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

 

 

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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

 

 

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NXT
Date: August 27, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for No Mercy and that means it is time to hammer home everything on the card. In this case, most of the show is already set, including Joe Hendry getting an NXT Title shot against Ethan Page. This week will see Hendry in concert, which could go rather well. Let’s get to it.

In memory Of Sid Vicious.

Fatal Influence is ready for Meta Four.

Meta Four is ready for Fatal Influence.

Meta Four vs. Fatal Influence

Jackson dropkicks Jayne down to start so it’s off to Henley, who grabs a choke on Legend. It’s back to Jackson for a dropkick but Jayne comes back in to hurricanrana Legend down. That doesn’t work for Legend, who throws both of them down, setting up Jackson’s dive on the floor as we take a break.

Back with Legend swinging Henley into Jayne and then sending her flying with a fall away slam. Something like a top rope Hart Attack gets two on Henley but Jayne’s running neckbreaker gets the same on Jackson. Back up and a Nyx distraction lets Jayne superkick Legend out to the floor. Legend superkicks Nyx, only to walk back into a pair of running knees to give Henley the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C+. Nice opener here and it’s nice to see Fatal Influence getting a win. The team has talked a lot but they were only going to be able to get so far without winning a match or two. Beating Meta Four thanks to the numbers game is a good way to go and the match wound up working well here.

Video on Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, who were a team for a long time as MSK, only to have Wentz get released and wind up in TNA. Then he came back and reunited with Lee, who had a heck of a singles career in NXT of his own. Then Lee turned on Wentz and set off a huge brawl, leading to a showdown this Sunday at No Mercy.

Eddy Thorpe shows some women a DJing gig. Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to say if the women were there, he needs to have to start showing up. The three women leave and say goodbye to Thorpe. Adonis asks which Thorpe is dating but Thorpe says it’s just about the music. Thorpe doesn’t get how a platonic relationship can happen. Then Brooks Jensen follows and jumps….I want to say Edris Enofe with a chair.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Izzi Dame

Petrovic kicks away to start and grabs a headlock. Dame is back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two before pulling Petrovic out of the air with a sky high for two. Petrovic gets out of a torture rack and scores with a spinwheel kick, only to spin into a hard clothesline. Back up and Dame slams her down for two but Petrovic pulls her into a sunset flip for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. Petrovic continues to feel like someone NXT wants to push in a big way and it makes sense. The good thing is she is starting to do something other than just doing the martial arts stuff, which had a limited ceiling. Getting a win like this should help, even if the match was nothing noteworthy whatsoever.

Charlie Dempsey and Wren Sinclair argue over who is in charge of the team.

Tony D’Angelo wants the Family to take out the No Quarter Catch Crew.

We get a sitdown interview with Jaida Parker, who gives us a very quick recap of how she got to this point in two years. She was a bit banged up last week but Roxanne Perez is underestimating her. Perez comes in to list off some parts of a resume…but she means people like Lola Vice, who she has already beat. On Sunday, Parker is going to find out what she is up against. Parker slaps her down and leaves, though only after threatening someone we don’t see. Perez is surprised to see the same mystery person.

D’Angelo Family vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

Stacks Dempsey to start and then sends him throat first into the bottom rope. Borne comes in to strike away at Crusifino before it’s back to Stacks, who gets suplexed into the corner. It’s off to Riz for a dropkick to Sinclair as the Family clears the ring…and here are two guys in suits (who were in the back with the Family in their segment) to get Tony D’Angelo’s attention.

The three of them go to the back and we go to a break, coming back with The Family hitting stereo legdrops between the legs. Borne is up first though and goes after Stacks’ leg to take over. Dempsey cranks on the same leg and then switches to a German suplex, only to have Stacks slip over for the tag to Crusifino without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Riz dives onto Sinclair before dropping Dempsey, leaving Borne to walk into Forget About It for the pin at 11:07.

Rating: C+. This almost felt more about Riz, who was working extra hard throughout the match. The Family is getting some momentum together of its own, though I’m almost scared of what the two guys are going to do. The team has been part of some goofy stories over the years and it wouldn’t surprise me to see that continue with…whatever they’re doing here.

Pete Dunne wants the NXT Title but he’ll take out Trick Williams first.

Ethan Page thinks he should be suspended for shoving a referee last week but Ava isn’t going to do that.

