a Six-Man Tag Team match.
Kelly Kincaid announced that Ilja Dragunov wasn’t medically cleared to compete. In a backstage segment, Carmelo Hayes told Grayson Waller that Trick Williams would put his No. 1 contender spot on the line in the main event against Waller.
Roxanne Perez defeated Arianna Grace. Perez put a Crossface on Grace and didn’t break the hold. The referee reversed the decision and awarded the victory to Grace.
Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton. With that loss, Stratton became Henley’s ranch hand.
Oba Femi defeated Riley Osborne to win the Men’s Breakout Tournament.
In the main event, Trick Williams defeated Grayson Waller with help from Kevin Owens.
According to Nielsen via SpoilerTV, the January 2nd episode of WWE NXT drew 768,000 viewers on USA Network and a 0.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
WWE NXT viewership & ratings for the past few weeks
| Episode of WWE NXT | Viewership | 18-49 demographic |
| January 2 | 768,000 | 0.25 |
| December 26 | 670,000 | 0.19 |
| December 19 | 641,000 | 0.17 |
| December 12 | 678,000 | 0.18 |
| December 5 | 626,000 | 0.19 |
| November 28 | 659,000 | 0.18 |
| November 21 | 622,000 | 0.19 |