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

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

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

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

Oba Femi vs. Axiom

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

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

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

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

Zaria/Sol Ruca vs. Meta Four

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

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

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

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

Jaida Parker vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Titles: Gallus vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephanie Vaquer has her sights set on Cora Jade.

NXT Title: Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re done with Deadline and the big story is the Iron Survivor Challenges, with Oba Femi and Giulia winning the competitions to earn title shots at New Year’s Evil. That gives us something to build towards over the next few weeks and we should have some more fallout from the weekend to deal with as well. Let’s get to it.

Here is Deadline if you need a recap.

We open with a long Deadline recap.

Here is Giulia to get things going with a promise to win the Women’s Title at New Year’s Evil. Roxanne Perez comes out to suggest that Giulia was the weakest entrant of the match. While the women’s division is great, none of the women are at her level. Giulia wants to fight right now but cue Cora Jade with a baseball bat. Sure Giulia thinks Stephanie Vaquer is going to come out here for the save, but there is no question about who did it. We cut to the back where Vaquer is down so Giulia tries to fight, with Kelani Jordan running in for the save.

We look at Ethan Page being devastated after losing at Deadline.

The D’Angelo Family feels sorry for Page so Tony D’Angelo offers him a North American Title shot. Page calls that a step down for him so D’Angelo offers everyone in the room a shot. Everyone jumps up and NOW Page is willing to accept, saying that if he can’t win, he doesn’t have a career around here.

Lexis King talks to Charlie Dempsey and asks about another Heritage Cup shot. Dempsey says he’ll think about it, which is enough for King to leave. Dempsey praises the rest of the team but OTM comes in to bicker a lot.

Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee

They slug it out to start with Lee hammering him down on the ropes but getting sent to the floor for the big dive. Back in and Lee dropkicks him out of the air before sending things back outside. Evans shrugs off a whip into the barricade, setting up another dive to take Lee out again. Lee is smart enough to go after the knee and hits a dive of his own as we take a break.

We come back with Evans hitting a superkick, followed by a spinning kick to the head. A top rope clothesline gives Evans two but Lee grabs the referee to block a sunset flip. Lee snaps off a hurricanrana but charges into a Spanish Fly. Evans’ Pearl River Plunge gets two, as does Lee’s tornado DDT. Back up and Evans kicks him down again, setting up the spinning top rope splash for the pin at 12:24.

Rating: B-. This was the match built around fast spots and dives, which is where these two end to shine. Evans getting a nice win makes sense for him and another loss is going to get on Lee’s nerves. They’re certainly trying with Evans and that is a good sign for his future. He still has a long way to go, but at least they’ve started.

Axiom and Nathan Frazer patch things up (again), with Frazer wanting to make things right after Axiom did so much work at Deadline.

Video on Josh Briggs going to Japan and meeting Yoshiki Inamura, who is here with him as his partner. They both like the hard hitting style.

Kelani Jordan and Giulia are mad about Stephanie Vaquer being attacked. Vengeance is sworn in the main event.

Sol Ruca and Zaria liked the Iron Survivor Challenge when Meta Four come in to say they would have won if they were involved. Trash talking ensues.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont

Fallout from last week’s tag team battle royal. Hank and Tank drop DuPont to start but Igwe comes in for a double clothesline. Igwe gets dropped with a double standing splash, earning the coveted SHUCKY DUCKY QUACK QUACK. A spinning belly to back suplex gets Igwe out of trouble and he drops Ledger with a jumping elbow. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Leger fights up and drops Igwe, allowing the tag back to Walker. There’s a spinning Boss Man Slam to DuPont and the powerslam/neckbreaker combination finishes him off at 5:24.

Rating: C. This was pretty to the point with Walker and Ledger continuing to win a decent amount of their matches. I still don’t get their appeal but the fans like them and that’s good enough to keep them around. Igwe and DuPont feel like a team with some potential as well, but losing in a five minute match isn’t a great sign for their future.

Post match DuPont shakes hands but Igwe walks away.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. He brags about his win at Deadline and now it’s time for him to win the NXT Title. That brings him to Trick Williams, whose path he has yet to cross. Cue Williams…but Eddy Thorpe comes out to cut Williams off. Thorpe says his people have been through enough and says Femi took him out last week. Femi suggests that he didn’t attack Thorpe (though he never flat out denies it) but Williams says it’s time for he and Femi to clash in Los Angeles.

Femi says Williams is only the #1 guy around here because Femi allowed it. Now he is ready to take the title and the Trick era is ending. With Femi gone, Thorpe says Williams didn’t do anything about Femi attacking him. He accuses Williams of being a manufactured sports entertainer but Williams is sick of the doubters. The challenge is on for next week, with Williams telling Ava to make the match.

Fatal Influence is worried about Gigi Dolin.

Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley run into Izzi Dame, who threatens Dolin as well. Cue Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance but Dame isn’t interested.

Fatal Influence vs. Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley

Fallon Henley is here as well. Paxley kicks her way out of trouble to start and Dolin hiptosses Nyx into a dropkick. Nyx and Dolin go to the floor with the latter being posted but Paxley comes back in to clean house. Henley shoves Paxley off the top though and Jayne hits a discus forearm for the pin at 3:08.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere and was more about showing that Paxley and Dolin need someone to even up the numbers. There are more than a few options for that and I’m curious to see who they get. For now though, Fatal Influence gets a win to show they’re capable of beating someone, which is something they need every so often.

Post match the beatdown is on but Shotzi returns for the save and the villains are cleaned out.

Nathan Frazer and Axiom are both trying to thank the other so Axiom has gotten a match with Oba Femi to avenge Frazer next week. That’s all well and good….but Frazer has gotten them a Tag Team Title defense for next week too. Axiom isn’t pleased, but Frazer says he can’t see his face.

North American Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Ethan Page

D’Angelo, with the Family, is defending. Page takes him to the mat for an early headscissors but D’Angelo is back up with a running shot to the face. They crash out to the floor in a heap though and we take an early break. Back with D’Angelo hitting a facebuster into a jumping knee to the face (always good to suck up to the boss) but Page kicks him in the face. Page kicks him out of the corner and hits a Twist of Fate for two. The Ego’s Edge is escaped and D’Angelo plants him with the spinebuster to retain at 8:38.

Rating: C+. This was more about Page losing and not knowing where to go next, but D’Angelo getting a win over a former NXT Champion should only help him. As is often the case around here, they only had so much time with the break in the middle, but it wasn’t bad by any means. I’m not sure what’s next for Page and that is a nice feeling to have.

Lexis King meets Ryan Leaf (former NFL player and current CW broadcaster), who was impressed by King going to Minneapolis to close that chapter in his life. Charlie Dempsey comes in to say that King can have his title shot in two weeks, but first he has to get through a workout. Works for King.

Ethan Page is all depressed and isn’t sure if he’s good enough. He’s lost and ashamed and leaves, still in his gear.

Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade vs. Giulia/Kelani Jordan

Perez and Jade jump Giulia on the stage so Jordan is here for the save. They get inside with the villains being dropkicked out to the floor, with Perez being thrown back in for the opening bell. A basement crossbody gives Jordan two and it’s off to Jade, who armdrags her way out of trouble. Jordan sens Perez hard into the corner as we take a break.

