NXT
Date: February 15, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a big show this week with Vengeance Day. That means the card is stacked, including the finals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and a main event of Bron Breakker defending the NXT Title against Santos Escobar. Other than that, maybe we get a surprise or two as well to go with the huge lineup. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video features Toxic Attraction texting each other about tonight’s show. I’m sure one of them being around a pool, one of them being in lingerie and one of them looking at herself in a mirror is just a coincidence.

Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo

In a weaponized steel cage, because a cage just isn’t good enough around here. D’Angelo comes out in a rather expensive car. It’s a brawl to start with D’Angelo being sent into the cage but coming back with a hard slam for a breather. D’Angelo goes for a tool box but Dunne slams the lid onto it instead. Dunne uses a wrench to bend the fingers back, though the fingers are fine enough to blast Dunne with a fire extinguisher.

A superplex brings Dunne off the top and D’Angelo zip ties Dunne’s wrists behind his back. Dunne is fine enough to pull D’Angelo into a guillotine choke, meaning D’Angelo has to pull out some cutters to free himself (and Dunne). Back up and Dunne hits the Bitter End for two, followed by D’Angelo hitting him low. Forget About It gets two more and they’re both down. Dunne hits him in the back of the head though and it’s the Bitter End onto a bunch of weapons for the pin at 9:53.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have a lot of time here and having weapons in a cage seems a bit redundant, but the effort was there and carried this to a good match. D’Angelo has gotten a lot better in recent months and Dunne is probably an important part of that improvement. Working with the talented veterans is a good thing and it seems to have worked for him here.

Raquel Gonzalez calls Cora Jade at 5:00am because it’s time for training. They go to the Performance Center and we get a training montage, with Gonzalez not exactly convinced that Jade wants it this much.

The Creed Brothers say they’ll win because they’re better.

MSK says they’ll win because they’re ready.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Toxic Attraction vs. Persia Pirotta/Indi Hartwell

Toxic Attraction, with Mandy Rose, is defending and jump the challengers from behind to start fast. Hartwell and Pirotta are sent outside for some flip dives before the bell before they head back inside for the official start. Pirotta fall away slams Jayne and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, setting up a clothesline from Hartwell. A Rose distraction lets Jayne get in a kick to the face though, meaning Rose is ejected.

We take a break and come back with Hartwell hitting a faceplant on Jayne. Pirotta comes in to clean house and hits a double Samoan drop on the champs. Everything breaks down and Pirotta heads outside, where she is sent into the steps. Some Jayne interference allows Dolin to plant Hartwell, setting up a high/low to retain the titles at 7:49.

Rating: C-. This was the usual messy match from these four and that is not remotely surprising. The women’s tag team division barely exists and that makes the upcoming tournament sound even worse. It’s the kind of thing that should be let go already, but I can’t imagine that actually happening anytime soon.

Wendi Choo asks Amari Miller to be her partner in the Dusty Classic but Hartwell already has a partner. Choo asks Dakota Kai, who ignores her by talking to…someone who is not there.

Grayson Waller brings cops to arrest LA Knight, but has Sanga stay by the car. I see no future issues with this plan whatsoever.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are at a bar, where Briggs wants to know about how his date with Kayden Carter went. They had dinner, talked about the Dusty Classic, and it was nice. Then Carter said he was like a brother to her, which Briggs doesn’t like. They ask the bartender, who happens to be NXT’s Fallon Henley, what that means. Jensen will have a friend for life, which is enough to make reality set in. Henley and Briggs say he’s in “the Zone”. I’d be more worried about having Jensen, who is twenty, at a bar. That place’s license is going to be in trouble.

Here is LA Knight, with Grayson Waller immediately coming to the ring with police. He says that he can’t sleep since this stuff with Knight started, but Knight has some footage of his own. Knight shows us a clip of Waller attacking him recently, which just happens to go against the restraining order. That means the whole thing is invalid, which is news to Waller. Knight clears the ring and the match is set for next week.

Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta are unhappy with their loss but Dexter Lumis comes in. Indi leaves with him, so here is Duke Hudson to leave with Pirotta.

Tommaso Ciampa is sick of people acting like NXT is a minor league. He still wants the NXT Title back and if he has to go through Dolph Ziggler, so be it. This was a very intense promo from Ciampa and he sold the heck out of the thing.

North American Title: Cameron Grimes vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes is defending and has Trick Williams with him. Grimes takes him down by the arm to start and the trade wrist control for a bit. Hayes works on a wristlock but Grimes is back up with a backdrop for a breather. They go outside where Grimes gets his leg swept out on the apron, setting up a kick to the back of the head back inside. A springboard legdrop knocks Grimes out of the ropes and we take a break.

Back with Hayes still working on the arm but Grimes manages his backflip powerslam to put them both down. Grimes avoids some Williams interference and knocks Hayes into the corner. A very spinning Side Effect gives Grimes two but Hayes is back with a springboard spinning forearm to the face.

Grimes superkicks him for two and is stunned at the kickout, even though he should know better than to think a non-finisher is going to end a match. A nice high crossbody gets two on Hayes but he rolls outside. That means Grimes can dive off the apron to take out Williams, only to be sent face first into the barricade. Back in and Hayes hits a spinning faceplant for two, setting up a crossface. That’s countered into a rollup for two so Hayes goes up top for the ax kick to retain at 15:55.

Rating: B. Best thing on the show so far by a mile as you had two talented people getting to do their thing for a long time. Grimes can work well with anyone and Hayes is one of the smoothest workers on the roster. It was too early for Hayes to win the title, though I’m not sure what is next for Grimes either. Both guys would be fine on the main roster, but I’m almost scared to know how bad NXT would be without them.

Video on the Dusty Classic.

Kay Lee Ray breaks stuff with her baseball bat because she wants Io Shirai to get fired up. Shirai gets into the breaking things too. Zoey Stark comes in and can’t believe Shirai destroyed a bunch of things so Shirai breaks more.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: MSK vs. Creed Brothers

Brutus takes Carter down to start but Julius’ waistlock doesn’t get him very far. Some kicks drop Julius and a double stomp puts him down as well. Lee hits a big flip dive over the top to take Brutus down but a heck of a running shoulder knocks Lee off the apron and into the announcers’ table.

We take a break and come back with Carter in trouble but managing to get over get over to Lee for the hot tag. The Final Flash gets two on Brutus with Julius making the save. Lee and Brutus are sent outside, leaving Julius to hit the sliding lariat to Carter for the pin and the tournament at 9:36.

Rating: C+. There wasn’t exactly a ton of drama here but the action was good enough to make it work. The Creeds are absolutely the right call here as they have gotten a lot better in the last few weeks. MSK on the other hand are starting to feel like they are just kind of there and that is never a good place to be.

Nikkita Lyons says her dad taught her that she was here to bring people together. Then we seem to see one of her music videos. She debuts next week and wants us to watch out for this lion’s roar.

Here is Imperium, with the fans chanting WALTER. Gunther: “IT’S PRONOUNCED GUNTHER!!!” They congratulate the Creed Brothers on their win and promise to crush them in their title match. As for Gunther, he wants some gold of his own so he will be watching the main event rather closely. Cue Solo Sikoa, who doesn’t care about the mat but wants to smack the taste out of Gunther’s mouth. A fight is teased.

Dolph Ziggler is ready to take out Tommaso Ciampa and show him what a star does. They meet next week.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams are happy to have retained the title but Pete Dunne interrupts. He seems to have eyes for the title.

NXT Title: Bron Breakker vs. Santos Escobar

Bron is defending and walks away from a burning Vengeance Day logo in the back. Breakker grabs a headlock to start and then runs Escobar over with a shoulder. Back up and Escobar hits a dropkick to the face so Breakker glares at him. Another hard shoulder knocks Escobar silly and there’s a backbreaker to make it worse.

