NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 Guide: Match Card, Predictions
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- Night one of Halloween Havoc has now passed which means the card for now two is now complete and can be found after the night one matches below.
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It took a while, but for the past few years, WWE has finally started to embrace some of the great PPV names it owns thanks to its acquisition of WCW. Most of them have been used in NXT, including the revival of Halloween Havoc. The spooky-themed wrestling event has been a part of NXT for a number of years now and will return at the end of this month with a twist. For the first time ever, Halloween Havoc will be spread across two nights.
RELATED: NXT's Women's Division Is Starting To Outshine The Main Roster
NXT's Halloween Havoc is not a typical premium live event. It's a themed version of NXT's weekly show which means the two nights of Halloween Havoc will not be back-to-back. They will be a week apart, the first night taking place on October 24, and then night two seven days later on October 31, so Halloween itself. Since it isn't a PLE, fans in the US will be able to watch along live on the USA Network during the show's usual timeslot, beginning at 8 pm EST. Fans outside the US can do the same wherever they usually watch NXT. Below are all of the matches announced so far across both nights.
UPDATE: 2023/10/25 11:51 EST BY JOSH COULSON
Night one of Halloween Havoc has now passed which means the card for now two is now complete and can be found after the night one matches below.
Night One
Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women's Championship
Becky Lynch has done a fantastic job of making Tiffany Stratton feel more than during her return to NXT. Next up is Lyra Valkyria. A fellow Irish wrestler who is hurt that Lynch came back and stole her goal of becoming the first Irish Superstar to become NXT Women's Champion.
I'm still not sold on Valkyria, and while WWE appears to be, I don't think this is where she gets her crowning moment. If Stratton wasn't the one to beat Lynch, then Valkyria almost definitely won't be. Lynch to retain in this match.
The Family vs. Chase U for the NXT Tag Team Championships
The tag division still feels like it's floundering in NXT, but getting Chase U involved feels a lot like a step in the right direction. The group actually has a little bit of character. In a slightly cringey way, but in an enjoyable sense, unlike the current champions.
My hope is that Chase U wins the titles here and there's a big part of me that sees that happening. However, an even bigger part expects the increasingly problematic Thea Hail to cost her fellow Chase U buddies the win somehow and then not care about it.
Blair Davenport vs. Gigi Dolin in a Lights Out Match
This match is evidence of just how good NXT's women's division is right now. These two could easily be competing for the title but instead, they're nowhere near it and facing each other, and the subsequent match will hopefully further cement them as title contenders.
This one is a Lights Out match which means anything goes. Both women are going to take advantage of that, but since Blair Davenport has a longer mean streak than Gigi Dolin, she's my pick to win this one.
Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James in a Devil's Playground Match
Speaking of women who could be competing for the title but the division is so damn good right now, Roxanne Perez and Kiana James will also do battle on night one. The two will wrestle a Devil's Playground match, and if you're wondering what that is, it's one of the many names wrestling has given a standard hardcore match.
Perez has felt a little like she's been lost since losing the NXT Women's Title, and I think Halloween Havoc can be the platform on which she begins to build her second meaningful run. So Perez to win here and possibly challenge Lynch for the title.
NXT Women's Breakout Tournament Semi-Finals
NXT has been running breakout tournaments since 2019, and winning one can propel a Superstar into the big time. Carmelo Hayes won in 2021, and Roxanne Perez won the first women's tournament last year. This year's bracket is down to four, and the semi-finals take place at Halloween Havoc.
My pick to win the first semi-final is Lola Vice, and she will be facing Arianna Grace to determine the winner. The final will take place on night two of Halloween Havoc.
Night Two
Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship
After years of putting everything he has into his matches, Ilja Dragunov was finally given what he deserves. A NXT Title win over a big star, and now that big star wants their title back. Hayes has earned a shot to reclaim the NXT Championship, and he will get his chance on night two of Halloween Havoc.
There's no way Dragunov loses the title this soon after finally winning it, especially to the same person he won it from. The loaded edition of NXT earlier this month has proved Hayes is going places, and he will be going to those places after losing this match.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Nathan Frazer for the North American Championship
Just when you thought Dominik Mysterio was done with NXT, he wins back the North American Title and will continue to appear across all three brands. On Halloween night he will be defending that title against Nathan Frazer.
There hasn't been much build to this match and I'm still not sure what WWE thinks of Frazer. Mysterio's reigns will almost certainly continue beyond this match.
Bron Breakker vs. Mr. Stone
WWE finally provided an update on what happened to Von Wagner after he suffered a scary head injury at the hands of Bron Breakker. The poor guy is struggling, but not as much as his manager will be on night one of Halloween Havoc.
Mr. Stone returned to NXT to give Breakker a piece of his mind, getting caught up in the moment and challenging Wagner's attacker to a match. My guess is after Breakker has dealt considerable damage to Stone, Wagner stumbles in and puts a stop to it.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven vs. Chase U for the Women's Tag Team Championships
There's just one set of Women's Tag Titles across all of WWE now the NXT belts have been retired, and it's about time they returned to the brand. The ladies of Chase U will have a chance to win them on night two of Halloween Havoc.
The man of Chase U won tag team gold on night one, and I can see Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne doing the same on October 31. Or, like I predicted for night one, Jayne gets in the way somehow and ruins it all.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley
Tiffany Stratton has been feeling a little lost since losing the title to Becky Lynch. A shame as that rivalry worked wonders for her. At least she'll be on the Halloween Havoc card, albeit in a match that doesn't really mean much.
I hope Stratton wins this one with relative ease, but I can also see Henley picking up a shock win in an attempt to transfer some of the rub Stratton got from Lynch to her Halloween night opponent.
The Creed Brothers vs. Angel Garza and Humberto Carillo in a Tables, Ladders, and Scares Match
Remember when WWE had a stairs match that time just because it rhymes with chairs? Well, apparently we can go lower. The word chairs has been replaced with scares for this match and I'm not sure if I want that to mean chairs will be replaced with kendo candy canes and pumpkins.
The Creed Brothers previously felt like a hot prospect in WWE but they have seriously fallen off the radar. Time to give them a win, even if it is in a goofy match, and relight that fire.
Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice in the NXT Breakout Tournament Final
Night one will be in the books by the time you read this which means the semifinals of the women's Breakout Tournament are all done. Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice one their respective matches, booking their spots in night two's final.
With Elektra Lopez in her corner and a character that seems primed to get a lot of screen time, I can't see any result other than a Vice win in this match.
