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

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we are about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc. That should be a big enough show, but we also have the first show on the CW in about a month, which is going to have its own stacked card. The NXT Title will be on the line on that show, with Ethan Page defending after retaining on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He is out here to finish things with Pete Dunne (fans: “WHOOP THAT BUTCH!”) but here is Ethan Page to interrupt. Page says he might not be Dunne, but he is the NXT Champion, with Williams raising his hand at No Mercy. Williams says he was a man of his word and called the title match down the line but for now, he has to get rid of Dunne. Page teases violence and here is Dunne to jump Williams, with referees breaking it up.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger nearly get in a fight with Gallus.

Fatal Influence are rather mean to Jaida Parker.

Rascalz vs. Gallus vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

For a future Tag Team Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Miguel being sent into the corner but coming back with a rollup for two. Miguel hurricanranas Walker down but gets stomped by Mark Coffey as the fast start continues. Mark runs Miguel over with a clothesline, only for Wentz to come in with a Motor City Machine Guns style Dream Sequence to put Mark down. Hank and Tank come in and wreck everyone as we take an early break.

Back with Walker clotheslining Mark and Wentz, allowing the tag off to Ledger to clean house. Miguel kicks Walker in the face and makes him DDT Coffey for two but cue Je’Von Evans to jump Joe Coffey and the Good Brothers to go after Walker. Miguel’s top rope Meteora into Wentz’s Swanton finishes Ledger at 11:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time here and were flying through everything with this one, including the interference from the OC. Why Walker/Ledger vs. the OC needs to continue is beyond me but at least it isn’t near the title picture at the moment. The Rascalz should make for a good set of challengers and when the champions aren’t on the best footing at the moment, there will be just enough of a reason to believe the titles could change hands.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready for the Rascalz, who come in to say they’re ready to take the titles back to TNA next week.

Trick Williams and Pete Dunne get in another fight in the locker room.

Oro Mensah vs. Lexis King

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. The fight is on to start with Mensah knocking him into the corner and hitting a forearm to the back for two. King is sent out to the floor and slammed off the barricade for a crash. Back in and Mensah’s springboard is broken up with a shove off the top and King hammers away. A running shot to the back of the head gets two so King yells about Mensah’s father, which sends Mensah into a rage. The beating is on but King rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. King is settling into the role of guy who knows how to push buttons and get under his opponents’ skin. He still isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but it’s an improvement over where he was before. Mensah was showing some fire here but he still feels like he’s kind of going through the motions until Noam Dar gets back to bring Meta Four to full strength.

Post match Mensah chases King to the back.

The D’Angelo Family threatens Oba Femi, who doesn’t think much of Riz. Tony D’Angelo assigns Stacks to deal with this.

Gallus rants about Je’Von Evans when Wren Sinclair comes in to ask them to be quiet because Miles Borne has sensitive ears. Gallus says they’re coming for the Heritage Cup, with Charlie Dempsey asking Sinclair to calm down.

Tatum Paxley vs. Rosemary

Wendy Choo is here with Rosemary, who takes her into the ropes for an early Upside Down. The neck crank is broken up and Paxley hits a clothesline but Rosemary snaps off some suplexes for two. A quick facebuster rocks Rosemary though and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. Erg I was hoping this would be Rosemary’s chance to make up for a less than great outing last time but here she is looking like even more of a jobber. I understand that you don’t want TNA stars going over NXT names over and over but there was no one better to lose like this than one of the most successful Knockouts in recent years?

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save.

Pete Dunne and Trick Williams fight again. Ava is done with this and sends them to the ring right now.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be defending in an open challenge next week.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell with Williams taking over before they get inside for the official start. Dunne hammers away until he is sent into the corner so Williams’ jumping neckbreaker can connect for two. Williams knees him down and hits a running neckbreaker but Dunne gets in a crotching onto the ring skirt. A stomp onto the steps rocks Williams and we take a break.

Back with Williams getting two off a Rock Bottom but Dunne German suplexes him right back down. They go back outside with Williams missing a big boot and the fight going onto the barricade. A crash sends them through the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 11:20.

Rating: B-. This felt like a fight as these two wanted to get to each other that badly. There is a good chance that this is designed to set up a rematch for the CW debut (perhaps in a cage) and that makes things more interesting going forward. If these two are still fighting each other, who goes after the NXT Title? Joe Hendry more than likely, but I’ll take these two in another big fight first.

Post match the brawl is on again, with security not being able to do much about it.

Ridge Holland isn’t sad about what he did to Andre Chase and talks about how Duke Hudson criticized everything he did. Holland got the gold back in Chase U but mediocrity took it away. He starts destroying Chase U next week, but this week he starts this week with Hudson’s trophy.

An injured Shawn Spears thanks Brooks Jensen for saving him. Spears thanks him for being there and leaves when Dion Lennox comes in, saying Spears is psychologically manipulating Jensen.

Joe Coffey vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Evans shrugs off some right hands to start and hits a running hurricanrana. Coffey catches a running forearm with a Regal Roll into a Vader Bomb for two. Evans is sent outside but here is Cedric Alexander to cut off the interfering Gallus. Back in and Evans’ springboard spinning splash finishes Coffey at 2:30.

