NXT LVL Up
Date: September 9, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

Last week’s show was hardly inspiring, meaning the trend continues around here. The show has once again become little more than a collection of matches without much rhyme or reason and that makes it hard to figure out what you are going to see from week to week. Maybe this week can be an upgrade so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bodhi Hayward vs. Charlie Dempsey

Chase U is here with Hayward and this is a much bigger match than I would have expected. Hayward goes right after him to start and knocks Dempsey into the corner before taking him down by the wrist. Commentary says that Dempsey is a second generation star but doesn’t mention the first generation.

Dempsey powers up and hits something like an AA but Hayward stays on the wristlock. With that not working, Dempsey fights up and pulls him down into something like an STF. We’ll make that a regular armbar but Hayward is back up with some forearms, including the running version. Dempsey pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar though, which he shifts into a Regal Stretch for the tap at 7:41.

Rating: C. If this is what we could be getting on this show going forward, I’ll be much happier. This was a match that actually tied into what they have been doing on NXT as of late and that’s a lot better than I would have bet on. It’s good to see Dempsey get a win, as he is the kind of wrestler who will always have a spot because he’s that good at the grappling, so well done here.

Valentina Feroz vs. Sol Ruca

The rather athletic Ruca (Nigel: “She takes after her grandfather, Argentina Ruca!” Shah: “I don’t think that’s true.”) grabs a headlock to start. Back up and Ruca cartwheels forward and grabs the headlock again but Feroz fights up and takes her into a wristlock. An exchange of arm cranking on the mat goes to Ruca as she pulls Feroz into the air. That’s reversed into a choke until Feroz pulls her down into a backslide for the pin at 5:53.

Rating: C. Ruca is fine enough at what she does, but there are so many athletic blondes that it is going to take something special to make her stand out. The cartwheels and flips will get her somewhere but I don’t think that is going to be enough so far. Then again she is on the way to the main NXT show next week so apparently she has done something right.

Stacks vs. Ikemen Jiro

Tony D’Angelo is here with Stacks. They fight over a lockup to start and take turns driving each other into the corner. Jiro works on the arm and snaps off some armdrags but Stacks PULLS OFF JIRO’S JACKET! That doesn’t work for Jiro, who takes it right back and sends him outside. Back in and Stacks drops him again before working on a cravate. That’s broken up and Jiro comes back with the jacket punches into a falling jacket punch for two. An Iconoclast out of the corner sets up a missed Ikemen Slash and Stacks kicks him in the face for the pin at 5:16.

Rating: C. The D’Angelo guys are still not exactly awesome but it’s amazing how much better they are when they aren’t talking. Stacks is about as generic as you can get in the ring but Jiro is someone who can make anyone look ok at worst. Jiro isn’t likely to win anything important either so this went about as you would have expected.

Overall Rating: C. This was actually a bit of a step up over previous efforts, with the main thing being that opener that managed to tie into a story. With as many teams and partnerships as they have around here, that shouldn’t be hard to make work most weeks. Even if there isn’t some kind of a team aspect, just do a match and then have someone talk about their current feud. It shouldn’t be that hard, but NXT manages to make it difficult for whatever reason.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: May 27, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

I’m not sure what to think of the show these days and there isn’t anything coming out of last week to set this up. They had something going for a few weeks with something leading to a possible story for the next week but that hasn’t bee the case in a long time now. Maybe we can get a little something here so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Andre Chase/Bodhi Hayward vs. Bryson Montana/Demaris Griffin

Hayward grabs a headlock on Griffin to start but Griffin reverses into one of his own. Back up and a hiptoss has Griffin in the corner but it’s off to Montana. A sunset flip gives Chase two before it’s time for the spelling stomps. Montana doesn’t care for that and sends him face first into the mat. Chase isn’t having any of this and fights up, getting over for the tag to Hayward. House is quickly cleaned and the Fratliner finishes Montana at 3:49.

Rating: C. Chase and Hayward continue to be two of the most entertaining people in all of NXT and that is something worth having around. I still see something from Montana and I wouldn’t have him taking falls, but at least he is getting some ring time. Now just find something else for him to do and maybe they have a little something with him.

