NXT LVL Up
Date: May 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s back for more of this and I’m not sure what that is going to mean. The good thing is that we had some bigger names last time and, again, it helped a lot. It would be nice to see that continue here as it is the only thing that makes the show feel even slightly worthwhile. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Kale Dixon

Thorpe grabs a headlock takeover to start and then armdrags him into an armbar for some cranking. Back up and a jumping elbow to the face puts Dixon down again but he’s back up with a tilt-a-whirl slam for two. Dixon hits his own elbow to the face to even things up a bit and another tilt-a-whirl slam gets two more. The chinlock goes on for a bit before Dixon chops him in the back, which just wakes Thorpe up. A German suplex into an elbow into the implant DDT finishes Dixon at 5:55.

Rating: C. As usual, Dixon is a perfectly fine hand in the ring who isn’t likely to go anywhere beyond LVL Up. Thorpe on the other hand feels like someone NXT wants to move up but he has only gotten so far. It’s nice seeing him on a bit of a winning streak, so hopefully he gets to keep it going and maybe into something a bit better.

Je’Von Evans is willing to go against anyone and that includes Riley Osborne tonight.

Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan

Carlee Bright is here with Grey. They fight over wrist control to start until Jordan takes him down by the arm. An exchange of leg trips lets Grey crank on the arm before a belly to belly gives Grey two. Back up and they trade rollups for two each until Jordan grabs a fireman’s carry slam. The split legged moonsault gives Jordan the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. Grey is the latest star on the roster in great shape with very little else to set her apart from the rest of the women’s division. Jordan has the gymnastics background which allows her to do some impressive things, though she is only starting to feel like something of a player. Both of them need the ring time so this works as well as anything else.

Riley Osborne vs. Je’Von Evans

Evans spins out of a wristlock to start and grabs one of his own. Back up and Evans snaps off a springboard hurricanrana to send Osborne to the floor. Osborne is fine enough to hit something like a 619 off the apron and we hit the reverse chinlock back inside. Evans fights up for a kick to the head into a springboard clothesline for the big knockdown. There’s the big dive to the floor to drop Osborne again but he switches places and hits a dive of his own. Back in and they trade rollups until Evans grabs a sunset flip for the big upset at 5:52.

Rating: C+. That is a heck of an upset as Osborne has been treated as someone with a big future around here. It made for a good moment and Evans is instantly a bigger deal. I’m not sure how far he is going to go but at some point you need to just try something with someone new. Evans is getting that treatment and now we get to see where it goes.

Overall Rating: C+. That ending helped a lot and it was the first moment in a long time around here that felt like it could matter going forward. For now, the show itself wasn’t much but I’m wanting to see what they’ll do next with Evans. The fans are behind him and now he’s getting an upgrade, which is kind of the point of this entire show. For once.

Results
Eddy Thorpe b. Kale Dixon – Impaler DDT
Kelani Jordan b. Kendal Grey – Split legged moonsault
Je’Von Evans b. Riley Osborne – Sunset flip

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NXT LVL Up
Date: April 19, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

It’s time to finally get caught up on this show as I’ve been a few weeks behind. Things have not been their sharpest around here lately as it has certainly felt like the way the show has been going for a very long time. Hopefully that changes this week, as a dull LVL Up is among the least interesting things in all of wrestling. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kale Dixon vs. Riley Osborne

Dixon shrugs off an early wristlock and sends Osborne outside, meaning we get a bit of respect on the way back in. Osborne hits a quick dropkick out to the floor and this time he lets Dixon come back in. Dixon isn’t having that and decks Osborne, who knocks him right back down. Some kicks to the chest keep Osborne down and Dixon chops him in the back. The chinlock goes on but Osborne fights up and hits a jumping elbow. A knee to the face sets up a shooting star press to give Osborne the pin at 6:17.

Rating: C. Osborne gets a win here, though there is only so much that he is going to get from beating Dixon. While Dixon has a good look and enough ability, he is running with the anchor that is his first name. WWE can’t expect him to go far with that kind of a name, yet here we are anyway, with Dixon continuing to be stuck in limbo, at least partially due to being named after a vegetable.

