NXT LVL Up
Date: April 15, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to normal around here and that might not be the worst thing. LVL Up has figured out something of a formula and it makes for a nicer show. I’m not sure what to expect from here but it has turned into something a lot more enjoyable than 205 Live was at times. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Roxanne Perez vs. Sloane Jacobs

Perez is better known as Rok-C in her debut. The bigger Jacobs backs her up against the ropes to start but Perez slips out and offers a curtsy, setting up an armdrag. Jacobs drops her throat first across the top though and a neckbreaker gets two. The crossarm choke has Perez in more trouble but she’s back up with a small package for two of her own. Perez knocks her down though and it’s a twisting handspring moonsault for two. A Code Red gives Perez the pin at 4:19.

Rating: C. This was a very basic match as Perez gets her feet wet in WWE. You have to do something with her to see what you have and that is what a show like LVL Up can do. Perez seems like quite the prospect and she did fine enough under the circumstances. That’s a good start of what could be quite the career.

Damon Kemp vs. Troy Donovan

Channing Lauren is here with Donovan. Kemp flips his way out of a wristlock as commentary talks about Donovan’s farm boy upbringing and associated strength. A gutwrench suplex drops Donovan as this is one sided so far. There’s a spinning slam to drop Donovan again but Lauren offers a distraction so Donovan can get in some cheap shots. A clothesline gets two on Kemp and we hit the chinlock. With that not working, Donovan hits a spinning spinebuster and grabs the chinlock again. Kemp fights up without much trouble and hits a running shoulder for two. Donovan is back with a Falcon Arrow of all things for two, only to miss a top rope…something. After dropping Lauren, Kemp grabs a butterfly suplex into a neckbreaker for the pin at 6:01.

Rating: C+. Donovan got to showcase himself a bit here but this was almost all about Kemp, who has the wrestling background and some other stuff to go with it. You can see him getting a little somewhere, though hopefully he isn’t completely forgotten when his brother gets to show up full time.

Kiana James vs. Tatum Paxley

James flips out of Paxley’s wristlock to start and it’s an early standoff with a nod of respect. Cue Ivy Nile to watch Paxley, which fires her up. James slips off of the fireman’s carry though and sends Paxley throat first into the middle rope, setting up an armbar. Some stomps in the corner keep Paxley’s ribs banged up but she manages a suplex. A standing spinning moonsault (practically the same thing Perez did earlier) connects to finish James at 3:58.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as well as Paxley is still figuring some of this out. James looks like she should be fine in a little while, but this was more about Nile and Paxley. That isn’t a thrilling story so far, but Nile comes off like a star and having her around here for something like this does boost the rest of the show up a bit.

Overall Rating: C. This was a rather quick show without much worth seeing, but they kept it really quick this week, with the show barely breaking 25 minutes. Nothing on here was worth seeing, but Perez’s debut was somewhat noteworthy and Kemp looked better than he has so far. LVL Up still isn’t a show that you need to see, but at least it feels like it has a bit of a purpose.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: April 1, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re going back in time a bit for this one as this took place just before Wrestlemania weekend but I was a bit busy at the time so I have some catching up to do. This show was going up against the first part of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, making me wonder why this week actually took place. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, featuring wrestlers who will never be on the this show.

Xyon Quinn vs. Dante Chen

After the respectful fist bump, Quinn shoves his way out of an early headlock. Chen tries to slug away but gets hit in the face for his efforts. A running shoulder sets up a chinlock but Chen fights up with a crossbody, which bounces off of Quinn. Some running shots from Chen have some more effect, including a big boot for two. A high crossbody is pulled out of the air and Chen is planted with a Death Valley Driver. The running punch doesn’t work though as Chen staggers into the corner, only to get caught with the running punch for the pin at 4:47.

Rating: C+. This was far better than I would have expected and I was actually wondering who was going to win in the end. That isn’t something that happens very often around here so points for that, plus having Quinn win a match. I still think they have something with him based on his look alone, but if this is his current level, it might be false hope.

Kayden Carter vs. Tatum Paxley

Kacy Catanzaro is here with Carter. Paxley goes straight for the armbar to start before sending Carter outside, where dancing with Catanzaro ensues. Back in and a sunset flip sends Carter head first into the corner for two and a suplex gets the same. The bodyscissors keeps Carter in trouble but she elbows her way to freedom. Carter fights up and hits a basement superkick for two of her own, only to get slammed down. A standing twisting moonsault gives Paxley two more but Carter is back with a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 6:02.

