NXT LVL Up
Date: March 8, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

My confusion with these shows continues as I had a better time with last week’s show after weeks of almost nothing. That could make for something good this time around here, assuming there is anything involving continuity. Granted There is no reason to believe that will be the case but oh well. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Scrypts vs. Dion Lennox

OTM is here with Scrypts, who is sent hard into the corner to start. Lennox wrestles him to the mat but Scrypts flips away from the threat of a right hand. That’s fine with Lennox, who grabs a bridging northern lights suplex for two but Scrypts starts working on the arm. A middle rope crossbody gives Scrypts two and it’s back to the arm. Lennox fights up and makes the one armed comeback but the arm gives out again. Scrypts sends said arm into the corner and it’s a rolling cutter to give Scrypts the pin at 5:51.

Rating: C. Scrypts continues to be someone I tend to forget is around most of the time and that was the case coming into this as well. He’s still an amazing acrobat and can do some impressive things, but that doesn’t make him someone who is the brightest star around here. Lennox isn’t someone who should be beating Scrypts, making this less than ideal.

Karmen Petrovic is ready for Izzi Dame, even if Kiana James is in Dame’s corner.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Izzi Dame

Kiana James is here with Dame. Petrovic’s headlock doesn’t last long as Dame reverses into an armbar. A big boot puts Petrovic down and there’s a full nelson slam to make it worse. Some backbreakers give Dame two and she grabs the torture rack. With that broken up, Petrovic goes up for a middle rope crossbody but Dame is back with the Z Quill for the pin at 4:28.

Rating: C-. Pretty to the point match here with neither of them getting to stand out. Dame and James are still the same middle of the road team they have been since they got together and that isn’t exactly great. Petrovic isn’t doing much either, though her martial arts stuff looks good when she gets to use them.

Dante Chen vs. Tavion Heights

They go to the mat to start and that goes a grand total of nowhere. Heights grinds away on a headlock but Chen is back with an armbar. More grappling doesn’t get either anywhere as commentary talks about what Stand & Deliver means to the wrestlers around here. Ignore that neither of these two are anywhere close to that level as Heights hits a hard clothesline.

Heights pulls him down out of the corner and grabs an armbar to keep things slow. Chen is right back with a neckbreaker but Heights suplexes his way out of a headlock. Another suplex has Chen in more trouble and a doctor bomb gives Heights two. Back up and Chen hits something like a Side Effect for two, meaning frustration is setting in. The double chop misses though and Heights grabs a spinning belly to belly for the pin at 7:09.

Rating: C. This got better in the end and it was nice to not have Chen pick up another win over someone who needed the momentum. Thankfully WWE seems to have calmed down with keeping Chen so strong as I never got the point. Heights is someone who could have some potential and losing to Chen would have knocked that all the way back down.

Overall Rating: D+. Not one of their finer offerings here with little in the way of interest and the best match being fairly dull. It was a case where there was barely anything in the way of star power and the action wasn’t exactly good either. This really didn’t work and there wasn’t much in the way of positives on the whole thing.

Results
Scrypts b. Dion Lennox – Rolling cutter
Izzi Dame b. Karmen Petrovic – Z Quill
Tavion Heights b. Dante Chen – Spinning belly to belly

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Smackdown
Date: February 23, 2024
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Corey Graves

We’re taped from last week as we are nine hours away from Elimination Chamber. The show is pretty much set but there is always the chance of a last minute addition. Other than that, since they were around last week, there is the chance of getting something more from the Rock and Roman Reigns. Let’s get to it.

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

Video on the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Liv Morgan

Bianca Belair is at ringside. Morgan starts fast and forearms her out to the floor for a breather. Back in and Stratton takes over and hits a running corner splash. Morgan grabs a crucifix for two and we take a break. We come back with Morgan fighting out of a chinlock and an exchange of running shots to the face. Morgan sends her into the corner for a running knee as Belair is literally bouncing up and down.

Oblivion is countered into a spinebuster to give Stratton two but she misses the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. An Alabama Slam gives Stratton two but the moonsault is broken up again, this time with a powerbomb. Stratton sends her outside and into the announcers’ table, followed by a slap to Belair. That brings Belair to the apron, with Morgan being kicked into her, allowing Stratton to grab a rollup pin at 11:38.

Rating: C+. You can see the talent in Stratton and she is already feeling like she belongs on the main roster. There was little in the way of nervousness or looking like she was trying to figure things out. That is more than a lot of veterans can do and it gives me hope for Stratton’s future. At the same time, Stratton vs. Belair would be a rather interesting feud for both of them and a great sign for the start of Stratton’s future.