Back with Perez knocking Jordan to the floor for a suicide dive. Jordan fights out of trouble in a hurry and it’s off to Giulia to pick up the pace. A northern lights suplex gets two on Perez and a belly to back cuts Perez off again. Jordan’s top rope splash gets two with Jade making the save. Perez dropkicks Jordan but Giulia’s distraction lets Jordan hit a spinwheel kick. Perez hits Pop Rox on Jordan on the floor and brawls with Giulia, leaving Jade to DDT Jordan for the pin at 10:56.

Rating: B-. Jade needed to get a win, even if it was in a tag match, as she was the weak link of the four here. Jade vs. Jordan could be a nice feud on its own and I’ll take the idea of developing more non-title feuds in any division. I’m glad they didn’t go with what felt like the obvious result of Giulia pinning Perez to set up the title match, as the story is already there without having the champ get pinned.

Post match Stephanie Vaquer comes in to jump Jade and breaks the baseball bat over her leg. Jade is chased out of the arena.

Eddy Thorpe signs a contract for an NXT Title shot. Ava says they’re still looking for who attacked him….but Thorpe says she’s looking at the attacker. He just got his title shot and didn’t have to go through five people to do it. That’s a nice swerve and a clever heel move.

Overall Rating: B-. NXT is in a bit of a weird place here as the two title matches are set for their big show in January and that is what got the focus here. Those two matches alone are going to be enough to carry New Year’s Evil so it’s ok to wait a bit to focus on everything else. It made for a show that was centered around those two matches, but that didn’t leave much else that felt important.

I liked the swerve at the end as Thorpe came off as smart, but he feels like a speed bump for Williams more than anything else. Good enough show this week with the big matches getting the focus, though they’re going to need something else to bridge the gap in the coming weeks.

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Wes Lee – Spinning top rope splash
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont – Powerslam/neckbreaker combination to DuPont
Fatal Influence b. Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley – Discus forearm to Paxley
Tony D’Angelo b. Ethan Page – Spinebuster
Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez b. Kelani Jordan/Giulia – DDT to Jordan

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

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Deadline 2024
Date: December 7, 2024
Location: Minneapolis Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

This is one of the most gimmick heavy cards of the year as we have two twenty five minute matches which are kind of a cross between the Royal Rumble and an Iron Man Match. Other than that, Ridge Holland is challenging Trick Williams for the NXT Title, which could be quite the showdown. Let’s get to it.

The opening video talks about how it is a special time of year before looking at the card. The NXT Title gets some attention as well, with the Iron Survivor Challenge matches still getting the final look.

The venue looks rather cool and rather different than the usual arena. The front looks like a normal arena but it keeps going rather far back.

Iron Survivor Challenge rules:

• 25 minute time limit
• Two wrestlers start with a new entrant every five minutes
• Any pinfall, submission or DQ is a fall and worth one point
• When someone loses a fall, they go to the penalty box for 90 seconds
• Most falls in 25 minutes wins a future NXT/Women’s Title shot

Eddy Thorpe is injured and out of the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge, with a mystery entrant having been selected.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge

Je’Von Evans is in at #1 and Wes Lee is in at #2. Evans grabs a quick sunset flip for two and drops Lee for a standing shooting star press and another near fall. Lee is back with a nasty belly to back suplex for two and he starts working on the back. A dropkick doesn’t work for Evans so Lee knocks him outside, setting up a rather slow motion dive through the ropes. Back in and Evans’ cutter is blocked, allowing Lee to get a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:55.

Lee – 1
Evans – 0
Page – 0
Frazer – 0
Unknown – 0

Nathan Frazer is in at #3 and goes right at Lee for a knockdown, setting up a heck of a frog splash for two. They both head outside and Evans is freed, allowing him to hit a big flip dive over the top onto the two of them. Back in and Evans’ side slam gets two on Lee but Frazer is back with the Sling Blade for two. Evans is clotheslined to the floor and Lee hurricanranas him into the apron.

Frazer’s dive thankfully doesn’t go badly as he gets his feet caught in the ropes but takes both of them down anyway. Everyone is on the floor and Ethan Page is in a #4. Page kicks all of them down and throws Frazer inside as commentary tells us about the success that #4 has had. That doesn’t seem to be the case as Frazer grabs a quick small package to pin Page at 10:38.

Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Evans – 0
Page – 0
Unknown – 0

Page has to be knocked into the box and Frazer makes Lee DDT Evans for two and a triple breather. Frazer hits the Phoenix splash on Lee but Page comes in to steal the pin on Frazer at 12:40.

Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Page – 1
Evans – 0
Unknown – 0

Evans still can’t hit a cutter on the apron so the villains get together to hit something like a suicide dive Doomsday Device on the floor. Evans pops back up and hits a quick dive but Lee makes a save back inside. Frazer is back in and we get an exchange of kicks to the head to leave everyone down as….Oba Femi is in at #5 to cause some damage. Femi wrecks everyone in a hurry and pins Evans at 16:17.

Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Page – 1
Femi – 1
Evans – 0

Femi hits a toss powerbomb on Lee with Frazer having to make a save. That earns him a sitout Last Ride but Page breaks up the cover. Page insists that he needs to win so Femi grabs him by the throat and rams him against the box, meaning Evans can’t get out. Femi wrecks Lee but gets posted by Frazer, with Evans diving off the box onto Lee and Femi. The top rope cutter gives Evans the pin on Lee at 18:39.

Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Page – 1
Femi – 1
Evans – 1

Frazer and Evans go after Femi in the corner to try and slow him down with five minutes left. Lee is back up and the triple teaming just makes Femi mad as he takes all three down. The pop up powerbomb hits Evans but Page steals a rollup pin on Femi at 21:12.

Page – 2
Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Femi – 1
Evans – 1

Booker insists that no one else is going to get a fall and then Evans rolls Page up for the pin at 21:48.

Page – 2
Evans – 2
Lee – 1
Frazer – 1
Femi – 1

Page PANICS over having to be locked in the box with Femi and has to be forced in. Femi of course massacres him until he is allowed back in with just under two minutes left. Lee is tossed out to the floor but Evans hits a dive on Femi as Page, or what is left of him, is released. Femi blocks Evans’ cutter off the steps and sends him up against the box. We have a minute left as Frazer snaps Femi’s throat across the top rope. Femi knocks both of them away but Frazer scores an enziguri with thirty seconds left. A double chokeslam lets Femi get a double pin on Frazer and Lee at 24:47.

Femi – 3
Page – 2
Evans – 2
Lee – 1
Frazer – 1

Frazer hits a top rope cutter on Femi but time runs out at 25:00 to give Femi the win.

Rating: B. This match is a bit complicated on paper but once you get into it, the concept is great and you can follow it very easily. The on-screen graphics are perfect and tell you everything you need to know about the whole match. As for the match, it was a bunch of people doing their thing until Femi came in and just wrecked them. They had something with going after Femi in teams but ultimately, Femi was going to be in the title hunt or go to the main roster. There was no in between and this was the right call.

Lexis King walks around in the cold because he isn’t on the show. He’s given his all to try to be himself and while it looks like he’s lost a lot, nothing feels better than that satisfaction.

We recap Jaida Parker vs. Lola Vice. They’ve been feuding for weeks and after a hardcore match last month, it’s time for an NXT Underground match.

Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

NXT Underground, meaning no ropes, people around the ring, and you win by knockout, TKO or submission. Vice knees her in the face to start but Parker is back up with a spinebuster. Parker plants her down again and tries a powerbomb, which is reversed into a triangle choke. That’s broken up as well so Vice grabs an ankle lock. Parker slips out and they go to the floor, where Vice’s spinning backfist hits the post.

The Hipnotic hits Vice’s bad hand and Parker knocks her down with some right hands to the face. Parker pulls out Vice’s black belt and uses it to pull Vice hard int the post. Back in and Vice uses the belt to hit some clotheslines until a headbutt cuts her off. Parker puts her onto the steps and hits the Tear Drop. Back in and Parker loads up the brick but gets kicked in the head. Vice pulls her into a quick choke and Parker is in trouble. That’s broken up so Vice hits the spinning backfist and chokes her out at 11:06.

Rating: B-. This was good but it went longer than it needed to and that hurt things. The brick thing was stupid from the beginning and it is still dumb here. Now that being said, it had the feeling of a fight and they were trying to do some different things to mix it up a bit. I liked the match and if they had cut off 2-3 minutes, it would have been that much better. Vice having something of a signature match is a good thing, though Parker still feels like a much bigger prospect.

Axiom tells Nathan Frazer, who is banged up, that they’ve got this.

We recap the NXT Tag Team Title match, with Axiom and Frazer defending against the No Quarter Catch Crew. The entire division kept getting in a bunch of brawls and then the Crew won a battle royal to get the shot.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazer vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

Axiom and Frazer are defending and Frazer’s ribs are banged up. Frazer starts with Borne and the ribs are banged up enough that it’s quickly off to Axiom. For some reason Axiom tries grappling with Heights and actually gets two off a rollup. Axiom goes to tag Frazer, who says maybe later, allowing Heights to suplex Axiom into a gator roll. Frazer comes in to kick Borne down as OTM is here to watch.

A pair of dives take the Crew down but Frazer is banged up. Heights is back up with a clothesline to Axiom and a suplex to send Frazer over the top and onto OTM. That’s enough for OTM to be sent to the back and Borne snaps off a powerslam for two on Frazer. The chinlock goes on but Frazer flips his way out, only to get caught in a flipping slam for two. Heights’ powerslam gets the same and a Dominator gets two more as Frazer’s ribs are destroyed.

Frazer manages to get over for the tag off to Axiom, meaning it’s time for Frazer to take a breather on the floor. Axiom kicks Heights in the chest to limited avail so Heights hits him with a Death valley Driver for two. Borne comes back in but gets sent through the ropes and onto Heights. It’s back to Frazer, who manages a springboard 450 for two on heights as the ribs are seemingly a bit better.

A release German suplex drops Frazer though and a dropkick/sitout powerbomb combination gets two with Borne making the save. The Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash hits Borne but Heights makes the save, only to jump into the Golden Ratio. Back up and Axiom accidentally dropkicks Frazer, who gets planted with an AA onto the apron. Something like a TKO/DDT combination gets two on Axiom and the fans are rather surprised on the kickout. Axiom is back with a quick Canadian Destroyer to Heights and a small package to Borne retains the title at 15:45.

Rating: B-. Oh I really don’t know about that one, as it felt like a place where the titles should have changed hands. If the champs aren’t losing when Frazer is already banged up, it’s almost hard to imagine them losing to anyone at this point. Throw in even more miscommunication that they can overcome and it’s kind of a lot to take no matter how good the action can be. It wasn’t even a great match here, but rather a pretty good match with some how sequences.

Je’Von Evans isn’t overly upset about losing and Wes Lee slaps him for not being serious.

We recap Trick Williams defending the NXT Title against Ridge Holland. Over the last few weeks, Holland has been a wrecking ball in NXT and somehow this has become Williams standing up for NXT because Holland could kill it. Holland has also banged up Williams’ neck but Williams is fighting anyway.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ridge Holland

Holland is challenging and starts fast with a failed Redeemer attempt. Williams slugs away in the corner but Holland runs him over with a hard shot. They go to the floor with Holland’s overhead belly to belly (which injured Big E.) being blocked. Instead Williams posts him and hits a slingshot to send Holland throat first into the bottom rope. A running neckbreaker gets two on Holland but he sends Williams into the corner to start in on the neck.

Some overhead suplexes have Williams in trouble and a neckbreaker gets two. Williams is tied in the Tree of Woe for some neck cranking and another neckbreaker connects for another two. Williams reverses another into a DDT and a flapjack but the Rock Bottom is countered into a crossface. That’s broken up and now the Rock Bottom can drop Holland for another near fall. Holland eventually gets him up with a powerbomb for two but the Swan Dive misses.

Williams kicks him in the face, followed by stereo kicks to the face for back to back near falls. They go outside and Holland loads up the announcers’ table, only to be backdropped to the floor. Back in and Williams misses a charge, getting his head caught in the ropes for the hangman spot. The referee gets him out and the Redeemer connects for two. Holland misses a charge into the post (having to push himself into it), setting up a Trick Kick and the Trick Shot to retain the title at 15:50.

Rating: B. Williams is turning into that kind of scrappy fighter who survives to find a way to win and it’s working for him. It made for a good story here of Williams managing to fight up and slay the monster, though Oba Femi is waiting for him and that might not go so well. At the same time, Holland losing the title shot after ending Chase U is a bit of a surprise, as I was expecting to see him win here. Good match, but not what I was expecting.

Ethan Page talks about his recent losses. It’s taken him 18 years to climb the mountain and now he has no idea how to get back there. He can’t do this and walks off.

Ava announces Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans for next week but Tiffany Stratton comes in to tease cashing in her Money In The Bank at New Year’s Evil.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge

Giulia is in at #1 and Wren Sinclair is in at #2. They take their times to start and then fight over a test of strength. That’s broken up and they go to the mat with Giulia cranking on the arms. Sinclair rolls out and gets two off a rollup, followed by a backslide for two more. Back up and Giulia runs her over with a shoulder before grabbing something like an Octopus.

That’s broken up and Sol Ruca is in at #3 for a spinning belly to back faceplant to Giulia. Sinclair is back up with Cattle Mutilation to Ruca but Giulia ties up their legs for something like a double STF. With that broken up, Ruca grabs a triple sleeper but Sinclair reverses into a Fujiwara armbar. Ruca switches into a neck lock but Giulia reverses into a choke. Back up and Ruca is sent to the floor, leaving Giulia to hit the Northern Lights Bomb to pin Sinclair at 9:47.

Giulia – 1
Vaquer – 0
Zaria – 0
Ruca – 0
Sinclair – 0

Ruca tries a quick rollup for two but Zaria is in at #4. That leaves Ruca and Giulia to realize they’re in trouble but a quick double Sol Snatcher sends both of them outside. Sinclair is back in…and gets caught with the Sol Snatcher to give Ruca the pin at 11:49.

Giulia – 1
Ruca – 1
Vaquer – 0
Zaria – 0
Sinclair – 0

With Zaria back up, Ruca and Giulia powerbomb her through the announcers’ able, only for Giulia to neckbreaker Ruca on the floor. Sinclair is back out and tries to throw them into the ring. Giulia throws her back in instead and they go outside, allowing Ruca to hit a big flipping dive.