Karmen Petrovic is ready for Wren Sinclair.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Wren Sinclair

Petrovic grabs a headlock to start and grinds away but Sinclair kicks away for a standoff. Another headlock goes on to keep Petrovic in control and she grabs a running basement Blockbuster for two. Sinclair pulls her down into a chinlock and even gets the knees into Petrovic’s back to make it worse. Petrovic fights out and makes the clothesline comeback, setting up a spinning kick to the back of the head for the pin at 4:59.

Rating: C. I don’t know if they’re building up Sinclair’s first win as a big deal or something else, but it’s almost weird to see her lose so often despite being good enough to do something. On the other hand you have Petrovic, who has a cool gimmick but is going to need something more besides being able to kick people.

Respect is shown post match.

Drake Morreaux/Javier Bernal vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

Ledger powers Bernal into the corner to start and it’s quickly off to Morreaux, who runs Ledger down. Bernal comes back in and is promptly slammed by Walker, setting up Ledger’s slingshot splash for two. With Morreaux down, a double slam puts Bernal onto him for a rather nasty crash. Morreaux takes Walker down though and Bernal gets to stomp away.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s Ledger coming back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Morreaux knocks Walker outside, allowing Bernal’s top rope splash to connect for two. Back up and Walker and Ledger knock Morreaux to the floor, setting up a running powerslam/forearm to the back of the head combination to finish Bernal at 6:29.

Rating: C+. Match of the night here though that’s not saying much. At least Morreaux, who has some promise, didn’t take the loss here, as Bernal is the definition of expendable. Ledger and Walker are becoming LVL Up guys and that isn’t the best thing, as they’re only so interesting in the first place.

Overall Rating: C. Pretty nothing show this week and unfortunately you just have to be used to that around here. The main event was the best match if that means much, as this was just another thirty minutes that came and went without much happening. Completely average edition here, and that means nothing about what is to come around here.

Results
Riley Osborne b. Kale Dixon – Shooting star press
Karmen Petrovic b. Wren Sinclair – Spinning kick to the back of the head
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. Drake Morreaux/Javier Bernal – Running powerslam/forearm combination to Bernal

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NXT LVL Up
Date: March 1, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re just over a month away from Stand & Deliver and that means we get to see people who will have nothing to do with that show. LVL Up is back to its old self with little in the way of interest, but at least we could be in for a surprise, which the show has had over its history. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Stacks vs. Kale Dixon

Riz is here with Stacks and Dixon is back after about eight months away. Dixon powers him into the corner to start so Stacks wrestles Dixon down to the mat. An armbar into an armdrag has Stacks down and Dixon sends him outside. A baseball slide lands Dixon in the ring skirt though and Stacks hammers away. Dixon gets a boot up in the corner back inside, only to get hit in the face. Cement Shoes finishes for Stacks at 5:22.

Rating: C. Stacks isn’t the biggest name in the world but he’s a bigger deal than you usually see around here. That’s a nice little bonus around here, even if it is just for a week, and helps a good bit. At the same time, Dixon is back and his name is still Kale Dixon, meaning I think you know how far he is getting around here.

Je’Von Evans is happy to be back and ready to go in another try against Javier Bernal.

Lola Vice vs. Wren Sinclair

They fight over wrist control to start until Sinclair gets her down to work on the leg. Vice isn’t having that though and takes her into the corner to start in on the arm. Some right hands in the corner put Sinclair down and Vice cranks on the arm again. Back up and a legdrag has Vice down and Sinclair rolls her up for two. Vice shrugs it off and hits a spinning backfist for the pin at 4:45.

Rating: C. What matters here is that I could see this match taking place on a regular episode of NXT. Vice was challenging for the Women’s Title not too long ago and Sinclair has been something of a featured name in recent weeks. It wasn’t exactly a great match but it felt like something a bit more important than usual and I’ll certainly take that.

Je’Von Evans vs. Javier Bernal

Bernal works on the arm to start and shrugs off a dropkick attempt. Back and Evans snaps off a headscissors but Bernal knocks him down again. A knee to the ribs cuts off Evans’ comeback and Bernal gets in a shot on the apron. Back in and they slug it out with Bernal hitting a jumping kick to the head. Evans’ springboard clothesline gets two but Bernal’s DDT gets the same. Some rollups give Evans two each and he kicks Bernal down. A springboard spinning splash gives Evans the upset pin at 6:23.