Drew McIntyre says if he loses in the Chamber, his WWE career will be as worthless as CM Punk’s Wrestlemania return. Bobby Lashley comes in to remind McIntyre of the time he beat McIntyre at Wrestlemania.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Cedric Alexander discuss possible matching ring gear but still can’t get on the same page.

We look at the Bloodline interfering on Raw to cost Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso matches, the latter of which was for the Intercontinental Title.

The Bloodline is excited over what they did, but Roman Reigns wants to know who sent Jimmy Uso to Raw. That would be Paul Heyman, but Reigns says it was his idea. Heyman interrupts though, saying Grayson Waller is here. Reigns is interested.

We see some wrestlers arriving and spending time in Australia before Elimination Chamber.

Bron Breakker vs. Dante Chen

This is Breakker’s debut as a full time member of Smackdown. Breakker wrestles him down to start and hits a running shoulder. A running clothesline (called a Steiner Line) connects but Chen gets in a neck snap over the top. Breakker slams him out of the air though and hits the spear for the dominant pin at 1:21. Destruction and Breakker looked great.

Judgment Day isn’t worried about Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne, especially not after tonight.

Elektra Lopez comes up to the LWO and says the team is dying because of bad choices. Then Legado del Fantasma jump them from behind.

Tyler Bate/Pete Dunne vs. Judgment Day

That would be JD McDonagh/Dominik Mysterio here. McDonagh shoulders Bate down to start but gets headscissored out to the floor for his efforts. Back in and a monkey flip sends McDonagh flying before Bate dives over Dunne for a middle rope Swanton. McDonagh manages to send Bate into the other corner so Dominik can come in but Bate fights out of trouble rather easily. Dunne comes back in to work on Dominik’s arm and then twist away at the ankle. Bate and Dunne stomp onto the arms at the same time but the villains send them both outside.

We take a break and come back with Dunne stomping on McDonagh’s fingers and kicking him in the head. Dominik breaks up a double suplex and gets pummeled down for his efforts. Bate airplane spins Dominik to the floor and McDonagh gets the same treatment. The rebound lariat/German suplex combination gets two on McDonagh with Dominik making the save. The standing Spanish Fly gives McDonagh two but his moonsault hits raised knees. A double Tyler Driver 97 finishes McDonagh at 13:16.

Rating: B-. This was almost literally a glorified warmup for Bate and Dunne, who feel like they could take the titles from Judgment Day proper tomorrow. The team doesn’t have much of a history so giving them a win over a team with some name power is a good step. That double Tyler Driver 97 is growing on me too so they’re doing something right so far.

Post match Damian Priest and Finn Balor come in for the brawl but are quickly dispatched.

Video on the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory are in the back with Logan Paul when Kevin Owens interrupts. Owens wants to punch Theory and Waller in the face again and walks off. Paul Heyman comes in and says Roman Reigns wants to speak to Waller.

Dakota Kai has been hurt again and is limping into the trainer’s room.

AOP vs. Street Profits

The rest of the Final Testament and B-Fab/Bobby Lashley are here too. Ford’s dropkicks don’t do much to Akam to start so Dawkins comes in to help take him down. A belly to back moonsault gets two on Akam and the AOP are sent outside. Dawkins hits the big flip dive and we take a break.

Back with Ford fighting out of Rezar’s chinlock but getting kneed in the chest by Akam. Ford fights up again and avoids a charge to send Rezar into the post. The tag brings in Dawkins to clean house but he misses a charge in the corner and gets booted in the face. The Final Chapter gets two with Ford making a save. A Doomsday Blockbuster hits Akam as the fans are doing Bray Wyatt’s Fireflies for some reason. Ford goes up but everyone gets in a fight on the floor, including Karrion Kross crushing Lashley’s arm with a chair. The suplex/sitout powerbomb finishes Ford at 11:21.

Rating: C+. This feud seems like it has a long way to go, even if it might not have the interest to get it very far. Other than chaos and violence, I’m still not sure what the point of the Final Testament is supposed to be. The AOP are still evil monsters who can do some damage though and putting them over the Profits will make them feel that much bigger.

Bayley comes in to check on Dakota Kai, who says Damage CTRL did this. Bayley swears vengeance and Kai promises to help make them pay.

We look at the Elimination Chamber press event.

Grayson Waller comes in to see the Bloodline, with Roman Reigns wanting to tell him something.

Elimination Chamber rundown.

Drew McIntyre checks on the injured Bobby Lashley and offers to pray for him.

LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

Hold on though as here is Logan Paul to join commentary. McIntyre punches his way out of the corner to start but gets sent into another corner so Knight can stomp away. The Glasgow Kiss cuts Knight but he backdrops McIntyre to the floor as Kevin Owens is here for commentary as well. McIntyre fights back and catapults Knight into the bottom of the ring as we take a break.

