NXT
Date: September 23, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s time to finalize everything for No Mercy, which is taking place this weekend. In this case we have the winner take all World Title match as NXT Champion Oba Femi faces TNA World Champion Trick Williams. That does not have the rest of the TNA roster happy and they might be getting involved as a result. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a Homecoming recap.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King

Lights Out (meaning wacky lighting) and anything goes. Borne jumps King during his entrance and we’re starting fast. The trashcan and chair are thrown inside and Borne drops him with a few chair shots. King is back up to put Borne in the chair for a running knee, followed by a knee to the ribs. A suplex onto the chair gets two and we hit a crossarm choke on Borne. King sends him into the corner and kicks away as the dark lighting is already getting annoying.

Borne comes back with a powerslam and we take a break. We come back with King throwing in a table but Borne cuts him off with some belt whipping to the back. Borne catapults him into a chair in the corner but King is right back up and tries to Pillmanize the necks. That doesn’t work either and a spear sends King crashing through the barricade. King superkicks his way out of trouble but a DDT puts him onto the steps. Borne Again through a table gives Borne the pin at 11:48.

Rating: C+. The violence was fine and I liked seeing Borne win, or at least I thought I did as you could barely see a lot of this. The whole Lights Out deal can be added without actually darkening the arena but I guess they wanted to go a bit more literal. I’m not sure what is next for King, but it’s not exactly working well for him at the moment.

Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are in charge tonight since Ava isn’t here. Ava is on the phone but the reception cuts out before she can say if she invited some TNA wrestlers.

Ethan Page is walking through the back when Miles Borne looks at his title. TNA’s Mance Warner and Steph de Lander are behind him but Page doesn’t seem to notice.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat. First, he acknowledges AAA’s El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and invites him to No Mercy. Wagner gets up and goes to the ring, with Page saying get a referee in here. That’s exactly what happens and Wagner makes him tap to an ankle lock in about ten seconds, though the bell never rang so I don’t think it really counts. Wagner holds up the title…and unmasks as Tavion Heights in a nice moment.

Earlier today, Jordynne Grace didn’t think much of Arianna Grace being less than serious and a match was made for later.

Speed Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Lainey Reid vs. Candice LeRae

A NASCAR driver is the ring announcer. LeRae kicks her down to start but misses an early Lionsault as TNA’s Angel Warriors arrive in the back. Reid knocks her out to the apron but can’t get a suplex. Instead LeRae sends her outside and hits a springboard spinning crossbody. Back in and LeRae’s Gargano Escape is countered into a rollup for two and they trade some near falls. Reid knocks her silly with a knee to the face for the pin at 2:26.

Jaida Parker doesn’t like Lash Legend and says she can hit harder, talk louder and look better. A rematch is suggested.

Lyra Valkyria meets up with Tatum Paxley again and talks about friends possibly being strange. Paxley says nothing is ever Valkyria’s fault, with Valkyria saying she’s glad that Paxley is weird, but consistently weird. Izzi Dame comes in to say Valkyria will drop Paxley again. Of note: more TNA wrestlers were walking around behind them, with Hank & Tank following.

Chase U apologizes to the banged up Andre Chase but Chase says it’s ok. He brings in some NASCAR drivers, who tease summoning Joe Hendry. Darkstate comes in and doesn’t think much of Hendry…who has taken over the body of one of the drivers. Either way, a six man tag is set up.

Jordynne Grace vs. Arianna Grace

Arianna gets in a quick cheap shot to start but Jordynne unloads with forearms in the corner. A quick knockdown lets Arianna hit a splash, only to miss an elbow drop. Jordynne sends her into the corner a few times, followed by some clotheslines. The spinebuster into a spinning torture rack bomb finishes for Jordynne at 2:50.

Post match Stacks of all people pops up to check on Arianna but here is Blake Monroe with a trashcan full of weapons. Jordynne grabs a chair and the fight is on, with security breaking it up. The bosses come out to make a weapons cage match for No Mercy.

Lainey Reid is ready to beat Sol Ruca but Fatal Influence pops in. Jacy Jayne praises Reid but says she can handle Lola Vice by herself. The rest of the team isn’t convinced.

Here is Jayne to talk about how she’s been champion for over 100 days, like it or not. She has gotten rid of the labels people have put on her, like transitional champion. Now people are expecting LOLA VICE is going to take the title from her? Sure Vice has a million Instagram followers but she’s not ready to take the title. Jayne already shocked the world and she’s the underdog again because no one believes in her.

No one is going to ruin this for her and here is Vice to interrupt. After talking about various curves she has that Jayne doesn’t, Vice talks about growing up over the last year and being ready to win the title. At No Mercy, Vice will show no mercy but Jayne mocks Vice for wanting her family to be proud. Jayne promises to retain the title, even if it means a broken nose or jaw. Vice knocks her cold with a spinning backfist (Jayne sold that like death).

Josh Briggs is tired of being told he can’t connect with people so he’s finally giving up on doing anything but hurting people. Like Je’Von Evans at No Mercy.

Darkstate vs. Joe Hendry/Chase U

Darkstate jumps them during Hendry’s entrance until Shugars and Connors start things off. Connors ducks around Lennox and hands it off to Dixon to take over. A clothesline gets two on Lennox and it’s off to Hendry to keep the hot crowd warm. Hendry’s suplex is cut off and everything breaks down with Dixon hitting a big flip dive to the floor. Hendry and company pose and we take a break.

We come back with Dixon in trouble, with James dropping him onto the buckle so Lennox can clothesline him for two. We cut to the back where TNA’s Mike Santana is arriving and everything breaks down again. That settles back down to Dixon fighting out of the corner and bringing Hendry in to clean house. A suplex cuts Lennox off and it’s back to Connors, who manages to kick down some of the villains. Griffin and Lennox are sent into each other but a knee to the face drops Connors. The toss powerbomb finishes for Shugars at 11:39.

Rating: B-. I was expecting a squash here but Chase U managed to do a good bit better than usual, which made it a nice surprise. You’re only going to get so much out of a match with one of the lowest level teams against the champs but Chase U was working hard. I’m still not sure how much of a future they have, though they were certainly trying here.

Ricky Saints has gone back to New Orleans, in a place where his childhood home was…before the storm took it away. He’s proud to be the one who made it and he had to, because he didn’t have another choice. The reality is he believed in himself because there was no one else to believe in him. He’s back in New Orleans because it represents everything he’s done to get here. Saturday isn’t just about winning the NXT Title, but also about proving that he has gotten where he wanted to go. Good stuff here, though the Lola Vice version a few weeks ago was better.

No Mercy rundown.

Je’Von Evans knows Josh Briggs is talking about him but…and we pause because Jazmyn Nyx has been attacked. Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley don’t think much of it.

TNA World Title/NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Oba Femi

Title for title. Femi tries an early Fall From Grace but Williams slips out and jumps over him for another standoff. More power has Williams in trouble, with one shot sending him to the floor. Williams manages to pull him onto the apron as we see various TNA wrestlers watching in the crowd.

Cue Mike Santana (set to challenge Williams at Bound For Glory, the biggest TNA event of the year, next month) to join commentary as we take a break. We come back with Williams hitting a slam…and Matt Cardona is in the crowd (that gets the fans’ attention). Femi gets fired up and hits a spinebuster, followed by a flying shoulder.

A Big Ending gives Femi two so Williams kicks him in the face for the same. Back up and Femi sends him flying but the Fall From Grace is countered into a rollup for two. The second attempt at the Fall From Grace gives Femi two as more TNA wrestlers are shown. Williams and Femi slug it out and head outside with Williams going after Santana, who slaps him back for the DQ at 11:51.

Rating: B-. They were starting to cook near the end, but NXT all but guaranteed that this was going to end with someone from TNA getting involved for the DQ to avoid a title change. It was a bit of a weird way to go, but Femi vs. Williams is the kind of a match that can be saved for a big moment later on. What we got was good, but it was basically just waiting for the interference ending.

Post the TNA wrestlers and NXT locker room run in for the big brawl. Ricky Saints grabs the NXT Title, but Oba Femi grabs it as well so the staredown can end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The ending of the main event was the weakest part of the show but the rest worked pretty well. What matters the most is the fact that they made No Mercy look a lot better. The show got some good build and I’m more interested in what they have coming up this weekend than I was coming in. Good show here and one of the better NXT’s in a while.

Results
Myles Borne b. Lexis King – Borne Again through a table
Lainey Reid b. Candice LeRae – Knee to the face
Jordynne Grace b. Arianna Grace – Spinning torture rack bomb
Darkstate b. Chase U/Joe Hendry – Toss powerbomb to Connors
Trick Williams b. Oba Femi via DQ when Mike Santana interfered

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

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NXT
Date: July 29, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re just under a month away from Heatwave and that means it is time to start putting the show together. We already have a few hints at what to expect, which very well may include Trick Williams defending the TNA World Title. Odds are we get a bit more of the card announced this week so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a ten bell salute to Hulk Hogan and the tribute video from this week’s Raw.

Long recap of last week in Houston.

Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx

The rest of Fatal Influence is here with Nyx. Parker gets kicked down to start but blocks a kick to the face. Back up and Parker sends her into the corner and shouts down at Fatal Influence, allowing Nyx to get in a shot of her own. Something like a standing Last Chancery has Parker in trouble, which doesn’t last long as they’re back up for the slugout. Parker hits a Samoan drop, followed by a quick Hipnotique for the pin at 4:11.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time to work here but it was nice to see Parker getting a win. She might be on the way towards the title picture and that is not a bad idea. Parker has all of the charisma she could ever need but it’s going to take some success in the ring to make that happen.

Je’Von Evans runs into High Ryze, who don’t impress him. After that, Evans runs into Chase U, with Andre Chase telling the team to go after the big dogs. Evans is going to do the same right now.

Here is Evans in the arena for a chat. A Hall of Famer told him to go after the biggest dog so let’s do this. Cue Trick Williams, who says the big dog is here. Williams says Evans should watch who he talks to, with Evans bringing up the chokeslam from Undertaker last week. Evans was actually talking about Oba Femi, which doesn’t mean much to Williams. Cue the High Ryze, who says Williams is on a different level from Evans. Lee doesn’t think Evans is making a smart move but Evans tries fighting all of them anyway. The brawl is on and Evans is quickly beaten down.

