Just days before NXT headed to Minneapolis for Deadline, the December 3 edition of WWE NXT promised important matches to set the stage.

Eric Bischoff made an appearance to stoke more controversy between NXT champion Trick Williams and his next challenger, Ridge Holland.

The final spots in the Iron Survivor Challenge were determined in Last Chance Fatal 4-Way matches. Who emerged victorious?

The tag team division has been in turmoil for weeks, but only one team would win the Battle Royal to earn an opportunity at the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Karmen Petrovic looked to shut up Nikkita Lyons, while Gigi Dolin made her in-ring return after standing up to Fatal Influence last week.

This was a big show for the silver-and-black brand that was must-see for fans eagerly anticipating Deadline on Saturday.

Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Last Chance Qualifier

In the chaos of the final stretch of this match, Lola Vice accidentally knocked out Wren Sinclair with a spinning back fist that was intended for Jaida Parker.

Sinclair fell onto Cora Jade for the pinfall.

This was solid, chaotic action that allowed everyone involved to get their shots. The wild ending protected everyone involved in the result.

It would have been easy to call either Kelani Jordan or Jade winning this match, or even Parker despite her feud with Vice still running strong. So, Sinclair winning was a genuine shock.

As good as she has been in her role, Sinclair is stepping into the Iron Survivor Challenge with four dangerous women who will certainly make her life difficult.

However, she can break out if she can keep up with Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer, Zaria and Sol Ruca. It is more likely she will be one taking the falls, though.

Result

Sinclair def. Jade, Jordan and Parker by pinfall to qualify for the women's Iron Survivor Challenge.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Roxanne Perez watched this match closely backstage.
  
• Jordan knocked out Jade with a handspring clothesline and 450 splash to set up the finish.
• After officials stopped the brawl, Parker headed back to the ring to demand a match with Vice. NXT general manager Ava confirmed NXT Underground at Deadline.
• Vice knocked out Parker with a spinning back fist after the announcement.
  

No. 1 Contender Tag Team Battle Royal

The chaos of this match boiled down to three men in the final stretch.

And Myles Borne eliminated both Tank Ledger and Lucien Price in the same flurry of offense to win.

NXT has done the work to sell the depth of this tag team division through weekly brawls, even if real matches would have helped that cause.

This Battle Royal was worked with the same chaotic energy as those melees with a heavy dose of punches and kicks.

Yoshiki Inamura stood out early as a dominant force with multiple eliminations, but he was taken out during the commercial break.

The energy of this match went through the roof in the final three, with a trio of fresh teams represented. Price especially took advantage of the spotlight with a fiery run.

In the end, Borne pulled out, and there is a real chance No Quarter Catch Crew will win the NXT Tag Team Championship at Deadline since Nathan Frazer and Axiom's attention will be divided on Saturday night.

Hank and Tank were the best-built tag team for this moment, but NQCC has the credibility to run with the gold. It would be nice to see Borne and Tavion Heights with a real spotlight.

Result

No Quarter Catch Crew wins the No. 1 Contender Battle Royal, last eliminating OTM.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• Frazer and Axiom watched this closely, and Axiom was having trouble focusing with his Last Chance qualifier coming up.
  
• Tyson Dupont was the first man eliminated and shook hands with Hank Walker afterward despite Hank and Tank taking him out.
• OTM threw Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo onto a pile of men outside, causing The Family to be the first team fully eliminated.
• In the final six, Gallus and Hank and Tank were the only teams left fully represented.
  
• Tyriek Igwe was later eliminated by Hank and Tank as well, and he distracted Hank until he was eliminated.
• Later in the night, Charlie Dempsey told all of NQCC that the group had impressed him on the night with their wins.
  

Eric Bischoff Steps Aside as Ridge Holland Hospitalizes Trick Williams

WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff talked up both Trick Williams and Ridge Holland before letting them speak.

When things got heated, he stepped away. The challenger took out the champion with a Redeemer on the announce table.

Before Bischoff introduced his guests, he compared NXT to WCW. Last month, NXT stood in comparison to ECW. Marketing the silver-and-black brand next to these upstart companies feels somewhat disingenuous.

WWE cannot hold a revolution under its own banner, but this is not an uncommon practice for hyping NXT. Still, even if the comparisons are unwarranted, the marketing may be working this time around.

Bischoff's appearance was its own marketing tactic. The heat of this segment was Trick and Holland trading shots and then blows, and Bischoff did nothing to stir the pot before the physical exchange.

Despite all of that, this worked, though it could have been better. Holland ending Chase U was barely a thought in this back-and-forth when it should have been the central topic.

The challenger injuring the champion days before Deadline makes him look like a true threat to Trick. The champion is still the favorite, but NXT has created a worthy challenger.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Holland kept bringing up his win over Trick in the ECW Arena, acting like his win was a definitive one.
• After the Redeemer, the NXT champion had to be stretchered out.
• Sarah Schreiber advised that Trick was taken to a local hospital with Ava in the ambulance. The NXT GM would not commit to the implications for Deadline.
  

Karmen Petrovic vs. Nikkita Lyons

Ashante "Thee" Adonis came out to encourage Karmen Petrovic and pushed her out of the way of Nikkita Lyons.