Back with McIntyre hitting the toss suplex but charging into a boot in the corner. A DDT gives Knight two as Owens and Paul continue to bicker. McIntyre gets in a shot of his own and goes up, only to have Knight jump to the top for the superkick. Knight gets dropped again but he’s fine enough to avoid the Claymore. They go outside where McIntyre is sent into the announcers’ table over and over. Knight and McIntyre get into it with Owens and Paul though, with Owens attacking McIntyre for the DQ at 11:49.

Rating: C+. They might as well have had a countdown until one of the people on commentary got involved for the DQ and in this case, that is a good thing. There is little reason to have one of them take a pinfall the day before Elimination Chamber so don’t waste the time. It’s still impressive to see Knight going toe to toe with the stars and shows you what kind of impact effort can have.

Post match the big fight is on, with Bobby Lashley coming in to spear various people. McIntyre Claymores him but walks into the RKO from a surprise Randy Orton to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the big final push towards Elimination Chamber and it was enough of a success. It doesn’t help that almost everything was set for the pay per view coming into this, but they managed to put together a nice two hours. The show only mattered so much but they made it work, as tends to be the case in recent weeks.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Liv Morgan – Rollup
Bron Breakker b. Dante Chen – Spear
Tyler Bate/Pete Dunne b. Judgment Day – Double Tyler Driver 97 to McDonagh
AOP b. Street Profits – Sitout powerbomb/suplex combination to Ford
Drew McIntyre b. LA Knight via DQ when Kevin Owens interfered

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Main Event
Date: February 15, 2024
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Brian James, Blake Howard

I haven’t done this one in a bit but I was in the arena for the show so I might as well look at it for a bonus. The show is still what it has been for years: the dark matches for Raw with its own show which means very little to anyone. That doesn’t exactly bode well but you know what you’re in for with this. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence, still featuring people who have nothing to do with this show.

Chelsea Green vs. Tegan Nox

They fight over a lockup to start and even go to the mat without it breaking up. Green climbs the ropes and then falls on her face, as tends to be her custom. Nox elbows her in the face and Green needs a breather on the floor. A running flip dive off the apron drops Green again but she gets in a shot of her own back inside to take over. They slap it out and go into a pinfall reversal sequence for a bunch of near falls until stereo headbutts stagger them both. Nox knocks her down and hits the reverse Cannonball in the corner. A high crossbody connects for Nox but Green rolls through and grabs the tights for the win at 5:01.

Rating: C. As has been the case for a long time, Green is at her best when she is (literally or figuratively) falling on her face. She talks such a big game and then gets shown up one way or another. That was the case here and it made for a good moment, even if she won in the end. This was more fun than it should be and that makes for a nice start to the night.

Nox’s shocked face is rather good.

Long video on the Wrestlemania press event in Las Vegas.

From Raw.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat and he gets right to the point: he’s challenging Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. He can do that because of the fans, who made their voices heard online after….well he doesn’t say what caused it (him giving away his shot against Reigns in the first place). Rhodes doesn’t want to get too emotional though, because it might make him a crybaby.

We see the Rock on the Pat McAfee Show, dubbing the term Cody Crybabies. Rock also lists some things that those crybabies can do with chicken nuggets, which has Rhodes so confused that he asks McAfee what Rock said. Rhodes didn’t like Rock putting his hands on him and slapping him across the face so Rhodes is going to hit back. Cue Seth Rollins to interrupt so the fans get to sing a bit.

Rhodes thanks him for the help against the Rock, with Rollins wondering what else can he say except you’re welcome. Rollins says Rhodes needs to finish his story at Wrestlemania because if he doesn’t, everything changes after the match. Reigns shows up and defends the title even less so this is their last chance to take the title and give it to the people. While Rhodes might be the man, he needs a plan.

Last year he got cheated out of the title and now the pressure is even high but it’s even more complicated because of the Rock. Rollins says Rhodes can’t do that on his own because he is tired for Reigns and Rock getting away with this stuff. We hear about Rollins helping Reigns become who he is today but there is one man suited to be Rhodes’ Shield. That man is an architect and a visionary, which seems to leave Rhodes a lot to think about. Rollins was bringing the emotion here but it feels like he’s being set up to cost Rhodes the title at Wrestlemania.

From Raw.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. After accepting a prom invitation for 2034, Lynch talks about how crazy the Road to Wrestlemania has already been. She loves this, starting with the time she first set foot in the ring when she was 15. Wrestling is what let her meet her husband, have her daughter and cause her to miss her father’s funeral. It’s also left her having some weird conversations with her daughter like why her mom’s face is busted open, why her shoulder is banged up and she can’t pick her up….and why Daddy wants to fight Maui (Rock’s character in Moana).