Chase U goes after Hank & Tank…but can’t decide if it’s 1-2-3 go or go on 3. The result is a standoff, with Hank & Tank giving them the match anyway. Andre Chase comes in and says that’s not what he meant.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights

If Heights wins, he’s out of the No Quarter Catch crew. Heights takes him down a few times to start but Dempsey is back with an armbar. We get a random Joe Hendry shot (I’m assuming that was a glitch) before Heights is back up with a quick leg trip into a headlock takeover. Back up and they collide with stereo crossbodies and we take a break.

We come back with Heights suplexing his way out of trouble. They go outside where Dempsey starts going after the leg, setting up a half crab back inside. Heights rolls out and gets two off a small package, followed by a Death Valley Driver for two more. The belly to belly gives Heights the win at 10:11.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure why it took three weeks to get there but at least Heights is free of the team and he did it with a clean win. Now all that matters is that they do something with him now that he’s out of the team. There is always room for an Olympic wrestler who can do well enough in the ring so see what he can do after a bigger win.

Santino Marella comes in to see Trick Williams and the High Ryze. Marella tells Williams to not get too comfortable with the TNA World Title because it’s coming home soon.

Here is Blake Monroe for a chat. After getting on Booker T. for getting her name wrong, Monroe moves on to Jordynne Grace. Monroe has seen protein shakes with more personality than Grace and we see various shots of Grace looking as “gym material” rather than “championship material”.

On the other hand, Monroe has star power but here is Lola Vice to interrupt. She doesn’t understand how Monroe can be so beautiful on the outside but so ugly on the inside. Vince made a moment by dancing with Nikki Bella at Evolution…and here is Jaida Parker to interrupt. Parker doesn’t need anyone else to make her into a star but here is Kelani Jordan to interrupt. Jordan doesn’t like Monroe, who challengers her to a match next week. Vice and Jordan clear the ring in a hurry.

Tatum Paxley tells Izzi Dame that she wants to challenge Sol Ruca. Dame isn’t sure but the rest of the Culling comes in to say Paxley is indeed getting the title shot. With the team gone, Luca Crusifino pops in to say no family lasts forever.

Lash Legend is ready to beat up Fallon Henley and go after the Women’s Title.

Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley

The rest of Fatal Influence is here and Henley backs behind Legend for some early posing. Legend hammers away in the corner and drops down onto Henley’s back. Henley sends her throat first into the ropes and stomps away for two. We get another Hendry glimpse so the glitch theory seems to be wrong. A springboard bulldog into a hurricanrana have Legend down but she’s right back with a fall away slam. Legend goes outside and beats up the rest of the team…but gets dropped by Nia Jax of all people. Back in and Henley hits her Fameasser for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what to think of that, but I’m glad Henley didn’t take another fall. At the same time, Legend looks to be getting into a bigger feud, which might be her path up to the main roster. Legend was a star in the Evolution battle royal against the main roster talent and it’s great to see her possibly getting the chance to do it again.

Post match Jax gives Legend the Annihilator.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura have to be held apart. Stacks comes in and doesn’t think much of Inamura, who is ready to face him next week.

Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of High Ryze is here and Trick Williams is on commentary. Evans dives onto Lee to start the brawl in the aisle and they head inside for the opening bell. A springboard high crossbody hits Lee for two but he gets in a knockdown of his own. Lee strikes away until a chop drops him in a hurry. Back up and Lee sends him into the corner for a trip out to the floor, setting up the big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with Lee holding a front chancery. That’s broken up and Evans kicks him in the head, followed by a German suplex. Some kicks to the face, including the springboard variety, give Evans two but Lee knocks him back as well. A brainbuster gives Lee two but Evans ties him in the Tree Of Woe. Evans flips into a Coast To Coast for two, only for the High Ryze to offer a distraction. One heck of a no hands dive takes them out but Lee hits the Cardiac Kick…for two, as Evans’ foot is in the ropes. Evans is back up with a jumping cutter, followed by the top rope cutter for the pin at 13:03.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a match, with Evans getting to look like a star. He not only beat a former long term champion but he took out Lee’s goons on the way there. That’s a good way to give Evans a nice rub and it looks like he’s going after some gold of his own. Evans can wrestle that fast paced style very well and it worked well here, especially with an opponent like Lee.

Post match Evans and Williams have a staredown but Oba Femi pops up on the platform for the three way staredown.

We get a sitdown interview with Myles Borne, who talks about his health issues as a baby which led to him losing 90% of his hearing. Communication isn’t easy for him but he knows how to read lips and use non-verbal cues. Now he’s blocking out people like Lexis King.

Ava’s assistants update her on Ricky Saints’ and Jordynne Grace’s health issues. Lexis King comes in to call Myles Borne a phony. Ava makes Borne vs. King for next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Nia Jax interrupts Fatal Influence’s interview and says that’s what Lash Legend gets when she messes with the most dominant force in WWE. Legend just doesn’t measure up.

North American Title: Santino Marella vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending. Marella wrestles him down to the mat to start and gets some early near falls. Page fights back as we get another Joe Hendry blip. Another rollup gives Marella two and Page bails to the floor, where he takes Marella down. A big boot drops Marella again and a neckbreaker gives Page two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as Marella lifts him up into an airplane spin. The Twisted Grin is countered into a Stunner and the saluting elbow gives Marella two. Page’s kick to the head gets two more but a top rope splash hits raised knees. Marella sends him outside for a slingshot dive but Page uses the referee to avoid the Cobra. That lets Page grab the Twisted Grin to retain at 7:01.

Rating: C. Well that’s a sigh of relief. The match was about all you’re going to get out of Marella, who thankfully did nothing but play the hits here. Page gets to beat a popular star and NXT gets a win over someone from TNA. That’s all this needed to be, even if it doesn’t feel like the biggest main event.

Tony D’Angelo is dining alone at his restaurant, where he tells the server to call him Tony rather than Don…but someone we can’t see is behind him to end the show. That could be interesting.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t the biggest show but they seem to be planting the seeds for some things down the line. That includes Evans getting a choice to go after one of the two top titles and the ending, which could go in a few ways. Next week should be the build towards Heatwave, as they’re only going to have so many weeks left to get ready. Not a bad show this week, but it didn’t feel like their biggest offering.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Hipnotique
Tavion Heights b. Charlie Dempsey – Belly to belly
Fallon Henley b. Lash Legend – Fameasser
Je’Von Evans b. Wes Lee – Top rope cutter
Ethan Page b. Santino Marella – Twisted Grin

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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Impact Wrestling
Date: April 17, 2025
Location: St. Joseph Civic Arena, St. Joseph, Missouri
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s a special night for the company as not only do we have the usual Impact Wrestling, but the show will be followed by Unbreakable. That means tonight is a big preview for that show, but it is also one of the last shows before Rebellion. In other words, it’s going to be a packed night and TNA has a lot to cover. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Laredo vs. Jason Hotch

Tasha Steelz is here with Hotch and Laredo is no longer a kid. A wristdrag takes Hotch down but Steelz offers a distraction, allowing Hotch to get in a shot from the floor. Back in and Hotch strikes away but gets sent into the corner. A neckbreaker and missile dropkick have Hotch down on the floor and of course Laredo hits a dive. Laredo nails a twisting senton but gets caught with a Mustafa Ali rolling neckbreaker for two. They go up, where Laredo hits a super powerslam for two more, only to walk into a swinging backbreaker. Hotch goes up again but gets caught in a super Spanish Fly for the pin at 6:06.

Rating: C+. Laredo is a good choice to open the show as he wrestles a nice, fast paced style that works well with anyone. Hotch is talented as well and you could put him in there with Laredo for a fine outing. That’s what we got here, as TNA has a good record of starting off shows well.

Leon Slater is ready for Brian Myers tonight but he still wants to become the youngest X-Division Title.

Cody Deaner is trying to get Santino Marella to extend his contract so he gets an Ultimate X qualifying match.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Xia Brookside

The rest of Fatal Influence is here with Nyx and Brookside has Lei Ying Lee. Nyx takes her down with a headscissors to start but gets rolled up for some near falls. A running dropkick rocks Nyx again but she kicks Brookside in the chest for two. Brookside gets bulldogged into the corner for one and we hit the chinlock.

Back up and they trade kicks to the head for a double down, followed by a slugout. Nyx hits a leg lariat for two but Brookside is back with a middle rope crossbody for the same. The seconds get into it so here is Rosemary to mist Jacy Jayne. Brookside is confused but manages to small package Nyx for the pin at 7:48.

Rating: C+. Brookside continues to be someone who could do something if she was given the chance, but right now it seems like she might be destined to team with Rosemary and go after the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. That’s not exactly a career breakthrough, but it’s better than sitting around in the midcard loop forever. Fatal Influence are still useful around here as they are NXT stars TNA wrestlers can beat and it’s working well enough.

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: KC Navarro vs. Cody Deaner

Deaner says he has to win to keep his job but Navarro doesn’t want to hear it. He offers Deaner a chance to leave but the people tell Deaner to wrestle. Deaner punches him in the face and they start fast with some right hands in the corner leaving Navarro in trouble. A shot to the face gives Navarro two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Deaner grabs an airplane spin into a TKO for two. With nothing else working, Navarro whips out a chain and knocks Deaner cold for the pin at 3:56.

Rating: C. For the life of me I do not get the appeal of Deaner. The people’s choice deal is fine enough for someone but could they use it on someone a bit more interesting? Navarro is in a better place at the moment and he’ll be fine in Ultimate X, but right now his bigger appeal is that he’s not Cody Deaner.

Post break Navarro is very fired up about his win and is ready to be X-Division Champion.

We look at Maggie Lee beating Savannah Evans on Xplosion, albeit with some help from the Personal Concierge.

Lee thinks there is a lot going on at the moment but she isn’t changing for anyone.