Lyra Valkyria didn’t want to come back to NXT but had to help Tatum Paxley against the weird girls.

Ava makes Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing match next week, with the winner getting the NXT Title shot on the first CW show. As long as it doesn’t end in a draw, sure.

Oba Femi vs. Stacks

Non-title and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too. Stacks slugs away to start but gets driven into and thrown out of the corner. Some elbows, with a glare at Tony D’Angelo, have Stacks in trouble and his comeback attempt is easily cut off. Femi hits him in the back of the head a few times for two but Stacks strikes away, including a dropkick to put Femi down. Not that it matters as Femi is back up with the toss powerbomb for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Femi is such a force these days that it is hard to imagine him losing anytime soon (or anytime at all for that matter). He has found his groove as the unstoppable monster and the more people he runs over, the better of a monster he’s going to be. Stacks was a good designated victim here and that’s all he needed to be.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on more of the women but Eddy Thorpe breaks it up.

Je’Von Evans thinks he should get a Heritage Cup shot and Wren Sinclair grans his request. Charlie Dempsey comes in and isn’t pleased so he blames Miles Borne, who didn’t hear a thing.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Jaida Parker

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Parker shoulders her down to start but stops to favor the bad ribs. Nyx is back up with a running kick to those ribs and we hit a bodyscissors. Parker powers out and puts her on the corner for the seated senton. The running hip attack finishes Nyx at 4:40.

Rating: C. This was Parker getting her win back after a big loss on Sunday, which isn’t a bad way to go. Parker vs. the team is something that could go on or a few weeks and build her back up, though she’ll need some friends on the way there. For now though, Parker continues to feel like she is rising up the ranks and that could be quite the ride going forward.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Parker down.

Here is Roxanne Perez to brag about her success and even the women on the main roster can’t stop talking about her. People fantasize about beating her but then fantasy meets reality. It doesn’t matter if you are the hot prospect or a big star from Japan…and here is Chelsea Green to interrupt.

Green doesn’t like how the fans smell but they cheer for her anyway. She is here to interrupt the fun sized champion because she is the new #1 contender. Cue Giulia to interrupt and the fans seem impressed. Giulia wastes no time in dropping Green and then issues the challenge for the CW show. Perez seems to accept to wrap it up. You had to know that was coming and that’s not a bad choice to make.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t the strongest here but that wasn’t the point. This show was about setting up the big CW debut in about a month and that show is already feeling like the biggest thing NXT has done since Stand & Deliver. This is already feeling like a bigger deal than No Mercy, which is a great way to off to a hot start on the way to the next major change over. Nice job this week, even if it was just a preview for the important show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Swanton to Ledger
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Tatum Paxley b. Rosemary – Psycho Trap
Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams went to a double countout
Je’Von Evans b. Joe Coffey – Springboard spinning splash
Oba Femi b. Stacks – Toss powerbomb
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Running hip attack

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

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

In memory Of Sid Vicious.

Fatal Influence is ready for Meta Four.

Meta Four is ready for Fatal Influence.

Meta Four vs. Fatal Influence

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

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

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

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

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

Karmen Petrovic vs. Izzi Dame

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

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

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

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

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

D’Angelo Family vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kelani Jordan vs. Rosemary

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

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

Post match Wendy Choo pops in to choke Jordan out.

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

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

Malik Blade vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

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

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

Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Coffey

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

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

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

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

No Mercy rundown.

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

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

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

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

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

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AND

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

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

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

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

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

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

Wendy Choo vs. Lola Vice

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gauntlet Eliminator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dion Lennox vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

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

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

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

No Mercy rundown.

Joe Hendry vs. Pete Dunne vs. Wes Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: August 6, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the second week of the Great American Bash and we have a title match in the main event as Ethan Page will be defending the NXT Title against Oro Mensah. Other than that, the Tag Team Titles are on the line as the Rascalz are coming after Nathan Frazier and Axiom. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week, focusing on Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, your hosts for both weeks.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

Williams chops away to start but has to suplex his way out of a Kimura. Dunne gets in a shot of his own before they strike it out, with Dunne’s chest being rather red. A neckbreaker gives Williams two and we take an early break. Back with Dunne cranking on the arm but Williams fights up with a clothesline to start the comeback.

A Rock Bottom gives Williams two but Dunne drops him again and goes up. That’s cut of with a super flapjack of all things for a nasty crash. A spinning kick to the face gives Williams two and they’re both down again. Back up and Dunne powerbombs him down and stomps away…which for some reason fires Williams up. The Trick Shot misses though and Dunne grabs the Bitter End for the pin at 13:00.

Rating: B-. That’s a surprising result as Williams has been seen as the top star in NXT for the last several months but then he loses clean here. Dunne hasn’t exactly been presented as a huge deal on the main roster yet here he is beating Williams. The match itself was pretty good, but I’m more interested in why Williams lost here, as it came out of nowhere.

Earlier today, Eddy Thorpe and Lexis King got in an argument over the music at the barbecue. Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner then got in a wing eating contest. Presumably more on this later.

Nathan Frazier and Ethan Page argued in the trainer’s room, with Frazier realizing Axiom isn’t here yet.