Lynch knows a lot of people love Rhea Ripley and people believe no one can beat her, but Lynch isn’t anyone. She gets a drink from ringside and drinks a toast to Ripley’s last few days as champion. Cue Nia Jax, who talks about how she wishes her mother was half the woman Lynch is. She sounds rather emotional as she talks about how Lynch is going to win at Elimination Chamber. Just like she’s going to beat Ripley….who interrupts for the fight. Lynch gets crushed in the corner though and dropkicks Jax out to the floor. They almost have to go with Lynch vs. Ripley at Wrestlemania and that’s not a bad way to go.

Dante Chen vs. Akira Tozawa

I can’t escape Chen no matter where I go. Maxxine Dupri is here with Tozawa. Chen shoves him down to start so Tozawa grabs a headlock. Tozawa’s middle rope hurricanrana sends Chen outside but he’s right back in with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. We take a break and come back with Chen whipping him into the corner for two, setting up the chinlock. Another backbreaker gives Chen another two and we hit another chinlock.

Tozawa fights up again and hits another (there’s that word again) hurricanrana, setting up the Shining Wizard. The big dive to the floor hits Chen and Tozawa’s missile dropkick gets two back inside. Chen kicks him in the face for two more but Tozawa is back with a spinning kick to the head. That means a Hulk Hogan shirt tear (ok that worked) and the top rope backsplash finishes for Tozawa at 7:34.

Rating: C+. This was a nice surprise as I wouldn’t have bet on these two having a rather decent match. At the end of the day, Chen has almost nothing interesting about him but at least he was getting to do something better here. Then you have Tozawa, who is the definition of “comedy guy”, so having him do something like this was nice to see.

From Raw.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn

Nakamura kicks him in the ribs to start but Zayn sends him to the floor and bounces back to the middle. We take an early break and come back with Zayn hitting a middle rope elbow to the head but Nakamura chokes him in the corner. Nakamura kicks him in the head though and we hit the chinlock.

Zayn fights up and hits a quick Michinoku Driver for two so they can both have a breather. A clothesline puts Nakamura on the floor and there’s a big flip dive, with Nakamura not exactly catching him so Zayn hits the floor HARD. We take another break and come back with an exchange of forearms until Nakamura kicks him in the head. Zayn is right back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two and Nakamura rolls outside.

We go old school with Zayn trying a diving DDT over the bottom rope, only to get hit in the face. Back in and Nakamura hits a middle rope knee to the back of the head, followed by another one for another two. Zayn is back up with a heck of a clothesline and then the exploder into the corner. The Helluva Kick is loaded up but cue Drew McIntyre for a distraction. Nakamura kicks Zayn’s knee out and hits a running knee to the back of the head for the pin at 17:07.

Rating: B-. While it wasn’t quite their masterpiece in Dallas eight years ago, it was still good stuff with both of them hitting each other rather hard. The ending was part of Zayn’s issues as he continues his downward spiral. I’m not sure where that’s going to go, but hopefully it isn’t a heel turn as Zayn getting into the title hunt as the big underdog could be incredible.

Post match the double beatdown is on, with Cody Rhodes running in for the save.

Overall Rating: C+. Main Event remains the same, with a pair of mostly skippable (yet occasionally entertaining) matches with low level stars and a bunch of Raw recaps. That’s all it’s supposed to be, and if you have no expectations coming in, you can have a good time. This week’s show was fine enough, but you would be better off just watching Raw.

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

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

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

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

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

Carlee Bright vs. Blair Davenport

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

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

Dante Chen vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

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

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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 24, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Host: Blake Howard

It’s nice to see some changes around here as the show had been so dull for such a long time. The show isn’t that much better now, but at least it does feel a bit tighter and more entertaining in some ways. Granted I have no reason to believe that will last, but I’ll take what I can get. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

This week is especially different, as it’s a Best Of 2023 show.

Eddy Thorpe talks about his debut on LVL Up on February 17. He had been around for a few weeks and wanted to make an impact against someone he respected.

Dante Chen vs. Eddy Thorpe

The debuting Thorpe is better known as Karl Fredericks in New Japan. Chen’s headscissors doesn’t get him very far and we have an early standoff. A cradle gives Chen two and he takes Thorpe down into an armbar. Back up and Thorpe hits a quick spinning crossbody and grabs a seated abdominal stretch, followed by the standing version for a bonus. Chen fights out and hits a running kick to the face, only to get caught with a running boot to the face. An implant DDT gives Thorpe the pin at 4:29.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here but the important thing is that Thorpe won. Far too often, NXT will debut a new star on this show and then have them lose to the “star”. Chen is still the resident jobber around here and it makes all the sense in the world to have Thorpe, who might become something in NXT, beat him in his debut. At least they have something logical with this one so they got off on the right foot.

