NXT
Date: May 20, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Battleground and that means we’re in for the final push towards the show. The card is mostly set and now we get to see what is going to be added at the last minute. Some of these shows can be hit and miss and that makes me curious about what we’re going to see. Let’s get to it.

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

Je’Von Evans vs. Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Sean Legacy

Ricky Saints is on commentary. Adonis stomps away in the corner to start and we get an exchange of rollups for two each. Evans is sent outside for a dive from Adonis and Legacy is tossed as well. Back in and Evans’ dive is cut off so he busts out another one to drop both Legacy and Adonis as we take a break.

We come back with Adonis spinebustering Legacy onto Evans but Legacy blocks the Long Kiss Goodnight. Legacy missile dropkicks Adonis to the floor and hits a running Spanish Fly for two on Evans. Back up and Evans snaps off a super hurricanrana to Legacy but Adonis tries to steal the pin.

That’s broken up as well and all three of them need a breather. Adonis hits a superkick on Evans but Legacy breaks up the cover with a springboard 450. Evans cleans house again and frog splashes Adonis, with Legacy making another save. Cue Ethan Page to go after Saints though and Evans dives onto both of them. That leaves Adonis to miss a frog splash and Legacy grabs Shambles for the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B. This was the showcase for Legacy and it worked well for him. It’s fairly clear that he’s one of the brighter prospects in Evolve and it would not surprise me to see him wind up full time in NXT sooner than later. They had an entertaining match here and while I’m not sure Legacy is going to move to the top, this is a nice start for him on the next level.

Ava sends security to deal with Ethan Page. That brings her to Tyra Mae Steele and Jasper Troy, the winners of WWE LFG Season 1. They’ll be debuting in the next few weeks but Troy promises to make an impact tonight. Ava: “Ok.”

We look at Jordynne Grace training. She signed around the same time as Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer and they all want to be at the top. Grace has been in Mexico and Japan, plus dominating TNA. On Sunday at Battleground, she’ll prove she’s the best.

Lola Vice wishes Vaquer luck but runs into Fatal Influence. They argue a bit and Fallon Henley vs. Vice is set for tonight.

Trick Williams says people break their neck to see him while Joe Hendry breaks his neck to see the people. Williams raps about not losing to an average Joe and Booker T. seems impressed. I’m not a rap fan but this seemed to be decent.

Josh Briggs dedicates his match to Yoshiki Inamura.

Shawn Spears vs. Josh Briggs

The rest of the Culling is here with Spears. We’re joined in progress with Briggs running him over but Spears fires off some knees to the ribs. They go outside where Spears posts him before taking it back inside for a neckbreaker. A superkick is blocked though and Briggs hits a quick splash for two. Spears’ dive to the floor is pulled out of the air and Briggs drops him onto the announcers’ table. They go to get back inside but the Culling gets in a cheap shot, allowing Spears to get a small package for the pin at 5:30.

Rating: C. Am I supposed to be sad that Inamura is gone? I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but it could be interesting to see Briggs and Brooks Jensen join forces again in some way. It’s not like either of them have done anything important else in a long time so why not see what they can do. The match was nothing all that good anyway, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Post match the beatdown is on but Hank & Tank run in for the save.

Kelani Jordan bickers with Zaria and Sol Ruca tonight, with Zaria saying she’ll take care of Jordan for Ruca later.

Thea Hail, with her eye bandaged, yells at Tatum Paxley about the attack last week. Paxley says Hail has no idea what it’s like to lose everyone, which Hail doesn’t accept. Jaida Parker then jumps Hail from behind but wants nothing to do with Paxley. That was kind of funny.

Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon vs. OTM

Andre Chase is here with Connors/Dixon. Price knocks Connors down to start and then faceplants Dixon as well, leaving Chase worried on the floor. Back in and Connors runs Price over, allowing Dixon to hit a quick DDT. Nima comes in though and gets knocked back, only to grab the assisted Alabama Slam to finish Connors fast at 3:10.

Rating: C. Just shy of a squash here, with OTM running over the new Chase U. That’s what it should have been, as Chase U has nothing going for them yet and have quite a long way to go. At the same time, OTM is a pair of powerhouses and it makes sense to have them smash through some people now that they’re back. If nothing else, they could be into the title scene sooner than later.

Here are Myles Borne and Oba Femi for their final showdown before the title match. Femi is surprised and impressed that Borne made it this far. He understands that Borne is fighting for people who believe in him and who are following their dreams. However, that dream was realized when Borne won the battle royal and it all ends when the bell rings at Battleground. Borne talks about how he has been treated differently for his entire career.

This is about making a statement and he hopes Femi underestimates him. Everyone has done that before, from the doctors and nurses to NXT coaches. He’s been overcoming battles all of his life and every ruler eventually falls. No he can’t hear well, but he’ll hear the 1-2-3 on Sunday when he wins the NXT Title. Borne leaves and here is Jasper Troy to jump Femi. Borne makes the save and holds up the title, eventually handing it back to Femi for the staredown. I don’t believe he has a chance of winning the title but man alive Borne is turning himself into one of the easiest to like stars NXT has seen in a good while.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page argue in Ava’s office and Saints is willing to give him a title shot to get his hands on him. Ava says they don’t make matches….and then she makes the match they want for the title next week.

Tony D’Angelo talks about what it means when you get betrayed. He and Stacks grew up together and have known each other for years. They made the D’Angelo Family but now Stacks wants to run everything. Stacks doesn’t get what it takes to be in charge and doesn’t see everything. On Sunday, Stacks will see how things really work. Those personal touches are making it even better and that should be a good thing at Battleground.

Lola Vice vs. Fallon Henley

Jacy Jayne is here with Henley, who gets wrestled to the mat without much trouble to start. Vice takes her down again without much trouble as Jayne doesn’t seem impressed on the floor. Back up and Vice snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor but Henley gets in a shot of her own.

We take a break and come back with Vice striking her way out of trouble. That doesn’t last long as Henley is back with some sliding forearms but Vice kicks her down. Vice’s running hip attack in the corner gets two so Henley grabs a flying faceplant. Vice fights up again so Jayne offers a distraction, only for Henley to be sent into her. The spinning backfist gives Vice the pin at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Vice continues to be in a weird place, as she smashes through various stars but never seems to get to the next level. She doesn’t quite seem ready to move up to the title picture, but there isn’t much of a point in having her beat people like this. The issues between Fatal Influence continues and I’m not sure where that is going, but it doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere good.

Stephanie Vaquer has a sitdown interview where she talks about all of the work it took to get here. She was inspired by Rey Mysterio and now she knows that she had to do everything to accomplish her goals. Jordynne Grace conquers companies but Vaquer conquers countries.

Darkstate talks about how Dion Lennox started the team and they are all ready to take NXT down. They all bring something different, and now it is time to find out who is next.

We look at Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson (NBA stars) almost getting in a fight last year on Smackdown.

Kelani Jordan vs. Zaria

Sol Ruca is here with Zaria, who sends Jordan flying with a release German suplex to start. Jordan gets in a shot to the face and hits a high crossbody for two, followed by a choke to try and slow Zaria down. They go outside where Zaria sends her head first into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Jordan escaping a belly to back suplex attempt and managing a knockdown for a double breather. The exchange of forearms goes to Zaria so Jordan gives her a running crossbody. A tornado DDT plants Zaria for two but Jordan misses a 450. Jordan tries another choke but gets flipped into a Cannonball into the corner (that was cool). Back up and Jordan is sent outside, where she goes after Ruca. This brings Ruca up onto the apron but Zaria is sent into her, allowing Jordan to grab the rollup for the pin at 10:32.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why both women’s matches had the same finish but it’s not a great sign. That aside, Jordan winning to get the next shot at Ruca isn’t a bad way to go. She’s already a former champion and that could be quite the accomplishment if Ruca can beat her. At the same time you have Zaria….and she is certainly there. Unfortunately that’s about all there is to say about her at the moment and that isn’t promising.

Battleground rundown.

Here is Joe Hendry for a concert. After praising Trick Williams for trying in his first performance, Hendry sings about how he’ll be champion after Battleground. Williams is merely the World Champion of producing tears and is only a bad sidekick to Carmelo Hayes. This gives us a clip of Williams and Hayes in a haunted house back in the day, albeit with some Hendry heads superimposed.

Hendry sings about how Williams is Melo’s b****, which brings out Williams to interrupt. Williams calls him Average Joe and the fight is on, with the Trick Shot hitting the guitar. Hendry gives him the Standing Ovation (chokeslam) and sings about winning on Sunday to end the show. That’s pretty clearly the main event, which is a rather weird thing to see but it’s the right way to go.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was about getting us ready for Battleground but thankfully they did a nice job of getting some things ready for other stories down the line. That is something that has been missing from various go home shows and it’s nice to have them get things better. I’m mostly interested in Battleground and I’m interested in where things are going, so we’ll call this a good enough one.

Results
Sean Legacy b. Je’Von Evans and Ashante Thee Adonis – Shambles to Adonis
Shawn Spears b. Josh Briggs – Small package
OTM b. Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon – Assisted Alabama Slam to Connors
Lola vice b. Fallon Henley – Spinning backfist
Kelani Jordan b. Zaria – Rollup

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

NXT
Date: May 6, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

We’re less than a month away from Battleground and the big story continues to be TNA World Champion Joe Hendry having issues with NXT’s Trick Williams. That could open up some doors to a big time fight, but there are some other things that need to be covered on the way to the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Hank And Tank/Joe Hendry vs. Darkstate

Darkstate jumps them to start fast with Lennox spinebustering Tank for two. Hank comes in for a backsplash on James and it’s off to Hendry for a delayed suplex. It’s already back to Tank, who gets taken down by Lennox. Hendry gets the tag though and everything breaks down, with Hendry cleaning house. Hank almost gets caught in Hendry’s fall away slam but instead they pause for the three man pose.

We take a break and come back with Hank hammering away on Jones but a distraction cuts it off. Hank gets taken into the wrong corner and Griffin gets two off a backbreaker. A clothesline gives James two of his own and we hit the chinlock. Griffin’s powerslam gets two more but Hank breaks free and brings in Tank to clean house. Everything breaks down and the fall away slam sends Jones falling away. Cue Trick Williams to brawl with Hendry though, leaving the toss triplebomb to pin Tank at 11:47.

Rating: C+. I like what they’re doing with Darkstate so far as they’re being treated like a big deal. The team has debuted and turned into a threat in just a few weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them win the Tag Team Titles sooner than later and that’s a good place to start. Other than that, Williams vs. Hendry should be good when they get here, as it’s pretty clearly up next for both of them.

Karmen Petrovic and Thea Hail are talking about the women’s division when Jaida Parker comes in to talk down to them. Petrovic seems ready to fight Parker soon.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is ready to fight, even if it’s every man for themselves.

Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan

Sol Ruca is here with Zaria. Jordan gets powered out of the corner to start but comes back with a kick to the head. Some shoulders to the ribs have stagger Zaria but she’s right back with a gutbuster. Jordan is fine enough to kick her out to the floor, only for Zaria to be ready for One Of A Kind. Zaria gets knocked down on the outside again and we take a break.

