NXT LVL Up
Date: February 9, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

This show was interesting and entertaining for a few weeks but that has been knocked out again. Instead we’re back to the same old LVL Up crew who aren’t going anywhere and are having the same matches we’ve seen them have for the better part of ever. NXT has the talent to make this work but instead they go with not doing that instead. Quite the shame. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kelani Jordan vs. Stevie Turner

Jordan starts fast by taking her down for a basement crossbody but has to flip around to get out of a wristlock. Turner is back up and hits her from behind, setting up a neckbreaker for two. A running knee gives Turner two and we hit the chinlock with a knee in Jordan’s back. Jordan is back up and hits a Rob Van Dam step over spinwheel kick, setting up the split legged moonsault for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Turner is one of the more interesting stories in NXT as she feels like she has all of the tools to be a star and then just never is. There have been multiple times where I forget she even exists, which is not a good sign for any kind of a star. Turner needs either a complete reset or a new start in another promotion because this isn’t working for her.

Javier Bernal is ready to give us a new viral moment.

Javier Bernal vs. Keanu Carver

The huge Carver shoves him down before Bernal hurts his shoulder by bouncing off of Carver. Bernal avoids a charge though and kicks Carver’s leg in the ropes to take over. A Downward Spiral gives Bernal two but Carver is up to run him over a few times. One heck of a Pounce sends Bernal flying…but he sweeps the legs for a rollup (with feet on the ropes) for the pin at 3:54.

Rating: C+. They kept this short as Carver is still a rather raw rookie, but when you look like that with that kind of power, there is only so much that you need to do. As usual, this was about Bernal though and he made it work by being such a weasely heel. It works to see him get beaten up and then cheat to win as it makes you want to see him get beaten up again. Nice match here and it worked well.

Tavion Heights vs. Myles Borne

Borne is a surprise opponent as it was only said to be a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew. They fight over a lockup to start until Heights takes him down without much trouble. A fireman’s carry drop puts Borne down again and it’s time for a breather on the floor. Back in and Borne grabs a suplex for two and we hit the chinlock. Heights fights up and hits a quick Sling Blade, only to have the Crew offer a distraction. Borne grabs a powerslam for the pin at 5:21.

Rating: C. While I like the idea of adding something with the mystery opponent, it only means so much when any of the four would have been about the same. The match itself was only so good with neither of them exactly doing anything of note. The Crew is a good enough idea for a team but when you only have basic matches, you’re only going to get so far.

Overall Rating: C. It was slightly better than last week, but at the same time it was more of the same kind of things we’ve been seeing on this show in recent weeks. The matches come and go and it isn’t like anything ever feels like it’s changing. That’s kind of the point around here but it also doesn’t make for a great show all of the time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT LVL Up
Date: February 2, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

We’re back to the show and my hope for this show is starting to wain again. There is only so much that you can do with the low level stars and that has been obvious in recent weeks. What matters here is getting things interesting with weaker star power, which is easier said than done. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont

Walker and Igwe start things off as commentary talks about a history between the teams. A side slam puts Walker down and DuPont comes in with a splash. That doesn’t last long as Walker is over to Ledger so a backsplash can hit DuPont. Everything breaks down with Walker and Ledger clearing the ring.

The rather large DuPont is back with a hard clothesline and Igwe’s gutwrench suplex gets two. Walker fights out of a chinlock though and it’s back to Ledger to clean house. It’s back to Ledger, who gets caught in a belly to back suplex/jumping clothesline combination with Walker having to make the save. A Bubba Bomb puts Igwe down and a powerslam/running forearm combination (the Collision Course) finishes for Walker at 622.

Rating: C+. This was more high energy than most of what you see on this show and I’ll take that for a change. Walker and Ledger are pretty low on the totem pole in the tag division but they are a regular team and that makes things feel more important. Igwe and DuPont look great but are going to need a lot more time before they are ready to do much else.

Brooks Jensen needs to find his own success and it can start tonight with Dante Chen.

Carlee Bright vs. Blair Davenport

Bright actually armdrags her down to start and Davenport needs to think about this. They trade near falls off a rollup each but Davenport hits a hard knee in the corner to take over. An abdominal stretch is broken up so Davenport goes after the ribs again. Now the stretch goes on before Davenport switches over to a chinlock. Bright fights up and hits a dropkick into a crossbody but Davenport pulls her down by the hair. The knee to the face finishes for Davenport at 5:05.

Rating: C. Bright got in some offense here and it wasn’t a squash, which made for a nice enough match. Bright is another someone who hasn’t gotten the chance to show much but that is only going to be so possible in a five minute match. Nothing to see here, as Davenport is a name waiting for something to do.

Dante Chen vs. Brooks Jensen

Chen takes over on the arm to start but Jensen is right back with a flying headscissors. That’s broken up and Chen is right back on the arm so Jensen has to roll out of a short armscissors. Back up and Jensen snaps off a spinebuster as we hear about Jensen being a fan of old southern wrestlers. Chen fights up and strikes away, setting up a kick to the head for two. Chen slips off the top though, allowing Jensen to hit a top rope knee for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C. Jensen as an old school wrestler is certainly not something you see very often these days and it’s ok enough for a twist, but Jensen continues to not be all that interesting. He just feels basic and has nothing to make him stand out, which is a problem when you’re in a spot like this. Not an awful match or even bad, but how far were you expecting this to go?

Overall Rating: C. It was another dull show here and that is becoming the norm more and more often these days. The biggest name on the show was….I guess Davenport, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. There are so many people in NXT and I don’t get why more of them can’t be featured around here. It’s worked before and it would work again if given the chance.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: February 6, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Byron Saxton

We’re done with Vengeance Day and that means the only thing standing between here and Stand & Deliver is next month’s Roadblock. The big story coming out of Vengeance Day is Trick Williams losing his shot at the NXT Title and then being attacked by longtime friend Carmelo Hayes. That is going to be a big deal so let’s get to it.

Here is Vengeance Day if you need a recap.

Here is Carmelo Hayes to get things going and he’s carrying a chair. Hayes sits in the chair, doesn’t like the chants from the crowd, stands up, says “not yet”, and leaves.

Vengeance Day recap.

Here are Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker to celebrate winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, though Corbin can’t believe they were called the Wolf Dogs. Anyway, they want the Tag Team Titles.

Axiom/Nathan Frazer vs. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe

Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker are on commentary. Axiom rolls out of Enofe’s wristlock to start so Enofe snaps off a dropkick. Axiom’s dropkick connects as well but he gets sent outside for a dive. Back in and Blade runs Frazer over as we take a break. We come back with Axiom taking over on Enofe and grabbing a chinlock.

Frazer’s neckbreaker gets two and we hit another chinlock. The running shooting star press gives Frazer two more but Enofe knees him in the face. Blade comes in and powerbombs Axiom as the pace picks up quite a bit. Axiom drops Blade again though and Frazer hits the phoenix splash, with Enofe knocking Axiom into the cover for the save.

We take another break and come back again with Frazer running up the corner for a superplex. Frazer raises Blade into a brainbuster, with Axiom adding a superkick as Frazer drops him. Enofe makes the save but get sent outside, leaving Blade to get Phoenix splashed into the Golden Ratio for the pin at 16:42.

Rating: B. This was in the same vein as the old Nitro openers with the cruiserweight matches: let people go out there and fly around with some good action and a very fast pace. It worked back then and it still works today, which was certainly the case here. Axiom and Frazer work well together and it wouldn’t stun me to see them as some of the next challengers after the Corbin/Breakker vs. D’Angelo Family match.

Post match Breakker and Corbin jump Frazer and Axiom. The D’Angelo Family comes out and the challenge is issued for next week.

Ilja Dragunov wants answers from Carmelo Hayes.

Post break, here is Dragunov for a chat. Dragunov talks about going to war with Trick Williams and how Williams would have been a worthy champion. Now though, it is his duty to call out Carmelo Hayes. He has been attacking Dragunov with accusations for months and now he wants to go beyond breaking Hayes, who is a traitorous son of a b****. Cue Dijak to say he and Dragunov both won at Vengeance Day but Dragunov doesn’t want to hear it. Dijak talks about how he knows what it takes to break Joe Gacy but Dragunov tells him to get out of his way. The fight is on and quickly broken up.

Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne are really happy with the success of the Women Of Chase U calendar. Other than that though, Jayne wants Hail to play hard to get with Riley Osborne. Hail can do that.

Von Wagner is mad with losing to Noam Dar but Mr. Stone’s kids come in to talk them into a tag match against Meta Four.

Lexis King vs. Riley Osborne

The rest of Chase U is here but Thea Hail is missing from the student section. King takes him up against the ropes to start but gets dropkicked to the floor. That means a big flip dive from Osborne, who is knocked off the apron and into the announcers’ table. Back in and a slingshot double stomp to the ribs gives King two and we hit the seated abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Osborne gets two off a leg lariat but the lack of Thea distracts Osborne on top. The hanging Coronation finishes for King at 4:04.

Rating: C. This was more about the absence of Hail than an important result, but King is slowly building himself back up. Granted he wasn’t exactly high up to begin with but winning is better than losing over and over. I’m not sure how well it’s going to work for him in the long run, though at least he’s building some momentum. As for Osborne, the issues with Hail seem to be the next step in the Chase U saga, which is at least continuing.

Video on Kelani Jordan.

Kiana James and Izzi Dame complain about the locker room and take a drink from the overly excited Brinley Reece. Then they pour the drink out.

Here is Carmelo Hayes, again sitting in the chair, and this time he says the villain is always the villain when the hero is telling the story. He allowed Trick Williams to succeed and wanted Williams to make his parents proud. Then he had to take it all away, because he wanted Williams to know where he was. They had an agreement: Hayes gets the NXT Title and Williams gets the North American Title.

Then Williams tried to act like they were on the same level and no way. So did he attack Williams months ago? Of course he did and he would do it again. Cue Williams……..’music, as Hayes laughs because Williams isn’t here. Williams got so caught up in the headlines that he pushed his friend to the sidelines. He wanted to be like Hayes so much but it was all just a trick. Williams was just a hype man and that’s all it was ever going to be. That was a pretty simple explanation and it worked just fine.

We get the Three Faces vignette from No Surrender.

Video on Oba Femi.

Riley Osborne is disappointed that Thea Hail wasn’t out there but they’re on for Valentine’s Day. With Osborne gone, Jacy Jayne says she’ll work with Hail for next week.

Lola Vice vs. Roxanne Perez

Vice interrupted Perez’s Vengeance Day title shot and they fought after the match. Perez chases her to the floor to start and hits a dive, only to have Vice take over back inside. The hip attack connects but Perez gets a boot up in the corner. That’s fine with Vice, who kicks her out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Vice holding a chinlock before firing off some running knees to the ribs. Perez kicks her down and hits the double springboard moonsault for two but Vice is back with a choke. Pop Rox is broken up and Vice elbows her in the face for two more. Cue Tatum Paxley for a distraction so Vice kicks her down, only to walk into Pop Rox for the pin at 9:35.

Rating: C+. Vice might be limited in the ring but she has the charisma to make a lot of this work. That’s what matters more than a lot of what she is going to do in the ring and it went well enough here. Perez can move back into the title hunt as she wasn’t pinned on Sunday as Vice can deal with Paxley. That’s a nice way to send things into different directions and it went well enough as a match too.

Meta Four isn’t worried about either of their upcoming tag matches. The No Quarter Catch Crew comes in to say they want a Heritage Cup title shot but Noam Dar bails.

Fallon Henley/Wren Sinclair vs. Meta Four

Noam Dar and Oro Mensah are here too. Legend slaps Henley to start so it’s Sinclair coming in for a crossbody, with Henley adding a dropkick to the back. Jackson comes in and shrugs off a headlock, allowing Legend to crash onto Sinclair’s back. The villains take turns stomping away in the corner for two before Sinclair has to fight out of a double arm crank. The tag brings Henley back in to pick up the pace but Legend helps Jackson pull Henley’s throat into the ropes. Sinclair comes back in and is promptly powerbombed for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: C. It’s almost hard to fathom but Legend and Jackson feel like much bigger stars here. Granted Henley is mainly known for her friendship with Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen and Sinclair has barely been around, but it’s still odd to see Legend and Jackson being so dominant. Not much of a match, though Legend looked good as a monster.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen have a brief reunion, with Jensen saying he needs his friends. Briggs isn’t having this and tells him to grow up before someone takes his spot. Fair enough as Jensen has felt pathetic since the split.

Ava gives Jaida Parker a match with Riz next week, one on one. With Parker gone, Ridge Holland comes in to say he wants a match with Gallus, three on one. That can’t happen, but Holland can fight the one at a time. Works for him.

We look back at Carmelo Hayes’ comments.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak

Non-title. They go straight to the fight to start with Dijak going after the nose that he broke before. Said nose is sent into the turnbuckle but Dragunov chops his way out of trouble. Dijak manages a kick to knock Dragunov out to the floor but stops to look under the ring. With nothing found, Dijak decks him again and we take a break.

Back with Dragunov fighting out of a chinlock but having to block Feast Your Eyes. Dijak kicks him into the ropes but is quickly pulled into a Death Valley Driver into the corner. The top rope backsplash gives Dragunov two and he hits a running boot in the corner to rock Dijak again. A quick High Justice gives Dijak two of his own and a clothesline cuts off the Constantine Special. Dijak’s elbow, which was banged up at Vengeance Day, flares up again though and cue Joe Gacy to hit Dijak with….something. Dragunov uses the distraction (which he didn’t see) to hit the H Bomb for the pin at 12:58.

Rating: B-. This was something of reheating a feud that they had a few months ago for one night only and it went well enough for a main event. Gacy distracting Dijak to cost him the match keeps their feud going and now we get to see where Dragunov goes next. This was more about continuing Gacy vs. Dijak and if it gives Dragunov a win in the process, so be it.

Post match Carmelo Hayes comes in to jump Dragunov and holds up the NXT Title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The action was good enough here, with the opener and main event being the best parts, but this was about Carmelo Hayes as the new top heel. It seems like we could be seeing Hayes challenging Dragunov in the near future, perhaps even at Roadblock, and that likely gets us to the main event of Stand & Deliver in one way or another. That’s by far the biggest thing in NXT at the moment and giving it so much time on this show was the right way to go.

Results
Axiom/Nathan Frazer b. Edris Enofe/Malik Blade – Golden Ratio to Blade
Lexis King b. Riley Osborne – Hanging Coronation
Roxanne Perez b. Lola Vice – Pop Rox
Meta Four b. Fallon Henley/Wren Sinclair – Powerbomb to Sinclair
Ilja Dragunov b. Dijak – H Bomb

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Vengeance Day 2024
Date: February 4, 2024
Location: F&M Bank Arena, Clarkesville, Tennessee
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s time for another NXT pay per view and this time the focus is on Trick Williams, who will be in action twice. First, Williams will be teaming with Carmelo Hayes in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic before he challenges Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Title in the show’s main event. That’s in addition to everything else so let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Valentine’s Day, but apparently prefers Vengeance. We get the usual preview for the show’s matches.

Wade Barrett is back on commentary for one night only.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Trick Williams/Carmelo Hayes vs. Bron Breakker/Baron Corbin

Breakker and Corbin come to the ring on motorcycles for a nice touch. Hayes and Breakker lock up to start with the latter powering him away. Williams comes in (the fans approve) and everything breaks down, with Hayes and Williams clearing the ring. Back in and Hayes strikes away at Corbin, who misses a charge into the post. The Fade Away connects but Corbin hits a heck of a clothesline. It’s back to Breakker, who seems to slip up a bit coming off the ropes but is fine enough to catch Hayes in a toss powerslam.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and Hayes gets most of a cutter, allowing the double tags to Corbin and Williams. The latter gets to clean house and hands it back to Hayes for a Lionsault. A Codebreaker hits Breakker for two as Williams dives onto Corbin. Back in and Breakker suplexes both of them at once and then nips up (because that’s something he can do) before handing it back to Corbin.