We look at Lola Vice winning the Women’s Breakout Tournament over Kelani Jordan.

Vice talks about being ready for Ivy Nile on April 28 and how she doesn’t need any of us.

Ivy Nile vs. Lola Vice

They fight over a rather aggressive lockup to start until Nile rides her to the mat. Vice is right back with a kick to the ribs, followed by a running hip attack in the corner. A double arm crank is broken up though and Nile kicks her down again. Nile grabs a gutwrench suplex and the Diamond Chain Lock knocks Vice out cold for the win at 4:18.

Rating: C+. Vice has all of the tools in the world to be something, including the charisma that makes her feel like a star. Throw in the MMA background and all of the potential is right there. On the other hand you have Nile, who still feels like she could be something in the division as soon as she is given the chance.

Kelani Jordan was excited for her debut match on May 12 against Wendy Choo….which she found out about when she was at her niece’s funeral. Well dang that makes things sad.

Wendy Choo vs. Kelani Jordan

They fight over a lockup to start with Jordan’s early wristlock not getting him very far. A headlock takeover has a bit more success but Choo reverses into a headscissors. Choo grabs a quick takedown for two, followed by doing it again for the same, which leaves Choo looking a bit surprised. A kick to the face and a running elbow drop gets two but Jordan fights up and elbows her down as well. Jordan’s springboard spinning crossbody connects for another near fall but Choo is back with the Snooze Button (full nelson slam) for the pin at 5:17.

Rating: C. Jordan didn’t do anything overly flashy here but she looked solid enough with the basics. You can see the athleticism and athletic background, which will be more than enough of a foundation to go somewhere. Choo still feels like she is finding her feet after returning, which is what a show like this can help her do.

Tavion Heights talks about throwing everything he had against Axiom on July 14.

Tavion Heights vs. Axiom

Heights wrestles him down but Axiom is fine enough to take over on the mat. A headscissors doesn’t last long on Heights and they’re back up for a standoff. Axiom grabs it again and holds Heights down a bit before kicking him in the head for two. Back up and Heights blasts him with a clothesline before a gutwrench suplex gets two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as Axiom is back up and hits a dropkick for a breather. Heights can’t hit a German suplex so Axiom sends him outside for a big dive. Back in and Heights gets two off a doctor bomb but Axiom knees him in the head. The Golden Ratio finishes Heights at 7:05.

Rating: B-. This was a heck of a match, especially for around here, as Heights was looking like a power monster and Axiom was as smooth as ever. I was getting into this one and wondering who was going to win here. You don’t get to see something like that very often and it worked really well. Good main event.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m not sure how much sense it makes to have a Best Of show for the night after Thanksgiving, but it’s not like this show has any real rules to follow. At the same time, it’s nice to show that some of these wrestlers have indeed moved up the charts a bit, which is the point around here. It’s not a great show or even a good one, but it was a nice change of pace for a one off.

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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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 3, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re done with Halloween Havoc and this show has gotten a good bit more interesting in recent weeks. I’m not sure how interesting that really is, but it’s better than nothing and I’ll take anything I can get around here. For now, hopefully we get something even better this week, or at least some fresh names. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz

Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get very far. They wrestle to the mat with Feroz getting a fast one. Nile sends her flying but Feroz manages to snap off an armdrag. The short armscissors has Nile frustrated until she powers up and takes her into the corner for the break. Feroz is right back with a hammerlock before ramming the bad arm onto the apron. Nile is back up and runs her over for two but Feroz hits a running Meteora. Not that it matters as the Diamond Chain Lock finishes Feroz at 4:48.

Rating: C+. This is probably going to be one of if not the last Nile match around here and she went out with a pretty good one. The best thing here was that Nile had to work to win but then she just snapped on the Lock to wrap it up. That very well could be her calling card on the main roster and it’s nice to see her giving Feroz a boost on the way out.

Trey Bearhill is ready to run it back against Myles Borne. I have almost no memory of their first match so that might go rather well.

Trey Bearhill vs. Myles Borne

Borne’s friends are here too. Bearhill knocks him down without much trouble to start and begins dancing. The dancing is replaced by an armbar but Borne slugs his way to freedom. Borne grabs a chinlock with a knee in the back until Bearhill fights up with the chops. Damon Kemp offers a distraction though, allowing Borne to hit a dropkick for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. So I barely remembered Bearhill’s first match and I barely remember this one either. He feels like something that belongs on a low rent 90s indy show and it’s almost hard to fathom him being here now. It’s not terrible or even bad, but it’s really not working so well. On the other hand, Borne and his wrestling obsessed friends are a good idea, though they’re also kind of losers.

