NXT
Date: December 24, 2024
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s Christmas Eve and yes we are indeed having a regular NXT rather than some kind of Best Of show or something more traditional like that. We are two weeks away from New Year’s Evil and last week’s main event saw Eddy Thorpe and Trick Williams go to a draw for the NXT Title. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s title match, plus the fallout after the show with the match being ruled a draw so Trick Williams retains.

Cora Jade vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer takes her down to start before flipping Jade out of the corner. A quick rollup gets two and Vaquer suplexes her into a figure four necklock. That’s broken up and Vaquer hits a dropkick but Jade Backstabs her out of the corner as we take an early break. Back with Vaquer fighting out of a chinlock and grabbing a belly to back suplex. Eat Defeat sends Jade into the corner for some running knees, followed by something like a standing STF. Jade breaks that up but gets caught in the package backbreaker to give Vaquer the pin at 9:41.

Rating: C. Vaquer is still one of the stronger names in the division and having her go over someone with the status of Jade makes sense. Jade is someone who feels like she is best used as someone’s lackey and that might be her ceiling. She has talent, but I’m not sure if it is going to be used with her as a solo star of any kind.

Post match Kelani Jordan runs in with a kendo stick to go after Jade but Vaquer pulls Jordan off.

The D’Angelo Family want the Tag Team Titles, with Stacks promising to beat the other teams’ faces in like his mother beat up Santa Claus with a broom one Christmas night.

William Regal offers to be in Lexis King’s corner for the Heritage Cup match. Regal has the brass knuckles and that’s an oooo moment.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. Charlie Dempsey

King, with William Regal, is challenging. Round One begins with some grappling as King rolls him up for two. A dropkick misses as Booker says King needs to believe in himself like Neo in the Matrix. Dempsey pulls him into an armbar but gets hiptossed down for one. Lexis reverses a cravate into a headlock as the round ends.

Round Two begins with King jumping him in the corner and chops away. A gutwrench suplex drops King for two and King wrestles him down again. Dempsey stays on the back with a half crab but King gets out again. A superkick out of the corner sets up a super sunset flip for two on Dempsey, leaving King frustrated. Dempsey pulls him into something like a bow and arrow as the round ends.

Round Three begins…and ends during a break so we come back with Round Four beginning with King hitting a clothesline. A backbreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock. Some chops into the corner set up a northern lights suplex for two on Dempsey and they trade shots to the face. Regal tries to send in the brass knuckles but King says no, earning himself a shot from Regal to knock him cold. Dempsey picks up the knuckles…and the referee calls it a DQ win for King at 2:53 of the round and 13:32 overall, making King the champion.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of ending that should set up a “did he or didn’t he” ending and it should work well. King has been teasing going the right way but then wins the Cup in something less than a fair way. I like the idea of paying something off on the whole story, though I’m not sure how long this is going to last.

OTM is ready to get the Tag Team Title shot.

We look at Ethan Page injuring Je’Von Evans last week.

Kelani Jordan yells at Stephanie Vaquer but Lola Vice breaks it up. Jordan calls both of them out for always interfering and wants them out of her face.

Unholy Union vs. Fatal Influence

Fallon Henley is here with Fatal Influence. Nyx and Dawn start things off with Dawn shoving her out of the corner. A dropkick has Dawn over to the corner for the tag off to Jayne, who gets chopped by Fyre. Nyx is back in with a running kick to the chest as Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are watching in the crowd. Dawn comes back in for a running knee as Shotzi, Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin come out.

We take a break and come back with Dawn being whipped into the corner so Jayne can kick her in the face. The chinlock goes on for a bit before Nyx gets two off a PerfectPlex (Vic: “The plex wasn’t perfect enough!”). Dawn kicks her way out of trouble and hands it off to Fyre as Carter and Chance are now at ringside. Fyre cleans house with a bunch of kicks and a gordbuster as everything breaks down. Fyre and Jayne headbutt each other own as a fight breaks out at ringside. Dolin uses the distraction to shove Jayne off the top so the Gory Bomb/Downward Spiral combination can give Dawn the pin at 12:47.

Rating: C. This felt like it was designed to set up some big team match down the line, which isn’t the most thrilling thing but there are so many women in NXT that they have to do something like this here. Fatal Influence being in trouble when the numbers are even (or worse) makes sense as the numbers game has been their thing since their inception. The match wasn’t anything great, but it is probably a step in a bigger story.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is ready for the #1 contenders match.

Izzi Dame interrupts Sol Ruca and Zaria but Shawn Spears and company cut them off. Dame tells them to leave her alone.

Dion Lennox vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Adonis punches him down to start and hammers away against the ropes. Nikkita Lyons comes out to watch as Lennox reveres a neckbreaker into a backslide for two. An elbow to the ace gives Adonis two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Lennox slugs away, setting up a spinebuster and powerslam for two, with Lyons putting the foot on the ropes. Lennox is so annoyed that he gets rolled up for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C-. The problem with this match comes down to one thing: the story isn’t interesting. I get the whole idea they’re going for but it’s really hard to care about anything going on. It feels like this story that has been going on for months now and I still have no reason to care about anyone involved. That makes a not so good match even harder to care about and that was an issue here.

Hang And Tank are ready for the four way tag match.

Shotzi, Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin run into Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. The Meta Four come in to mock them all.

We get a profile on Roxanne Perez, who brags about her accomplishments and how she has overcome various issues. Maybe only people like Simone Biles and Caitlyn Clark can understand her greatness. She’s ready for Giulia in two weeks. Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Lexis King is happy with his win and cuts off the interviewer before she can ask about William Regal.

Ethan Page is happy with what he did to Je’Von Evans last week. He found his smile by taking Evans’.

D’Angelo Family vs. OTM vs. Hank And Tank vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

For a Tag Team Title shot and it’s tornado rules. Hank and Tank swing Christmas trees to start but get blasted by a fire extinguisher. Nima cleans house with a chair but gets it dropkicked into his chest. OTM beat up Hank and Tank with presents as Santa is watching from ringside. Crusifino comes in with a bowling ball to hit Hank low in the corner but Stacks gets powerbombed through a table of cookies.

We take a break and come back with Crusifino being tied up so the Crew can wreck people with kendo sticks. The Family comes back in to choke them with the sticks but OTM make the save. A table is put up in the corner with Borne sailing through it in a big crash. Hank and Tank hit dives onto the floor but here are Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont to brawl with them to the back. This lets Tony D’Angelo slip the Family some candy cane crowbars. A Shatter Machine connects for the Family but Santa lays out D’Angelo. OTM hits the assisted Alabama Slam to pin Crusifino at 12:41.

Rating: C+. There was so much going on here that it was hard to keep track of everything, but there is nothing wrong with getting a fresh team involved in the title picture. Teams like OTM have been around for months without getting much of anywhere so this is better than anything else they have been doing. It was a wild brawl with a theme going on and while there was a lot going on, it could have been worse.

Santa is….Ridge Holland.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat but Oba Femi cuts him off. Eddy Thorpe cuts them both off, saying Williams escaped instead of beating him. Femi says it’s time to move on to him but Thorpe isn’t having that. Williams makes it a triple threat match and Femi isn’t happy. Thorpe tries to say something but gets shut down by Femi. Ava comes out to make the match official, laving the brawl to be on. Femi wrecks Williams but Thorpe escapes to end the show. That’s a lame way out, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they are saving Williams vs. Femi for Stand & Deliver.

Overall Rating: C+. This was more of a show that was designed to move things forward for later on, which makes sense as it was a show of fresh content on Christmas Eve. There is likely going to be a big chunk of the audience missing so putting much of note on here would have been a waste of time. It’s not a bad show, but it’s also not one that feels overly important, which is often worse.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Cora Jade – Package backbreaker
Lexis King b. Charlie Dempsey via DQ when William Regal interfered
Unholy Union b. Fatal Influence – Gory Bomb/Downward Spiral combination to Jayne
Ashante Thee Adonis b. Dion Lennox – Rollup
OTM b. Hank And Tank, No Quarter Catch Crew and D’Angelo Family – Assisted Alabama Slam to Crusifino

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NXT
Date: December 17, 2024
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re on the way to the end of the year and we’re outside of the Performance Center for a change. In this case we are on the way to New Year’s Evil, with Trick Williams having to deal with the monster that is Oba Femi. Giulia is coming for the Women’s Title as well, which should make for a big title rematch. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look back at the history of WWE in Lowell, Massachusetts, including Shawn Michaels losing his smile, before moving on to a preview of tonight’s show.

Oba Femi vs. Axiom

Nathan Frazer is here with Axiom. They start slowly with Axiom trying some chops but getting smacked in the back to break up a springboard attempt. We take a break and come back with Femi knocking him down again. Some rapid fire chops in the corner have Axiom in more trouble but he gets fired up. Axiom dropkicks the leg out and a basement superkick gets two. A missile dropkick connects but the Golden Ratio is countered. The Fall From Grace finishes for Femi at 10:22.

Rating: C+. This was Axiom trying to handle himself against a monster but not being able to hang in there that long. Femi knows how to do this kind of a match and putting him out there week after week should help give him some more experience. As usual, Axiom can work well with anyone and he did just fine here, even up against a monster.

Eddy Thorpe is ready for his title match but Ava comes in to say Thorpe took a shortcut. Thorpe doesn’t care because tonight, you’ll be calling him champion.

Karmen Petrovic isn’t sure what to do but Dion Lennox thinks she should apologize to Nikkita Lyons. They hug, so here is Ashante Thee Adonis to not be impressed. He’s off to text Lyons, with Lennox says he’s going to mind his own business. And read.