Arianna Grace vs. Amari Miller

Miller wins an exchange of forearms and grabs an armbar. Some more forearms set up a Regal cutter for two on Grace, who drives her into the corner to even things up. A bow and arrow hold has Miller in more trouble and we hit the chinlock. Miller fights up and kicks away but gets caught in a sunset flip. That’s broken up though and Miller grabs a cradle for the pin at 5:13.

Rating: C-. Grace has some size and power though she is in need of something to make her stand out. For the sake of her career, hopefully it doesn’t involve talking about her father, who is kind of a pest. Miller on the other hand has all the charisma that she needs and could be a bigger deal if given the chance. Now just give her some better competition to learn from and you might have something.

Dante Chen vs. Trick Williams

Carmelo Hayes is here with Williams. Some running shoulders set up an armbar on Williams and it’s an armdrag into another armbar. Back up and Williams him down before cranking on a wristlock. Chen gets caught in an armbar and can’t quite power out. The second attempt works a bit better but Williams knocks him down again. An elbow misses for Williams though and Chen gets to strike away. A belly to back suplex gives Chen two but Williams hits the Trick Kick for the pin at 6:06.

Rating: C. Just a match here as there is only so much that you can get out of these two. Neither of them is overly interesting, though at least Williams has some charisma when he is getting the chance to talk. Granted it doesn’t mean all that much when you have him with Carmelo Hayes, who is far better than Williams in any given way.

Williams and Hayes celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Another ho and may I add hum show this week and that shouldn’t be the biggest surprise. You can only get so far with a show with this level of talent and nothing in the world of storytelling, so this was only going to be ok at best. The matches were fine enough, though I’m not entirely sure I’ll remember them tomorrow. In other words: this was Level Up.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: April 22, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Matt Camp

I’m at the point where I don’t know what to expect from this show, as you might get someone making a one off appearance before debuting on the main NXT show or a name with nothing else going on. The show has worked before so maybe they can do it again here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Malik Blade/Edris Enofe vs. Quincy Elliott/Damaris Griffin

This is Griffin’s in-ring debut. Blade staggers the much bigger Elliott with a dropkick but Elliott hits a quick splash on the back to take over. Griffin comes in to work on Enofe’s arm but that’s reversed into another wristlock, allowing Blade to come in with the ax handle. A double belly to back suplex drops Griffin again but he’s right back with a spinebuster.

Elliott comes back in to knock Enofe down, allowing Griffin to whip him into the corner over and over. Elliott’s Pounce sends Enofe flying and the nerve hold goes on. A sitdown splash misses though and the hot tag brings in Blade to clean house. Blade’s high crossbody gets two on Elliott but it’s back to Griffin for a powerslam. Enofe dives in for a save and it’s a legsweep into a frog splash for the pin on Griffin at 6:33.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t exactly a classic and it was a match between two teams not going anywhere but I got into this by the end and was wondering who was winning. I could have gone for more of this as Blade and Enofe are starting to become quite the nice young team. Do more stuff like this around here and the show would be a good bit more enjoyable every week.

Fallon Henley vs. Thea Hail

Henley powers her into the corner to start and then sends Hail down, which has Hail thinking twice about this. There’s a shoulder to put Hail down again and Henley throws in a dance. Back up and Hail hits a running ax handle to take over for the first time and a rollup gets two. The double arm crank goes on but Henley fights up and hits a Shining Wizard for the pin at 4:19.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t quite as intriguing as Henley didn’t seem to break a sweat against Hail. Henley is just a step above a manager on NXT at this point, though at least she has a personality compared to her days as just another wrestler. Hail isn’t exactly a star yet but she has done well enough in her limited appearances.

Dante Chen vs. Bodhi Hayward

Andre Chase is here with Hayward (who seems to be a bit sunburned), who takes him to the mat with a headlock. That’s reversed into a headscissors but they’re both back up to run the ropes without hitting each other. Chen grabs a headlock takeover before switching to a front facelock to stay on the neck. We hit the chinlock, leaving Chase to coach from ringside. Hayward fights up and (with a bloody nose) hits his bouncing splash for two. Chen’s fireman’s carry is broken up and Hayward grabs a spinebuster for the pin at 5:56.