Women’s North American Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Kelani Jordan

Paxley is challenging and can’t get very far with a headlock to start. They trade waistlocks until Jordan takes her down by the arm. The fans are split as Jordan snaps off some more armdrags and sends Paxley outside. There’s the big slingshot dive but Jordan finds another doll of herself underneath the ring.

Paxley gets in a cheap shot off the distraction and we take a break. Back with Paxley working on the leg and grabbing a hair faceplant…as Wendy Choo comes out to watch. The Psycho Trap misses but so does the split legged moonsault, allowing Paxley to hit a 450 for two. They both go up with Jordan grabbing a super Spanish Fly. A frog splash retains the title at 10:00.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t exactly tearing the house down but it’s another win to add to the list for Jordan. That’s the best thing for her at the moment as she still needs to make herself feel more like a star worthy of being the champion. Granted that might com crashing down when she faces Wendy Choo but for now it’s becoming a good start.

Post match Choo hands Paxley the doll and then jumps her as Jordan looks on.

Wren Sinclair things the No Quarter Catch Crew has whacked Tavion Heights, who is really in Japan. She still wants on the team, but the D’Angelo Family comes in. Tony D’Angelo says that if Sinclair wins tonight, Charlie Dempsey can have another shot at the Heritage Cup. Wren manages a bonus: she’s on the team if she wins. Oba Femi storms past them and we pan over to Axiom, who arrives as Nathan Frazier is trying to get him on the phone. Axiom has been here but was giving Frazier some space.

Trick Williams jumps Pete Dunne, making him a sore loser.

NXT Title: Ethan Page vs. Oro Mensah

Mensah, with Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, is challenging. Mensah chops away in the corner to start and snaps off an anklescissors to put Page down. Some chops in the corner send Page outside and we take an early break. Back again with Mensah fighting out of a bearhug but moonsaulting into a dropkick in a rather nice bit of timing. Page knocks him to the apron and tells the announcers to move but can’t quite hit a superplex.

Instead Mensah sends him to the floor for the suicide dive into the table, followed by a spinning kick for two back inside. They go outside and fight up the ramp, with Page hitting an Ego’s Edge through a picnic table. That’s not a DQ due to reasons that aren’t clear so Page hits a DDT for two. Mensah grabs some rollups for a DDT of his own, setting up the running spinwheel kick in the corner for two more. Page is back up with the Ego’s Edge for the pin at 13:09.

Rating: B-. They were doing everything they could here and it was far from a bad match, but Mensah’s mother wouldn’t have given him a serious chance of winning the title here. In a similar vein to Kelani Jordan, this was more about giving Page another win and that’s not a bad thing. This didn’t come off like a main event and they didn’t treat it as such, which was the right way to go.

The Rascalz are ready to get the Tag Team Titles back.

Back at the barbecue, women argue over a title shot and a man hits on them, earning a trip through a table.

Joe Hendry vs. Joe Coffey

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey, who jumps the other two before the bell. Coffey headbutts Hendry into the corner to start but gets kneed in the face. Hendry grabs a suplex and fires off some chops, followed by a clothesline to the floor as we take a break. Back with Hendry playing Eddie Guerrero by throwing a chair and faking an attack to get rid of the rest of Gallus. Hendry hits a backdrop and fall away slam as the fans sing about their beliefs. The Standing Ovation (high angle spinebuster) finishes Coffey at 8:11.

Rating: C+. This felt like a way to give Hendry a win around here, as he continues to more or less move into NXT and become the hottest thing in the promotion despite not working here. If WWE can get that kind of a result while sending midcarders over to TNA, good for them, as it’s working out well. Nice stuff here, and odds are Hendry isn’t done with NXT just yet.

Post match Hendry says he has enjoyed his time here and he might just stay for a lot longer. He’ll be here next week and you won’t even need to say his name because he will appear.

We’re off to Chase U, which has a new classroom. That’s not all either, as he has gotten Chase U a Tag Team Title shot next week. Duke Hudson perks up…but is told that it’s Holland and Andre Chase getting the shot. Hudson is disappointed while everyone else gets fired up.

Back at the barbecue, Shawn Spears wants to mentor Brooks Jensen, who seems to agree. Elsewhere, a rather messy Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner make a multi-woman match for…I think a shot at Roxanne Perez? The OC come in and get in a brawl with Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.

Wren Sinclair vs. Kendal Grey

The No Quarter Catch Crew and Carlee Bright are here too. Grey takes her down into an armbar to start but Sinclair reverses into a headscissors. Back up and Grey snaps off anther armdrag into an armbar, only to get reversed into an arm and leg stretch. Grey fights up and hits a suplex to send Sinclair out to the floor. Back in and something like an Angle Slam gives Grey two and they trade rollups for two each. Sinclair hits her in the face and grabs a bulldog driver for the clean pin at 4:17, earning herself a spot in the No Quarter Catch Crew and Charlie Dempsey a Heritage Cup shot.

Rating: C+. That’s not a long match for having so much riding on it but it certainly moved things forward in a hurry. Sinclair has gone from nothing to an interesting prospect by being in the right place at the right time and then winning a match so we’ll have to see where she goes. Other than that, Grey continues to be good enough without winning, though that is going to need to change sooner or later.