This includes Breakker launching Corbin over the top onto both of them, leaving Hayes to have to make a save back inside. Deep Six plants Williams for two and Breakker hits a big flipping dive to the floor. Back in and Williams crotches Corbin on top and Hayes drops Breakker off the top. Nothing but Net is broken up and Breakker spears Hayes for the pin at 14:31.

Rating: C+. There were some less than smooths pots in this but they got to the ending that mattered. Hayes takes the pin and doesn’t get what he wants, which should make for some issues between them on the way to the main event. Other than that, even though Breakker seems main roster bound, he’s also seemingly getting one more run here, which should make for a good sendoff.

We recap Roxanne Perez challenging for the Women’s Title. She never lost it in the first place but then a series of title changes have left Lyra Valkyria as champion. Tonight, Perez says she’s not the same old girl and now she’s coming to get her title back. Valkyria doesn’t think it’s that simple.

Dijak vs. Joe Gacy

No DQ as Dijak wants to beat on Gacy as much as possible. Dijak pulls out a nightstick but Gacy evens it up with a metal rod. Gacy knocks him to the floor and hits a dive, meaning it’s time for a bunch of weapons. This includes a chair, which Dijak is say in for a cannonball from Gacy. The table is loaded up and Gacy covers it with toy cars and blocks, only to get kicked in the face for his efforts.

Back in and Dijak puts a trashcan onto Gacy and kicks him down, only to have Gacy ram himself into Dijak (still with can) for a double knockdown. Dijak goes up but it’s a heck of a shove to send him off the ropes and through the table (with toys) at ringside. Back in and a chokeslam gives Dijak two but Gacy German superplexes him off the top for a crash.

It’s time to get creative so Gacy wraps duct tape around Dijak’s eyes, only to get caught with Fast Your Eyes anyway. Since the tape is still around Dijak’s eyes, he can’t see to cover Gacy in a clever moment. The referee removes said tape but Gacy is back with a DDT. A top rope splash onto Dijak onto a chair gets two but the Upside Down is cut off with a nightstick to the ribs. Dijak hits Feast Your Eyes for the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t anything great but I liked them having some different spots in there. It’s also the kind of match that they set up well in advance, with Dijak wanting to hut Gacy and Gacy being fine with it. Good fight here, even if the toys fell off the table more than once before impact.

The Women Of Chase U calendar is selling well and they’re on sale on WWEShop tomorrow.

We recap OTM vs. the D’Angelo Family, which is actually a six person tag rather than a Tag Team Title match. Basically OTM attacked them so it’s time for a big group fight.

OTM vs. D’Angelo Family

Scrypts is here with OTM. The Family jumps them to start and it’s a big brawl at the bell. Nima stomps D’Angelo to officially get things going but everything breaks down, with the Family firing off right hands to the ribs. Stacks hits a Cannonball to Nima and Riz hits the same to Parker. Back up and Parker knocks Stacks and Riz off the apron as things breaks down again. Stereo forearms in the corner rock Stacks and a right hand knocks him over the top.

Parker and Riz get into a fight on the floor and a pop up powerbomb gives Nima two on Stacks. Back up and Stacks manages to get in a shot of his own, allowing the tag off to D’Angelo. House is cleaned, but Parker slaps the heck out of him to break up a suplex. Riz jumps Parker and they brawl to the floor, with D’Angelo cutting off an interfering Scrypts. A spinebuster hits Price back inside and the fisherman’s suplex gives D’Angelo the pin at 10:12.

Rating: C+. As has been the case with more than one match tonight, this felt like a match that belonged on the regular TV show and in this case, that’s ok. I’d rather have something different than a Tag Team Title match without much heat so they made the right decision. Breakker and Corbin are waiting on the Family anyway so they have something bigger coming up, meaning getting this out of the way makes a lot of sense.

Kiana James and Izzi Dame break down possible obstacles on their way to the Women’s Title. First up: Kelani Jordan.

A banged up Carmelo Hayes tells Trick Williams to go win the NXT Title. Williams can go with that.

Lyra Valkyria needs to beat Roxanne Perez.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Lyra Valkyria

Perez is challenging. Feeling out process to start with Valkyria grabbing a headlock and then an armbar to put Perez down. Perez reverses into a headlock takeover as they’re going move for move early on. Valkyria sends her outside but Perez cuts her off with a hard forearm and sends her into the corner for some forearms. That’s broken up and Valkyria knocks her to the apron, only to get caught with Pop Rox…and here is Lola Vice. After kicking an interfering Tatum Paxley down, the match is officially a triple threat.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Lola Vice

Valkyria is defending and Vice grabs a sleeper on Perez. That’s broken up and Vice kicks Perez in the head for two. A triangle choke goes on but Valkyria comes off the top with a splash for the save and two of her own. Vice sends them both into the corner for running hip attacks but Perez avoids another one.

Vice and Valkyria are sent outside for some dives, followed by a high crossbody to Valkyria. That’s fine with the champ, who rolls through into vanquish for two, with Vice making the save and getting her own near fall to leave them all down. Vice kicks Valkyria down for two but can’t get the cross armbreaker. Pop Rox hits Valkyria, only to have Paxley breaks it up. Night Wish to Vice retains the title at 13:35 (counting the original match).

Rating: B. This was a really weird mash up of two matches, with the first match being a rather nice technical off, followed by Vice turning the second half into a frenzy. The thing with Vice is that she isn’t polished in the ring yet but she’s a ball of energy and charisma, which makes things more interesting. Good stuff here, and now there’s no more random title match looming over our heads.

Riley Osborne asks Thea Hail to be his Valentine and that’s a yes, with Jacy Jayne not being overly impressed by Hail’s acceptance.

We get a weird vignette talking about how a man had three faces: the one the world sees, the one his family sees and the real one that no one sees but shows the evil he possesses.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Dragon Lee

Lee is challenging after losing the title to Femi via a surprise cash in. Femi doesn’t like the idea of hanging over the title so Lee starts fast and knocks him outside for a dive. Back in and Femi pulls a high crossbody out of the air, only to get kicked into the corner. Femi powers out again and plants him down as commentary talks about how impressive Femi is despite inexperience. Lee fights up again but Femi shoves him outside without much trouble.

A backbreaker has Lee in more trouble until he kicks his way to freedom. The tornado DDT into a running knee gives Lee two, followed by a running powerbomb for two. They had outside with Lee being sent onto the announcers’ table, followed by a toss into an open chair. Back in and Lee reverses a powerbomb into a hurricanrana for two, only to get blasted by a clothesline. The pop up powerbomb retains the title at 10:56.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but it was working by the end with the power vs. speed motif on full display. Lee is likely going up to the main roster full time while Femi feels like someone who is going to smash NXT for the time being. Femi is the kind of monster you do not get to see very often and he is on a roll despite having a very short career so far. He knows just how to be what he’s supposed to be and that is a great way to start.

Lexis King interrupts the Chase U calendar sales to hit on Thea Hail. Riley Osborne comes in for the brawl.

Ava brags about NXT’s success and promises more big shows coming.

Malik Blade and Edris Enofe give Brinley Reece their five good things about their recent loss, but have nothing for negatives. Axiom and Nathan Frazer come in to mock how ridiculous this is but Reece has an idea.

Roxanne Perez jumps Lola Vice in the back and the fight has to be broken up.

We recap Trick Williams vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Title. Williams won the Iron Survivor Challenge and got his shot, though there is still the question of who attacked him a few months ago.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ilja Dragunov

Williams, with Carmelo Hayes, is challenging and starts fast with a dropkick. Dragunov, bleeding from the nose, is back up with a Constantine Special and they’re both staggered for a bit. Back up and Dragunov knocks him into the corner for some kicks to the face as Williams is bleeding from the mouth (as he was in the opener). Dragunov grabs a waistlock for a bit until they fight outside, where a German suplex drops Williams again.

Hayes helps Williams get back up before sending him back inside….where Dragunov missile dropkicks him down. A heck of a clothesline gives Dragunov two but Williams is back up with a Codebreaker for a double knockdown. Williams fires off some kicks to take over for a change but has to block another Constantine Special. The jumping clothesline hits Dragunov and they fight to the apron, where Williams hits something like a Rock Bottom to the floor (though Dragunov half landed on his feet, likely out of the need for survival).

