NXT LVL Up – February 10, 2023: What It Should Have Been

NXT LVL Up
Date: February 10, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

So somehow, we’re coming off what was an actually entertaining episode last week. If they can keep up that energy this week, it should be another breeze of the show. What makes it more confusing is that it shouldn’t be hard to send in another middle of the road star to boost things up a bit. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We meet new commentator Blake Howard.

Tank Ledger vs. Kale Dixon

They trade wristlocks to start until Ledger takes him down with an armbar. An armdrag sets up another armbar and a World’s Strongest Slam gives Ledger two. Dixon manages to send him into the corner though and a neckbreaker gets two. Ledger fights out of a chinlock and a cartwheel into a splash gets another near fall. The running powerslam finishes Dixon at 4:59.

Rating: C-. Just a step beneath a squash here for Ledger as he might be new but he’s still further along than Dixon. I like the idea of putting two younger stars like this out there and letting them do their thing, as it lets them get a win without some big upset. Not a great match or even a good one, but at least it accomplished something.

Axiom isn’t sure how to deal with a masked man like Scrypts, but he’ll figure it out.

Dani Palmer vs. Lash Legend

Legend powers her into the corner to start and blocks a sunset flip attempt with a right hand to the face. Palmer’s headlock doesn’t work but she can kick her way out of the corner. Legend plants her back down though and then does it again by the hair for a bonus. A corner clothesline and faceplant have Palmer in more trouble, with a chinlock making it even worse. Back up and Legend misses a charge, allowing Palmer to hit some dropkicks. Those are shrugged off and Legend bends Palmer over her back, setting up a spinning faceplant for the pin at 5:21.

Rating: C-. It wasn’t great, but Legend’s new look and presentation have been big upgrades for her. I’m more than a little surprised that she beat Palmer, who has been getting some TV time as of late, but at the same time, that was the story they were telling and it would have been weird for Palmer to pull it off. Not a good match, but an improvement over what Legend has been doing.

Axiom vs. Scrypts

Scrypts flips away from a snapmare to start so they trade wrist control with Axiom taking him down. Stereo nip ups give us a staredown so Axiom hits a dropkick to send him into the corner. Scrypts is sent outside but comes back in with a kick to the face to block the dive. Something like a spinning crossbody gives Scrypts two and the chinlock goes on.

Axiom fights up for the running shots to the face but a superplex is broken up. A moonsault press gives Scrypts two but Axiom kicks him in the chest for the same. The Golden Ratio misses though and Scrypts superkicks him down. Axiom kicks him out of the air though and the Golden Ratio finishes Scrypts at 6:40.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what you would have expected as the two of them went out there and did everything they could have been asked to do. It was a bunch of flips and kicks in an entertaining match, but what matters the most is that I wasn’t sure who was winning. You never get that feeling around here and it was a very nice change of pace.

Overall Rating: C. The main event helped a lot, but there was only so much to be seen with the first two matches. As usual though, the best thing that can be done on this show is to send in some bigger names who aren’t doing anything on the regular NXT show. Axiom and Scrypts aren’t big stars most of the time, but they certainly are around here. Nice enough show here, with a rather fun main event.

Results
Tank Ledger b. Kale Dixon – Running powerslam
Lash Legend b. Dani Palmer – Spinning faceplant
Axiom b. Scrypts – Golden Ratio

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