Zaria/Sol Ruca vs. Meta Four

Jackson jumps Ruca to start but gets planted face first for her efforts. Ruca gets to surf on her back but it’s off to Legend to run her over. It’s off to Zaria, who actually gets slammed down by Legend in a bit of a surprise. Back up and Zaria lifts Jackson up onto her shoulders so Ruca can climb on top for a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Ruca rolling Legend up for two but Jackson comes in for a butterfly suplex. The crossarm choke goes on but Ruca flips out and hits a quick enziguri. The diving tag brings in Zaria to clean house, with a spear getting two on Jackson. Zaria eventually wins a fight over a suplex with Legend before Ruca adds a springboard splash for two. Jackson is back up with a dive onto Ruca though and Legend hits the Bully Drop (I think) to pin Ruca at 12:14.

Rating: C+. Meta four gets a bit of a step up here after not doing much in the last few weeks. It was almost weird to see Zaria getting powered around but Legend is one of the few people who could make it work. At the same time, Ruca taking the fall is something of a surprise, as she was seemingly on her way into a title picture not that long ago and then it just stopped.

Last week, Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont argued over another loss but Wes Lee doesn’t see anything wrong with Igwe not being happy with a loss. Makes sense

Jaida Parker vs. Wren Sinclair

OTM and the No Quarter Catch Crew are here too. Parker sends her into the corner to start but Sinclair is back with a shot to the face. The Tear Drop into a Falcon Arrow gets two on Sinclair, who is right back with a full nelson. That’s broken up as well so Parker cranks on both arms and even sits down on the shoulder blades. Back up and Sinclair wins a chop off, setting up a butterfly suplex. The teams on the floor get in a fight and brawl to the back before Parker elbows Sinclair in the face. The Hipnotique finishes Sinclair off at 4:33.

Rating: C. Parker continues her rise up the card and that could see her go rather far given the talent and potential she is showing out there. She really does have a lot going on and it could be a big deal when she puts it all together. Sinclair is back to making people look good and that should do well for her, though I could go for seeing her do something more important.

Shotzi, Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin are in the back and Paxley is glad she has someone new to play with against Fatal Influence.

Fatal Influence finds this funny but Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn come in to mock the team’s lack of chemistry.

We get a look back at the history of the Women’s Title, going from the Horsewomen to Asuka to Shayna Baszler and through everyone else up to Roxanne Perez. She’ll have to defend the title against Giulia in two weeks.

Tag Team Titles: Gallus vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazer

Axiom (banged up from earlier) and Nathan Frazer are defending and Joe Coffey is here with Gallus. Frazer, with his protective mask, is wiling to start but Mark Coffey elbows him down in a hurry. Wolfgang comes in for a shot of his own but everything breaks down. Axiom is too banged up for a dive and Wolfgang drops him with a spear as we take a break. Back with Wolfgang running Axiom over for two and working on his arm.

Axiom manages to get over for the tag off to Frazer to pick up the pace, including the springboard moonsault into the reverse DDT on Wolfgang. A frog splash gets two on Mark but the jumping enziguri/powerslam combination gets the same on Frazer. The Howling connects with Axiom having to make the diving save for a change. The Golden Ratio hit Frazer by mistake but Axiom is back with a Canadian Destroyer, leaving Frazer to grab a poisonrana on Wolfgang. Axiom tags himself back in for the super Spanish Fly on Wolfgang, setting up the phoenix splash to retain the titles at 12:02.

Rating: B-. They’re in a weird place with this story as it’s gone on for so long now that it’s almost funny to see the team retain so long. At some point, they are going to lose but it’s gone on for so long that I’m not sure how the reaction will go. It’s reaching the point of “what took so long” and that isn’t a great way to go. For now though, another nice match from a good team, but either split up or don’t already. Just fine something new.

Je’Von Evans praises Hank Walker and Tank Ledger and promises to do more himself in the new year. Ethan Page walks past and doesn’t look happy.

Lexis King has to complete Charlie Dempsey’s playing card workout to get a Heritage Cup shot next week. King does it and gets his shot. This was just a minute of the two of them working out together.

Here is Ethan Page to say he’s sorry for interrupting but he has to get something off his chest. No one here understands what he is going through but he has lost everything. He can’t keep his promise of winning the big one to his daughter and he has broken promises to his family. Right now, he wants to talk to his wife, who is the reason he’s here. His daughter can’t find the NXT Title in his bag and his son cries when he loses. For now, he isn’t sure if he loves this anymore and he has lost his smile.

Cue Je’Von Evans to interrupt saying this isn’t the real Page. The real Page loves his family and the smile that Evans saw when Page was with them was genuine. Now he needs to drop the All Ego thing and show us who Page really is. Page says he should be worried about taking Evans’ smile and the beating is on. Evans’ neck gets Pillmanized and he spits up a bunch of blood. I’ll take this over Page trying to turn over a new leaf or pretty much anything involving Evans so we’ll call this a double win.

Trick Williams is ready to fight. Oba Femi comes in to say he hopes Williams retains because he wants to face Williams at New Year’s Evil.

Stephanie Vaquer has her sights set on Cora Jade.

NXT Title: Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams

Williams is defending and takes Thorpe down with a headlock to start. Some running shoulders have Thorpe bailing out to the floor, where Williams chops him up against the barricade. Back in and Williams misses a side kick to crotch himself on the top. We take a break and come back with Thorpe working on a neck crank. Williams fights up and strikes away, setting up a Rock Bottom for two. Thorpe is back with a suplex for two of his own and they both get a bit of a breather.

They trade kicks to the head until Thorpe grabs a Randy Orton backbreaker. Thorpe tries the implant DDT but the referee gets dropped so there’s no count. Another referee comes in to count two off Williams’ rollup, followed by the Trick Shot for three…from both referees…as all four shoulders are down (Williams is on top but Thorpe does get a hand on his stomach to make it a double cover) and Thorpe’s foot is under the ropes at 11:19.

Rating: C+. Not exactly a classic here, but it was similar to the ending of the Shawn Michaels vs. HHH match in San Antonio in 2003. Shawn has a tendency to book things he’s done over his career but waiting over twenty years is acceptable enough. That being said, I’m not sure why they’re doing this kind of an angle three weeks ahead of a Femi vs. Williams showdown. Odds are this is cleared up with a rematch next week, because they’re having a show on Christmas Eve.

Confusion reigns to end the show with Ava wanting explanations from the referees.

Overall Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one as much as most recent editions, with the majority just not being that interesting. The ending felt like it was a way to set up next week, but that show is not likely to have the biggest audience so it feels like a stretch. Other than that, Axiom and Frazer had their usual match with the same story, which didn’t leave much here to really draw you in. Not a terrible show, but pretty skippable this week.

Results
Oba Femi b. Axiom – Fall From Grace
Meta Four b. Zaria/Sol Ruca – Bully drop to Ruca
Jaida Parker b. Wren Sinclair – Hipnotique
Axiom/Nathan Frazer b. Gallus – Phoenix splash to Wolfgang
Trick Williams vs. Eddy Thorpe went to a double pin

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NXT
Date: December 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for Deadline and that means it is time to finalize the lineups for the Iron Survivor Challenges. We have a pair of last chance matches tonight, plus the tag team battle royal to crown some new #1 contenders. This is a pretty stacked show and that should mean something good so let’s get to it.

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

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Jaida Parker vs. Wren Sinclair vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Cora Jade

Jordan and Sinclair both grab early near falls and the other two join in with their own two counts. A high crossbody gets two on Parker but Jade is back in with a double clothesline to Jordan and Sinclair. Parker puts the two of them in the corner and sits on their ribs as we take a break.

Back with Jordan getting the worst of a Tower Of Doom but she’s able to powerbomb Jade out of the corner. Jordan frog splashes Parker and Sinclair at the same time with Jade making the save. Jade’s double arm DDT is broken up with a clothesline and Jordan drops a 450 but Parker drops Sinclair onto them to break it up. Parker goes for the cover but cue Lola Vice for the distraction, allowing Sinclair to get the pin on Jade at 11:16.

Rating: B-. They kept things moving here and it made for a fast paced match with Sinclair winning in a surprise. Jordan felt like the logical way to go here, but it was nice to see a bit of a twist. Sinclair has been doing rather well for the last few months and she deserves to get a chance to do something bigger.

Eddy Thorpe is going to win tonight and says he didn’t do anything wrong last week. Lexis King comes in to say Thorpe needs to stay calm, but tonight King is on his path to winning a title.

Here is a ticked off Jaida Parker to call out Lola Vice. After a break, and with the ropes being removed, Parker wants NXT Underground. Ava comes out to make the match for Deadline but here is Vice to promise to knock Parker out. Parker throws her the brick and then knocks Vice out with an elbow.

Brinley Reece and Dion Lennox try to calm Karmen Petrovic down about Ashante Thee Adonis. Petrovic gets some flowers from Adonis, who says he sent the text to Nikkita Lyons before her. She’s impressed.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier aren’t on the same page (again) about which Deadline match they should be focused on.

Tag Team Battle Royal

D’Angelo Family, OTM, Gallus, Hank Walker/Tank Ledger, No Quarter Catch Crew, Josh Briggs, Yoshiniki Inamura, Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe

The winners get a Tag Team Title shot at Deadline and both members have to be eliminated. It’s a brawl to start with Inamura cleaning house. Hank and Tank get rid of DuPont and a chop gets rid of Crusifino. Heights and Briggs are both put out and Stacks is tossed to officially eliminate the Family. Back with Inamura and Nima out to get the field down even further. Hank and Tank get rid of Igwe, who grabs the rope and Walker is sent outside.