Rating: C. Just a match here, but it was nice to see Hayward get a win like this. He is capable of doing some good things in front of a fired up crowd and that is enough of the case around here most of the time. Hayward and Chase aren’t ready for anything that much bigger, but there is nothing wrong with being popular in front of a specific crowd.

Overall Rating: C. The opener was surprisingly good but the rest of the show was just kind of there, with a pretty lame match and one firmly in the middle. There wasn’t much to see with this show and that isn’t exactly surprising, as it tends to be the norm. I can’t imagine they change much to the formula, but at least there is a formula in the first place.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: April 8, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re basking in that post Wrestlemania glow and while it might have dimmed out a bit by the time it gets to NXT LVL Up, it still feels a bit special. Last week seemed to tease a tag match and that could be a good thing for a future show. I’ll take a small story over no story so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Javier Bernal vs. Guru Raaj

Shah: “Raaj dreams of headlining premium live events.” A quote that has never been said about anyone in history. Bernal grabs a headlock to start before they go to a pinfall reversal sequence. Raaj starts working on the arms as the fans get behind Bernal. That’s broken up and Bernal kicks away, setting up the Codebreaker for the pin at 5:08.

Rating: C-. These are two more guys on the roster with nothing that makes them stand out and nothing all that interesting about them. I’m not sure what NXT is going to be able to do with them, but it isn’t like there has been much of an investment put into them so far. Right now, the best description of these two is where they’re from and they need more than that.

Ivy Nile vs. Thea Hail

This is Hail’s debut and she is dressed like a superhero, complete with a cape. The fans think Nile is going to kill her, starting with a lethal wristlock. Hail, with a gymnastics background, backflips out but gets caught in a fireman’s carry drop onto the top. A fall away slam sets up a running kick in the corner to give Nile two. Hail is sent into the corner for a flipping cutter (that could be a finisher) and a suplex gets two, only to have Hail make a quick comeback. You don’t do that to Nile though as she grabs the dragon sleeper for the tap at 4:09.

Rating: C. Nile is getting into Taz territory with just another victim and that is not a bad thing. NXT has done a great job in making her feel like a star and we are reaching the point where she could be dropped into the title picture without a second thought. That is how you develop talent and Nile certainly has it.

Andre Chase/Bodie Hayward vs. Channing Lauren/Troy Donovan

Chase works on Lauren’s arm to start but Lauren sends him into the corner, setting up the loser L on the forehead. When you’re taking your taunts from the Bellas, you might want to pack it in already. That’s too much for Chase, who takes him down for the CHASE U stomping. Hayward comes in with a sunset flip for two so it’s off to Donovan, who gets armdragged into an armbar. A cheap shot from the apron slows Chase down though and Donovan scores with a dropkick.

Chase fights out of an armbar and rolls his way over to Hayward for the hot tag to clean house. Everything breaks down and Hayward grabs a Gory Stretch, with Chase getting a running start and spinning across Lauren for a Downward Spiral (it’s kind of hard to describe) and the pin at 6:57. Nigel dubs the finisher the Fratliner so we’ll go with that.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash but it’s nice to see Chase U getting a win for a change. Chase has worked so hard and managed to get that stupid thing over so having them be successful is cool to see. Granted they aren’t going to go much higher, but it’s a unique gimmick and is working fairly well.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a downgrade after last week as they didn’t have anything that you needed to see. Nile continues to be a hidden gem in NXT and I like seeing her wreck whomever is in front of her. Other than that though, this was a pretty nothing, skippable show and unfortunately that has a tendency to be the norm around here.

