NXT LVL Up
Date: September 22, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

On a show that rarely feels important, it makes sense that we get the only meaningless match of the Global Heritage Invitational. The winners have already been established and now we get the final match between two people who have already been eliminated. At least we also have Tatum Paxley turning on Dani Palmer last week as a possible continuing story around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ivy Nile vs. Izzi Dame

Nile takes her down with a headlock to start and then does it again for a bonus. Back up and a running crossbody takes Dame down again, setting up a third headlock. Dame finally fights to her feet and sends her into the corner, meaning it’s time for the stomping. Nile’s leg is rammed into the mat and Dame cranks away on the leg. A sunset flip gives Nile one but she misses an enziguri. The bad knee is slammed into the apron but Nile calmly flips into the Diamond Chain Lock for the tap at 5:22.

Rating: C+. This match actually had something of a story and it worked out well enough with Dame working on the knee. That being said, Nile is just a more complete star at this point and was able to take whatever Dame through at her and slip into the hold for the win. I could still go for more of Nile, but that just isn’t happening at the moment.

Luca Crusifino is ready for Ikemen Jiro and that illegal jacket of his. This turns into a battle of objections between Luca and Kelly Kincaid.

Luca Crusifino vs. Ikemen Jiro

Crusifino shoves him down a few times so Jiro nips up a few times. That just annoys Crusifino, who hammers away against the ropes and hits a neckbreaker for two. Jiro slips out of a necklock and fires off the jacket punches. The springboard moonsault gives Jiro two but Crusifino pulls off the jacket. Back up and Crusifino throws the jacket in Jiro’s face and rolls him up for the pin (with trunks) at 2:59. The fact that Jiro was released the day this show aired might have given you a clue about the result here.

Global Heritage Invitational Group A: Axiom vs. Charlie Dempsey

Feeling out process to start with Axiom taking him down with an armbar. Dempsey is up with a headlock but Axiom drops him again without much trouble. Fans: “THANK YOU REGAL”! Dempsey swings him into a backbreaker to take over and strikes away at the back to keep Axiom down.

The abdominal stretch has Axiom in more trouble but he reverses into an Octopus hold of all things. A dropkick sends Dempsey outside and Axiom hits a dive. Back in a high crossbody is countered into a tabletop suplex to give Dempsey two. A wheelbarrow suplex gives Dempsey two more and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up rather quickly so Dempsey goes up, only to get pulled back down. The Golden Ratio finishes Dempsey at 7:55.

Rating: B-. Again, why do we not get this kind of a match on a more regular basis around here? There’s nothing wrong with letting two talented guys get in there and tear a few rooms of the house. It’s not like the two of them are doing anything different so let them go out there and have a fun match.

They don’t even show the final standings but here they are for you Global Heritage Invitational enthusiasts:

Group A Standings
Butch – 2-0-1, 5 points, 0 matches remaining
Tyler Bate – 2-1-0, 4 points, 0 matches remaining
Axiom – 1-1-1, 3 point, 0 matches remaining
Charlie Dempsey – 0-3-0, 0 points, 0 matches remaining

Overall Rating: C+. This was a slightly quicker show and hopefully it isn’t the end of having a match that matters around here. The last few weeks have been that much better as a result of those slightly higher stakes and I could go for seeing it more often. The main event was good enough too, making this a perfectly nice show.

Results
Ivy Nile b. Izzi Dame – Diamond Chain Lock
Luca Crusifino b. Ikemen Jiro – Rollup with trunks
Axiom b. Charlie Dempsey – Golden Ratio

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NXT LVL Up
Date: September 8, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

The Global Heritage Invitational did some wonders for this show last week and it would be great to have that happen again this time around. Above all else, it makes the show feel like it matters a little bit more and that is very welcome after months of nothing. It isn’t likely to last but I’ll take it while I can. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Tavion Heights

Heights gives him a heck of a shove into the ropes but Jiro flips up a few times and strikes a pose. A faceplant and crossbody put Heights down and we’re already off to the chinlock. Back up and Heights plows through him but Jiro fires off the jacket punches. A powerslam gives Heights two and we hit the chinlock (with roles reversed from earlier). Jiro fights up and flips out of a suplex attempt, setting up a slingshot headscissors for two. Heights avoids a Swanton though and a spinning belly to belly finishes Jiro at 5:50.

Rating: C+. Jiro continues to be the smooth hand out there who can work with anyone and that is what he got here. Heights hasn’t done much on his own and this is probably the biggest singles win of his career. He has a long way to go, but working with reliable hands on a more regular basis is the best way for him to get better.

Heights looking very excited over his win is a nice touch.