Walker catches Ledger before he’s eliminated and Gallus are put out back to back. We’re down to Nima, Borne and Ledger, with the fans rather behind….well NXT actually. Price chokeslams Borne onto Ledger, the latter of whom is back up to drop both of them. Back up and Nima gets crotched on top, allowing Borne to clothesline Ledger out. A dropkick eliminates Nima to give Borne, and the No Quarter Catch Crew, the win at 14:44.

Rating: C. Tag team battle royals are hard to make work and that was the case again here, mainly because a lot of these teams just don’t stand out. OTM and DuPont/Igwe haven’t done anything to distinguish themselves, Briggs and Inamura are brand new, the D’Angelo Family are just lackeys for D’Angelo himself, and the Catch Crew and Gallus are just ok. No one stands out above the pack and that didn’t help. Heights and Borne getting the shot works well enough though, as it’s no like there is a team who really belongs on top.

Here is Eric Bischoff to moderate a chat between Trick Williams and Ridge Holland. Bischoff talks about being on the cutting edge of wrestling and how awesome that has always been. It was a revolution in WCW and now the same thing is going on here in NXT. Two pieces of the puzzle to raise NXT up to that next level are his guests tonight so here are Holland and Williams.

Bischoff talks about how Holland is like a throwback to wrestlers like the Crusher. Williams is a total package (Williams: “Let’s talk about it.”) but Holland calls him a stand up comedian with abs. Holland is ready to take the NXT Title but Williams calls him bland and boring.

Holland says that while Williams was a football player, Holland was playing a man’s game in rugby. Williams slugs away and the fight is on with Holland hitting a lifting DDT onto the announcers’ table. That’s enough for Williams to be taken away on a stretcher. I have no idea why Bischoff was needed here.

Nikkita Lyons vs. Karmen Petrovic

They both miss kicks to start until Petrovic kicks her into the corner. Lyons is back with some choking on the ropes and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Petrovic strikes away but Lyons grabs a release German suplex. Cue Ashante Thee Adonis, who takes a kick from Lyons (aimed at Petrovic), which allows Petrovic to hit the Silent Slice for the win at 3:34.

Rating: C. Short and to the point here but I can go for Petrovic getting the win. She needs something to make her feel like a bigger star and while I’m not big on the Adonis story, it’s better than nothing. At the very least, she’s winning matches and that should help boost her up quite nicely.

Post match Petrovic says Adonis shoved her and walks off.

Shawn Spears is almost ready to unleash Niko Vance but we pan over to Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin, with Spears saying he’ll be watching Dolin’s return match.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is fired up and ready for Deadline.

Gigi Dolin vs. Izzi Dame

Tatum Paxley is here with Dolin, who takes Dame down for an early chinlock. Cue Shawn Spears to watch as Fatal Influence is watching in the back, with Dame stomping away on the ropes. A big boot takes Paxley out (Spears approves) but Dolin slips out of a half crab. An STO gives Dame two but Dolin is right back with the Gigi Driver for the win at 3:43.

Rating: C. Another short match here, with Dolin getting back in the swing of things after being away for so long. It seems like she is in for a Women’s North American Title match and she is going to need a few wins to get ready. That’s one of the easiest ways to do it, and odds are she’ll be facing the rest of Fatal Influence sooner than later. That’s not a bad idea, and in this case that is working well enough.

Sean Waltman praises Je’Von Evans, who is the same age Waltman was when he beat Razor Ramon. Evans is a big starstruck.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe vs. Axiom

Ethan Page is on commentary. It’s a fast start with King snapping off a running hurricanrana to send Evans outside. Back in and Alexander knocks King to the floor. Axiom and Alexander put each other down and we take a break. We come back with Thorpe getting the worst end of a Tower Of Doom and King hitting a big running flip dive to the floor.

Back in and King’s Swanton gets two on Alexander but Axiom is back up with some running shots to the face. The super Spanish Fly gets two on Thorpe, setting up a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up and Alexander Michinoku Drivers King for two, with Thorpe making the save. The Golden Ratio hits King but Thorpe steals the pin at 10:45.

Rating: B-. This was similar to the way the Iron Survivor Challenge is going to go as it was a bunch of fast paced offense with everyone trying to score a fast pin. It makes for some exciting action and that is the point of what we’ll be seeing this weekend. Thorpe going forward is an interesting way to go, though King and Axiom were viable options as well.

Ava calls in and says the NXT Title match is still on for Deadline.

Eddy Thorpe can’t find Ava but promises to win the NXT Title.

Deadline rundown.

Here is Roxanne Perez for a chat. She’s interested in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge because it’s what got her on the map, but everyone this year is fighting for second place. Any of them can get something out of winning but nothing compares to stepping in the ring with her. Cue all of the people in the match to interrupt and the big brawl is on, with Perez being knocked to the floor.

We cut to the back where Eddy Thorpe has been laid out.

Overall Rating: C+. Other than the last members of the Iron Survivor Challenges being introduced, there was only so much to this show. They tried something at the end with Thorpe being attacked, but I was only kind of getting into this one. The good thing is Deadline is such a gimmick heavy show and we should be in for a good one. Not a great show here, but it helped set the bigger one.

Results
Wren Sinclair b. Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan and Cora Jade – 450 to Jade
No Quarter Catch Crew won a tag team battle royal last eliminating OTM
Karmen Petrovic b. Nikkita Lyons – Silent Slice
Gigi Dolin b. Izzi Dame – Gigi Driver
Eddy Thorpe b. Axiom, Cedric Alexander and Lexis King – Golden Ratio to King

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
Date: November 19, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We have some major stakes tonight as Chase U’s future is on the line when Andre Chase faces Ridge Holland. The #1 contendership to the NXT Title is on the line too but that doesn’t seem to be as important. Other than that, we have more Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matches. Let’s get to it.

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

Axiom and Nathan Frazier still can’t get along over Frazier wanting single success and Axiom wanting to focus on the tag teams.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Nathan Frazier vs. Eddy Thorpe

Axiom is here with Frazier, who is wrestled down to the mat but Frazier is up with a leg lariat. Various tag teams pop up to watch as Thorpe kicks away in the corner but misses a charge into the buckle. A reverse Hennig necksnap gives Frazier two and they collide for a double knockdown as we take a break. Back with even more teams coming out to distract Frazier, allowing Thorpe to belly to back superplex him down for two. The teams get in a big brawl on the floor so Frazier dives onto them, followed by a swinging suplex to Thorpe. The Phoenix splash gives Frazier the pin at 10:34.

Rating: C+. This was more about the tag stuff, which still isn’t really going anywhere other than a bunch of wild brawling. Frazier getting a spot is fine way to go as he can fly around the ring and do his stuff, which is rather good. The match itself wasn’t the point here and that’s ok, as Thorpe wasn’t likely getting the Challenge spot anyway.

Andre Chase talks to Chase U and goes over some of their accomplishments and how it’s time to put it all on the line to stop Ridge Holland.

Giulia talks about bringing her Beautiful Madness to NXT and promises to win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are with Kelani Jordan, who wants Giulia in a qualifying match next week.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Jaida Parker vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Parker shoulders her own a few times to start so Vaquer goes after the arm. Some cranking has Parker in trouble until she sends Vaquer into the corner for the sitdown splash as we take a break. Back with Parker hitting a reverse suplex for two and cranking on both arms. Vaquer fights up and hits a running Meteora in the corner, followed by the figure four necklock faceplants onto the mat. Parker is back up with a Falcon Arrow for two but cue Lola Vice to break up the Hipnotic. Vaquer hits a superkick into the package backbreaker for the pin at 10:54.

Rating: C+. This was another match where the result wasn’t quite in question, as Vaquer wasn’t going to lose a singles match so soon into her NXT run. That being said, I’m not wild on having Parker lose again, even with the distraction. Parker is starting to turn into something around here and I could go for having her move up a bit, though she shouldn’t have beaten Vaquer. Put someone else in the spot instead.

Dion Lennox and Brinley Reece fire each other up.

Roxanne Perez is on vacation until after Deadline but Sol Ruca pops up to say she’s coming for the title.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen

Non-title with Riz and Shawn Spears here as well. D’Angelo forearms him own to start and hammers away in the corner but Jensen gets in a hot shot for a breather. The chinlock goes on with Jensen switching it into a rear naked choke but D’Angelo is back up. D’Angelo bangs up his knee on the ropes and Jensen’s Codebreaker gets two. Back up and the spinebuster finishes Jensen in a hurry at 4:24.

Rating: C. This felt like a way to set up Shawn Spears as the next challenger to D’Angelo, as he can get Jensen to soften D’Angelo up for the title match. D’Angelo as a smashing machine is a little weird but he’s doing well enough. He needs a more interesting challenger than Jensen and Spears though, as I’m not sure how well the latter would go in a big time title match.

Post match Jensen takes out the bad knee again.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Karmen Petrovic are ready for their mixed tag. Flirting is included.

Lexis King is trying to be the best version of himself that he can be and people are starting to take notice. Yoshiki Inamura says he understands and King leaves. Josh Briggs comes in to ask what that was about and Inamura says he doesn’t know because this is a crazy place. We pan over to the tag teams still brawling. Inamura: “My kind of crazy!”

