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

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

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

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

Iron Survivor Challenge rules:

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

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

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ridge Holland

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Confetti and streamers go off to end the show.

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: November 26, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re still on the way to Deadline and that means we have more Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matches this week. In addition though, Ridge Holland beat Andre Chase last week to both break up the school (in some way) and become #1 contender to the NXT Title. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Holland beating Chase in a heartbreaking loss.

Chase U’s music plays but it’s Ridge Holland to crush some more souls instead. Holland gets right to the point by saying “I told you so” and says he’s coming for the NXT Title at Deadline. Short and to the point here, which might be best for Holland on the mic.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Axiom vs. Ethan Page

Nathan Frazier is here with Axiom. They start fast with some grappling but an early Golden Ratio attempt sends Page outside as we take an early break. Back with Axiom sending him into the announcers’ table and back inside, where Page kicks him in the mask. Axiom goes for an armbar but Page powerbombs his way to freedom to leave them both down.

Page grabs a waistlock before whipping said waist into the corner for a crash. A twisting backbreaker gets two but Axiom catches him on top with a super Spanish Fly for the same. Axiom goes up again but gets caught with a backbreaker onto the buckle as we take another break.

Back again with Axiom hitting a flipping DDT for two and trying a front facelock. That earns him a suplex into the corner and another backbreaker for another two. A super Ego’s Edge is countered into a super hurricanrana and Page is staggered. The Golden Ratio is loaded up again but Page hits a heck of a clothesline for the pin at 16:36.

Rating: B. This was a rather good match with Axiom getting the time to show what he can do. At the same time, Page was getting a chance of his own, as he isn’t so often known for what he can do in the ring. It worked well here though and they had me invested in what they were doing. Very nice opener here with Page staying around the title scene.

Post match Page brags about his win but Frazier says Page hasn’t won anything yet. Page says he just beat the guy that makes the team work but Frazier isn’t so sure about that. With Axiom being annoyed, Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans come out to say they’ll win. Cue a bunch of tag teams for the brawl with Axiom/Frazier.

Lola Vice and Stephanie Vaquer bicker about who will win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge but Wren Sinclair interrupts. Vice isn’t pleased and promises a beating.

Nikkita Lyons and Ashante Thee Adonis are in the back to talk about Adonis talking her. Karmen Petrovic comes in to ell at Adonis, with Lyons not being impressed.

Wren Sinclair vs. Lola Vice

Charlie Dempsey is here with Sinclair. Vice takes her down without much trouble to start but can’t get a cross armbreaker. Three Amigos give Vice two but Sinclair takes her own by the arm. Vice fights up and kicks away before they head outside. A stomp on the steps is broken up but Sinclair sends her into the steps. Back in and Vice knocks her silly with the spinning backfist for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C. This was more of a technical match until the big knockout ending, with Vince knocking Sinclair silly. Vice continues to move up the ladder but at some point she’s going to need to win something that matters. Sinclair is doing well in this niche of the midcard villain and that is a valuable spot to fill.

Post match Vice calls out Jaida Parker for NXT Underground.

Tony D’Angelo assures Riz that his knee is ok.

Brooks Jensen and Shawn Spears are ready to get the North American Title.

Fatal Influence calls Tatum Paxley a freak but she says their past will haunt them.

North American Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Shawn Spears

D’Angelo is defending and Riz and Brooks Jensen are here too. Spears shoulders him down to start but gets hit in the face, only for D’Angelo to bang up his knee again. Another shot to the knee has D’Angelo down and we take a break. Back with D’Angelo pulling him into the post and hitting a superplex for a breather.

We cut to the parking lot where all of the tag teams are brawling again before coming back to Spears hitting a knee to the face. The Figure Four has D’Angelo in more trouble until a rope is grabbed. Booker declares the match over but D’Angelo gets in a quick spear for two. The spinebuster is loaded up but the knee gives out again, only for a second attempt to finish Spears at 8:33.

Rating: B-. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible but they are doing a nice job of turning D’Angelo into a star the fans want to get behind. He made a nice come from behind comeback here and won despite the knee injury, which is good guy wrestling 101. This was a good bit better than I was expecting and that’s always nice to see.

Post match Spears and Jensen jump D’Angelo with Niko, the driver from a few weeks ago, joining in. They all look at Riz.

The tag teams are still brawling in the parking lot and wreck a car.

A despondent Andre Chase leaves Chase U for the last time….but someone calls to him.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Kelani Jordan vs. Giulia

They fight over arm control to start until Jordan takes her down for an early splash. An exchange of near falls goes to a standoff until Giulia pulls her down into something like the Rings of Saturn. A headbutt and headscissors have Jordan in trouble and Giulia snaps the arm over the top rope. Back up and they hit each other in the face for a standoff as we take a break.