Karmen Petrovic knows she has lost before but she’s used to being a winner. She’s starting on the path to success because she is bred for combat.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Fallon Henley

Petrovic strikes a we’ll say karate pose to start so Henley headlocks her down. That’s reversed into a headscissors, which is reversed right back into a headlock. Back up and Henley runs her over with a shoulder before nailing a right hand. Petrovic sends her to the apron and scores with a spinning kick to the face, followed by a straight kick to the ribs. The abdominal stretch doesn’t last long so Petrovic switches to a seated armbar. Make that a bodyscissors, but Henley fights up and hits a running elbow in the corner. A running faceplant sets up a Shining Wizard to finish Petrovic at 5:12.

Rating: C. Petrovic still hasn’t been around much, but between this match and the promo beforehand, I’m at least starting to get a feel for what she’s about. She has a long way to go of course but that’s kind of the point of his show. Henley is pretty well established as the brawling country girl and that works well for her, though it would be better if she had anything important to do.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen come out to celebrate with Henley.

Global Heritage Invitational Group B: Joe Coffey vs. Akira Tozawa

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Tozawa bounces away from him to start before grabbing a wristlock. That’s reversed into Coffey’s headlock but he charges into a boot in the corner. A middle rope hurricanrana works a bit better for Tozawa but Coffey catches him in a wheelbarrow faceplant.

Coffey backbreakers him for two and we hit a seated full nelson. That’s reversed into a rollup for two and Tozawa snaps off a backdrop. Tozawa’s Shining Wizard sends Coffey outside and a suicide dive makes it worse. Back in and a missile dropkick gets two on Coffey, followed by a German suplex for the same. Coffey catches him on top though and All The Best For The Bells finishes Tozawa at 6:43.

Rating: C+. As has been the case for the better part of ever, power vs. speed worked well here, with Tozawa trying as hard as he could but not being able to overcome Coffey’s size and force. Coffey is the current favorite to win the division and he looked pretty solid in his win here. As usual, Tozawa looked fine in defeat, which he has quite a bit of practice at doing.

Group B Standings
Joe Coffey – (2-0-0, 4 points, 1 match remaining)
Nathan Frazer – (1-1-0, 2 points, 1 match remaining)
Duke Hudson – (1-1-0, 2 points, 1 match remaining)
Akira Tozawa – (0-2-0, 0 points, 1 match remaining)

Overall Rating: C+. Much like last week, having something of importance on the show made all of the difference. LVL Up has never been an important show so having even a little something like this made it that much better. It won’t last long beyond the tournament, but I’ll take two good weeks over nothing.

Results
Tavion Heights b. Ikemen Jiro – Spinning belly to belly suplex
Fallon Henley b. Karmen Petrovic – Shining Wizard
Joe Coffey b. Akira Tozawa – All The Best For The Bells

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NXT LVL Up
Date: August 18, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s that time of the week when I don’t know what to expect from this show, but there have been enough better shows in recent week that I’m not overly bored with the idea of this show anymore. What matters is getting some bigger names around here and that has been the case on occasion. Or maybe there’s nothing to it at all. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jacy Jayne vs. Karmen Petrovic

They fight over a lockup to start with Jayne powering her into the corner without much trouble. Petrovic takes it to the mat in a headlock before getting some rollups for two each. Jayne is sent to the apron and scores with a knee to the face, followed by a running elbow in the corner for two. A kick to the back keeps Petrovic down and we hit the double arm crank. That’s broken up and Petrovic gets in a kick of her own but Jayne blasts her with a discus forearm for the pin at 5:08.

Rating: C. There’s not much to be seen here and just like after her first match, I don’t know much about Petrovic. Commentary said she had a martial arts background but other than that, the only things I know about her is that she is in good shape and she has blond hair. Jayne is a much bigger deal and Petrovic didn’t get much in here, so she didn’t exactly gain much in defeat.

Brooklyn Barlow is back after a year away and faces Dani Palmer tonight. From what I can find, she’s been back on live events since May but this will be her tenth ever match (with four coming before her injury). That barely qualifies as a restart.

Dani Palmer vs. Brooklyn Barlow

Palmer quickly takes her down by the leg to start and they trade arm cranking. Back up and Barlow gymnastics her into a headlock takeover. That’s broken up and Palmer takes her down with an armdrag but Barlow fires off some knees to the ribs. The abdominal stretch goes on but Palmer is out without much trouble. Palmer sends her into the corner and drops a corkscrew moonsault for the pin at 4:53.

Rating: C-. I can have some sympathy for Barlow as she literally hadn’t even had ten matches before this one, but I never bought this as a wrestling match. It felt like a bunch of gymnastics and the two of them trying to remember where they were supposed to be next. Granted that’s what you’re supposed to learn to do in developmental, but maybe they shouldn’t be on camera yet.

Oro Mensah vs. Ikemen Jiro

The rest of Meta Four is actually here with Mensah. Jiro slugs away to start but gets his throat snapped across the top rope. A kick to the back gives Mensah two and what looked like an implant DDT gets the same. The chinlock goes on but Jiro fights up (as wrestlers tend to do when chinlocked) and hits the jacket punches (less common). A Meta Four distraction doesn’t work and Jiro nails a running shot in the corner for two. Another jacket punch rocks Mensah but another distraction lets him come back with the spinwheel kick in the corner for the pin at 5:37.