A Raul Mendoza distraction lets Escobar knock Breakker outside though and there’s the big suicide dive. Escobar neckbreakers him over the middle rope as the fans are split again. Escobar crushes Breakker’s face against the post and talks trash, which is enough to fire Breakker up.

House is cleaned, including taking out the rest of Legado. Cue Dolph Ziggler for a superkick though and Escobar gets a close two. Tommaso Ciampa comes in to take out Ziggler but Escobar hits a tornado DDT. A frog splash doesn’t work though and it’s a spear from Breakker, setting up the gorilla press powerslam to retain the title at 12:02.

Rating: B-. Breakker continues to wrestle beyond his means, having matches he should not be able to pull off. There was a lot going on here but it made a lot of sense to put him in there with a veteran like Escobar. The match was good enough and felt like a big show’s main event, though there wasn’t exactly a ton of doubt.

Overall Rating: B. This show was presented as a big deal and that is what we got here. What matters is having a series of good matches with nothing bad, at least in the ring. There are also some things set up for the next few weeks and that is always a tricky task to pull off. As usual though, the problems come from the talking/backstage segments, which range from bad to horrible, as these characters aren’t good in the first place and the performances are even worse. The show was much more positive than negative, but those negatives are pretty hard to get through.

Results
Pete Dunne b. Tony D’Angelo – Bitter End onto a pile of weapons
Toxic Attraction b. Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta – High/low to Hartwell
Carmelo Hayes b. Cameron Grimes – Top rope ax kick
Creed Brothers b. MSK – Sliding lariat to Carter
Bron Breakker b. Santos Escobar – Gorilla press powerslam

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

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

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

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

Bodhi Hayward vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kushida vs. Damon Kemp

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley

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

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

Draco Anthony vs. Javier Bernal

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

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

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

Bodhi Hayward vs. James Drake

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: December 28, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s time for one of those things that you don’t get to see very often in WWE, as we’re getting a contract signing between Carmelo Hayes and Roderick Strong. Other than that, odds are we’ll be hearing a lot more from Grayson Waller, because he is on this show as much as a Steve Austin Raw in 1998. Let’s get to it.

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

They aren’t wasting time this week because here is Grayson Waller to get things going. Waller flips around a lot and talks about having a great Christmas. This included flying himself to Detroit to Monday Night Raw, where he met AJ Styles. We see a clip of their showdown last night, before Waller talks about how he is supposed to face Dexter Lumis tonight. That isn’t going to happen, so he insults Indi Hartwell too. Cue the returning Odyssey Jones and we have a replacement match.

Odyssey Jones vs. Grayson Waller

Jones throws him around to start and then steps on Waller’s back. A big side slam gives Jones two and we take a break. Back with Waller hitting a low superkick and a middle rope elbow gets two. Jones fights up but misses a charge into the corner, allowing Waller to hammer away. Waller grabs the buckle to block a powerbomb….but the buckle pad comes off so the powerbomb gets two. That means Jones can miss a charge into the buckle, allowing Waller to hit his rolling Stunner for the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C. It’s nice to see Jones back as he is certainly one of the more unique people on the show. Sometimes you need someone out there throwing people around with raw power and size, which he does quite well. Then you have Waller, who is still the focal point of the show. It’s good to see him get in the ring, but it’s clear that he isn’t exactly a general out there. I still don’t quite get what WWE sees in him, but he’s pretty clearly here to stay.

Post match, AJ Styles pops up to say he’ll be here next week.

Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade both want to fight Mandy Rose, but here are Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray to say they want to fight her too. Rose just happens to pop up on screen behind them and says she’ll get a tag match made for tonight, with the winning team getting to challenge her in a triple threat at New Year’s Evil.

Grayson Waller isn’t happy with AJ Styles interrupting him and runs into MSK. They can shut up.

Xyon Quin says Elektra Lopez needs to pick sides.

