NXT LVL Up – October 25, 2024: Spicy Continuity

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 LVL Up – September 6, 2024: Not Even Bruno

NXT LVL Up
Date: September 6, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we should be back to full strength around here. Granted that means going with three matches rather than two, which isn’t exactly a big upgrade but it feels better than the norm. Hopefully there are some bigger names around here this week though, as it was only so good over the last few weeks. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Izzi Dame vs. Layla Diggs

Dame powers her into the corner to start but Diggs is right back with a running hurricanrana. Diggs works on the arm but slips on the ropes, allowing Dame to drop an elbow. Commentary actually talks about Main Event, reminding us that the show actually exists. A powerbomb onto the knee keeps Diggs in trouble and a regular backbreaker gets two. Dame bents the back over her knee, setting up a Sky High for two more. Back up and Diggs gets in a few shots, only to miss a dropkick. That lets Dame kick her in the face and hit a swinging Side Effect for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C. This was little more than a squash as Diggs barely had anything going for the most part. Instead it was Dame working on her back and then going to the finish. Dame’s size alone should get her a chance, though she hasn’t exactly stood out yet. That is even more the case for Diggs, who hasn’t done anything to make her feel different.

Earlier this week, Dani Palmer came up to Lainey Reid for a rather badly recited interaction. Either way they’re having a match this week. This was at least different than the standard interview, but that doesn’t mean it was better.

Dani Palmer vs. Lainey Reid

Reid knocks her down to start but Palmer flips out of a headscissors. Palmer’s rollup sends Reid outside, which has her so angry that she grabs a dragon screw legwhip on the apron. Back in and Reid hits a belly to back faceplant for two before grabbing a half crab. That’s broken up and Palmer knocks her down, setting up a Low Down (not Sky High Byron) for two. Palmer goes back up and hits a moonsault for the pin at 5:53.

Rating: C+. Well, they did stand out a bit more, though I’m not sure how well they pulled it off. Palmer is suddenly a daredevil and I’m not sure if just using a moonsault makes that accurate. On the other hand, Reid is the southern belle who snaps when slightly pushed. That is something that could go somewhere, but Palmer is further along right now, despite having a more generic persona.

Drake Morreaux is ready to climb to the top.

Drake Morreaux vs. Dante Chen

They fight over wrist control to start until the much bigger Morreaux grabs a front facelock. A gator roll has Chen in more trouble and his takedown attempt is easily cut off. Morreaux hits a nice dropkick and we hit the seated full nelson. Chen fights up but gets pulled right back down into the same hold. Another comeback works a bit better as Chen hits an enziguri before knocking Morreaux outside for a dive. Back in and Morreaux gets kicked down again, setting up the double chop to finish for Chen at 7:40.

Rating: B-. Bruno Sammartino in his prime would go down to that double chop if it was on this show. Anyway, this was far better than I was expecting as Chen had to deal with the monster but could only get so far against someone that size. At the same time, they have something with Morreaux, but he needs a lot more polishing and experience to really get there. For now though, surprisingly good match and I’ll always take that.

Overall Rating: C+. This show got better as it sent on and that is not a bad way to go. What matters is making this show feel like it is different enough week to week, which is a rather difficult task given how it is set up. For a thirty minute show featuring the lowest people on the NXT roster, this was an entertaining way to go and I liked what I got out of it, so call this one a win.

 

 

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NXT LVL Up – June 7, 2024: This Show Has Nothing To Do With Battleground

NXT LVL Up
Date: June 7, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s time for the most unique WWE show of the week (other than Speed, but one match is barely a show) and I’m not sure what that is going to mean. There have been some bigger names around as of late and that should help a bit. That being said, you don’t really watch around here for continuity so maybe we can have a good match or two. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tank Ledger vs. Tavion Heights

Hank Walker is here with Ledger. They fight over a lockup to start with Heights grabbing a headlock on the mat. Ledger fights up and is quickly put back down with a headlock takeover. Back up again and Ledger fires off some flying shoulders but charges into a backdrop, meaning it’s time for a breather on the floor. Heights sends him into the corner a few times and grabs a Russian legsweep for two, only to get sent into the corner. Ledger knees him in the ribs, setting up an atomic drop and spinning middle rope shoulder. A Bubba Bomb finishes Heights at 4:49.