Rating: C+. At some point, if you’re going to make these new wrestlers into stars, you have to do something like this. Evans certainly has a certain something to him and giving him a win over someone like Bernal is a nice start for him. He has a long way to go but at the end of the day, at least he has a win under his belt and that is the right first step.

Overall Rating: C+. Egads this show cannot pick what it needs to be most of the time but at least in this case they went with the right choice. There was more star power here and Evans got his big win. Good enough show here, as it felt like something you might want to see rather than something that is just kind of there.

Results
Stacks b. Kale Dixon – Cement Shoes
Lola Vice b. Wren Sinclair – Spinning backfist
Je’Von Evans b. Javier Bernal – Springboard spinning splash

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 14, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re back to the normal three match structure here as NXT wasn’t taped in advance this week. That’s kind of a shame as the two match shows were kind of working for me. Other than that, it’s hard to say what to expect here, but it would be nice to see some more star power. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen vs. Kale Dixon/Luca Crusifino

Fallon Henley is here with Briggs and Jensen. Dixon gets backed into the corner to start so it’s off to Luca, who gets headlocked. Briggs comes in for an armbar but Dixon comes back in off a blind tag to stomp away. Luca grabs a bearhug but Jensen sticks the landing off a backdrop and gets it back to Briggs. Everything breaks down and a Hart Attack finishes Dixon at 4:40.

Rating: C. This felt like something that belonged on an old episode of Superstars as you have an established team against a makeshift team with people you might know. That doesn’t mean it was interesting though, as Dixon is still as bland as possible and Crusifino’s value stops once the bell rings. Briggs and Jensen have cooled way off, and it’s kind of a shame as they could be something in the NXT tag division.

Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice are ready for Vice to wreck Valentina Feroz.

Lola Vice vs. Valentina Feroz

Elektra Lopez and Yulisa Leon are here too and this is billed as black belt vs. black belt. They go to the mat to start with Feroz grabbing a headlock into a short armscissors. Back up and Vice kicks her into the corner where Feroz works on the arm. That’s broken up as Vice kicks her in the face and hits a running hip attack. A rear naked choke is broken up and Feroz hammers away. Feroz hurricanranas her out of the corner for two as the other two get in a fight on the floor. The distraction lets Feroz grab a sunset flip for the pin at 5:00.

Rating: C+. Slightly better match than the opener here as there was certainly some more fire. Vice still feels like she could be something as she has that charisma to her but she is still starting out. Other than that, Feroz is starting to come together and could be something after some more seasoning.

Tavion Heights vs. Axiom

Heights wrestles him down but Axiom is fine enough to take over on the mat. A headscissors doesn’t last long on Heights and they’re back up for a standoff. Axiom grabs it again and holds Heights down a bit before kicking him in the head for two. Back up and Heights blasts him with a clothesline before a gutwrench suplex gets two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as Axiom is back up and hits a dropkick for a breather. Heights can’t hit a German suplex so Axiom sends him outside for a big dive. Back in and Heights gets two off a doctor bomb but Axiom knees him in the head. The Golden Ratio finishes Heights at 7:05.

Rating: B-. This was a heck of a match, especially for around here, as Heights was looking like a power monster and Axiom was as smooth as ever. I was getting into this one and wondering who was going to win here. You don’t get to see something like that very often and it worked really well. Good main event.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event alone carried this show and that is not something you can say around here very often. Maybe it was just a one off fluke but what matters is that I was invested in this show for a change. Nice show here, though granted that is only because of one third of the card.

Results
Brooks Jensen/Josh Briggs b. Kale Dixon/Luca Crusifino – Hart Attack to Dixon
Valentina Feroz b. Lola Vice – Sunset flip
Axiom b. Tavion Heights – Golden Ratio

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 7, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

It’s another short form show this week as the Fourth Of July schedule made things a little weird. In a way, these shows are a bit better as they don’t overstay their welcome or feel repetitive in the slightest. Last week’s version worked rather well and it would be nice to have that be the case again here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Fallon Henley vs. Tatum Paxley

Henley grabs a headlock to start as commentary talks about how far apart these two have gone since debuting together. A legdrag out of the corner gives Henley two but Paxley sends her neck first into the ropes. Paxley hits a jumping elbow (which is called “innovative” by commentary) and some trash talk gets one. The abdominal stretch goes on, followed by a waistlock to keep Henley down. Henley gets tired of getting beaten up and comes back with some forearms, followed by a Shining Wizard for the pin at 5:55.