The Personal Concierge is here with Maggie Lee, who is an official project of Elegance. Therefore, tonight she has a special partner.

Maggie Lee/Heather By Elegance vs. Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley

Dolin rolls Lee up to start and gets dropkicked against the ropes for two. Lee fights back but Heather isn’t interested in a tag. Some double teaming has Lee in trouble so the Concierge offers a distraction, allowing an assisted hot shot to drop Dolin for two. A few running shots in the corner get two and Heather chokes away for another near fall. Dolin fights up and brings Paxley back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and the Cemetery Driver finishes Heather at 4:42.

Rating: C. As usual, the Knockouts Title division is rather good but the Knockouts tag division just comes and goes without getting much of anywhere. That’s what we had here as neither the action nor the story are very interesting. The division hasn’t been very interesting in a long time now and this was another example of a match where nothing really changed.

Post break Heather is panicking so here are Meta Four, Spitfire and Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley. They all want a title shot, so Heather snaps and says yes to all of them.

We get a special look at the Unbreakable triple threat from 2005. To be fair, it’s so fondly remembered for a reason. We see the last few minutes of the match as well.

AJ Francis is ready to win the International Title.

Joe Hendry and Masha Slamovich are ready for Unbreakable.

Dani Luna vs. Jakara Jackson

Jody Threat and Lash Legend are here too. They fight over a lockup to start with Luna powering out of a headlock and shouldering her down. Legend gets in a cheap shot and that’s good for a quick ejection. Back in and Jackson’s chinlock doesn’t last long as Luna powers her down, setting up the clothesline comeback. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Luna two and Jackson’s tornado DDT gets the same. Luna grabs a quick Luna Landing for the pin at 7:05.

Rating: C. Another match without much to see here and that’s part of the problem with Spitfire. There’s nothing to them that really makes them feel interesting and that has been the case for a long time now. They just don’t do anything that makes them stand out and having them beat guest stars from NXT isn’t changing that reality.

Here is Elijah for a song. Elijah sings about how we walk this way in TNA and how he wants some barbecue after the show. Then he switches to talking and issues an open challenge for Rebellion. My goodness I am sick of open challenges.

Unbreakable rundown.

Ethan page is ready to win the TNA Title at Rebellion because Joe Hendry is banged up and he’s better than Frankie Kazarian.

Leon Slater vs. Brian Myers

Slater starts fast but gets punched in the face to knock him into the corner. A bouncing kick to the face knocks Myers to the floor but it’s too early for the big dive over the post. Instead Myers sends him into the post and we take a break. Back with Myers taking him down again and grabbing a chinlock.

That’s broken up in a hurry and Slater hits a running boot to the face, followed by the Crossover for two. Myers charges into another boot to the face of two but he’s right back with an implant DDT. Slater is back up to send Myers outside for the big running flip dive. That’s too much for Myers so he loads up the System ring, which is taken away, allowing him to hit Slater low. The Roster Cut gives Myers the pin at 11:38.

Rating: C+. Slater continues to be in that weird place where he needs to win something already or all of his athleticism and skills won’t matter very much. If he can’t beat Myers, whose job is pretty much to boost up bigger names, who is he supposed to beat? I’m not sure I get this one as it’s not like anything was on the line, so why not let Slater get a win?

One more Unbreakable rundown wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C+. The show was ok enough and did a decent job of hyping up Unbreakable, but nothing right now is really grabbing me. Maybe that’s because Rebellion is just over a week away and that’s the really big show, but there is something missing from the last few weeks in TNA. They’re going to need to fix that for their big events, as this was just slightly above a middle of the road show.

Results
Laredo b. Jason Hotch – Super Spanish Fly
Xia Brookside b. Jazmyn Nyx – Small package
KC Navarro b. Cody Deaner – Chain to the head
Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley b. Maggie Lee/Heather By Elegance – Cemetery Driver to Heather
Dani Luna b. Jakara Jackson – Luna Landing
Brian Myers b. Leon Slater – Roster Cut

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: April 8, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, Booker T.

We are less than two weeks away from Stand & Deliver and this week’s show is going to be focused on the main event. In this case we have a six man tag between the three people involved in the Stand & Deliver main event and the debuting Dark State. That could go in a variety of ways so let’s get to it.

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

Stephanie Vaquer will announce her opponent for Stand & Deliver after this match.

Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker

Stephanie Vaquer is on commentary. They get in a fight to start and head outside for some rams into the apron. Back in and Grace hits a Death Valley Driver for two before heading out to the apron. Neither can drop the other so Parker hits a TKO onto the top rope. A Blockbuster gives Parker two and she sits on Grace in the corner (setting up that high step, which is an awesome signature taunt).

We take a break and come back with Parker blocking a sunset bomb but getting caught in….well Grace loaded her up for a Tombstone but flipped her backwards onto her back (that was cool). Grace drops her face first onto the turnbuckle and gets two off a neckbreaker. The Juggernaut Driver is blocked so Grace sends her to the floor, where a suicide dive doesn’t work as her foot gets caught in the ropes. Thankfully she’s ok as Parker slaps Vaquer, who swings and hits Grace by mistake. That’s enough for the referee to throw it out at 10:03.

Rating: B-. As much as I like both of them, my goodness I do not want another triple threat over Wrestlemania Weekend. They are hammering those things into the ground this year and that’s where it seems we’re going with this one too. Parker continues to feel like a star and if she can back it up in the ring, they have something special with her. Grace isn’t exactly bad either, but please don’t just throw them both in there with Vaquer.

Post match the brawl stays on but Giulia makes her return and helps Vaquer clear the ring. Then Giulia lays out Vaquer and holds up the title. Vaquer never announcers her challenger.

We look back at Ricky Saints winning the North American Title last week in a star making performance, only to be taken out by Ethan Page after the match.

Swipe Right interrupt Hank & Tank and offer them advice after their match tonight. Hank: “We’re not that desperate…are we?” Tank: “No Hank.”

The Culling wants the North American Title back but Shawn Spears says he is happy with what he did and it’s time for the rest of the team to succeed.

Fraxiom vs. Swipe Right

Non-title and Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes) are the heel pretty boy team from Evolve. Smokes dropkicks Axiom off the apron to start and Baylor comes in for a Hennig necksnap on Frazer. Back up and Axiom helps clear the ring, with Fraxiom hitting stereo dives to the floor. Axiom hammers away on Baylor in the corner but Smokes comes in off a blind tag and hits a spear.

A springboard X Factor gives Baylor two as Graves busts out a Julius Smokes reference for your obscure independent wrestling name drop of the week. Frazer comes back in and hits a running shooting star press but gets kneed in the face. An assisted swinging double underhook neckbreaker drops Frazer but Axiom is back in to clean house. The super Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash finishes Smokes at 5:12.

Rating: B-. For a pair of rookies who are from the most minor of minor league shows, Swipe Right looked pretty good in there against one of the best teams going today. This was a rather nice performance from the newcomers and while they might not be ready to move up, they certainly made a nice first impression. That’s a good thing to see, though I’m almost worried about who is coming for the titles next.

Fatal Influence bickers over who will get the Women’s North American Title.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Sol Ruca vs. Jazmyn Nyx

The rest of Fatal Influence and Zaria are here too. Ruca starts fast by fighting out of a headlock and sending her into the corner. A suplex into something like a moonsault Meteora gives Ruca two but a springboard splash hits raised boots. Nyx stomps away and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two. A running knee gives Nyx two more but Ruca is back with a spinning belly to back faceplant. Ruca’s running knee gets two but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Nyx to kick Ruca in the face for two. Back up and the Sol Snatcher finishes Nyx at 5:04.

Rating: C+. Fatal Influence is starting to fall apart and that isn’t the best sign for their future. Other than that, Ruca moving on is a good idea to go with, as having her hit the Sol Snatcher off a ladder should be fun. I’m not sure if she’s going to win the title, but it’s nice to see her getting a win in a match that matters in some way.

Je’Von Evans is coming for the NXT Title but tonight, he’s taking out Dark State.

Giulia wants a rematch with Stephanie Vaquer at Stand & Deliver.

Culling vs. Hank & Tank

Hank & Tank start fast to clean house until we settle down with Tank working on Jensen’s arm. Vance breaks it up though and Jensen comes back with a neckbreaker for two. Tank fights out of the chinlock and Hank gets the tag to fight back. Everything breaks down though and Vance sends Hank into the barricade. Hank is right back up and misses a Swanton, setting up a top rope knee/Dominator combination to give Vance the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. Not much to see here but the point was giving the Culling a win. Hank & Tank are flailing, which very well could lead to something changing for them in the near future. Other than that, neither of these teams feel like they’re coming for the Tag Team Titles, but that didn’t seem to be the goal here anyway.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints appreciates the reception and says the revolution will be televised again. He’s happy with his win but he’s not pleased with Ethan Page. Saints gets that Page isn’t ok with someone showing him up so get out here right now. Instead it’s Lexis King, who says he loves gold…and here is Eddy Thorpe to interrupt.

Thorpe wants a title, and it should be the one that represents the land stolen from his people. Cue Wes Lee, who says he was the best champion the title has ever seen so the conversation starts with him. Starks is ready for any of them but here is Page to drop him. The four challengers get in a brawl and Lee hits a big flip dive to take them out.

Ava, Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are in the back when Stephanie Vaquer comes in. She wants to face everyone at Stand & Deliver, so it’s a four way with Giulia, Jordynne Grace and Jaida Parker. As they somehow get bigger than a triple threat.

Trick Williams is ready to get the NXT Title back and he’s not sweating Dark State.

Wes Lee vs. Yoshiki Inamura

Tyson DuPont, Tyriek Igwe and Josh Briggs are here too. Lee kicks him in the face to start fast but gets dropped with a running shoulder. Some choking on the ropes has Inamura down again but it’s too early for a 450. Inamura strikes away in the corner and muscles him up for a fisherman’s suplex. Lee fights up and takes out Briggs but Inamura pulls him out of the air for a spinning slam. Briggs goes after DuPont though and Lee hits the Cardiac Kick for the pin at 3:54.