Dragunov manages to send him into the steps and gets yelled at by Hayes, who misses a swing. Dragunov sends Hayes into Williams’ knee and Hayes knows he screwed up. Back in and Williams’ jumping neckbreaker connects and he hits his own H Bomb for two. Dragunov knocks him down again and hits a middle rope H Bomb for two and the fans are rather pleased.

Torpedo Moscow misses though and Williams’ spinning boot to the face connects for two. Hayes gets up on the apron and Williams accidentally knocks the referee into him, meaning the Trick Knee connects for….two from another referee. Another H Bomb knocks Williams silly, but a top rope version hits raised knee. Williams takes the hair tie out and goes to the corner, but the Trick Knee hits Torpedo Moscow and Dragunov retains at 17:58.

Rating: B+. That ending is a bold choice as the air went out of the building when Williams lost. That being said, the money match would seem to be in Hayes vs. Williams and it wouldn’t shock me if that winds up being the title match at Stand & Deliver. For now though, Dragunov hangs on for another few weeks, but other than Hayes, I’m not sure who is next for him.

Hayes consoles Williams…..and then turns on him with a shot to the knee to end the show. Hayes grabs a chair and unloads on the knee before sitting in said chair and posing to end the show. To say the fans were mad at Hayes would be the understatement of the day. The fact that his jacket looked a lot like the one Shawn Michaels wore during the Barbershop incident is just a coincidence I’m sure.

Overall Rating: B. The Hayes turn was needed as there wasn’t much else going on here. Other than the Dusty Cup finals and Vice getting rid of her contract, it was a pretty tame event with good matches but not much in the way of events. That being said, the ending had huge heat and likely gives us a Stand & Deliver main event so they certainly nailed the big stuff. Good show, but nothing really worth going out of your way to see, save for possibly the main event.

Results
Baron Corbin/Bron Breakker b. Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams – Spear to Hayes
Dijak b. Joe Gacy – Feast Your Eyes
D’Angelo Family b. OTM – Fisherman’s suplex to Price
Lyra Valkyria b. Lola Vice and Roxanne Perez – Night Wish to Vice
Oba Femi b. Dragon Lee – Pop up powerbomb
Ilja Dragunov b. Trick Williams – Torpedo Moscow

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: January 30, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for Vengeance Day and that means a lot of talking for the matches that are already set. One of them has a bit of a twist though, with #1 contender Trick Williams also set to team with Carmelo Hayes in the semifinals of the Dusty Classic. That could make for a busy Sunday so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams vs. LWO

Hayes armdrags Wilde down to start and snaps off a dropkick. Williams comes in for a dropkick of his own so it’s off to del Toro for a double back elbow. A comeback is cut off with some shots to the knee but Williams gets over to Hayes anyway. The LWO sends them right back to the floor though and stereo dives connect as we take a break.

Back with Hayes fighting out of a chinlock and hitting his half of a double clothesline. Williams comes back in for a double release Rock Bottom and it’s back to Hayes, who gets caught in the Tree of Woe. The LWO take him down again with stereo missile dropkicks and everyone is down. Hayes and del Toro kick it out until del Toro misses a phoenix splash. Williams comes back in and hits the jumping knee for the pin on Wilde at 12:33.

Rating: B-. So there’s your setup for the main event at Vengeance Day, as there’s a very good chance that Williams can’t win because of something that happens in the tournament final. As in the tournament final that he was in because of Hayes, meaning Hayes costs him the title. Or maybe he wins everything and Hayes is jealous. Either way, it makes things more interesting and we should be in for something good.

Post match Oba Femi runs in to jump the LWO and takes out Dragon Lee for trying to make a save.

Ava tells Ridge Holland that he can’t fight Gallus himself. Lexis King comes in with a gift basket for Ava, who didn’t realize they have a meeting. Ava makes King vs. Holland for tonight. Works for Holland.

Tatum Paxley talks to a picture of Lyra Valkyria, saying she’ll always be there for her. Valkyria comes to say she got all of Paxley’s messages but doesn’t get why Paxley attacked Roxanne Perez last week. Paxley says she’ll always be there for Valkyria.

Tatum Paxley vs. Roxanne Perez

Lyra Valkyria is on commentary and we’re joined in progress with Paxley firing off an assortment of kicks. A hanging butterfly suplex gives Paxley two and she sends Perez outside, with Valkyria not being sure why Paxley is doing any of this. Back in and Pop Rox finishes Paxley at 2:20 shown.

Arianna Grace is with Wren Sinclair and says she is a role model around here. Fallon Henley comes in to say she doesn’t buy this and wants a match with Grace later.

Elektra Lopez vs. Lola Vice

Lopez spars her down and the fight is on to start with the two of them heading outside. Back in and Vice fires off some kicks to send her into the corner. More kicks to the back give Vice two but Lopez powerbombs her out of the corner. An annoyed Lopez strikes away and hits a swinging Rock Bottom for two. A spinebuster is broken up though and Vice kicks her in the head for the pin at 3:32.

Rating: C+. This was quick and to the point with Vice getting a pretty strong win by knocking Lopez silly with that kick. Lopez is on her way to Smackdown and Vice is probably going to get into the title match sooner than later so they needed to cover both of these things. Not a great match, but it was intense while it lasted.

Joe Gacy comes to see Dijak and sits down without permission. Gacy says Dijak can’t get rid of him and plays a recording suggesting that he has been here before. Dijak wrecks him again.

Ridge Holland vs. Lexis King

Holland elbows him in the face to start and we take a very early break. Back with King going after the knee but getting hit in the face for his efforts. King cheap shots him in the corner though and chokes away before we hit the chinlock. A running clothesline to the back of the head gives King two but Holland fights up again. The Coronation is blocked and Holland hits him in the back of the head for two but cue Gallus for a distraction. That’s enough for a hanging Coronation to finish Holland at 9:38.

Rating: C. King is still not great in the ring but at least he’s getting the character stuff down. You also need to give him some wins like this to build him up and it’s not like Holland is going to lose much in defeat. Holland already has to deal with Gallus while King gets to move on to something of his own so this was a nice way forward for both of them.

Post match Gallus comes in to beat down Holland.

Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are still unsure about Ilja Dragunov but Hayes gives him a pep talk. Hayes promises to show that he’s had Williams’ back since the beginning.

Here is Chase University, minus their sweaters (and Jacy Jayne/Thea Hail), for their final goodbyes. Chases knows he’s a hothead and he has no one to blame but himself, but he thanks everyone for letting him live his dream. Duke Hudson talks about what he has learned from the school and wants everyone to remember how it was. This means a tribute video, which may have been made by threatening students, and yes it is set to Tell Me A Lie.

Chase thanks everyone, but here are Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail to interrupt. Jayne says if you want something done right, ask a woman. Chase: “We’re out here saying our final goodbyes.” Jayne: “Are you?” She talks about how she came into this place a bit toxic but she needed friends. Maybe she could actually change, and maybe she could help fix the problem. She looked inside her comfort zone and the school is NOT closing.

We see the Ladies Of Chase U Calendar…..which will have Chase U out of debt and moving into the future. Chase jumps up and down in happiness and Jayne hugs him. There is something hilarious about how simple of a solution that is and hopefully they get back to doing what worked with Chase U.

The D’Angelo Family is ready for OTM at Vengeance Day.

Brooks Jensen comes up to Fallon Henley to talk about old times but she leaves to go have her match, leaving Jensen a bit disappointed.

Chase U celebrates a lot but Lexis King interrupts. A match between King and Riley Osborne is teased but Joe Gacy and Dijak brawl in to break it up.

Fallon Henley vs. Arianna Grace

Wren Sinclair is here with Henley. Grace offers her a hand to start and gets caught in a wristlock for her efforts. Some armdrags put Grace down again and a big right hand rocks her again as we take a break. Back with Henley fighting out of a chinlock and getting two off a rollup. Henley sends her outside and gets in a shot of her own, only to have Jakara Jackson come in to distract the referee. Cue Lash Legend to kick Henley in the face to give Grace the pin at 8:41.