Je’Von Evans talks about wrestling at a young age and meeting Matt Bloom (Albert/Lord Tensai) when he was a kid. Now Bloom is his coach. He’s not sure where he’s going to be in ten years because he just turned twenty.

Oba Femi is defending his title next week but doesn’t know who is getting the title shot. The D’Angelo Family comes in with Tony D’Angelo saying he’ll retain the Heritage Cup next week.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Axiom and Frazier are defending. Axiom works on Lee’s arm to start and it’s off to Frazier for an armbar of his own. Lee manages to send him into the corner for an extended Bronco Buster but Frazer pulls himself up for a jumping enziguri to put Lee down. Frazer’s big running flip dive connects and Axiom adds a springboard moonsault as we take a break.

Back with Wentz superkicking a Lionsaulting Frazier out of the air, allowing the double tag to Axiom and Lee. Everything breaks down and the Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash gets two on Wentz with Lee making the save. The champs have some miscommunication and Wentz’s springboard cutter gets two. Lee goes up and gets superplex into Chasing The Dragon for two more. The Golden Ratio retains the titles at 10:31.

Rating: B. The tension continues for the champs and has to be ready for a payoff of some kind in the near future. For now though, I’ll settle for a fast paced title match between two teams who can more than work that style. The Rascalz reunion has been rather nice as an exciting trio can be a lot of fun, which is certainly true in their case.

Post match respect is shown and the champions leave. Then Lee superkicks Miguel and kicks Wentz low. Lee rants about how they left him alone and throws them to the floor, with Miguel being sent through the barricade and Wentz being sent into the steps. The fans boo Lee out of the building to end the show. I can go for that, as Lee was kind of out of things to do and his partners work for another company.

Overall Rating: B-. That’s it for the Great American Bash and after two weeks, I’ve seen worse specials. The good thing, as usual in NXT, is that they set up things for the ensuing weeks so we do have a place to go as after this show. This week was a show that didn’t have a ton of major matches but the best it could with what it had. A hot angle at the end helped too and the show wound up being another nice watch.

Results
Pete Dunne b. Trick Williams – Bitter End
Kelani Jordan b. Tatum Paxley – Frog splash
Ethan Page b. Oro Mensah – Ego’s Edge
Joe Hendry b. Joe Coffey – Standing Ovation
Wren Sinclair b. Kendal Grey – Bulldog driver
Nathan Frazier/Axiom b. MSK – Golden Ratio to Lee

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: 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

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: July 23, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are a week away from the first half of the Great American Bash and we don’t have much on the card thus far. The good thing is that the show has two nights so we can get something set up and still have a week to get it ready for night two. Hopefully this week works as well though so let’s get to it.

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

Here is Trick Williams, coming from the parking lot and passing by Cedric Alexander and Ashante Thee Adonis to talk about how he wants his NXT Title back. Cue Alexander to say Williams is being blinded by his passion, so here is Adonis to say he is here to pick up the ball Williams dropped. Williams says Adonis couldn’t pick up the ball even if he had a whole group. Williams: “HIT ROW!” Alexander tries to calm things down but Williams doesn’t want to hear it. A match is set but Adonis isn’t impressed, earning himself a quick beating.

Ethan Page doesn’t like Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont suggesting he almost lost last week. They aren’t worth his time.

Josh Briggs vs. Brooks Jensen

No DQ and Jensen jumps him in the back to start this fast. They fight into the arena with Briggs knocking him over the top. Briggs sends him through the announcers’ table and we take an early break. Back with a bunch of weapons in the ring and Jensen catapulting him face first into the top of the announcers’ table draped over the ropes.

A piledriver onto the steps is blocked and Briggs suplexes him onto the same steps. They slug it out for a double knockdown until Briggs knocks a chair away from him. Cue Shawn Spears for a distraction so Jensen can unload with a chair (on Briggs’ back, which has some NASTY welts). A DDT onto the chair finishes Briggs at 10:10.

Rating: B-. This was what Jensen has been needing, as you can only be so interesting, even as a wild recluse, if you keep losing. Beating his former partner has a personal touch to it and maybe this can give him a good step forward. If nothing else, those welts on Briggs’ back made Jensen look all the more violent as those things looked terrible.

The Rascalz interrupt Nathan Frazier and Axiom, with the former saying they never lost the Tag Team Titles. A match seems to be made, but we’ll make it a six man instead. Axiom mentions being in the next Speed tournament and Frazier isn’t happy. Or maybe he’s kidding.

Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice and the women of Meta Four have one of those arguments in the back that is only designed to set up a match later to set up a match later.

Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe

Thorpe strikes away to start and fires off chops in various corners. A backbreaker into a running kick to the chest has King in more trouble but he’s back up with a superkick. The Coronation is countered into an implant DDT to give Thorpe the pin at 2:30.

Post match King jumps him, including a stomping of Thorpe’s hand on the steps. So this isn’t done.

Trick Williams says he’ll fight anyone to get his title back. Pete Dunne asks if that is so.

Oro Mensah vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

The rest of Meta Four is here too. Mensah starts fast and hammers away in the corner but gets draped over the top rope. Mensah’s comeback is cut off by an elbow to the face for two but Mensah strikes away. An ax kick connects, only for Adonis to grab a spinebuster for two more. Back up and the running spinwheel kick finishes for Mensah at 4:34.