We come back with Jordan hitting a jumping kick to the face, setting up a big dive to the floor. Back in and Giulia misses a missile dropkick but counters One Of A Kind into a Hell’s Gate. That’s reversed with a powerbomb as Roxanne Perez is watching in the back. A hammerlock piledriver drops Jordan but she rolls into a cradle for two. That’s fine with Giulia, who knees her in the head and finishes with a northern lights bomb at 12:30.

Rating: B. Jordan is showing more and more potential and putting her in the ring with stars the caliber of Giulia is only going to help her grow. The NXT women’s division continues to be its best feature and if Jordan can develop from a good athlete into a good wrestler, she has all kinds of potential.

Ava makes a multi-person match between all of the Iron Survivor Qualifier losers for the last spot. As for Axiom and Nathan Frazier, they will defend their titles at Deadline against the winner of next week’s tag team battle royal. Axiom says they might have to wrestle twice, but Frazier points out that Axiom has to qualify first. As the endless bickering continues, Eddy Thorpe goes to yell at Ava, even grabbing her arm. Ava yells at him but some of the people arguing knock a door into her to send her down.

Post break, Shawn Michaels shoves Thorpe against a wall (!) and throws him out.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. Williams says that Ava is being checked on by medics (it wasn’t that big of a bump) before moving on to Ridge Holland ending Chase U. There have been all kinds of people who have given it their all for NXT, even people like Carmelo Hayes. That’s why he can’t let Ridge Holland become NXT Champion, because everything those people have fought for would go up in smoke.

Cue Holland, who says controversy follows him everywhere….and Eric Bischoff of all people pops up on the screen. He wants a closer look at NXT and is going to do something to make Williams and Holland want to destroy each other. That’s one of the most random cameos I’ve seen in a long time.

Charlie Dempsey tells Wren Sinclair that she’s in a last chance qualifying match next week too. She’s nervous.

X-Pac will be here next week too.

Women’s North American Title: Fallon Henley vs. Tatum Paxley

Henley, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is challenging. The fans are behind Paxley to start, even as Henley works on the arm. Paxley flips up and backflips away before going after the arm as well. A butterfly suplex rocks Henley and Paxley kicks her out to the floor, where a Fatal Influence distraction lets Henley get in a shot.

We take a break and come back with Henley punching her down for two and grabbing a chinlock. Paxley fights up and they both try crossbodies for a double knockdown. An exchange of strikes goes to Paxley and something like an Angle Slam gets two. Jacy Jayne offers a distraction so Henley can grab a pumphandle suplex for two. Paxley is right back with a knockdown into a 450 for two but the Psycho Trap is blocked. Henley hits the Fameasser to retain at 10:56.

Rating: B-. This was another good match to wrap up the show, with Henley continuing her ascension in the ring. She’s gotten that much better in recent months and it’s no surprise that she is getting a bit of a run with some gold. At the same time, it still feels like we’re waiting on the big challenger to show up and that could certainly cause Henley some problems. Paxley wasn’t that top opponent, but the fans were behind her here and that’s good to see.

Post match the beatdown is on but Gigi Dolin returns and helps clear the ring to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Now this was more like it, with good action throughout and some big moments to make me want to see what is coming. The qualifying matches for Deadline did their job as you had wrestlers fighting to get into a bigger match, with stuff like the Chase tease and Dolin’s return, plus the still bizarre Bischoff cameo carrying the rest. Rather strong show this week and one of the best from NXT in a bit.

Results
Ethan Page b. Axiom – Clothesline
Lola Vice b. Wren Sinclair – Spinning backfist
Tony D’Angelo b. Shawn Spears – Spinebuster
Giulia b. Kelani Jordan – Northern lights bomb
Fallon Henley b. Tatum Paxley – Fameasser

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

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

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

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

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

Meta Four vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

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

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

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

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

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adriana Rizzo vs. Nikkita Lyons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Respect is shown post match.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

North American Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Nunzio

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

Post match respect is shown.

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

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

Nikkita Lyons promises to take out everyone and win gold.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Halloween Havoc 2024
Date: October 27, 2024
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

It’s another big time show on the road as we have one of the most obvious WCW shows being brought back to the big time. That means a bunch of Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal matches, which could make for an interesting card. The main event is another Trick Williams defending the NXT Title against Ethan Page, which isn’t so interesting. Let’s get to it.

Gigi Dolin hosts the opening video, which is focusing on people being different tonight for one night of the year. The matches involved get attention too.