Results
Javier Bernal b. Guru Raaj – Codebreaker
Ivy Nile b. Thea Hail – Dragon sleeper
Andre Chase/Bodhi Hayward b. Channing Lauren/Troy Donovan – Fratliner to Lauren

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205 Live
Date: February 4, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

It isn’t saying much when the biggest moment on a show is the introduction of a new announcer but that is about all we got last week. So far it seems that the idea of dropping the 205 Live name is already over, which shouldn’t be that big of a surprise. Odds are most important people in WWE have not thought of this show in a long time, so let’s get to it.

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

Bodhi Hayward vs. Brooks Jensen

Andre Chase and Josh Briggs are here too. Feeling out process to start with the fans very behind Bodhi. A wristlock doesn’t get Jensen very far so he takes Hayward down and puts a knee on his head. Back up and Bodhi grabs a hiptoss, setting up the up/down splashes. Jensen goes right back to the arm and the chinlock goes on. That’s broken up (twice) and Nigel is way behind Bodhi. Some three point charges take Jensen down again but a third is cut off by a knee to the face to give Jensen the pin at 6:04.

Rating: C-. Every time I see Chase and Hayward, I am more and more amazed by the fact that they are making this work. It’s a goofy gimmick with little future but they put everything into it to make the thing work. Briggs and Jensen have fallen a decent way and that’s not good for their future, but there is always a place for some big cowboys on a WWE show.

Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter vs. Fallon Henley/Lash Legend

Brooks and Jensen are here to watch Catanzaro and Carter. Legend is the only one here who doesn’t like to dance. Carter takes Henley down to start and walks over her back, much to the fans’ delight. It’s off to Catanzaro, who gets launched for a seated senton on Henley for an early near fall. Legend comes in and throws Catanzaro down, which leaves Catanzaro smiling a bit.

A gorilla press doesn’t work so it’s Carter coming in to help with some double teaming. That doesn’t work either as Legend sends Carter into the corner for a hard chop and a tag to Henley. For some reason Legend is right back in for a powerslam before Henley adds an X Factor for two. Carter gets over to the corner without much trouble and the hot tag brings Catanzaro back in. Everything breaks down and the 450/neckbreaker combination finishes Legend at 6:13.

Rating: C. It’s kind of amazing how much easier Legend is to watch without her doing the most annoying talk show in recorded history. She has the size and athleticism to be something around here, but this is the highest level she should be at right now. Henley could have something, but putting her in a team where Legend is going to overshadow her isn’t the best way to see what she can do.

Kushida vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp wrestles him down with no trouble to start and mocks Kushida’s time obsession. Kushida dropkicks the arm but the much bigger Kemp shoves him away without much trouble. An overhead belly to belly sends Kushida flying (Shah: “There you see that Pedigree.”) but Kushida scores with the handspring elbow. Kemp shrugs him off and tries a fireman’s carry, only to get reversed into a cross armbreaker for the tap at 3:50.

Rating: C. You can absolutely see that they want Kemp to be something and he seems to have the skills to do so. The amateur abilities will always work and this felt like he got caught instead of defeated. Kushida gave him about as much as he could in a less than four minute loss and it felt like the biggest thing on the show by a few miles.

Overall Rating: C. This was a better showing than most weeks around here as the main event was good and the other two matches showcased some people well enough. The show still has very little reason to exist other than to warm up the NXT crowd, but I still wonder how much WWE expects these wrestlers to get out of a match that lasts around five minutes. Either way, the main event wasn’t too bad and I’ll take that over most weeks.

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NXT
Date: January 25, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s the go home show for the Royal Rumble and I don’t think that is going to mean much for most of the people around here. NXT is in a different world than almost anything that happens on the main roster and in a way that’s a good thing, as they can do some positive stuff on their own. Let’s get to it.

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

MSK is next to the Dusty Cup and ready to win it again. Now they know what it takes to get back to the top of the mountain thanks to Riddle, but DON’T TOUCH THE CUP!

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Jacket Time vs. MSK

Carter and Kushida start things off with neither being able to get anywhere. It’s off to Lee, who immediately gets punched down by Jiro. Jacket Time takes him into the corner to start up the beating and it’s a double bulldog to give Kushida two. Jiro gets taken down in the corner though and it’s Carter hitting a Bronco Buster, which the fans don’t seem to like very much. Some double teaming takes Jiro down and we take a break.