Back with Zaria on the second rope and lifting Jordan up for a choke. Jordan flips out of a release German suplex though and a tornado DDT gets two on Zaria. A 450 misses though and Zaria’s spear gets two more. Jordan’s standing legdrop into a reverse DDT gets the same and she slips out of a chokeslam. Zaria gets sent outside and taken out with a dive but Jordan gets knocked into Ruca by mistake. Ruca makes a quick catch though, allowing Zaria to spear Jordan through the barricade. The F5 gives Zaria the pin at 11:24.

Rating: C+. This is more like it from Zaria, who got to smash through Jordan (and the barricade) to win in the end. She’s a powerhouse and it’s nice to see what she can do. I’m not sure what she’s going to do other than likely turn on Ruca at some point, but that’s better than nothing. Just let her be a monster and it should work well.

Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont come up to mock Tony D’Angelo, who would rather fight than talk. They’ll see each other later.

Lola Vice knows Stephanie Vaquer is ready for whomever wins the main event. Giulia comes in to say she’s waiting on Vaquer.

Battle Royal

Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, Brad Baylor, Timothy Thatcher, Ricky Smokes, Sean Legacy, Tavion Heights, Ethan Page, Myles Borne, Lexis King, Shawn Spears, Nick Vance, Brooks Jensen, Ashante Thee Adonis, Elijah, Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson DuPont, Chris Island, Charlie Dempsey, Yoshiki Inamura, Shiloh Hill, Zachary Wentz, Josh Briggs, Ridge Holland

For the NXT Title shot at Battleground and Elijah, now in TNA, is better known as Elias. After a bit of a song, the bell rings and Island (from WWE LFG) is thrown out by King. That’s the end of good things for King though, who is tossed out as well. Inamura knocks Baylor out and Adonis gets to clean house. Williams saves himself though and gets rid of Adonis as we take a break.

Back with Inamura and Briggs almost getting into a fight and Thatcher being tossed out by Page. Vance sacrifices himself to save Spears and gets eliminated as a result. Williams kicks Hill out but gets sent over the top, where he hangs on to the bottom rope. Jensen charges at DuPont and accidentally eliminates himself at the same time. Inamura accidentally knocks Briggs out and most of the people left stop for a breather. Wentz and Lee tease a fight but get broken up, with Wentz being tossed out.

We take another break and come back again with Holland and Inamura trading forearms. The exchange of clotheslines stagger both of them but Williams is back up with the double elimination. Cue Joe Hendry for a distraction though, allowing Elijah to toss Williams out. Hendry and Williams brawl to the back and Spears throws Elijah out as well. Legacy hits a kick to Evans, who springboards back to knock Legacy down. A cutter cuts Legacy off and Page’s low bridge gets rid of him.

We’re down to Page, Borne, Evans and Spears, with the fans approving of what they’re seeing. Borne starts snapping off some powerslams but gets kicked in the head by Page. Spears superkicks Borne but winds up on the apron with Evans. With Spears back inside, Evans springboards in to take down Spears and Page. A springboard cutter hits Borne but Page and Spears cut off another springboard cutter and eliminate Evans. Naturally the alliance doesn’t last as Spears is thrown over, with Borne sending Page over at the same time for the double elimination and the huge upset win at 23:00.

Rating: B-. Well ok then. I’m not sure how many people would have guessed Borne but that’s kind of the point of a battle royal. You can have someone come in and get a surprise win, which could set up something else on the way to the title match. Borne getting the title shot is quite the odd choice, though I certainly did like the surprise of going with a fresh star rather than going with someone who has been around the title scene for a good while.

Post match the No Quarter Catch Crew comes in to celebrate.

Jordynne Grace is ready to become #1 contender. Izzi Dame and Lash Legend come in to laugh at her, with Grace saying she’ll win the title and see them on the other side. Grace barely comes up to Legend’s shoulder.

Jaida Parker vs. Karmen Petrovic

Parker powers her into the corner to start but Petrovic is back with something like a basement Rough Ryder for two. Petrovic sends her outside for a dive, only to get caught with a spinning elbow to the face back inside. A Tear drop in the corner sets up a seated neck crank but Petrovic fights up again. Petrovic knocks her into the corner for a running kick to the face for two, meaning frustration is setting in. The spinning kick misses though and Parker hits Hipnotique for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. This was a way to have Parker go out there and get a quick win as she is likely on the way to getting to do something bigger in the near future. She’s not ready for the title picture yet but there is a good chance that she could wind up there one day. To set that up, she is going to need some more wins like this one so points for building towards the future.

Post match Parker stays on her but Thea Hail makes the save. Parker knocks Hail off the apron as well but bails when Petrovic gets back up.

Ava tells Joe Hendry that he’ll be defending the TNA Title against Trick Williams at Battleground. Next week: a contract signing.

Video on OTM, who are on the way back.

Wes Lee is on the phone and tells Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont that “everybody has a price.”

Yoshiki Inamura knows he disappointed Josh Briggs and is on his way back to Japan. Inamura gives him back his fest and they seem to part as friends. The Culling comes in and Brooks Jensen as Briggs might have always been the problem. Or maybe it’s putting him with lame partners.

Charlie Dempsey suggests that Myles Borne give him the title shot for the good of the team. Oba Femi comes in and says he’ll see Borne at Battleground. Dempsey says he’ll be getting the shot, but Borne says not so fast. Instead, how about Dempsey faces Femi? Works for Femi. Borne: “D***. He’s p*****.” Dempsey loves Borne’s selective hearing.

We go to Chase U, where the students have some new gear for Andre Chase. He tries on a shirt and then a track suit, the latter of which seems to work for him.

Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia

For the Women’s Title shot at Battleground. They forearm it out to start with Giulia knocking her into the corner and hammering away. A gutwrench faceplant has Giulia in trouble (landing on her head doesn’t help, with commentary sounding scared) and Grace strikes away. Giulia’s STO gets two and a basement dropkick has Grace down again. Giulia breaks up a middle rope suplex and hits a neckbreaker onto the floor as we take a break.

Back with Grace fighting out of a cravate and hitting a spinebuster for two. Giulia pulls her into a guillotine but Grace reverses into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Grace’s Michinoku Driver gets two and a delayed superplex into a Jackhammer gets the same. Back up and Giulia hits a northern lights driver for two, followed by a modified octopus. They forearm it out again and the Juggernaut Driver gives Grace the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. It’s weird to see Giulia taking a clean loss but this sets Grace up for the title shot at Battleground. Grace has felt like she has been gearing up for something like this since she debuted and now it’s starting to happen. At the same time, I’m not sure where this leaves Giulia, who lost clean and needs something to do.

Stephanie Vaquer comes out for the staredown with Grace to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show that started setting up a lot for Battleground, either by having the matches officially made or teasing something that will be announced soon. I liked the show well enough, but it was the show that sets things up for later. That Borne win was definitely a big surprise and kept me interested for a good while on the show, so points for trying something out of left field.

Results
Darkstate b. Hank And Tank/Joe Hendry – Toss triplebomb to Tank
Zaria b. Kelani Jordan – F5
Myles Borne won a battle royal last eliminating Ethan Page
Jaida Parker b. Karmen Petrovic – Hipnotique
Jordynne Grace b. Giulia – Juggernaut Driver

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

NXT
Date: April 29, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

Last week’s big deal was the return of Joe Hendry, who confronted NXT Champion Oba Femi. Trick Williams isn’t happy with Hendry either and he showed up to jump Hendry over the weekend at TNA Rebellion. Other than that, it’s time to get ready for Battleground and now some stars are on the main roster, meaning some people will get to step up. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Joe Hendry showing up last week and then getting taken out by Trick Williams at Rebellion.

Commentary talks about Hendry so of course here he is. Hendry talks about having a great week but then he got laid out by Williams. That was Williams crossing the line because he couldn’t stand people talking about Hendry. People were talking about Williams not being able to win so he went after Hendry, who has a violent side. Hendry calls Williams out…but it’s Darkstate to jump him instead.

Earlier today, Ava invited Iyo Sky back to NXT for one night and asked if she had a partner for tonight. Sky doesn’t yet, but Jordynne Grace comes in to offer her services. Works for Sky.

Karmen Petrovic listens to Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley vent about their losses but Ashante Thee Adonis comes in. He’s gotten Petrovic a match with Sol Ruca but she’s not thrilled about him calling Dolin and Paxley “losers”.

North American Title: Lexis King vs. Ricky Saints

Saints is defending and gets jumped to start fast. That doesn’t work for Saints, who fights back without even taking off his vest. A shot in the corner has King in trouble but he gets in a shot to the face. Back up and Saints sends him outside for a dropkick through the ropes and we take a break.

We come back with both of them hitting crossbodies at the same time, allowing King to hit a Swanton for two. A fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two as Booker wants him to follow up. The tornado DDT is countered and King rolls him up for two. Now Saints’ tornado DDT can connect and Roshambo retains the title at 8:31.

Rating: B-. Good match here for Saints, as he gets to beat a former champion and continue to establish himself. The easiest way to make someone look good as a newcomer is to have them win matches and that’s what they’re doing with Saints. I’m not sure what is next for King, but he could use something new sooner than later.

Shawn Spears isn’t happy with the Culling’s recent issues but he wants Izzi Dame to put the spotlight on herself. If they can become a better team, they will find their success.

Here is Tony D’Angelo for a chat, with security flanking him. No, he did not expect Stacks to turn on him because they have known each other since they were kids. Stacks would go after someone and D’Angelo would step up for him because that’s what loyalty does. The thing is Stacks has always wanted to be the boss. While Stacks has stepped up when he was needed, even when D’Angelo was hurt, he has been a hot head and put the team in jeopardy.

That’s what made D’Angelo step in to make the save, which is why Stacks waited for the right moment to stab D’Angelo in the back. The Family is scattered…and here come some goons. Stacks pops up on screen, saying he won’t be showing up tonight. Security wouldn’t let anyone do anything tonight but D’Angelo needs to hear something.

The reality is that D’Angelo doesn’t understand that he isn’t a leader anymore. D’Angelo has gone soft and doesn’t even know who he can trust anymore. The goons come in and go after D’Angelo, who clears the ring without much trouble. D’Angelo tells Stacks to bring it but sneering ensues instead. This is a fairly goofy feud but if they focus on the personal issues between old friends who have split, they have something.

The Meta Four is happy to be back but Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson seem to think it’s time for the team to go their separate ways. Dar agrees and the team is done on good terms.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Sol Ruca

Non-title and Ashante Thee Adonis is here with Petrovic while Zaria is here with Ruca. Petrovic is sent to the floor to start but avoids a moonsault, only to get kicked in the ribs back inside. Ruca gets knocked into the corner for a baseball slide but is right back up for the comeback. A running kick to the chest looks to set up the Sol Snatcher, which is broken up for a change. Back in and Ruca pulls her out of the corner, setting up the Sol Snatcher for the pin at 3:28.

Rating: C. Not much to see here outside of the always cool Sol Snatcher (which looked like it was fairly close to missing this time). Petrovic didn’t get to showcase herself very well here, but it wasn’t like this was some big match for her in the first place. Ruca needs a challenger, and Petrovic pretty clearly is not it.