Rating: C. Good enough here as Mensah is still entertaining in the ring and Jiro is one of the few people who can work with anyone. It was almost weird having bigger names like Meta Four out there and it fit well here. At the same time, Mensah doesn’t get a ton of attention so letting him have a bit of spotlight is a good thing.

Overall Rating: C. The biggest thing that I keep harping on with this show is how much the bigger names help. That really is the case, as having one rookie match after another doesn’t make for an interesting show. All that does is make for a show that feels like a bunch of people who aren’t very important. Mensah and Jayne aren’t top stars, but they’re a lot bigger than a lot of the people usually around here. Keep doing stuff like that and the show is that much better.

Results
Jacy Jayne b. Karmen Petrovic – Discus forearm
Dani Palmer b. Brooklyn Barlow – Corkscrew moonsault
Oro Mensah b. Ikemen Jiro – Running spinwheel kick in the corner

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 28, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

Things are not exactly on fire around here at the moment as there isn’t much that can be done with the low level stars that are presented on this show. You never know what might be taking place on the show and hopefully things are a bit better this week, just for the sake of making it an easier watch. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Damon Kemp

Jiro does a handstand in the corner for some early posing so Kemp takes him down without much effort. Kemp runs him over so Jiro dances at him a bit, setting up his own shoulder to drop Kemp for a change. Jiro’s right hands are shrugged off so Kemp can hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The jacket punches set up a springboard moonsault for two but Jiro misses a charge into the ropes. An electric chair German suplex gives Kemp the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C+. This was a bit better than normal around here with Kemp being better than a lot of the talent on this show and Jiro being rather smooth at just about everything he does. Jiro’s gimmick might not be the best in the world but he can work well with just about anyone. That is something that was missing from around here and hopefully it should help matches in the future.

Karmen Petrovic is ready for Ivy Nile. She’s a martial artist and ready to prove it.

Ivy Nile vs. Karmen Petrovic

Nile takes her down without much trouble to start but Petrovic reverses into a headlock of her own. Back up and Nile sends her flying with a fall away slam but Petrovic takes her down by the leg. A kick to the head gets two and we hit the leglock. Something close to Eddie Guerrero’s Lasso From El Paso is broken up and Nile fights back with some running shoulders. The Diamond Chain Lock finishes Petrovic at 4:08.

Rating: C. This was little more than a way to introduce Petrovic but as tends to be the case, you’re not going to get much out of a four minute match against anyone. She has some potential and did fine enough here, but this is just a dip your toe in moment. Odds are she’ll be around more in the future and they covered everything they needed to do here.

Duke Hudson vs. Luca Crusifino

The rest of Chase U is here with Hudson, who drives Luca outside without much trouble. Back in and Hudson runs him over with a shoulder but Luca grabs a headlock. A hard slam sends Luca out to the apron, where he manages to snap Hudson’s throat across the top rope. Some right hands and an elbow to the face put Hudson down but he starts to Hulk Up. Luca is knocked outside, beaten back inside, and put in a Razor’s Edge to finish for Hudson at 6:19.

Rating: C. As usual, Chase U is the best thing about this show and Luca’s best stuff is before and after the bell, though that hasn’t been the case in recent weeks. It’s nice to see Hudson getting a chance to shine in the ring for once and that Razor’s Edge looked good. Chase U continues to feel like it’s on the brink of imploding and that would be a shame given how over they really are around here.

Overall Rating: C. It was a bit better than last week but still nothing to see here. Maybe everything is focused on the Great American Bash but there just wasn’t much to see with this whole thing. There were some slightly bigger names around this week, though still nothing that you need to see. Maybe there is something better coming, but for now it’s still the most skippable thing WWE offers, including Main Event.

Results
Damon Kemp b. Ikemen Jiro – Electric chair German suplex
Ivy Nile b. Karmen Petrovic – Diamond Chain Lock
Duke Hudson b. Luca Crusifino – Razor’s Edge

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 21, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Back to Orlando and that has meant all kinds of things over the last few weeks. I’m almost curious to see what is going on around here but the bad stuff is so lame that it can be a chore to watch. Then again you can occasionally get a nice match here and there, so maybe there is some hope to be had. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tank Ledger/Hank Walker vs. Ikemen Jiro/Quincy Elliott

Walker headlocks Elliott to start and gets a dance as a result. Ledger comes in off a blind tag for a running elbow and stereo knees rock Elliott again. It’s off to Jiro, who gets shouldered down but nips back up. Jiro gets in a shot in the corner but misses the springboard moonsault. Ledger hits a slingshot splash for two and we’re off to the armbar. Jiro kicks his way to freedom though and it’s Elliott coming back in for a corner clothesline and bulldog. Everything breaks down and Ledger spanks Elliott, setting up the Flying Fridge to give Walker the pin at 5:41.