Dante Chen vs. Oro Mensah

This is described as a “big” main event as the commentators lie to us again. The women o Meta Four are here with Mensah. Mensah fights out of a wristlock to start but gets pulled down into an armbar. The armdrag into the armbar works so well that Chen does it a second time. Mensah seemingly gets frustrated by having his arm pulled and kicks Chen in the head to take over.

A legsweep lets Mensah hit a forearm to the head for two before he grabs a crossface chickenwing in the ropes. Chen fights out of a chinlock and starts kicking away, setting up a springboard clothesline. The double chop gets two but Lash Legend puts a boot on the rope….as Boa can be seen watching from the aisle. Mensah is back up with the running spinwheel kick in the corner for the pin at 7:41.

Rating: C. Well, that was certainly a match between these two and that is not the highest compliment. They’re not very interesting and it was a rough watch to see the two of them in there having the same boring match I’ve seen them have over and over. Throw in Boa and it’s somehow even less interesting.

Boa helps Chen out of the ring to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The opener was pretty good but it was a rough watch otherwise, with a pair of mediocre (at best) matches to wrap it up. The not so interesting stars were back in full force here as this felt like they snapped back from the change of pace over the last few weeks. Hopefully that changes again, but this show hasn’t given me much of a reason to believe that will be happening.

Results
Ivy Nile b. Valentina Feroz – Diamond Chain Lock
Myles Borne b. Trey Bearhill – Dropkick
Oro Mensah b. Dante Chen – Running spinwheel kick in the corner

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NXT LVL Up
Date: October 20, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

Things were actually a bit different last week as there were only two matches with a slightly shorter run time. It made things a bit easier to watch, though granted having the best match NXT LVL Up has presented in months helped as well. I could go or more of the new format as it did make for a tighter show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade vs. Boa/Dante Chen

Blade works on Chen’s arm to start but Chen reverses into a headlock. That’s broken up and Blade hits a dropkick before Enofe comes in to elbow away. It’s off to Boa, whose armbar doesn’t work in the slightest. Enofe has to fight out of the corner, allowing Boa to get in a kick to the ribs.

Chen’s belly to back suplex gets two as commentary actually gives us a backstory for the villains (Boa has been around since Chen’s tryout and kept his eye on him the whole time). Enofe backflips out of another suplex attempt and hands it back to Blade to pick up the pace. A high crossbody takes Boa and Chen, setting up an assisted Blockbuster to finish Chen at 6:08.

Rating: C+. Not exactly a surprising result but Boa and Chen worked well enough together as a makeshift villainous team. Blade and Enofe continue to be a team that feels like it has a lot of potential but this is about all they’ve gotten to do in recent months. For a quick opener though, there were far worse options.

Fallon Henley, with Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, is ready for Lash Legend, who is loud and annoying.

Fallon Henley vs. Lash Legend

Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen and the rest of the Meta Four are here too. Legend shoves her against the ropes to start and talks a lot of trash before firing off an elbow to the face. A hard slam puts Henley down again for two. Henley tries to fight up but gets caught with a right hand to slow her back down.

A pump kick sends her to the floor and Legend sends her face first into the apron back inside. Legend grabs a delayed suplex before putting on a torture rack (a move that needs to make a comeback), only to be reversed into a sleeper. With that broken up, Henley gets in a facebuster, leaving the others to brawl on the floor. Henley hits the Shining Wizard for the pin at 6:12.

Rating: C. Legend isn’t great in the ring but she’s a good bit better than she was a year or so ago. Letting her get in the ring more and more often is the best thing or her so even a six minute match can help her advance. I still see something in Henley and could go for having her around a lot more often but that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon.

Overall Rating: C. It’s not just the shorter run time but I like the new format a good bit more. This lets the matches get a bit more focus instead of trying to get three matches and two commercials into half an hour. It also might help keep things feeling a bit fresher around here as it’s one less match to have each week, which could help things out nicely. For now it’s not exactly a game changer, but it is an improvement, which is long overdue around here.