Rating: C. It really is kind of astounding to see Henley fall this far. She was never a top star or anything close to one, but you would think that she would have been able to do something better than being relegated to LVL Up. Henley hasn’t been involved in anything important in months, but it isn’t like Paxley has been doing much better. They’re both talented, though neither is doing anything whatsoever at the moment.

Kale Dixon is ready for Scrypts buts seems a bit confused as he talks about telling a great story.

Kale Dixon vs. Scrypts

They trade headlocks to start until Scrypts snaps off a dropkick. Dixon’s headscissors is countered into a headlock, followed by a slingshot crossbody for a fast two. Dixon powers him off though and stomps away before hitting a knee to the face for two. We hit the chinlock but Scrypts pops back up and strikes away. The Molly Go Round finishes Dixon at 5:52.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t working as neither exactly seemed to know how to keep things flowing. Instead it was a bunch of kicking and stomping until Dixon took over. Scrypts’ comeback took all of a few seconds and it wasn’t exactly interesting. Dixon has a solid attitude but nothing to back it up while Scrypts is an incredible athlete but not interesting. That doesn’t make for a good combination and that was obvious here.

Overall Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one and the only saving grace was the fact that it was so short. Henley was the biggest star on the show and she hasn’t done anything in months. Nothing to see here, as this was one of the lamer editions of the show in a rather long time.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 23, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

Things took a bit of a turn back to the norm last week as we didn’t have much in the way of star power or anything interesting. In other words, it was nothing more than the usual LVL Up with almost nothing worth seeing. Hopefully they can make it better here again as LVL Up can be a snappy enough show when it gets the chance. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Stacks vs. Kale Dixon

Dixon goes with a headlock and some right hands to start but Stacks runs him over without much trouble. What looks to be Shattered Dreams is broken up so Stacks goes with an atomic drop instead. Back up and Dixon sends him throat first into the middle rope, followed by a running knee for two. A gutwrench faceplant gets two and the abdominal stretch keeps Stacks in trouble. That’s broken up and Stacks kicks away before ducking an enziguri. Cement Shoes finishes Dixon at 5:51.

Rating: C. Stacks isn’t doing anything revolutionary in NXT but it’s cool to see someone on this show who has a story going on at the moment. The reveal of whodunit should be good and Stacks is going to be in the middle of the whole thing. Dixon isn’t supposed to be beating someone of Stacks’ caliber yet so the winning streak coming to an end (at one) is acceptable.

Tavion Heights is ready for Luca Crusifino and wants to bring the same energy he brought to the Olympics.

Tavion Heights vs. Luca Crusifino

Heights takes him down by the arm to start and he armdrags Luca to cut him off. Luca fights up and runs Heights over a few times before getting one off a slam. The reverse chinlock doesn’t last long so Luca grabs a suplex for two instead. Luca rips at his face until Heights fights up to dropkick his way out of trouble. An overhead belly to belly sends Luca flying and Heights loads up the Doctor Bomb, only to have Luca grab the rope for the rollup pin at 5:57.

Rating: C. Luca is a weird case where he is getting better in the ring, but the gimmick stuff that makes him stand out is going by the wayside. It is something that could be done in a few different ways but instead we are just seeing him go out there and doing basic stuff, which is only so interesting in the first place. Heights is another name on a long list of people who feel like potential stars but need something to make them stand out.

Ivy Nile vs. Jacy Jayne

Nile takes her to the mat for an armbar to start before snapping off a hurricanrana. Jayne is right back and gets in a charge in the corner, followed by a neckbreaker for two. We hit the chinlock for a bit but Nile fights up and hits the running kick in the corner. The Diamond Chain Lock is blocked so they trade superkicks, followed by Jayne hitting a discus lariat for the pin at 5:15.