Ashante Thee Adonis/Karmen Petrovic vs. Dion Lennox/Brinley Reece

They come to the ring in Washington State/Oregon State gear for a college football tie-in. The women are set to start but a pair of tags…mean the women are going to start. Or not as more tags mean it’s the men. Or maybe the women. Reece finally rolls Petrovic up for two before Petrovic goes after the arm. Adonis tags himself in and gets hiptossed by Lennox but comes back with some dropkicks. Lennox is sent throat first into the top rope to slow him down again but manages to get over for the tag anyway. Reece cleans house until Adonis offers a flirty distraction, allowing Petrovic to kick her in the face for the pin at 3:54.

Rating: C. This story has been going on for a few months now and I’m still not sure I get the appeal. Petrovic falling for Adonis, who doesn’t seem to have any kind of similar feelings, isn’t making her look bright but it’s giving her something to do. Lennox and Reece still aren’t doing much but they’re good for opponents in a spot like this.

Ridge Holland is ready to end Chase U.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Wren Sinclair vs. Zaria

Charlie Dempsey is here with Sinclair. Zaria stalks her to start and blocks a rollup without much effort. Some suplexes have Sinclair down and her dropkick attempt goes badly. Sinclair gets two off a rollup but Zaria knocks her to the floor without much effort. Dempsey offers a distraction so Sinclair can get in a dive, followed by a rollup for two back inside. Zaria has had it with this and hits a spear into the F5 for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C+. Sinclair got in some offense here but Zaria is all about enacting beast mode and running through anyone in front of her. That’s a good role for her as there is always a place for that kind of a powerhouse. The match was a fine way to get another top name into the challenge, as putting these new names into some kind of a competition is the right way to go.

Tony D’Angelo is banged up but ready to fight Shawn Spears on one leg. Ava agrees and then tells Eddy Thorpe that the tag tams getting involved in his match isn’t enough of a reason to reverse the decision. Thorpe doesn’t like the double standard with D’Angelo and leaves.

Fatal Influence still doesn’t like all of the newcomers but want to fight. Fallon Henley is ready for an open challenge for next week…and here is Meta Four to interrupt. They’re ready to accept but a bunch of other women come in for a brawl. Tatum Paxley jumps Henley and lays her out to hold up the title.

Shawn Spears is pleased with Brooks Jensen.

Karmen Petrovic is happy with Ashante Thee Adonis…but Nikkita Lyons comes in to say she’s still waiting on that text back from Adonis. Petrovic isn’t pleased but Adonis says he never texted Lyons.

Ethan Page is ready to win the Iron Survivor Challenge and he’ll qualify next week.

Nathan Frazier isn’t impressed with Page but Axiom is ready to stop him from winning. Frazier isn’t pleased with Axiom being in but if Frazier can do it, why not him too?

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Andre Chase acknowledges being hard on a bunch of his students….but he wouldn’t apologize for a thing. It’s time to become NXT Champion.

Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase

For the #1 contendership (Trick Williams is on commentary) and Chase U is basically done if Chase loses. Chase sends him into the corner to start but gets run over with a hard shot. Holland goes outside and pulls up the floor mats but takes too long, allowing Chase to hit a flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Holland muscling him up into a spinning DDT for two.

A low blow takes Chase down again but here is Duke Hudson to pull the referee out and brawl with Holland. That’s broken up so Holland goes after Thea Hail, with Riley Osborne making the save this time. Holland gorilla presses Osborne onto the exposed concrete but Chase is back up for the brawl. Chase’s Russian legsweep into the spelling stomps gets two before a powerbomb out of the corner connects for the same. Holland rolls through a high crossbody though and the lifting DDT finishes Chase at 11:57.

Rating: B. Dang they actually did it. Chase U isn’t likely going away but it’s going to be completely changed in some way, whatever that means. Holland getting to be the one to slay the school is certainly a big step, though I wasn’t quite expecting it to come in a clean win. Holland is ready for a title shot now, and based on this, I’d be surprised if he didn’t win the thing.

Chase and the school are devastated to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was all about the main event and it worked well, with most of the rest being about setting up the Iron Survivor Challenges. That makes for a focused show with a theme to it, but stuff liked the mixed tag and the D’Angelo vs. Spears/Jensen parts weren’t so good. Deadline is coming together, but dang tonight’s main event was a punch to the gut.

Results
Nathan Frazier b. Eddy Thorpe – Phoenix splash
Stephanie Vaquer b. Jaida Parker – Package backbreaker
Tony D’Angelo b. Brooks Jensen – Spinebuster
Karmen Petrovic/Ashante Thee Adonis b. Dion Lennox/Brinley Reece – Kick to Reece
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair – F5
Ridge Holland b. Andre Chase – Lifting DDT

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

We’re still stuck with the shorter form shows due to the main roster being in Saudi Arabia. That doesn’t make a ton of difference around here, but it is at last something to shake up the run of the mill nature of this show. Other than that, we’re at least getting some minor continuity, which is more than we’ve gotten forever. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dani Palmer vs. Kali Armstrong

Armstrong powers her down by the arm to start but Palmer nips up and grabs an armbar of her own. Back up and Armstrong stomps away in the corner before an elbow drop gets two. The abdominal stretch, with the grab of a leg, has Palmer in more trouble but she fights out in a hurry. An enziguri puts Armstrong down and the moonsault gives Palmer the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Not much to this one with Armstrong as a fairly generic “I’m strong and better than you” villain. Palmer is only so much better than that made a fine enough match, albeit rather short. It’s not like Palmer has anything going on at the moment though and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.

Dion Lennox, Shiloh Hill and Cutler James are ready for Gallus.

Gallus is ready for their six man tag. This is being treated like an actual match.

Dion Lennox/Shiloh Hill/Cutler James vs. Gallus

Wolfgang hammers Lennox into the corner to start but it’s off to Hill for some shoulders to the ribs in the corner. Mark gets taken into the corner by the arm and it’s off to James for a wheelbarrow faceplant. The numbers game gets Cutler in trouble though and a Regal Roll gives Joe two. James manages a backdrop though and the tag brings in Lennox to clean house. Some northern lights suplexes put Gallus down but Joe is back with the Glasgow Sendoff. Hill cleans house but gets sent outside, leaving Lennox to grab a rollup for the big upset pin at 6:13.

Rating: C+. And points for the shock here as I never would have bet on Gallus being in anything resembling trouble here but the young guys won. That’s an actual upset and something that could genuinely boost them up. Gallus has been treated as a big (well big enough) deal around here and to have a bunch of mostly unproven stars beat them was rather stunning.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m still trying to get over the main event as you just do not see results like that around here. I’ve been wanting anything important, or at least interesting, to happen on this show forever and, albeit once, they’ve actually done it. Now do something else to keep it going and turn this into an actual show that has some value for the regulars.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: October 25, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Things took a bit of a twist last week and it made for a fairly interesting show. Granted the show can only get so far as it’s still fairly limited in pretty much every aspect. There is always the chance that we could get somewhere different this week, though it could always be the norm all over again. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mark Coffey vs. Dion Lennox

They trade shoulders until Coffey slaps him in the face, which is enough for Lennox to…grab an armbar. Some right hands stagger Coffey but he kicks Lennox throat first into the bottom rope. Lennox strikes away and grabs a northern lights suplex, followed by a spinebuster for two. Cue Gallus for the distraction though and Mark hits a right hand for the pin at 4:23.

Rating: C. This was shorter than most of the matches around here and I’m not sure why. Lennox is starting to pop up on the main NXT shows but here he is losing in about four minutes. Yeah there was some interference, but at the same time, it wasn’t exactly an impressive showing for Lennox in any way. Kind of a weird match here.

Post match the beatdown is on but Cutler James and Shiloh Hill make the save. I could go for this.

Tyra Mae Steele is ready to beat Izzi Dame for her first win. Dame comes in to doubt it.

Izzi Dame vs. Tyra Mae Steele

Steele powers her back into the corner to start and they go to the mat for a headlock. Back up and Steele wrestles her to the mat again, setting up a rolling shot to the head in the corner. Dame gets in a shot of her own though and stomping ensues to keep Steele down. A Sky High gives Dame two and the chinlock goes on. Steele fights up again and lawn darts her into the buckle, setting up a capture suplex for two. Another rolling something is cut of though and the spinning Side Effect finishes Steele at 5:30.

Rating: C. Steele is still a great prospect but she needs ring time and this is a good place for her to do just that. As much charisma and amateur skill as she has, she has to get more used to doing something new. She looked ok enough here, but that is maybe the third step in a rather long trip.

Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon annoy Drake Drake Morreaux in the gym. Dante Chen comes in and a tag match is set.

Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon vs. Drake Morreaux/Dante Chen

Dixon works on Chen’s arm to start but makes the mistake of talking trash and gets elbowed in the face. Morreaux comes in and gets armdragged but snaps off a slam without much trouble. A belly to back suplex drops Connors and the villains are cleared out to the floor. Chen goes for the chase but charges into Connors’ superkick to put him down. Dixon gets to pose on the ropes and thrust his pelvis a bit before Connors gets to strike away. The chinlock goes on but Chen fights out and makes the tag off to Morreaux to pick up the pace. A chokeslam off the top plants Connors and the Gentle Touch gives Chen the pin at 6:15.

Rating: C. There is something fun about having Chen as the superhero (as he was called in the setup) who never does anything anywhere else. I’m not sure I can imagine him ever going anywhere else, but I guess it’s better than doing nothing. Speaking of nothing, you have the other three here, who have nothing that makes them stand out in the slightest. Even Morreaux’s size is only going to get him so far, but he did well enough here.