Back in and Giulia gets kicked in the head as Stephanie Vaquer completes the field. A springboard high crossbody takes out Sinclair and Ruca and we get the Vaquer vs. Giulia showdown. Zaria is back up though and pulls Vaquer outside for a ram into the penalty box. Zaria German suplexes Sinclair and spears Ruca out of the air but Giulia grabs a choke. Vaquer jumps onto both of their backs but Zaria sends her into the corner, setting up a double Cannonball. Zaria F5’s Giulia for the pin at 17:42.

Giulia – 1
Ruca – 1
Zaria – 1
Vaquer – 0
Sinclair – 0

Zaria stays on Ruca before going up for a moonsault to both Ruca and Sinclair. Giulia gets out of the penalty box and cleans house, including a double missile dropkick/top rope backsplash combination to drop everyone but Vaquer. Back up and Vaquer scores with a superkick to set up another Giulia staredown. That’s broken up so they trade headbutts until Vaquer’s package backbreaker is broken up. Giulia superplexes Vaquer but Zaria breaks it up. Ruca springboards in with a splash but Vaquer rolls Sinclair up for the fall at 22:47.

Giulia – 1
Ruca – 1
Zaria – 1
Vaquer – 1
Sinclair – 0

A string of knockdowns leaves everyone but Ruca on the floor and Sinclair is back in with a sunset flip for the pin on Ruca at 24:27.

Giulia – 1
Ruca – 1
Zaria – 1
Vaquer – 1
Sinclair – 1

Zaria hits a double spear but Giulia knees her down and gets the pin at 24:47.

Giulia – 2
Ruca – 1
Zaria – 1
Vaquer – 1
Sinclair – 1

Vaquer’s rollup only gets two and Giulia wins at 25:00.

Rating: A-. This was excellent with everyone moving around and nothing close to a dead spot. They kept the drama going and the last minute had me wondering who was going to win. You could have gone in a bunch of different directions here but Giulia eels like the biggest star. Her winning the title on the first show of the year could be a heck of a moment and that might be what we’re seeing. Outstanding main event here as the NXT women’s division is one of the best things in wrestling at the moment.

Confetti and streamers go off to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Pretty awesome show with the main event being more than worth a watch and even the worst matches on the show being worth a look. It was also over in less than three hours so it didn’t overstay its welcome. This was one of the best NXT shows in a long time and they are set for two big title matches on the first show of the new year. Great show and that main event is definitely worth a look.

Results
Oba Femi won the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge
Lola Vice b. Jaida Parker – Choke
Axiom/Nathan Frazer b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Small package to Borne
Trick Williams b. Ridge Holland – Trick Shot
Giulia won the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Battle Royal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nikkita Lyons vs. Karmen Petrovic

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

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

Post match Petrovic says Adonis shoved her and walks off.

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

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

Gigi Dolin vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deadline rundown.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dion Lennox and Brinley Reece fire each other up.

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

Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

Post match Jensen takes out the bad knee again.

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

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

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

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

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

Ridge Holland is ready to end Chase U.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

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

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

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

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

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

Shawn Spears is pleased with Brooks Jensen.

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase

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

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

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

Chase and the school are devastated to end the show.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meta Four vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

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

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

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

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

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adriana Rizzo vs. Nikkita Lyons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Respect is shown post match.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: November 6, 2024
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re in the ECW Arena and that is the main focal point of the show. The show is also featuring a bunch of ECW guest stars, which you might want to take or leave. The main event is Bubba Ray Dudley teaming with Trick Williams to face Ethan Page and Ridge Holland. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening sequence is set to the old ECW theme, which works rather well.

Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

Hardcore match with Dawn Marie as guest referee. Parker jumps her to start and grabs a chair but Vice knocks it into her face with the spinning backfist. They go to the floor where Vice grabs a table but takes too long, allowing Parker to knock her down. Some chairs are thrown in but Parker’s big swing hits the corner, allowing Vice to get in another knockdown as we take a break.

Back with a bunch of weapons in the ring, including a bunch of ladders. Parker plants her with a spinebuster and puts her on the ladder for the big Tear Drop from the standing ladder for two. More weapons are brought in but Parker takes too much time and gets kendo sticked down.

Vice puts her in a trashcan for the running hip attack and a near fall but Parker throws a trashcan at her. Back in and Vice gets in some more kendo stick shots, only to get sideslammed onto a chair. A running elbow sends Vice into the ladder for two so breaks a BRICK over her head. That’s only good for two (of course) so Parker hits the Hipnotic for the pin at 14:47.

Rating: C. As usual in modern hardcore style matches, there were far too many weapons and it brought the match down. Throw in A BRICK to the head being a near fall and it was more than a bit much to take. Marie didn’t add a thing whatsoever either and the whole thing felt like a match for the live crowd, despite it not being entirely thought out.

Ethan Page and Ridge Holland are ready to take out Trick Williams and Bubba Ray Dudley.

Kelani Jordan is stretching with Rob Van Dam, who gives her a pep talk. Jordan leaves and Wes Lee jumps Van Dam with a chair.

The FBI met the D’Angelo Family and apparently Tony Mamaluke has gotten Rizzo a match with Nikkita Lyons next week. As for tonight, Nunzio gets a North American Title shot.

Apparently referees will be more lenient for the rest of the night.

Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee

Evans starts fast but his springboard cutter is countered. A rollup gives Evans two but Lee knocks him to the floor for a 619 around the post. Lee manages a brainbuster onto the steps and we take an early break. Back with Evans snapping off a top rope super hurricanrana and hitting a spinning slam. The top rope spinning splash misses though and Lee scores with the Cardiac Kick for two.

Lee grabs a chair but the referee takes it away, allowing Evans to come back with a running cutter. The top rope cutter connects, with Lee rolling out to the floor. Evans’ dive is sent crashing over the announcers’ table so Lee grabs a chair, only to be cut off by Rob Van Dam. Evans hits a springboard cutter into…what was supposed to be a Five Star frog splash (which was left so short that Evans’ knees hit the mat first) for the pin at 12:27.

Rating: C+. I cannot get into Evans and this wasn’t helping. I’m not sure how many cutters you need to use in a single match but Evans was flirting with the maximum allowed. Lee taking a loss, even with interference, isn’t the most appealing thing either here, especially to such a horrible looking finisher.

Ava doesn’t have time for Eddy Thorpe but promises to make it up.

Here are Ava and her lackeys for a special announcement. That would be the return of Deadline, which will take place on December 7. Robert Stone talks about how much better New York and Boston fans are than Philadelphia fans. Then the lights go out and Rhyno pops in for a Gore.

Kelani Jordan and company exchange pep talks before the ten woman tag. The big announcement here is that Jordan speaks Spanish, but here are Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson to brag about going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer aren’t impressed.

Ethan Page/Ridge Holland vs. Trick Williams/Bubba Ray Dudley

Williams and Holland start things off but Holland shoves Ray on the apron. Ray comes in and gets shouldered down by Holland, leaving him a bit surprised. A wristlock goes a bit better for Ray and it’s off to Williams for some arm cranking of his own. Page gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and the villains take over, only for Williams to slip out of a double neckbreaker. Ray comes back in to clean house and Page and Holland are knocked to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Ray getting crotched against the post and Holland grabbing an armbar. Ray fights out of trouble and brings Williams back in to pick up the pace, including a flapjack to Holland. A Rock Bottom gives Williams two with Page making the save. The Trick Shot is loaded up but Holland reverses into a rollup for the pin at 10:18.