Here is MSK for a chat. They haven’t been here since Halloween Havoc, which wasn’t a great night. No one gets higher than them, but here is Riddle on screen to say he is with them in spirit. That’s enough for them to call out Imperium, as they had planned to do. Cue Imperium to shout in their respective languages, which does not sit well with MSK, who want subtitles.

Imperium insults them in English, so MSK issues the challenge for right here and right now. That’s too far because Walter pops up on screen, saying that he is proud of Imperium as champions. That isn’t the case for MSK, so here is Riddle to pop up on screen and ask for a six man. Walter is game and the match is set.

We look back at Harland wrecking Brian Kendrick.

Joe Gacy reminds Harland that it wasn’t his fault because Kendrick started it.

Edris Enofe is happy with his win over Von Wagner, who comes in to say Enofe got lucky. Malik Blade comes in to have Enofe’s back and a match seems to be set.

Harland vs. Brian Kendrick

Hold on though as there is no Kendrick. Cue Andre Chase to say this is a teachable moment! Gacy likes education and mentions Harland being in a university….until he was expelled. As for Chase, thank you for being Kendrick’s replacement!

Harland vs. Andre Chase

Chase gets shoved outside in a hurry and the beating continues on the floor. Back in and Chase is sent face first into the mat over and over, which is good for the stoppage at 1:00.

Post match, one of Chase’s students hits the ring to check on him but gets attacked as well. Harland then kidnaps him.

Legado del Fantasma asks Elektra Lopez where her loyalties lie. She doesn’t say but here is Solo Sikoa to accidentally run into them. They want an apology but we get a match instead.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley

Both are making their NXT debuts though they have been on 205 Live. Stratton takes her down with an armbar to start and then slams Henley to cut off a comeback attempt. An awkward looking handspring elbow sets up a Downward Spiral to finish Henley off at 2:35.

Tony D’Angelo warned Pete Dunne not to mess with him and then smashed Dunne’s hand. Maybe Dunne will listen to him next time.

It’s time for the contract signing between Roderick Strong and Carmelo Hayes, who hasn’t been seen so far. Malcolm Bivens thinks it might be due to the higher gas prices, but here are Hayes and Trick Williams anyway. Williams talks trash that Strong doesn’t understand, so Bivens translates. Strong threatens Hayes, with Bivens translating again, while also pointing out that Williams and Hayes are outnumbered. Williams goes on a rant, but Bivens doesn’t get paid enough to translate all night.

Wade Barrett, running this whole thing, has no idea what anyone has said so let’s just sit down. Hayes says Strong shouldn’t play with him or he’ll get put on a t-shirt. Next week, he’s unifying the titles and becoming the true A Champion. Strong promises to walk out as a two time North American Champion after he unifies the titles.

Hayes is going to be carried out though, which does not sit well with him. Both of them sign and the match is official. They throw the contract at each other and Barrett bails. Hayes leaves but Bivens yells at Williams to draw him back in. That means the Creed Brothers can put him through a table as the Diamond Mine stands tall. Bivens’ translations and Barrett being lost were funny, but I don’t like Strong’s chances next week.

Video on the tag team division with a lot of teams wanting the Tag Team Titles.

Solo Sikoa vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar chops away to start and rolls him up for a fast two. Sikoa is getting a bit too frustrated early on and misses a stomp to make it worse. Escobar takes him back down into an armbar and then switches into an abdominal stretch. That’s reversed with a hiptoss and a running headbutt gives Sikoa two. Escobar is knocked outside, where the rest of Legado offers a distraction. That means Sikoa gets posted hard we take a break.

Back with Sikoa fighting up but getting taken right back down with a Russian legsweep. Escobar stands on his back to keep it in trouble, setting up a half crab with a knee in said back. A basement dropkick rocks Sikoa again but he’s fine enough to hit a toss gordbuster. There’s the Samoan drop but Sikoa has to deal with the rest of Legado. That means a chop block to Sikoa, setting up a super hurricanrana. Cue Xyon Quin, so Escobar takes him down with a dive and yells a lot. Escobar heads back in, where Sikoa superkicks his head off. The Superfly Splash gives Sikoa the upset pin at 13:32.