Overall Rating: C. This was a show pretty much lacking in anything resembling star power but it did a nicer than usual job of putting the stories together. There is no reason to just have them be the most nothing matches so add in even the slightest something. Even something of a backstage argument better than nothing and it spices things up at bit, which has been needed for the better part of ever around here.

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NXT
Date: November 12, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re back at home this week after last week’s field trip to Philadelphia and the ECW Arena, meaning it’s time to start getting ready for Deadline. That means we’ll be seeing some Iron Survival qualifying matches this week, which should have some potential. Other than that, Zaria seems to be coming for the Women’s Title so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of last week’s show with the slightly rowdy crowd.

Meta Four vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

Legend and Giulia start things off with Legend kicking her in the face and handing it off to Jackson for a basement dropkick. They trade rollups for two each until Giulia takes her into the corner so Vaquer can come in for a double elbow. A running legdrop gives Vaquer two so it’s back to Legend for a hard right hand. Everything breaks down and Meta Four clears the ring as we take an early break.

Back with Jackson holding Vaquer in a crossarm choke, which is quickly escaped for the tag to Giulia. A snap suplex gets two on Jackson and a double belly to back suplex gets two. Giulia dropkicks Legend on the floor and a missile dropkick into a package backbreaker into stereo knees to the face finish Jackson at 10:54.

Rating: C+. Giulia and Vaquer continue to be the dream team and there is no reason for them to be losing anytime soon. They didn’t quite run through Meta Four here but they shrugged off the offense and won in pretty dominant fashion. Good opener here, with Giulia and Vaquer already feeling like a big deal.

Post match Vaquer and Giulia are ready for the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Cora Jade vs. Sol Ruca

Jade stalls to start and they take turns sitting on the turnbuckles for some taunting. Ruca takes her down and surfs on Jade’s back but Jade gets in a quick knockdown. A stomp to the back has Ruca in trouble and Jade chokes away in the corner. Back up and they trade forearms until Ruca hits a springboard crossbody. Another springboard is broken up but Jade misses a charge into the corner, allowing the Sol Snatcher to give Ruca the pin at 3:32.

Rating: C. The Sol Snatcher is always worth a look and that’s about all they had time for here. You’re not going to be able to get much out of a match that barely breaks three and a half minutes, but at least Ruca won to give her a shot in the bigger match. It’s good to have Jade back, but she’s just not at that higher level and it’s showing more often in the ring.

Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander are ready to qualify for the men’s version.

Karmen Petrovic seems to hit on Dion Lennon when Brinley Reece interrupts. She wants to know what is going on but Ashante Thee Adonis comes in and can’t believe this is going on. Lennox: “Since when have we been friends?” A mixed tag seems likely.

Ava holds a meeting with the tag team division. They all bicker, with Ava telling the teams to show her.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Wes Lee vs. Cedric Alexander

Alexander shoves him down a few times to start before slapping on a headlock. Lee flips out into an armbar before sweeping out the leg and adding a flipping backsplash. Alexander sends him outside for a dive but leaves it rather short as we take a break. Back with the Cardiac Kick being countered with a dropkick and adding a basement version for a bonus.

Something like an STO onto the apron sets up a springboard Downward Spiral to give Alexander two. Lee is right back with the Cardiac Kick for two but Lee pulls the turnbuckle pad off to break up the Lumbar Check. Alexander settles for a Michinoku Driver for two, only to miss a charge into the exposed buckle. The Meteora finishes for Lee at 11:51.

Rating: B. As has been proven before, there is certainly something to the idea of just taking talented stars and giving them a chance to do something in the ring. These two got about twelve minutes and had a solid match as a result, which is about all you can want in this. Lee is definitely the hotter star of the two at the moment, as Alexander is mainly there to make people look good, which was the case again here.

Tony D’Angelo is eating at the restaurant when Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen come in. Spears wants the North American Title…so he’s asking for a title shot for Jensen. They leave and get into a car, which is driven by what appears to be Niko Vance, someone who has been on LVL Up for a few months.

Kelani Jordan wants her North American Title back but Fatal Influence comes in to say it’s not happening.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. He gets right to the point by saying he wants Ridge Holland out here right now. Instead here is Andre Chase, who says he has no issues with Williams but wants Holland too. Williams respects Chase and seems to be ready to offer him an NXT Title shot but Holland interrupts.

Holland is done with Chase and is ready to move on to Williams and the NXT Title. That doesn’t work for Chase, who wants one more match and is willing to put all of Chase U on the line. Holland doesn’t care so Williams suggests a #1 contenders match next week for the Deadline title shot. Holland agrees, but if Chase loses, Chase U is completely done. That’s quite a risk for someone like Chase who can never win the big one, but Chase is in. Williams decks Holland and Chase gets in some stomps to wrap it up. Holland moving forward makes sense…but don’t end Chase U.

Jaida Parker is ready to win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

Josh Briggs, with Pro Wrestling Noah star Yoshiki Inamura, is in the back with Ava when Eddy Thorpe interrupts. Thorpe wants a chance, which is why Ava has put him in an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match. Works for Thorpe.

Adriana Rizzo vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons strikes away to start and blocks an early sunset flip attempt. Riz gets in a shot and goes up, only to dive into a full nelson. Lyons throws her down for two and hits some hip attacks to the head, setting up a seated full nelson. That’s broken up and Riz hits a springboard spinning crossbody for a breather, only for Lyons to shrug of a middle rope Thesz press. A superkick into the Vader Bomb finishes for Lyons at 4:33.

Rating: C. I just don’t get it with Lyons. I’m trying to see the big star power in her and it’s just not clicking for some reason. It does help to have her wrestle as more of a monster as she has a physical style that is rather unique in the division. Other than that though, I just don’t get it and while it makes sense for her to beat someone like Riz, hopefully it doesn’t go much higher up than that. Which it likely will.

Post match, Riz decks her with a crowbar. Well that escalated.

The rest of Chase U asks Andre Chase what he’s thinking but this is the kind of risk that has to be taken. The team doesn’t buy it.

Men’s Iron Survival Challenge Qualifying Match: Je’Von Evans vs. Lexis King

They trade rollups to start and then flip over each other with neither getting very far. A springboard hurricanrana takes King down and Evans hits a big dive to the floor. Back in and King seems to hit him low off a leapfrog but King doesn’t want it that way. Instead we take a break and come back with Evans snapping off a suplex for two. A springboard high crossbody gets the same and the frog splash gives Evans two more. King is back with a Backstabber into a fisherman’s buster for two, only for Evans to hit a superkick. The top rope spinning splash finishes King at 9:37.

Rating: C+. I get more of what WWE sees in Evans but it’s still only getting him so far. It feels like someone where I’ve seen almost everything he can do and that’s not a great sign so soon into his career. Granted that also means he has time to develop, but it’s not showing so far. Granted, this was a good big better than last week against Wes Lee. As for King you can see the story they’re telling, but it could take a few different directions.

Respect is shown post match.

Nathan Frazier tells Axiom that he has an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match and Axiom is not pleased. OTM and the D’Angelo Family come in to argue.

Lexis King is frustrated by another loss so some people try to calm him down. This turns into an argument between Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Fallon Henley

Henley, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. They fight over a lockup to start until Henley’s chop seems to make Jordan…sad? An armdrag off the ropes puts Henley down and an anklescissors out of the corner does it again. They go outside with Jordan’s moonsault off of the announcers’ table mostly missing as we take a break.

Back with a double armdrag takedown leaving them both on the mat for a breather. They trade forearms as more tag teams are brawling backstage. Jordan gets in a knockdown into a rolling…shooting star press for two. With that completely illogical move out of the way, Henley pulls her out of the corner for two of her own but Jordan catches her on top. A super Spanish Fly (which Vic calls a Phoenix splash for some reason) gives Jordan two and One Of A Kind connects, but Jacy Jayne puts the foot on the rope. Jazmyn Nyx gets in a cheap shot of her own and a Fameasser retains the title at 9:26.

Rating: B-. Henley has improved rather nicely in recent months and that was on display here with one of her better singles matches to date. At the same time, the Fameasser is a better finisher than another running strike as that has been done to death in modern wrestling. It’s also nice to see her get a win, albeit with some cheating, to make her feel like something of a more legitimate champion. One of the newcomers will be coming after her soon enough though and that’s where the trouble will begin. For now, though, nice stuff here, as Jordan can move on to something else.

Post match the tag teams get in another fight in the arena to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. There is always something to be said about a show that focuses on wrestling like this one did. Having a bunch of qualifying matches over this and the next few weeks is a good way to go and it worked here. There is a point to having these matches and it makes the show that much more interesting. It wasn’t a must see show, but it was a show that set things up for later and gave us some quality action throughout. I’ll take that every week.

Results
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Meta Four – Double knees to Jackson
Sol Ruca b. Cora Jade – Sol Snatcher
Wes Lee b. Cedric Alexander – Meteora
Sol Ruca b. Adriana Rizzo – Vader Bomb
Je’Von Evans b. Lexis King – Top rope spinning splash

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NXT
Date: September 17, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We have two shows left before the big move to the CW and that means WWE is trying a bit harder than usual around here. In this case it means an appearance from CM Punk, who could get involved with a good number of people. Other than that, we should be in for a build towards Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Ava is in the ring for a contract signing to get things going. First up though we have some announcements. In three weeks in St. Louis, Sexxy Red will be making her return and Randy Orton will be having his first ever match in NXT. As for two weeks in Chicago, we have a bunch of matches, including Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz in a street fight, Roxanne Perez defending the NXT Women’s Title against Giulia and Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams.