Rating: B-. The ending is a fine way to go and makes sense over having Dudley take the pin. Holland as the next challenger makes sense and now we get to see a likely title match at Deadline. Odds are this is it for Ray, which I’ll take over having him feud with either Page or Holland.

Post match the beatdown is on but Bubba makes the save. We get the What’s Up and then it’s time to GET THE TABLES. Hold on though because here is D-Von Dudley with the table, with Page going through it.

Dion Lennox comes up to Ashante Thee Adonis and asks about him going from woman to woman. Karmen Petrovic comes in to ask about the other woman Adonis was with last week. Adonis isn’t interested but does remember that last week was her birthday. That’s enough to win Petrovic over. Again, with Lennox looking surprised in the background.

Roxanne Perez and company are ready to beat up the newcomers.

North American Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Nunzio

D’Angelo, with his family, is defending and Tony Mamaluke is here with Nunzio. D’Angelo starts fast and sends him outside, where a clothesline hits Mamaluke. A belly to belly suplex plants Nunzio and D’Angelo puts him on top but Nunzio dropkicks his way out of trouble. The Sicilian Slice gives Nunzio two but a crow bar shot is caught by the referee. The spinebuster (with Nunzio crossing himself) retains the title at 2:18. That’s what it should have been.

Post match respect is shown.

Shawn Spears tells Brooks Jensen to be ready for next week.

William Regal gives Lexis King a pep talk after last week’s loss. King leaves and the No Quarter Cat Crew comes in. Charlie Dempsey says King couldn’t get the job done, with Regal saying King isn’t his father’s son. Dempsey asks if he’s his father’s son, but Regal suggests the team go after the Tag Team Titles instead.

Nikkita Lyons promises to take out everyone and win gold.

Nathan Frazier and Axiom are told about a meeting with the tag division next week where the new challengers will be determined. Axiom thinks that’s a great way to scout everyone at once but Frazier sees it as a week off.

Fatal Influence/Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia/Zaria/Kelani Jordan/Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer

Jordan armdrags and dropkicks Henley to start and it’s off to Vaquer for a springboard crossbody. Nyx comes in and gets caught with a 619, setting up a double elbow to give Giulia two. It’s off to Perez, who gets caught with an overhead belly to belly suplex. A shot from the apron slow Giulia down though and Perez hits a running dropkick against the ropes.

Zaria comes in for the tease of a powerbomb but all ten get in for the shouting and brawling. The villains are sent to the floor and Jordan hits a big moonsault as we take a break. Back with Jordan being sent outside, where Nyx takes out Giulia and Vaquer with a dive. Jordan fights up back inside but Henley breaks up a tag attempt. Not that it matters as it’s a diving tag off to Grace to clean house.

A Vader Bomb hits Jade for two and Zaria and Grace’s double powerbomb gets two more. We hit the parade of knockdowns until everyone is down, as Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend come out. More dives take them out as well and it’s off to Perez. Zaria spears Grace by mistake but pops back up with the F5 to pin Perez at 15:04.

Rating: B-. It was a fairly wild match, though I’m not sure why I was supposed to believe that the villains had any real chance to win. The other team has no weak links and it was them mainly steamrolling Perez and company, save for a few brief spots. Evan Zaria spearing Grace didn’t make much of a difference. That being said, it was a fun spectacle and that’s what it needed to be.

Overall Rating: B-. The big appeal here was ECW and if you weren’t a fan, it isn’t going to work out so well. Most of the stuff was harmless enough and they didn’t get a big focus at the end. D-Von was a nice surprise and the non-ECW stuff was good enough. This wasn’t a great show, but you can see a lot of what is being set up for Deadline in about a month. Things will be back to normal next week, but for now, it could have been worse.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Lola Vice – Hipnotic
Je’Von Evans b. Wes Lee – Frog splash
Ridge Holland/Ethan Page b. Bubba Ray Dudley/Trick Williams – Rollup to Williams
Tony D’Angelo b. Nunzio – Spinebuster
Giulia/Zaria/Kelani Jordan/Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence/Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez – F5 to Perez

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NXT
Date: October 22, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show before Halloween Havoc and the card…well it somewhat exists. There have been a few matches set, including those with Spin The Wheel Make The Deal attached, but very little is standing out. The main event will see Ethan Page getting another shot at Trick Williams and the NXT Title, with the two of them going face to face this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Damage CTRL vs. Meta Four

Jackson backs Sane up against the ropes to start but Sane is back up with a running dropkick. It’s off to Sky for some stereo basement dropkicks but a missed charge lets Jackson send her into the corner. The much bigger Legend comes in to choke Sane, with Legend holding both Sane and Sky up at the same time to bounce them on the ropes. A sleeper slows Legend down though and Sane sends her outside, setting up Sky’s Asai moonsault as we take a break.

Back with Sane coming back in for a running Blockbuster to Jackson with Legend being knocked to the floor. A top rope forearm gets two on Jackson and an assisted elbow drop gets the same. Jackson gets over to Legend though and a pump kick knocks Sane silly. Cue Piper Niven to pull Jackson outside for the DQ at 11:16.

Rating: C+. The match was just good enough, but the interesting thing here is that WWE seems to actually be pushing the women’s tag division. You can only get so far with the same two or three teams fighting each other over and over so mixing it up a bit is great to see. What matters the most is building up some actual teams for a division with some depth. It will take time but the start is there, which I’ll take more than what they’ve been doing lately.

Post match Chelsea Green is here to help assist Niven with the beatdown.

Cole Custer, a NASCAR driver, arrives and is greeted by Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. OTM interrupts and a match seems likely.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on Karmen Petrovic again but Brinley Reece and Sol Ruca pop in to say she’s not interested. Petrovic doesn’t approve.

Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker

OTM is here with Parker. Paxley starts fast with a rollup for two but Parker sits her on the middle rope for the sitdown splash. Parker sends her flying and cranks on both arms as Lola Vice is watching backstage. Back up and a facebuster gets Paxley out of trouble and something like a modified Angle Slam gets two. Parker flips out of a rollup though and hits a pair of running hip attacks for the pin at 4:17.

Rating: C. Short match here but Parker’s rise continues. She is probably in for a showdown with Lola Vice sooner rather than later and that could be a big step up the ladder. Parker is someone who feels like she could be a player at a higher level in the future and another win like this one is just one more move in the right direction. They kept this quick and to the point, with Parker doing well enough.

Post match Lola Vice has to be held back from Parker. Cue Wendy Choo to kidnap Paxley.

Lexis King asks the No Quarter Catch Crew how he can get some better respect around here. Maybe winning the Heritage Cup can make it happen, so the match is made. Just find a corner man.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier congratulate Je’Von Evans, with Cedric Alexander, on coming close and say he’ll get there someday. Evans slaps Frazier in the face and they have to be held apart. Wes Lee pops in to say he knew someone would get under Evans’ skin eventually.

Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia talk about their friendship on the way to WWE and now they are here to dominate.