Post match Petrovic kicks Adonis down. Thank goodness, as that story has gone absolutely nowhere.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. Williams gets right to the point by calling out Joe Hendry, who does not appear because Darkstate already took him out. Hendry got the best of him last week so Williams showed up at Rebellion to take Hendry out. While Williams was in Los Angeles for Rebellion, he got a spot on All American and debuts soon.

Yeah he’s Hollywood Trick (as the fans chant him) but Hendry is local talent. Williams wants Oba Femi and the NXT Title so here is Ava, who reminds Williams of his ejection last week. That doesn’t seem to mean much to Williams, who says he is the biggest star in NXT and TNA. Ava says Williams can have a title shot…if he wins a 25 man battle royal next week, with the winner getting the title shot at Battleground.

Roxanne Perez talks to Giulia before their tag match tonight and Giulia seems to respect her.

Oba Femi is fine with facing Trick Williams if he wins the battle royal. The Undertaker comes in who says some of his guys from LFG are coming for Femi, so here are Jasper Troy, Shiloh Hill and Anthony Luke. Femi shakes Undertaker’s hand and looks forward to the challenge.

Tag Team Titles: Hank & Tank vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura

Hank & Tank are defending. Inamura runs Tank over to start but the champs take Inamura down to start fast. Briggs comes in to knock Hank down with a running shoulder and everything breaks down. We settle down to Inamura taking over on Tank, including a rather hard chop to send us to a break.

Back with Inamura striking away at Hank and Briggs coming back in for a splash for two. A German suplex gives Briggs two more but Hank is back with a top rope clothesline. Tank comes in but Hank gets sent into the steps, leaving Tank to get chokeslammed. Inamura’s top rope splash gets two with Hank making the save. Inamura picks Hank up but swings him into Briggs by mistake. The neckbreaker/powerslam combination retains the titles at 10:31.

Rating: C+. If that’s it for Briggs and Inamura, they’re going out just like they came in: doing very little and not exactly standing out. I haven’t gotten their appeal as a team since they got here and I still don’t see it here. Their issues at the end could set up a singles match between them, but it’s not like there is much interest in them in the first place.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is ready for the battle royal and don’t care what Charlie Dempsey (not here) think.

Chase U is back with a bunch of students and Andre Chase wasn’t sure he was ever going to be here again. Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon come in late but Chad doesn’t like them being late. Chase isn’t going to have students talking to each other like that, but F*** YOUR QUESTION CHAD! CHASE U IS BACK!

Kelani Jordan mocks Sol Ruca for not defending her title tonight like a real champion should. Zaria isn’t pleased and says if Jordan wants a title shot, they can fight first.

Hank & Tank came up to see Joe Hendry and they’re ready to help him against Darkstate. That’s quite the dream (ish) team for Darkstate to overcome and I’m not sure if they’re going to.

Roxanne Perez/Giulia vs. Jordynne Grace/Iyo Sky

The fight goes to the floor to start and the villains are in early trouble. Sky gets caught in the wrong corner but flips away and hits a double dropkick. Grace comes in to help Sky with an electric chair Swanton for two on Perez. Giulia gets dropped as well and an over the shoulder gutbuster gives Grace two. Perez offers a distraction though and Giulia gets in an eye rake to take over.

A spinning Russian legsweep gives Perez two but it’s back to Sky, who rolls Perez up for a fast two. Grace’s second electric chair attempt doesn’t work as well though as Sky is sent face first into the apron as we take a break. Back with Giulia stomping Sky for two but Sky rolls Perez into a kick of her own. Grace comes in to hit the running shoulders before sending both of them flying at once. Sky’s top rope double stomp into a Gory Bomb gets two on Giulia with Perez having to make the save.

Everyone is down and Perez makes a blind tag, allowing her to snap off a super hurricanrana to bring Sky down. Giulia plants Sky, setting up Perez’s double springboard moonsault for two. Grace and Giulia brawl up the aisle, leaving Perez and Sky to have a snappy pinfall reversal sequence. Sky kicks her down though, setting up Over The Moonsault for the pin at 14:25.

Rating: B+. I had a very good time with this one as they were all working hard and had a heck of a match. Sky being back in NXT doesn’t feel like someone miles ahead of the rest of the division, which shows you just how deep the women’s division is around here. Outstanding match here and one of the best that NXT has had in a good while.

Post match Perez is frustrated.

Stephanie Vaquer wants to know her next challenger so Ava makes Grace vs. Giulia next week in a #1 contenders match. Works for Vaquer.

Overall Rating: B. The main event was by far the best thing on the show, but it also did a good job of making me more interested in the Battleground card. You can see a lot of the matches coming from here, with a few that still need to be made. I like what we’re getting here, and they’re doing a very nice job of balancing the guest stars. Good show here, with the main event certainly being worth a look.

Results
Ricky Saints b. Lexis King – Roshambo
Sol Ruca b. Karmen Petrovic – Sol Snatcher
Hank & Tank b. Yoshiki Inamura/Josh Briggs – Neckbreaker/powerslam combination to Briggs
Iyo Sky/Jordynne Grace b. Roxanne Perez/Giulia – Over The Moonsault to Perez

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

NXT
Date: April 22, 2025
Location: BleauLive Theater, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

We are done with Stand & Deliver and still in Las Vegas so it is time for a pretty big show. In this case, we have the Women’s Title and Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line, which should make for a good night. Other than that, it is time for a bunch of fallout and getting ready for the next major event. Let’s get to it.

Here is Stand & Deliver if you need a recap.

We open with a long Stand & Deliver recap, which was an eventful show.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez vs. Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin

Paxley and Dolin are challenging after winning an elimination match at Stand & Deliver. Morgan knocks Paxley into the corner to start but gets pulled down by her hair. Rodriguez quickly comes in for a swinging front facelock to take over. Paxley gets in a facebuster on Morgan but Dolin can’t do much with Rodriguez. A high crossbody is countered into a powerslam to give Rodriguez two but everything breaks down. Paxley moonsaults off the apron onto both champions and we take a break.

Back with Rodriguez grabbing a chinlock on Paxley before handing it off to Morgan. Three Amigos set up the Eddie Dance for two but Paxley knees her way out of Rodriguez’s suplex. A DDT breaks up the suplex and it’s off to Dolin to pick up the pace. The Tejana Bomb is broken up and Paxley’s 450 connects with Morgan making the save. The Cemetery Driver is loaded up but Morgan comes in off a blind tag with a top rope Codebreaker to drop Paxley. That means the Tejana Bomb to Dolin sets up Oblivion to retain the titles at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Dolin and Paxley were a fine choice from NXT to go after the titles and the match wasn’t bad at all. The two title changes in the last two days made the belts feel like they could be in a bit more jeopardy here and that helped a lot. Morgan and Rodriguez are turning into the big bads of the division and that is something the titles have been needing for a long time.

Lexis King asks Penn and Teller to bring his Heritage Cup back but has to admit that magic is real and defend the Cup tonight. Deal, and he gets the Cup back.

We look at NXT starts competing at Bloodsport.

Darkstate mocks Miles Borne and the No Quarter Catch Crew. Je’Von Evans comes in and a match is made for later.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints is happy to have retained the title and even his mother doesn’t think much of Ethan Page. Cue Lexis King to interrupt and while he’s happy to have his Cup back, he wants the North American Title. King will even put the Cup up to make it title for title. Works for Saints.

Thea Hail is happy with Hank & Tank and Sol Ruca for winning at Stand & Deliver but Jaida Parker and Fatal Influence aren’t happy with Hail’s energy. Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne tell Fallon Henley to deal with it and leave. Henley says she will since the other two never could.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. ???

King is defending against…the returning Noam Dar, with commentary not exactly giving him a hot reception. Dar takes him down for a quickly broken ankle lock before hitting a running shot in the corner. Some elbows to the face get two but King runs him down with a knee to the head for the same. Dar strikes away but gets superkicked down for two. King misses a Swanton though and a spinning elbow gives Dar the Cup back at 4:03.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but Dar beat him pretty decisively. After the Cup has had so many things going on with it recently, I’m wondering if we might be coming up on a unification match. Without the rounds, there isn’t much of a point to having the Cup as its own thing, so unless Dar is reinstating the rules (which he could), I’m not sure why it needs to exist.

Roxanne Perez is annoyed at people taking her spotlight and is ready to win the Women’s Title tonight.

Fallon Henley vs. Thea Hail

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Henley chops away in the corner to start but gets rolled up for a fast two. It’s too early for the Kimura as Booker goes on a rant about Chase U being a horrible university. Hail throws her down but gets caught with something like a reverse exploder suplex. Nyx distracts the referee but Jayne kicks Henley by mistake. The Kimura makes Henley tap at 2:25.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. Femi gets right to the point in saying he did exactly what he promised he would do at Stand & Deliver. We pause for an OBA chant before Femi praises Je’Von Evans for being better than he expected. He can’t stand Trick Williams though, because he is just that much better than Williams. Cue Williams to say he wants the one on one title shot. And here is Joe Hendry.

He isn’t seeing the same Williams that he tagged with last year. The truth is that Williams is entitled instead of hungry and now he’s just a whiny b****. Williams wants to talk about what he believes: Hendry had his moment and got beaten up at Wrestlemania. Hendry: “I was in the ring and you were in the stands.” He’ll be defending the title at Rebellion, but he has business with Femi. Williams tries to get involved and is quickly tossed out, leaving us with a staredown. That could be interesting.

Luca Crusifino comes to meet Stacks in the desert. Crusifino yells at Stacks for turning on the D’Angelo Family and wants this to be solved. Stacks asks if Crusifino knows why he was invited out here. Crusifino: “….oh f***.”

Sol Ruca, with Zaria, is happy but Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to mock her. Ruca tells them to get out and threatens to come for the titles.

Trick Williams breaks a bunch of stuff and Ava throws him out.

Darkstate vs. Je’Von Evans/Miles Borne

It’s Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin for Darkstate with the other two on the floor. Borne works on Lennox’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Evans for a springboard hurricanrana. Griffin throws Evans into the corner though and drops him with a shoulder. Some dropkicks put Darkstate on the floor but Griffin pulls Evans’ dive out of the air. Borne’s dive works a bit better though and we take a break.

Back with Griffin pulling Evans out of the air again and sending him flying with a fall away slam. Lennox tosses Evans to Griffin for a powerslam and a waistlock has Evans in more trouble. Evans finally rolls over and brings in Borne with the diving tag so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Griffin pulls Evans out of the air again (dude never learns) for a planting. A double powerbomb finishes Borne at 9:57.

Rating: C+. Darkstate might not be anything original but what matters is they are being treated like something important. They came in, made an impact, and have racked up some wins. The people involved aren’t exactly anything special but they’re being presented as something good and that’s what’s going to make this a success.

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew is on the stage and does not approve.

Shawn Spears has been talking to Ava when Yoshiki Inamura comes in, saying it is time for him to go back to Pro Wrestling Noah. He wanted to win the Tag Team Titles so Ava gives him one more shot with Josh Briggs next week. Cue Briggs to ask how that happened. Inamura: “Old Japanese secret.”