The set looks GREAT with a bunch of Halloween themed pieces, ala the old WCW sets (no big pumpkin though). Even ring announcer Mike Rome is dressed as Beetlejuice.

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

D’Angelo is defending in a Tables, Ladders and Scares match, meaning street fight with pinfalls or submissions. D’Angelo breaks up the Big Match Intros and they go straight to the brawl, with D’Angelo taking him outside for a spear through the barricade. The weapons are busted out, with a ladder being bridged between the ring and the apron, allowing Femi to chair D’Angelo in the back.

A chokeslam onto a chair gives Femi two and he puts a chair over D’Angelo in the corner. D’Angelo kicks his way out and they go out to the floor, where Femi sends him into the apron. There’s a slam onto the ladder back inside and it’s already table time. Femi blasts him through said table for two and then wraps a crowbar around D’Angelo’s face. A powerbomb is loaded up but D’Angelo reverses into a backdrop, followed by the spinebuster for two.

Back up and Femi throws him again, with D’Angelo coming up holding his leg. Femi busts out a zip tie to tie D’Angelo to the corner, but he has to stop and beat up the D’Angelo Family. Riz gets stalked to the apron, where she grabs the crowbar, which Femi snatches away without much trouble. D’Angelo rips off the tie and spears Femi through the bridged ladder but Femi is right back up with the pop up powerbomb for two. Riz is back in with the crowbar and the Family hits a Shatter Machine with a chair. The spinebuster through the table gives D’Angelo the pin at 15:33.

Rating: B. They beat the fire out of each other here and it made for a good opener, with D’Angelo retaining via some interference in the end. I get that Femi was threatening Riz, but having a bunch of people come in to help D’Angelo beat a monster doesn’t make me want to cheer him. The good/bad stuff has been all over the place in this feud, though in theory this is it for them.

Lexis King still needs a corner man for his Heritage Cup match but no one trusts him. William Regal comes in to say he knew King’s father and hopes the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Regal will be the corner man. Oh dear.

Fatal Influence has decided that Kelani Jordan will defend the Women’s North American Title in a gauntlet match.

Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer cranks on Jade’s arms to start and hands it off to Giulia for a top rope ax handle to one of those arms. Perez comes in and gets caught in a headlock before she and Vaquer trade rollups for two each. Giulia sets up Vaquer’s 619, followed by a double elbow to Jade as this is one sided early on. Perez’s crossface attempt doesn’t work as Giulia pulls her into an STF, with Vaquer adding the same thing on Jade.

Giulia’s missile dropkick puts Perez down for two more but Jade grabs the leg to take over. A running elbow to the back gets two on Giulia and Jade grabs the chinlock. Back up and Giulia and Perez both knock the other down, allowing the tag back to Vaquer. A high crossbody puts Perez down again but Jade comes in, only to get headbutted into the corner. Vaquer dragon screws Perez’s leg as everything breaks down again.

The rapid fire headbutts have the villains in trouble but they’re back with stereo superkicks. Perez hits the dive to take them both out on the floor, with Jade adding a Darby Allin Coffin Drop to drop them both on the floor. Back in and Perez snaps off a super hurricanrana, with Jade adding a Swanton for two. Giulia is back in with a spinning piledriver to plant Vaquer, followed by a running knee to Jade. Perez superplexes Perez and Vaquer adds a huge corkscrew moonsault for the pin at 14:37.

Rating: B. This was more of a showcase for Giulia and Vaquer, which isn’t a bad idea at all. They’re the new stars in the women’s division and are likely o take the title from Perez rather soon. At some point you can only keep the title off of them or so long and we might be reaching that point. Jade was trying to hang in there with three more talented stars and did well enough, but this was about everyone else.

Post match Zaria pops up in a box to stare at everyone else.

Cedric Alexander talks to Je’Von Evans, who isn’t sure if he should have slapped Nathan Frazier. Alexander tells him to keep his cool….but they did get a Tag Team Title shot out of it so maybe snap on occasion. Works for Evans, who wants the titles.

Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca and Bubba Ray Dudley are here and recap/preview the show.

We recap Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase. Holland joined Chase U and won the Tag Team Titles, only to turn on them when they lost. He put Chase in an ambulance, so now it’s an ambulance match. Makes sense.

Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland

Ambulance match, meaning you put your opponent in an ambulance and shut the door to win. Chase starts fast with a clothesline out to the floor, setting up a running flip dive off the apron. Holland drives him over the barricade though and Chase is knocked silly. They go up to the ambulance, with Holland pulling out the stretcher (lazy ambulance people not clearing things out) but Chase is back with a blast from a fire extinguisher.