Rating: C+. Not a bad power match here, though I could go for Heights winning a few more matches every so often. He has a good look and the skills to back it up in the ring, but so far he’s little more than a jobber to the stars. Or as big of a star as Ledger is going to be as part of a low level tag team.

Wren Sinclair is still looking for her first win and is ready to face Adrianna Rizzo.

Adrianna Rizzo vs. Wren Sinclair

The D’Angelo Family is here with Rizzo, who works on a hammerlock to start. A dropkick sends Sinclair into the ropes but she’s back with an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and they trade rollup attempts for two each until Rizzo hits a running flipping seated senton for the pin at 3:22.

Rating: C. Rizzo hasn’t really gotten to showcase herself and it was made even worse by her not being around for a good while. I’m not sure how far she’ll go in NXT but she had a nice enough match here. On the other hand you have Sinclair, who isn’t exactly doing well when it comes to winning, but she isn’t bad at all out there.

Post match Rizzo helps her up to her feet and respect is shown.

Chase U vs. Javier Bernal/Drake Morreaux

Osborne and Bernal start things off with the former hitting a leg lariat. Morreaux comes in and runs Osborne over with a shoulder to it’s off to Hudson as well. A Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Bernal and Hudson drops Osborne onto him for two. It’s back to Morreaux for a big boot so Bernal can get two and Morreaux’s belly to back suplex gets the same. A flying mare gets Osborne out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Hudson. That means a big boot to put Bernal on the floor for a bit flip dive from Osborne (breaking Bernal’s foot in the process) and a reverse DDT finishes Morreaux at 6:46.

Rating: C+. I can always go for some more Chase U, even if it is the lower end of the team like this. Hudson can do rather well when he gets the chance, though unfortunately that is not often the case. Speaking of unfortunately, we have Bernal’s foot, which might not let him get back in the ring for a long time. Hopefully he gets better soon, but that really did not look good.

Overall Rating: C. The wrestling was just ok for the most part and that isn’t enough to make me that interested in such a show. The biggest deal here is Bernal’s foot injury and you don’t want to see anyone having to deal with that sort of thing. Other than that, it felt like a pretty bottom of the barrel show, which isn’t a great sign around here.

Results
Tank Ledger b. Tavion Heights – Bubba Bomb
Adrianna Rizzo b. Wren Sinclair – Running flipping seated senton
Chase U b. Javier Bernal/Drake Morreaux – Reverse DDT to Bernal

 

 

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NXT LVL Up – April 19, 2024: It Means Nothing For Next Week

NXT LVL Up
Date: April 19, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s time to finally get caught up on this show as I’ve been a few weeks behind. Things have not been their sharpest around here lately as it has certainly felt like the way the show has been going for a very long time. Hopefully that changes this week, as a dull LVL Up is among the least interesting things in all of wrestling. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kale Dixon vs. Riley Osborne

Dixon shrugs off an early wristlock and sends Osborne outside, meaning we get a bit of respect on the way back in. Osborne hits a quick dropkick out to the floor and this time he lets Dixon come back in. Dixon isn’t having that and decks Osborne, who knocks him right back down. Some kicks to the chest keep Osborne down and Dixon chops him in the back. The chinlock goes on but Osborne fights up and hits a jumping elbow. A knee to the face sets up a shooting star press to give Osborne the pin at 6:17.

Rating: C. Osborne gets a win here, though there is only so much that he is going to get from beating Dixon. While Dixon has a good look and enough ability, he is running with the anchor that is his first name. WWE can’t expect him to go far with that kind of a name, yet here we are anyway, with Dixon continuing to be stuck in limbo, at least partially due to being named after a vegetable.

Karmen Petrovic is ready for Wren Sinclair.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Wren Sinclair

Petrovic grabs a headlock to start and grinds away but Sinclair kicks away for a standoff. Another headlock goes on to keep Petrovic in control and she grabs a running basement Blockbuster for two. Sinclair pulls her down into a chinlock and even gets the knees into Petrovic’s back to make it worse. Petrovic fights out and makes the clothesline comeback, setting up a spinning kick to the back of the head for the pin at 4:59.

