2023 NXT DEADLINE PREVIEW

Like I do every month, I decided to write a special blog looking at NXT Deadl1ne. To see the entire history of Deadl1ne, visit the Deadl1ne History HERE. And for any feedback or comments about this, comment below or tweet me (@hbkid718).

NXT Deadl1ne is the 6^th NXT PPV of 2023, making Carmelo Hayes the only wrestler to wrestle on every NXT PPV of 2023. This will be the 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row to not have a Women’s Championship Match, the 1^st NXT PPV of 2023 to not have an NXT Women’s Championship Match & the 1^st since Dead1ine on December 10, 2022 to not have one. This will be the 1^st Deadl1ne to not have a Tag Team Championship Match, the 1^st NXT PPV of 2023 to not have an NXT Tag Team Championship Match, & the 1^st NXT PPV since Halloween Havoc on October 22, 2022 to not have one.

Since no Opening Match has been announced, here are the facts. The only match to open Deadl1ne was the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match in 2022, so if that match opens, it will be the 2^nd in a row, but no one will be wrestling in their 2^nd Deadl1ne opener (except for Roxanne Perez or Kiana James).

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: NXT CHAMPION ILJA DRAGUNOV VS BARON CORBIN

Ilja Dragunov VS Baron Corbin was the 13^th NXT Championship Match of 2023, 1^st since NXT on October 31, & 6^th PPV in a row in 2023, making it the only Championship to be defended at every NXT PPV of 2023. It will be the 2^nd NXT Championship Match at Deadl1ne in a row, making it the only Championship to be defended at every Deadl1ne. This will be Ilja Dragunov’s 1^st Deadl1ne, making it the 2^nd year in a row that someone made their Deadl1ne debut defending the NXT Championship. It will be his 3^rd PPV in a row in 2023. This was Ilja Dragunov’s 3^rd NXT Championship Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1^st since Dolph Ziggler who lost to Bron Breakker on Raw on April 4, 2022 to lose in his 3^rd Defense. As of Deadl1ne, Ilja Dragunov’s NXT Championship Reign has lasted 70 Days, so if he would lose, he would be the 1^st to lose in 70 Days, which is the 10^th Shortest Reign of All-Time. This will be Baron Corbin’s 1^st Deadl1ne, making him the 2^nd year in a row that someone made their Deadl1ne debut challenging for the NXT Championship. It will be his 3^rd PPV in a row in 2023. If Baron Corbin wins, he will be the 3^rd 1^st-time Champion in a row & the 8^th to be a former United States Champion after Andrade, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Robert Roode, & Dolph Ziggler. This was the 2^nd 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on June 13, which was won by Corbin. This will be the 2^nd year in a row that the NXT Championship will main event Deadl1ne & will be both Ilja Dragunov & Baron Corbin’s 1^st Deadl1ne main event, the 1^st NXT Championship Match to main event an NXT PPV since Great American Bash on July 30, Dragunov’s 1^st NXT PPV main event since Great American Bash on July 30, & Corbin’s 1^st NXT PPV main event of 2023. The NXT Championship has changed hands 3 times in 2023, with the last title change taking place when Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes at No Mercy on September 30. It has changed hands 29 times in History. It has never changed hands at Deadl1ne.

Ilja Dragunov (0-0-0)

This will be Ilja Dragunov’s Deadl1ne debut

Baron Corbin (0-0-0)

This will be Baron Corbin’s Deadl1ne debut

NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: DRAGON LEE VS NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION DOMINIK MYSTERIO