The stretcher is taken to ringside, with Chase being bounced off of it before they go back inside. Holland snaps off an overhead belly to belly, followed by some chair shots. They both grab kendo sticks, with Chase getting the better of things and hitting the spelling stomps. The fight heads back to the floor, with Chase countering the Redeemer and hitting a DDT onto the announcers’ table.

Holland fights back up and puts him onto the stretcher but can’t put him into the ambulance. It’s time for a pumpkin (the ans REALLY like that) but Chase hits him with the backboard. The pumpkin hits Holland and a flip dive off the ambulance puts him down again. That’s still not enough to close the ambulance though as Holland fights out and hits the Redeemer on the stage for the win at 14:28.

Rating: B-. That’s probably the right result but dang it’s rough to see Chase lose again. I’m not sure what is next for him but this definitely feels like the end of the feud. Holland is likely moving on to something bigger while Chase is off to do whatever he has planned. It was a good fight and a nice return for Chase, though Holland winning opens more doors.

Nathan Frazier was training this week when Axiom interrupted. Axiom wasn’t happy with Frazier going all mad on NXT and they argue. Again. With Axiom saying Frazier is condescending.

Ava is fired up for various things coming up on NXT. This includes Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker, with ECW legend Dawn Marie as guest referee. Sure. And we’ll make it a hardcore match. Sure again.

Women’s North American Title: Fatal Influence vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan is defending in a gauntlet match, with Jazmyn Nyx up first. Jordan works on a wristlock to start and sends her to the floor for a moonsault. Back in and Nyx kicks her down and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two. Another one is blocked though and Jordan puts her down, setting up a 450 for the pin at 3:32.

Jacy Jayne is in next with a running hurricanrana, only to be sent out to the floor. Jayne misses a charge to the floor though and Jordan hammers away. Back in and One Of A Kind is broken up, allowing Jayne to hit a Cannonball in the Tree of Woe. Jayne’s running knee gets two but Jordan elbows her way out of trouble. A rollup gives Jayne two more and she drops Jordan with a neckbreaker. Back up and Jordan grabs a quick neckbreaker for the pin at 7:58 total.

Jayne drops Jordan in between falls though and here is Fallon Henley as the final opponent to get a quick two. A spinning suplex out of the corner gives Henley two but Jordan is back with a standing legdrop for two of her own. Jordan kicks away but gets caught with a swinging faceplant for two more. Cue Nyx for a distraction though, allowing Henley to get her knees up to block a 450. The running knee gives Henley the title at 14:14 total.

Rating: C. This was only so good and the win fits Fatal Influence pretty well: they barely win but get to brag about getting some gold. That had to happen at some point, as Henley and company can only brag so much while piling up the losses. Jordan is well protected with the loss, but the match itself just wasn’t very good.

Post match Fatal Influence talks about that being a statement made but here is Zaria to lay them all out. Well that was effective.

Tony D’Angelo is happy with his win. Riz knows who attacked her and is coming for revenge on Tuesday.

Bubba Ray Dudley and Dave LaGreca talk about the show when Ridge Holland interrupts. Ray doesn’t like it and a match seems likely. In Philadelphia.

Booker T. is on the stage and showing the various places the main event could end. Tatum Paxley pops out of a box and says she wants Wendy Choo on Tuesday. Ava makes the match, but Paxley spins the wheel to make it a casket match.

We recap Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title. They’ve traded the title, so now it’s time to go all violent to wrap it up.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page

Williams is defending in a Devil’s Playground match, meaning anything goes and falls count anywhere. Page jumps him to start but they both grab chairs, with Williams’ knocking Page’s out of his hands. Williams puts a pumpkin over Page’s head and nails a spinning kick for two before it’s time to go back to the floor. They fight into the crowd with both of them hitting each other with various things before going back to ringside.

Page flips him off the top for two back inside but a quick Trick Shot gives Williams two…as Page was in the ropes, despite it being falls count anywhere. Commentary has to point out that it was a bad call as Page fights back. The announcers’ table is cleared off as Williams is bleeding from the mouth.

Ego’s Edge off the steps and through the announcers’ table gets two on the floor and they’re both down. Medics come out to check on Williams, but he waves them off, leaving Page to plant him hard onto the steps back inside. Williams avoids a big crushing with the steps but gets kicked low to cut him off again. Another low blow cuts Page off though and the Trick Shot retains the title at 15:54.

Rating: B. The match was good and violent, but there was only so much more that could be wrung out from this feud. Williams beat him definitively before so this was only going to be so good. Now that being said, they worked hard here and beat each other up and it was better than I was expecting. Not a classic, but a good enough main event.