Rating: C+. Neither of these two have much going on at the moment but Lee could at least be in the running for the North American Title shot. I still don’t get the appeal of Inamura, who hasn’t done much in his time around here and has only had some flashes of interest. Maybe that changes in the future but for now, he’s just kind of there without doing much.

Oba Femi is ready to wreck Dark State and keep his title at Stand & Deliver.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Izzi Dame vs. Wren Sinclair

The Culling and the No Quarter Catch Crew are here too. Dame drives her into the corner to start so Sinclair grabs a wristlock. A rollup gives Sinclair two but the octopus is broken up rather quickly. Dame hits a clothesline and hammers away, setting up a crossface chickenwing. Sinclair fights up and hits some clotheslines for two, followed by a crucifix for the same. Back up and Dame grabs a Sky High for the quick pin at 4:28.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, with Dame being another name without much chance to win, though it would be a nice surprise. The Culling is having a good night here and that’s a nice thing to see, as the team is at least getting a chance. Sinclair is still good in the ring but she isn’t exactly doing much lately, which is another annoying thing to see.

A bunch of women are in Ava’s office and she announces a last chance qualifying match for the Women’s North American title match.

Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon finally get Andre Chase to agree to help them. Hank & Tank come in but run into the Street Profits, who tell them to be themselves. The Profits want them in next week’s gauntlet match for a Tag Team Title shot at Stand & Deliver.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Dark State vs. Je’Von Evans/Oba Femi/Trick Williams

Dark State charges the ring and the fight is on, with Dion Lennox starting against Oba Femi. Lennox sends him into the corner so Cutler James can come in for a clothesline. Williams comes in to go after Saquon Shugars, who pulls him down by the hair. A jumping neckbreaker hits Shugars but James comes in for a sleeper on Williams.

James slams him down but gets hit with a heck of a backdrop. Williams chops away at Shugars in the corner and hands it off to Evans, who snaps off a hurricanrana. Everything breaks down and Dark State is knocked to the floor, giving us a standoff as we take a break. Back with Evans hitting a springboard high crossbody on Shugars but Cutler comes in with a clothesline.

Lennox grabs a chinlock and the villains take turns beating on Evans. An elbow misses though and Evans hits an enziguri, allowing the tag off to Femi. House is cleaned until Shugars is tossed Williams, meaning the brawl is on. Evans hits a frog splash for two on Lennox as Williams and Femi fight up the aisle. A triple bomb, with Shugars diving off the top to put Evans down (cool) is good for the pin at 13:33.

Rating: B. For a team of people who came from pretty much nowhere with little success before this, Dark State did rather well here. That finish had quite the impact and I liked what they were doing together. They have the D’Angelo Family to deal with and this makes their feud that much more interesting as they had a strong in-ring debut here. The other three brawling into a fight isn’t a big surprise, but this was more about Dark State and they did well.

Post match Stacks pops up on the screen to issue the challenge for a fight in the parking lot next week. Well that ups the danger significantly.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was more about setting up things for Stand & Deliver, with matches being made and some qualifying matches being covered. That being said, the show isn’t feeling like the most must see card as all of the multi-person matches don’t really come off as special. Stand & Deliver is supposed to be the biggest show of the year and that doesn’t often mean a bunch of matches with all kinds of people running around. It should be good, but it doesn’t feel special and that’s not a positive thing at all.

Results
Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker went to a double DQ when Stephanie Vaquer interfered
Fraxiom b. Swipe Right – Phoenix splash to Smokes
Sol Ruca b. Jazmyn Nyx – Sol Snatcher
Culling b. Hank & Tank – Top rope knee/Dominator combination to Hank
Wes Lee b. Yoshiki Inamura – Cardiac Kick
Izzi Dame b. Wren Sinclair – Sky High
Dark State b. Oba Femi/Trick Williams/Je’Von Evans – Triple Bomb to Evans

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NXT LVL Up
Date: August 23, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

We are still in the short form shows as the main roster going to Germany changes things up around here. In a way it makes things a bit more interesting, as it manages to make the already short show even shorter. Things have been changing enough around here to make it more interesting and hopefully that continues here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Dani Palmer

Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne are here with Nyx and this is Palmer’s return after a long injury hiatus. Nyx takes her down with a headlock before cranking on the leg. Back up and Palmer snaps off an anklescissors into a monkey flip for two. Jayne stomps away in the corner though, leaving Jayne and Henley to dance in celebration. The figure four necklock keeps Palmer down but she fights out and gets two off a neckbreaker. That doesn’t work for Nyx though, meaning it’s the Nyx Kick to finish Palmer at 4:11.

Rating: C. This was Palmer getting back in the ring after such a long time away but ultimately there was no way she should have been beating someone like Nyx, who is at least being featured. The action was good enough, but this was more about Palmer being back, which is nice to see after such a hiatus. She is starting again, but it could work.

Tyson DuPont and Tyriek Igwe are ready for the D’Angelo Family.

Dani Palmer says things have changed around here, but she has changed too.

Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe vs. D’Angelo Family

Adrianna Rizzo is here with the Family. Crusifino and Igwe fight over wrist control to start, with Igwe taking him down for a headscissors. DuPont comes in and gets double teamed into the corner but he’s back with a rather big dropkick. Stacks gets splashed in the corner and suplexed down by Igwe, allowing DuPont to come in and rock on the knee. Crusifino shoulders his way out of trouble, only to get run over by DuPont for two more. Everything breaks down and Stacks flips out of a powerbomb, setting up a jumping enziguri. A Shatter Machine finishes DuPont at 6:11.

Rating: C+. Another not very long match here as the Family, who aren’t doing much at the moment, gets a win over a team who still shows a lot of promise. That isn’t a great sign for Igwe and DuPont, but they need something more to lift them above their current status. They kept this moving too, which is often quite appreciated.

Overall Rating: C. Not the best show here, but there is only so much that you can do when your show, featuring a commercial in the middle, only lasts nineteen minutes. As usual, this was about getting people in the ring to give them some reps, which is nice to see, but there is still a lack of stories or reasons for these matches happening. A brief feud shouldn’t be that much to ask, but apparently it is around here.

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NXT
Date: July 30, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the first night of the Great American Bash and oddly enough the card isn’t exactly stacked. There are some title matches, but only one of them feels like a big time showdown. Other than that, we have a contract signing for next week’s NXT Title match and the Women’s Tag Team Champions are here for a guest spot. Oh and Joe Hendry is giving a concert. Let’s get to it.

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

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger break into the Performance Center to host the show. This involves hacking a security system, dodging lasers and crawling through a dark room.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Meta Four vs. Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre

Meta Four is challenging. It’s a brawl before the bell to start fast and Jackson is sent into the wrong corner. Fyre sends her into the buckle for two and a double suplex connects as well. Legend is back up to clean house and we take an early break. Back with Jackson hitting an enziguri, allowing the diving tag off to Legend.

A chokeslam gets two on Dawn but Fyre gets in a cheap shot from the apron to cut her off. That doesn’t last long though as it’s a wheelbarrow faceplant/cutter combination for to on Dawn with Fyre making the save. Back up and the Evil Touch to Jackson retains the titles at 7:52.

Rating: C+. The problem here is Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair are getting a title match on Smackdown, which was talked about extensively throughout this match. If I already know they’re getting the shot, it make it kind of difficult to buy a title change here. That being said, Legend’s pretty incredible transformation continues, as she is turning into a more impressive star every time she is out there.

Post match here is Ethan Page to mock Oro Mensah and promise he won’t win the NXT Title next week. Mensah pins him again.

Cedric Alexander is teaching some young wrestlers when Shawn Spears interrupts to talk about Brooks Jensen. Cue Jensen to argue but Spears holds him out.

Tavion Heights is ready for Tony D’Angelo.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for Tavion Heights.

Pete Dunne talks about Sheamus walking away from the Brawling Brutes so now he’s going to create havoc. He’ll start next week with Trick Williams.

Heritage Cup: Tavion Heights vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending and their respective associates are here too. Round One begins with some grappling with Heights, the former Olympic wrestler taking over with a fireman’s carry. D’Angelo is back up with a headlock before switching to a leglock as the round ends. Here is Wren Sinclair to watch and we take a break. Back with D’Angelo hitting a superplex but time expires.

Round Three begins with D’Angelo hitting Forget About It for the pin at 28 seconds of the round and 8:13 overall. Round Four begins with Sinclair yelling at Heights, which is enough for Heights to grab the belly to belly and tie it up at 23 seconds of the round and 9:04 overall. Round Five begins with Heights getting two off a gutwrench suplex. Heights misses a charge into the ropes though and D’Angelo hits back to back spinebusters to retain at 1:39 of the round and 11:09 overall.

Rating: C+. You kind of know what you’re getting with these things and that was the case again here. Heights was a fine choice for a one off challenger but D’Angelo is going to be on to bigger and better opponents. They didn’t spend too long on this and what we got was good enough for a title defense.

Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx don’t like the new generation so the tag match is set for tonight.

Brooks Jensen vs. Cedric Alexander

Joined in progress Jensen charging into a boot in the corner and being knocked outside. Alexander hits a big dive but Jensen kicks him in the face to take over. A running shoulder in the Tree Of Woe gives Jensen two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Alexander snaps off a suplex into a Michinoku river for two. Jensen knocks him off the top and a guillotine legdrop gets two. They head outside with Jensen dropping him onto the announcers’ table. The dive misses though and Alexander grabs the Lumbar Check to win at 4:47 shown.

Rating: C. As has been the case, the problem with Jensen boils down to him only being so interesting in the first place. It’s one thing if he starts winning matches like he did against Josh Briggs, but seeing him lose more often than not is taking away what little status he has. The match wasn’t anything noteworthy either, which isn’t helping Jensen’s case in the slightest.

Je’Von Evans talks about growing up watching wrestling and knowing he needed to do this.

Joe Hendry flirts with some women before his concert but then has to leave. Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to take care of the women.

The Rascalz re confused by being on a Tuesday but want the Tag Team Titles back.