Tony D’Angelo goes to Riz’s hotel room and they can’t believe what Stacks has done. They realize they haven’t heard from Luca Crusifino but D’Angelo says it’s going to have to come to blows with Stacks. Riz wants them to work it out but we’re beyond that point. D’Angelo wants Riz to go to a safe house and she reluctantly agrees.

Ricky Saints is happy that Noam Dar won the Heritage Cup but Lexis King is still getting his title shot. Ethan Page comes in for a distraction and King decks Saints.

Andre Chase opens a suitcase and pulls out a Chase U sweater. Chase: “WE’RE F****** BACK BABY!”

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is challenging and takes her into the corner to start but gets wrestled down. They trade rollups for two each until Perez gets two more off la majistral. That’s good for a staredown until Vaquer takes over, only for the Devil’s Kiss to be blocked. Perez gets in a shot on the bad arm and we take a break.

Back with Perez dropkicking her out to the ramp, where Vaquer hits a superkick into a 619. A springboard crossbody drops Perez on the ramp again and NOW the Devil’s Kiss can get quite the reaction. The SVB is blocked but Vaquer gets a regular backbreaker instead. Perez is right back with the crossface and she flips back into the middle of the ring. That’s reversed into some near falls but Pop Rox is blocked. A dragon screw legwhip sets up SVB to retain the title at 11:39.

Rating: B-. That very well might be it for Perez in NXT as there is a grand total of nothing left for her to do around here. She’s dominated the division before and now it is in the capable hands of the newcomers. Let Vaquer, Grace and Giulia run things for a bit while Perez sees what she can do on the main roster where she belongs.

Post match Giulia comes out for the staredown. Jordynne Grace is watching from the crowd to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a solid fallout show from Stand & Deliver as they started up some fresh stories while also dealing with everything that happened. I’m curious to see where a lot of this goes and that is always a nice feeling to have. It’s also something that was only kind of there going into Stand & Deliver so maybe things are starting to turn around in the right way.

Results
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin – Oblivion to Dolin
Noam Dar b. Lexis King – Spinning back elbow
Thea Hail b. Fallon Henley – Kimura
Darkstate b. Je’Von Evans/Miles Borne – Double powerbomb to Borne
Stephanie Vaquer b. Roxanne Perez – SVB

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

NXT
Date: April 15, 2025
Location: Capitol One Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the last show before Stand & Deliver and there are still some spots that need to be filled in. The main thing that needs to be done is filling in the final spots in the women’s ladder match, but there is always the chance that another match can be added. Other than that, the already announced card has some build to be done so let’s get to it.

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

Ethan Page vs. Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King vs. Wes Lee

Non-title and the winner gets a North American Title shot on Saturday, so here is Ricky Saints to join commentary. It’s a brawl to start until King gets triple teamed for an early beating. Thorpe drops all of them and a suplex gets two on King. Lee gets to take over for a bit and drops everyone but King avoids some charges to send everyone else into the corner.

Thorpe gets low bridged to the floor and a Codebreaker in the ropes gives King two on Lee. Back in and Lee puts everyone else down with a Tower Of Doom before a running shooting star press gets two on Page. Lee’s suicide dive hits King and Page sends Thorpe into Saints. That’s enough for Saints to get ejected and we take an early break.

Back with Page cleaning house and getting a Boston crab on King. Thorpe puts a crossface on King at the same time so Lee has to dive in to break up the tap. With the holds broken up, King gets caught in an electric chair, with Lee adding a Whisper In The Wind to take everyone out. Page and Lee slug it out until Thorpe Meteoras Lee, only to get caught with the Coronation. Page is right back up with the Twisted Grin to pin King at 12:21.

Rating: B. Fast paced and action packed opener here, with Page getting the title shot in the match that had already been set up. The good thing is that they had enough going on here to make you think there was a chance someone else could win, which is a nice bonus. Page makes the most sense though and it should make for a good title match.

Post match Page taunts Saints, who runs back in for a spear.

Jordynne Grace talks about starting out in wrestling and knowing she needed something else. This involved turning her body into a wall of muscle and becoming something that you couldn’t find anywhere else. She got to TNA and is now in WWE and knows what she has to do to win her first WWE title this weekend.

Various women talk about how they’re going to win the Women’s North American Title.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice

Gigi Dolin is here with Paxley. Vice takes her down to the mat to start but can’t get something like a crossface. Paxley reverses into an armbar but has to get out of a triangle choke. We take a break and come back with Vice cutting off a charge in the corner, setting up some rapid fire kicks. The running hip attack gets two on Paxley, who is right back with a running crossbody in the corner. Paxley catches her on top and pulls her down but the Psycho Trap is blocked. Instead, Vice hits the spinning backfist for the fast pin at 9:59.

Rating: C+. It feels like Vice hasn’t been around much lately and hopefully this is the start of something else for her. I’m not sure how likely she is to win the title, but at least she’s going to be on the show again. Paxley and Dolin are seemingly just a low level tag team at the moment and I don’t quite see a ton of upside there.

Giulia was tired of waiting for Stephanie Vaquer and she’s back for revenge and her title. Jaida Parker is confident but Giulia will show her how to take pain. Jordynne Grace is strong, but Giulia will introduce her to strong style.

The women’s division argues in the back so Ava makes a four way women’s tag match for Stand & Deliver, with the winner getting a Women’s Tag Team Title shot next week. Roxanne Perez needs a partner.

Tag Team Gauntlet Match

For the title shot at Stand & Deliver. Hank & Tank is in at #1 and Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe are in at #2. Vic says this is the matchup that we have all been waiting for and…I really don’t think that’s true. Anyway Tank and DuPont lock up to start with DuPont taking over and handing it off to Igwe. That’s broken up and it’s back to Hank for the house cleaning, including the powerslam/neckbreaker combination to pin Igwe at 1:40.

The Culling is in at #3 with Hank & Tank taking it right to them. A running seated senton gets two on Jensen and we take a break. Back with Hank in trouble but getting in a clothesline to drop Vance. The referee doesn’t see the tag though and an assisted powerslam gets two on Hank. As tends to be the case, Hank breaks away rather shortly thereafter and the hot tag brings in Tank. House is cleaned but Tank gets caught in an electric chair. Jensen goes up but Tank powerslams him out of the air for the pin at 10:10 total.

The No Quarter Catch Crew are in at #4 and go right after the tired Hank & Tank. Heights grabs a chinlock but Tank jawbreaks his way to freedom, allowing Hank to come back in to make the comeback. Borne hits a big flip dive to take Hank & Tank down though and we take a break.

Back again with Heights suplexing Tank and hitting a crossbody for two. Hank pulls Borne outside though and Tank gets a rollup pin on Heights at 17:59. Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura are in at #5 (the last team) and start hammering away on Hank. Everything breaks down and Hank & Tank pull themselves up, with Hank getting a quick small package to pin Briggs and win at 20:47.

Rating: C+. I still don’t care much for Hank & Tank but they did have a story here and it fits to see them coming back and beating so many teams who had beaten them. The fans are getting into them as well and it makes sense to have them get the shot here. It was a bunch of rollups and quick wins, but I’ll take it over a team being randomly thrown out there.

Evolve’s Kali Armstrong is ready for her main event but Ava teases that she has a surprise for the qualifying match for the final spot in the Women’s North American Title ladder match.

Oba Femi arrives….and Darkstate is following him.

Jaida Parker knows that looking the part isn’t the same as being the best. She knows the pressure and is ready to move up to the next level. She lost her best friend when her uncle passed away and she knows she can lose anyone. Now she just needs the big game situation.

The D’Angelo Family, minus Tony D’Angelo (as this was Stacks’ call) gets in a fight with Darkstate in the parking lot, which goes inside. Various weapons are used and some Evolve wrestlers are beaten up before they crash through a wall. A fire extinguisher goes off and Luca Crusifino is slammed onto a car. Cue D’Angelo himself with a crowbar to clear out Darkstate. Cops arrive and D’Angelo yells at Stacks for going over his head. D’Angelo has gotten the match set up for Stand & Deliver. Stacks understands that he went too far.

Stephanie Vaquer is ready for the biggest match of her life. We see her going back to her native Chile as champion and talking about how important this was for her.

Hank & Tank are ready to win and Fraxiom come in to say they’re ready.

Roxanne Perez has found a tag partner: herself! That doesn’t work for Ava, but Cora Jade comes in to tease being her partner.

Stand & Deliver rundown.

Andre Chase is scared about ruining Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon but Thea Hail comes in to say Chase didn’t ruin her. She’s ready to win the Women’s North American Title. This would have been a better surprise if Hail hadn’t been shown in a graphic before the break.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Karmen Petrovic vs. Thea Hail

Ashante Thee Adonis is here with Petrovic and they trade rollups to start. Petrovic gets knocked to the floor but cuts off Hail’s dive. Hail makes the comeback without much trouble and a spinning double underhook slam plants Petrovic. The Kimura finishes Petrovic at 2:41. That’s a great return, but it gets Hail into a ladder match, which doesn’t work as well.

Here is Trick Williams to say he’ll win the NXT Title. Cue Oba Femi to say that Williams is a broken record, saying the same things he has said for months. No one is singing along though, because the spotlight has moved on. Williams seems ready to fight but Je’Von Evans comes in to tell Williams to shut up. Evans says Williams is dismissed and turns his attention to the Rules. Evans has dropped Femi a few times lately and knows it is a matter of time before Femi goes up to the main roster.

Femi was a star at the University Of Alabama (Femi: “Roll Tide.”) but Evans is a kid from North Carolina and shouldn’t have gotten here. Femi says being champion means he is the top dog and Evans is a CHILD. Williams is ready to fight again and Evans is sent to the floor so the other two can brawl. Evans dives in to take both of them out though and holds up the title to end the show. This was about all you needed for a final push towards the title match, with Evans getting a chance to shine over the two much bigger stars.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a more active than usual go home show as they had a return with Hail and some matches being added. Other than that, we had a few more qualifying matches, because it’s Wrestlemania season so there will be qualifying matches everywhere. Finally though, you had the usual final push towards the show and I’m more interested in seeing Stand & Deliver than I was coming in so call it well done.

Results
Ethan Page b. Eddy Thorpe, Lexis King and Wes Lee – Twisted Grin to King
Lola Vice b. Tatum Paxley – Spinning backfist
Hank & Tank won a tag team gauntlet match last eliminating Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura
Thea Hail b. Karmen Petrovic – Kimura

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

NXT
Date: April 8, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, Booker T.

We are less than two weeks away from Stand & Deliver and this week’s show is going to be focused on the main event. In this case we have a six man tag between the three people involved in the Stand & Deliver main event and the debuting Dark State. That could go in a variety of ways so let’s get to it.

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

Stephanie Vaquer will announce her opponent for Stand & Deliver after this match.

Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker

Stephanie Vaquer is on commentary. They get in a fight to start and head outside for some rams into the apron. Back in and Grace hits a Death Valley Driver for two before heading out to the apron. Neither can drop the other so Parker hits a TKO onto the top rope. A Blockbuster gives Parker two and she sits on Grace in the corner (setting up that high step, which is an awesome signature taunt).