Rating: C-. Paxley has a good look and will likely get pushed as a result, but Carter was the star here and you could feel it. This was apparently her first singles match in over a year and she did well enough, though there is only so much that you can do in a six minute match against someone who has only been around for a few months now. Not awful, but there’s a reason these two are on this show.

James Drake vs. Damon Kemp

Zack Gibson is in Drake’s corner. Kemp drives him into said corner and Gibson is right there with some advice. Back to the middle and Kemp spins around to take Drake down with a waistlock. Drake reverses into a headlock but Kemp is back up with a backdrop. Gibson offers a distraction so Drake can stomp away. A forearm gets two on Kemp and we hit the chinlock. Kemp fights up and snaps off the overhead belly to belly but Gibson offers another distraction. Cue Edris Enofe and Malik Blade to glare at the villains, allowing Kemp to grab a rollup pin at 6:21.

Rating: C. The ending has me interested here as it seems to set up something for the future. You don’t get that very often on a show like this so I’ll take what I can get when I get it. If nothing else, Kemp finally getting a win is a nice sign for his future, sa he is moving forward a little bit at a time.

Overall Rating: C. This was a nice mixture of stuff as you had a competitive opener, a showcase middle match and a story advancing main event. The show is still far from perfect or even necessary, but they seem to be putting some more thought into it rather than just tossing some random matches out there. In other words, it’s at least better than what we were getting on 205 Live.

Results
Xyon Quinn b. Dante Chen – Running punch
Kayden Carter b. Tatum Paxley – Death Valley Driver
Damon Kemp b. James Drake – Rollup

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NXT LVL Up
Date: March 18, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We are well on the way to Stand & Deliver and believe it or not, something actually happened here last week. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen jumped the Grizzled Young Veterans last week to wrap up the show, which was the first time there was an angle of any kind on this show. Now let’s see how it is not followed up on this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Xyon Quinn vs. Damon Kemp

Respect is shown to start and Kemp can’t take Quinn down with a single leg. A test of strength has Quinn down but he bridges on his neck and fights back up. Kemp’s crossbody bounces off Quinn, giving us some quality posing time. The cravate goes on as Quinn has a cut on his nose. Kemp reverses into a chinlock and a running shoulder in the corner, setting up another chinlock. Quinn fights up and strikes away, setting up his running punch for the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. I’ve liked Quinn for a long time now and it is nice to see him getting a win for a change. That hasn’t been the case for a long time now and while he has a lot of work to do, it is a good sign to see things changing around a bit. Kemp is going to be fine because of his amateur skills, though this is the kind of match that he needs at the moment.

Lash Legend vs. Valentina Feroz

Yulisa Leon is here with Feroz. The fans seem behind Feroz but there are some dueling chants to even it out a bit. Feroz goes right after her to start but gets tossed down hard, setting up a rather delayed vertical suplex. The jumping elbow (which looks awkward as well) gets two on Feroz, who is right back with a guillotine choke. Legend powers out and makes the rope before tossing Feroz down anyway. Feroz is right back up with a high crossbody, which is pulled out of the air but Feroz reverses into a choke with her legs. That’s broken up as well and Legend kicks her in the face for the pin at 4:53.

Rating: D+. It takes something special to make a jumping elbow drop look weird but Legend is making it work. Legend is just not ready for prime time yet and if WWE just has to have her on television, this is the extent of what she can do. She needs a lot more practice and ring time and this is going to help her more than anything else.

Post match Legend grabs the mic and says you knew this was coming. She throws out a threat to Nikkita Lyons too.

Bodie Hayward vs. Dante Chen

Andre Chase is here with Hayward. They trade wrist control to start until Hayward grabs a headlock to take him to the mat. Chen fights back and takes him down into an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Chen charges into a spinebuster for two. A splash to Chen’s back sets up a waistlock as Robert Stone comes out to watch. Chen fights up and strikes away, including a running boot to the face. Hayward hits a clothesline and some running shoulders but a Stone distraction lets Chen grab a rollup for the pin at 6:05.