Rating: C. Henley is definitely moving up the ladder a bit around here and it seems that she has a feud coming up with Meta Four. I could go for her winning something else but at least she has something going on here. Grace on the other hand continues to be more annoying than anything else but at least she didn’t get a dominant win.

OTM is ready for the D’Angelo Family at Vengeance Day.

Dijak and Joe Gacy are fighting way above a dumpster, with Dijak knocking him down into it for a nasty thud.

Baron Corbin praises Bron Breakker for his Royal Rumble performance and seems to be warming up to the Wolf Dogs name.

Heritage Cup: Von Wagner vs. Noam Dar

Dar, with Meta Four, is defending and Mr. Stone is here with Wagner. Round One begins with Dar’s kicks being shrugged off and Wagner snaps off a nice armdrag. Wagner powers him into the corner and slowly walks around as Stone plays cheerleader. The tape comes off of Wagner’s hand and he hammers away until the round ends.

Round Two begins with Wagner going after Oro Mensah, allowing Dar to hit the Nova Roller for the pin at 22 seconds of the round and 3:57 overall. We take a break and come back with Wagner hitting a rather delayed vertical suplex. Mensah offers a distraction but here are Fallon Henley and Wren Sinclair to brawl with Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson. The women leave as Dar’s kneebar can’t get the tap before Round Three ends.

Round Four begins with Wagner punching him in the face for two but Dar is back with some elbows. Wagner fights out again but the Death Valley Driver is broken up. Instead Wagner scores with a jumping knee to the face but misses a charge into the post. That’s enough for Dar to roll him up and retain at 1:53 of the round and 10:10 overall.

Rating: C. The seemingly never ending reign continues for Dar and the matches are getting less interesting. Wagner didn’t seem like one of the strongest challengers but Dar has held the title for the better part of ever. Either find something else for him to do or get rid of the title altogether, because this stopped working a long time ago.

Post match Dar mocks Stone’s kids in the front row so Wagner puts Mensah through the announcers’ table.

Ava yells at Dijak for putting Joe Gacy in a dumpster and wants a No DQ match with Gacy….who pops out of the dumpster to say he’s in. The match is on.

Vengeance Day rundown.

Here is Trick Williams for a face to face showdown with NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov. Cue the champ, who says he’s ready to whoop that Trick, but Williams thinks Dragunov has been playing him the entire time. Williams thinks Dragunov faked his injuries to avoid the match but Dragunov says there’s no way because he’s ready to hurt himself to retain the title.

Dragunov says Williams might want to be more worried about Carmelo Hayes but Williams says he’ll win twice on Sunday. Williams wants Hayes left out of this so Dragunov threatens him with destruction. They shake hands and have a staredown but cue Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker to jump them. Carmelo Hayes runs in for the save so Dragunov and Williams can stare each other down again to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. There wasn’t a must see match on the show, but they did a good enough job of making me want to see Vengeance Day. The action worked well and they set up some more things for the pay per view and it was a fairly solid go home show. The ending segment was probably the best part of the show as they’ve done a nice job of setting up a story that could go in a few different directions. Solid show here, even if there was only so much more that could be done with the title match.

Results
Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams b. LWO – Jumping knee to Wilde
Roxanne Perez b. Tatum Paxley – Pop Rox
Lola Vice b. Elektra Lopez – Spinning kick to the head
Lexis King b. Ridge Holland – Hanging Coronation
Arianna Grace b. Fallon Henley – Big boot from Lash Legend
Noam Dar b. Von Wagner 2-0

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT LVL Up
Date: January 26, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re back to the show that sets up the show that sets up the Royal Rumble so this is kind of the grandchild of the show that is happening tomorrow. In other words, this show will have no impact on the Royal Rumble at all, even if commentary will likely talk about it more than once. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Von Wagner vs. Keanu Carver

Mr. Stone is here with Wagner. The rather strong Carver powers him into the corner to start and manages one heck of a Pounce to send Wagner flying. A World’s Strongest Slam plants Wagner for two and we hit the old school bearhug. Wagner fights out and wins the exchange of right hands. A top rope shot to the head sets up the Death Valley Driver to give Wagner the pin at 4:27.

Rating: C+. This was a heck of a performance from Carver, who got in quite a bit of offense with Wagner selling like nuts. That’s how you make someone feel more important even in defeat and that’s just what they did here. Not a great match or anything, but it did something important that could help Carver going forward.

Luca Crusifino is ready for Riley Osborne tonight and makes a bunch of lawyer puns.

Kelani Jordan/Brinley Reece vs. Kiana James/Izzi Dame

James and Jordan fight over a lockup to start with Jordan snapping off a headscissors. Dame comes in and takes over on both of them until they take out her legs. The villains take Jordan into the corner though and the stomping is on. The double arm crank goes on for a bit but Jordan flips over and brings in Reece to clean house. Then the Dealbreaker finishes Reece at 5:08.

Rating: C. Nothing much to see here as Jordan got beaten up, made a tag and then got taken out for the pin almost immediately. James is the biggest name in the match but even then she’s only so good. There is only so much to get out of a match like this and it wasn’t exactly great while it lasted.

Riley Osborne vs. Luca Crusifino

Osborne takes him down but the leg crank doesn’t get him anywhere. Crusifino’s headlock is just as ineffective but he sends Osborne outside and starts in on the leg. Back in and Crusifino kicks away at the leg, meaning the cranking can continue. The knee is rammed into the mat and we hit the half crab. Osborne fights out, hits a leg lariat, shakes his knee a bit, and hits a shooting star press for the pin at 6:22.

Rating: D+. Nope. Not only was the stuff with the leg dull, but Osborne then shrugs it off and hits two moves that mainly use his legs to win. If that’s what he’s going to do, why bother with everything that came before it? In addition to that, Crusifino is still not interesting, as his matches are just the same bland stuff that you see from so many people around here. This was annoying and that’s not something you often see around here.

Overall Rating: C-. It says a lot when Von Wagner’s match is the best thing about the show but that is absolutely what we had here. The women’s tag was nothing and the main event was almost anger inducing and there was nothing on here worth seeing. Osborne is capable of doing more and I was glad to see him on the show and then it wound up being a big disappointment. Bad show and that’s kind of a surprise.

Results
Von Wagner b. Keanu Carver – Death Valley Driver
Kiana James/Izzi Dame b. Kelani Jordan/Brinley Reece – Dealbreaker to Reece
Riley Osborne b. Luca Crusifino – Shooting star press

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: January 23, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last NXT before the Royal Rumble and that might actually make a difference around here. Around here that might make a difference as there very likely will be some NXT representation in the Royal Rumble matches. I’m curious to see who that might be, but we also have some more work to do towards Vengeance Day. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Roxanne Perez becoming the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title last week.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Baron Corbin/Bron Breakker vs. Nathan Frazer/Axiom

The fight starts before the bell with Frazer and Axiom sending them outside for stereo suicide dives. Some dropkicks against the barricade have Corbin and Breakker in trouble as the bell rings. Corbin gets caught with a missile dropkick for two back inside, followed by Frazer armbarring Corbin. That doesn’t last long as Corbin is up with a boot to the face so Axiom comes in. With Corbin knocked outside, Axiom tries a hurricanrana but gets powerbombed onto the announcers’ table. Breakker hammers on Frazer inside as we take a break.

Back with Corbin coming in for a belly to back suplex on Axiom. Breakker comes in for a belly to back suplex…but he tosses Axiom over his shoulder and pulls him into a cutter (that’s a new one). Axiom gets up and brings in Frazer to clean house, including sending the villains to the floor for a huge dive. Back in and some frog splashes get two on Breakker but he powerbombs Axiom onto Frazer to get a breather.

Corbin comes back in for Deep Six to Frazer and a brainbuster for two on Axiom. A toss powerbomb gets the same on Axiom but Frazer makes the save. Axiom manages a super Spanish Fly into Frazer’s phoenix splash for two on Breakker as Corbin makes the save this time. Back up and the spear gives Breakker the pin on Frazer at 12:02.