We take a break and come back with Parker blocking a sunset bomb but getting caught in….well Grace loaded her up for a Tombstone but flipped her backwards onto her back (that was cool). Grace drops her face first onto the turnbuckle and gets two off a neckbreaker. The Juggernaut Driver is blocked so Grace sends her to the floor, where a suicide dive doesn’t work as her foot gets caught in the ropes. Thankfully she’s ok as Parker slaps Vaquer, who swings and hits Grace by mistake. That’s enough for the referee to throw it out at 10:03.

Rating: B-. As much as I like both of them, my goodness I do not want another triple threat over Wrestlemania Weekend. They are hammering those things into the ground this year and that’s where it seems we’re going with this one too. Parker continues to feel like a star and if she can back it up in the ring, they have something special with her. Grace isn’t exactly bad either, but please don’t just throw them both in there with Vaquer.

Post match the brawl stays on but Giulia makes her return and helps Vaquer clear the ring. Then Giulia lays out Vaquer and holds up the title. Vaquer never announcers her challenger.

We look back at Ricky Saints winning the North American Title last week in a star making performance, only to be taken out by Ethan Page after the match.

Swipe Right interrupt Hank & Tank and offer them advice after their match tonight. Hank: “We’re not that desperate…are we?” Tank: “No Hank.”

The Culling wants the North American Title back but Shawn Spears says he is happy with what he did and it’s time for the rest of the team to succeed.

Fraxiom vs. Swipe Right

Non-title and Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes) are the heel pretty boy team from Evolve. Smokes dropkicks Axiom off the apron to start and Baylor comes in for a Hennig necksnap on Frazer. Back up and Axiom helps clear the ring, with Fraxiom hitting stereo dives to the floor. Axiom hammers away on Baylor in the corner but Smokes comes in off a blind tag and hits a spear.

A springboard X Factor gives Baylor two as Graves busts out a Julius Smokes reference for your obscure independent wrestling name drop of the week. Frazer comes back in and hits a running shooting star press but gets kneed in the face. An assisted swinging double underhook neckbreaker drops Frazer but Axiom is back in to clean house. The super Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash finishes Smokes at 5:12.

Rating: B-. For a pair of rookies who are from the most minor of minor league shows, Swipe Right looked pretty good in there against one of the best teams going today. This was a rather nice performance from the newcomers and while they might not be ready to move up, they certainly made a nice first impression. That’s a good thing to see, though I’m almost worried about who is coming for the titles next.

Fatal Influence bickers over who will get the Women’s North American Title.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Sol Ruca vs. Jazmyn Nyx

The rest of Fatal Influence and Zaria are here too. Ruca starts fast by fighting out of a headlock and sending her into the corner. A suplex into something like a moonsault Meteora gives Ruca two but a springboard splash hits raised boots. Nyx stomps away and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two. A running knee gives Nyx two more but Ruca is back with a spinning belly to back faceplant. Ruca’s running knee gets two but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Nyx to kick Ruca in the face for two. Back up and the Sol Snatcher finishes Nyx at 5:04.

Rating: C+. Fatal Influence is starting to fall apart and that isn’t the best sign for their future. Other than that, Ruca moving on is a good idea to go with, as having her hit the Sol Snatcher off a ladder should be fun. I’m not sure if she’s going to win the title, but it’s nice to see her getting a win in a match that matters in some way.

Je’Von Evans is coming for the NXT Title but tonight, he’s taking out Dark State.

Giulia wants a rematch with Stephanie Vaquer at Stand & Deliver.

Culling vs. Hank & Tank

Hank & Tank start fast to clean house until we settle down with Tank working on Jensen’s arm. Vance breaks it up though and Jensen comes back with a neckbreaker for two. Tank fights out of the chinlock and Hank gets the tag to fight back. Everything breaks down though and Vance sends Hank into the barricade. Hank is right back up and misses a Swanton, setting up a top rope knee/Dominator combination to give Vance the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. Not much to see here but the point was giving the Culling a win. Hank & Tank are flailing, which very well could lead to something changing for them in the near future. Other than that, neither of these teams feel like they’re coming for the Tag Team Titles, but that didn’t seem to be the goal here anyway.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints appreciates the reception and says the revolution will be televised again. He’s happy with his win but he’s not pleased with Ethan Page. Saints gets that Page isn’t ok with someone showing him up so get out here right now. Instead it’s Lexis King, who says he loves gold…and here is Eddy Thorpe to interrupt.

Thorpe wants a title, and it should be the one that represents the land stolen from his people. Cue Wes Lee, who says he was the best champion the title has ever seen so the conversation starts with him. Starks is ready for any of them but here is Page to drop him. The four challengers get in a brawl and Lee hits a big flip dive to take them out.

Ava, Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are in the back when Stephanie Vaquer comes in. She wants to face everyone at Stand & Deliver, so it’s a four way with Giulia, Jordynne Grace and Jaida Parker. As they somehow get bigger than a triple threat.

Trick Williams is ready to get the NXT Title back and he’s not sweating Dark State.

Wes Lee vs. Yoshiki Inamura

Tyson DuPont, Tyriek Igwe and Josh Briggs are here too. Lee kicks him in the face to start fast but gets dropped with a running shoulder. Some choking on the ropes has Inamura down again but it’s too early for a 450. Inamura strikes away in the corner and muscles him up for a fisherman’s suplex. Lee fights up and takes out Briggs but Inamura pulls him out of the air for a spinning slam. Briggs goes after DuPont though and Lee hits the Cardiac Kick for the pin at 3:54.

Rating: C+. Neither of these two have much going on at the moment but Lee could at least be in the running for the North American Title shot. I still don’t get the appeal of Inamura, who hasn’t done much in his time around here and has only had some flashes of interest. Maybe that changes in the future but for now, he’s just kind of there without doing much.

Oba Femi is ready to wreck Dark State and keep his title at Stand & Deliver.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Izzi Dame vs. Wren Sinclair

The Culling and the No Quarter Catch Crew are here too. Dame drives her into the corner to start so Sinclair grabs a wristlock. A rollup gives Sinclair two but the octopus is broken up rather quickly. Dame hits a clothesline and hammers away, setting up a crossface chickenwing. Sinclair fights up and hits some clotheslines for two, followed by a crucifix for the same. Back up and Dame grabs a Sky High for the quick pin at 4:28.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, with Dame being another name without much chance to win, though it would be a nice surprise. The Culling is having a good night here and that’s a nice thing to see, as the team is at least getting a chance. Sinclair is still good in the ring but she isn’t exactly doing much lately, which is another annoying thing to see.

A bunch of women are in Ava’s office and she announces a last chance qualifying match for the Women’s North American title match.

Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon finally get Andre Chase to agree to help them. Hank & Tank come in but run into the Street Profits, who tell them to be themselves. The Profits want them in next week’s gauntlet match for a Tag Team Title shot at Stand & Deliver.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Dark State vs. Je’Von Evans/Oba Femi/Trick Williams

Dark State charges the ring and the fight is on, with Dion Lennox starting against Oba Femi. Lennox sends him into the corner so Cutler James can come in for a clothesline. Williams comes in to go after Saquon Shugars, who pulls him down by the hair. A jumping neckbreaker hits Shugars but James comes in for a sleeper on Williams.

James slams him down but gets hit with a heck of a backdrop. Williams chops away at Shugars in the corner and hands it off to Evans, who snaps off a hurricanrana. Everything breaks down and Dark State is knocked to the floor, giving us a standoff as we take a break. Back with Evans hitting a springboard high crossbody on Shugars but Cutler comes in with a clothesline.

Lennox grabs a chinlock and the villains take turns beating on Evans. An elbow misses though and Evans hits an enziguri, allowing the tag off to Femi. House is cleaned until Shugars is tossed Williams, meaning the brawl is on. Evans hits a frog splash for two on Lennox as Williams and Femi fight up the aisle. A triple bomb, with Shugars diving off the top to put Evans down (cool) is good for the pin at 13:33.

Rating: B. For a team of people who came from pretty much nowhere with little success before this, Dark State did rather well here. That finish had quite the impact and I liked what they were doing together. They have the D’Angelo Family to deal with and this makes their feud that much more interesting as they had a strong in-ring debut here. The other three brawling into a fight isn’t a big surprise, but this was more about Dark State and they did well.

Post match Stacks pops up on the screen to issue the challenge for a fight in the parking lot next week. Well that ups the danger significantly.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was more about setting up things for Stand & Deliver, with matches being made and some qualifying matches being covered. That being said, the show isn’t feeling like the most must see card as all of the multi-person matches don’t really come off as special. Stand & Deliver is supposed to be the biggest show of the year and that doesn’t often mean a bunch of matches with all kinds of people running around. It should be good, but it doesn’t feel special and that’s not a positive thing at all.

Results
Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker went to a double DQ when Stephanie Vaquer interfered
Fraxiom b. Swipe Right – Phoenix splash to Smokes
Sol Ruca b. Jazmyn Nyx – Sol Snatcher
Culling b. Hank & Tank – Top rope knee/Dominator combination to Hank
Wes Lee b. Yoshiki Inamura – Cardiac Kick
Izzi Dame b. Wren Sinclair – Sky High
Dark State b. Oba Femi/Trick Williams/Je’Von Evans – Triple Bomb to Evans

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

NXT
Date: April 1, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s another title show as Shawn Spears is defending the North American Title against Ricky Saints. Other than that, we need to find out some of the matches for Stand & Deliver as we are just over two weeks away from the biggest show of the year. There is a good chance that we find out some of those matches this week so let’s get to it.

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

Here is Stephanie Vaquer to get things going for a chat with Ava. After Ava praises her for her recent efforts, she announces that Vaquer has agreed to vacate the Women’s North American Title. Therefore, the new champion will be crowned in a six woman ladder match at Stand & Deliver (ERG), with qualifying matches beginning tonight.

Hold on though as Vaquer says she will give up the title if she gets to pick the challenger for the Women’s Title. Cue Jordynne Grace, who says she wants us to have the title match the fans are demanding. Cue Jaida Parker, who says she dropped Grace last week, but Grace brings up Parker losing to Vaquer last week. The brawl is on, with Grace LAUNCHING one of them over the top. Parker backs off a bit and a match seems likely. As usual, Parker feels like a star and that is going to take her places.

Trick Williams wants to face Oba Femi at Stand & Deliver.

Femi arrives and is ready to deal with Williams tonight.

The women’s locker room bickers over the ladder match.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Zaria vs. Lash Legend

Zaria actually loses a test of strength to start but gets her over with a sunset flip. They chop it out, with Legend’s getting quite the response. Legend knocks her down again but Zaria grabs a victory roll for two. Back up and a pump kick sends Zaria outside, where a lot of bickering ensues as we take a break.

We come back with Legend getting frustrated as Zaria makes the comeback, including a kick to the face in the corner. Zaria’s middle rope crossbody is pulled out of the air but she reverses a powerbomb into a hurricanrana. A German suplex drops Legend again but she’s right back with a chokeslam for two. Zaria is back up with a spear and the F5 finishes at 11:45.