Lyons knocked down Adonis, and Petrovic hit her on the rebound with a roundhouse kick to win.

On a night of great action, this contest will likely be forgotten quickly, barely going over three minutes. However, Lyons and Petrovic had more chemistry than expected.

Their similar spin-kick focus allowed them to trade threatening strikes and tell a solid story of two women with similar goals.

It was not an impressive performance from either, but it may be the most comfortable Lyons has looked since returning.

If solo runs do not work out for them and this Adonis story falls through, Lyons and Petrovic made a solid case for a future tag team run based on their similarities.

Result

Petrovic def. Lyons by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Before the match, Adonis sent flowers to Petrovic, and Brinley Reece and Dion Lennox encouraged her to give him another chance.
• Petrovic ducked the Lyon's Roar just before Adonis headed out.
• Petrovic took offense to Adonis pushing her, seemingly not realizing he protected her from Lyons.
  

Gigi Dolin (w/ Tatum Paxley) vs. Izzi Dame

Izzi Dame looked dominant in this match, almost picking up the win with a big boot.

However, Gigi Dolin fought through, sent Dame shoulder first into the steel post and then hit the Gigi Driver for the win.

This was the second short, forgettable match of the night, but it did not feature two women with surprise chemistry.

Dolin looked healthy but not particularly fast. It felt like Dame was doing the heavy lifting in this one, bumping big for the veteran.

It was nice to see Dame for the first time in a while. She seemed to be in line for a major push before disappearing from television. She should not be forgotten in the mix of the stacked women's division.

She was never going to beat Dolin here, but she could find her back onto TV by aligning with Shawn Spears. While The Chairman seemed more interested in Dolin, Dame needs his help more and would fit the role in his growing stable.

Result

Dolin def. Dame by pinfall.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Backstage, Spears promised to create a group better than The Family. He then wished Dolin good luck on her way to the ring.
  

• Fatal Influence watched the match backstage.
• Spears came out to the ring late to watch the action.

Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Last Chance Qualifier

In another chaotic Last Chance Qualifier, Axiom hit Lexis King with a Golden Ratio, but Eddy Thorpe threw Axiom outside and stole the pinfall.

The men's Fatal 4-Way did not have the same level of interesting competitors compared to the women's bout, but that did not stop them from competing above their usual level.

In particular, Thorpe stepped up to the competition, standing out despite Axiom and Cedric Alexander pulling out the flashiest moves.

Thorpe needed to step up as NXT is slowly building him up. This was not a shocking win, but he wasn't the favorite to qualify for Axiom.

Thorpe's slow heel turn could allow him to become a main event talent if he can show he is worthy of that opportunity. The Iron Survivor Challenge will be a major test of his ability to compete at the highest level.

The final field clearly leans toward a victory for Wes Lee, but this is a chaotic format that has surprised in the past.

Result

Thorpe def. King, Axiom and Alexander to qualify for the men's Iron Survivor Challenge.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• In an interview, Je'Von Evans got a ringing endorsement from X-Pac. who said he was rooting for him.
  
• Nathan Frazer stood in Axiom's corner. "All Ego" Ethan Page joined commentary while Lee and The Young OG watched from the crowd.
• Axiom caught Thorpe with a Super Spanish Fly. After Thorpe kicked out, Axiom transitioned into an armbar, but Alexander broke it up with a frog splash.
• Via call, Ava confirmed Trick Williams vs. Ridge Holland is still on. Thorpe told Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner to give a message to Ava: He delivers with opportunities.
  

Roxanne Perez Meets Her Potential Challengers After Deadline

Roxanne Perez ran down the competitors in the women's Iron Survivor Challenge.

Sol Ruca, Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer and Zaria headed to the ring one at a time. The Prodigy reminded them that they needed to go through each other before they got to her.

A brawl broke out, and Wren Sinclair snuck in to attack Perez and raise her NXT Women's Championship.

A brawl to end the night makes sense, especially making sure to highlight the women competing in the Iron Survivor Challenge.

That said, this wasn't much of a segment. Perez cut a fairly lackluster heel promo, and none of the other women had time to speak.

Still, the hype remains strong especially for the stacked women's field in the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Cora Jade complained to Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner that Kelani Jordan deliberately cost her the Fatal 4-Way.
• The camera headed backstage to find Eddy Thorpe laid out in the locker room, ending the night with uncertainty for Deadline.
  

Overall Show

The three most important matches of the night delivered as expected. Two chaotic Fatal 4-Ways showcased a variety of talented competitors.

Two somewhat surprising competitors in Wren Sinclair and Eddy Thorpe qualified, though the latter getting laid out could change the direction for the Iron Survivor Challenge.

The Battle Royal was surprisingly strong especially in the home stretch and sold a fresh tag team as potential title challengers.

This show was especially valuable in selling the promise of Deadline. It is going to be a night of fast action and important results that could change the direction of NXT.

Even the most traditional match of the night, Trick Williams vs. Ridge Holland, got more depth with a potential injury angle for the champion.

The lull in the middle of the night on top of a lackluster ending to the show could have let the night down, but everything mattered enough to sell the premium live event to come.

Overall Grade: B