Rating: C. Not much time here but this felt like a way to get Mensah ready for what might be a title shot against Ethan Page. Adonis isn’t much of a main roster star but it’s better than beating up another low level NXT name. Mensah is probably not going much higher on the car than this, but he’ll work in a quick spot.

Post match Mensah says he wants Ethan Page.

Wren Sinclair threatens to tell what she saw if the No Quarter Catch Crew doesn’t help her win tonight. The D’Angelo Family approves.

Carlee Bright vs. Wren Sinclair

The No Quarter Catch Crew, the D’Angelo Family and Kendal Grey are all here too. They trade headlocks to start until Sinclair takes her down. A bow and arrow is broken up and Sinclair hits a running shoulder, only to get dropkicked for two. Myles Borne’s interference doesn’t work so Sinclair tries a rollup, with Charlie Dempsey helping out for the pin on Bright at 3:29.

Rating: C. Another short one here but again it was all about the Catch Crew trying to make Sinclair happy. This would work so much better if there was some kind of mystery to it, but there is no reason that we shouldn’t know what she saw. Otherwise, it’s just making the Crew look like they’re wrapped around her finger, which seems to be the point.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger have Halloween Havoc ideas.

Je’Von Evans will be Axiom and Nathan Frazier’s partner tonight.

Chase U is regrouping and Ridge Holland even has new shirts for them.

We get a sitdown interview with Thea Hail, who is ready to get the NXT Women’s Title. She praises Ridge Holland for helping her get here and wants to win the title for all of Chase U and her fans.

Trick Williams vs. Cedric Alexander

Williams powers him into the corner to start but gets taken into an armbar for his efforts. Back up and Williams slams his way out of trouble before elbowing Alexander in the face. A nice dropkick staggers Alexander again but he knocks Williams to the apron for a clothesline.

We take a break and come back with an exchange of kicks to the face leaving them both down. They strike it out again until a flapjack puts Alexander down. The Michinoku Driver gives Alexander two but he can’t get a cross armbreaker. Instead Williams escapes and hits the Trick Shot for the pin at 10:43.

Rating: B-. The more matches that Williams can have like this, the better he is going to get. Wrestling for ten minutes with an established name like Alexander, who can work well with anyone, is going to be a good thing for him. Williams still isn’t the most polished worker, but if he can keep improving, his natural charisma will be enough to carry him the rest of the way.

Post match, respect is shown but Pete Dunne runs in to jump Williams.

Ethan Page talks to the under bosses and is told to go deal with Oro Mensah.

Wendy Choo stalks Kelani Jordan and Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to ask some of the women for medical help. Then he smiles.

Meta Four vs. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic

Petrovic kicks Jackson into the corner to start and hands it off to Ruca, who gets taken down with a reverse X Factor. Legend comes in and gets caught with a quick hurricanrana for two. Ruca’s slingshot X Factor gets two but Legend kicks her down to take over. Everything breaks down and stereo superkicks get two on Legend. Jackson gets kicked to the floor but Legend punches Petrovic in the face. An over the back faceplant finishes Petrovic at 4:39.

Rating: C+. It’s kind of amazing to see how far Legend has come in the last few months. She went from one of the worst things in NXT to someone who knows how to use her size and athleticism to make it work. This was another nice match and Meta Four looked good enough in there, even over a bigger star like Ruca.

Post match Meta Four issues a challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Trick Williams asks Shawn Michaels for an NXT Title shot. Shawn will work on it. Roxanne Perez comes in to yell about not getting an interview like Thea Hail, with Shawn trying to calm her down.

Video on Joe Hendry’s rise to prominence and the work he has put in. Next week, he’ll be having a concert. Can WWE just buy his contract out from TNA already?

Gallus wants Hendry next week and then freaks out when they find fliers for his concert.

Ethan Page says Oro Mensah pinning him last week doesn’t count and a referee agrees, which is what he wanted to here.

Here is Page, with the referee, in the ring to say that while this does NOT bother him, he wants the referee to reiterate that it doesn’t matter. Then Oro Mensah comes in and rolls him up for another pin.

The D’Angelo Family mocks the No Quarter Catch Crew, but in honor of the Olympics, Olympian Tavion Heights can have a Heritage Cup shot next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Je’Von Evans/Axiom/Nathan Frazier vs. Rascalz

Axiom and Miguel start things off by going to the mat until Axiom snaps off a dropkick. Frazier is in for a fast shot of his own, only to have Miguel kick him in the face. The Rascalz come in for a triple team on Frazier but it’s off to Evans for a dropkick. Evans and Lee slug it out and everything breaks down and the Rascalz hit some dives as we take a break.

Back with Frazier hitting a running shooting star press for two on Wentz, allowing Axiom to grab a chinlock. A triple superkick gets two on Wentz and Evans puts on the cross arm choke. Wentz fights out and knees Frazier out of the air, allowing the tag to Lee to pick up the pace.