Back with Jiro getting suplexed down, setting up a kick to the chest. There’s the running shooting star for two and it’s back to Lee, who gets caught in the belly to back kneeling piledriver for two. Lee fights up and brings in Carter to clean house. The push moonsault is countered into the Hoverboard Lock but Carter drives him into the corner for the Blockbuster Hart Attack and the pin at 11:32.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match where they were supposed to go about 100 miles an hour and that’s what they did for a good bit. MSK needed to win to move forward, as there is a redemption story to them making the finals, if not flat out winning the tournament. Jacket Time might not be everyone’s thing, but they are at the level they should be at: a pretty low comedy team who gets good reactions and loses.

Respect is shown post match.

Zoey Stark tells Io Shirai she needs to find a new partner because Stark’s knee isn’t ready yet. Shirai doesn’t want to, but here is Tiffany Stratton to mock both of them. Stratton is ready to beat Shirai tonight, sending Shirai into a rant.

Video on Cameron Grimes wanting to beat Tony D’Angelo and move on to get the North American Title.

Legado del Fantasma is in the ring with Santos Escobar mocking Bron Breakker. People make fun of him because of his family and his poor math skills (Ha!) but he is already billed as a star. Escobar is a real star but here is Breakker to interrupt. Breakker gets in Escobar’s face and tells him to callate because the champ is speaking. Just issue the challenge already because he’ll accept it. Escobar says it’s on his time and leaves, only to have his goons jump Breakker. This goes as well as you would expect and Breakker stands tall.

Video on Boa vs. Solo Sikoa.

Solo Sikoa vs. Boa

No DQ and falls count anywhere with Boa jumping him with a kendo stick to start. A bunch of weapons are thrown in but Sikoa hits a Samoan drop. Everything but a single chair is cleared out so Boa wins a tug of war and beats Sikoa down again. A butterfly suplex onto a trashcan lets Boa set up a table at ringside but the delay lets Sikoa fight up. They fight into the back with Boa sending him into a ladder, which is then rammed into Sikoa’s chest.

Another shot misses though and Boa is rammed into a steel door. Sikoa goes outside and locks the door behind him so Boa opens the damaged garage door. Sikoa is right there with a blast from a fire extinguisher and they head back into the arena. Boa is sent into some chairs in the corner and a superkick takes him down again. The Superfly Splash is broken up with a crotching though and they head outside again. A Samoan drop sends Boa onto the announcers’ table and it’s a Superfly Splash to put Boa through another table for the pin at 8:04.

Rating: B-. I don’t know how big of a win this is going to be for Sikoa as he was beating Boa, but he had a hard fought match that felt like the end of this mini feud. Sikoa has the genetics and family name to make something of himself and the brawling style should work well. Boa….yeah I don’t get it, but he lost in the big match here so at least they didn’t go too far.

Video on Imperium, who talks about how it is time to move on from the past and fear the name of Gunther. WWE certainly feared the long form of the name.

Duke Hudson vs. Guru Raaj

Hudson starts fast and hammers away, setting up a side slam. A Razor’s Edge finishes for Hudson at 1:08.

Post match here is Dante Chen to say he’s coming for Hudson, albeit respectfully. Referees break it up but Hudson chop blocks him down.

Persia Pirotta likes Duke Hudson with short hair but Indi Hartwell tells her to focus. Kay Lee Ray comes in to suggest she wants to beat up Mandy Rose with a baseball bat. Or just pin her.

Legado del Fantasma is unhappy with Bron Breakker and the challenge is on….for him to face Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. He doesn’t have any friends so it’s not worries.

Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta/Kay Lee Ray vs. Toxic Attraction

Ray wants Mandy Rose to start but Jacy Jayne tags herself in instead. That’s fine with Ray, who drives her into the corner for the tag off to Hartwell. A kick to the head rocks Jayne so Rose comes in, only to get backbreakered by Pirotta. There’s a kick to the head and it’s back to Ray, sending Rose bailing to the floor.