Rating: C+. This is what some of the NXT rookies need to be doing: having a match with the established names and getting some ring time. The 3-4 minute matches aren’t getting them very far but this is where they can grow and learn. Escobar isn’t going to be hurt by the loss and Sikoa gets a rather nice win under his belt. Good use of TV time here.

New Year’s Evil rundown.

Harland and Joe Gacy take Andre Chase to the roof and leave him there.

Solo Sikoa wants to know who is left but gets jumped by Boa, who gives him a Tongan Death Grip. The cameraman gets taken out too.

We look at Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bron Breakker.

Von Wagner vs. Malik Blade

Wagner powers him into the corner to start but Blade hits a kick to the ribs. That earns Blade a big toss into the air for a bigger crash as the beating is on. A lariat blasts Blade but he comes back with some dropkicks. Blade’s springboard crossbody drops Wagner again but he grabs a high Angle Slam. The double underhook spinning slam finishes Blade at 4:02.

Rating: C-. I’m still not sure I get it with Wagner, who is another pretty generic power guy. That’s about all he showed us here too, as he didn’t do anything that set him apart from anyone else. Blade is fitting in rather well as the jobber to the stars who can still give you a nice enough match. Now please try to find some way to make Wagner more interesting.

Post match Wagner goes after him again but Edris Enofe makes the save.

New Year’s Evil rundown.

Kay Lee Ray/Io Shirai vs. Cora Jade/Raquel Gonzalez

The winning team gets to challenge Mandy Rose for the Women’s Title next week. Shirai flapjacks Jade to start and tells her to bring it. Jade grabs a cradle for two of her own before snapping off a hurricanrana. The running knee smashes Shirai against the ropes and it’s off to Gonzalez for the power. Ray comes in to kick away at the ribs but Shirai has to come in and save her with a dropkick. Shirai’s Asai moonsault takes Gonzalez out again and we take a break.

Back with Ray stomping away on Jade but not being able to hit the KLR Bomb. The comeback bid doesn’t last long as Jade gets knocked down, but Gonzalez saves Jade from the Moon Over Moonsault. Instead Ray hits a big dive onto Gonzalez and Shirai 619s Jade. There’s a missile dropkick for two on Jade, who comes back with an enziguri to Ray.

The hot tag brings in Gonzalez to clean house, including the spinning Vader Bomb. There’s the Chingona Bomb but Jade tags herself in. The argument is on and Jade knocks Gonzalez outside, allowing Jade to roll her up. Gonzalez breaks that up…and knocks Jade onto Ray for the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C. That was a mixture of good action, some sloppiness in parts and a stupid ending designed to wedge in the “these two don’t get along” theme. That’s one of WWE’s favorite tropes though and it’s no surprise to see it here again. Either team could have won here, but Jade and Gonzalez are the more logical pick.

Post match, Mandy Rose pops up to say her plan is working and she’ll see them at New Year’s Evil.

Overall Rating: C. The show took a bit of a step back this week as it was a collection of things happening without much of a main story. The women’s tag didn’t feel bigger than anything else but rather just went on last, which doesn’t make it that much better. Nothing on here was particularly good and while there was less Grayson Waller, there wasn’t much else worth seeing. Granted that very well might be a Coronavirus thing, but it wasn’t exactly a fun watch this week.

