Nathan Frazer, folks, is officially one step closer to the WWE NXT Iron Survivor Challenge, and he had to go through Eddy Thorpe and an army of hungry tag teams just to get there. In the third qualifier for the high-stakes showdown at NXT Deadline, Frazer snatched victory with a Phoenix Splash so clean it could double as a Swiffer ad. But as usual, the celebration in NXT lasted about as long as a sneeze in a hurricane.
Wrestling or Gladiator School?
Let’s set the stage: the night kicked off with Frazer and Thorpe squaring off, while an entourage of NXT tag teams loitered ringside like they were waiting for someone to call last orders. We’re talking Gallus, OTM, The Family, T n’ T, No Quarter Catch Crew, and the buddy-cop duo of Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. Why were they there? To “scout” the competition—or maybe just wait for someone to accidentally spill their protein shake. Either way, things were tense.
Surprisingly, the match stayed clean. Thorpe had Frazer on the ropes, quite literally, but a neckbreaker and a perfectly timed Phoenix Splash sealed the deal. Frazer had his hand raised, but his troubles were just beginning.
Post-Match Pandemonium
The second the bell rang, the ringside peanut gallery exploded into chaos. It was like someone yelled “free pizza” in a locker room. Tag teams brawled, fists flew, and in the middle of it all, Frazer and Axiom—because of course, Axiom got dragged in too—were left fending off a swarm of would-be challengers. It’s all part of NXT General Manager Ava’s grand plan, apparently, to turn the tag division into a live-action Royal Rumble every week.
Frazer might be heading to the Iron Survivor Challenge, but with every tag team in the division gunning for him and Axiom, he’s also heading for a week’s worth of ice baths.
What’s Next?
Frazer now joins Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee in the Iron Survivor Challenge, with two more spots left to fill. Meanwhile, the tag team division seems less interested in championships and more interested in deciding who can throw the first punch. Deadline is shaping up to be the wrestling equivalent of a full-contact board meeting.