The alternating kicks put Axiom down and a triple dropkick gets two on Frazier. Evans is back in with his top rope cutter to Miguel and the super Spanish Fly into the frog splash gets two, with the rest of the Rascalz making the save. A backbreaker/double stomp combination hits Axiom and Hot Fire Flame (an assisted standing moonsault) gives Wentz the pin at 15:24.

Rating: B+. This was six guys being told to go out there and go nuts with flips and athleticism and it worked as expected. The Rascalz work so well together and the other three can more than mesh with that style. I had a blast with this and they knew exactly what they were trying to do.

Respect is shown post match.

Ethan Page comes up to Ava and wants to get rid of Oro Mensah. He’ll even make it a title match. Ava says the contract signing can be next week and the title match can be the week after. Works for Page.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event is by far the best part and they set up some stuff for the Bash, but the show isn’t feeling that special. Granted it’s only a TV thing, but they’ve hyped it up as big and I don’t know that the card is backing that up. Maybe they’ll surprise me, but the main event and a few other things were enough to carry this week.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Josh Briggs – DDT onto a chair
Eddy Thorpe b. Lexis King – Implant DDT
Oro Mensah b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Running spinwheel kick
Wren Sinclair b. Carlee Bright – Rollup with assist from Charlie Dempsey
Trick Williams b. Cedric Alexander – Trick Shot
Meta Four b. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic – Over the back faceplant to Petrovic
Rascalz b. Je’Von Evans/Axiom/Nathan Frazier – Hot Fire Flame to Axiom

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NXT
Date: July 16, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

The big story coming out of last week was the return of Joe Hendry, who showed up in the main event and teamed with Trick Williams to beat Shawn Spears and Ethan Page. That could be something that continues this week, though Hendry isn’t someone who appears on every show. Other than that, we need to start getting ready for the Great American Bash so let’s get to it.

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

The Rascalz are ready for Gallus.

Gallus is ready for the Rascalz.

Rascalz vs. Gallus

The fans are rather happy to see the Rascalz. Mark shoves Miguel down to start as Booker makes sure Vic doesn’t say Joe Hendry’s name. Wentz comes in but gets forearmed straight into the corner as the villains take over. That’s broken up so Lee comes in for a headlock, only to get his head taken off with a clothesline. Booker says he hasn’t seen a trio like Gallus since the Freebirds, making me wonder how Booker has a job talking about wrestling. Someone says Hendry’s name and he appears, joining commentary as we take a break.

Back with Lee avoiding a charge in the corner and bringing Wentz in with a missile dropkick. Everything breaks down and Miguel’s Lightning Spiral (similar to a Paige Turner) hits Mark with Wolfgang making the save. A triple dropkick puts Wolfgang on the floor and the dives connect (Hendry approves) and it’s a top rope double stomp to pin Mark at 12:05.

Rating: B-. As usual, the Rascalz are a lot of things, with exciting being at the top of the list. They wrestle a fast paced style and fly around the ring so quickly that it is hard to not get interested in what they’re doing. That makes for some very entertaining matches and I had a good time here.

Hendry says Gallus might have won if they had believed a bit more.

We get a Hendry narrated video on last week’s tag team main event, with Hendry pinning Shawn Spears for the win.

Chase U has a big night as Duke Hudson is ready to win the North American Title.

Roxanne Perez is walking to the back and Thea Hail has to be held back from jumping her.

NXT Champion Ethan Page comes in to see Ava and says this is an unsafe work environment. Oro Mensah storms in and wants a title shot. Ava says no because Mensah keeps attacking him. Ava gives Mensah a match tonight while Page will face…..Dante Chen (his choice)!

Here is Roxanne Perez for a chat. She’s tired of the lack of respect while everyone is looking at greatness when they see her. Perez is on pace to shatter all of the records but everyone is talking about how Giulia or Stephanie Vaquer is going to run her over. That’s just wrong, but her next opponent is Thea Hail, who is a joke. Cue Hail to say she has beaten all kinds of people she was never supposed to beat so let her rewrite the history books. Perez laughs her off and brings up Andre Chase throwing in the towel before calling Hail a little girl. The fight is on and the Kimura makes Perez tap, with referees breaking it up.

Kelani Jordan is ready for her next challenges when Wendy Choo comes in for some staring. Jordan: “That was weird right?”

We take a quick look at the Brooks Jensen incidents.

Lola Vice gave it her all but she’s ready for next time. Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx come in to mock her, saying Vice should go back to MMA. A match with Henley is made.

Brooks Jensen vs. Je’Von Evans

Josh Briggs is here as Jensen’s chaperon. Evans starts fast and knocks him out to the floor, where Jensen drops Evans onto the barricade. A quick moonsault drops Jensen though and spinning kick to the face gives Evans two back inside. They go back outside where Jensen drops him onto the announcers’ table (Jensen: “That boy’s bouncy!”) and we take a break.

Back with Jensen kneeing him down to stay on the bad ribs. The reverse chinlock goes on but Evans is back up with a super hurricanrana. A springboard high crossbody gives Evans two but Jensen Neutralizes him for the same. Cue Shawn Spears, only for Jensen to go outside and call Briggs off. Evans uses the distraction to hit a big dive, setting up the top rope cutter for the pin at 9:00.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure I quit get what they’re doing with Jensen as he had all kinds of hype but then gets beaten here. It’s a weird way to go but it does feel like there is more to it than what we’ve gotten so far. He still has a long way to go to get around the fact that he’s Brooks Jensen though, and I’m not sure if he can pull that off.