Dragon Lee VS Dominik Mysterio will be the 18^th North American Championship Match of 2023, the 1^st since NXT on October 31, the 6^th PPV in a row in 2023, & 1^st at Deadl1ne. This will be Dragon Lee’s 1^st Deadl1ne, making him the 1^st wrestler to make his Deadl1ne debut challenging for the North American Championship. This will be his 1^st NXT match since he lost a Fatal 4-Way to Trick Williams along with Axiom & Tyler Bate on September 26 & his 1^st NXT PPV since Great American Bash on July 30. If he wins, he will be the 1^st 1^st-time Champion since Trick Williams. This will be Dominik Mysterio’s 1^st Deadl1ne, making him the 1^st wrestler to defend the NXT North American Championship at Deadl1ne. This will be his 3^rd NXT PPV in a row in 2023. This will be Dominik Mysterio’s 2^nd North American Title Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1^st since Isaiah Scott who lost to Carmelo Hayes on NXT on October 12, 2021 to lose in his 2^nd Defense. As of Deadl1ne, Dominik Mysterio’s North American Championship Reign has lasted 67 Days, so if he loses, he will be the 1^st since Damian Priest (8/22/20 – 10/28/20) to lose in 67 Days which is the 7^th Shortest Reign of All-Time. This will be the 3^rd 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on August 8 & Raw on September 25, which were both won by Mysterio. The North American Championship has changed hands 3 times in 2023 with the last title change taking place when Mysterio defeated Trick Williams at No Mery on September 30. It has changed hands 20 times in History. It has never changed hands at Deadl1ne.

Dragon Lee (0-0-0)

This will be Dragon Lee’s Deadl1ne debut

Dominik Mysterio (0-0-0)

This will be Dominik Mysterio’s Deadl1ne debut

5-WAY NXT CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH: TYLER BATE VS BRON BREAKKER VS JOSH BRIGGS VS DIJAK VS TRICK WILLIAMS

Tyler Bate VS Bron Breakker VS Josh Briggs VS Dijak VS Trick Williams will be the 1^st or 2^nd Iron Survival Challenge Match of 2023 & the 3^rd or 4^th at Deadl1ne & 2^nd year in a row. It will be the 4^th or 5^th Fatal 5-Way Match of 2023, the 1^st since Crown Jewel on November 4, the 1^st for NXT since Stand & Deliver on April 1, & 3^rd or 4^th at Deadl1ne & 2^nd year in a row. This will be Tyler Bate’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 1^st PPV since Battleground on May 28, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match in his Career. This will be Bron Breakker’s 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 2^nd PPV in a row in 2023, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match, & 1^st 5-Way Match of his Career. This will be Josh Briggs’ 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. This will be his 1^st PPV of 2023 & 1^st PPV overall since Worlds Collide on September 4, 2022, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match of his Career. This will be Dijak’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 1^st PPV since Vengeance Day on February 4, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match in his Career. This will be Trick Williams’ 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 2^nd PPV in a row in 2023, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match in his Career.

Tyler Bate (0-0-0)

This will be Tyler Bate’s Deadl1ne debut

Bron Breakker (1-0-0)

1. Defeated Apollo Crews to retain the NXT Championship (12/10/22)

Josh Briggs (0-0-0)

This will be Josh Briggs’ Deadl1ne debut

Dijak (0-0-0)

This will be Dijak’s Deadl1ne debut

Trick Williams (0-0-0)

This will be Trick Williams’ Deadl1ne debut

5-WAY NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH: BLAIR DAVENPORT VS FALLON HENLEY VS KELANI JORDAN VS LASH LEGEND VS TIFFANY STRATTON

Blair Davenport VS Kelani Jordan VS Lash Legend VS Tiffany Stratton will be the 1^st or 2^nd Iron Survival Challenge Match of 2023 & the 3^rd or 4^th at Deadl1ne & 2^nd year in a row. It will be the 4^th or 5^th Fatal 5-Way Match of 2023, the 1^st since Crown Jewel on November 4, the 1^st for NXT since Stand & Deliver on April 1, & 3^rd or 4^th at Deadl1ne & 2^nd year in a row. This will be Blair Davenport’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 1^st PPV since Great American Bash on July 30, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match, & 1^st 5-Way Match of her Career. This will be Fallon Henley’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 1^st PPV since Stand & Deliver on April 1, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match, & 1^st 5-Way Match in her Career. This will be Kelani Jordan’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 1^st PPV since No Mercy on September 30, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match of her Career. This will be Lash Legend’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 1^st PPV since Great American Bash on July 30, 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match in her Career. This will be Tiffany Stratton’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 5-Way Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 5^th PPV in a row in 2023, her 1^st Iron Survivor Challenge Match & 1^st 5-Way Match in her Career.