Rating: C. Maybe I’m missing something with Zaria but there isn’t much to her that is keeping me interested at the moment. She’s a powerhouse but that’s not really making her stand out. At the same time, Legend has come a VERY long way and looked like a star here. I could have gone for her winning, which is something I never would have bet on just a year or so ago.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura want to get to Stand & Deliver but Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont interrupt. Arguing ensues and Inamura challenges Lee. Game seems to be on.

Kelani Jordan seems interested in getting into the ladder match but Roxanne Perez comes in to say she wants to win the title so she’ll have every women’s title in NXT. Ava puts them in a qualifying match tonight.

The D’Angelo Family has gone looking for information on Dark State. They have found out the members: Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars. We get mini bios on them, most of which involve college athletics and intelligence. Tony D’Angelo sees potential in them, but has to calm Stacks down. The last plan Stacks put together didn’t go so well, but Stacks says he trusts D’Angelo. Tension seems to be high. This was a creative way to introduce the members rather than just having commentary say what’s going on.

Hank And Tank have new gear, courtesy of Pretty Deadly, but they’re not sure it’s the right look.

The members of the Culling want Shawn Spears to succeed tonight.

No Quarter Catch Crew vs. Hank And Tank

Hank And Tank are in their regular gear rather than the Pretty Deadly attire. Evolve’s Swipe Right is sitting in the front row as we hear about some bad weather in the area. Borne can’t get very far with Tank to start so Heights comes in to grind away on a headlock. It’s back to Borne, who gets taken down for a Pretty Deadly style double team.

Heights comes back in but Borne makes a quick blind tag and clotheslines Hank to the floor. Back in and the chinlock doesn’t last long and Hank gets over for the tag to Tank to pick up the pace. A spinebuster gets two on Heights with Borne making the save. Everything breaks down and Borne has to break up a Pretty Deadly Spilled Milk. A TKO/DDT combination finishes Tank at 5:38.

Rating: C+. Hank And Tank continue to do very little for me so it was nice to see them lose here. That being said, it did seem like they were trying to find something with the Pretty Deadly impressions so maybe some changes are coming. I could go for more of the Crew, with Heights continuing to look good in there. Borne is as well, which is a nice little bonus.

Here is Trick Williams to say that he is still the man around here. No matter what Oba Femi has said, there is nothing stopping Williams from getting back to the top of the mountain. Cue Je’Von Evans to interrupt, but Williams says the adults are talking. Evans asks Williams when he knew it was his time (which is what Williams asked John Cena, launching his singles run), which must sound familiar.

Evans wants the #1 spot but he doesn’t have to step out of anyone’s shadow to do it. Williams says Evens has no idea what it’s like to be the champion. Evans: “You ain’t Trick Williams. You’re Carmelo Hayes.” That gets Williams’ attention, with Evans saying this is the exact same stuff that Hayes told Williams last year. Evans brings up dropping Oba Femi, which brings Femi out to tell Evans to say it to his face. Evans talks about getting so close to winning at Deadline and threatens to jump Femi again.

Williams isn’t interested but Femi tells him to shut up. Femi says the now belongs to him and Williams tells Evans to get out. Femi says Williams is talking too much so here is Ava to announce….the triple threat title match for Stand & Deliver (erg). Williams decks Evans but gets knocked to the floor, only for the lights to go out and Dark State to appear. Femi tells them to bring it so here they come to beat him down. Evans and Williams are laid out too.

Andre Chase is banged up and has a cracked rib, which has no timetable for recovery. He doesn’t have a ride home, but Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon show up with a wheelchair to help him out. Chase thinks they might not be so bad after all but they back up when they see Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace fighting.

Fraxiom kind of mocks Hank And Tank over their Pretty Deadly stuff, but Axiom wishes he and Frazer were such close friends. Swipe Right (Ricky Smokes/Brad Baylor) come in to ask for a match against Fraxiom. Frazer accepts but Axiom isn’t impressed. Swipe Right are more interested in Roxanne Perez walking by, calling her a smoke show.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Roxanne Perez vs. Kelani Jordan

They lock up to start with Jordan taking her down into a headscissors. That’s broken up and Jordan flips to her feet as we take an early break. Back with Perez slamming her head first into the mat and flipping over her for an exchange of glaring. Jordan drapes her over the middle rope for a handstand spinning Fameasser (that was impressive) for two. Perez gets in a rake to the eyes though and Jordan is sent shoulder first into the post.

A big stomp onto the arm has Jordan in more trouble and Perez stays on the arm. Jordan gets two off a rollup but the kickout sends her arm into the buckle. Perez hits a northern lights suplex onto the arm for two and we take another break. Back again with Jordan getting in a kick but missing One Of A Kind. Perez’s cartwheel knee to the head (ouch) gets two but Jordan plants her with a DDT. One Of A Kind connects to put Perez away at 14:41.

Rating: B. Good stuff here with Jordan having to work hard to overcome the odds in the end. That’s the kind of win she has been needing lately and it’s a good sign for her future. I’m not sure if she’s going to win the title but at least she got a nice win on the way there. Perez very well may be on her way out of NXT, as she seems ready to be called up to the main roster.

Stevie Turner apologizes to Ava for Swipe Right but Robert Stone brings up the matches announced for Stand & Deliver. Ava is more worried about Dark State so she puts three of them in a six man against Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams.

Ricky Saints isn’t worried about what Shawn Spears has been saying about his past. Tonight is about the future, when he wins the North American Title.

Zaria wants Sol Ruca out there with her at Stand & Deliver. Kelani Jordan comes in to say she’s winning the ladder match but Zaria isn’t impressed. Ruca says she’ll win….and Zaria doesn’t like that either.

Dark State is down for next week’s match but says no one is safe.

North American Title: Ricky Saints vs. Shawn Spears

Spears, with the Culling, is defending and goes straight to the floor to start. Saints is right there with a dive to take him down and hammers away to start fast. Back in and Saints hits a nice dropkick before unloading with right hands in the corner. Saints hits something like a dancing Old School off the barricade, including kissing his fingers and putting them on the forehead of a VERY happy fan.

We take a break and come back with Spears sending him hard into the corner. Saints catches him on top though and slugs away, setting up a top rope Jackhammer of all things, leaving both of them down. Back up and Saints strikes away, setting up a heck of a spinebuster for two.

It’s back to the floor for a tornado DDT off the apron to plant Spears again. Izzi Dame slips Spears the belt though and a shot to the face gets two. Spears loads up the C4 but Saints reverses into one of his own. Saints takes out the Culling and hits a spear into the Roshambo is good for the title at 10:17.

Rating: B-. This might not have been a great match but it was an absolute star making performance from Saints, who not only won the match and the title but showed all kinds of fire on the way. That’s what is going to make him into a bigger deal and it worked very well here. Saints is instantly a player and this will make people notice him. Great stuff for Saints here and I was impressed.

Post match Saints celebrates with the title but Ethan Page runs in to take him out.

Overall Rating: B. Good show this week as they set up stuff for Stand & Deliver (as annoying as some of it may be) and had a big moment in the end. This was the show that NXT has been needing and they made it work here, with a lot of stuff taking place in the span of two hours. You can tell that things are picking up for the biggest time of the year, which is exactly what needed to happen.

Results
Zaria b. Lash Legend – F5
No Quarter Catch Crew b. Hank And Tank – DDT/TKO combination to Tank
Kelani Jordan b. Roxanne Perez – One Of A Kind
Ricky Saints b. Shawn Spears – Roshambo

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

NXT
Date: March 25, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

We’re getting very close to Stand & Deliver and that means it’s time to start putting the show together. There is a good chance that we’ll see some more of the matches set up this week, though first both women’s titles are on the line as Stephanie Vaquer is defending twice. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Stephanie Vaquer’s attempts to defend both of her titles in one night, which isn’t something you often see attempted, let alone done.

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jaida Parker

Vaquer is defending and gets slammed down as Booker talks about his two TV Title defenses at Superbrawl VIII (not quite). Parker shrugs off a wristlock and slams her down before they trade rollups for two each. A hurricanrana sends Parker into the corner but she drops Vaquer as we take a break.

Back with Parker hitting a Backstabber for two but Vaquer knocks her into the ropes. The 619 sets up the figure four necklock faceplants. The STB is broken up though and Parker plants her with a Falcon Arrow for two. Parker’s hip attack connects in the corner but here is Jordynne Grace for a distraction. That’s enough for Vaquer to roll her up and retain at 9:24.

Rating: C+. Parker isn’t the most experienced star just yet but she has a certain swagger to her that you either have or you don’t. That’s one of those things that can take you a long way and now it seems that she is going to be doing something with Grace. Good enough opener here, even though Vaquer seemed to be saving some of herself for later, which is fine.

Post match Parker and Grace have to be held apart. Cue Fatal Influence to jump Parker and leave her laying.

Trick Williams still doesn’t want to hear from Je’Von Evans, saying there’s a difference between having potential and having a title. Evans is ready to prove him wrong.

Meta Four want to know why they’re not getting a TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles and get in an argument with Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin, who do have such a shot this week.

Earlier today, there was a sitdown interview with Ricky Saints, who thinks people are having trouble dealing with his self confidence. For awhile he had to live in his car and the only thing he had was his self confidence, which helped get him here. Then Shawn Spears interrupted, saying that Saints’ confidence is driving people crazy. Spears has friends, but Saints says that’s how he won the North American Title. Spears suggests that Saints can always go somewhere else if it doesn’t work out, but then brings up all of the burned bridges. Saints: “I guess I better win then.”

Ethan Page runs his mouth and gets into it with Andre Chase, who talks about teaching the younger people about how to deal with people like Page. Insults ensue as Chase sounded like his old self.

The Motor City Machine Guns give Hank And Talk a quick pep talk.

Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont vs. Hank And Tank

Wes Lee is here with the villains. We’re joined in progress with everything breaking down and Hank And Tank hammering away in the corners. A camel clutch/running dropkick combination gets two on DuPont before a suicide dive hits Igwe on the floor. Back in and Igwe stomps on Hank’s arm and DuPont plants him down for two. The full nelson is broken up and it’s back to Tank to clean house. Tank plants Igwe for two but Lee offers a distraction meaning it’s the Heartstopper to finish Hank at 6:25.

Rating: C+. Igwe and DuPont are getting some more exposure as of late and that’s the kind of thing that can give them some better hope in the future. I’m not sure I can imagine them doing much of note anytime soon, but it’s better than nothing. Hank And Tank still don’t have much going on, but that has been the case for a good while now.

Stephanie Vaquer insists that she can face Fallon Henley tonight, despite Ava being worried.

Fraxiom has another of their mini arguments about Axiom not inviting Nathan Frazer to Spain. Oba Femi arrives and Axiom leaves.

Heritage Cup: Je’Von Evans vs. Lexis King

Evans is challenging and grabs a headlock to start. That’s reversed into a headscissors before a belly to back suplex drops Evans. Back up and a high crossbody gives Evans two and a suicide dive sends King into the announcers’ table. We take a break and come back with King hitting a fisherman’s driver for two, with the kickout leaving King frustrated.