Here is Joe Hendry for his concert, with the fans singing his theme song. Hendry’s song is about how he makes things better, how Booker T is a big fan, and how Gallus has bad facial hair. Hendry is ready for an encore but here is Gallus to interrupt. They didn’t like the song and Hendry is quickly beaten down. It continues to amuse me that Hendry is more or less a full on character around here despite still being a part of TNA (which was barely mentioned here, if at all).

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger annoy Roxanne Perez.

Ava is overseeing the contract signing between Ethan Page and Oro Mensah for next week. They bicker and both sign, with Mensah promising to win the title. Very short and to the point here.

Kendal Grey vs. Jaida Parker

OTM is here with Parker. Grey takes her down by the arm to start and is back up with a middle rope crossbody for two. Parker sends her into the corner though and drops her ribs first across the top rope. The seated abdominal stretch doesn’t last long as Grey fights up…and here are Miles Borne and Wren Sinclair. Grey takes Borne down and grabs an Angle Slam for two on Parker. Back up and another distraction lets Parker get in a gordbuster into a running hip attack for the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. Grey was trying here and they’re giving her something with the Borne stuff, but she still needs something more than “here’s another pretty rookie with an athletic background.” There are a lot of them on the roster and Grey isn’t standing out just yet. Parker on the other hand still feels like a star in the making and I could go for seeing her get a chance to show what she can do.

Chase U fires up Thea Hail.

Axiom is talking to the LWO about Speed when Ava comes in with a contract for a title match with the Rascalz. Axiom signs but Nathan Frazier isn’t happy with not being asked about it. Oh well.

Jacy Jayne/Jazmyn Nyx/Fallon Henley vs. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice

Henley takes Ruca down to start and surfs on her back, only for Ruca to come back with an X Factor and surfing of her own. Petrovic comes in to knock Nyx down, setting up a running basement Blockbuster. Vice comes in and gets rolled up to give Jayne two, only to come back with a spinebuster for two.

It’s back To Petrovic for a double shoulder and the villains are knocked to the floor. The series of dives take them down again and we take a break. Back with Vice getting the tag to clean house and Ruca hitting a springboard flipping double clothesline. Henley is left alone with Ruca, who hits a fireman’s carry into a powerbomb for two.

Jayne is back in with a cutter out of the corner and Nyx’s PerfectPlex gets two to leave everyone down. Nyx kicks away at Ruca but it’s back to Petrovic for the clothesline comeback. A Pele kick gets Nyx out of trouble though and Henley comes in with something like a belly to back suplex flipped into a cutter for the pin on Petrovic at 12:55.

Rating: B. Where the heck did that come from? This felt like it was going to be just another six person tag and they gave it everything they had and put on a pretty rocking match. This was FAR better than I would have expected with hard work from everyone and some great action. Good stuff here and the feud is likely going to continue for a bit.

Kelani Jordan doesn’t want to play with Tatum Paxley and her dolls. And she doesn’t know why Wendy Choo is behind them.

Joe Hendry is sick of Gallus’ jealousy so he’s going to take out Joe Coffey next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Thea Hail

Hail, with Chase U, is challenging and goes for some early rollups to start. The threat of the Kimura sends Perez to the ropes before she has to flip out of an anklescissors. Perez bails to the floor and Hail hits a middle rope moonsault as we take a break. Back with Hail hitting a DDT to leave both of them down.

The World’s Smallest Slam sets up a missed backsplash so Perez grabs the crossface. Hail bails out to the floor but Perez argues with Chase U, allowing Hail to get in a dive. A Michinoku Driver gives Hail two but Perez goes after the arm. Pop Rox is countered into a backslide for two and the Kimura goes on, with Perez reversing into the crossface. That’s powered into a Samoan drop and the springboard backsplash gets two for an awesome sequence.

Perez goes for the eye but gets sent shoulder first into the post. The Kimura goes on again, with Perez getting to the ropes and out to the floor. Hail gets rammed into the steps and the crossface goes on again, only to be reversed back into the Kimura. That’s reversed into the crossface again so Hail goes for the ropes, leaving Perez to switch to Pop Rox to retain at 11:21.

Rating: B+. When an awesome sequence takes up almost half of the match, it stops being a sequence and turns into a good portion of what you’re seeing. This was the best thing on the show as they were showing some great chemistry together and had me wondering if Hail was going to get the miracle upset. Perez was more than carrying her side here too and it made for a great main event. Giulia and/or Stephanie Vaquer are probably waiting on Perez, but this made her feel more ready for either of them.

Overall Rating: B. This started slowly and felt like it was an only slightly bigger than normal show before the last two matches blew away all of my expectations. Those matches carried the show and the concert was a funny enough moment as well. I’m not sure this needed to be a two week special, but I wasn’t overly excited about this one and they really surprised me with how good it wound up being. Solid show this week, with the women carrying things.

Results
Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre b. Meta Four – Evil Touch to Jackson
Tony D’Angelo b. Tavion Heights 2-1
Cedric Alexander b. Brooke Jensen – Lumbar Check
Jaida Parker b. Kendal Grey – Running hip attack
Fallon Henley/Jazmyn Nyx/Jacy Jayne b. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice – Flipping cutter to Petrovic
Roxanne Perez b. Thea Hail – Pop Rox

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NXT
Date: July 9, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re back stateside after Heatwave and the big story is that we have a new NXT Champion as Ethan Page accidentally won the title after being knocked out by Trick Williams. That sounds primed for a one on one rematch but stranger things have happened. For now though, we are about a month out from the Great American Bash so let’s get to it.

Here is Heatwave if you need a recap.

Long Heatwave recap.

Here is Ethan Page to brag about his title win at Heatwave. It took a lot of talent, preparation and skill, but also a big EGO. The entire locker room hates him so he has extra security out here just in case. Cue Oro Mensah to try to jump Page but security cuts him off. Page, talking over the WHOOP THAT TRICK chants, talks about how he’s going to fight off these outsiders because HE IS NXT.

It is no longer the Whoop That Era, but cue Trick Williams to interrupt and ask for a rematch. That isn’t going to happen, but here is Shawn Sears to say Page owes him a thank you. He can’t let Williams have a rematch either because Williams is going to the back of the line. Cue Je’Von Evans to interrupt and the fight is on with Williams and Evans clearing the ring. Everything made sense here and Page running from challengers is the right way to go for him. His promo was good too as he would brag exactly this way.

We recap Arianna Grace and Karmen Petrovic cheating to win on the Heatwave Kickoff Show, setting up a match between them tonight.

Lexis King is ready to take the Heritage Cup from Tony D’Angelo.

Tony D’Angelo isn’t ready to let King take the Heritage Cup.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Arianna Grace

Grace shoulders her down to start and declares her better. Petrovic kicks away as Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx come out to watch. A middle rope elbow to the back of the head gives Grace two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Petrovic sweeps the leg, setting up a spinning kick to the back for the pin at 2:38.

Post match Fallon Henley runs in to beat down Petrovic and tells Jayne and Nyx that she is sick of these rookies.

We get the sitdown interview between Brooks Jensen and Ava. Jensen apologizes for his actions and says he cracked under the pressure. Ava says she and Shawn Michaels were ready to release him but some people vouched for him. Jensen is sticking around, but he needs to remember that the is a WWE Superstar full time. He seems to get it.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too, plus Eddy Thorpe is DJing, because this match needs a DJ. Round One begins with D’Angelo grabbing a headlock and then running him over with a shoulder. An armbar has King down for a bit, only to have him come up with some forearms in the corner. Another armbar is broken up so D’Angelo chops him in the corner. A Boston crab has King in more trouble and the round ends.

Round Two begins with Thorpe annoying King, allowing D’Angelo to grab Forget About It for the pin at 15 seconds of the round and 3:48 overall. We take a break and come back with D’Angelo suplexing King but walking into the Coronation to tie it up at 2:53 of the round and 8:07 overall. Round Four begins with King jumping him in the corner and stopping away but D’Angelo hits a hard clothesline. A belly to belly suplex puts King down again, only to have him come back with a middle rope DDT. Another Coronation is blocked and a spinebuster finishes King to retain the Cup at 2:22 of the round and 10:59.

Rating: C+. This was more about King vs. Thorpe, which is at least a feud for both of them, but it was a nice way to give D’Angelo a nice defense at the same time. That’s the kind of smart booking that you do not get to see very often and it’s nice to have that kind of efficiency. Nothing much to the match, but it was just a one off title defense without much of a story in the first place.

Brooks Jensen jumps Je’Von Evans, with Josh Briggs breaking it up, saying he stuck his neck out for Jensen and this is how Jensen thanks him.

Ridge Holland tries to make amends with Chase U and has gotten them some title matches. Duke Hudson gets a North American Title match against Oba Femi next week! Hudson: “…thanks Ridge.”

Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont vs. Gallus

It’s a brawl before the bell with Igwe getting caught in the wrong corner before Mark Coffey can even get his jacket off. Igwe fights out and makes the tag off to DuPont to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and Joe Coffey low bridges Igwe to the floor. That leaves DuPont to walk into the flapjack/big boot combination for the pin at 3:13.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted but this was your normal Gallus numbers game win. It’s something they’ve done for years now and you’re only going to be able to get so much out of seeing it happen again. Igwe and DuPont have something to them but they need WAY more experience and something to make them stand out before it’s going to matter.

Trick Williams is ready to fight on his own if Je’Von Evans is hurt, but maybe he should try to find a partner.

Here is a serious Wes Lee to address his future. Lee believed he could beat Oba Femi at Heatwave and get his North American title back. Getting his title back is what got him through rehab but that’s not what happened. He isn’t sure where to go from here, because this isn’t like his normal losses.

We get the tease of him leaving and the required PLEASE DON’T GO chant….but here are TNA’s Rascalz (Zachary Wentz (Lee’s former partner in MSK) and Trey Miguel). He can’t believe they’re here and is proud of what they have become. Wentz and Miguel: “We know.” It’s time to get MSK back together and we get the big three way hug.