Rating: C. Not bad here and it was nice to see Jiro back. I had kind o forgotten about him but he certainly knows how to look smooth in the ring, which is a talent that not everyone has. Nice enough return match here, even if Walker and Ledger aren’t exactly the most polished pairing out there (which is kind of the point).

Izzi Dame is the friend that you don’t like but you need.

Izzi Dame vs. Dani Palmer

Dame has quite the height advantage so Palmer flips over her to start and hits a dropkick. Palmer’s headlock puts Dame down but she powers up and faceplants Palmer in the corner. A bearhug of all things goes on before Dame slams her down for two. Back up and Palmer hits some running elbows, setting up a high crossbody to finish Dame at 4:35.

Rating: C. As usual, you can only get so much out of someone in less than five minutes so it’s not quite fair to judge Dame yet. She was fine enough at what she did and has some attitude to her, but she feels like a long term project, which is the case for a lot of people around here. Palmer is starting to find herself as an energetic star who has to come from behind and it worked well enough.

Dante Chen vs. Javier Bernal

And this would be the most LVL Up main event imaginable. Chen’s headlock works for all of two seconds to start so Bernal works on an armbar. That’s reversed into the same thing from Chen but Bernal hot shots his way to freedom. A stomp to the ribs and a belly to back suplex gets two on Chen as Bernal gets a bit frustrated.

The chinlock goes on for a bit before Bernal dives into a raised boot. Eat Defeat drops Chen but the referee almost gets bumped, allowing Bernal to get a poke to the eye. A reverse DDT gives Bernal two (I bought that) but Chen is back with the double chop for the pin at 6:51.

Rating: C+. You can definitely see that these two are further along than most of the regulars around here and that makes for a better match. They were doing some more complicated stuff and had more of a story, with Chen being the clean wrestler while Bernal cheated wherever he could. It was a good enough match and I bought on the near fall, even if it meant challenging the undefeatable power of Dante Chen.

Overall Rating: C. The main event helped but this was a show drastically lacking in big names or in anything you needed to see. That being said, going with this kind of a show is certainly a way to go around here. If LVL Up is supposed to be the big developmental show, then this is what it needs to be, though that doesn’t make it the most interesting.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: December 9, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Byron Saxton, Matt Camp

This show is finally starting to figure a little something out and that can make things a lot more tolerable week to week. What matters around here is building some people up so that they have some clue as to what they’re doing when they go to the regular NXT show. I’m not sure how long that might take, but at least they’re trying. Lets get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Odyssey Jones vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp flips over him to start and gets hit in the face for his efforts. Jones starts cranking on the wrist before dropping a knee on the arm. Back up and Kemp snaps the arm over the top, setting up a loose crossface chickenwing. Jones can’t quite power out and drops down, allowing Kemp to put on something like a seated abdominal stretch. That’s broken up as well and Jones hits the corner splash, setting up a Boss Man Slam for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C-. What the heck happened to Kemp? Maybe it was just me but I was getting into his heel stuff against Diamond Mine and now he’s jobbing on LVL Up. It’s quite the sudden fall and it isn’t like Kemp had some horrible moment. Jones is someone who has grown on me a bit since his return and maybe he can be as good as he has been hyped up as being.

Valentina Feroz gives us a subtitled promo about wanting to prove herself to her fans in Brazil. In English, she’s ready for Sol Ruca.

Valentina Feroz vs. Sol Ruca

Feroz works on a headlock to start but Ruca grabs the arm and fires off some shoulders. A tilt-a-whirl slam gives Ruca two and she grabs a headlock of her own. Feroz can’t fight out so it’s a cravate to hold her in place. Back up and a wheelbarrow faceplant gives Ruca two but Feroz charges into an elbow in the corner. Ruca goes up to the middle rope…and does an inverted backflip, grabbing Feroz with a cutter on the way down for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C. This is a match where the only thing that is going to matter is that finisher. It’s the kind of move that you don’t see very often but it makes you take notice when you do. Ruca needed something to make her really stand out and a sweet looking finisher like that could be just the ticket. It isn’t enough to carry her, but it’s a big upgrade.

Trick Williams vs. Ikemen Jiro

Williams likes the jacket and shoves him down a few times to start, only to have Jiro nip up each time. The frustrated Williams jumps over Jiro in the corner and pulls him down by the jacket in some smart thinking. A running neckbreaker gives Williams two and we hit the chinlock. Jiro fights up and knocks Williams down, setting up a middle rope moonsault for two. The Ikemen Slash is broken up though and it’s the Trick Kick to give Williams the pin at 4:48.

Rating: C. I know Carmelo Hayes gets all of the attention but Williams is quite good at what he does every time he is out there. Williams is perfect as the enforcer/hype man, but he can do things on his own too. That is going to give him much more of a future around NXT and based on what we have seen from him, that is good news.

Overall Rating: C. This was back to the run of the mill shows and that isn’t a good thing. You had the big flipping cutter from Ruca but other than that, there was nothing here that stood out in the slightest. The action was just ok, though Williams did well in the chance he was given. Total middle of the road show here and that’s not exactly a compliment.