Riz has been attacked, with the D’Angelo Family wanting revenge.

Luca Crusifino vs. Oba Femi

Crusifino hits a dropkick and goes after the knee to start but a shoulderbreaker cuts him off. Some knees to the back set up a quickly broken chinlock so Femi knocks him down again. The chokeslam is countered into a Codebreaker but Femi sends him flying. The toss powerbomb finishes for Femi at 3:04.

Rating: C. That’s all it needed to be as Femi gets to smash one of the Family before his rematch with Tony D’Angelo. It’s as logical of a result as you can have and the title match is already looking like it could go either way. He looks like one heck of a monster, though the stipulation gives him enough of an out to lose without being downgraded. That’s smart booking, or he just gets the title back.

Post match Femi lays out the Family, with Tony D’Angelo running down for the save but getting zip tied to the post. With D’Angelo stuck, Femi slams Crusifino onto a ladder.

The woman in red, named Zaria, will be at Halloween Havoc.

Andre Chase talks about how Chase U is about giving people a chance, just like they gave to Ridge Holland. Then Holland turned on them because there are some people who can’t be saved. At Halloween Havoc, they’re having an ambulance match. Makes sense.

Here are Ethan Page and Trick Williams for a face to face chat. Williams is willing to wait for Halloween Havoc to fight, but he thinks Page is desperate. Page talks about how he’s been at this for seventeen years and didn’t have the resources Williams had at his disposal. Williams says he gets it, which is all the proof Page needs to know Williams doesn’t get it. Has Williams ever tasted his own blood and sweat?

Williams is ready to make Page tastes his blood again on Sunday, which Page sees as fake confidence. The match is the Devil’s Playground, which benefits page, because Williams isn’t ready to go through that. Page is ready to take this further than anyone else Williams has faced, but Williams says Page has never pinned him. Page is desperate, but Williams is looking forward to it. This was as good as it could have gotten, but this story still isn’t interesting.

Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade are ready for Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer. Fatal Influence comes in to say they’re ready, with Kelani Jordan coming in to say she’s not so sure. The wheel will be spun tonight.

Sol Ruca vs. Karmen Petrovic

Ruca takes her down to start but Petrovic is back up with some strikes. That’s fine with Ruca, who drops her again and gets in some surfing on the back. A superkick gives Petrovic two but Ruca hits a Codebreaker as we see Ashante Thee Adonis in the crowd with some woman. Petrovic catches her on top with an Iconoclasm but Adonis and said woman distracts Petrovic. The Sol Snatcher gives Ruca the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C. Another short match in a series of them tonight as the Adonis story actually goes somewhere for a change. Having Petrovic fall for him a bit without realizing what he really is could be a nice path to follow, though I’m not sure where it could lead. Any excuse to see the Sol Snatcher is a plus though and that was certainly true here.

Nikkita Lyons gives Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont a pep talk. Oba Femi comes in to give Ruca her jacket, saying she dropped it. Oh dear.

OTM vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

Jaida Parker and Cole Custer are here too and the fight starts on the floor with Walker and Ledger taking over. Meet In The Middle gets two on Nima but it’s off to Price to plant Ledger. That’s broken up and the rolling tag brings in Walker to clean house in short order. A swinging Boss Man Slam gets two on Price as Lola Vice comes out to deck Parker. Custer’s distraction sets up the Collision Course to finish Price a 3:09.

Rating: C. There’s your guest star match of the night and Custer added as much as most guest stars over the years. OTM is still around but hasn’t done anything in a good while, with this match not helping things. At least Vice and Parker got to do something, which should move us closer to their big showdown.

Post match, dancing ensues.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier argue but get a Tag Team Title match with Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander. The champs leave but Lexis King comes in to say he needs a corner man for the Heritage Cup shot. Ava seems to have an idea.

Ridge Holland is ready to hurt Andre Chase.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Tony D’Angelo is ready to hurt Oba Femi.

Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fatal Influence

Giulia knocks Henley into the corner to start and takes her down without much effort. Vaquer comes in to drive Henley’s face into the mat but it’s off to Jayne to take over in the corner. Back up and a dropkick gets Vaquer out of trouble and it’s off to Giulia as everything breaks down. Jazmyn Nyx gets in a cheap shot on the floor and the villains take over as we take a break.

Back with Giulia hitting a basement dropkick to get out of trouble and the big tag bringing in Vaquer to clean house. Everything breaks down and Jayne has to make a save, leaving Giulia and Henley to slug it out. Jayne hits a spinebuster with Vaquer making a save of her own so Nyx gets involved. Cue Kelani Jordan fr the save so Giulia can knee Jayne into a package backbreaker for the pin at 12:13.

Rating: C+. Fatal Influence was little more than cannon fodder for the new monster dream team here and that’s perfectly fine. Giulia and Vaquer are designed to be some great team and I could go for the two of them on some path of destruction for the time being. Perez and Jade are bigger challengers, but I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up about them for Sunday.

Post match, Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade show up for the staredown. Fatal Influence spins the wheel for their match with Jordan and it’s…Spinner’s Choice. Never mind though as Zaria shows up for the debut to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. NXT is getting more and more divided, as the men’s stuff is becoming downright uninteresting while the women’s division is rather entertaining. The latter is keeping the show afloat and thankfully NXT seems to understand what they have there. At the same time, Halloween Havoc is looking more like the big finale to the summer feuds, which were only so good in the first place. Not much of a show here, with the limited positives coming from the women’s side of things.

Results
Meta Four b. Damage CTRL via DQ when Piper Niven interfered
Jaida Parker b. Tatum Paxley – Hip attack
Oba Femi b. Luca Crusifino – Toss powerbomb
Sol Ruca b. Karmen Petrovic – Sol Snatcher
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OTM – Collision Course to Price
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence – Package backbreaker to Jayne

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NXT
Date: October 15, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re back at the home base after a few weeks on the road, meaning it’s time for something big for the home crowd. In this case that means we’ll be seeing the in-ring debut of Stephanie Vaquer as she faces Wren Sinclair. On top of that, the Wheel is back and we get to see some stipulations for next weekend’s Halloween Havoc. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The commentators are in front of the entrance to hype up the show. Nothing wrong with that.

We recap last week.

Here is new North American Champion Tony D’Angelo in the ring at a table with a glass of wine to celebrate his new title. He toasts former champion Oba Femi, who was the longest reigning champion in history, but D’Angelo used Femi’s greatest strength against him. Part of him wants to think this is over, but since it probably isn’t, to Femi, who is here to interrupt. Femi says we’re not done and next time, the Family won’t be around. As he leaves he spins the wheel, which is apparently for their rematch at Halloween Havoc, which will be Tables, Ladders And Scares. Ok then.

We go over the rules of the Gentlemen’s Duel (breaking any of these is a DQ):

• Can’t strike opponent when they have our points of contact on the ground.
• Can’t throw someone over the top and out to the floor.
• 3 count on a rope break instead of 5
• Absolutely no fighting on the floor

Oro Mensah doesn’t know what’s up with Lexis King wanting this match. King comes in and says it’s going to be fair, with Mensah not buying it.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Wren Sinclair

They go to the mat to start with Vaquer getting some early rollups for two each. Sinclair flips over for some Cattle Mutilation, which is quickly broken up. Vaquer kicks her down and hits a running legdrop for two as Sinclair can’t get much going. A dragon screw legwhip out of the corner has Sinclair down again and a double underhook backbreaker finishes her off at 4:41.