We get an in-ring staredown between Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, with security provided. Wentz says Lee is willing to give up a nine year partnership because of his own ego. Lee talks about how they’re on different levels, but Wentz says he lost their time as a tag team because of his own mistakes. That doesn’t work for Lee, who still says he’s on another level. Wentz calls out Lee for being ready to quit NXT for the third time and reminds Lee of the times he was there after the back surgery. Wentz doesn’t think much of Lee, who says that he’ll show why he is the NXT star and Wentz is just the wrestler.

Joe Hendry thanks Trick Williams for last week and promises him the first NXT Title shot. Williams promises to hold him to that.

Here is Kelani Jordan for a chat. She calls Wendy Choo’s handpicked opponent…and here we go.

Kelani Jordan vs. Rosemary

Non-title and that would be former TNA Knockouts Champion Rosemary. Jordan spins her around to start but gets ties up in the Upside Down (a leg choke in the ropes with Rosemary bending backwards onto the apron). Back up and Rosemary gets two off a t-bone suplex before slapping on a rear naked choke. They forearm it out until Jordan hits a Rob Van Dam stepover spinning kick to the face. A Downward Spiral into a basement dropkick…has Rosemary rising right back up, with a spear getting two on Jordan. Back up and Jordan kicks her out of the corner, setting up One Of A Kind for the fast pin at 4:23.

Rating: C. The match was far from bad, but this could have been a much better use of someone as good as Rosemary. I get that they were working with the idea of two creepy/supernatural people but Rosemary is one of the most successful women TNA has ever had. This should have been more and hopefully she gets the chance to show what she can do again later.

Post match Wendy Choo pops in to choke Jordan out.

Oro Mensah gives the rest of Meta Four a post loss pep talk. Lexis King comes in to mock them…but Mensah mentions that King doesn’t have a father figure. King rightly punches him in the face and the brawl has to be broken up. That was rather rude.

It’s off to Chase U, where Riley Osborne and Duke Hudson apologize for their loss. Ridge Holland says it’s cool as long as they’re still champions. Axiom and Nathan Frazier come in to brag about their success and promise to win the titles back.

Malik Blade vs. Brooks Jensen

Blade jumps him on the floor to start and the fight is on, with Jensen grabbing a neckbreaker to take over. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Blade fights up and hits a running elbow before something like a Blockbuster gets two. Jensen is right back with a DDT and a top rope elbow for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C+. Jensen has cooled it way off with the insane stuff and is just moving into more of an evil wrestler, which is working a bit better for him. Let him do something that might get him noticed, because otherwise it is only going to get him so far. Jensen and Shawn Spears aren’t the most original team, but they’re fine enough for what they’re doing here.

Je’Von Evans is ready to prove himself to Joe Coffey.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are interrupted by OTM. A match is set for later.

Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Coffey

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey, who takes him down by the arm to start. A running hurricanrana sends Coffey outside and Evans annoys Wolfgang, setting up a dropkick for two on Coffey. We take a break and come back with Coffey knocking him down again, only to have Evan hit a running clothesline. A springboard spinning kick to the head sets up a springboard clothesline for two as Coffey is rocked.

Back up and Coffey hits a quick Glasgow Sendoff for two but he charges into a superkick to cut him off again. Coffey goes up again but dives into a cutter, followed by Evans’ top rope cutter for two more. Wolfgang offers a distraction though and it’s Mark Coffey coming in, only to get taken out by another Evans cutter. The distraction lets Joe hit All The Best For The Bells for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C+. It would have been a bit much for Evans to overcome the odds of all of Gallus on his own so they went with the logical conclusion instead. Evans is an athletic guy but there is something missing that is making him feel in over his head. Granted it might be that he is so crazy young and that could get better with time. For now though, I can see why WWE wants to give him a chance, as he shows a lot of potential.

Tony D’Angelo goes to the restaurant and finds Oba Femi in his spot. Femi says he doesn’t need D’Angelo’s disrespect because he is the ruler of NXT. D’Angelo says they can come in here and talk like men, or they can fight. Femi isn’t going to fight here because he’ll prove himself at No Mercy. He isn’t scared of D’Angelo. Simple and to the point here, as this isn’t personal, but rather about two different kinds of power.

No Mercy rundown.

Here is Joe Hendry for his concert. The first song is about Ethan Page being weird, not wearing clothes when he trains and loving toys. Cue Page to interrupt but the fans would rather sing the chorus. The song keeps going as Page threatens Hendry and here is a rather amused looking Ava to interrupt.