Results
Odyssey Jones b. Damon Kemp – Boss Man Slam
Sol Ruca b. Valentina Feroz – Middle rope inverted moonsault into a cutter
Trick Williams b. Ikemen Jiro – Trick Kick

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NXT
Date: December 13, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

We’re done with Deadline and that means it is time to start the rather long road to Vengeance Day in February. Deadline saw the crowning of new Tag Team Champions and a pair of new #1 contenders. That should give us some places to go for the next few weeks and we should be in for some fun, though maybe not so soon after Deadline. Let’s get to it.

Here is Deadline if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Deadline.

Here is Roxanne Perez to get thing going….but Grayson Waller interrupts from the parking lot. Waller has the camera walk us into the arena where he brags about everything he can think of until Perez cuts him off. She says he wasn’t the only Iron Survivor but Waller isn’t impressed. Cue Bron Breakker to say Perez did a great job at Deadline and promises she’ll be the next Women’s Champion. Waller brags about outsmarting Breakker, who he’ll outsmart again for the title at Vengeance Day. Breakker chases Waller through the crowd, leaving Perez to get jumped by Mandy Rose.

JD McDonagh gets checked out and knows the medical report before it is read to him. The Creeds come in, with Julius not being happy about McDonagh going after his knee. Brutus promises to hurt him tonight, which McDonagh finds happy.

We cut back to Roxanne Perez pulling herself up and saying she wants her title shot tonight. Mandy Rose is in.

Stacks jumps Wees Lee in the back, with Tony D’Angelo approving. The fight comes into the arena and we’re having a match.

Wes Lee vs. Stacks

it isn’t specified but there is nothing to suggest Lee’s North American Title is on the line and Tony D’Angelo is in Stacks’ corner. Stacks starts fast but gets dropkicked to the floor for the big running flip dive (with Lee landing HARD). We take a break and come back with Lee in trouble, including a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. The half crab goes on but Lee fights up and starts slugging away. Lee gets the better of things and hits his backflip kick to the head for the pin at 9:42.

Rating: C. They kept this one fast and it was more about D’Angelo vs. Lee being set up for the future. D’Angelo wanting the North American Title is a nice fit for him and having Lee beat his lackey first makes sense. I’m still not feeling Lee as the midcard champion, but at least he has a feud going on.

Post match Dijak comes out to distract Lee, allowing D’Angelo to jump Lee from behind. The triple threat continues to seem likely.

Chase U runs into Duke Hudson shaking hands with Drew Gulak. Andre Chase thinks Duke might enter the transfer portal and even apologizes for last week. Worry not though as Hudson isn’t transferring and is ready for Damon Kemp.

Tatum Paxley/Ivy Nile vs. Toxic Attraction

Kacy Catanzaro and Katana Chance are on commentary. It’s a brawl to start with Toxic Attraction mocking the champs on the floor. We settle down to Jayne faceplanting Nile so Dolin can get two. Nile fights back and they head outside, with one more distraction being enough for the champs to jump Toxic Attraction for the DQ at 2:25. This feels like a way to set up a bigger match down the line.

Post match the brawl stays on and the fans seem impressed.

Fallon Henley’s mom isn’t having a good day but Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen want her to be happy. 2023 will be their year.

Carmelo Hayes says he would have won the Iron Survivor Challenge with five more minutes, but Trick Williams shows him a shot of Axiom’s moonsault.

Odyssey Jones vs. Von Wagner

Malik Blade, Edris Enofe and Mr. Stone are here too. Wagner can’t get anywhere with some running shoulders to start but a big boot puts Jones down. The sleeper keeps Jones in trouble until he makes the clothesline comeback. Jones slams him hard and, after Stone’s distraction accidentally allows Enofe to kick Wagner in the head, a crossbody gives Jones the pin at 2:50.

Javier Bernal doesn’t like McKenzie Mitchell cheering for Ikemen Jiro against him tonight. Bernal tries to name his fan base, eventually settling on Big Body Believers. More good stuff from these two.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Javier Bernal

Jiro slugs away to start but Bernal is back with some right hands. A back elbow sends Jiro outside but he catches Bernal with a kick to the head. Jiro’s super hurricanrana sets up the Ikemen Slash for the pin at 2:59.

Post match Scrypts jumps Jiro and steals the jacket.

Wendy Choo is happy Cora Jade lost the Iron Survivor Challenge because Jade is bad. Choo even talks about the evolution of her drink throwing, which started with a bad experience at a slumber party. Oddly enough, this worked.

Here is New Day for their championship celebration. Xavier Woods brags about Kofi Kingston’s ridiculous list of accomplishments (with Kofi cutting him off before Booker T. gets any more annoyed) before we hear about Woods having the first ever NXT match (Against Big E!). He never won an NXT title though…..and now that has changed! The celebration is on but here is Pretty Deadly to interrupt, saying New Day RUINED CHRISTMAS! Woods insists they would never do that because Santa Claus (a fan in costume) is here!