Rating: C+. Slightly better here and again having the bigger names on the show helps a lot. Jayne and Nile are fairly regular features on the main NXT show and it’s nice to have them around here. The star power, at least in Jayne, helps a lot as you feel like you’re watching someone who matters. Do something like that around here and the show feels that much more important.

Overall Rating: C. Not much to see here and the main only helps things to a certain extent. As usual, the show is about half an hour long and the wrestling is decent enough, but a feud that goes over a few weeks might be nice. I’m not sure how much you get out of having one off matches like this, but that’s what you’re getting and there is nothing that is going to be done about it anytime soon.

Results
Stacks b. Kale Dixon – Cement Shoes
Luca Crusifino b. Tavion Heights – Rollup while grabbing a rope
Jacy Jayne b. Ivy Nile – Discus lariat

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 2, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

I have no idea what to expect from this show and I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not. LVL Up is a show that can offer something and it is cool to see some of these young up and comers getting a chance. The problem is it can take time for that to really make an impact. Maybe that is different this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Quincy Elliott vs. Kale Dixon

Elliott grinds away on a headlock and adds a kind of Old School wristdrag. Something more similar to a regular Old School connects but Dixon knocks him down and hits a running knee to the face. A few running shots to the face stagger Elliott again and we hit the nerve hold. Back up and Elliott hits a foot to the face, only to miss a charge into the corner. A rollup with feet on the ropes gives Dixon the pin at 4:53.

Rating: C-. What does it say about your career when you lose to a guy named Kale? Elliott is rather flashy and I can see the appeal, but I’m not sure what kind of ceiling he really has. It wasn’t exactly a huge return for Elliott, but then again he has never been pushed as any kind of a major star so I can’t imagine this going very far.

Post match Dixon gyrates and gets punched down for his efforts.

Bronco Nima and Lucien Price are ready for Tank Ledger and Hank Walker. That’s the most LVL Up main event I can imagine.

Kelani Jordan vs. Kiana James

Jordan’s early armdrag annoys James, who grabs an armbar to blow off some steam. That’s reversed into Jordan’s armbar, which doesn’t sit well with James. A running forearm drops Jordan but she’s right back with another armdrag. Back up and James sends Jordan’s arm into the buckle to take over and the armbar goes on again. Jordan fights up and hits a dropkick but James has had it and grabs the 401K for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C. Well they have the armbar stuff down pretty well. There wasn’t much to see with this one, as Jordan is brand new and James is only so good with her limited experience. James winning isn’t a surprise, but Jordan is another young star with all kinds of athleticism which could come in handy down the road.

Tank Ledger/Hank Walker vs. Bronco Nima/Lucien Price

Nima and Ledger lock up to start, with Nima shoving him away. It’s quickly off to Walker for a double shoulder and a solo headlock. Price comes in and gets shouldered down, only to have Price run Ledger over with a clothesline. A jumping knee keeps Ledger in trouble and Nima is back in for the chinlock. That’s broken up and it’s back to Walker to clean house as everything breaks down. Price superkicks Walker and a gordbuster into a kick to the face gives Price two. A double clothesline gives Walker a breather though and the hot tag brings in Ledger. Nima gets caught in a double belly to back suplex of all things for the pin at 6:24.

Rating: C+. It was a nice power fight and that’s all it needed to be, as Walker and Ledger are the much more established team. Let them go in there and get a win over a rather imposing pairing for the show’s main event. Nima and Price are about the same as they have been or a long time now, which isn’t exactly saying much for the developmental side of things.

Overall Rating: C. It was nice to have some different names than we have been seeing in recent weeks around here and that made for an easier watch this time around. The show is turning into more of a coming attractions version of NXT and that makes for an interesting episode from time to time. This was an acceptable edition, but as usual, there isn’t anything worth seeing.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: May 19, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re getting closer to Battleground and that could be quite the shakeup for NXT. That is something LVL Up could use, as the show tends to be in a rather similar mold a lot of the time. It might be helpful for the wrestlers around here, but that doesn’t make things all that entertaining. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Kale Dixon

Feeling out process to start with Thorpe’s headlock not working all that well. Back up and Dixon runs him over with a shoulder, followed by some forearms to the spine. The neck crank and chinlock go on until Thorpe is up with a dragon screw legwhip. A Saito suplex out of the corner gets two on Dixon and the jumping elbow finishes him off at 4:52.