Evans knocks him down and hits a frog splash (with some height) for two of his own but King goes after the bad jaw. A running shot sends King outside though and Evans nails a heck of a dive. Cue Oba Femi to take Evans down though and King retains the cup via countout at 10:43.

Rating: C. The ending keeps the Cup with King, even through some shenanigans, and that’s the best thing for him at the moment. This wasn’t so much King cheating as much as King capitalizing on someone going into business for themselves. Evans vs. Femi could be a fun David vs. Goliath match, but Trick Williams seems to be the next challenger for the title.

Post match Dark State is teased but Femi goes after Evans again. Trick Williams comes in for the save but has to be held back from Femi.

Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley vs. Meta Four

Dolin and Jackson lock up to start as Zaria and Sol Ruca are here to watch. Dolin sends her into the corner for a running shot from Paxley. A reverse surfboard has Jackson in trouble it’s off to Legend to take over. Paxley gets slammed for two but it’s a quick tag back to Dolin, who hits a high crossbody on both villains. Granted it was near their legs but close enough. Everything breaks down and the Cemetery Drive finishes Jackson at 3:58.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here and it took away what they could do. There was no reason to have Dolin and Paxley lose just before their title shot on Thursday so at least they have some momentum. Zaria and Ruca didn’t do anything here but there is a good chance that they’ll wind up facing Meta Four at some point in the future.

Tony D’Angelo wants information on the Dark State. The Family goes to find it when Stacks is asked to stay. D’Angelo brings up saving Stacks when he was a kid, which Stacks will never forget. D’Angelo: “I can always trust you, right?” Stacks: “You can always trust me T, always.” I’m sure.

The Motor City Machine Guns tells Hank And Tank to stay with it. Trust your partners and don’t compare yourselves to the Guns, because they’ve been a team for a long time.

Ethan Page vs. Andre Chase

Ricky Saints comes out to join commentary, which Page doesn’t like. Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors are here with Chase, who doesn’t want them doing the Chase U pose. Chase tries some early rollups to start and grabs a headlock. That’s reversed into a belly to back suplex but Chase sends him to the floor and adds a superkick from the apron.

We take a break and come back with Chase grabbing a swinging neckbreaker into the Russian legsweep. The Spelling Stomps are blocked but Chase knocks him down for two more. Page is back with an Iconoclasm into a Codebreaker for two of his own but Chase neckbreakers him on the apron. A tornado DDT gives Chase two, only for Chase to crotch him on top. The super powerslam gives Page two, followed by the Twisted Grin to pin Chase at 9:58.

Rating: B-. I was getting into this one as Chase continues to be a likable guy no matter what he is doing. I could go for his story taking a bigger step forward, but you can see the old version of him still alive inside there. Page vs. Saints is likely going to be a big showdown at Stand & Deliver, which is a good way to get Saints on the biggest show of the year.

Post match Saints looks up at Page but Shawn Spears and the Culling jump him.

Dark State says when they strike, no one is safe.

We get a clip of the debut of Stephanie’s Places.

Trick Williams calls Je’Von Evans a distraction, just like Eddy Thorpe. He wants Oba Femi next week and calls Dark State none of his business.

Women’s North American Title: Fallon Henley vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Henley, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is challenging and drives Vaquer into the corner to start. Vaquer fights up and hits a running dropkick for an early two. A superkick sends Henley into the ropes but she’s back up with a knockdown as we take a break. Back with Henley hitting a running forearm and kicking Vaquer between the shoulders.

Vaquer catches her on top with a superplex and Eat Defeat staggers Henley again. The running knees connect in the corner but Henley rolls through a rollup attempt. Henley throws her outside for a cheap shot from Jazmyn Nyx but Vaquer sends Henley into Nyx for the knockdown. The SVB retains the title at 10:03.

Rating: C+. I was a bit surprised that Vaquer didn’t lose one of her titles here but doing the whole two title defenses in one night is a nice feather in her non-existent cap. Henley gets her rematch and is cleared out so now we can move on to another challenger. It wasn’t a particularly good match, but you can see how far Henley has come in the last few months.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Vaquer down but Jordynne Grace makes the save. Grace teases challenging Vaquer but here is Jaida Parker to jump Grace, only to be cleared out again.

A bunch of women plead their case for a future shot at Vaquer and Ava doesn’t get to make an announcement.

Vaquer and Grace have one more staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show that wasn’t so much about the wrestling but rather moving the pieces around on the way to Stand & Deliver. The show might not have anything announced yet, but you can probably guess some of the matches that are coming on the show. That is a big deal and this was the kind of show that you need on the way there. I’m looking forward to seeing those matches coming together, as there is just enough time left to still add a few surprises.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Jaida Parker – Rollup
Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont b. Hank And Tank – Heartstopper to Hank
Lexis King b. Je’Von Evans via countout
Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley b. Meta Four – Cemetery Drive to Jackson
Ethan Page b. Andre Chase – Twisted Grin
Stephanie Vaquer b. Fallon Henley – SVB

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

NXT
Date: February 18, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

We’re done with Vengeance Day and that means it is time to start getting ready for Stand & Deliver in about two months. The big story from Vengeance Day seems to be Jordynne Grace coming after the two Women’s Titles, which could lead to some big showdowns. Other than that, Oba Femi will need a new challenger so let’s get to it.

Here is Vengeance Day if you need a recap.

Long Vengeance Day recap, including four Performance Center wrestlers attacking Oba Femi and Fraxiom.

Here is Oba Femi and he wants the four guys to come get him now. Instead, here is TNA X-Division Champion (and fellow monster) Moose for a big man staredown. Moose says this has to happen and Femi seems ready for the whole thing. They stare each other down and hold up their titles. Works for me.

Earlier today, Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors invited Ava and Eddy Thorpe to their after party. That’s a no from both, with Thorpe saying they should be at Chase U. That sets up a match for later tonight.

Jaida Parker vs. Karmen Petrovic vs. Kelani Jordan

Ashante Thee Adonis is here with Petrovic. Jordan and Parker slug it out until Jordan sends the other two outside for a dive. Back in and Parker chokes Jordan on the ropes before a snap suplex gets two. We take a break and come back with Parker hitting a reverse suplex on Jordan but Petrovic jumps Parker in the ropes.

Jordan hits a standing legdrop for two on Parker (no Booker, that isn’t innovative, as Big Show did it before) but Parker runs Petrovic over. Jordan breaks up the cover with a frog splash and everyone is down. They slug it out from their knees until Parker hits a Hipnotic on Jordan. Adonis pulls Petrovic to the floor and Parker hits the Tear Drop on Jordan…but Petrovic grabs a rollup to pin Jordan at 11:32.

Rating: C+. They were doing well here with everyone getting in something, as Parker continues to feel like a future star. There is something of an “it” factor to her which is carrying her a long way and makes me wonder where she’s going. Other than that, Petrovic kind of steals a win, though the stuff with Adonis is still not doing much for me at all.

Post match Fatal Influence runs in to beat Petrovic down as we take a break. Back with Fatal Influence beating down Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer but Jordynne Grace runs in for the save. Grace clears the ring and issues the challenge for the six woman tag later tonight.

Stacks tells the rest of the D’Angelo Family that he has to deal with Shawn Spears on his own tonight.

Sol Ruca/Zaria vs. Meta Four

Ruca and Legend miss kicks to the face to start and it’s off to Jackson for a quick dropkick. Ruca takes Jackson down just as well though and moonsaults into a Meteora for two. Legend and Zaria take turns exchanging gorilla presses until Jackson missile dropkicks Ruca to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Ruca fighting her way out of trouble, allowing the tag to Zaria for the house cleaning. Zaria suplexes Jackson for two and Ruca comes back in for a superkick. A running hurricanrana and armdrag drop Jackson and we get the big Zaria vs. Legend showdown. Zaria muscles her up but can’t keep a fireman’s carry. Jackson comes back in and gets speared into an F5. The Sol Snatcher finishes for Ruca at 11:39.

Rating: B-. This was better than I was expecting as Zaria and Ruca work well enough together. I can go with Zaria being put into a team if Vaquer and Giulia are already doing something in the singles ranks. It lets Zaria do something else and that’s better than nothing. I’m not wild on the Meta Four getting pinned, but I can’t imagine they’re long for NXT anyway.

Wes Lee and company are talking about how things are wild around here but the still unnamed Ricky Starks pops in to say he’ll answer your questions out in the arena.

Here are Ava and Ricky Starks for the contract signing. Starks is glad to be here and he’s ready to take this place by storm and win everything there is to win. The revolution is ready to begin and he’s ready to sign but Ethan page interrupts. Page says Starks is following his playbook and is probably guaranteed a title match in his contract.

Starks doesn’t buy this and is ready to take the show to a new level but Page isn’t convinced. Starks thinks Je’Von Evans will be coming back to get his revenge on Page…and here is Evans to jump Page and brawl with him to the back. Now it’s Wes Lee interrupting the signing so Starks offers to face him next week. Lee tries to cut off the signing but gets clotheslined to the floor. We see the contract and his name is officially Ricky Saints. Eh I’ve heard worse.

The No Quarter Catch Crew interrupts Fraxiom…and call out the Hardys (the TNA Tag Team Champions) for next week in Cincinnati.

Ricky Saints has gone to the back…and a bunch of people (Hank And Tank, Josh Briggs, Yoshiki Inamura and perhaps others) have been attacked. Saints: “D***, this place is crazy.”

Shawn Spears vs. Stacks

Spears’ associates and the D’Angelo Family are here too. Starks starts the fight on the floor and hits a running boot to the face inside. Spears sends him to the apron though and grabs a hanging DDT. A regular DDT plants Stacks again and Spears hammers away on the mat. Stacks comes back with a slingshot Codebreaker for a breather as the goons almost get into it on the floor. A spinebuster gets Stacks out of trouble but Spears brainbusters him onto the knee. The C4 gives Spears the pin at 5:08.

Rating: C+. They were speeding through this and it seems like we are gearing up for a big Spears vs. Tony D’Angelo title match down the line. That should make for a nice showdown, though I’m still not overly interested in whatever Spears talks about most of the time. At least this is getting into more of a normal feud, which should go better for him.

Lexis King introduces himself to Moose and doesn’t like what he has been doing so far. Moose says if King wants an X-Division Title shot next week, he’s on.

Andre Chase is almost fired up over what Eddy Thorpe said but comes back to reality.

Andre Chase vs. Eddy Thorpe

Thorpe stomps away in the corner to start but Chase snaps off a hurricanrana. Chase takes him out on the floor as well but gets dropped back inside. Cue Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon in Chase U shirts to cheer Chase on from the student section, which is enough for Chase to fight back up. A big boot and Russian legsweep look to set up the spelling stomps but Chase can’t do it. Thorpe hits a German suplex into the impaler DDT for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C. This was the next step in the story of Chase, as you can see that the magic is still in there but something is going to have to pull it out. That very well may be the return of Thea Hail down the line but I’m not sure how that is going to go. It’s a long term story, but for now it would have been a stretch for Chase to beat someone who took out Trick Williams over the weekend.

Post match Trick Williams pops up on screen to say this isn’t over with Thorpe.