After a SANTA chant, Woods talks about how it was a bad week for Pretty Deadly when England was knocked out of the World Cup and then they lost the titles. Sure Pretty Deadly can have a rematch, as long as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That’s too far but here are Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, with an American Flag, to say they’ll say the Pledge for a title shot. We get the Pledge and, as Pretty Deadly looks near sickness, Kofi says they’ll find out about that title shot for Jensen and Briggs next week. Works for the country boys. Well that was out of nowhere.

The women’s division is in the back, talking about the Iron Survivor Challenge. Elektra Lopez talks a lot until Indi Hartwell jumps her, setting up a huge brawl.

Brutus Creed vs. JD McDonagh

Julius Creed is here too. Brutus starts fast but McDonagh takes it to the floor and goes after the arm. Said arm is rammed into the announcers’ table but Brutus gets in a shot to send McDonagh to the apron. McDonagh kicks Julius down and low bridges a charging Brutus to the floor. Cue Indus Sher to take a chair away from McDonagh, leaving him to hit a pair of Devil Insides (one outside, one inside) to finish Brutus at 4:15.

Rating: C. McDonagh continues to do very little for me in his new persona but at least he seems to be getting further and further away from the NXT Title picture. Beating a tag wrestler to help advance an already established tag feud isn’t a bad thing and McDonagh can still do enough good things. Just don’t let him move much further up the ladder and things will be fine.

Zoey Stark didn’t like a Nikkita Lyons Tik Tok reaction video from Deadline, so they’ll fight about it.

Lyra Valkyria is ready to debut.

Isla Dawn is ready to use some magic to get rid of Alba Fyre.

Amari Miller vs. Lyra Valkyria

Valkyria enziguris her to the floor to start and hits the dropkick through the ropes. Back in and Miller gets kicked in the ribs and face, setting up a northern lights suplex for two. A frog splash finishes Miller at 3:01.

Rating: C-. I’ve always liked Miller as she has one of the bubbliest personalities around, but she was nothing more than cannon fodder for the debuting Valkyria. Debuting her with a squash is the best way to go for her and it isn’t like Miller is going to lose anything by getting pinned. This went as it should have, though Valkyria didn’t quite live up to the incredible hype she had built up in recent weeks.

Axiom isn’t worried about Carmelo Hayes.

Kiana James comes up to Brooks Jensen in the back, with Jensen seeming rather nervous. Jensen is worried about Fallon Henley but here is James’ assistant with a Christmas gift for Jensen: a new dress shirt which actually fits. Ok then.

Toxic Attraction jumps Katana Chance and Kayden Catanzaro.

Duke Hudson vs. Damon Kemp

Chase U is here too. Kemp starts fast and hits a running neckbreaker before hammering Hudson in the face on the mat. Cue Drew Gulak to watch but Andre Chase isn’t having this. Hudson Hulks Up and starts the comeback, setting up the big boot for the pin at 3:46.

Rating: C. Speaking of quick and to the point, we have Hudson winning here despite Gulak trying to get involved. It wasn’t a particularly good or bad match, but it felt like something that is going to be part of a bigger story later. Gulak getting to do something is a good sign, though having him vs. Chase could be rather entertaining.

Women’s Title: Mandy Rose vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is challenging and we get the Big Match Intros. Rose takes her down by the arm for two to start before Perez snaps off some armdrags. With Rose sent to the floor, Perez takes her down with a suicide dive. A whip into the steps cuts Perez off and bangs up her arm as we take a break.

Back with Perez fighting up but getting taken down by the arm again. Rose runs her over and grabs the Crossface but Perez makes the rope. Kiss From The Rose connects….for two, and Rose is stunned. The fans are split as Perez grabs a small package for two. Pop Rox connects and Perez is champion at 9:35.

Rating: C+. I was expecting a Cora Jade run-in to cut off the title change so well done on the surprise. Perez winning the title out of nowhere was a nice twist as you don’t want every major title change to take place at a big event, just for the sake of some variety. This worked well and felt like a big moment, as Perez gets the title to establish herself as the next big prospect around here. Rose can move back up to the main roster, even if she might not have the easiest time becoming a star there again.

Perez celebrates in tears and Booker T. can’t help but laugh in joy to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling here was up and down, but the best thing was that the show felt like it was put together differently. They were doing things in a hurry and it never got boring. I don’t need them to do that every week, but once in awhile it’s nice to switch things up, especially coming off a show when I wasn’t expecting anything to happen. This show worked, and I’ll take that when I came in without many expectations.