This brings out Williams and Page to sign the contract for their title match. Before Page comes out, Trick talks about how after last week, it is clear that Pete Dunne is still a Butch. Cue Page to brag about being NXT Champion and say he’s no Pete Dunne. He’s Trick’s Kryptonite and he has the receipts to prove it, starting with the NXT Title. Trick says Page stole the title but Page says the thing he remembers the most is the shock that came with him winning the title. Page promises to keep the title on October 1 and puts Trick through the table. Neither of them signed, which commentary points out.

We look back at Hammerstone failing to beat Oba Femi last week.

After last week’s loss, Tony D’Angelo got on Hammerstone for losing to Femi after Hammerstone got paid off. D’Angelo wants Hammerstone to do it again but Hammerstone isn’t going to do that. A match between the two of them seems imminent instead.

Ava talks to Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner about a surprise she has for tonight. Je’Von Evans comes up to ask about being on the show in Chicago and Ava will get back to him.

Tatum Paxley/Lyra Valkyria vs. Wendy Choo/Rosemary

Rosemary takes Paxley down to start but Paxley backflipped over her and hands it off to Valkyria. A Paisan elbow sets up a top rope ax handle to Rosemary’s arm but she rolls Paxley into the corner. Choo comes in but gets caught in a bodyscissors, with Paxley rolling her around for two.

The villains are sent outside and we take an early break. Back with a Russian legsweep/running shove combination getting two on Paxley but she enziguris her way to a breather. Valkyria comes back in as everything breaks down but it’s right back to Paxley. A belly to belly superplex gets two with Paxley putting her foot on the ropes. Valkyria kicks Choo down and Valkyria hits a top rope ax kick to finish Rosemary at 9:52.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see the oddball team back together and having some success, but dang the results are frustrating for Rosemary. While I completely get that the TNA star taking the fall makes sense for NXT, it’s annoying to have someone as talented as Rosemary lose again and again. Couple that with the fact that it’s the terrible….whatever thing Choo is supposed to be not taking the fall and it’s all the more annoying.

Ava insists the contract is being signed tonight.

Charlie Dempsey is glad to have Tavion Heights back with the No Quarter Catch Crew. Heights and Miles Borne are tasked with getting the Tag Team Titles, while Wren Sinclair is told to make a name for herself. She gets it.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Hammerstone

The rest of the Family is here with D’Angelo. Hammerstone shrugs off some right hands in the corner and hits a running clothesline. D’Angelo’s headlock slows things down a bit and some belly to belly suplexes put Hammerstone down. Hammerstone fights up and hits some shoulders in the corner, followed by a belly to belly of his own. That’s enough for D’Angelo, who walks out for the countout at 2:53, with the Family looking confused. Hammerstone looked a lot better this week.

Zachary Wentz pops up in front of commentary and shows us a clip of Wes Lee attacking Wentz’s partner Trey Miguel in Dayton, Ohio. Back in the arena, Wentz says he doesn’t know how long Miguel is going to be out of action but the pain in Chicago is going to be even worse for Lee.

NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton tells Ava he can get the Trick Williams/Ethan Page contract signed. Sure why not.

Fatal Influence is ready for Lola Vice.

Vice is warming up in the back but isn’t a fan of Jaida Parker. Cue Parker, who says she’s fighting Fatal Influence tonight. Vice says Parker can have them after she’s finished.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Adonis jumps him before the bell and chokes him on the rope after the bell. The beating continues but Thorpe fights up and manages a kick to the face for a breather. Thorpe fights up and avoids a high crossbody (as Adonis took too long blowing a kiss to a fan), allowing Thorpe to hit his implant DDT for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. I’m not sure if this is better than fighting with Lexis King over music but at least Thorpe is starting to string together some wins. There is something to him but it might take a bit for the whole thing to come together. If nothing else, at least Adonis is losing like someone of his style should be. The ladies man deal is a classic but having him fall on his face over and over is a logical way to go.

Thea Hail and Riley Osborne are crushed after Ridge Holland turned on the school. Osborne is so upset that he was wright about Holland and promises to take out Holland once and for all.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk says he’s in a better mood than he was last night and wants to have some fun this week. While he watches NXT, he has never been in this ring surrounded by these fans. During the time he was injured, he would try to watch the show from the shadows but got caught. Punk knows he is going to have to face some of these people, like Lexis King, Carmelo Hayes, Ethan Page and Bron Breakker. He even has shirts older than Je’Von Evans.

Anyway, Shawn Michaels called him up about being in Chicago for the first CW show (Punk: “Ok I begged.”) and told him to do whatever he wanted. Cue Roxanne Perez (Punk: “You gotta be kidding me.”), saying Punk was probably going to talk about Giulia because everyone does. 13 year old Perez would be freaking out right now because Punk was her favorite wrestler and she he was her voice. Perez: “But I always did prefer your wife.”

After the AJ chant, Perez realizes she should have been a Drew McIntyre fan. Perez gets why Punk wants to be in Chicago but this is all about her. Punk: “Can I retort?” Perez: “No, I wasn’t done yet.” Punk isn’t worried about what Perez is saying because he can appreciate an overconfident champion and he used to have a her sized chip on his shoulder.

That Women’s Title might make her the best in the world, because last night he was watching Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky and thought Perez might be better than them. The thing is it doesn’t matter if Giulia takes the title in Chicago. Cue Giulia (Punk looks interested) to say the countdown is on. Giulia goes to leave so Perez swings, with Punk grabbing her arm. Glaring ensues. You could tell Perez was having some trouble keeping it together in front of Punk but some of those lines were great.

Kelani Jordan isn’t worried about Fatal Influence. She’s thinking about issuing her own open challenge so here is Wren Sinclair to slap her in the face…and run away.

Tony D’Angelo admits to the Family that he’s scared of Oba Femi.

No Quarter Catch Crew vs. Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew is here too. Evans starts fast against Borne and Alexander comes in for a basement dropkick. Heights comes in to work on Cedric’s arm but it’s back to Evans to dropkick Heights out to the floor. Alexander loads up a dive but stops from diving onto Wren Sinclair. Evans dives onto all of the Crew though and we take a break.

Back with Evans fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the wrong corner. Evans kicks his way to freedom and brings Alexander back in to take over. Another basement dropkick hits Heights and a Michinoku Driver gets two. Back up and Borne hits a clothesline for two, followed by a DDT for the same, with Evans coming off the top for the save. Cue Kelani Jordan to brawl with Sinclair, leaving Evans to hit his top rope spinning splash (headbutt in this case) for the pin at 10:27.

Rating: C+. I’m more than happy with Alexander getting to do something, even if it is just a low level tag team. The planned team with Ashante Thee Adonis didn’t work out but maybe a mentor to Evans will be better. If nothing else, it’s a fresh tam and that is always at least worth a look.

The winners celebrate and we’re told that Evans will be in action on October 8 in St. Louis. Against Randy Orton.

Ridge Holland says that’s two down and one to go in Chase U.

Brooks Jensen and Shawn Spears say they’re doing this next.

Brooks Jensen vs. Dion Lennox

Shawn Spears is here with Jensen, who throws him around to start. Lennox is back up with some tosses of his own, setting up a dropkick out to the floor. Jensen hits a spinebuster and hammers away but stops to steal Lennox’s glasses. That’s enough for Lennox to fire back and grab a rollup for two. Then Jensen DDTs him for the pin at 2:35.

Spears and Jensen shake hands post match.

Wes Lee is happy with what he did to Trey Miguel and is ready o end this with Zachary Wentz.

A-Town Down Under want and receive a Tag Team Title match next week.

Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Vice shrugs off Jayne’s kick to the face to start and strikes her out to the floor. Jayne gets in a shot of her own on the floor and hits a Cannonball for two back inside. Vice shrugs it off and kicks her down, setting up the spinning backfist for the pin at 2:10.

Post match Fatal Influence comes in for the beatdown and Jaida Parker comes in for the save. Vice and Parker have to be held apart.

Tony D’Angelo is alone when Riz comes in to talk to him about being afraid. Riz says that no matter what happens, the Family will always be there for him. They all believe in him but D’Angelo has to believe in himself. Special training is recommended and they hug.

Here is Tyrese Haliburton to get the contract signed for the NXT Title match. Trick Williams comes out and praises Haliburton before telling Page to come out here. Page does come out, with Williams signing as he comes to the ring. Page isn’t happy with what is going on and signs, but Haliburton says there is one more thing. Cue CM Punk, who says we need something special for that match. That’s why he’ll be the guest referee (Which is so special we just did it what, two and a half weeks ago?). The fight is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT is in a rough spot at the moment as they have the big CW move and the massive show coming up in two weeks, making this kind of a lame duck period. Instead they’re trying a bunch of stuff like guest stars and having Punk around, which does help, but there was very little worth seeing in the ring this week. It wasn’t a bad show, but you can definitely tell that they are stretching to get to October 1 and don’t have much before then.

