Generation NXT 2.0 - NXT 2.0 recap for December 28, 2021

Grayson Waller shows up to start tonight's show. After calling himself the breakout star of the year and saying he could care less about anyone else's Christmas, then brags about "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles wanting a bit of his clout and wanting "the Grayson Waller rub" on Raw. Waller says he does not get why people like Styles after Styles threatened him, and says AJ's theme is "not a banger" like his is before mocking the fans for liking AJ, who said that he is not a star. He says that if it were not Apollo Crews or Commander Azeez, last night would have been the last night for Styles in a WWE ring. As for his original opponent tonight, Dexter Lumis, Waller says he is delusional, before calling Indi Hartwell "a Dexter Lumis 10 but a Grayson Waller 3." He then says that he has an appropriate replacement tonight, then Odyssey Jones shows up. Waller leaves the ring and walks away, and Odyssey says that Waller prances around like a big time Superstar before saying that Waller is "a big time bitch." Waller turns around and heads to the ring.

Grayson Waller beats Odyssey Jones after Jones runs into an exposed turnbuckle that Waller himself exposed trying to get away from a Jones powerbomb. After the match, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles shows up on the TitanTron and thanks him for stopping by during Raw. He then says Waller got the wrong kind of attention and that he will see him next week, saying it is time to "put up or shut up."

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez. Cora says she and Raquel can co-exist, and as Raquel says they agreed tonight is a good night to take out some Toxic trash, Io Shiraisays that whoever walks out as Women's Champion, she wants her rematch against them. Kay Lee Ray also shows up wanting a shot at the NXT Women's title, then Mandy Rose shows up on the nearby screen and says that she might as well let Tonic Attraction take the night off and let Shirai and Kay Lee Ray take their place tonight. She says that the team who wins tonight will face her in a Triple Threat Match for the NXT Women's Championship at New Year's Evil.

Backstage, Grayson Waller accepts "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles' challenge, then bumps into MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee).

Tiffany Stratton makes her NXT debut tonight!

We hear from Xyon Quinn, who says that it is time for Elektra Lopez to make a decision: him or Legado del Fantasma. He wants a decision tonight, and the choice is hers.

MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) head to the ring. Nash Carter says it feels so good to be back, and Wes Lee agrees. Wes Lee says the last time they were here, they lost the NXT tag team titles, but Nash Carter said they went on a beautiful journey, met Matt Riddle, and are flying higher than ever. Riddle appears on the TitanTron from his home and apologizes for not being there, saying he will be there in spirit like a higher power and that it is their destiny to reclaim the NXT tag team titles from Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel). Wes Lee calls out Imperium, then Imperium shows up. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel speak their native languages at first, then Barthel says MSK can do their thing all they want, as they will never be able to touch them. He says the tag team titles will stay with the very best team the tag team division has ever seen, and that they will stay where they belong: with Imperium. Nash Carter says that if Imperium are feeling spicy, they can put the tag team titles on the line right now. Suddenly, Walter shows up on the TitanTron and calls MSK "everything wrong" with wrestling and a disgrace to the mat. He says that Aichner and Barthel treat the tag team titles with dignity and respect and that all they deserve is a beating, but Riddle also appears on the TitanTron and ups the ante by making it a six-man tag team next week. Walter calls Riddle "a barefooted nerd" before accepting the challenge, saying he will end this once and for all and expose Riddle and MSK as the "bunch of showmen" that they really are.

We hear from Joe Gacy and Harland. Gacy tells Harland that The Brian Kendrick called him "a freak," and assures Harland that he is no freak.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Edris Enofe, who says that his first victory in NXT felt fantastic and a good way to close 2021 out. Von Wagner storms in and says he got lucky, but Malik Blade stands up to Von Wagner, saying a win is a win. Wagner shoves Malik, and referees have to step in to keep things from becoming physical.