Since Page has been so disrespectful to the referees, here is the special guest referee for the title match: Trick Williams. Hendry gives Page a Standing Ovation so Williams can count the pin to….not end the show as we cut to Pete Dunne threatening Williams to really end the show. Page sold the song, but the lyrics felt like something a ten year old wrote and thought they were hilarious.

Overall Rating: C. Maybe I’m just having an off night but I am not feeling No Mercy whatsoever. The show didn’t interest me coming into this week and then this show didn’t make it any better. Nothing right now is feeling overly important, with D’Angelo vs. Femi being the only thing that has me curious about Sunday. The show should be ok, but this week’s show came and went without getting me any more interested than I was coming in. Not much to see here, and for once I’m not excited about an NXT pay per view. Maybe they’ll surprise me, but it’s not looking great coming in.

Results
Fatal Influence b. Meta Four – Stereo running knees to Legend
Karmen Petrovic b. Izzi Dame – Sunset flip
D’Angelo Family b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Forget About It to Borne
Kelani Jordan b. Rosemary – One Of A Kind
Brooks Jensen b. Malik Blade – Top rope elbow
Joe Coffey b. Je’Von Evans – All The Best For The Bells

 

 

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NXT
Date: August 20, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are rapidly closing in on No Mercy and the show is going to need a main event. That is what we get to find out this week, with a triple threat match to crown a new #1 contender for the NXT Title, as Joe Hendry, Wes Lee and Pete Dunne face off for a shot at Ethan Page. Let’s get to it.

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

Izzi Dame jumped Karmen Petrovic in the parking lot and injured her hand in the process.

We look back at Chase U regaining the Tag Team Titles last week.

Here is Chase U for their championship celebration. Duke Hudson thanks Ridge Holland and admits he was wrong, with Andre Chase joining in the thank you. Cue Axiom and Nathan Frazier to say they’re the best team in NXT, which the fans don’t seem to like. Frazier talks about running themselves into the ground, which let Chase U get the perfect time for a title shot.

Now they want a title shot of their own but Holland cuts them off. Holland talks about how he was looking for a way to find himself. That’s what he found in Chase U and he worked that hard to become a champion. Hudson suggests himself and Riley Osborne vs. Axiom/Frazier, and if Axiom and Frazier win, they might get a title shot at No Mercy. The workout pants are ripped off and we’re ready to go. That was a little heelish from Chase U and I’m not feeling that in the slightest.

Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Osborne dropkicks Axiom to start but everything breaks down in a hurry, with Hudson putting both of them down on the floor. Osborne hits a big running lip dive and we take an early break. Back with Hudson sending Axiom flying with a German suplex and hitting a swinging Boss Man Slam for two on Frazier.

A wheelbarrow faceplant/flipping faceplant combination gets two with Frazier making the save. Frazier avoids a shooting star from Osborne and hits a springboard reverse Spanish Fly (that was cool). The Phoenix splash misses but Axiom is right there with the Golden Ratio/brainbuster combination to finish Osborne at 9:18.

Rating: C+. Pretty run of the mill idea here and that’s all it needed to be. They needed to set up a title match at No Mercy and that should get them there, though I’m a bit surprised that Axiom and Frazier’s longstanding issues seem to be just fine. For now though, there is still the chance of Chase U falling apart, which should add some drama to the title match.

Ava says Karmen Petrovic is injured and out of the gauntlet match. Izzi Dame comes in and says this is Ava’s chance to fix the mistake, but Ava isn’t going to reward bad behavior. Brinley Reece is in instead. Of note: Kelani Jordan could be seen behind them looking for something.

Brinley Reece is in the gauntlet match but Wren Sinclair comes in to say she’s winning.

Wendy Choo vs. Lola Vice

Choo jumps her to start and slowly hammers away. That’s broken up with some shots to the face and Vice sends her outside, with some dancing taking us to a break. Back with Choo choking away and shrugging off Vice’s rollup. A neckbreaker gives Choo two and we hit the neck crank, with Vice not taking long to fight back.

The rapid fire kicks set up the running hip attack in the corner for two but Choo grabs a sleeper. That’s broken up with a backpack Stunner and they’re both down. Cue Kelani Jordan…who gets inside for some reason and accidentally gets hit with Vice’s spinning backfist. The distraction lets Choo get in a pillow shot for the pin at 11:02.