Thea Hail vs. Izzi Dame

Chase U is here with Hail. They start fast with Dame kicking her down and getting two off a backbreaker. An STF has Hail in more trouble as Tatum Paxley, in Chase U red, comes out of the crowd. Hail goes after her but posts herself as a result. Hail makes the comeback and the Kimura makes Dame tap at 3:33.

Rating: C. Hail, and Chase U for that matter, getting a win is nice to see and this should set Hail up for the Women’s Title match that Ridge Holland promised her. Tatum Paxley being all insane and driving Dame nuts works well enough, as it’s a good sign to see a feud going on that doesn’t have anything to do with a title. The division needs more of that and this works well enough.

Post match Oba Femi pops up to say he’ll destroy Duke Hudson, who says don’t underestimate him.

The Rascalz are happy to be back together but run into Gallus, who aren’t sure what to call the team. Apparently just Wentz and Lee are MSK but the three of them are the Rascalz. Makes enough sense. Gallus almost summons Joe Hendry but thinks better of it.

OTM is ready for the OC.

Ava yells at Brooks Jensen, who gets Je’Von Evans next week, assuming Evans is ok. With Jensen gone, Briggs says he wants Shawn Spears next week.

OTM vs. OC

Jaida Parker is here with OTM. Nima manages a rather impressive delayed vertical suplex on Gallows to start and it’s off to Price for a double elbow to Anderson. A release Rock Bottom plants Anderson but he jawbreaks his way to freedom. It’s back to Gallows for a jumping elbow as Michin comes out of the crowd to go after Parker. The distraction lets OTM hit the release Alabama Slam to pin Anderson for the big upset at 4:54.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of win that might let OTM go somewhere, which is exactly what they need. At some point it doesn’t matter to have this much potential without getting some wins and thankfully the team is getting somewhere. On top of that, the OC losing, and hopefully falling even further down the card, is a good sign.

Fallon Henley wants the Women’s North American Title and would have had a better showing against Sol Ruca. That doesn’t work for Ruca, who says you can either work or complain.

The No Quarter Catch Crew imply they’ve knocked Damon Kemp off. Wren Sinclair pops in but says she didn’t see anything.

Sol Ruca vs. Fallon Henley

Ruca grabs a front facelock to start but has to do her hand walk. That’s broken up with a kick to the ribs and Henley pulls her down by the arm. Back up and Ruca sends her into the corner for two but gets kicked in the arm for another near fall. The armbar is countered into a rollup for two but Henley breaks up a springboard. Ruca kicks away and hits the Sol Snatcher, only for Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx run in for the DQ at 5:01.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here but I do like having Henley protected from the pin. While she was more or less dead to rights, she didn’t actually get pinned, which is at least a bit better. The match itself was a bit messy, with more than a few points where they didn’t seem to be clicking. The Sol Snatcher made up for some of it though, as that looked awesome.

Post match Ruca gets beaten down again.

Tatum Paxley talks to a doll and says she’s going to play with Izzi Dame. Then she breaks the doll.

Cedric Alexander is in Ava’s office and is officially in NXT. Mr. Stone comes in and welcomes Ashante Thee Adonis to NXT as well.

Ethan Page/Shawn Spears vs. Trick Williams/???

Williams has a partner and it’s….Joe Hendry, who the fans seem to like. Williams slugs away at Page to start as the fans say THEY BELIEVE. A running splash in the corner and a big right hand rock Page and it’s off to Hendry for an even louder WE BELIEVE chant. Hendry suplexes Page and clotheslines him to the floor, allowing Williams to hit a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Page kicking Hendry in the bead and grabbing a DDT. Spears comes in to hammer away as well, allowing the villains to take turns chopping away in the corner. Page grabs the front facelock but Hendry suplexes his way to freedom. It’s back to Williams to clean house, only to get Rock Bottomed by Page.

Spears grabs a neckbreaker and a double suplex gives Page a quick two. The C4 is countered though and Williams grabs a jumping neckbreaker to put Spears down. Cue Oro Mensah to chase Page into the crowd, leaving Williams to bring Hendry back in to clean house. Hendry hits his own DDT into he all away slam, setting up the Trick Shot. The Standing Ovation (high angle spinebuster) finishes Spears at 10:13.

Rating: B-. Hendry feels like the biggest star in the world right now and it wouldn’t shock me to see him doing something bigger around here rather soon. The fans respond to him and that is one of the hardest things in the world to make work. Page running off from Mensah is a smart move, as he’s already got a long list of people gunning for the title.

Overall Rating: B-. This show didn’t have any major moment, but there was nothing overly bad and it helped establish where we are following Heatwave. At the same time, Hendry showing up at the end was a big boost to everything, as he is as big of a star as there is around here at the moment. I’m curious to see where some of these things go and there are already matches set for next week, as NXT continues to be a pretty well oiled machine.

Results
Karmen Petrovic b. Arianna Grace – Spinning kick to the back
Tony D’Angelo b. Lexis King 2-1
Gallus b. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont – Big boot/flapjack combination to Igwe
Thea Hail b. Izzi Dame – Kimura
OTM b. OC – Assisted Alabama Slam to Anderson
Sol Ruca b. Fallon Henley via DQ when Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx interfered
Joe Hendry/Trick Williams b. Ethan Page/Shawn Spears – Standing Ovation to Spears

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 28, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

Things were not exactly thrilling around here last week but one of the good things about this show is there is no reason to believe that will continue. The show is as week to week as you can get in wrestling and that means we have something of a hope spot. Or it means nothing and is as dull as ever. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Riley Osborne vs. Jasper Troy

The much bigger Troy chases Osborne around to start but a powerbomb is escaped. Osborne hits a dropkick, which earns him one heck of a toss over the top for a crash to the floor. Troy’s apron legdrop misses but he catches Osborne’s dive off the apron and throws him from the floor over the top in an impressive feat. Back in and Troy grabs an abdominal stretch of all things but Osborne slips out and kicks him in the face. A springboard kick to the face sets up the shooting star press to pin Troy at 4:29.

Rating: C+. I can always go for a big vs. little match and that is what we had here, with Troy’s power game on full display. There is something impressive about seeing Troy throw a grown man from the floor and over the top. I’m sure Troy will at least get a chance just due to that kind of power, while Osborne has already shown he has a future as a pretty decent high flier.

Jazmyn Nyx, with Jacy Jayne, is ready for Kendal Grey tonight.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Kendal Grey

Jacy Jayne is here with Nyx. Grey trips her down for an early two as they start fast. They trade snapmares and we get an early standoff. Grey starts in on the arm with an armdrag into an armbar but Nyx sends her out to the apron. A knockdown onto said apron has Grey in trouble and Nyx stomps away in the corner. The Figure Four necklock goes on to keep Grey down but she avoids an elbow drop. Grey slips between the legs but gets caught with a great Pele Kick for the pin at 4:33 in a sweet ending.

Rating: C+. I liked that ending a lot as it made Nyx look like she was not only thinking on her feet but also that she was that far ahead of Grey. Nyx is someone who just showed up one day and happened to be pretty good so maybe there is something to her. If nothing else, the association with Jayne is only going to be an upgrade, at least for the time being.

Dante Chen vs. Myles Borne

Borne is on his own here. Chen grabs an armbar to start and they go to the ground in a hurry. Borne can’t fight out of the armbar so he drives Chen into the corner instead. Chen is right back with a splash and some right hands, only to have Borne pull him down for a crash. A snap suplex gives Borne two and it’s time to start in on Chen’s knee. That means something of a modified STF but Chen fights up and gets in a suplex of his own. They slug it out with Chen getting the better of things and kicking Borne in the face. A nice dropkick gives Borne the same but Chen double chops him down for the pin at 6:44.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure if you could have had a more LVL Up match if you had gone out of your way to make one. This was the combination of two people who are good enough to be a decent hand but not good, or at least interesting, enough to get much further than that. In other words, LVL Up main event it is.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a nicer than usual show with a consistent level of work from all of the matches. As usual, it doesn’t make any different to anything going forward, but I’ll take three perfectly nice matches as opposed to a bunch of low level people boring me for half an hour. Not great here, but nice enough for around here.

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Heatwave 2024
Date: July 7, 2024
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show of a busy weekend with a card that is only looking so strong. There isn’t much on this card, with the NXT Title being defended in a four way and Roxanne Perez defending the Women’s Title against Lola Vice. They could make it work but this isn’t the best starting point. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Jacy Jayne/Jazmyn Nyx vs. Arianna Grace/Karmen Petrovic

Evil vs. Canada. Jayne takes Grace into the corner to start but it’s Petrovic coming in for the strikes. A running neckbreaker gets two on Nyx and it’s back to Grace for a front facelock. Jayne comes back in off a blind tag for a running clothesline though and the villains take over on Petrovic. Jayne’s Cannonball in the corner gets two and a basement superkick cuts off the comeback.

Petrovic manages to low bridge Nyx to the floor and kicks Jayne away, allowing the tag off to Grace to clean house. Petrovic comes back in off a blind tag and it’s a Hart Attack (kick instead of a clothesline) for two with Nyx having to make a diving save. Nyx trips Petrovic down and a kick to the face gets two, with Grace having to make the save. Grace Codebreakers Jayne, leaving Nyx to roll Petrovic up. Grace pulls the hair to reverse it though and Petrovic gets the pin at 7:39.

Rating: C. They weren’t exactly going for anything great here and there is nothing wrong with that. It was little more than an ok TV match to warm up the crowd and sometimes that’s all you need. Petrovic and Grace might be the new oddball team, but I can go for this just being a one off for the sake of Canada too.

The opening video is designed like a streaming service with the match card being the options, sending us to the hype videos.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Wes Lee

Femi is defending. Lee slowly strikes away to start but gets powered into the corner. A few more shots stagger Femi and Lee springboards (albeit with a slip, though he recovered well enough) into an enziguri to rock the champion. A headscissors is blocked as Femi powers him out to the floor and Lee looks a bit shaken. He’s shaken enough that he comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick, only to get caught with a release F5 for a very impressive crash landing.