Blair Davenport (0-0-0)

This will be Blair Davenport’s Deadl1ne debut

Fallon Henley (0-0-0)

This will be Fallon Henley’s Deadl1ne debut

Kelani Jordan (0-0-0)

This will be Kelani Jordan’s Deadl1ne debut

Lash Legend (0-0-0)

This will be Lash Legend’s Deadl1ne debut

Tiffany Stratton (0-0-0)

This will be Tiffany Stratton’s Deadl1ne debut

STEEL CAGE MATCH: ROXANNE PEREZ VS KIANA JAMES

Roxanne Perez VS Kiana James will be the 7^th Steel Cage Match of 2023, the 1^st since Payback on September 2, the 1^st in NXT since August 29, the 1^st Women’s Steel Cage Match since NXT on May 30, 1^st on NXT PPV since Vengeance Day on February 4, & 1^st Women’s Steel Cage Match on NXT PPV in History. It will be Roxanne Perez’s 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row but 1^st 1-on-1 Match at Deadl1ne. It will be her 1^st PPV since Great American Bash on July 30 & her 1^st Steel Cage Match in her Career. This will be Kiana James’ 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row but 1^st 1^st 1-on-1 Match at Deadl1ne. This will be her 1^st PPV since Stand & Deliver on April 1, her 1^st 1-on-1 Match on PPV in her Career, & her 1^st Steel Cage Match in her Career. This will be the 3^rd 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on May 17, 2022 & October 24, 2023, which were both won by Perez.

Roxanne Perez (1-0-0)

1. Defeated Indi Hartwell, Cora Jade, Kiana James, & Zoey Stark in a 5-Way NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match (12/10/22)

Kiana James (0-1-0)

1. Lost to Roxanne Perez along with Indi Hartwell, Cora Jade, & Zoey Stark in a 5-Way NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match (12/10/22)

CARMELO HAYES VS LEXIS KING

Carmelo Hayes VS Lexis King will be Carmelo Hayes’ 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row, but 1^st 1-on-1 Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 6^th PPV of 2023, making him the only wrestler to be on every NXT PPV in 2023 & is his 1^st Non-Title Match on PPV since he lost to Apollo Crews in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match at Vengeance Day on February 4. This will be Lexis King’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st NXT PPV in his Career.

Carmelo Hayes (0-1-0)

1. Lost to Grayson Waller along with Axiom, Joe Gacy, & JD McDonagh in a 5-Way NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match (12/10/22)

Lexis King (0-0-0)

This will be Lexis King’s Deadl1ne debut

KICK OFF MATCH: AXIOM VS NATHAN FRAZER

Axiom VS Nathan Frazer will be the 3^rd Kickoff Match in a row in 2023 & the 1^st Kickoff Match at Deadl1ne. It will be Axiom’s 2^nd Deadl1ne in a row, but 1^st 1-on-1 Match & 1^st Kickoff Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 1^st PPV since Stand & Deliver on April 1 & 1^st Kickoff Match of 2023. It will be Nathan Frazer’s 1^st Deadl1ne & 1^st 1-on-1 Match & Kickoff Match at Deadl1ne. It will be his 1^st PPV & 1^st Kickoff Match since Great American Bash on July 30 & 1^st 1-on-1 Match on NXT PPV in his Career. This will be the 6^th 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT UK on December 16, 2021 (won by Axiom), NXT on September 6, 2022 (won by Axiom), NXT on September 20, 2022 & October 11, 2022 (both won by Frazer), & NXT on December 5, 2023 (ended in a No Contest) so Axiom won 3, Frazer won 1, & 1 match ended in a No Contest.

Axiom (0-1-0)

1. Lost to Grayson Waller along with Joe Gacy, Carmelo Hayes, & JD McDonagh in a 5-Way NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match (12/10/22)

Nathan Frazer (0-0-0)

This will be Nathan Frazer’s Deadl1ne debut