Rating: C. I don’t know if they’re building up Sinclair’s first win as a big deal or something else, but it’s almost weird to see her lose so often despite being good enough to do something. On the other hand you have Petrovic, who has a cool gimmick but is going to need something more besides being able to kick people.

Respect is shown post match.

Drake Morreaux/Javier Bernal vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

Ledger powers Bernal into the corner to start and it’s quickly off to Morreaux, who runs Ledger down. Bernal comes back in and is promptly slammed by Walker, setting up Ledger’s slingshot splash for two. With Morreaux down, a double slam puts Bernal onto him for a rather nasty crash. Morreaux takes Walker down though and Bernal gets to stomp away.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s Ledger coming back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Morreaux knocks Walker outside, allowing Bernal’s top rope splash to connect for two. Back up and Walker and Ledger knock Morreaux to the floor, setting up a running powerslam/forearm to the back of the head combination to finish Bernal at 6:29.

Rating: C+. Match of the night here though that’s not saying much. At least Morreaux, who has some promise, didn’t take the loss here, as Bernal is the definition of expendable. Ledger and Walker are becoming LVL Up guys and that isn’t the best thing, as they’re only so interesting in the first place.

Overall Rating: C. Pretty nothing show this week and unfortunately you just have to be used to that around here. The main event was the best match if that means much, as this was just another thirty minutes that came and went without much happening. Completely average edition here, and that means nothing about what is to come around here.

Results
Riley Osborne b. Kale Dixon – Shooting star press
Karmen Petrovic b. Wren Sinclair – Spinning kick to the back of the head
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. Drake Morreaux/Javier Bernal – Running powerslam/forearm combination to Bernal

 

 

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NXT LVL Up – April 5, 2024: For The Second Time Ever

NXT LVL Up
Date: April 5, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s Wrestlemania Weekend and we might get to see some people who might be at Wrestlemania L or so. It would be nice to have them do something a little different for this show but odds are that isn’t what we’ll be getting to see. If nothing else, just some slightly bigger names could help a lot so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Drake Morreaux

The rather large Morreaux takes him down without much effort so Chen goes to the arm. A hiptoss is blocked and Morreaux drops him with a clothesline, setting up a splash to the back. Chen goes for the arm again but walks into a backbreaker for two. We hit the waistlock before Morreaux misses another splash. Back up and Chen strikes away, including a pump kick into the double chop to finish Morreaux at 5:43.

Rating: C. One day someone is going to have to explain the Chen thing to me. He’s nothing of note in the ring but even commentary was pointing out how he is the guy who gets to face all of the up and comers around here. That’s one thing, but then he beats those up and comers, which makes things all the worse. It’s hardly some career killer for Morreaux, though it doesn’t do much to make me want to watch the show.

OTM threatened Je’Von Evans at the Performance Center but Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe made the save.

Brinley Reece vs. Tatum Paxley

Reece grabs the armbar to start but Paxley stops to talk to her. That earns Paxley an armdrag into another armbar, followed by a running shoulder in the corner. Back up and Reece misses a dropkick, allowing Paxley to go after the ribs. A reverse chinlock has Reece in more trouble but she fights up with the elbows. Not that it matters as Paxley pulls her into the Psycho Trap for the pin at 4:22.

Rating: C. Reece is something similar to the original Bayley crossed with Thea Hail but she doesn’t actually win anything. Having that kind of energy is nice to see but it isn’t going to matter if she doesn’t have some success. On the other hand you have Paxley, who is at least getting higher up in the women’s division due to her weird association with Lyra Valkyria.

OTM vs. Je’Von Evans/Tyrike Igwe/Tyson DuPont

Evans slugs away at Scrypts to start, meaning the flipping escapes ensue. Price and DuPont come in to trade shoulders with the latter getting the better of things. A splash gives DuPont two and it’s off to Nima, with Igwe working on the arm. Igwe gets taken into the wrong corner so the villains can take over. Scrypts is tossed at him for two and the chinlock goes on, only to have Igwe power out without much trouble. It’s back to Evans to pick the pace up with the dives but Price and Nima catch DuPont in the assisted Alabama Slam for the pin at 6:20.