Post match Jensen jumps Evans but Briggs pulls him off.

The D’Angelo Family is playing cards when Charlie Dempsey comes in to mention putting someone (presumably Damon Kemp) in the trunk last week. Dempsey asks what happens if someone saw them, with Tony D’Angelo suggesting that Dempsey kill them too. It’s a woman though, which makes it more complicated.

Dante Chen is ready for his title shot.

Trick Williams is on the phone with Ilja Dragunov and talks about needing the title back. Dragunov tells him to go do it. Williams runs into Pete Dunne and asks for some advice, with Dunne saying figure it out.

NXT Title: Dante Chen vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending and shoulders Chen down to start. Chen grabs a quick rollup for two and a low superkick gets the same. Page sends him outside for a shoulder from the apron, setting up a powerslam for two back inside. Chen is sent to the apron but comes back in with a sunset flip for two. The double chop gets the same but a springboard something misses for Chen. Page kicks him down and hits the Ego’s Edge to retain at 4:16.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time on this and they shouldn’t have. Chen isn’t the biggest name and there is no reason to let him make the new champion look bad. Page isn’t likely going to be champion long term but giving him a relatively easy win like this is a good thing. Let him get built up a bit, especially over someone who isn’t a major threat.

Post match Oro Mensah comes in to take Page down and counts his own three count.

Video on Duke Hudson vs. Oba Femi.

Gallus is annoyed at Joe Hendry, who appears to say he’s sticking around here. Maybe NXT would think of Gallus when they hear about Scotland if they believed a bit more.

Izzi Dame vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley starts fast but her hurricanrana is cut off. A kick to the face gives Paxley two but Dame whips her into the corner a few times. Dame’s backbreaker gets two and we hit an over the shoulder backbreaker. Cue Wendy Choo for a distraction, allowing Paxley to get in a knee to the ribs. Dame’s charge hits post and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C. The important thing here is the fact that this was a match (if not a feud) that has nothing to do with a title but got some TV time. It’s nice to have something other than everything being about a title and shows you just how far ahead the NXT women’s division is by comparison. It’s great to see for a change, even if the match was just ok.

Post match Choo hands Paxley a doll.

Chase U fires up Duke Hudson.

Cedric Alexander and Ashante Thee Adonis talk to Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend but Oro Mensah isn’t having this.

Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice

Jazmyn Nyx is here with Jayne, who runs Vice over and dances a bit. A low superkick lets Jayne go after the bad hand bu Vice is back up with the rapid fire kicks. Jayne kicks her in the face, only to get caught with the spinning backfist for the fast pin at 2:46.

Post match Fallon Henley jumps Vice until Sol Ruca and Karmen Petrovic run in for the save.

Kelani Jordan runs into Tatum Paxley, who has the doll. Jordan isn’t interested in playing, but Paxley pulls out what looks like a Jordan doll.

Ethan Page goes to leave but insists that nothing is bothering him, including Oro Mensah.

OTM vs. OC

Mixed six person tag. It’s a brawl to start with Michin hammering away on Parker in the corner but getting sent into the post. Parker gets two off a spinebuster but it’s off to Gallows to kick Price in the face. Price hits a running corner clothesline so Nima comes in to choke on the ropes. The neck crank goes on but Gallows is back up with a fireman’s carry flapjack. Michin comes back in to suplex Parker, who snaps off a German suplex. Anderson’s middle rope neckbreaker gets two on Price and the Magic Killer finishes Nima at 6:00.

Rating: C+. This feud has been going on for a few weeks now and I’m still not sure why I’m supposed to be interested. The OC is a team that has some star power but they are only so interesting. OTM feels like they have potential but that is only going to get them so far if they keep losing. Wrap this feud up already.

Wren Sinclair wants to be part of the No Quarter Catch Crew in exchange for her silence. That isn’t happening, and she almost gets into a fight with Miles Borne. She promises to get in somehow.

Lexis King interrupted Eddy Thorpe’s DJing and got in a fight.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson, with Chase U, is challenging. Femi powers out of a headlock to start and grabs one of his own. A hard shoulder drops Hudson, who takes the shirt off to get serious. Hudson hits a DDT into a running clothesline to the floor and we take a break. Back with Femi knocking him into the corner and getting two off a side slam.

Hudson fights up again and slugs away, including the Chase U elbow to the face. A German suplex gives Hudson two and a crucifix out of a fireman’s carry gets the same. Femi is right back with a chokeslam for two and he puts Hudson up top, only to have him grab a sunset bomb. Femi knocks him outside and over the announcers’ table, setting up the Fall From Grace to retain the title at 11:33.