Results
Lyra Valkyria/Tatum Paxley b. Wendy Choo/Rosemary – Top rope ax kick to Rosemary
Hammerstone b. Tony D’Angelo via countout
Eddy Thorpe b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Implant DDT
Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Top rope spinning splash to Borne
Brooks Jensen b. Dion Lennox – DDT
Lola Vice b. Jacy Jayne – Spinning backfist

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
Date: September 10, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We are on the way to the CW and the show is already looking up. Last week saw Giulia challenging Roxanne Perez for a Women’s Title shot on October 1, with Perez accepting. Giulia is making her in-ring debut tonight against Chelsea Green, plus TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace is here for an open challenge. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazier vs. Street Profits

The Profits are challenging after the Rascalz were taken out under “conspicuous circumstances”. The fans want the smoke as Ford and Axiom start things off with Ford hitting a running shoulder. Ford flips over a clothesline and grabs a headlock on the mat before it’s off to Dawkins and Frazier. The pace picks up and Frazier hits a running shot to send Dawkins outside.

Back in and stereo basement superkicks drop Dawkins for two but he breaks out of Axiom’s chinlock. Ford fires off some clotheslines and Rock Bottoms Frazier into a People’s moonsault for two. Dawkins tosses Axiom into a German suplex from Ford for two more but Frazier is back in with a 450 for two on Ford. Everyone is knocked down until Dawkins goes up, only to get caught in the super Spanish Fly. Ford breaks up the 450 though and it’s a Doomsday Blockbuster to plant Frazier….and Tama Tonga pulls Ford out for the DQ at 7:50.

Rating: B-. This was getting going at the end but the interference is what matters the most here. The Bloodline being here is weird enough but it makes things feel that much more important. Either way, good start to a match here, and it wouldn’t shock me to see the Bloodline be the “circumstances” that took out the Rascalz.

Post match the Bloodline (Tongas and Jacob Fatu) come in and wreck both teams.

Tony D’Angelo has paid someone we can’t see to take out Oba Femi.

Video on Giulia’s debut and challenge to Roxanne Perez.

Giulia vs. Chelsea Green

Giulia knocks her down to start, followed by a middle rope dropkick to send Green flying again. Green comes back with a facebuster and a pump kick but Giulia grabs a Spider Web (something like an Octopus Hold). That’s broken up so Green chokes in the corner, setting up a German suplex.

A lifting Downward Spiral gives Green two and we hit a full nelson with the legs. Giulia flights out and sends her to the apron for a neckbreaker to the floor as Green can’t get away. Green manages to send her over the announcers’ table but a missile dropkick misses back inside. Giulia’s running knee sets up a northern lights bomb for the pin at 6:51.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a squash but it was a fairly dominant victory for Giulia, which is what it should have been. Green isn’t the most accomplished star in WWE but she’s been around long enough that beating her means something. Giulia felt like a star here and once she turned it up in the end, Green was overwhelmed. It was a good, effective debut and did what it needed to do.

Trick Williams is ready for Pete Dunne tonight and then he’s coming for his NXT Title again.

Jordynne Grace talks about how important the TNA Knockouts Title really is, which is why she wants the best from NXT to come after it.

Lexis King is at a barber shop and shows us a highlight reel of his greatest hits. Then Oro Mensah jumps him.

Lola Vice and Jacy Jayne argue over who is going to step up to Jordynne Grace.

Heritage Cup: Je’Von Evans vs. Charlie Dempsey

Dempsey is defending. Round one begins with Dempsey taking him down into an armbar but gets caught in a wristlock. Dempsey tries to slip out but can’t shake Evans away. Instead he takes Evans into the corner and stomps away. They trade monkey flips and Evans grabs a hurricanrana as the round ends. Round two begins with Evans missing a charge into the corner but coming out with a middle rope sunset flip for two. They fight over a backslide until Dempsey gets a dragon suplex for the pin at 1:01 of the round and 4:39 overall.

We take a break and come back with Evans small packaging Dempsey for two, followed by the top rope spinning splash for the pin at 2:51 of the round and 8:51 overall to tie it up. Round four begins with Evans hitting a running forearm in the corner and knocking Dempsey outside. A neck snap over the rope cuts Evans off for two and some neckbreakers keep Evans in trouble. Evans is back out with a suplex but a butterfly suplex has him in trouble as the round ends.

Round five begins with Evans’ sunset flip getting two and a rollup gets the same. A springboard clothesline gets a delayed two, with Miles Borne putting the foot on the rope. Cedric Alexander brawls with Borne to the back so Evans knocks him to the floor for a huge dive over the top. Cue Tavion Heights to jump Evans though and Dempsey gets the pin to retain at 2:09 of the round and 15:10.

Rating: B-. Heights being back was a good way to keep Evans looking strong in defeat. Dempsey needed to win here after just getting the Cup back, making this a good enough way to go. The round system still works well as a way to set this stuff apart and it feels like its own division, even if there are only a few people involved with it at a time.

Rosemary and Wendy Choo want to destroy Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley. They have made their bed but have forgotten to look underneath it.

Ethan Page is happy to see Pete Dunne and Trick Williams beat each other up because he can pick up the scraps on October 1.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will be in Chicago on October 1.

Oba Femi vs. ???

Non-title and it’s…..HAMMERSTONE (a powerhouse from TNA) answering, apparently the person Tony D’Angelo paid off earlier. Hammerstone gets backed up against the ropes to start but pushes Femi away. Femi is knocked outside, where he hits a jumping clothesline to knock Hammerstone off the apron.

Back in and another clothesline sets up a chinlock, with Hammerstone getting up fast. A fireman’s carry toss gives Femi two but Hammerstone blocks a stomp on the mat. Hammerstone fights back and hits a running clothesline into some suplexes and a chokeslam for two. Femi is up again with a belly to back toss and a pop up powerbomb for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C+. This one is going to depend on what you know about Hammerstone. He was a force in MLW and has shown flashes of success in TNA but this was quite the disappointment. Hammerstone was beaten up for the most part and then lost clean in the end. Of course you don’t have an outside beat your unstoppable monster, but I was expecting a hoss fight and got a five minute match with Femi mostly dominating.

The D’Angelo Family is not pleased.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready but Chase U walks in, with Duke Hudson promising to hurt Ridge Holland.

Wren Sinclair isn’t sure which title she should go after and asks if Kelani Jordan has ever considered an open challenge. They both leave so Lola Vice and Jaida Parker can talk about how they want to beat up Fatal Influence. Vice sounded rather serious here.

CM Punk was impressed by Giulia’s debut and is going to call Ava with an idea.

Ridge Holland vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson starts fast and takes it outside, with Holland being sent into the steps. Back in and a suplex has Holland in more trouble but he drives Hudson back first into the barricade. A running clothesline drops Hudson for two and a crossbody against the ropes cuts off his comeback. Something like a Jackhammer puts Hudson down and the lifting DDT finishes for Holland at 4:11.

Rating: C. Hudson was fighting for his school here but it’s too early for Holland to get what is coming to him. That is going to come when Andre Chase is back, which mans Holland is going to have to run through Riley Osborne first. For now, it was short and to the point, with Hudson getting in what he could before Holland took him apart.

Post match Holland beats him up even more, including another lifting DDT onto a piece of the barricade.

Jordynne Grace runs into Giulia for a cool visual.

Pete Dunne is ready to fight Trick Williams and move on to become NXT Champion.

MizTV will be in Chicago on October 1.

We look back at the Bloodline wrecking the Street Profits and Axiom/Nathan Frazier.

Wes Lee comes in to commentary and says he took out Trey Miguel so the Rascalz couldn’t get the title shot. He wants Zachary Wentz in a street fight in Chicago.

TNA Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. ???

Grace is defending against….Sol Ruca. Grace gets taken down to start but avoids a low superkick. A gutwrench suplex drops Ruca but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. Instead Ruca pulls her outside, followed by the awesome springboard splash for two back inside. We take a break and come back with Ruca slipping out of a MuscleBuster but getting pulled down onto the turnbuckle.

Ruca is right back up with a high crossbody but Grace rolls through and tries a swinging Rock Bottom, which is reversed into a DDT to give Ruca two. Grace is back up with a World’s Strongest Slam into a Vader Bomb for two, followed by the MuscleBuster. And never mind as the lights go out and Rosemary/Wendy Choo are here to jump Grace for the DQ at 8:56.

Rating: B-. Ruca got in a few shots but this was more of Grace dominating until the DQ ending. That was a wise way to get out of having Grace beat a talented start like Ruca so this had to be done. As usual, Grace feels like she could be a major star here at the drop of a hat and odds are she will the second she is allowed to sign. Nice match here, with the ending that had to take place.

Post match Grace gets choked out.

Tatum Paxley shows Lyra Valkyria her dolls of various villains, with Valkyria telling her to be calm. A tag match against Choo and Rosemary seems set for next week.

Giulia, with Funaki, is in Ava’s office when Roxanne Perez comes in to say Giulia isn’t taking anything over. Giulia teases violence but Ava says save it for Chicago.

Dion Lennox warns Brooks Jensen about Shawn Spears (who is there too). With Lennox gone, Jensen and Spears seem to be ok.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Eddy Thorpe argue over Thorpe’s friendship with various women.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

Last Man Standing for the NXT Title shot on October 1. They slug it out to start with Williams getting the better of things. The fight heads outside with Williams being whipped into the steps and suplexed onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Williams hitting some leg lariats but Dunne rolls to the floor. The chair is brought in and a neckbreaker onto it gives Williams a six.

Dunne is back up with a German suplex and wedges the chair in the corner. They head outside again with Williams being put on the steps for a running boot to the head. The floor mats are peeled back (you don’t see that much anymore) and Dunne plants him with a DDT for nine (yes off a DDT on exposed concrete).