Post match Ridge Holland runs in to jump Williams, with Bubba Ray Dudley making the save. Yes it’s an ECW moment, because the show is going to Philadelphia next month and therefore we must do something with ECW, because a promotion that closed 23 and a half years ago must be remembered forever.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a pretty strong show, with the worst match being the decent gauntlet match. While there might not be anything worth going out of your way to see, you have about three hours of entertaining wrestling with some big moments. Quite a bit of Ridge Holland, but if you’re cool with him, it’s worth a look if you have the time.

Results
Tony D’Angelo b. Oba Femi – Spinebuster through a table
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez – Corkscrew moonsault to Perez
Ridge Holland b. Andre Chase – Holland shut Chase in an ambulance
Fatal Influence b. Kelani Jordan – Running knee
Trick Williams b. Ethan Page – Trick Shot

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Damage CTRL vs. Meta Four

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luca Crusifino vs. Oba Femi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sol Ruca vs. Karmen Petrovic

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

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

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

OTM vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

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

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

Post match, dancing ensues.

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

Ridge Holland is ready to hurt Andre Chase.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Tony D’Angelo is ready to hurt Oba Femi.

Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fatal Influence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

We recap last week.

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

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

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

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

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

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

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

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

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Nikkita Lyons.

Lola Vice vs. Nikkita Lyons

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

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

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

Riley Osborne vs. Ridge Holland

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

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

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

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

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

Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

The unnamed woman in red is still coming.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The big celebration is on as Femi looks rather surprised.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Ridge Holland being ready to destroy Chase U.

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

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

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

Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans

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

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

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

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

Orton shows respect.

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

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

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

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

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AND

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NXT
Date: October 1, 2024
Location: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re officially on the CW and it is an absolutely packed show with two title matches and CM Punk as a special guest referee. That’s more than enough for this show but the question is what other surprises we might be seeing. This show has some serious potential and now we get to see just how it goes. Let’s get to it.

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

We get a new opening sequence with a silver logo. That’s not bad.

Here is Shawn Michaels to gt things going and he gets right to the point by unveiling some new NXT Men’s and Women’s Titles….and HHH is here as well.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia

Giulia is challenging. They fight over wrist control to start with Giulia taking her down but missing some elbows. An exchange of rollups gets two each until Giulia hits a dropkick. Perez slips out of a hammerlock slam but it’s too early for Pop Rox. Another exchange of rollups gets two each (and someone loses a buckle) as we take an early break.

Back with Perez working on the arm until Giulia fights up and hits some headbutts. Giulia plants her down with a hammerlock northern lights suplex for two but Perez knocks it outside. The dive connects but Giulia kicks her in the face on the way back in. A butterfly superplex with a bridge gives Giulia two but she can’t get what looked to be the Rings Of Saturn. Instead Perez pulls her into a crossface and uses the Bayley/Sasha Banks kick off the apron to get it back to the middle.

Giulia reverses that into an STF and Perez makes the rope. Back up and a quick Pop Rox connects, with Giulia rolling outside to leave Perez frustrated. Perez follows her outside and it’s a northern lights bomb to plant Perez on the floor. They both beat the clock back in so Perez goes out and grabs the title. The distraction lets another woman in a hood run in and hit a double arm DDT on the floor. Back in and Pop Rox retains the title at 13:06.

Rating: B-. Oh I’m not sure on that finish, as ending the first match on the new show with a screwy result is a bit of a stretch. Perez winning is one thing as Stephanie Vaquer is waiting on her,

And it’s Cora Jade.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier play WWE2K to train for A-Town Down Under, who win the titles.

Ava and CM Punk are sure that things are going to be down the middle in the main event when Lexis King interrupts. He isn’t sure if he should do what he wants to do or try to win. Punk tells him to figure out his own path.

We recap Wes Lee turning on the Rascalz, meaning it’s time for a street fight for revenge.

Jaida Parker and Lola Vice argue over who is running the team tonight. Kelani Jordan comes in to tell them to chill.

Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz

Street fight. Lee misses a big flip dive to start and gets a shopping cart rammed into him for crash into the steps. Wentz pulls out a board but Lee dives into it for the big crash. It’s time to throw in a bunch of weapons but Wentz scores with a superkick and some chair shots. They go to the apron and crash through a table at ringside as we take a break.

Back with Wentz hitting a Coast To Coast but Lee dropkicks him into a chair in the corner. Wentz slams him onto a chair and pus a trashcan over Lee, setting up a Swanton for another near fall. Back up and Wentz tries a UFO (springboard cutter) but gets shoved over the top and mostly past the table for a nasty crash. Back in and a double stomp onto the back onto a chair gives Lee two. Wentz fights up and grabs a chair, only to get low blowed. Lee puts him in a chair, wraps a chain around his legs, and hits a middle rope Meteora for the pin at 13:24.