Rating: C. I don’t know if the Stone interruption means he is working with Chen, but that would be the most interesting thing Chen has done so far. He is completely fine in the ring, but he is another name on a long list of wrestlers with absolutely nothing that makes him stand out. NXT really needs to work on that, because there are a lot of faces in the crowd at the moment and that doesn’t help anyone.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a bit of a step down from last week, but at least they did have a tiny bit of storyline stuff in the end. That can go such a long way in making the show more interesting and it did so here. The wrestling alone isn’t enough to make the show work, so give me a bit of intrigue to make it more interesting. If that’s what we’re going to be getting going forward, this is a much more appealing show, even with fairly weak wrestling.

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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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205 Live
Date: January 28, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re coming up on the Royal Rumble and that means absolutely nothing around here, as none of these people are going to be anywhere near a match that big for a long time. At this point, all that matters is having a show without any kind of a disaster, which may or may not be the case here. Let’s get to it.

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

Josh Briggs vs. Damon Kemp

Brooks Jensen is here with Briggs. Kemp drives Briggs up against the ropes to no avail to start so he does it again for about the same result. Back up and Briggs’ running shoulder has no effect so he kicks Kemp down instead. The fans want to see it again but have to settle for a running elbow in the corner.

Kemp uppercuts his way out of trouble as commentary talks about the Royal Rumble. A Big Boss Man sliding underneath the ropes uppercut gives Briggs two and we hit the chinlock. That doesn’t last long as Kemp fights up and hits some shoulders. A Regal Roll gets two but Briggs blasts him with a lariat for the pin at 5:07.

Rating: C. Kemp was showing some fire here but Briggs is the bigger star and actually needed the win at this point. The country boys are a good midcard team, but it isn’t like they are going to go very far at the moment. Not bad for a 205 Live match though and I could go for more of Kemp.

Valentina Feroz/Yulisa Leon vs. Amari Miller/Lash Legend

Legend doesn’t seem to think much of Miller’s perkiness. Feroz gets tossed into the corner to start and Legend mocks the team’s dancing. With the direct attack not working, Feroz tries to pick up the speed a bit and strikes away before handing it off to Leon. Legend runs her over too and brings in Miller, who gets armdragged down.

Leon flips Feroz onto Miller for two but Legend tags herself in for a slam. There’s a big toss to send Feroz into the corner and it’s a kick from Miller into an elbow from Leon for two. Miller’s chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s back to Leon for her own elbow. Legend comes back in and gets caught with a dropkick so Miller tags herself in. The argument is on and Feroz grabs a small package for the pin at 6:28.

Rating: C-. This was a weird one as it was more about Miller/Legend than the team that was already put together. It’s good to see Feroz and Leon win as they’re one of the few teams who might actually be worthy of a spot in the Dusty Classic, assuming the thing can get enough teams together in the first place. Legend and Miller seem more likely to feud than team together though, and that could make for a bad future.

Joe Gacy vs. Draco Anthony

Harland is here with Gacy. A headlock doesn’t do anything for Gacy but neither does Anthony’s shoulder. Anthony grabs a headlock of his own but a Harland distraction lets Gacy hit a belly to back suplex. We’re off to the chinlock and it’s time to talk about the Rumble again. Back up and Anthony makes the clothesline comeback, setting up an overhead suplex. That’s enough for Gacy, who shoves him away and this the handspring clothesline for the pin at 5:19.

Rating: C. Pretty fine match here, even if Anthony wasn’t going to beat a midcard star like Gacy. This is more like the main event that this show has been needing for a bit and that is nice to see after a long time. Gacy winning wasn’t in doubt, but at least they gave it a bit of time on the way there.

Overall Rating: C. It was nice to have this show see some star power (or as close as you’re going to get to it around here) and that made the show fly by. Granted it’s hard not to have it fly by when it’s just over thirty minutes, but this was a bit of an improvement. At least they had a slightly better show this time around and that’s always nice to see.

NXT
Date: January 11, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

We’re officially in a new era, as Bron Breakker won the NXT Title last week at New Year’s Evil. That is the kind of change you do not see take place very often and now we get to see what happens with Breakker as the star of the show. We should be in for some good stuff, which is long overdue around here. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Bron Breakker winning the NXT Title.

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.

Santos Escobar vs. Xyon Quinn

Elektra Lopez is going to leave with the winner. Quinn jumps him to start as Lopez is watching from the balcony. Some shoulders in the corner keep Escobar in trouble as this is one sided so far. There’s a toss into the corner to send Escobar flying and we take a break. Back with Lopez at ringside and Escobar working on an ankle lock.

