NXT LVL Up – April 1, 2022: That Isn’t Foolish

NXT LVL Up
Date: April 1, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re going back in time a bit for this one as this took place just before Wrestlemania weekend but I was a bit busy at the time so I have some catching up to do. This show was going up against the first part of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, making me wonder why this week actually took place. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, featuring wrestlers who will never be on the this show.

Xyon Quinn vs. Dante Chen

After the respectful fist bump, Quinn shoves his way out of an early headlock. Chen tries to slug away but gets hit in the face for his efforts. A running shoulder sets up a chinlock but Chen fights up with a crossbody, which bounces off of Quinn. Some running shots from Chen have some more effect, including a big boot for two. A high crossbody is pulled out of the air and Chen is planted with a Death Valley Driver. The running punch doesn’t work though as Chen staggers into the corner, only to get caught with the running punch for the pin at 4:47.

Rating: C+. This was far better than I would have expected and I was actually wondering who was going to win in the end. That isn’t something that happens very often around here so points for that, plus having Quinn win a match. I still think they have something with him based on his look alone, but if this is his current level, it might be false hope.

Kayden Carter vs. Tatum Paxley

Kacy Catanzaro is here with Carter. Paxley goes straight for the armbar to start before sending Carter outside, where dancing with Catanzaro ensues. Back in and a sunset flip sends Carter head first into the corner for two and a suplex gets the same. The bodyscissors keeps Carter in trouble but she elbows her way to freedom. Carter fights up and hits a basement superkick for two of her own, only to get slammed down. A standing twisting moonsault gives Paxley two more but Carter is back with a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 6:02.

Rating: C-. Paxley has a good look and will likely get pushed as a result, but Carter was the star here and you could feel it. This was apparently her first singles match in over a year and she did well enough, though there is only so much that you can do in a six minute match against someone who has only been around for a few months now. Not awful, but there’s a reason these two are on this show.

James Drake vs. Damon Kemp

Zack Gibson is in Drake’s corner. Kemp drives him into said corner and Gibson is right there with some advice. Back to the middle and Kemp spins around to take Drake down with a waistlock. Drake reverses into a headlock but Kemp is back up with a backdrop. Gibson offers a distraction so Drake can stomp away. A forearm gets two on Kemp and we hit the chinlock. Kemp fights up and snaps off the overhead belly to belly but Gibson offers another distraction. Cue Edris Enofe and Malik Blade to glare at the villains, allowing Kemp to grab a rollup pin at 6:21.

Rating: C. The ending has me interested here as it seems to set up something for the future. You don’t get that very often on a show like this so I’ll take what I can get when I get it. If nothing else, Kemp finally getting a win is a nice sign for his future, sa he is moving forward a little bit at a time.

Overall Rating: C. This was a nice mixture of stuff as you had a competitive opener, a showcase middle match and a story advancing main event. The show is still far from perfect or even necessary, but they seem to be putting some more thought into it rather than just tossing some random matches out there. In other words, it’s at least better than what we were getting on 205 Live.

Results
Xyon Quinn b. Dante Chen – Running punch
Kayden Carter b. Tatum Paxley – Death Valley Driver
Damon Kemp b. James Drake – Rollup

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