Back in and Williams hits a pop up right hand but the Bitter End gives Dunne another eight. Dunne gets the chair but Williams kicks it into his face for eight of his own. Williams pulls the cover off of the announcers’ table, only to get powerbombed through it. They fight out into the fans and onto the platform, with Dunne hitting a Russian legsweep down through some tables. Cue Ethan Page to mock them both until Williams bats the count to win at 14:17, backdropping Page through the table in the process.

Rating: B. The ending to this was a bit of a weak spot as Williams just popped up to win, but the rest of the match took a different path than most of these matches. Until the last few minutes, they mostly kept this basic, with just the chair being used. I like the change of pace over what you would expect from this kind of a match, with all kinds of weapons and such. Williams very well may get the title back in Chicago and this was a fine way to set it up.

Ava gets off the phone with CM Punk, who will be here next week.

Overall Rating: B. Despite a lot of the wrestling just being ok, this show was PACKED with either guest stars or important matches. I was impressed by how many things they managed to fit into the show and it was a lot of fun, even with the main event being the only match worth seeing. Sure it’s to help drum up interest before the big move in a few weeks, but it worked very well for a show that didn’t have a ton of hype.

Results
Street Profits b. Axiom/Nathan Frazier via DQ when Tama Tonga interfered
Giulia b. Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb
Charlie Dempsey b. Je’Von Evans 2-1
Oba Femi b. Hammerstone – Toss powerbomb
Ridge Holland b. Duke Hudson – Lifting DDT
Jordynne Grace b. Sol Ruca via DQ when Rosemary and Wendy Choo interfered
Trick Williams b. Pete Dunne when Dunne could not answer the ten count

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
Date: September 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we are about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc. That should be a big enough show, but we also have the first show on the CW in about a month, which is going to have its own stacked card. The NXT Title will be on the line on that show, with Ethan Page defending after retaining on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He is out here to finish things with Pete Dunne (fans: “WHOOP THAT BUTCH!”) but here is Ethan Page to interrupt. Page says he might not be Dunne, but he is the NXT Champion, with Williams raising his hand at No Mercy. Williams says he was a man of his word and called the title match down the line but for now, he has to get rid of Dunne. Page teases violence and here is Dunne to jump Williams, with referees breaking it up.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger nearly get in a fight with Gallus.

Fatal Influence are rather mean to Jaida Parker.

Rascalz vs. Gallus vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

For a future Tag Team Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Miguel being sent into the corner but coming back with a rollup for two. Miguel hurricanranas Walker down but gets stomped by Mark Coffey as the fast start continues. Mark runs Miguel over with a clothesline, only for Wentz to come in with a Motor City Machine Guns style Dream Sequence to put Mark down. Hank and Tank come in and wreck everyone as we take an early break.

Back with Walker clotheslining Mark and Wentz, allowing the tag off to Ledger to clean house. Miguel kicks Walker in the face and makes him DDT Coffey for two but cue Je’Von Evans to jump Joe Coffey and the Good Brothers to go after Walker. Miguel’s top rope Meteora into Wentz’s Swanton finishes Ledger at 11:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time here and were flying through everything with this one, including the interference from the OC. Why Walker/Ledger vs. the OC needs to continue is beyond me but at least it isn’t near the title picture at the moment. The Rascalz should make for a good set of challengers and when the champions aren’t on the best footing at the moment, there will be just enough of a reason to believe the titles could change hands.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready for the Rascalz, who come in to say they’re ready to take the titles back to TNA next week.

Trick Williams and Pete Dunne get in another fight in the locker room.

Oro Mensah vs. Lexis King

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. The fight is on to start with Mensah knocking him into the corner and hitting a forearm to the back for two. King is sent out to the floor and slammed off the barricade for a crash. Back in and Mensah’s springboard is broken up with a shove off the top and King hammers away. A running shot to the back of the head gets two so King yells about Mensah’s father, which sends Mensah into a rage. The beating is on but King rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. King is settling into the role of guy who knows how to push buttons and get under his opponents’ skin. He still isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but it’s an improvement over where he was before. Mensah was showing some fire here but he still feels like he’s kind of going through the motions until Noam Dar gets back to bring Meta Four to full strength.

Post match Mensah chases King to the back.

The D’Angelo Family threatens Oba Femi, who doesn’t think much of Riz. Tony D’Angelo assigns Stacks to deal with this.

Gallus rants about Je’Von Evans when Wren Sinclair comes in to ask them to be quiet because Miles Borne has sensitive ears. Gallus says they’re coming for the Heritage Cup, with Charlie Dempsey asking Sinclair to calm down.

Tatum Paxley vs. Rosemary

Wendy Choo is here with Rosemary, who takes her into the ropes for an early Upside Down. The neck crank is broken up and Paxley hits a clothesline but Rosemary snaps off some suplexes for two. A quick facebuster rocks Rosemary though and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. Erg I was hoping this would be Rosemary’s chance to make up for a less than great outing last time but here she is looking like even more of a jobber. I understand that you don’t want TNA stars going over NXT names over and over but there was no one better to lose like this than one of the most successful Knockouts in recent years?

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save.

Pete Dunne and Trick Williams fight again. Ava is done with this and sends them to the ring right now.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be defending in an open challenge next week.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell with Williams taking over before they get inside for the official start. Dunne hammers away until he is sent into the corner so Williams’ jumping neckbreaker can connect for two. Williams knees him down and hits a running neckbreaker but Dunne gets in a crotching onto the ring skirt. A stomp onto the steps rocks Williams and we take a break.

Back with Williams getting two off a Rock Bottom but Dunne German suplexes him right back down. They go back outside with Williams missing a big boot and the fight going onto the barricade. A crash sends them through the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 11:20.

Rating: B-. This felt like a fight as these two wanted to get to each other that badly. There is a good chance that this is designed to set up a rematch for the CW debut (perhaps in a cage) and that makes things more interesting going forward. If these two are still fighting each other, who goes after the NXT Title? Joe Hendry more than likely, but I’ll take these two in another big fight first.

Post match the brawl is on again, with security not being able to do much about it.

Ridge Holland isn’t sad about what he did to Andre Chase and talks about how Duke Hudson criticized everything he did. Holland got the gold back in Chase U but mediocrity took it away. He starts destroying Chase U next week, but this week he starts this week with Hudson’s trophy.

An injured Shawn Spears thanks Brooks Jensen for saving him. Spears thanks him for being there and leaves when Dion Lennox comes in, saying Spears is psychologically manipulating Jensen.

Joe Coffey vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Evans shrugs off some right hands to start and hits a running hurricanrana. Coffey catches a running forearm with a Regal Roll into a Vader Bomb for two. Evans is sent outside but here is Cedric Alexander to cut off the interfering Gallus. Back in and Evans’ springboard spinning splash finishes Coffey at 2:30.

Lyra Valkyria didn’t want to come back to NXT but had to help Tatum Paxley against the weird girls.

Ava makes Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing match next week, with the winner getting the NXT Title shot on the first CW show. As long as it doesn’t end in a draw, sure.

Oba Femi vs. Stacks

Non-title and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too. Stacks slugs away to start but gets driven into and thrown out of the corner. Some elbows, with a glare at Tony D’Angelo, have Stacks in trouble and his comeback attempt is easily cut off. Femi hits him in the back of the head a few times for two but Stacks strikes away, including a dropkick to put Femi down. Not that it matters as Femi is back up with the toss powerbomb for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Femi is such a force these days that it is hard to imagine him losing anytime soon (or anytime at all for that matter). He has found his groove as the unstoppable monster and the more people he runs over, the better of a monster he’s going to be. Stacks was a good designated victim here and that’s all he needed to be.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on more of the women but Eddy Thorpe breaks it up.

Je’Von Evans thinks he should get a Heritage Cup shot and Wren Sinclair grans his request. Charlie Dempsey comes in and isn’t pleased so he blames Miles Borne, who didn’t hear a thing.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Jaida Parker

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Parker shoulders her down to start but stops to favor the bad ribs. Nyx is back up with a running kick to those ribs and we hit a bodyscissors. Parker powers out and puts her on the corner for the seated senton. The running hip attack finishes Nyx at 4:40.

Rating: C. This was Parker getting her win back after a big loss on Sunday, which isn’t a bad way to go. Parker vs. the team is something that could go on or a few weeks and build her back up, though she’ll need some friends on the way there. For now though, Parker continues to feel like she is rising up the ranks and that could be quite the ride going forward.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Parker down.

Here is Roxanne Perez to brag about her success and even the women on the main roster can’t stop talking about her. People fantasize about beating her but then fantasy meets reality. It doesn’t matter if you are the hot prospect or a big star from Japan…and here is Chelsea Green to interrupt.

Green doesn’t like how the fans smell but they cheer for her anyway. She is here to interrupt the fun sized champion because she is the new #1 contender. Cue Giulia to interrupt and the fans seem impressed. Giulia wastes no time in dropping Green and then issues the challenge for the CW show. Perez seems to accept to wrap it up. You had to know that was coming and that’s not a bad choice to make.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t the strongest here but that wasn’t the point. This show was about setting up the big CW debut in about a month and that show is already feeling like the biggest thing NXT has done since Stand & Deliver. This is already feeling like a bigger deal than No Mercy, which is a great way to off to a hot start on the way to the next major change over. Nice job this week, even if it was just a preview for the important show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Swanton to Ledger
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Tatum Paxley b. Rosemary – Psycho Trap
Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams went to a double countout
Je’Von Evans b. Joe Coffey – Springboard spinning splash
Oba Femi b. Stacks – Toss powerbomb
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Running hip attack

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.