They head outside with Lee being sent into various things, including hard into the ring apron. Back in and a backbreaker puts Lee down again before Femi sends him flying as the beating continues. Lee gets tied in the Tree of Woe but manages to avoid a charge, sending Femi into the post. Back up and Lee low bridges him to the floor, where Femi chops him from the apron in an impressive comeback.

Another backbreaker lets Femi bend Lee’s back over his knee for two, meaning it’s time to get frustrated. Femi yells at him a lot and gets kicked in the head for his efforts. Lee knocks him to the floor for some suicide dives but a sunset flip is blocked back inside. Instead it’s a hurricanrana for two but Lee’s springboard is uppercutted out of the air for a rather near fall.

They go up top where Lee’s super hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb, which is countered into something like a super X Factor. The Cardiac Kick gives Lee two so he hits a frog splash, with Femi popping back up. They go outside again, where Lee’s moonsault is countered into a shoulderbreaker. Back in and Femi counters the Cardiac Kick into a hard toss to the mat, setting up a pop up sitout powerbomb to retain the title at 16:21.

Rating: B. This was straight out of the David vs. Goliath formula and it went well, lack of slingshot or beheading aside. Lee bounced off the rather impressive Femi to make the monster look more impressive and it was a very good choice for an opener. Femi is looking like the unstoppable monster and I could go for seeing just how good he could become. Lee should be fine, but it’s time for him to do something else.

We recap Kelani Jordan defending the Women’s North American Title against Sol Ruca, which is a battle of rather athletic people.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Sol Ruca

Jordan is defending and they trade flips and reversals to start. Jordan’s middle rope crossbody lands a bit low before she misses a flipping legdrop. Back up and Ruca drop toeholds her into a headlock to grind away a bit. Jordan fights up and gets one off a splash, only for Ruca to come back with an X Factor for two.

Ruca grabs the rather appropriate surfboard for about as long as you would expect, with Jordan fighting up for a hurricanrana. Back up and Ruca hits a springboard forearm into a springboard flipping clothesline (think a Buckshot Lariat from the top) for two. Jordan blocks a kick to the ribs and hits a spinwheel kick to the head.

A poisonrana sends Ruca outside for an Asai moonsault but she’s right back up with a moonsault of her own. Back in and they trade rollups for two each until Ruca powerbombs her for two more. Jordan gets in a knockdown of her own and goes up, only to land on raised knees. The Sol Snatcher is blocked (that’s a first) for two and a super poisonrana takes Ruca back down. One Of A Kind retains the title at 11:39.

Rating: B-. This was good enough but it was far from smooth with multiple parts where it felt like they were trying to get into position for whatever they had planned next. It makes sense with the stereo gymnastics backgrounds, but it didn’t make for the best looking match. Jordan needs some wins to establish herself and the title though and this accomplished both feats.

Respect is shown post match.

Gallus is ready to fight Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont over their lack of respect.

We recap the Kickoff Show match.

Arianna Grace is ready to keep the team with Karmen Petrovic going, but Ava changes it to a singles match between them on NXT instead.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazer vs. Chase U

Axiom/Frazer are defending but have been having issues lately. Chase and Axiom trade rollups to start, with Chase getting to describe this as a TEACHABLE MOMENT. Frazer comes in to pick up the pace and gets in a cheap shot on Chase to give Axiom two of his own. Stereo basement superkicks give Frazer two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Chase pulls Frazer out of the air for a Side Effect but Axiom is back with an ankle lock.

That’s broken up and Hudson gets the tag to start the house cleaning. The double Chase U elbows to the head and it’s a gutbuster/backsplash combination (that was impressive) for two on Axiom. Everything breaks down and the champs hit the back to back suicide dives. Back in and Hudson gets armdragged out of the corner, only to come back with a Stratusphere of all things. The swinging layout Rock Bottom gets two on Frazer, who is back with a springboard missile dropkick.

Hudson is sat on top for a super Spanish Fly. The Phoenix splash connects but Chase makes the save and hits a Canadian Destroyer on Axiom for the save. Chase and Axiom slug it out until Frazier accidentally superkicks Axiom, giving Chase two and leaving everyone out of breath. The spelling stomps get two and Chase goes up, only for Frazer to superplex him into Chasing the Dragon. Frazer flip dives onto Hudson and the Golden Ratio retains the titles at 16:50.

Rating: B. This started slowly but got going near the end, as everyone just went nuts and did a bunch of near falls and saves. Chase U continuing to be this over years after debuting is a near miracle and somehow they still don’t seem to be slowing down. Heck of a match here, with Axiom and Frazer overcoming their issues, at least for now.

Post match the champions are happy together.

Wes Lee is shaken up by his loss and doesn’t know where to go from here.

We recap the NXT Women’s Title with Roxanne Perez defending against Lola Vice. Perez is the rather evil champion while Vice is the new force who runs through everyone. Vice also wants to win the title for her mother, which Perez doesn’t care for all that much.

NXT Women’s Title: Lola Vice vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is defending and we get Big Match Intros. Feeling out process to start with Vice knocking her down but not being able to get the cross armbreaker. The spinning backfist misses as well as Perez bails out to the floor. Vice takes her down with a flip dive from the apron and that means some dancing.

Back in and Perez takes over, including some choking on the ropes. Vice strikes away to send her into the corner but it’s too early for the hip attack. Instead Perez sends her into the corner for a running uppercut, only to get caught in a choke. That’s reversed into a rollup for the break but Vice is right back with the choke again. They go outside, where Vice’s backfist hits the post, allowing Perez to grab a quick hammerlock suplex to bang up the fist even more.

Back in and Perez goes after the hand again, with a belly to back suplex dropping Vice. A quick triangle choke gives Vice a breather and she hits the backfist, which sends Perez outside. Back in and Vice kicks away but Perez grabs Pop Rox for two, leaving Perez stunned. They go outside where another Pop Rox onto the announcers’ table connects to give Perez two back inside. The crossface on the bad arm has Vice in more trouble but she slips out, leaving Perez to hit three more Pop Rox to retain at 13:07.

Rating: B-. They were playing up the idea of Vice losing one of her big weapons with the hand injury but geez that was a lot of Pop Rox (some of which weren’t exactly great) to end things. It doesn’t help that when you see a move that many times, it stops looking like something with snap and power and is instead just kind of a fast sunset flip. They were trying here but it didn’t exactly get to that next level.

Video on the Brooks Jensen situation.

Tony D’Angelo is fine with defending the Heritage Cup against Lexis King on NXT.

We recap the NXT Title, which has Trick Williams defending against three challenges. Je’Von Evans won the title shot in a battle royal, but then Ethan Page beat him. Then Shawn Spears beat Williams, meaning it’s time for a four way.

NXT Title: Ethan Page vs. Shawn Spears vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams

Williams is defending. Evans and Page go to the floor to start, leaving Williams to slam Spears back inside. They head outside as well, with Page and Spars sending Evans and Williams into the steps. Back in and we get the villains’ handshake, only to have them both go for a poke to the eye. Evans and Williams show respect before going at it, with Williams sending him outside.

Spears brings in a chair but Williams clears the ring with some Booker T. style side kicks. Evans springboards back in with a high crossbody to Spears and Page, only to walk into a Rock Bottom to give Williams two. Page suplexes Evans onto Spears and Iconoclasms Evans onto Williams and Spears for a big crash. We get something like a Doomsday Device/DDT combination to give the villains two each, leaving Williams and Page to slug it out. Spears grabs a chair to clean house (including a NASTY chair shot to Evans’ back) and a C4 onto the chair in the corner gets two on Williams.

An exchange of superkicks leaves all four of them down for a needed breather. Page loads up the announcers’ table but gets cut off by Williams, only to get caught by a HUGE flip dive from Evans, who breaks the barricade. Back in and Spears catches Evans with a super C4 but Page comes in and steals the near fall. Evans is back up with a super Spanish Fly to Page, followed by a top rope cutter for two with Williams making a diving save.

Evans and Williams slug it out until Evans knocks him to the floor. Spears breaks up a big dive but gets taken down by a top rope cutter. The twisting splash gets two with Williams making ANOTHER diving save. Evans loads up a springboard but Williams shoves him HARD through the announcers’ table, leaving him with a look of “sorry but I had to”.

Spears avoids a kick and gets a Sharpshooter on Williams, with Page having to make a save. Page hits the Ego’s Edge on Williams but Evans puts the foot on the rope. Williams is back in with a Trick Shot to Evans and another to Page….who falls on Evans, with Spears holding Williams back so Page can win the title at 17:23.

Rating: A-. This was WAY better than I was expecting and some of the near falls had me wondering where it was going. It was also pretty much all action, with everyone doing whatever they could. The ending was a great touch as well, with Williams clearly being the best of the four but getting caught by the numbers game. It doesn’t hurt Williams whatsoever and lets Page be the bragging champion who is in over his head for a little while. Excellent main event here that way overdelivered.

Page wakes up and is awarded the title, allowing him to give a great “well, I knew that would work” look.

Joe Hendry pops up on screen to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. To say this show overdelivered would be an understatement, as there was nothing bad and a great main event. At the same time, it’s still a show where, outside of the main event, nothing really noteworthy happened. The titles were defended but other than the Women’s Title match, none of them were exactly must see showdowns. I can certainly go for an awesome show with a bunch of good or better matches though, especially with that last match going that far above expectations.

Results
Arianna Grace/Karmen Petrovic b. Jazmyn Nyx/Jacy Jayne – Rollup to Nyx
Oba Femi b. Wes Lee – Sitout powerbomb
Kelani Jordan b. Sol Ruca – One Of A Kind
Axiom/Nathan Frazer b. Chase U – Golden Ratio to Chase
Roxanne Perez b. Lola Vice – Pop Rox
Ethan Page b. Shawn Spears, Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams – Trick Shot to Evans

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NXT
Date: July 2, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show before Heatwave and that means it is time to firm up everything that is already on the card. The biggest story continues to be the four way NXT Title match and this week’s show will feature the contract signing, because you can’t have a big match without one. Other than that, Jaida Parker and Michin are having a street fight. Let’s get to it.