Ray is left alone in the ring so it’s a huge dive to the floor to take all three down at once. Back in and Dolin gets caught in the corner for a beating, only to drive Hartwell into the wrong corner. Some Kawada Kicks knock Hartwell silly but she’s back with a side slam to Rose. Jayne breaks up the tag though and Dolin takes her down for two.

We take a break and come back with Hartwell still in trouble and Jayne hitting a running neckbreaker. They chop it out and knock each other down so the tag is off to Pirotta to clean house. Everything breaks down and it’s Ray superkicking Rose before grabbing the bat. The bat hits the steps and the post and Ray chases her to the back. That leaves Dolin to small package Pirotta for two, only to get kicked in the face. The fireman’s carry faceplant finishes Dolin at 13:53.

Rating: C. Take the challengers and the champions, put them in the same match and give one of the challengers a win to set up a title match later. That’s classic wrestling booking and it will work fine here. Toxic Attraction feel like vulnerable champions and Hartwell/Pirotta will be fine as challengers on the big show. Ray is the serious threat to Rose and while I don’t know if she will take the title, at least they have set her up well.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade can’t believe they have made it to the semifinals of the Dusty Classics and they could go all the way. Enofe seems interested in Toxic Attraction though and somehow he loses his shirt.

Earlier today, Raquel Gonzalez was training when Cora Jade came in to ask to be her partner again. That still won’t happen because Gonzalez can’t trust her. Jade loads up a slap but it gets blocked, with Gonzalez getting serious.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Andre Chase/Bodhi Hayward

Drake shoves Chase down to start so Chase flips him around by the wrist. The spelling stomps have Drake in more trouble and it’s time to alternate on the arm. Some Flip Flop and Fly stagger Drake again but Gibson pulls him to the floor. A spike shoulder breaker put Chase down but he’s fine enough to roll over for the tag off to Hayward. House is cleaned but it’s a double Codebreaker to finish Hayward at 5:10.

Rating: C. I like the Veterans, but I am long past the point of believing that they are going to be given a serious push, or even a major win, in NXT. At the same time you have Chase and Hayward and they have managed to get this stupid gimmick over. I absolutely would not have bet on that and well done on pulling off what should not have been possible. It might not go very far, but they have a something with it, at least for the time being.

Post match here is Von Wagner to jump Chase and Hayward. Robert Stone comes in to say Wagner is under new management.

Grayson Waller, with his bodyguard Sanga, is ready to take out LA Knight, who is still under a restraining order.

Odyssey Jones has undergone knee surgery and will be out of action until the fall.

Io Shirai vs. Tiffany Stratton

Shirai doesn’t see sure of what to think of Stratton. A wristlock has Stratton flipping away and she kicks Shirai down, leaving commentary stunned. The chinlock has Shirai in more trouble and even the fans chanting can’t bring her back up. They get to their feet with Stratton shouting a lot, only to get palm struck into the corner. A slam sets up the Moons Over Moonsault for the pin on Stratton at 4:17.

Rating: C. That’s how this kind of a match should have gone, as Stratton is still brand new and Shirai is one of the best ever around here. Stratton got in some offense before ultimately falling, though there was only ever going to be so much drama here. I’m not sure what to make of Stratton so far, but she has the athleticism to make something of herself, assuming she can get around the lame gimmick (see also most of this NXT).

Malcolm Bivens thinks Gunther is a stupid name. Bivens: “It should have been DUMBA**, in all caps!” This is a new beginning and it’s time for the team to take out Imperium, including Ivy Nile stretching him to his mother’s house.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams introduce Olliejayy for a musical performance.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for Cameron Grimes.

Tiffany Stratton is on the phone with her dad and complains about the referee. She runs into Wendy Choo, who thinks the referee had a point. Stratton slaps her cup away, sending Choo into some whining about her free refill. Someone was paid to come up with that.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Cameron Grimes

The winner gets Carmelo Hayes (on the balcony with Trick Williams) for the North American Title in the future. D’Angelo starts fast by snapping off a suplex, setting up a choke in the corner. Grimes gets planted down again and we take a break. Back with Grimes hitting him in the face but getting punched in the ribs. The waistlock goes on but Grimes fights up and hits a bunch of forearms.