Rating: B. This is exactly what it should have been, with Chase U’s big guy slugging away at the really big champion. It made you wonder if Hudson could pull off the miracle and while the result was never really in doubt, they were certainly trying. Chase U knows how to get the crowd behind them and they made that happen again here. Good main event here, with Femi getting to look like the unstoppable monster again.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are leaving with Briggs yelling about how Jensen is lost. Jensen wants a No DQ match next week and leaves to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show pulled off an impressive trick by having an entertaining and engaging two hours without burning through a major story. The main event was for the midcard title, the Tag Team Champions were nowhere to be seen, the Women’s Champion set up her match and the NXT Champion won a relatively easy match. To turn that into a good show is a very positive sign and they didn’t touch anything important. Nice job here and another good show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus – Top rope double stomp to Mark
Je’Von Evans b. Brooks Jensen – Top rope cutter
Ethan Page b. Dante Chen – Ego’s Edge
Tatum Paxley b. Izzi Dame – Psycho Trap
Lola Vice b. Jacy Jayne – Spinning backfist
OC b. OTM – Magic Killer to Nima
Oba Femi b. Duke Hudson – Fall From Grace

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: 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

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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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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We’re already back to another big time NXT show and in this case the card is feeling a bit weak. There are some big names on here but it’s not exactly looking like a great card. It’s also coming at the end of the big WWE weekend in the same venue and that could be a problem for the fans. Hopefully the wrestlers can overcome the issue so let’s get to it.

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

This was added at the last minute this week on NXT and it makes for a perfectly fine choice for a warm up match. Grace and Petrovic are your latest oddball team, while Jayne and Nyx are the resident midcard villains. That should make for a good enough match as Nyx and Jayne are rather annoying together and Grace if agreeing to help Petrovic because….well because Grace doesn’t get it a lot of the time.

I’ll go with Petrovic and Grace to win here, as NXT certainly loves its random pairings who wind up being good together. Jayne and Nyx are the kind of team who can bounce back after a loss without much trouble and they very well may have to do it again here. The match isn’t likely going to be anything special, but for a glorified tV match, it should be perfectly acceptable.

North American Title: Oba Femi(c) vs. Wes Lee

This is the David vs. Goliath match as you have the monster Femi defending against Lee, who isn’t exactly a big guy in the first place but has the big heart to fight for his title. That’s a story that has worked forever in wrestling and always will. Lee is going to have some fans behind him and if they can get into his near falls and hope spots, we could be in for a heck of a reception.

I can’t see a way Femi loses the title here, as there isn’t much of a reason for Lee to get the belt back. He’s already held it for such a long time and having him beat Femi would seem rather counterproductive. Go with what makes sense here, which is having Femi win by mostly destroying Lee in the end. It has the potential to be fun, but Femi needs to hold onto the title.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan(c) vs. Sol Ruda

The title is still pretty much brand new and there is only so much that you can get out of a title that has only been defended so many times. Jordan winning the title via a ladder match is still working against her as she is still trying to show just how good she is. Another win might help that, but I’m not sure if this is going to be a big enough opponent to make that happen.

I’ll go with Jordan retaining here, as Ruca is an athletic marvel, but she’ll be popular for a long time due to the cool finisher with the Sol Snatcher. Jordan feels like ore of a long term project and having her win here would be a bit of a boost. NXT is going to need to work to really establish the title and that is going to take time, along with a string of wins. Jordan can add to that here.

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

This is a story of two teams who aren’t in the best places at the moment. Axiom and Frazer are arguing over whether or not they should focus on being a team or on Frazer’s singles career. At the same time, Chase U is having to deal with cheating from Ridge Holland, who is not allowed to be around for the match. That makes for a complicated situation for the titles, which could make the ending a bit more clear.

I’ll take the champions to retain here, as it feels like they need a win to keep things going well while Chase U will have issues without the cheating being around. I’m not sure if that makes a ton of sense, but it should make enough sense for what we have here. The match itself should be good and while I’d love to see Chase U winning the titles back, I don’t think I can see it happening here.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez(c) vs. Lola Vice

This was set up by a rather emotional speech from Vice, which is odd as she has been incredibly cocky in the previous weeks. Vince has talked about wanting to do this or her mother and her heritage, which is one of those things that should make for a layup win, though it isn’t like Vice needed that in the first place. Perez is a rather awesome champion, but I’m not sure if that is enough.

In this case, I’ll go with it being enough for Vice, who seems to be the perfect choice for the next big star in the division. Perez has already shown how good she is and there is little reason for her to hold onto the title. Vice’s emotional speech should be enough to get her there, as NXT has certainly built her up for the last few months and that should be a sign that she is getting the big win.

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

While this match is the main event and certainly has a lot of people involved, I’m not sure if I would call it a match that feels big. It really comes off as Williams defending against three people who happen to be in the match with him rather than great challengers. He’s already beaten Page so there isn’t even much drama in one of the three. That makes for a bit of an issue and it also should lead to the obvious.

As you might have guessed, I’ll take Williams to retain here, as I can’t imagine any real reason for him to lose the title. Williams is the biggest star in the promotion and there is no reason to take the title from him right now. While I’d like to believe there is a chance that NXT could lose their minds and give Evans the title so soon, it feels like it should be Williams winning in what would be the right move.

Overall Thoughts

I wasn’t overly interested in this card when I started looking at the whole thing and that isn’t much better now. It just isn’t that interesting of a show and while it could still very well wind up working out, it feels like a show that is there because it has to be. Maybe they will outperform their hype (it certainly wouldn’t be the first time) but this isn’t one of their strongest efforts, at least on the way in.