Trick Williams Retains NXT Title During Wild Devil’s Playground Match at Halloween Havoc 2024

WWE is known for bringing big action to their premium live events, and this year’s Halloween Havoc at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, did not disappoint at all. In the end, the night concluded with an NXT Title match that is worth remembering.

The NXT Championship was defended in a Devil’s Playground Match between reigning champion Trick Williams and challenger Ethan Page. This highly match had been building ever since Page lost the NXT title to Williams during the brand’s October 1 debut on The CW. At Halloween Havoc, both competitors left it all in the ring, battling through a brutal and chaotic match.

Ethan Page didn’t mess around with any costume for this Devil’s Playground match, but Trick Williams rocked Willy Wonka inspired entrance gear for the match. This match also received big-match feel ring introductions from Mike Rome.

Page jumped Trick during the intro to get the upperhand in this falls count anywhere match. Then Page grabbed a chair, but so did Trick as he whacked the chair out of Ethan’s hand and then delivered a few introductory chair shots to All Ego’s back.

Ethan Page grabbed a jack-o-lantern at ringside, but Trick took it from him and put it on All Ego’s head before he kicked it off his head. That spot was perfect, like a video game as the pumpkin flew off and broke on the canvas. Then Trick Williams grabbed a broken ladder from the previous tables, ladders, and scares match to introduce it into the match.

They soon found themselves fighting in the crowd, which in a falls count anywhere match, could be the end of the match wherever they are in the building. Page nailed Trick with a trash can, but then he was backdropped on that same dented can for a near fall in the middle of the crowd.

They brought the action back to the ring, where Ethan Page took control with a couple chair shots and then a DDT on the steel chair for a two count. The match continued until Page took Trick down, and then he poured a black bag full of nuts and bolts on the canvas, adding to the possible carnage. The action spilled to the outside of the ring, where Page cleared off the announce table, and then he sent Trick through it with an Ego’s Edge.

Trick Williams had blood coming out of his mouth, and then the referee called medical staff to surround the NXT Champion. Ethan Page didn’t want to let up on Trick, as he moved the steel ring steps to the inside of the ring. Trick pulled himself to his feet and got in the ring, only to have Ethan dump Trick onto the ring steps. Then he picked up the second set of steps in the ring and went to smash Trick, but he moved.

Trick Williams hit a Rock Bottom on the ring steps, but he was unable to capitalize before Ethan Page kicked him in the groin. Page then went to smash Trick with the steps, but Williams returned the favor with a low blow. Williams then nailed Page with the steps and hit a Trick Shot to secure the win at Halloween Havoc to retain the NXT Title.

After the match was over, Ridge Holland jumped Trick Williams. Ethan Page got in Ridge’s face to stop him, but then he helped Holland apply even more punishment with a DDT. Suddenly, Bubba Ray Dudley slid in the ring, and he fought off Ridge Holland and Ethan Page to close out the night with a big pop.