Rating: C+. They were mainly going technical here and that’s a fine way to go for the debuting Vaquer. She looked like a killer out there and ran through Sinclair, who is just good enough of a star that she has some value in defeat. Vaquer is going to be something big around here and this was a smart way to start her off.

Post match Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade run in for the beatdown but Giulia makes the save. Vaquer issues the challenge for Halloween Havoc.

Trick Williams is in the back with Kelani Jordan and they’re both ready to find out their next challenges. Fatal Influence watches from the shadows as Jordan still can’t talk.

Karmen Petrovic and Brinley Reece are in the back when Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to try and make amends. Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen don’t approve and they have to be separated. Petrovic seems interested in the torn up flower.

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

Gentlemen’s Duel. They go to the mat to start before locking up to little avail. Mensah slugs away so King drops to all fours, with Mensah having to stop to avoid the DQ. King’s middle rope spinning high crossbody gets two but Mensah is back with his own running crossbody as we take a break.

Back with King hitting a Swanton for two but Mensah sweeps the leg and starts the comeback. They trade uppercuts until Mensah hits a rolling Liger Kick. King tries to go up but gets kicked down again, setting up a springboard kick to the face for two. The running spinwheel kick in the corner misses but Mensah reverses the Coronation into a small package for another near fall. The trade rollups until King bridges back on one for the pin at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Well it was different, but this feud is still not that interesting and yet it just keeps going. King winning clean is a bit of a twist as his face turn continues to be teased, though he’s not quite there yet. I’m not sure where this is going, though I’d hope it’s in some different directions for them as this hasn’t been getting either of them very far.

Cedric Alexander and Je’Von Evans are talking to Axiom and Nathan Frazier when Wes Lee interrupts. Lee doesn’t wan Evans to think that he matters just because he’s in a #1 contenders match. Just stay out of Lee’s way tonight, but Evans doesn’t think much of that one. They argue and have to be separated.

Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend want to take out Damage CTRL and then get the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Video on Nikkita Lyons.

Lola Vice vs. Nikkita Lyons

Vice kicks her down and dances a bit before Lyons does the same. Lyons powers Vice into the corner but misses a charge into the post. Vice takes it to the mat and hammers away, setting up the running hip attack in the corner. Cue Jaida Parker for a distraction, and a running knee, allowing Lyons to hit a Vader Bomb for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C. I know she has star power and the fans seem to like her but I can’t get interested in Lyons. Maybe it’s that she keeps getting injured and disappearing but there is something about her that is a bit offputting. Parker vs. Vince continuing is fine as they can have a big showdown at Halloween Havoc, though I’m not sure what is next for Lyons.

Ava makes Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade for Halloween Havoc but Fatal Influence interrupts. They don’t like matches being handed out like that so Ava makes a tag match for next week instead.

Riley Osborne vs. Ridge Holland

Thea Hail is here with Osborne, who knocks him off the apron before the bell and hits a big running flip dive to the floor. They get inside to officially start with Holland fighting back and hitting a running knee to take over. Osborne fights off the announcers’ table though and hits a running DDT to the floor. Back in and Holland grabs a head and arms superplex to put Osborne right back down. The lifting DDT finishes or Holland at 3:43.

Rating: C+. They started fast here and it made for a good enough match, with Osborne fighting for Chase U but coming up short in the end. This is pretty clearly just Holland clearing out the rest of the team until Andre Chase is back and that’s a logical story to tell. Halloween Havoc would make for a good spot for Chase vs. Holland, and there are no more roadblocks before Chase can come back.

Post match Holland keeps up the beating but Andre Chase is back for the save. Holland is cleared out and Hail is VERY pleased as we get a MR. CHASE chant. So there’s another Havoc match.

We look at Tatum Paxley saving Sol Ruca from Wendy Choo in a dark match last week.

Paxley, with her dolls, isn’t happy with Choo for stabbing her in the back and playing with said dolls. Jaida Parker and OTM (hey they’re still here) interrupt but Paxley actually argues with them for interrupting. Parker says she doesn’t play.

Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen powers him into the corner to start but Adonis is back with a running clothesline. Adonis rakes the eyes and scores with some forearms, only for Jensen to knock him right back down. A missed charge sends Jensen outside, where Adonis takes him down again. Back in and a dropkick hits Jensen but here is Karmen Petrovic to pour out the rose petals from earlier. Oddly that fires Adonis up, at least until Jensen catches him on top and hits a hanging DDT for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Not much time for this one and it was only so much of a story in the first place. Adonis’ ladies man deal is finally starting to go somewhere but it’s still not the most interesting stuff. Jensen and Shawn Spears aren’t much ether, but this is better than Jensen being all weird and wrecking things. I think.

The unnamed woman in red is still coming.

Lexis King leaves and says hi to various wrestlers, including the D’Angelo Family. The family wants to soften up Oba Femi next week.

Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans

For the NXT Title shot at Halloween Havoc. Lee gets superkicked at the bell and Evans sunset flips Page for two. Evans kicks Lee out to the floor and hurricanranas Page in a snazzy sequence. Page drops Evans for a near fall of his own but Lee is back in to take them both down again. They go outside, where Page throws Lee over the announcers’ table, only to get taken out by Evans as we take a break.

Back with Evans missing a charge in the crowd and all three are down. Lee and Evans slug it out until Page hits a powerslam for two on Evans, with Lee making the save. We get the circle strike off and everyone is down again. Page knocks Lee off the top but Evans is right there with a running super Spanish Fly for two more. Ego’s Edge is broken up and Evans’ top rope cutter gets another near fall. Something like a Tower Of Doom is broken up so Evans hits the spinning top rope splash, only for Page to steal the pin at 15:28.

Rating: B-. Yes Page vs. Williams is continuing and I’m not sure I get why either. It’s a feud that has come and gone with Williams getting the definitive win. I guess the idea here is that Williams doesn’t have anyone else to face so they’ll do some gimmick match where Williams can get another win, but dang that’s not exactly exciting.

Post match Page calls out Trick Williams to spin the wheel and it’s….Devil’s Playground. Page drops Williams to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT hasn’t been doing much for me lately, as while it’s technically sound, it’s not exactly intriguing. As has been the case for a good while, the women’s division is far outshining their male counterparts, but even that is only taking them so far. The main event was just decent this week and there was nothing on here that you need to see. Maybe Halloween Havoc boosts it up, but this hasn’t been the most exciting run over the last few months.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Wren Sinclair – Butterfly backbreaker
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Bridging rollup
Nikkita Lyons b. Lola Vice – Vader Bomb
Ridge Holland b. Riley Osborne – Lifting DDT
Brooks Jensen b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Hanging DDT
Ethan Page b. Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee – Rollup to Evans

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

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AND

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NXT
Date: October 8, 2024
Location: The Factory At The District, Chesterfield, Missouri
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the second straight week on the road as we are close enough to St. Louis for a pretty big show. There are two title matches this week, plus Randy Orton will be facing Je’Von Evans, which feels like a way to have the biggest RKO imaginable. Well at least the biggest involving Evans. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of last week’s debut on the CW, including Trick Williams regaining the NXT Title.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He’s excited to become Tricky Two Times (nope) but there are sharks coming for the title. Cue Wes Lee in the crowd, saying he is coming to become a triple crown champion. Williams isn’t impressed, but Lee promises to leave him in the dust “like his father did”. Cue Jey Uso to interrupt and the place goes coconuts. Williams is rather pleased and doesn’t think anyone is coming for them.