Rating: C. I’m going to assume the pillow is loaded, but my goodness I cannot bring myself to care about the Choo stuff. It feels like such a try hard with making her weird or whatever and the whole sleep deal was bad enough before her injury. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her beat Jordan for the title anyway, even if Jordan feels like she could be something if given the chance (and a lot more time).

Post match Jordan challenges Choo for No Mercy and then hits her with the pillow. Said pillow contains….the Women’s North American Title, which Choo apparently stole.

Wes Lee doesn’t like Joe Hendry coming in here and trying to seal the NXT spotlight. We go split screen with Hendry not liking Lee talking down about TNA. The Rascalz were back here to help boost Lee up, but Lee says he’ll see Hendry tonight. Hendry says tonight is the biggest match of his life, because a #1 contenders match for the NXT Title is apparently bigger than headlining a TNA PPV for the TNA World Title.

Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne rant about the lack of respect for the veterans. They only have one person who listens to them, and that’s Jazmyn Nyx. They came up together in this business and they are the Fatal Influence. That’s not a bad name and it’s better than…whatever word salad they use for the new women’s group on Raw.

Gauntlet Eliminator

Six women, three minute intervals, elimination rules for the Women’s Title shot at No Mercy. Wren Sinclair is in at #1 and Sol Ruca is in at #2 and they exchange arm control to start. Ruca is back up with a full nelson but Sinclair pulls her down into a half crab. Sinclair makes it even craftier with the surfboard but Ruca is up again for a collision. Both of them are down and Adrianna Rizzo is in at #3 with a double high crossbody.

Sinclair is back up with a choke but Ruca drives her into the corner for the break. Rizzo hits something like an AA into a basement Molly Go Round, with Sinclair breaking up the cover (for some reason). Back up and Ruca plants Rizzo for the elimination at 4:58 and we take a break. Back with Brinley Reece in at #4 and hitting (kind of) a flipping double clothesline. Kendal Grey comes in at #5 and starts cleaning house, including knocking Reece silly for the elimination at 10:02.

Grey gets caught in Ruca’s electric chair for a faceplant, allowing Ruca to grab the completely logical surfboard. Sinclair is back in but gets caught in an X Factor, allowing Ruca to throw Grey onto Sinclair outside. The moonsault takes both of them down but it’s Jaida Parker in at #6 to complete the field. House is cleaned again and Parker hits her seated senton in the corner to Grey, setting up the gordbuster for the pin at 13:35.

Sinclair rolls Parker up for two, only to have Ruca grab the Sol Snatcher for the elimination at 13:58. It’s Ruca vs. Parker for the title shot with Ruca grabbing some rollups for two each. Parker’s powerbomb falls down but Ruca’s cradle doesn’t count as she’s in the ropes. A cross arm German suplex gets two on Parker but she avoids the springboard splash, setting up the running hip attack to end Ruca at 15:41.

Rating: B-. That ending sequence did NOT look good as Parker seemed to have the wind knocked out of her. Other than that, there was enough good action to make it work, but the important thing is putting someone new in the title picture. Parker has felt like a breakout star for a long time now and she might have a shot at the title here. At the same time, Ruca continues to feel like the next big thing, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her as the next challenger after No Mercy.

Post match Parker, with OTM around her, says she has next for the Women’s Title.

Ethan Page is ready for the main event, when Pete Dunne comes in to talk about how long he holds titles. Dunne is going to break Page’s fingers and ego at No Mercy.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. OC

Anderson drives Ledger into the corner to start and slowly hammers away. Walker comes in for a shot shot of his own and the double standing splash gets two on Anderson. Gallows is up with a big boot to Walker and the beating ensues on the floor. The chinlock goes on back inside but Walker fights up, allowing the tag off to Ledger…who gets booted down by Gallows. The Magic Killer is broken up and Ledger is back up with a springboard spinning clothesline. The powerslam/running shoulder combination finishes Anderson at 4:24.

Rating: C+. I’m not a fan of either of these teams but points for at least going with someone new. Walker and Ledger have been presented as a bit more important in recent weeks and giving them a win over an established team is a good move. I’m not sure if it leads anywhere (and I hope it doesn’t) but at least they’re inching in a direction.

Post match Walker (a former security guard) celebrates with security while Gallows and Anderson yell.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade say they see through Shawn Spears manipulating Brooks Jensen. Spears says they’re both lost souls but makes them mad with a reference to Brinley Reece. The brawl is on and the camera goes down, with Spears seemingly getting hit with something made of metal. Jensen runs in for the save.