Rating: B-. It was a violent match but it’s still hard to get into the whole crossover feud. Wentz won a quick X-Division Title and lost it two weeks later, thereby ending his career singles accomplishments. Just having a history with Lee doesn’t make for an interesting match and the fans only seemed so invested here.

Here is the freshly heel Miz for MizTV, featuring Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo, who are facing off for Femi’s North American Title next week. D’Angelo talks about how he’s going to win the title next week after training even harder. Femi says Miz should know when someone doesn’t mean a word that they are saying and that is the case with D’Angelo.

That sends D’Angelo on a rant about growing up on the streets of Chicago and how his family are here. Femi says they can’t fight for D’Angelo, who knows he can’t win. They stand up and D’Angelo says Femi is just a man, with Femi saying he is inevitable. Miz hits the catchphrase to wrap it up. Miz added absolutely nothing here, though he wasn’t given the chance to.

We look back at Cora Jade’s return earlier tonight.

Jade says everyone had forgotten about her when Roxanne Perez comes in. Maybe a common enemy can drive them back together.

Jaida Parker/Lola Vice vs. Fatal Influence

It’s Jacy Jayne/Fallon Henley for the team here, with Kelani Jordan on commentary. Henley and Parker start things off, with Parker hitting her in the face and scoring with a running shoulder. Vice comes in for a front facelock before punching the villains in the ribs. Parker stacks them up on the middle rope for the running sitdown splash, followed by Vince’s running hip attack. Henley fights out of the wrong corner as Jordan can barely get a word in. Parker and Vice get in an argument though, allowing Henley to get in a cheap shot.

We take a break and come back with Jayne holding Vice in a bodyscissors, setting up a cannonball for two. Henley’s running elbow gets two but Vice fights up, only for Jazmyn Nyx to distract Parker. Vice is sent into her and you know that isn’t going to go well. The comeback doesn’t last long for Vice as stereo running knees finish her off at 10:57.

Rating: C+. This was all about the team exploding and I’ll take that just breaking down rather than waiting around for weeks to get to the obvious. Vice and Parker could both be stars if given the chance, which makes it all the better that they seem to have something to do. Fatal Influence isn’t a great team, but they’re good enough for what they’re doing.

Post match Fatal Influence calls in Kelani Jordan, who brings out Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill to clean house.

Video on Je’Von Evans, who is ready to face Randy Orton. This is to set up a huge RKO isn’t it?

Video on Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title. Page won the title, pretty much by accident, at Heatwave in July and now it’s time for Williams to get the title back, with CM Punk as special referee.

We get a vignette of a woman walking down a road with the signs saying 10/27, or the date of Halloween Havoc.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending and CM Punk is guest referee. Page takes him into the corner to start and Punk breaks it up at four before doing the same thing to Williams. Back up and Williams takes him to the ropes, where Punk blocks a right hand. That lets Page grab a rollup with feet on the ropes, meaning Punk won’t count. Williams knocks him outside but Page’s whip sends Williams through the barricade (they really need to fix those) as we take a break.

Back with Page hammering away and grabbing a DDT to cut off a comeback attempt. Williams’ jumping neckbreaker lets him strike away but Page sends him face first into the steps. A not great Ego’s Edge sends Williams through the announcers’ table but Punk isn’t going to count. Instead it’s a quick Trick Shot to Page, who falls onto Williams (ala Heatwave) for two and Williams is ready to fight. Another Trick Shot misses so Page hits his own knee for two. Page glares at Punk and hits a GTS for two but Williams slips out of another Ego’s Edge. The Trick Shot gives Williams the title back at 12:28.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what it was but this never came close to taking off. Maybe they ran out of time or something or there was just no drama over who was winning (like there was any chance Page was retaining), but I never got into this one. Williams gets the big feel good moment and the unofficial Punk endorsement, which is all fine and good. It’s not a bad match, but I was expecting a bit more than what we got here.

Post match Punk gives Page the GTS and confetti falls to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was good but didn’t feel like some big blow away show. Given the card that they had and some of the guest stars, I was expecting something huge and got an ok show for the most part. The biggest issue is other than the main event, nothing on here felt like it was a special moment. I came in thinking this would be some major show and instead I just got a pretty good edition of NXT. That’s an acceptable way to go, but it felt like it should have been more.