Rating: B. They went wild with this one and it wound up being pretty great, with Breakker and Corbin not being able to keep up at first but then cutting them down with raw power. That’s a classic formula and as usual, it was awesome to see the power guys having enough of the speed and tearing them apart. Axiom continues to be a gem when he gets on a roll and that was the case here from bell to bell.

Josh Briggs interrupts Ilja Dragunov, who isn’t pleased. Briggs is trying to prove himself and Dragunov asks if this is what Briggs really wants. Trick Williams comes in to break it up but Briggs says he wants to talk to the man who will be NXT Champion after Vengeance Day. That’s not cool with Trick and a match seems likely.

Wren Sinclair is very nervous about her debut match but Fallon Henley comes in to calm her down.

Ava walks out of Shawn Michaels’ office….and so does William Regal! Ava is rather excited and Regal congratulates her on becoming the youngest GM in WWE. He’s always around for advice. She’s more or less been the GM for weeks now so they might as well make it official and save Regal/Shawn for special moments.

Wren Sinclair vs. Lash Legend

The rest of Meta our is here with Legend, who powers her into the corner to start. Some early armdrag attempts are blocked by Legend and she takes Wren to the mat for some rams into the mat. Legend grabs a not great torture rack but Wren reverses into a failed sunset flip attempt. Wren gets sent into the corner but tries another sunset flip, this time with Jakara Jackson’s interference not working. Jackson tries to cheat again, with Wren again managing a rollup for two. Legend finally chokebombs her for the pin at 2:59. Wren was trying here but it was more a showcase for Legend.

Post match Meta Four goes after Wren but Fallon Henley makes the save.

Earlier today, OTM invaded the D’Angelo Family’s restaurant, with Jaida Parker attacking Riz.

We look at Joe Gacy and Dijak brawling last week.

Elektra Lopez is looking for Lola Vice.

Dijak vs. Joe Gacy

Gacy jumps him from behind to start and the brawl is on before the bell. Dijak grabs a chair but gets knocked down, only for Gacy to miss a chair shot. A spinning boot drives Gacy through a wall and a chokeslam puts him through the announcers’ table. Gacy gets back up and chokes Dijak until they’re separated. No match.

Arianna Grace gives another inspirational speech to…no one. Elektra Lopez comes in and still can’t find Lola Vice, though Grace finds the invasion rude.

Lexis King says the main event is coming soon.

Mr. Stone and Von Wagner went to the University of Central Florida football stadium (where Wagner played college football) for training for the Heritage Cup shot. Stone’s kids are there to help.

Lexis King vs. Trey Bearhill

Bearhill knocks him into the corner to start but misses an elbow. King kicks away and fires off a superkick to the ribs to cut off a comeback attempt. A running forearm to the back of the head sets up the Coronation to finish Bearhill at 2:22. This was a nice quick win to give King some momentum.

Carmelo Hayes tells Trick Williams to keep his eyes on the prize and asks why he’s fighting Ilja Dragunov’s battles. Williams says he knows what he’s doing.

Noam Dar and Oro Mensah are in the ring for Supernova Sessions and, after their usual jokes, bring out Lola Vice as their guest. Vice talks about how her friendship with Elektra Lopez has expired because Lopez is a leach. Cue Lopez to say she wants to know the real Vice. Lopez says she’s real while Vice got here because of how she looked dancing on Instagram. A match is made for next week.

The D’Angelo Family swears revenge on OTM.

Chase U is having various things repossessed, which makes Riley Osborne leave. Duke Hudson loses his trophy and Andre Chase loses his podium. Next week, they officially say their goodbyes. Chase: “Class dismissed.” Mr. Feeny did it better but I’ll be sad to see the team go.

Dragon Lee vs. Scrypts

The rest of OTM is here too. Lee takes him down with a headlock to start as Oba Femi comes out to the platform. Scrypts gets sent to the floor for the big running flip dive, followed by a slingshot dropkick back inside. That’s enough for Scrypts to head outside, where Lee flips out to follow. Back in and Scrypts hits a high crossbody for two but Lee fights up with a running forearm. A German suplex and powerbomb don’t work for Lee so he knees Scrypts in the face. The running flipping clothesline hits Scrypts but here is the D’Angelo Family to brawl with OTM. Lee grabs a quick Operation Dragon for the pin at 5:32.

Rating: C+. This was a lot of flipping around and that’s what it was supposed to be. Lee gets a win to boost his chances of a North American Title shot and Scrypts can hang with him with some acrobatics of his own. OTM vs. the D’Angelo Family should be fine for a Vengeance Day title match so they probably set up two such matches in one here.

Post match Femi says he’ll give Lee the title shot at Vengeance Day.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade are disappointed in their loss in the Dusty Classic but Brinley Reece comes in to offer a rather motivational speech. She wants them to come up with five things they liked and didn’t like about last week’s match so they can go over them next week. Sure why not.

Lyra Valkyria is watching something when Tatum Paxley comes in to say she’s so excited to be Valkyria’s partner. Valkyria says she doesn’t have time to do this but Paxley says they’re on the same page. The latter sounds a bit…unnerving.

Blair Davenport vs. Karmen Petrovic

Davenport runs from the kicks to start and manages a quick middle rope double stomp to the back. Petrovic fights out of a chinlock and fires off some forearms, followed by a spinning kick to the face for two. Davenport is right back with a dropkick into the corner though and a knee to the face finishes Petrovic at 3:13.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do anything here and that’s one of the worst things to happen to any match. Davenport getting the win is the logical way to go here as Petrovic isn’t on her level, but Petrovic’s kicks did look sharp. I’m not sure what is next for Davenport but this should get Petrovic out of her way.

Ridge Holland got beaten up by Gallus last week because he doesn’t have any friends. Therefore, he’ll fight Gallus on his own.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Josh Briggs vs. Trick Williams

Ilja Dragunov is on commentary. Briggs elbows him in the face to start and then does it over and over again in the corner. Williams is back with a rather high dropkick but a chokeslam gives Briggs two. Dragunov tells Williams to do something as we take a break. Back with Briggs still in control, at least until Williams slugs away. Some kicks to the face and a flapjack plant Briggs but he’s back with a backbreaker. They fight to the floor…where Briggs accidentally kicks Dragunov in the face. Back in and Dragunov tries to go after Williams but Carmelo Hayes cuts him off. Williams grabs a quick victory roll for the pin at 7:38.

Rating: C+. As has been the case on this show, the important part is who got the win, as Williams continues his road towards the title shot against Dragunov at Vengeance Day. Briggs is still finding himself in the new role and it’s not like losing to Williams is a crushing defeat. There is something to Briggs, but he needs to get a few wins sooner rather than later.

Post match Briggs clotheslines Williams and Dragunov has to be held back. Hayes comes in to hold Williams back as well.

Thea Hail is crushed over Chase U closing, but Jacy Jayne says it’s not over yet. Lexis King comes up to offer a shoulder to cry on. Riley Osborne comes in to chase King off (Hail approves) and asks Hail for a private chat later. Hail is cool with that…and then loses it when Osborne leaves. Jayne tells her to chill.

Video on the No Quarter Catch Crew.

Carmelo Hayes tells Trick Williams to realize that llja Dragunov is coming for him.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Here is Ava to emcee the contract signing between Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez. Roxanne says they respect each other and this is a Stand & Deliver main event months early. Everyone has seen the rise of Valkyria while Perez has had to chase a title she never lost. When she wins at Vengeance Day, she’ll make Valkyria walk down the same road Perez had to. Valkyria has been watching Perez, who had a great run, but she has been replaced. Perez thinks Valkyria is overconfident and wonders what happens when Valkyria gets booed because the people turn on her.

They both stand up and sign before an aggressive handshake and staredown…well don’t end the show, as Tatum Paxley sneaks up on Perez and puts her through the table. Valkyria shouts at Paxley, saying to stay away from her to end the show. There’s only so much they can do here with two women who have no reason to hate each other, so the Paxley twist at least opens something up.