Here is the No Quarter Catch Crew to celebrate getting the Heritage Cup back. Charlie Dempsey talks about how the Heritage Cup is what the team needs to live and now order has been restored. Wren Sinclair cuts him off and doesn’t know who “Lou Robinson or Billy Thesz” are, but if Dempsey likes them, they must be good. Sinclair: “Charles will defend the title against anyone, anytime.”

Cue Oba Femi (Sinclair: “I AM SO SORRY!” She’s the funniest Sinclair since Earl.) to say he’d love to face Dempsey, but cue the D’Angelo Family to interrupt. Tony D’Angelo says he has his eyes on something else, meaning he stares at Femi. A snap of the fingers has the Family beating up the Crew, and D’Angelo spinebusters Femi to stand tall. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Ashante Thee Adonis loses the women’s attention to Dion Lennox.

Wren Sinclair leaves the Heritage Cup with Je’Von Evans but Gallus comes up to say Evans knows nothing about technical wrestling. Violence is teased but Cedric Alexander comes in to even things up a bit.

Dion Lennox vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Lennox hits a dropkick to start and tosses him into the air for a big crash. Back up and Adonis sends him outside for a dive before ripping at Lennox’s ears. Lennox fights up and grabs a spinebuster for two but Adonis pulls him off the top and onto the ropes. The Long Kiss Goodnight (Sweet Chin Music) finishes Lennox at 3:41.

Rating: C. This would be in the “and moving on” section as neither of them has done anything of note around here and then they had a completely average match. Lennox is pretty much known only for his glasses while Adonis is known for standing around with the women backstage. I’m not sure how much this enhanced Adonis but it was pretty much just there.

Lexis King is getting his throne polished when the women of Meta Four come in to complain about Fatal Influence. King pops in to say that while Fatal Influence is a cool name, the Meta Two…and that doesn’t sit well with them. With King gone, Oro Mensah comes in and everything is ok.

No Mercy rundown.

Joe Hendry vs. Pete Dunne vs. Wes Lee

For a shot at Ethan Page (on commentary) at No Mercy. Lee and Dunne jump the posing Hendry to start but Lee gets knocked out to the floor. Dunne stomps on Hendry in the corner as Lee comes back in, only to be catapulted head first into a low blow on Dunne. Back up and Lee kicks Hendry in the face, only to miss a dive. Dunne misses a moonsault to the floor onto Lee and they brawl until Hendry dives onto both of them.

The grin at the camera takes us to a break and we come back with Hendry cleaning house. A double fall away slam sends the villains flying but Lee drops both of them with a springboard moonsault. Back up and Dunne cranks on both of their fingers at once but Lee is back up with some kicks to Dunne’s head. A middle rope moonsault into a tornado DDT gives Lee two and frustration is setting in. Hendry gets dropped so Lee can hit a frog splash for two more.

Dunne snaps Lee’s fingers again but walks into the Standing Ovation, only to have Page pull the referee. Lee gets planted onto the announcers’ table but Page cuts off another referee. Dunne hits the Bitter End but Trick Williams runs in with the Trick Shot (in a GREAT bit of camera work as you didn’t see him coming) to drop Dunne cold. Hendry gets the pin and the title shot at 12:19 as Page can’t make the save in time.

Rating: B-. I really liked that ending as they filmed it perfectly and went with the surprise that actually worked. Other than that, Hendry getting the title shot is certainly a choice and I’m curious to see if they pull that trigger. He’s certainly the most interesting of the three options, though if he winds up winning the NXT Title before the TNA World Title, I don’t think I could laugh much harder.

Post match Zachary Wentz runs in to brawl with Lee to end the show with the crowd being VERY appreciative.

Overall Rating: B-. The last two minutes or so were rather good and the rest of the show was solid enough. This was a show built around the idea of setting up No Mercy and most of that was taken care of in one big night. The wrestling was passable, but they packed a lot into one show and I can go with that as a way to get things rolling towards the pay per view. That’s what NXT does and they made it work again here.

Results
Axiom/Nathan Frazier b. Chase U – Golden Ratio/brainbuster combination to Osborne
Wendy Choo b. Lola Vice – Pillow shot
Jaida Parker won the Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Sol Ruca
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OC – Powerslam/running shoulder combination to Anderson
Ashante Thee Adonis b. Dion Lennox – Long Kiss Goodnight
Joe Hendry b. Pete Dunne and Wes Lee – Trick Shot to Dunne

 

 

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.