Results
Edris Enofe/Malik Blade b. Boa/Dante Chen – Assisted Blockbuster to Chen
Fallon Henley b. Lash Legend – Shining Wizard

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NXT LVL Up
Date: October 6, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re back to the point where there isn’t much to say about this show. There is no reason to believe that much of anything of importance is going to take place around here. It’s all the more frustrating when you see WWE trying something around here and then just dropping it as fast as they can. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kelani Jordan/Valentina Feroz vs. Izzi Dame/Tatum Paxley

Paxley and Feroz lock up to start and neither gets the better of things, meaning it’s an early double tag. Jordan gets knocked down against the ropes so it’s Dame coming in to stomp away. A double elbow sets up Paxley’s splash for two, followed by Paxley grabbing a bodyscissors. Jordan finally kicks her way to freedom though and it’s back to Feroz for some rapid fire armdrags. Everything breaks down and Paxley grabs a Psycho Driver for the pin on Feroz at 4:33.

Rating: C-. What are you supposed to get from a match like this? It’s four women paired off with nothing to set up the match and no reason for them to be fighting. At the same time, they only had about four and a half minutes to get anything going, which doesn’t work so well for people without much experience. Matches like these make me wonder what the point of this show is supposed to be, because this didn’t do much.

Dante Chen is ready to face Drew Gulak. Tonight it’s Singapore style, though Chen doesn’t know what that means.

Javier Bernal/Luca Crusifino vs. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont

DuPont faceplants Luca to start so it’s off to Bernal, who gets slammed down. Bernal’s headlock doesn’t do much so it’s Igwe coming in to splash Luca in the corner. Luca manages a hiptoss neckbreaker for a breather and Bernal comes in for a headscissors. That doesn’t last long and DuPont hits a backdrop. It’s back to clean house, including a superkick to Bernal. Luca makes the save and gets tossed, allowing Luca to grab a rollup for the pin at 4:44.

Rating: C. You know, it is ok to let these young guys score a quick win over two “bigger” names who aren’t a regular team and are hardly top level stars in the first place. The match was mostly a squash for Igwe and DuPont but then they lost to a fluke rollup to protect Bernal and Luca? That’s quite the odd choice.

Drew Gulak vs. Dante Chen

Myles Borne, Damon Kemp and Charlie Dempsey are here with Gulak. Chen grabs a headlock to start and snaps off an armdrag into an armbar. Back up and Chen hits a backdrop for two before dropkicking him out to the floor. Gulak comes back in and stomps away on the ropes before grabbing a neck crank. That’s broken up and Chen chops him out to the floor, setting up a big dive. Gulak’s cronies offer a distraction though and Gulak picks Chen up and hits a kind of powerslam piledriver for the pin at 5:43.

Rating: C+. It was better than the other matches but that doesn’t really clear a high bar. Chen continues to be little more than a person who happens to be on the show over and over again without really doing anything important. Gulak is still someone who could be used in a slightly bigger way and he only got to show so much of his skills here.

Overall Rating: C. Oh this was LVL Up alright, as there was almost nothing going on and a bunch of the normal lineup having matches that didn’t change anything and won’t lead anywhere. In other words, there is no reason to watch this show again, and there is nothing to suggest that it is going to get better.

Results
Izzi Dame/Tatum Paxley b. Kelani Jordan/Valentina Feroz – Psycho Driver to Feroz
Javier Bernal/Luca Crusifino b. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont – Rollup to Igwe
Drew Gulak b. Dante Chen – Powerslam piledriver

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NXT LVL Up
Date: August 25, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Last week’s show was a bit of an upgrade as there were two matches featuring names from the regular NXT roster. If that keeps up, the show can be that much better, as there are all kinds of stars who could pop up around here. Or maybe there won’t be anyone included whatsoever. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

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

Walker runs Igwe over to start and cranks on the arm before driving in corner shoulders. Ledger is pulled in with a slingshot splash or two so it’s off to DuPont, who is double shouldered down. Igwe comes back in for a belly to back suplex and some right hands as Walker is in trouble for a change. A clothesline out of the corner puts DuPont back down and there’s the tag off to Ledger to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and a running powerslam with a crossbody to the back at the same time finishes Igwe at 5:05.

Rating: C. Not a bad power match here but I’m still not that into Walker and Ledger. They feel like some weird cross between Heavy Machinery and Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen and it’s not really working. They’re not bad but they come off as quite the token power team and that’s not great. Igwe and DuPont are the latest team who looks great but have little to make them stand out, which has to change at some point.

Kiyah Saint is ready to debut against Kiana James. She’s educated and calculate.

Kiyah Saint vs. Kiana James

James snapmares her down to start so Saint nips up. Saint grabs a headlock this time and manages to take her down. That’s broken up so James takes it into the corner, where Saint rolls her up for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Saint comes back with some running forearms. A fisherman’s suplex gets two but James is back with the 401k. The Dealbreaker finishes Saint off at 5:19.

Rating: C+. For someone’s debut match, Saint looked a lot better than most of the rookies you get around here. She has quite the athletic background and when you mix that in with quite the bit of energy, it makes for a nice debut. James is fine in the role she’s been filling, but that isn’t going to get her much further.