Results
Roxanne Perez b. Giulia – Pop Rox
Wes Lee b. Zachary Wentz – Middle rope Meteora with a chain
Fatal Influence b. Jaida Parker/Lola Vice – Running knees to Vice
Trick Williams b. Ethan Page – Trick Shot

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: September 24, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show on the USA Network and next wee’s debut on the CW is absolutely packed. We could be in for a huge show next week, but this week could go in a few directions. Unfortunately one of those directions could be rather flat with next week’s show being the important one. Let’s get to it.

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

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Wren Sinclair

Sinclair, with the No Quarter Catch Crew, is challenging. They fight over arm control to start with Sinclair getting the better of things. Jordan fights up and grabs an armdrag through the ropes before sending Sinclair outside. A dive takes her down again and we take a break. Back with Sinclair getting an abdominal stretch, which is broken in less than two seconds. Jordan hits a slingshot dropkick but misses a frog splash, allowing Sinclair to grab a gutwrench suplex. With Jordan on the floor, Sinclair tries a slingshot dive but takes out the Crew by mistake. Back in and One Of A Kind retains the title at 9:46.

Rating: C+. Another win for Jordan as the title reign continues to be built, which is what Jordan has been needing. What matters the most is that Jordan is starting to feel like a bigger star. She needs a big time opponent though and that hasn’t quite happened yet, and no one is really on the horizon so far.

We look at some of the hype for the NXT’s move to the CW next week.

We have the NXT press conference, with unnamed reporters asking Ethan Page what it means to be NXT Champion. He’s impressed by Trick Williams and not worried about CM Punk.

CM Punk is talking to Je’Von Evans when Trick Williams comes in. With Evans gone, Punk praises Williams for getting this far and says he’ll call the title match right down the line. Works for Williams.

Here is A-Town Down Under for a special Grayson Waller Effect. They talk about being the big guns for this show and mock the fans before bringing out Nathan Frazier and Axiom as the guests. The champs insist that they are just fine, unlike A-Town Down Under. Frazier laughs off references to him being a flippy guy and Axiom lists off the teams who have beaten him. Theory talks about how there are levels to this game and Waller promises to take the titles in two weeks. Frazier asks why Theory’s name isn’t in the show title and an argument breaks out but the villains jump Axiom and Frazier to leave them laying.

Lexis King and Oro Mensah talk about not having a father and agree that the best man wins tonight.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready to beat up the OC.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on Brinley Reece, Karmen Petrovic and Tatum Paxley to no avail.

OC vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

The brawl is on to start with the OC stomping away in the corner but Walker avoids a charge. Gallows gets double planted down for two but comes back with a boot to the face to drop Ledger. The villains take over and Gallows grabs a chinlock to slow things down a bit. That’s broken up and Ledger gets over for the tag to Walker so house can be cleaned. Anderson catches Walker on top and hits a superplex for two but the Magic Killer is broken up. The powerslam/running neckbreaker combination finishes Gallows at 4:50.

Rating: C. For the life of me I do not get the appeal of this feud. It feels like it has been going for months now, including times where it is mostly forgotten. Maybe Walker and Ledger move up the ladder towards a title match, but that doesn’t exactly feel right. On the other hand you have the OC and…my goodness they could not seem more checked out.

Je’Von Evans is ready to fight Randy Orton in two weeks with Cedric Alexander having his back. A-Town Down Under come in and threats seem to be made. Evans suggests Kevin Owens is behind them and panic ensues.

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. They starts fast and Mensah gets in an armdrag, only to be sent outside for a big crash. A kick to the face sets up a backbreaker to keep Mensah in trouble but he’s back up with some rams into the buckle. King’s rollup with feet on the ropes…is broken up by King himself, who doesn’t want to win that way. Mensah is fine with winning that way and rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:42.

Rating: C. Now that’s interesting as King is showing a big twist after being a villain the whole time he has been around. Having King turn to the good side, or at least thinking about it, could be a big step for him and I’m curious to see how it goes. Mensah did well enough, but I’m not sure where this is going for him.

Tony D’Angelo trains old school with the Family as the Rocky style story continues. Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough, D’Angelo gets in a boxing ring to spar.

Ridge Holland vs. Riley Osborne

Thea Hail is with Osborne, who dives onto Holland to start fast. They go inside with Osborne knocking him down again and hitting a standing moonsault. Holland is able to send him over the top and to the floor, where Osborne drives him through the barricade. Back in and Holland shrugs it off, setting up the lifting DDT for the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C. This is clearly setting up the big return of Andre Chase and there is nothing wrong with going in the obvious direction. I’m not sure I can imagine Chase being the one to take Holland down but he is definitely the right one to be the big opponent. For now, running through Chase U in his absence is a goo move and we could be in for a hard hitting fight when Chase gets back.