D’Angelo is rocked for a change and Grimes hits his flipping powerslam for two. Back up and the threat of the Cave In sends D’Angelo outside. That’s fine with Grimes, who grabs a hat. Cue Pete Dunne with a 2×4 to hit D’Angelo in the hand, allowing Grimes to hit the Cave In for the pin at 11:35 (possibly while thanking D’Angelo at the same time).

Rating: C+. As has been the case with a lot of the matches tonight, I don’t think there was much drama here, but they got tot he point after some good action. Grimes can work well with anyone and it’s not like D’Angelo is awful in the ring. There was no reason to believe D’Angelo was winning here but they didn’t overstay their welcome, even with Dunne’s return.

Bron Breakker is leaving when Legado del Fantasma pops up in their SUV. Breakker is ready to fight but Tommaso Ciampa comes in to even the odds a bit. Breakker says the math checks out for him as Legado leaves to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The best thing I can say about this show is that it felt like one of the old NXT’s. This show felt like it had a bunch of things to accomplish and then went through them one by one, including setting things up for later. That’s one of the reasons NXT worked so well back in the day and it was working again here. While the show has some problems, it feels like it has a direction and that is what matters more than anything else at the moment.

Results
MSK b. Jacket Time – Blockbuster Hart Attack to Kushida
Solo Sikoa b. Boa – Superfly Splash through a table
Duke Hudson b. Guru Raaj – Razor’s Edge
Kay Lee Ray/Persia Pirotta/Indi Hartwell b. Toxic Attraction – Fireman’s carry facebuster to Dolin
Grizzled Young Veterans b. Andre Chase/Bodhi Hayward – Double Codebreaker to Hayward
Io Shirai b. Tiffany Stratton – Moons Over Moonsault
Cameron Grimes b. Tony D’Angelo – Cave In

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205 Live
Date: January 21, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

We are almost up to the Royal Rumble and that is not likely to mean much around here. Aside from the fact that NXT does not tend to get a ton of representation in the Royal Rumble matches, it is hard to imagine anyone on this show getting s chance in the match. Maybe this week can be more of a full show, as last week’s was cut a little short. Let’s get to it.

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

Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley

Henley is back and now she likes to dance. Legend powers her way out of an early waistlock to start so Henley goes after the arm. That earns her a hard shot to the face and something like a claw sends Henley into the corner. A belly to belly sets up a posing cover, followed by the chinlock to keep Henley in trouble. Legend sends her flying with a standing fall away slam but Henley is back up with a crossbody. That’s enough for Legend, who grabs her over the back torture rack to finish Henley at 4:27.

Rating: D+. I don’t know if Legend is supposed to be NXT’s answer to Jade Cargill, but she is making Jade look better by comparison. She is one of those wrestlers who can barely do anything, though this was a bit of an improvement over her previous effort. Legend still isn’t very good and I don’t know what the point is in bragging about her WNBA experience while changing her name, but at least it wasn’t that Sarray match. Henley has some charisma to her and once she gets the chance, she could become a bit of a thing around here.

Draco Anthony vs. Javier Bernal

This is Bernal’s debut and he grabs a headlock to start. That works so well that he does it again and then takes Anthony over. Anthony breaks it up with a belly to back suplex and we hit a seated armbar/chinlock. Bernal fights up again and hits some uppercuts, only to walk into a Rough Ryder to give Anthony the pin at 4:13..

Rating: C-. Another basic match here between some very inexperienced (at least around here) wrestlers. This is what I was picturing when I thought about a developmental show and that isn’t exactly a good thing. It’s far from a terrible match, but you can tell that these guys have a very limited playbook.

Here are Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward for a chat. It’s time to add some hardware to their trophy case, because they’re going to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They’ll start against the Grizzled Young Veterans and tonight’s preview is a TEACHABLE MOMENT! Cue the Grizzled Young Veterans to say Chase can’t teach them anything.