Ethan Page interrupts Ava and Ricky Saints to complain about Je’Von Evans. Wes Lee and Evans come in so Ava makes it a tag match next week.

The Hardys are down to face the No Quarter Catch Crew next week and invite Fraxiom to watch.

Stephanie Vaquer/Giulia/Jordynne Grace vs. Fatal Influence

Vaquer rolls Henley up to start before it’s Nyx coming in to face Giulia. Nyx’s right hands don’t work as Giulia takes her down, allowing Grace to come in for a German suplex. Everything breaks down and it’s a six way brawl with the villains being sent outside. Grace hits a big dive but Jayne pulls Vaquer down by the hair back inside. Henley grabs a quick distraction and Jayne drops Vaquer as we take a break.

Back with Vaquer fighting out of a chinlock, setting up a rollup for two. The tag attempt is broken up and Henley kicks Vaquer in the face. Jayne gets in another shot and mocks Grace before the tag, only for Vaquer to get over for the tag a few seconds later. Everything breaks down and Grace MuscleBusters Nyx for two with Jayne making the save. Jayne is back with a running knee for two on Grace and Henley adds a Blockbuster. Giulia plants Jayne and grabs a belly to back suplex, followed by a dive from Vaquer. The Grace Driver finishes Nyx at 13:03.

Rating: B-. This was about giving Grace her first win as part of the NXT roster and it worked out well. Grace got to run through some people here and Fatal Influence are just good enough to feel like a challenge for her. Odds are Grace will be put into a bigger story sooner than later, but for now, she’s off to a nice start.

The winners post and Grace looks at the titles.

There is a brawl in the parking lot and Ava’s office has been trashed. Mr. Stone is down and the words “NO ONE IS SAFE” have been painted on the wall. Ava isn’t sure what happened to end the show. She’s not overly bright is she?

Overall Rating: B. This show did a nice job of making me want to see what is going to happen next week, while also giving us a nice cliffhanger to end the show. I was worried about the lack of impact from the four guys but they got involved well enough at the end. The action was good enough, but more than that, I’m interested in where things are going. That’s a sign that they are doing something right, so we’ll call this a rather nice success.

Results
Karmen Petrovic b. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan – Rollup to Jordan
Sol Ruca/Zaria b. Meta Four – Sol Snatcher to Jackson
Shawn Spears b. Stacks – C4
Eddy Thorpe b. Andre Chase – Impaler DDT
Stephanie Vaquer/Jordynne Grace/Giulia b. Fatal Influence – Grace Driver to Nyx

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 11, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Vengeance Day and the card is mostly set. This week is going to be about building up the rest of the show, which could use some work at this point. Bayley is here again this week to face Cora Jade so odds are we’ll be seeing Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade as well. Let’s get to it.

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

Bayley vs. Cora Jade

Jade misses the kendo stick shot to start and Bayley hammers away early on. They go outside with Bayley beating her up against the barricade, followed by a ram into the announcers’ table (Booker: “LET’S KEEP IT LEGAL!”) for two. A basement elbow to the back gives Bayley two more but the Rose Plant is blocked. Jade is sent outside for a big dive but she ties Bayley up in the ropes for some knees as we take a break.

Back with Bayley hitting the Twisting Stunner over the ropes and the Bayley To Belly gets two. Some knees in the corner set up another suplex for another two but Bayley can’t quite get a sunset bomb into the corner. Instead Jade rolls her up for two in a nice save as that would have been ugly otherwise. Bayley knocks her into the corner…and here is Roxanne Perez as Hugger Bayley for a distraction. With Bayley going after Perez, Jade gets in Jaded on the floor, followed by Jaded inside for the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B-. That’s probably the biggest win of Jade’s career and that is quite the move, especially when she is chasing the TNA Knockouts Title. I’m not sure I can see her winning the title, but this is the kind of win that could give her some strong momentum in that direction. Bayley does add some star power around here though, and the Hugger deal was rather good.

As Jade celebrates, we go back stage where Ava whispers something to Giulia, who nods. Cue Ava, who adds Jade to the Women’s Title match at Vengeance Day. Bayley lays out the surprised Perez.

Nikkita Lyons mocks Sol Ruca and Zaria so a match is set for later.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. Femi is ready to face both members of A-Town Down Under at Vengeance Day, even if it’s really a handicap match. They can make the mistake of trying to get together to take him out…and here is A-Town Down Under to interrupt. The two of them aren’t impressed with Femi, with Theory talking about how Waller doesn’t get the respect he deserves around here.

Waller says Theory can ride shotgun when he becomes NXT Champion, which lets Femi say it sounds like both of them want to be champion. Waller is tired of hearing about Theory being US Champion and beating John Cena but Theory points out Waller never doing anything on his own. They agree to go after Femi and manage to put him down, only to argue over who gets to hold the title. They aren’t really hiding that this is going to be Femi retaining the title, but it’s still not the most interesting story.

Video on Trick Williams vs. Eddy Thorpe, with Thorpe wanting a strap mach at Vengeance day.

Je’Von Evans is medically cleared to return, but if he gets hurt again, he could be out of action for months. Don’t tease me like that.

Evans signs a liability waiver for his match with Ethan Page at Vengeance Day.

Hank And Tank vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

Inamura cleans house to start until Heights clotheslines Hank. Everything breaks down early on and Briggs hits some running dropkicks to send the Crew outside. Tank comes in and backdrops Borne to the floor as this is all over the place. Hank And Tank crush Borne on the floor but Heights Samoan drops Hank for two as Fraxiom is watching from the balcony.

We take a break and come back with Heights breaking up Hank’s tag to Tank. Instead, Hank hands it off to Inamura, who cleans house with Briggs. Hank and Heights slug it out but Briggs kicks both of them down. A powerbomb gets two on Hank, with Tank making the save. That leaves Hank to hit a big dive onto the pile outside and the fans are impressed. Back in and Hank knocks Briggs off the top but Inamura breaks it up. A top rope splash gives Inamura the pin on Hank at 12:10.

Rating: B. They didn’t really bother with the tagging stuff here and it wound up being totally wild throughout. That’s not a formula that works all the time but they were having a very fun match here, which is better than watching most of these guys try to go technical. If nothing else, points for having Inamura and Briggs actually win something after talking for weeks on end.

Post match Fraxiom thinks Briggs and Inamura deserve a title shot, so they’ll see them at Vengeance Day.

Stacks apologizes to Tony D’Angelo, who says everything is cool, which everything seems to be.

Heritage Cup: JDC vs. Lexis King

King is defending, JDC is better known as Fandango (now in TNA) and the Cup is now one fall title matches. Feeling out process to start with King grabbing a front facelock, only to be taken down into an armbar. A sunset flip out of the corner gives JDC two and he sends King outside for a big dive.

We take a break and come back with JDC missing a middle rope dropkick. King grabs a Canadian Mapleleaf (with commentary getting in the Lance Storm reference) but JDC makes the ropes for the easy break. A Falcon Arrow gives JDC two and King bails to the floor, where a big flip dive takes him down again. Back in and Down And Dirty (guillotine legdrop) gives JDC two but he gets caught on top. A hanging Coronation retains the title at 9:40.

Rating: C+. On one hand, I do get the idea of getting rid of the Heritage Cup rules as they didn’t mean much around here, but at the same time, now it’s just another title. We already have the North American Title and I really don’t think there is much of a need to have two midcard titles around here. Maybe it doesn’t last much longer, but I’m not sure how much sense this whole thing makes.

Roxanne Perez rants to Ava about Cora Jade being added to the title match. Bayley doesn’t want to hear the complaining, but does say this is the best that Perez has ever looked. Jade comes in and doesn’t like what Perez said, but says she’ll win on Saturday.

Fatal Influence is ready for Fallon Henley to defend the Women’s North American Title at Vengeance Day. Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker both come in to say they want title shots but Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to say Karmen Petrovic should be getting the shot. Bickering ensues.

Zaria vs. Nikkita Lyons

Zaria starts fast with some clotheslines but Lyons snaps off a hurricanrana. A double knockdown gives us a breather and Lyons is back up for a camel clutch. That’s broken up with straight power but Lyons misses a Vader Bomb. The spear into an F5 finishes Lyons at 2:47. Well that was abrupt.

Video on Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans.

Trick Williams is in for the strap match with Eddy Thorpe.

Vengeance Day rundown….and here is former AEW star Ricky Starks in the crowd. He isn’t given a name, but he does acknowledge the RICKY STARKS chants by saying “you obviously know who I am.” Starks says you need an absolute star around here and he is here to turn this place upside down. So there’s your big moment, and dang that’s a fast turnaround after Starks left NXT. I’m not sure what he’s going to do around here, but egads please just let him be called Ricky Starks and not Lance Wigglesworth.

Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer wish each other luck at Vengeance Day, with Vaquer hinting that she’s coming for Giulia’s title.

Andre Chase says meets Uriah Connors but can’t party on a school night. Kale Dixon says he thought Chase U was dead, and Chase says it is, but old habits die hard.

North American Title: Ridge Holland vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo, with the Family, is defending in a cage with pin/submission only. Holland slugs away to start but D’Angelo fires back with the uppercuts to the ribs. A clothesline puts Holland into the corner but he rakes the eyes for a breather. Back up and D’Angelo sends him into the cage and we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock before a clothesline puts him back down for two. Holland misses a top rope splash and D’Angelo starts sending him into the cage a few times. D’Angelo grabs a belly to belly but charges into a boot to the face for a breather. They slug it out from their knees until D’Angelo powerbombs him into the cage for two. Izzi Dame tells Stacks to help so he throws in a crowbar, which Holland takes away and drops D’Angelo. Another shot gives Holland two but D’Angelo goes to the eyes. A crowbar shot and spinebuster retain the title at 10:59.

Rating: B-. The cage didn’t really add much here, but I’ll take it over another street fight or weapons based match. D’Angelo is definitely turning into something, and even though his gimmick would be death on the main roster, he’s doing far better than I would have expected around here. Holland losing again is a bit much, but he certainly wasn’t crushed. Just have him win something already if you’re going to though?

Post match Holland and the Family (minus Tony) brawl to the back. Cue Shawn Spears and company, with Dame decking Tony to put him down. The big beatdown is on and the Family is held off with a chair as Tony is destroyed.

We get a long video on Vengeance Day, complete with a look at the four mystery people, complete with a skull mask. Interesting, as I was thinking it was Spears and company after that ending.

Overall Rating: B-. They are trying hard with Vengeance Day but I really can’t get into it. Having Jade added to the Women’s Title match makes it a bit more intriguing, but she feels like she is there for the sake of giving Giulia someone to pin. Other than that, the NXT Title match isn’t doing much for me and the Tag Team Title match was thrown onto the card out of nowhere. This show was a nice try at a go home show, but the show they’re going home to isn’t doing it for me and that’s a big problem.

Results
Cora Jade b. Bayley – Jaded
Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura b. Hank And Tank and No Quarter Catch Crew – Top rope splash to Hank
Lexis King b. JDC – Hanging Coronation
Zaria b. Nikkita Lyons – F5
Tony D’Angelo b. Ridge Holland – Spinebuster

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.