Escobar hits a running dropkick to the knee in the corner, setting up an enziguri. Quinn is right back with another toss, but Legado offers a distraction so Escobar can dump him over the top. A posting is loaded up but Lopez offers a distraction to break it up. Quinn throws Escobar back inside and cuts off a dive with a right hand. That seems to please Lopez….who kicks Quinn low. Back in and the Phantom Driver finishes for Escobar at 10:37.

Rating: C+. While I don’t like Quinn losing again, I do like that they made a definitive decision about the story. If Escobar is going for the NXT Title next, this is a good way to go. That being said, Quinn is someone I’ve liked since he debuted and unfortunately it seems to be back to the drawing board for him. That is assuming there is a drawing board to be found around here.

Tony D’Angelo is ready to break Pete Dunne with the crowbar because tonight, he is in charge.

We look at Grayson Waller interfering in AJ Styles’ match on Raw but getting beaten up anyway.

Video on Cameron Grimes.

Mandy Rose is doing a photo shoot by her pool and brags about retaining her Women’s Title. She makes the title hot and wants you to keep staring, which she knows you’ll do.

Cameron Grimes vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp is better known as Bobby Steveson. Grimes takes him down for an early two and the armbar comes on. Cue Malcolm Bivens to watch from the stage as Kemp comes back with a belly to belly. The chinlock goes on but Grimes fights up with the clotheslines. A running shot in the corner drops Kemp again and it’s the Cave In for the pin at 2:20. Kemp got a bit in here before losing.

Joe Gacy and Harland are happy to be involved in the Dusty Classic Play In match. It doesn’t matter what you look like, but Edris Enofe/Malik Blade are going to be in a safe space.

We look back at Von Wagner attacking Andre Chase and some fans last week. Wagner has been fined and suspended.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Play In: Malik Blade/Edris Enofe vs. Harland/Joe Gacy

Gacy drives Enofe into the corner to start and of course gets a clean break. Enofe gets elbowed in the face and it’s a swinging Rock Bottom to give Gacy two. Blade comes in for a dropkick and an armdrag into an armbar. Some double teaming keeps Gacy in trouble but Enofe missed a Stinger Splash, allowing the tag to Harland. Blade is driven face first into the corner and a bunch of rams into the buckle are enough to DQ Harland at 3:15.

Rating: D+. I’m sure this is going to lead to Gacy giving some speech about understanding and that is the important part, as Blade and Enofe are likely to be little more than cannon fodder in the tournament. Gacy and Harland isn’t exactly inspiring stuff, but they seem to be here to stay. It still isn’t great to see Harland in the ring because he is such a raw rookie, but that’s kind of the point of NXT these days.

Imperium is here to teach integrity, discipline and honor. Americans will not understand that, because Imperium only cares about working harder.

Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo

Crowbar on a pole match because reasons. D’Angelo goes for the crowbar to start and gets taken down into an armbar for his efforts. A stomp to the head sets up a front facelock and another stomp to D’Angelo’s head. D’Angelo cuts off a climb attempt and snaps off a t-bone suplex. They both go to the corner, where Dunne stomps on his head but can’t get the crowbar down. Instead D’Angelo hits a Falcon Arrow and we take a break.

Back with Dunne hitting a Regal Cutter and stomping on the arm twice in a row. It’s still too early for the crowbar though as D’Angelo hits a flipping German suplex. D’Angelo gets the crowbar and misses some shots, allowing Dunne to get the crowbar and miss some shots. They fight outside with Dunn saving himself from another hand smash. An enziguri rocks D’Angelo but he’s right back with a crowbar swinging neckbreaker.

D’Angelo stomps on the hand, which wakes Dunne up enough to kick him in the head a few times. Dunne flips out of a German suplex and grabs an STF with the crowbar in the mouth. D’Angelo manages to swing it back into Dunne’s face though and it’s time to grab a chair. That’s taken away though and Dunne grabs the fingers. D’Angelo grabs the crowbar though and they forearm it out. Dunne is send into the corner and a crowbar to the face gives D’Angelo the pin at 13:17.

Rating: C. That was a crowbar on a pole match alright. They both went for the crowbar, one of them got it, and then one of them hit the other with it for the win. It’s still hard to fathom Dunne, who was NXT UK Champion for such a long time, losing to someone like D’Angelo, but the past has pretty much been forgotten around here. D’Angelo is completely fine in the ring, but the campy gimmick is too much to get around.

Grayson Waller is happy with his social media exploding and promises another Grayson Waller moment tonight.