Rating: C. Thorpe continues to beat up lower level competition and Dixon continues to be Dixon. In other words, it was exactly what you would have expected from these two on this stage. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Thorpe getting a push on the main NXT show, but it might take some more seasoning to get him ready.

Kelani Jordan and Wendy Choo are ready to team together against Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice. Apparently karma is a bi….scuit.

Kelani Jordan/Wendy Choo vs. Elektra Lopez/Lola Vice

Lopez powers Jordan around without much effort to start and it’s Vice coming in for a double shoulder. Back up and Jordan takes Vice over to Choo for an assisted moonsault. A tornado DDT hits Vice but she brings Lopez in off a blind tag to take over. Jordan gets knocked hard into the corner and a gutbuster sets up a body vice to stay on the ribs. A quick kick away allows the tag off to Choo as everything breaks down. The Snooze Button gives Choo the pin on Vice at 5:36.

Rating: C. I can see why WWE wants to push Jordan, who has the impressive athleticism and appeal to become something down the line. She needs experience though and getting her feet wet on this show is a good start. Jordan has a long way to go, but at least she is getting started with a solid base.

Dante Chen vs. Luca Crusifino

They fight over a lockup to start as we get a LET’S GO LAWYER chant. Chen goes for the hammerlock to take over before some armdrags into the armbar have Luca in more trouble. Back up and Luca grabs a neckbreaker for two, followed by the double arm crank. With that broken up, Chen hammers away in the corner but the threat of the double chop sends Luca outside. Luca loads up the briefcase but when it’s taken away, a thumb to the eye lets him roll up Chen for the pin at 5:15.

Rating: C. I’m sorry what now? A young up and comer beat Chen? I’m not sure how to handle this but it’s nice to see for a change. As usual, Chen is fine enough in the ring and certainly not bad, but he has such a history of running people over and I do not get the point having him beat so many people without actually going anywhere. That being said, Luca is a bit of a weird case and I could go for having him around a bit more in the future.

Overall Rating: C-. It says a lot when your star power is comprised of Thorpe, Choo and Chen, which isn’t exactly top level talent in NXT. The wrestling was completely watchable and the show is less than thirty minutes from beginning to end so it isn’t like you feel you’re wasting your time. In other words, this was the weaker end of LVL Up and that’s not exactly thrilling stuff.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: May 5, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re done with the Draft and that means it is time to get on to the new NXT. Since there are so many wrestlers gone from NXT, it might be time for some of the new generation to rise up. NXT might find some of those new names around here as has been the case before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oro Mensah vs. Kale Dixon

Mensah takes him down by the wrist but Dixon reverses into a wristlock of his own. With that broken up, Mensah snaps off an anklescissors but Dixon forearms him in the back. Some backbreakers give Dixon two and we hit the hair pull on the mat. Mensah is back up with a kick to the head and a standing Lionsault. The running spinwheel kick in the corner drops Dixon for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match here as Mensah manages to get a win after all of those losses. Granted it was against someone as low level as Dixon but a win is better than another loss. This was quite the run of mill LVL Up match, as you had two fairly talented stars who are not going to get a chance on the main show anytime soon.

Boa is back and ready to show who he is against Eddy Thorpe.

Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice

Duke Hudson is here with Hail. Vice runs her over to start and thrusts her hips a bit, only to get taken down. Hail misses a standing moonsault but goes after the arm instead. Some kicks send Hail into the corner for the running hip attack and we hit the cravate. Hail fights up with some forearms out of the corner and a headlock driver finishes Vice at 4:08.

Rating: C. Vice continues to show off her charisma, with that fire in her eyes likely being more than enough to give her a chance. Hail is the same way, as she leans into the whole crazy college girl idea so well. It might not have been a classic, but you can see the charisma and talent on display here.

Boa vs. Eddy Thorpe

Thorpe has to duck away from some kicks to start before grabbing a headlock takeover. Back up and Thorpe hits a quick spinning crossbody but Boa kicks him in the chest to take over. Boa stomps away for two and grabs a butterfly suplex for two. Boa’s chinlock with a bodyscissors is broken up but Boa puts it right back on to keep Thorpe down. Back up and Thorpe grabs a Saito suplex but gets kicked in the face for two. Thorpe fights up again, setting up a snap German suplex. A jumping elbow of all things finishes Boa at 7:09.