Overall Rating: B-. If there was a quintessential NXT show, this would be in the running. They covered all kinds of stuff, set up future matches/shows and had a good opener to kick it off. They didn’t miss much of anything around here and it was the kind of show that flew by with few complaints. It might not have been great, but it did everything it needed to do in just over two hours.

Results
Baron Corbin/Nathan Frazer b. Axiom/Nathan Frazer – Spear to Frazer
Lash Legend b. Wren Sinclair – Chokebomb
Lexis King b. Trey Bearhill – Coronation
Dragon Lee b. Scrypts – Operation Dragon
Blair Davenport b. Karmen Petrovic – Knee to the face
Trick Williams b. Josh Briggs – Victory roll

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT LVL Up
Date: January 19, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re coming up on the Royal Rumble, which will have pretty much absolutely nothing to do with this show. Last week’s show was far from interesting but maybe they can switch things up this time. LVL Up has more than a few different ways to go and we could be in for something a bit more interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Scrypts vs. Brooks Jensen

The rest of OTM (including Jaida Parker) is here with Scrypts. Jensen has to power out of a headlock to start and Scrypts bails to the ropes. A running clothesline puts Scrypts on the floor as we hear about Jensen emulating the technicians of the past. Back in and Scrypts knocks him into the corner and starts in on the leg. Scrypts’ top rope moonsault gets two but a half crab is broken up. Parker gets in a cheap shot to the knee though and Scrypts hits a cartwheel cutter for the pin at 5:07.

Rating: C. I still don’t get what WWE sees in Scrypts as he’s little more than an acrobat. The stuff he does is good enough but why that makes him worthy of leading a stable is beyond me. At the same time, it seems that Jensen’s push is already done, as the technician loses to Scrypts after a single win.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready for the No Quarter Catch Crew, even though they don’t know which members they will be facing. They’ll be using leverage to win.

Jacy Jayne vs. Carlee Bright

Bright is a former cheerleader making her debut. An early backslide gets two on Jayne and a crossbody puts her down again. Bright cranks on both arms at once but Jayne is back up with a kick to the head. The Cannonball in the corner crushes Bright and a discus forearm finishes her off at 3:06.

Rating: C-. This was more or less a squash for Jayne, who run over Bright and destroyed her in the end. Jayne’s stuff with Chase U has been a nice change of pace for her and I’m curious to see where the whole thing goes. Bright didn’t really get to show much here, other than she’s another blonde rookie with a background in another spot.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

Charlie Dempsey and Damon Kemp are representing the Crew, with the other two members at ringside. Dempsey goes for a choke on Walker to start before taking him into the corner for the tag to Kemp. Ledger comes in for a running shot to the face and a hard clothesline drops Kemp again. Everything breaks down and the Crew get caught with stereo World’s Strongest Slams.

Walker gets sent into the corner though and Dempsey drops a top rope stomp to the chest. The alternating beatdowns continue, with Dempsey grabbing something like a Black Widow. That’s broken up and it’s a double knockdown for a breather. Walker gets over to Ledger for the tag and house is quickly cleaned. Kemp is back in with a Side Effect for the pin at 6:13.

Rating: C. This was as middle of the road of a main event as you were going to get. The Crew might not be the best team in the world but they’re better thank Walker and Ledger, who just aren’t that great of a team. Having a mystery pairing for the Crew was as close as this was going to get to something interesting and that’s not a good sign.

Overall Rating: C-. And thus LVL Up seems to be right back to what it was before, with little in the way of anything actually interesting and a set of matches with lower level names who need something else to do. We’re back to the point where the best thing about this show is that it isn’t very long, as NXT certainly isn’t putting in the effort. The fact that they can do something decent with this show makes it all that more frustrating.

Results
Scrypts b. Brooks Jensen – Cartwheel cutter
Jacy Jayne b. Carlee Bright – Discus forearm
No Quarter Catch Drew b. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Side Effect to Ledger

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT LVL Up
Date: January 12, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Vic Joseph

I’ve lost track of what I think about this show at the moment as it is still so all over the place that there is almost no way of knowing what is coming. The most recent edition did feature some new gimmicks for various wrestlers though and that could be an interesting way to go. At the same time, expect to hear some bragging about Oba Femi. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Joe Coffey vs. Tavion Heights

Heights wrestles him down to start and hits a running clothesline to the back of the head for two. Back up and Coffey takes him into the corner for two and we hit the grappling again. A backdrop gets Heights out of trouble and a belly to belly gives him two. All The Best For The Bells misses and Heights pulls him into an ankle lock. Coffey breaks out of that and headbutts him into the corner, setting up All The Best For The Bells for the pin at 5:18.

Rating: C. They keep giving Heights these short matches and they’re working well enough. You can tell that WWE sees something in him and it is pretty clear that they are bringing him along slowly. Heights has the size and the abilities to make something of himself, but he’s going to need more than a five minute match on LVL Up.

Since this is the 100th episode, here’s a look at former LVL Up stars who have moved up to the main roster.

Amari Miller vs. Jaida Parker

Parker grabs a headlock to start but Miller comes back with one of her own. A headlock takeover out of the corner takes Parker down before Miller knocks her down on the apron. Miller hits some knees to the back but Parker slams her out of the corner. Parker puts her on the middle rope and sits down on the ribs, setting up the double arm crank. Miller fights up but Parker grabs the knee brace, setting up a belly to back slam for the pin at 5:28.

Rating: C. It’s still kind of weird to see Miller losing over and over as she was getting on a roll before her knee injury. Maybe the return to prominence comes later but for now it’s more about her putting people over. Parker is starting to show some promise but we’re still miles away from seeing her doing anything of note.

Joe Gacy vs. Javier Bernal

Gacy shoves him into the corner to start and snaps off an armdrag into an armbar. Back up and Bernal sends him into the corner, where Gacy hangs upside down and smiles. A running Downward Spiral works a bit better for Bernal and we hit the chinlock. Gacy gets up and sends him to the floor, where Gacy asks if Vic Joseph still loves him. Back in and Bernal grabs a neckbreaker over the apron and the chinlock goes on again. Gacy fights up and slugs away, only to get caught in a full nelson spinning faceplant for two. Gacy is back up again and hits the Upside Down for the pin at 5:59.

Rating: C+. They had a bit more energy than most LVL Up matches and that shouldn’t be a surprise as these were the two most experienced stars on the show. Gacy is a lot easier to tolerate when he’s just there rather than doing his cult stuff. I’m still not sure what NXT sees in him, but keeping him around here would be the best option if he has to be here.

Overall Rating: C. For a 100th episode, they didn’t exactly treat this as anything important. That’s kind of appropriate too, as there isn’t much of importance about LVL Up. The big appeal here was a Joe Gacy match, which should tell you everything you need to know about this show. Nothing to see here and it was another easy skip.

Results
Tavion Heights b. Joe Coffey – All The Best For The Bells
Jaida Parker b. Amari Miller – Belly to back slam
Joe Gacy b. Javier Bernal – Upside Down

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: January 16, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We are on the way to Vengeance Day and that means we have some things to cover. There will be more than a few of those this week, as we have more of the Dusty Classic, a battle royal to determine a new #1 contender to the Women’s Title, and probably something involving the NXT Title. Then again we might have to see something change if Carmelo Hayes is too banged up from his Smackdown appearance. Let’s get to it.

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

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams vs. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe

There’s your answer about Hayes. Blade and Hayes start things off, with an exchange of dropkicks going nowhere. Williams comes in and dropkicks Enofe so it’s back to Blade, who is dropkicked right down. We settle down to Enofe being sent into the ropes and managing a low 619. Everything breaks down and Blade and Enofe hit running flip dives to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Hayes in trouble as Enofe hammers away, only to have Hayes flip out of a belly to back suplex. It’s off to Williams, who Rock Bottoms Blade for two. Everything breaks down and Blade drops a top rope elbow for two on Williams. Enofe is punched out of the air, meaning it’s a Codebreaker into the Flash Knee to finish Blade at 12:09.

Rating: C+. This was another step in what should be a bigger story down the line. Hayes and Williams are likely on a collision course for a heck of a showdown, perhaps at Stand & Deliver, and this could be a good way to help get them there. Other than that, I still think Blade and Enofe have a bunch of potential yet here they are, losing in the first round of the tournament. Kind of a shame, but maybe they could get another chance down the line.