Toxic Attraction video.

Persia Pirotta/Indi Hartwell/Wendy Choo vs. Amari Miller/Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter

Choo is in pajamas and has a pillow, while Carter and Catanzaro dance through the crowd, joining the also dancing Miller on the stage. The bell rings and Choo is already asleep in the corner. Miller kicks Indi in the ribs and dives onto Pirotta on the floor as Kayden tags herself in. She dives out onto Indi and Kacy adds a corkscrew flip dive. Back in and Carter gets kicked down, allowing the tag to Choo, who snaps off kicks and a belly to belly suplex. There’s a t-bone suplex to drop Miller as everything breaks down. Pirotta hits her sitout TKO on Miller, setting up Pretty Savage to give Hartwell the pin at 3:38. Choo is asleep again.

Rating: C-. Good action, but it’s another match that had the wacky comedy thrown in because that is required around here. Choo has a one note character and there won’t be any explanation for why she sleeps all the time. She was impressive when she was in there, but “I like to sleep” might not have the deepest roots.

MSK finds the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy and talk about some teams who could give them trouble. Dakota Kai comes in and says she wants it, and suggests that success divides friendship.

Solo Sikoa is ready for Boa.

Kay Lee Ray breaks up Toxic Attraction’s photo shoot (without Toxic Attraction being around) with her baseball bat. They can to photo shoots but not defend the title? That’s not cool.

Boa vs. Solo Sikoa

Boa kicks away to start but Sikoa is back with some strikes of his own. They head outside with Sikoa getting posted to put Boa in control. Back in and a suplex drops Sikoa to set up a chinlock, with Sikoa bleeding from the mouth. That’s broken up and they fight out to the floor, with Boa being sent into the steps. Boa sends him into the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 3:40.

Rating: C-. So yeah, now they’re protecting Boa, which is another deal that continues to elude me. Sikoa gets my attention and has the family connections, while Boa has been bouncing around with a few different things with none of them clicking yet. Hopefully Sikoa wins the rematch, but I wouldn’t bet on it just yet.

AJ Styles is ready to end the Grayson Waller era because he’s happy the Georgia Bulldogs won the National Title last night.

We look at Carmelo Hayes unifying the Cruiserweight and North American titles last week.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams arrive, telling security to keep the car here because they’ll be right back.

Boa and Sikoa are still brawling in the back, with Sikoa getting fireballed in the face again. Now Boa’s face is magically painted.

Von Wagner’s fine has been paid and his suspension has been lifted.

Here are Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes for a chat. Williams wants the fans to pay some respect to Hayes because they go together like various things that go well together. They pay a quick tribute to Roderick Strong’s Cruiserweight Title and promise nothing but first downs and touchdowns going forward. Hayes is the walking cheat code and you can call the title whatever you want. As long as it is around his waist, it is the A title. Cue AJ Styles for the main event and we get the quick staredown with Hayes. As usual, Hayes sounds pretty confident on the mic.

Post break, Hayes and Williams go to their car, but Cameron Grimes has the keys. Normally he would have taken the car, but now he would rather take the gold.

AJ Styles vs. Grayson Waller

AJ drives him into the corner to start before grabbing a headlock. With that broken up, AJ kicks away at the leg before hitting a backbreaker. The big jumping knee connects for two but Waller sends him into the middle buckle. That doesn’t seem to matter as AJ snaps off a dropkick to send Waller outside. The dive is loaded up but Waller trips AJ face first onto the apron. Waller hits a heck of a clothesline and we take a break.

Back with AJ hitting the Phenomenal Blitz to put Waller back in trouble, setting up the seated Phenomenal Forearm. The Styles Clash is broken up so Waller sends him to the floor for the slingshot forearm. Back in and Waller hits a shot to the face, setting up a middle rope elbow for two. Styles grabs the Calf Crusher but Waller is right over to the ropes. A powerbomb and the flipping Stunner give Waller two each but Styles slips out of a superplex attempt. Styles plants him with a brainbuster, setting up the Phenomenal Forearm for the pin at 14:17.

Rating: B-. Barring some shenanigans, this was about all they could have done. You don’t have many options other than having Styles win, as Waller isn’t going to beat a former multiple time World Champion. The good thing is that there isn’t any shame in Waller losing and he can continue to be the biggest pest on the show. Good match, but were you expecting anything else with Styles involved?