Post match Holland wrecks Osborne, who manages to fight back until security breaks it up.

Miz wants to host the Oba Femi/Tony D’Angelo contract signing next week on MizTV.

Back to the press conference, where Oba Femi isn’t worried about Tony D’Angelo.

We were going to get a sitdown face to face interview with Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, with a low of censored swearing Lee references Wentz’s fiance and the fight was on.

We get a special look back at NXT on USA. This is always cool to see, especially with some rather cool moments.

Ava makes Fatal Influence vs. Lola Vice/Jaida Parker for next week, despite Vice and Parker arguing a lot.

Rosemary/Wendy Choo vs. Karmen Petrovic/Brinley Reece

Choo drives Petrovic into the corner to start but she fights out as Kelani Jordan is speaking at the press conference. Reece comes in and gets taken down with a running shoulder, followed by some choking from Rosemary. Cue Ashante Thee Adonis to hit on a woman in the crowd though, which distracts Petrovic. Rosemary hits As Above So Below (double underhook drop) for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C-. I’ll take any kind of a Rosemary win I can get, even if it was in a tag match with interference. Adonis catching Petrovic’s eye is a way to go and gives Adonis something to do after weeks of just kind of being around backstage. Throw in Reece not likely being happy over this and we could be in for something interesting.

CM Punk is in the back with Sol Ruca when Ethan Page comes in. Page doesn’t like Punk as the guest referee and suggests that Punk is just bringing drama. Punk laughs that off and says if Page is the man he says he is, prove it in Chicago.

Back to the press conference where Fatal Influence is ready for their tag match next week. They want titles but have to glare at an invading Lola Vice and Jaida Parker.

Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans vs. A-Town Down Under

It’s a brawl to start with Alexander being knocked to the floor, leaving Evans to get taken into the corner. The chinlock goes on but Evans fights up and hands it to Alexander for a kick to the chest. Everything breaks down and Evans hits a big flip dive over the top, with Alexander hitting one of his own as we take a break. Back with Alexander in a chinlock and getting kicked back down. The showboating middle rope elbow gives Waller two but Alexander rolls under a shot to the face and hands it back to Evans.

A pair of dives has the villains down and a springboard clothesline gets two on Theory. Back in and Waller forearms the heck out of Evans for two, with Alexander making the save. Alexander plants Waller on the apron and here are Axiom and Nathan Frazier to cut Waller off. Evans fights back up and goes to the top but Frazier and Axiom have some miscommunication, with Waller hitting his flipping Unprettier. A-Town Down finishes Evans at 11:38.

Rating: C+. It was a nice enough way to boost up A-Town Down Under before their upcoming Tag Team Title shot, though Evans losing is a bit of a surprise. I’m not sure why you would have him lose two week before the biggest match of his life but at least it wasn’t clean and it came to a main roster team. Other than that, it was a slightly longer match than most of the rest tonight and it worked out pretty well, even with a lot of moving parts.

Trick Williams talks about how important it is to become a two time NXT Champion because the greats have done that. CM Punk won’t be a factor because he’s coming for the title.

We get the final part of the press conference with Giulia (with Funaki) in the ring with Roxanne Perez. The first question is about whether Giulia is intimidated by the idea of living up to Perez’s title reign. After Perez objects to the suggestion that Giulia is going to win, Giulia gives a lengthy answer in Japanese. Apparently she is impressed by Perez it is time to pass the torch to a new generation.

Perez says she isn’t intimidated by Giulia because she has been a big fan for a long time. The reality is that Giulia came hunting for her and the NXT Women’s Title is the only women’s title that really matters. Giulia is asked about moving to America and says, in English, that everything is new but what isn’t new is that she is the most feared wrestler in the world. Perez isn’t impressed….but Stephanie Vaquer pops up on the Titantron to say she’s waiting on the winner. Giulia and Perez aren’t sure what to think to end the show. Now there’s a tease to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was in a rough spot as they had to set up a show on another network which is going to be far bigger than this one. At the same time they had to give something of a big finale on USA and while it didn’t feel epic, it was good enough to get by until next time. Next week is looking huge enough and I want to see what happens, so points for making things feel big while walking away from a network at the same time.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Wren Sinclair – One Of A Kind
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OC – Powerslam/running neckbreaker combination to gallows
Oro Mensah b. Lexis King – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Ridge Holland b. Riley Osborne – Lifting DDT
Rosemary/Wendy Choo b. Karmen Petrovic/Brinley Reece – As Above So Blow to Reece
A-Town Down Under b. Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander – A Town Down to

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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