Fallon Henley is ready to win the battle royal because it’s Stand & Deliver season.

We look at Dragon Lee winning and losing the North American Title, with Oba Femi cashing in his title shot to take the title last week.

Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice are ready to win the battle royal. Tatum Paxley pops up to say she’ll win so the two of them can’t.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. He told you all he would be a champion and now here he is. He was tested as a Nigerian prince and an NCAA athlete, and now he has already made his mark here to win a championship. Femi says he will face everyone but here is Dragon Lee to interrupt. Lee says the title represents opportunity and he wants his shot tonight. That’s going to be a NO, because the open challengers are now closed. Lee asks about Vengeance Day, which Femi will consider.

Eddy Thorpe was happy with his win over Dijak when Tre Bearhill came in to talk about their culture. Dijak came in and seemingly got a match with Bearhill for later.

Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are ready to win the tournament but Ilja Dragunov comes in to say he is now clear. Dragunov is ready to defend the title against Williams at Vengeance Day, but Hayes says that’s the finals of the Dusty Cup. Uh oh.

Tatum Paxley/Lyra Valkyria vs. Lola Vice/Elektra Lopes

Paxley is dressed like Valkyria because she is a bit odd. Valkyria jumps over Lopez in the corner and grabs a rollup for two before the villains are sent outside. Back in and Vice kicks Paxley down for two as the beating begins. Paxley slips out of the corner and hands it off to Valkyria to clean house as everything breaks down. Paxley tags herself back in so Lopez kicks her down….and right onto Vice for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: C. This is a weird story and I’m not sure where it’s going. Or now though, There is something to having Vice hanging around with the contract. At the same time, the battle royal is coming up in the near future, though that potential cashing in is quite the distraction and it’s going to be happening sooner than later, no matter how out there Paxley may be.

A bunch of women want to be #1 contender but Arianna Grace’s speech scares them off.

Ridge Holland vs. Joe Coffey

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Holland shoves Coffey around to start and drives Coffey into the corner. Coffey is right back into a knockdown and an elbow drop for two. Holland hits a heck of a clothesline into Northern Grit for the pin at 2:25.

Post match the beatdown is on and no one makes the save, despite the camera looking at the entrance.

NXT Anonymous show the women of Chase U having done something to help save the school. Jacy Jayne approves and asks of one (Jasmine) of them wants to have some drinks.

Kelani Jordan is ready to win the battle royal. Brinley Reece loves her energy.

Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker aren’t on the same page about who won their previous match. Breakker has apparently spent four weeks thinking of Woof Dogs for their team name. On top of that, Breakker was thinking about the team in the shower….and Corbin is cutting him off right there. Maybe they can be called the Wild Boars?

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: LWO vs. Chase U

Zelina Vega and Andre Chase are here too. Osborne and Wilde trade armdrags to start so del Toro comes in to take Osborne into the corner. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Hudson for a side slam. Hudson clotheslines them out to the floor and Osborne hits a big dive as we take a break.

Back with Osborne hitting a flip dive onto both of them for a breather. The tag brings in Hudson to clean house, at least until del Toro snaps off a poisonrana. A blind tag brings in Wilde, who hits a missile dropkick on Hudson. Wilde grabs a suicide tornado DDT to plant Hudson on the floor, setting up a phoenix splash for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: C+. This was a fast paced match here, with Chase U continuing its downward spiral. I’m not sure how much further it could go but Chase almost has to either lose the school or put the whole thing on the line at some point. That’s the real story here, as the LWO mainly feels like a team just looking for something to do here.

Riz is worried about having her first match in the battle royal but the D’Angelo Family reminds her of some previous battles.

Joe Gacy joins commentary.

Last week, Mr. Stone and Von Wagner talked about New Year’s resolutions, when Noam Dar and Oro Mensah came in. Wagner wants a shot at the Heritage Cup and math ensues, with the match not quite being made yet.

Dijak vs. Tre Bearhill

They run the ropes to start until Bearhill snaps off a backdrop. Dijak is back with a suplex and the suplex toss to really take over. Some elbows in the corner rock Bearhill, but he suplexes Dijak into the corner. Dijak fights back but goes outside to yell at Gacy, who gives him a headbutt. The distraction lets Bearhill jump him, only to have Dijak come back with the cyclone boot for the pin at 4:38.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what Bearhill’s appeal is supposed to be but somehow it seems like Dijak vs. Eddy Thorpe may be continuing, with Bearhill as the next proxy. Dijak gets to beat someone else up for a change, meaning he is probably on the way to a big loss. Just hopefully not to Gacy.

Post match Gacy goes after Dijak and they brawl up the aisle, while Lexis King comes in to go after Bearhill.

Josh Briggs runs into JBL, who picked him for the Iron Survival Challenge qualifying match. JBL wants Briggs to show who he really is.

Video on the No Quarter Catch Crew.

Trick Williams apologizes to Carmelo Hayes but says he’ll work both matches at Vengeance Day. That seems to appease Williams.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

We look at Cora Jade suffering a torn ACL, which will put her out of action for nearly a year.

Battle Royal

Kiana James, Izzi James, Brinley Reece, Kelani Jordan, Roxanne Perez, Arianna Grace, Karmen Petrovic, Lola Vice, Elektra Lopez, Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend, Wren Sinclair, Riz, Fallon Henley, Thea Hail, Blair Davenport, Gigi Dolin, Jaida Parker, Stevie Turner, Tatum Paxley

The final four have a four way for a future Women’s Title match. Riz and Parker fight to the floor to start, leaving Dolin to eliminate Jackson. Back in and Legend knocks out Riz and Parker as the ring is clearing out quickly. Jordan has to save herself from an elimination but is knocked onto the announcers’ table (not eliminated) as we take a break. Back with clips of Jordan doing a Kofi Kingston impression to make it back into the ring.

Turner is out and Reece follows her, only Vice dump Lopez. Then Paxley tosses out Vice, who is rather displeased. Lopez and Vice brawl to the back and Davenport low bridges Dolin out. Hail kicks Davenport out so Davenport pulls Petrovic outside and drops her. Back in and Legend eliminates Paxley, leaving Grace to pose a bit. Grace tosses the still out cold Petrovic but spends too much time posing and is tossed by Hail.

We take a break and come back with Hail cleaning house, only to be cut off and eliminated by Dame. Legend and Dame collide for a double knockdown, with Dame being tossed shortly thereafter. Sinclair manages to get rid of Legend but James throws her out, meaning we’re down to James, Perez, Jordan and Henley, with the match turning into a regular four way.

Henley and James take over but Perez knocks Henley outside for a suicide dive. Jordan and Perez trade rollup for two each but Henley is back in with a middle rope neckbreaker. James spinebusters Henley for two of her own and everyone is down. James hits the 401K to send Jordan outside, leaving Perez to jump James from behind. Perez snaps off a super hurricanrana on James but Jordan hits a frog splash fort two. A quick Pop Rox gives Perez the pin on Jordan at 22:39.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a weird one, but what matters here is that the women’s division’s depth was on display. It’s interesting to see what happens when you have this many women put together in one match with some slightly different rules and that was the case here. Perez is mainly a safe pick but safe might be just what they need at the moment.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked the show well enough, as they were doing a nice job of getting things better for Vengeance Day. They have some things cooking and hopefully they can all be paid off when Vengeance Day arrives. This show helped set some of those things up and now we have to wait and see where they go. The good thing is that NXT has reached a point where you believe they cam make that happen, which is a heck of a lot better than they were doing before.

Results
Carmelo Hayes/Trick Williams b. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe – Flash knee to Blade
Tatum Paxley/Lyra Valkyria b. Lola Vice/Elektra Lopez – Paxley fell onto Vice
Ridge Holland b. Joe Coffey – Northern Grit
LWO b. Chase U – Phoenix splash to Hudson
Joe Gacy b. Tre Bearhill – Cyclone boot
Roxanne Perez won a battle royal last eliminating Kelani Jordan

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.