Results
Grayson Waller b. Odyssey Jones – Rolling Stunner
Harland b. Andre Chase via referee stoppage
Tiffany Stratton b. Fallon Henley – Downward Spiral
Solo Sikoa b. Santos Escobar – Superfly Splash
Von Wagner b. Malik Blade – Double underhook spinning slam
Raquel Gonzalez/Cora Jade b. Kay Lee Ray/Io Shirai – Rollup to Ray

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

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

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

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

Ivy Nile vs. Fallon Henley

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

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

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

Andre Chase vs. Damon Kemp

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

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

Solo Sikoa vs. Ru Feng

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

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

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

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205 Live
Date: December 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s almost the holiday season and the show continues to seem done with the cruiserweight theme. That doesn’t seem to mean much around here, but it means we’re stuck with some less than interesting matches from the NXT undercard. At least the main events tend to go well. Let’s get to it.

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

Lash Legend vs. Sarray

Legend runs her over to start but Sarray bridges out of a cover in a hurry. Back up and Sarry fires off some running forearms until a faceplant cuts her off. An awkward looking elbow gives Lash two and a powerslam is good for the same. Legend misses another elbow though and Sarray fires off more forearms.

They get back up and Sarray charges into….I think it was supposed to be a front facelock but Legend spun her over into what wound up being a bad powerslam instead. Sarray hits a middle rope dropkick for two of her own but misses a running clothesline. They trade rollups with Legend not being able to hook the trunks, allowing Sarray to get the pin at 3:45.

Rating: D-. So word on the street is that this was the worst televised match of the year and had to be heavily edited. That means we were left seeing some bad spots, but egads just how bad could Legend have been otherwise? Legend looked lost out there and probably shouldn’t be on TV, but since NXT doesn’t have live events anymore, this is about as good as it could have been.

Post match, Legend kicks her in the face and hits a faceplant, because the Legend experiment MUST CONTINUE! Legend blames Sarray for what happened to her for lashing out and getting lashed in.

Valentina Feroz/Yulisa Leon vs. Erica Yan/Fallon Henley

Yan headlocks Feroz to start but gets taken over into the same thing. They go into a standoff so Henley comes in for her debut. Leon tags herself in for an assisted hurricanrana and an early near fall, followed by a northern lights suplex for the same. Henley comes back with a clothesline so Yan can come back in. A backbreaker and double shoulder get two and it’s back to Henley for a backsplash. Feroz belly to back suplexes her way to freedom and the double tag brings in Leon to beat up Yan. Everything breaks down and an assisted crossbody finishes Yan at 6:09.

Rating: C-. Nothing much to see here but they made a bit of a deal out of Fallon Henley, who has some potential, but has the issue of being named Fallon Henley. Feroz and Leon are turning into a nice enough midcard team, though I’m not sure how far they are going to go when there isn’t exactly a women’s tag team division in the first place. That being said, this match was far easier to watch than the first so call it an upgrade.

The winners dance and respect is shown.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Ru Feng/Malik Blade

Elektra Lopez is here with Legado. Wilde shoves Blade into the ropes and dances a bit before taking him down by the arm. A hiptoss gets Blade out of trouble though and it’s Feng coming in for an armbar. The wristlock puts Wilde in more trouble but he pulls Feng over for the tag to Mendoza. Feng slams him down for one but gets his throat snapped across the rope.

Legado picks up the pace with the running clotheslines in the corner before a double suplex drops Feng again. The neck crank doesn’t last long so it’s a double basement dropkick to give Mendoza two. We hit the chinlock as the fans are rather behind Legado. Feng fights out of a cobra clutch and backdrops his way over to Blade. House is cleaned for what must be a good four seconds until Blade is rammed into Feng. The Russian legsweep/running big boot combination finishes Blade at 6:13.

Rating: C-. Completely watchable but also skippable tag match here with Legado never once feeling like they were in any jeopardy. That’s how the match should have gone, though Blade is turning into a rather nice hand to have around. Feng continues to just kind of be there, but it isn’t like he has had a chance to do much.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a pretty lame show and it got off to a terrible start with that Legend vs. Sarray match. Other than that, you had two ok at best tag matches and that isn’t much of a use of thirty minutes. The good thing is that this show means so little that it doesn’t exactly matter if the show is bad, but dang this was a pretty dull sit.

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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