Scrypts vs. Dante Chen

Scrypts has Bronco Nima and Lucien Price with him. Scrypts gets in a shot to the ribs to start but Chen pulls him down into an armbar. Back up and Scrypts gets knocked to the floor, where he manages an arm snap across the top rope. An elbow to the face gives Scrypts two and we hit the chinlock with a knee in Chen’s back. Chen fights up and strikes away but can’t hit the double chop. Instead he kicks Scrypts in the head but Nima offers a distraction. That’s enough for Scrypts to hit a handspring cutter for the pin at 6:39.

Rating: C. I know I’ve said it before but my goodness Scrypts is still rather lame. Even giving him a pair of monster lackeys isn’t going to hide that and I’m not sure what else could. Chen isn’t that much better, but at least he never makes it out of LVL Up. This was a rather uninspiring pick for a main event here and it showed pretty badly.

Overall Rating: C. It says a lot that the thing that stood out the most here was a rookie best known for her triple jumping career in college. They went straight back to the “oh who cares” version here with some lower level names than last time. As usual the short run time saves the show but that’s about all it has to offer.

Results
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont – Powerslam/crossbody combination to Igwe
Kiana James b. Kiyah Saint – Dealbreaker
Scrypts b. Dante Chen – Handspring cutter

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NXT LVL Up
Date: August 11, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Last week’s show was a bit better last week and hopefully that continues this time. The show tends to be at its best when it has a mixture of some younger stars and a few established names, though you never can tell which format it is going to take. There have been some more rookies around here though so maybe that is where this is heading. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp grabs a headlock to start but Chen takes him down for a quick slap. A springboard headlock takeover puts Kemp down again but he counters another springboard into a backbreaker. As Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak watch in the back, Kemp gets elbowed and punched in the face.

Another backbreaker cuts Chen off though and Kemp throws him with a t-bone suplex. The chinlock goes on before Kemp misses an elbow. Chen rams him into the buckle and strikes away, setting up a springboard chop to the head. Back up and Kemp avoids a charge and grabs a Rock Bottom, only to pull Chen into a neckbreaker for the pin at 6:12.

Rating: C. The ending was a nice pick up as that was a fairly slick neckbreaker. Other than that, Kemp looked like his usual good self and I’m glad to see him getting something of a spot on the regular NXT. Then you have Chen, who has been around LVL Up for a long time now and there is nothing to suggest that he is going to be heading anywhere else as he is about the same as he has been for a good while now.

Tavion Heights is ready to bully the bully Joe Coffey and take him to new heights.

Fallon Henley vs. Izzi Dame

They fight over a lockup to start with Henley going after the arm. A running shoulder drops Dame and a drop toehold sends her throat first into the bottom rope. Dame gets in a throat snap across the top of her own and pulls Henley out of the corner for two. The reverse chinlock with a knee in Henley’s back goes on but she’s right back up without much trouble. A quick Shining Wizard finishes Dame at 4:38.

Rating: C. Dame hasn’t exactly had much of a chance to show what she can do and that was the case again here. She seems like a basic villain but there is only so much you can do in a situation like this. At the same time, Henley has done a grand total of pretty much nothing in recent months and unfortunately I don’t quite see that changing. She’s just kind of there as a manager for the most part but she can do well enough in the ring if she is given the chance. I’m not sure I see her getting such a chance though.

Joe Coffey vs. Tavion Heights

Heights seems to win a battle over a lockup to start before twisting Coffey down by the arm. Back up and Coffey runs him over with a shoulder but Heights snaps off a hiptoss. Coffey hits a backbreaker for two and grabs the quickly broken chinlock. Heights tries to fight back and is quickly crossbodied for two. Coffey works on the arm to little avail and Heights grabs a backdrop. A suplex drops Coffey and a belly to belly gives Heights two of his own. Something like a Dominator drops Coffey for another two but he headbutts Heights into the corner. All The Best For The Bells finishes Heights at 6:23.

Rating: C. That would be the bigger name match of the show but that doesn’t mean it was the most thrilling. Heights, as well as Lucien Price, seem to be getting more of a push but losing to Coffey in a singles match isn’t going to help that along. At least it wasn’t a tag loss, so he should be ok going forward.

Overall Rating: C. This one had the format working well enough but it only got so far with the quality. The three matches we got here were all rather skippable and you can only get so much out of a show like that. It’s still the easiest show to watch all week, but it’s nothing you need to see.

Results
Damon Kemp b. Dante Chen – Neckbreaker
Fallon Henley b. Izzi Dame – Shining Wizard
Joe Coffey b. Tavion Heights – All The Best For The Bells

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