Bodhi Hayward vs. James Drake

Andre Chase and Zack Gibson are here too. Drake grabs a headlock to start but Hayward is back with a slam. Three straight splashes (ala the up downs exercise in football warmups) get two on Drake, who reverses a suplex into a chinlock. That’s broken up and Hayward hits some running shoulders to the knee but a Gibson distraction lets Drake kick him in the face for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Best match of the show, as the crowd being into it helped carry things. Sometimes that’s better than having higher quality action and that was the case here. Hayward has some potential and Drake is an established (and grizzled/young) veteran so this worked out pretty ok. Chase has gotten the fans to care about this stupid deal and that is a lot more than most people can say in NXT at the moment.

Overall Rating: C-. The main event helped a tiny bit but this was the same bunch of problems this show always has: short, unappealing matches between people just trying to get in the ring. That isn’t how you develop a wrestler in the normal world but WWE is in the assembly line business more than the developmental business. Get these wrestlers in, give them something that distinguishes them in the slightest way possible and move them along. No wonder this show is so dull.

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205 Live
Date: January 14, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Much like the case was before this show shifted towards an NXT focus, I have run out of ways to talk about this show. It’s going to be something similar every week and that isn’t exactly an inspiring idea. All you can hope for is that the matches aren’t the worst, which can be a hit or miss prospect. Let’s get to it.

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

Here are Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward to get things going. Chase talks about how Hayward was about to be tossed off the roof of the Performance Center but Von Wagner backed off. Now we have a TEACHABLE MOMENT, because Andre Chase University is ready to fight back in Hayward’s first match!

Bodhi Hayward vs. Guru Raaj

Hayward works on a headlock to start but Raaj slips out and grabs a wristlock. A sunset flip gives Hayward two and a delayed slam drops Raaj again. Back up and Raaj kicks at the leg, setting up an abdominal stretch. Hayward breaks that up without much effort though and a rollup out of the corner finishes Raaj at 4:26.

Rating: D+. What is there to say here? Two of the lowest level wrestlers in all of WWE had a boring match that never got above maybe second gear. This is about as low on the totem pole as you can be while still being above ground and it isn’t like there was any reason to get excited. Chase is turning himself into something, but getting interested in his lackey isn’t working so far.

Valentina Feroz vs. Ivy Nile

Feeling out process to start until Nile takes it to the mat. The grappling is on, with Feroz actually getting the better of things and grabbing a headlock. Nile can’t get out of trouble, with Feroz even running the corner to take Nile down again. Feroz is finally spun over into a figure four necklock before Nile throws her over into Carmella’s Cone of Silence. The rope is finally grabbed and Feroz is back up with a few takedowns. Nile has had it with her though and grabs the dragon sleeper for the tap at 4:35.

Rating: C. Now this was more like it as they had a rather energized match with Feroz showing off the Brazilian ju jitsu skills to take Nile down. That isn’t going to work for very long though and Nile eventually shrugged it off to win, which is how this should have gone. The good thing is they let Feroz get in some offense first, which isn’t something I would have expected to see.

We look at Bron Breakker becoming NXT Champion.

From NXT.

Here is Breakker to get things going. The title looks good around his waist but the fans are split on whether or not he deserves it. Breakker thanks Tommaso Ciampa for being a great champion and a respectable human being. Last week, Ciampa told him it was his time and went over to shake his father’s hand.

We don’t have any days off around here though so if anyone wants some, come get it. Just remember that if you come in to train, he’s already trained. If you’re watching film, he’s already done it, because he’s the freaking NXT Champion. Breakker goes to leave but Santos Escobar comes out for his match, giving us a quick staredown. Breakker sounded like a Steiner here and that is a good thing.

Overall Rating: C-. This wasn’t much to see, but it seems that Odyssey Jones was injured during his match, which was edited out as a result. That would explain the very low amount of wrestling, but also why we suddenly had a pretty inconsequential promo inserted instead. The show was its usual skippable self though and that is barely a surprise anymore.

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

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