Joe Gacy and Harland are in the ring. The Brian Kendrick's music hits, but Kendrick fails to show. Gacy says he knew this would happen, and says Kendrick talked a big game only to fail to show up when confronted with their mistakes. As he says that Kendrick failed to admit that he did wrong by Harland, Andre Chase shows up. Andre Chase says they have a teachable moment and that at Andre Chase University, one never quits and that one never gives up and always turns negatives into positives. Gacy says he appreciates Chase's services, saying that Harland once went to school until he was unjustly and unfairly expelled before congratulating Chase for becoming Kendrick's replacement tonight.

Harland beats Andre Chase by referee stoppage after ramming Andre Chase's head into the mat repeatedly, knocking Chase out. After the match, one of Andre Chase's students gets in the ring and checks on Chase, but Harland yanks him out of the ring and takes him to the back.

Backstage, Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) decline an interview, then Elektra Lopez shows up and denies she has a thing for Xyon Quinn. Solo Sikoa shows up and walks away, then Santos Escobar demands he apologizes for walking in on family business. Sikoa then challenges Escobar to a match.

Tiffany Stratton beats Fallon Henley in her NXT debut.

We hear from Tony D'Angelo, who says that he warned Pete Dunne that he meant business when he put his fingers in his mouth and that Dunne had to find out the hard way with the crowbar. D'Angelo brags about the excitement he got from breaking Dunne and seeing him writhe in pain before mentioning his grandfather's advice about dealing with bullies - smash them in the face and they will not come back - and telling Dunne that if he comes back, the beating he will give him will be a whole lot worse.

Wade Barrett is in the ring to oversee a contract signing for Carmelo Hayes vs. Roderick Strong at New Year's Evil, which will unify the North American and Cruiserweight Championships. Diamond Mine is introduced first, followed by Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. As Malcolm Bivens says that Hayes and Trick could not make it, Hayes and Trick show up. Trick shuts Bivens up before saying that Strong will not be champion for much longer and that Hayes will stomp a mudhole in him. After Bivens translate for Strong, Strong tells Bivens to tell them he will beat Hayes' ass, and Biven translates for Trick. Trick gets mad at Bivens, then Barrett has to admit he has no idea what anyone is saying. After Barrett reigns things in, Hayes tells Strong that when he shoots and does not miss, it is a lifestyle and not a catchphrase, and warns Strong that he will put him on a T-shirt and that there is no different between Strong and all his other opponents. Hayes then says he will take the Cruiserweight Championship and unify it with the North American Championship by any means necessary because he is the most scintillating champion. Strong admits he is impressed by Hayes' words, but at New Year's Evil, it will be a great day for the both of them, saying he will be a two-time North American Champion while Hayes is carried out and known as "Humbled Hayes." Strong signs the contract, then Hayes does the same. Barrett then gets out of the ring with the contract after thanking both men, then Bivens says Lumis beating Trick's ass was "bout it bout it." Trick threatens to make an example out of Bivens, then turns around and gets slammed through the table by The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed).

We see a video package for the four-way tag war between Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake), The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed), Jacket Time (KUSHIDA and Ikemen Jiro) and the team of Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen.

Solo Sikoa beats Santos Escobar after Escobar attcks Xyon Quinn for being near Elektra Lopez.

Outside of the arena, Harland almost throws Chase Andre's student off the roof, but Joe Gacy stops him.

Backstage, Solo Sikoa is attacked by Boa, and referees have to force Boa to let go. Boa then strikes the cameraman, then his facepaint disappears and he suddenly has no idea what is going on.

We see a video package chronicling the events leading to Bron Breakker vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship at New Year's Evil.

Von Wagner beats Malik Blade. After the match, Von Wagner almost attacks Malik Blade again, but Edris Enofe pulls Malik out of the ring to safety.

Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade beat Kay Lee Ray and Io Shirai after Cora Jade reverses a roll-up from Kay Lee Ray into one of her own after Raquel and Cora argue over who will get the pinfall. After the match, Mandy Rose shows up on the TitanTron and congratulates them before telling them that their selfish desires will be their downfall and that she made their match a Triple Threat Match because she plans to erase them both from the title picture in seconds.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!