5 Ups And 3 Downs From WWE NXT New Year's Evil (Jan 4)

If ever you needed a reminder of just what this developmental show can achieve when the lack of logic and pointless pushes are thrown in the backseat in favour of bell-to-bell excellence, then I give you New Year's Evil 2022.

Now yes, not every individual contest delivered the in-ring goods in equal measure, we're still talking about a show that is trying its level best to blood talent that are as green as grass on weekly live television. But for every dud of a multi-person title match, there was another instance of two absolute gladiators dialling the drama up to eleven and champions proving that even the disappointing end of an era can give you one last glorious hurrah.

It'd be foolish to suggest that much of the hype heading into this mid-week special hadn't been aided by the presence of some of the main roster's finest too, perhaps a bit of an indictment on NXT's current star-marking machine. But even so, having a Phenomenal former WWE Champion and a current Raw Tag Team Champion, who also just so happens to be besties with a Viper - not to mention a certain Ring General - pop up to lend some of their shine is as wise a move as any if you're aiming to build up your next generation as faces to be watched.

NXT 2.0 is still far from a perfect dose of two-hour Tuesday programming, but if the weekly product can take anything from their latest eye-catching special it's that with more focus on the exceptional performers currently occupying the brand and less exposing of the nowhere near ready newcomers, there could be life in the old multi-coloured dog yet...