Results
Wes Lee b. Stacks – Backflip kick to the head
Toxic Attraction b. Tatum Paxley/Ivy Nile via DQ when Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter interfered
Odyssey Jones b. Von Wagner – Crossbody
Ikemen Jiro b. Javier Bernal – Ikemen Slash
JD McDonagh b. Brutus Creed – Devil Inside
Lyra Valkyria b. Amari Miller – Frog splash
Duke Hudson b. Damon Kemp – Big boot
Roxanne Perez b. Mandy Rose – Pop Rox

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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 11, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Byron Saxton

For once we’re actually coming off of a decent show, mainly because there were some slightly bigger stars. It also helps when the matches are laid out a bit better, as it seems like more effort is included. There is only so much time on this show so you have to take what you can get. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ivy Nile/Tatum Paxley vs. Lash Legend/Jakara Jackson

Legend hammers on Nile to start but Nile kicks her in the head to break that up. Jackson comes in and gets suplexed down, allowing Paxley to come in for a standing twisting moonsault. Something like a reverse X Factor plants Jackson again but she takes Paxley over for the tag to Legend. The beating continues until Jackson works on a backbreaker before switching to the leg. That works so badly that Paxley slips over for the tag off to Nile so house can be cleaned. Nile sends the villains together so Paxley can dive on Legend. That leaves Nile to flip into the Diamond Chain Lock and finish Jackson at 4:46.

Rating: C. I still don’t’ get why Nile isn’t getting more of a chance on the main NXT show as she is far better than just about anyone on this show. Legend has settled into a point where she is just bad instead of being a disaster, while Jackson is just the latest person on the roster, which doesn’t exactly make her mean much so far.

Javier Bernal isn’t worried about Ikemen Jiro and promises to beat him up.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Javier Bernal

Bernal isn’t having any of this handshake stuff to start so he shoves Jiro down. That doesn’t go so well as Jiro armdrags him, only to get kicked backwards. Jiro is sent to the apron and a hard forearm knocks him down again. Back in and a slam into some elbows get two on Jiro, setting up the chinlock. Jiro fights up but gets taken down with a clothesline as this is one sided so far. A dragon screw legwhip gets Jiro out of trouble and he fires off the jacket punches. There’s the Tarantula to Jiro but the Ikemen Slash misses, allowing Bernal to roll him up (with trunks) for the pin at 5:11.

Rating: C. This was almost a squash until Jiro’s comeback didn’t work out so well. That isn’t a surprise either as Bernal has been featured on NXT a bit more lately, meaning he isn’t going to be losing to someone who has been around here for such a long time. Bernal is starting to figure out his heel stuff too and if that works out, good for him.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade/Odyssey Jones vs. Xyon Quinn/Lucien Price/Bronco Nima

That’s a different kind of main event around here. Price shoves Odyssey on the apron to start so Enofe headlock takeovers Price down. The rather large Price shoves him into the corner and hands it off to Nima. A dropkick cuts Nima off and it’s Blade coming in, only to get sent into the corner. Quinn comes in but Blade rolls over to Jones for the showdown.

Everything breaks down and the good guys clean house until Quinn gets in a cheap shot on Jones. That doesn’t get him very far though and it’s Nima coming in to beat up Enofe instead. Quinn splashes Enofe for two but a dive through the legs allows the hot tag off to Jones for the house cleaning. Everything breaks down (again) and Blade’s splash off of Jones’ shoulders finishes Price at 6:40.

Rating: C+. This was a fun match with the good guys working well together and having some people to beat up, albeit after breaking a sweat. What matters most here is that it felt like something different on this show after doing the same things over and over. Just mix it up a bit and see how much more fun the show can be.

Overall Rating: C. I had enough fun with this show for it to be ok and that’s all you can ask for with something like this. The main event was enough of a change of pace to make things better and after the months of the same formula, that is really nice to have for once. I have no reason to believe it is going to last, but one night of ok is better than nothing.

Results
Ivy Nile/Tatum Paxley b. Lash Legend/Jakara Jackson – Diamond Chain Lock to Jackson
Javier Bernal b. Ikemen Jiro – Rollup with trunks
Odyssey Jones/Malik Blade/Edris Enofe b. Xyon Quinn/Lucien Price/Bronco Nima – Splash to Price

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NXT LVL Up
Date: October 21, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Byron Saxton

It’s the second week of the Saxton Era and that means…well very little really, as Saxton isn’t as well versed as Nigel McGuinness and not quite as good of a commentator as him either. That more or less leaves the wrestling to carry things and that is a hit or miss bet around here at best. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Myles Borne

Borne grabs a headlock to start but gets reversed into a cravate. Another headlock slows Jiro down but Borne hurts his knee on a leapfrog. Jiro is right on that knee with a leglock sending Borne over to the rope. The half crab has Borne in more trouble until he crawls over to the rope. The jacket punch rocks Borne but the reverses the Ikemen Slash into a small package for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C. This was a different way to go from most Borne matches and it was quite the win for his career. Borne has gotten better than I would have expected him to be able to do and it’s nice to see his success. At the same time, Jiro was acting more heelish, which is quite the weird way to go for someone with his kind of charisma.

Javier Bernal is ready for Andre Chase because he learned at the school of hard knocks.