Post match, Styles says Waller is good but not Phenomenal. This isn’t over yet though, and AJ wants to introduce him to one of his friends. Cue LA Knight and the big beatdown is on, with Waller being cleared out. Styles and Knight pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Much like NXT tends to be, there was a good show in here which was dragged down by some bad ideas. Most of those involve bad characters, which was the case with D’Angelo, Choo and Boa. Toxic Attraction isn’t much better, but they aren’t exactly hiding why the team is pushed to the moon. The action was mostly good, and if you can get rid of some of the terrible stuff, you have a good show. I don’t see that happening anytime soon, especially now that Bruce Prichard is in charge, but at least there are some good pieces there.

Results
Santos Escobar b. Xyon Quinn – Phantom Driver
Cameron Grimes b. Damon Kemp – Cave In
Malik Blade/Edris Enofe b. Harland/Joe Gacy via DQ when Harland attacked in the corner
Tony D’Angelo b. Pete Dunne – Crowbar to the face
Persia Pirotta/Indi Hartwell/Wendy Choo b. Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter/Amari Miller – Pretty Savage to Miller
Solo Sikoa vs. Boa went to a double countout
AJ Styles b. Grayson Waller – Phenomenal Forearm

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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205 Live
Date: December 24, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Just in case there are people watching the supplemental show for the minor league brand on Christmas Eve. Last week’s show was one of the rougher watches I’ve had around here and I can only hope that this one is a bit better. Having more people ready for a slightly bigger stage than the Performance Center would help. Let’s get to it.

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

Ivy Nile vs. Fallon Henley

Two weeks in a row for Henley and she gets a rather high energy entrance. Nile throws her down without much trouble to start but gets caught in an armbar. That’s broken up as well so some forearms annoy Nile a bit. A bulldog takes Nile down but she’s fine enough to power her way out of trouble.

There’s a belly to back suplex and a running kick in the corner rocks Henley again. We hit the bearhug on Henley before Nile throws her down. The freedom is enough for Henley to grab a rollup for two and some kicks are good for the same. Nile isn’t having that though and takes her down, setting up the dragon sleeper for the win at 3:14.

Rating: C. Henley got in a good bit before falling here, so they certainly see a little something in her. It is nice to see someone fresh in the division, but this was going to be about Nile getting a nice win. Nile is someone who could become a star in the division in a hurry, and this is the kind of step that she needs to take.

Andre Chase vs. Damon Kemp

The good sized Kemp is making his debut. Chase gets sent into the corner to start before Kemp rides him to the mat without much trouble. Back up and Chase sends him throat first into the ropes to take over, followed by some right hands on the mat. The letter shouting stomps get two and a Russian legsweep is good for the same. We hit the armbar so Kemp can fight up to make the clothesline comeback. Rolling Chaos Theory gives Kemp two but Chase goes for the shoe, setting up the Downward Spiral to finish Kemp at 5:32.

Rating: C-. I wouldn’t have believed it but Chase has managed to turn into something pretty fun with this university stuff. It isn’t something you would expect to pull off but well done for making it something that actually seems to fit. Granted it isn’t going to get much higher, but he’s doing a little something with it. Kemp looks like someone with a good bit of potential based on the amateur stuff alone, though that’s a long term prospect to put it mildly.

Solo Sikoa vs. Ru Feng

They trade shoulders to start and neither can hit a strike to the face. Feng takes him down by the arm for a kick to the back but Sikoa blocks one to the chest. Back up and a running crossbody takes Feng down for two but he’s back up with some more kicks. We hit the chinlock for a bit before they strike it out, with Sikoa getting the better of things. Three straight backsplashes give Sikoa two and it’s a spinning backfist into the Superfly Splash to finish Feng at 4:50.

Rating: C. This was the best, or at least most impressive looking, showing from Feng to date. His kicks were looking like they could do damage and he made Sikoa work for a win. That being said, Sikoa is another guy that seems like he could be a breakout star pretty soon and he is looking a bit further along than some of the other newcomers. Putting him in a match like this gives him some exposure, but I’m not sure how much he is getting out of it.

Overall Rating: C. It was a big upgrade over last week, though part of that is just due to not having a horrible match included. Giving these wrestlers a chance to get in the ring is a good thing, but at some point they need to have more than a four minute match. For now though, this show is a nice addition and something that lets some of these newer wrestlers actually get in front of people. You have to do that somehow, and since house shows are out, this is about as good as we’re getting.

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.