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

Jaida Parker vs. Michin

Street fight so Michin brings out the trashcan full of weapons and starts the fight on the floor. Parker is sent into the steps so Michin grabs a chain but only hits steps. Michin knocks her down again though and sends Parker, and a bunch of other stuff inside, with Parker blasting her with a trashcan lid. A Samoan drop puts Michin down for two but she’s right back with a German suplex.

Michin whips off her belt and whips away but Parker sits her on the ropes and sits on the stomach for two. They go outside with Michin getting in a chair to the ribs and posting Parker to put her down again. Michin loads up some chairs on the floor and puts Parker in the middle but the ensuing dive only hits chair for a NASTY landing. Parker’s running hip attack only hits (and breaks) barricade though and we take a break.

Back with Michin piling up chairs and pouring a bunch of bolts onto them. A package piledriver is countered into a backdrop to send Michin onto them instead but she’s right back up with some kendo stick shots. Parker has a trashcan put over her head for a cannonball in the corner and a near fall. Michin grabs a steel pipe but Parker blasts her with a fire extinguisher and hits a hip attack through a wooden wall. Back in and a running hip attack finishes Michin at 12:32.

Rating: B. I wasn’t expecting much from this one and they wound up beating the fire out of each other with some rather intense brawling. Parker gets a nice win as well and looked like more of a star than she ever has before. This was a very nice surprise and I was pulled into it by the end. Nice job.

Arianna Grace annoys Karmen Petrovic in the back and complains about Sol Ruca snatching her soul last week. Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx come in to mock Petrovic but bail from her issuing a challenge.

Je’Von Evans is excited for his first premium live event and is ready to come back over the border as the new NXT Champion.

Video on Kelani Jordan and her gymnastics background.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. New Catch Republic

Bate and Walker start things off with Bate taking over off a headscissors. Dunn comes in but gets run over by Ledger, setting up the double standing body blocks. It’s back to Bate for a suplex on Ledger and Walker comes in again as we take a break. Back with Walker coming back in to beat up Dunne, including a running boot to the face.

Bate gets dropped onto Dunne, setting up a powerbomb/top rope clothesline for two. Bate is back up to send both of them outside but they cut off a flip dive through the ropes. Walker and Ledger hit running body blocks to knock both of them off the apron, followed by a toss into a belly to back suplex for two on Dunne. Bate comes back in and drops Ledger, setting up a Spiral Tap for the pin at 11:30.

Rating: B-. I get what they’re going for with the team, but I have never gotten the appeal of Walker and Ledger. It feels like a team that has been done better multiple times and that they were given this style because nothing else was going to work for them. It doesn’t help that they’re only so good in the first place, but they did at least have a good showing here against a better team.

Respect is shown post match.

Video on Shawn Spears, who is back to win the NXT Title in his hometown.

Earlier today, Oro Mensah met with Stevie Turner and Mr. Stone, who tell him what he has to do tonight (face Myles Borne) and bicker a lot. Mensah is also barred from Heatwave after his attacks on Ethan Page, which doesn’t seem to bug him.

Brinley Reece vs. Izzi Dame

Dame slams her to start and hits a swinging Side Effect to take over early on. Reece fights back up with a flipping clothesline and they head outside, where Tatum Paxley crawls through the broken wall from the street fight. The distraction lets Reece grab a rollup for two, followed by a rollup for two. Dame is back with a Falcon Arrow for the pin at 2:47. Not much to this one.

Chase U talks about the history of NXT in Toronto but Duke Hudson and Ridge Holland keep talking in the back. Hudson talks about how Holland gave them an assist, even if he didn’t want one. We see the photos from last week, showing Holland cheating, which doesn’t sit well with anyone. Holland talks about how he wanted to be part of the family and helped in any way he could, but Andre Chase asks Holland to stay here while everyone else goes to Heatwave. Please let them win the titles already. They could use the boost.

Here is Lola Vice to call out Roxanne Perez, who comes out with extra security. They have an awkward exchange about how Vice is an MMA fighter and Perez would have gotten wrecked in NXT Underground, but this isn’t Bellator. Vice gets emotional and talks about how we all know Perez’s story but Vice has never told her own story. She talks about being in training for the Olympics….and she can’t speak because of the tears.

By the time she was 20 she was fighting in Madison Square Garden and now she’s going to win the title on Sunday and call her mom to thank her. Perez isn’t sure how to respond to that but says the reality is that everyone in the locker room wants to make that phone call. Those calls don’t happen when Perez is involved though and Vice will find out why she’s called the Prodigy.

Perez isn’t giving up her title to anyone but Vice says she’s taking it from her. Vice has knocked her out again and she’ll show how great she is again on Sunday. Vice promises to become the first ever Cuban American Women’s Champion…and then beats up one of the security guards. This was an incredibly emotional promo from Vice, but it didn’t make for the best segment as Perez didn’t have much of a follow up. This would have been MUCH better as a pre-taped vignette from Vice, but she definitely got some fans behind her here.

Ethan Page is ready to win the NXT Title.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is giving Myles Borne a pep talk before his match tonight when Damon Kemp comes in with some brass knuckles. Charlie Dempsey isn’t pleased in a funny bit.

Earlier this week, Lexis King interrupted Eddy Thorpe’s DJing and says it should be more about old school rock. Thorpe says not so fast and a match seems to be set.

Myles Borne vs. Oro Mensah

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew and Meta Four are here too. They go to the mat to start with Mensah getting the better of things to frustrate Borne. Mensah grabs a headlock takeover and talks some trash on the mat but Borne fights up. Borne sends him throat first onto the top rope and grabs a neckbreaker for two.

We take a break and come back with Mensah knocking him down and hitting a moonsault. A t-bone suplex into a rolling Liger kick drops Borne but he’s right back with a heck of a dropkick. Kemp offers Borne the brass knuckles but the distraction lets Mensah hit the running spinwheel kick (more a spinning knee to the arm) for the pin at 8:25.

Rating: C+. So I guess Mensah is getting a push now. I’ve heard worse ideas, as Meta Four is a popular act, even with Noam Dar on the shelf. The team could use someone else if they’re going to be dealing with the Crew, but at least they’re off to a good start with a nice first win for Mensah.

Wes Lee is ready to win the North American Title back but Oba Femi doesn’t see it the same way.

Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe and Gallus get in a fight in the back.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade aren’t happy with Brinley Reece’s loss so she’s ready to leave. If they want to come with her, they can.

The OC wants revenge on OTM.

Wendy Choo vs. Carlee Bright

Kendal Gray is here too. Bright kicks away to start but Choo cuts her off and hits a rolling Downward Spiral. Choo ties her in the Tree of Woe for a running dropkick but Bright makes the clothesline comeback. Choo gets her knees up to cut Bright off though and the cobra clutch makes Bright tap at 4:05.

Rating: C. Bright (and Gray) is in a weird place as they’re still so new that they don’t have the experience or skill to carry a match. At the same time, she don’t have much in the way of backgrounds or character work beyond “I was an athlete in college”. Maybe that development can come later, but for now, there isn’t much to go on.

Trick Williams is ready for Heatwave.

Commentary throws us to Shawn Michaels talking about the Brooks Jensen situation, including a variety of the clips and incidents that have taken place. Jensen has been asked to step away from NXT to clear his head but he is also invited to show up here next week to speak with Ava. It’s a big story, but they’re going to need a home run to get around the fact that it’s Brooks Jensen.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Jazmyn Nyx

Jacy Jayne is here with Nyx. They fight over wrist control to start with Petrovic knocking her down, setting p a running basement Blockbuster for two. Jayne’s distraction doesn’t really work but Nyx gets in a kick to the ribs to take over. A Shining Wizard gives Nyx two and she grabs a figure four necklock. Petrovic gets a rollup for….two, though it seemed that Nyx was pinned. Anyway, Petrovic fires off some elbows but Jayne offers another distraction, allowing Nyx to kick Petrovic in the face for the pin a 3:47.

Rating: C. Jayne and Nyx are fine enough as a pair but they feel pretty low level around here. Giving them some wins can help and their association with Fallon Henley gives them a boost, but that’s about all they have at the moment. They need something to make them stand out and I’m not sure what that could be.

Axiom and Nathan Frazer argue over team vs. singles goals.

Karmen Petrovic comes in to see Ava, who makes a tag match with Arianna Grace/Petrovic vs. Jacy Jayne/Jazmyn Nyx. Petrovic has a headache.

Video on Sol Ruca and her athletic background.

Heatwave rundown.

It’s time for the contract signing for the NXT Title, with champion Trick Williams, Ethan Page, Shawn Spears and Je’Von Evans. Williams says the other three are going to bring it in Toronto but the fans are going to be chanting WHOOP THAT TRICK. Page loves the swagger but he saw this at Battleground and knows he can beat him at Heatwave.

Williams promises to win, with Spears saying he loves the emotion. That emotion is going to bring Spears the title, just like it got him a win last week. Evans mocks Spears, who calls him out for being young. Evans signs, with Spears talking about how Evans is at his first major event. Spears signs and hands the contract down before Evans promises to win the title.

Spears shrugs that off and hands Williams the contract, but Page takes it away and signs anyway. Williams says it’s everyone for themselves and praises Evans, but promises that no one can take the title from him. The argument, and the fight, is on, with Page and Spears being put through tables to end the show. They’re in a weird place with this story as it’s only so interesting in the first place, but this was a nice effort to make the title felt like the important thing, along with Williams being in danger.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t the strongest go home show, though it did have some high points. The street fight and big closing segment were good, but some of the matches felt like they were throwing anything they could out there to fill in time before they could head to Toronto. Not a bad show, but I’m not overly excited for Heatwave and this didn’t do much to change that feeling.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Michin – Running hip attack
New Catch Republic b. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Spiral Tap to ledger
Izzi Dame b. Brinley Reece – Falcon Arrow
Oro Mensah b. Myles Borne – Running spinwheel kick in the corner
Wendy Choo b. Carlee Bright – Cobra clutch
Jazmyn Nyx b. Karmen Petrovic – Kick to the head

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