Bryson Montana vs. Duke Hudson

Montana grabs him in a front facelock to start and Hudson has to bail to the rope. Hudson elbows away without much trouble but Montana runs him over with a clothesline. A Michinoku Driver gives Montana two but Hudson is back with a snap German suplex. The big boot finishes Montana at 3:53.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have time to go anywhere and Hudson continues to be quite the charisma vacuum once the bell rings. Montana seems to be one of NXT’s next projects and that isn’t a bad thing. He has the size and look to go somewhere so let him see what he can do when he gets his feet a bit wetter in the ring.

Andre Chase vs. Javier Bernal

Thea Hail is here too. Chase takes him down by the arm to start and Bernal is sent outside, where Thea Hail yells at him. Back in and Chase shoulders him down before hammering away in the corner. Bernal manages to get in a knee lift and hammers away, only to get caught with a middle rope sunset flip for two. Some kicks keep Chase in trouble but he comes right back with a suplex. Chase slugs him down and the spelling stomps have Bernal in trouble. The high crossbody finishes Bernal at 6:41.

Rating: C. Chase has become one of the biggest stars around this show and that is one of the things that can make him into a special treat. The fans go nuts when he comes out and while it would be nice to see him doing something bigger in NXT, it might be easier to take the moments on the smaller stage like this one. If it means less of Bernal being boring on the main show too, so be it.

Overall Rating: C. There was a bit more energy to this show, though that might just be the reactions to Chase being in the ring. The show is still completely skippable and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, but at least it was a fun use of half an hour. I’m still not sure why they stopped sending one slightly bigger name down here a week but maybe they found it beneath those stars. For now though, ok show, especially for the short run time.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: October 14, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Byron Saxton

We’re back to this show again and as usual, it’s anyone guess what to expect. I’ve given up having any hope for a high quality show around here and that is about as good as it is going to get. The show always needs some bigger stars but if we can get a decent midcard name, it’s going to be as solid as can be expected. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ikemen Jiro/Tank Ledger vs. Duke Hudson/Bryson Montana

Hudson powers Jiro into the corner and starts in on the arm but gets tripped into a headlock. Jiro gets shoved off for the tag to Ledger, who trades some shoulders with Hudson. Some arm cranking slows Ledger down and it’s off to Montana, who charges into a hiptoss. Ledger starts in on the arm as well and the good (I think?) guys start taking turns on Montana’s arm.

Hudson draws Ledger over with a distraction though and a neckbreaker gives Montana two. Montana’s chinlock doesn’t last long and the diving tag brings in Jiro to clean house. The Jacket Punches rock set up the springboard moonsault as Hudson walks off. The Ikemen Slash finishes Montana at 6:20.

Rating: C. Hudson and Montana as a team was a little weird but throwing people together can make for some interesting moments. I’m not sure how much of a future they have together, but for a one off match, it wasn’t that bad. Jiro continues to be a fun guy and it’s smart to have him around to open up a show like this.

Myles Borne is ready to keep his wins going.

Myles Borne vs. Dante Chen

Borne wrestles him down to start but the fans seem more behind Chen. An armdrag into an armbar has Borne down but he’s back up with a standing moonsault over a charging Chen. Back up and the armbar has Borne in more trouble, with the fickle fans now behind him for a change. Chen gets up and charges into an elbow in the corner but kicks Borne right back down. The armbar goes on again, only to have Borne come back with a belly to belly. Something like an inverted Downward Spiral (which I thought was a botched inverted DDT at first) finishes Chen at 5:13.

Rating: C-. The match wasn’t much to see, and I do wonder how much of that is due to Borne’s hearing issues. I’m not sure how you would exactly call a match like that but Borne has already improved a pretty good bit. It’s certainly a good story though and it should be interesting to see how far he can go.

Ivy Nile vs. Lash Legend

Legend kicks her down to start and then grabs an awkward cravate to keep Nile in place. Nile is back up with some hard kicks and starts cranking on the arm. Back up and a butterfly suplex gives Legend two, allowing her to bend Nile’s arm over the middle rope. Some taunting gives Nile a chance to pull her down by the leg for two but Legend blasts her with a clothesline for the same. The armbar and then chinlock goes on Nile before Legend tries her own dragon sleeper. You don’t do that to Nile though, as she flips over and into her own dragon sleeper to make Legend tap at 6:06.

Rating: C-. Believe it or not, this was decent for a Legend match, though it was still a pretty boring one. Maybe Legend can get somewhere with a good bit more practice, but anytime she talks my interest in her goes right back down. Nile did her thing and the ending looked good with her flipping over to take Legend out. That being said, she seemed ready to break out as a big star and it just never happened for some reason. Maybe it happens later, but I don’t quite see it from here.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a weaker show as the star power was almost non-existent. It was more about getting people in the ring than anything else. That works fine as a training deal, but it doesn’t make for a good television show. LVL Up can be a nicely done show, but that wasn’t the case with this one. Now awful, but boring, which is often worse.

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