NXT LVL Up – September 22, 2023: Please Keep Going

NXT LVL Up
Date: September 22, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

On a show that rarely feels important, it makes sense that we get the only meaningless match of the Global Heritage Invitational. The winners have already been established and now we get the final match between two people who have already been eliminated. At least we also have Tatum Paxley turning on Dani Palmer last week as a possible continuing story around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ivy Nile vs. Izzi Dame

Nile takes her down with a headlock to start and then does it again for a bonus. Back up and a running crossbody takes Dame down again, setting up a third headlock. Dame finally fights to her feet and sends her into the corner, meaning it’s time for the stomping. Nile’s leg is rammed into the mat and Dame cranks away on the leg. A sunset flip gives Nile one but she misses an enziguri. The bad knee is slammed into the apron but Nile calmly flips into the Diamond Chain Lock for the tap at 5:22.

Rating: C+. This match actually had something of a story and it worked out well enough with Dame working on the knee. That being said, Nile is just a more complete star at this point and was able to take whatever Dame through at her and slip into the hold for the win. I could still go for more of Nile, but that just isn’t happening at the moment.

Luca Crusifino is ready for Ikemen Jiro and that illegal jacket of his. This turns into a battle of objections between Luca and Kelly Kincaid.

Luca Crusifino vs. Ikemen Jiro

Crusifino shoves him down a few times so Jiro nips up a few times. That just annoys Crusifino, who hammers away against the ropes and hits a neckbreaker for two. Jiro slips out of a necklock and fires off the jacket punches. The springboard moonsault gives Jiro two but Crusifino pulls off the jacket. Back up and Crusifino throws the jacket in Jiro’s face and rolls him up for the pin (with trunks) at 2:59. The fact that Jiro was released the day this show aired might have given you a clue about the result here.

Global Heritage Invitational Group A: Axiom vs. Charlie Dempsey

Feeling out process to start with Axiom taking him down with an armbar. Dempsey is up with a headlock but Axiom drops him again without much trouble. Fans: “THANK YOU REGAL”! Dempsey swings him into a backbreaker to take over and strikes away at the back to keep Axiom down.

The abdominal stretch has Axiom in more trouble but he reverses into an Octopus hold of all things. A dropkick sends Dempsey outside and Axiom hits a dive. Back in a high crossbody is countered into a tabletop suplex to give Dempsey two. A wheelbarrow suplex gives Dempsey two more and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up rather quickly so Dempsey goes up, only to get pulled back down. The Golden Ratio finishes Dempsey at 7:55.

Rating: B-. Again, why do we not get this kind of a match on a more regular basis around here? There’s nothing wrong with letting two talented guys get in there and tear a few rooms of the house. It’s not like the two of them are doing anything different so let them go out there and have a fun match.

They don’t even show the final standings but here they are for you Global Heritage Invitational enthusiasts:

Group A Standings
Butch – 2-0-1, 5 points, 0 matches remaining
Tyler Bate – 2-1-0, 4 points, 0 matches remaining
Axiom – 1-1-1, 3 point, 0 matches remaining
Charlie Dempsey – 0-3-0, 0 points, 0 matches remaining

Overall Rating: C+. This was a slightly quicker show and hopefully it isn’t the end of having a match that matters around here. The last few weeks have been that much better as a result of those slightly higher stakes and I could go for seeing it more often. The main event was good enough too, making this a perfectly nice show.

Results
Ivy Nile b. Izzi Dame – Diamond Chain Lock
Luca Crusifino b. Ikemen Jiro – Rollup with trunks
Axiom b. Charlie Dempsey – Golden Ratio

 

 

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