Rating: C+. Thorpe continues to look like someone who could do something in NXT as he has a unique gimmick and look while also being able to back it up in the ring. On the other hand you have Boa, who has not stood out in the slightest since he debuted and that continues to be the case. Pretty decent match though as Thorpe keeps up some of his momentum.

Overall Rating: C+. The action was a bit better than usual here but the lack of bigger names didn’t help things. Mensah, Hail and Vice are as run of the mill as you get around here and it left me wanting to see someone more interesting. Thorpe is growing on me decently enough, though he needs to be on the main show instead of this one. Decent week here, but it’s still full of the same problems it has always had.

Results
Oro Mensah b. Kale Dixon – Running spinwheel kick in the corner
Thea Hail b. Lola Vice – Headlock driver
Eddy Thorpe b. Boa – Jumping elbow

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NXT LVL Up
Date: April 21, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton, Mr. Stone

Who knows what we’re getting around here, but less of Schism would be nice. I know they’re names but egads they can suck the life out of a show like no other. It would be nice to see some other stars who don’t get the TV time having a shot, but that isn’t likely to take place. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Wendy Choo/Valentina Feroz vs. Jakara Jackson/Lash Legend

Jackson headlocks Choo to start but gets taken into the wrong corner for her efforts. It’s off to Feroz for a headlock of her own but Legend comes in to drop her on the ropes. Feroz can’t slip out of a suplex so Legend gets to pose as she put a foot on the chest for two. An elbow to the back gets a less arrogant near fall and Jackson comes back in for an aggressive chinlock. That’s broken up as well and it’s Choo coming in to take over. Everything breaks down and Choo hits a full nelson slam to pin Jackson at 5:19.

Rating: C. It’s nice to have Choo back, but there is only so much that can be done with her returning in this spot. She is one of the most unique gimmicks around, but she has to be used in the right way or it won’t work out. The other three were their usual selves, and it isn’t a surprise that Choo got the focus here, as she is by far the biggest star.

Javier Bernal and Kale Dixon are ready for the main event, though Bernal wants Dixon to work on his physique.

Oro Mensah vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp easily wrestles him to the mat but takes too long swiveling the hips, allowing Mensah to grab an anklescissors. Mensah sends him to the apron but gets his throat snapped across the top to put him back in trouble. Back in and Kemp elbows him down before swinging Mensah around by the neck for a crash. A bridging German suplex gives Kemp two and we hit something like a seated abdominal stretch. Mensah fights up and gets two off a rollup, followed by a kick to the face. That’s fine with Kemp, who grabs an electric chair into a suplex for the pin at 5:08.

Rating: C. I still like Kemp and there is something for him to do somewhere in NXT. He has the general heelish nature that makes you want to see him get beaten up and the amateur credentials to back it up. Mensah continues to be little more than “that guy who used to be a bit of something in NXT UK but never does anything here”, which might be his ceiling at the moment.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade vs. Javier Bernal/Kale Dixon

Enofe takes over on Dixon’s arm to start and hands it off to Blade for a knee to the ribs. A facebuster from Enofe gives Blade two and it’s off to Bernal. Blade misses a kick in the corner and Bernal starts in on the leg, with Dixon getting in some cranking of his own. Bernal’s half crab is broken up and the hot tag brings in Enofe to clean house. Bernal is sent outside, leaving Dixon to walk into the Climax for the pin at 5:09.

Rating: C. Commentary was talking about how Enofe and Blade always feel like they could be the next team to break through but you can only be that for so long. There is a lot of truth to that, as the team has always been on the cusp but beating a makeshift heel team isn’t likely going to be their springboard. They could be something, though that isn’t going to matter if they never get a real chance.

Overall Rating: C. Choo’s return aside, there wasn’t much to see here as it was a lot of the familiar faces from LVL Up. By that I mean a bunch of people who don’t do anything on the main NXT show and there is no reason to believe that most of them are going to be much in the near future. Maybe one or two get to move up a bit if the Draft guts NXT, but that still sounds like quite the long shot.

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