Kelani Jordan/Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill vs. Fatal Influence

Everything breaks down fast and Fatal Influence is triple slammed out to the floor so the heroes can pose. Back in and Belair hammers on Henley in the corner before cutting off an interfering Jayne. Cargill comes in for a double hiptoss before press slamming Jordan onto Henley for two. A cheap shot cuts Jordan off though and we take a break.

Back with Jayne missing a Cannonball to Jordan. A belly to back suplex doesn’t work either and it’s Cargill coming in to clean house. House is quickly cleaned and a chokeslam plants Nyx. Cargill hits a Dominator to drop Belair onto Nyx for two as Jayne makes the save. Everything breaks down and Jordan kind of hits a moonsault to take out Henley and Jayne. Belair blocks a running knee from Nyx and faceplants her down. The assisted wheelbarrow suplex sets up One Of A Kind to give Jordan the pin at 12:07.

Rating: C+. This was little more than a way to get Jordan in the ring with some bigger stars and that worked out rather well. What matters the most here is getting Jordan over as a bigger star and having her rub elbows with top names. Fatal Influence is still going to be around and still won’t feel important, but they’re still fine in their current roles.

Nathan Frazier and Axiom argue over whether Je’Von Evans s faster than Frazier, with Randy Orton not caring. Orton says Frazier being kind of a hot head isn’t a bad thing.

Giulia is interrupted by someone we don’t see, but Giulia refers to them as “my old friend”.

Here is Roxanne Perez to laugh about how she is still the Women’s Champion while everyone else is disappointed. Then someone else will be built up and Perez can drink their tears again. Now one of her old friends is back so cue Cora Jade to join her. Jade did not like being forgotten while she was gone so now it’s time to make everyone pay for forgetting her. Even Perez was surprised last week and now it’s time to take care of everyone. Cue Giulia to interrupt, with Stephanie Vaquer joining her. The fight is on and the villains are cleared out, with Vaquer and Giulia holding up the title.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is ready for Vaquer next week and then run into Lexis King, who says Oro Mensah stole a win from him last week. King is thinking of a match where Mensah can’t cheat and wonders if the Crew has an idea. They settle on the idea of a Gentleman’s Duel, with specifics to be specified.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo, with the Family, is challenging. Femi powers him around to start and grabs a headlock to grind away. D’Angelo fights up and hits a clothesline to the floor, where Femi plants him hard onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Femi bending D’Angelo’s back over his knee but D’Angelo powers his way out.

A Cactus Clothesline puts both of the on the floor, where Femi goes after the family. That doesn’t work for D’Angelo, who suplexes Femi onto the ramp for the big crash. Back in and D’Angelo plants him down for two, only to walk into a chokeslam for an even nearer two. Some clotheslines miss for Femi though and D’Angelo rolls some German suplexes.

Femi throws him right back down though and they both need a breather. A middle rope elbow sends D’Angelo outside again, where he spinebusters Femi through the announcers’ table. Back in and another spinebuster gives D’Angelo a very near fall so Femi grabs him by the throat. Another chokeslam is countered into a sunset flip to give D’Angelo the pin and the title at 13:59.

Rating: B. These two have chemistry together but dang that’s a bold move to have anyone go over Femi clean. D’Angelo got a big reaction for the win and I like the idea of him having a big moment, but Femi has felt like an absolute beast and then he loses here. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Femi on the main roster sooner than later, but him coming after the NXT Title would certainly be in the cards as well.

The big celebration is on as Femi looks rather surprised.

Last week, Lola Vice and Jaida Parker argued after their tag match.

Vice demands Ava give Parker a match but Nikkita Lyons interrupts. Vice isn’t impressed and a match seems likely.

Tag Team Titles: A-Town Down Under vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Axiom and Frazier are defending. Frazier and Waller start things off with the champs taking over early on. Everything breaks down and Waller is sent outside, only for Theory to knock Axiom outside as well. We take a break and come back with Axiom in trouble but Frazier gets in a forearm to Waller on the outside. Axiom knocks Theory down though and hits a top rope splash, allowing the tag back to Frazier. The pace picks up and a double DDT plants the challenges.

Everything breaks down and Theory hits a spinning faceplant for two on Frazier. Axiom pulls Waller into a rear naked choke and Frazier guillotines Theory at the same time. Theory muscles his way out and drops Frazier onto the other two for the save. The villains almost collide but Axiom hits the Golden Ratio on Theory. A Canadian Destroyer knocks Waller silly, setting up the phoenix splash to retain the titles at 11:18.

Rating: B-. Another nice match here, even with Frazier and Axiom’s issues continuing. I’m not sure if or when they’re going to split but it’s kind of gotten to the point where it wouldn’t make sense for them to break up. They still need some new challengers from NXT though, as this was a pretty short term set of imports.

Video on Ridge Holland being ready to destroy Chase U.

Holland is glad about what he has done but Riley Osborne runs in for the brawl.

Sexxy Red performs until Ethan Page interrupts. This place has fallen apart since he lost the title, including a wannabe concert. Cue Je’Von Evans to clear Page out.

A woman in red is coming, with something of a Walking Dead style vignette.

Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans

Feeling out process to start as the fans are rather pleased to have Orton here. Orton works on the arm before knocking Evans’ springboard out of the air (with a little finger wag for some flavor). Evans gets in a shot of his own though and Orton is knocked outside as we take a break.

Back with Evans’ dive being cut off, setting up a heck of a drop onto the announcers’ table. Orton does stop to fix the table and offers an apology…then drops Evans three more times. Back in and Evans manages to hit a springboard clothesline and strikes Orton down for two. A springboard cutter is blocked though and Orton snaps off the powerslam (more a belly to belly this time) for two.

Evans kicks him down again and now the huge top rope cutter gets two. Evans goes up and tries something, only to dive…well not into but next to the RKO, which didn’t come close (to be fair, it was a hard one to pull off). Thankfully Orton hits a regular one for the pin at 10:56.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a match built around who was going to win, but rather about what kind of things Evans could do before losing to the RKO. They did botch the ending sequence, but it was a rather complicated setup and thankfully they didn’t panic and just did something simple to end it. Evans got in some good stuff here before the only realistic ending and that’s fine.

Orton shows respect.

Ava makes a #1 contenders match between Ethan Page, Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans, with the winner getting the title shot at Halloween Havoc.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT has only done so much since coming over to the CW, as the shows have been built as a big deal but have only done so much. This week felt a bit less interesting than last week, but now things can start getting going towards Halloween Havoc as they head back to Full Sail. Good enough show this week, but only Femi vs. D’Angelo is worth a look.

Results
Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill/Kelani Jordan b. Fatal Influence – One Of A Kind to Nyx
Tony D’Angelo b. Oba Femi – Rollup
Nathan Frazier/Axiom b. A-Town Down Under – Phoenix splash to Waller
Randy Orton b. Je’Von Evans – RKO

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.