Rating: C+. Commentary said this was only the second six man tag in the history of LVL Up and I have no idea how or why that is possible. On a show built around the idea of getting people as much ring time as possible, why wouldn’t you want to put more people out there? Just an odd bit of trivia but the match itself was decent, with Evans getting to pop the crowd again.

Overall Rating: C. I’m not sure if a six man tag counts as anything special for Wrestlemania Weekend but I’m not sure how many people in WWE know this show exists in the first place. Just having a quick angle at the Performance Center helps and at least it was something from a previous week. Nothing of note here, but that’s LVL Up for two.

 

 

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NXT LVL Up – March 15, 2024: This Wasn’t Drek

NXT LVL Up
Date: March 15, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Things almost have to be better after last week’s rather dull show. As usual, the show’s interest level hinges on the star power involved and there was almost none to be see last week. That needs to change here but you never know if that is going to be the case. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Lola Vice vs. Carlee Bright

Bright’s mom is in the audience. Vice takes her to the mat without much trouble to start and grabs the waistlock. That’s reversed into a headlock from Bright, followed by a running crossbody for two. Vice is right back with a spinebuster and we hit the neck crank. That lasts as long as the average neck crank, with Bright grabbing a backslide and small package for two each. Vice isn’t having that though and grabs a headscissors choke for the tap at 4:24.

Rating: C. Vice continues to feel like someone who is turning into something around here and she is probably going to be a project going forward. There is value there and WWE seems to know it. On the other hand you have Bright, who is another young athletic star who has been dropped into the division without having anything that makes her stand out.

Javier Bernal, now with the rather large (and debuting) Drake Morreaux, is ready for their tag match against the D’Angelo Family. Morreaux is very, very Cajun.

Javier Bernal/Drake Morreaux vs. D’Angelo Family

Stacks and Bernal fight over arm control to start until Stacks runs him over with a shoulder. Morreaux comes in and for some reason it’s off to Crusifino, who is powered into the corner. Crusifino is run over without much effort and it’s back to Bernal for the front facelock. A springboard elbow drop gives Bernal two but Crusifino ducks Morreaux’s running shoulder. Stacks comes back in and everything breaks down, allowing Stacks to hit Cement Shoes to finish Morreaux at 5:26.

Rating: C. I know it’s just LVL Up but was there no other way to go than having the new monster take the fall here? A former champion beating a goon like Bernal doesn’t feel like that big of a stretch but instead it’s the new monster losing. The good thing is almost no one sees this show as otherwise, that would be a good way to cut Morreaux’s legs off right at the beginning.

Wren Sinclair vs. Sol Ruca

The fans are glad to have Ruca (now with new tattoos) back and respect is shown before we get going. They fight over arm control to start until Ruca cartwheels away from a sunset flip attempt. Ruca takes her down out of the corner and we hit the headlock takeover. Sinclair reverses into a quickly broken headscissors before stereo crossbodies leave both of them down. Back up and Sinclair knocks her down again, setting up a chinlock. That’s broken up as well so they trade rollups for two each. Ruca scores with a dropkick and the Sol Snatcher finishes Sinclair at 6:02.

Rating: C+. The rest of the match was just ok but dang that Sol Snatcher is one of the coolest looking finishers you’ll see anywhere. Ruca’s athleticism is rather impressive and it’s great to see that she can still do her big move after her injury. Sinclair continues to lose over and over but she’s certainly not getting crushed out there.

More respect is shown post match.

Overall Rating: C+. It really is amazing what happens when it feels like the people on the show matter. Having Ruca, the Family and Vine around made this such a more engaging show and that was glaringly absent last week. The show wasn’t exactly great, but I’ll certainly take this after last week’s drek.

Results
Lola Vice b. Carlee Bright – Headscissors choke
D’Angelo Family b. Javier Bernal/Drake Morreaux – Cement Shoes to Morreaux
Sol Ruca b. Wren Sinclair – Sol Snatcher

 

 

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