NXT
Date: July 1, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re officially in the second half of the year and less than two weeks away from the Great American Bash. The card is starting to come together and we are going to be seeing some more added this week. In addition, TNA’s Joe Hendry is here to face Wes Lee, which should be a fun one. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Joe Hendry vs. Wes Lee

Trick Williams is on commentary and the rest of High Ryze is here with Lee. Hendry takes him down by the arm to start as Williams says his challengers (Hendry and Mike Santana) need to be the ones getting ready for Slammiversary. Lee rolls around and kicks him in the ribs before sending Hendry outside. That’s fine with Hendry, who blasts him with a clothesline.

We take a break and come back with Hendry glaring at the High Ryze, allowing Lee to hit a suicide dive. A middle rope phoenix splash gives Lee two but Hendry suplexes his way out of trouble. The comeback is on quickly but Lee slips out of the Standing Ovation. A fireman’s carry slam gives Hendry two so High Ryze gets up. Cue Santana to cut them off though and the Standing Ovation finishes for Hendry at 9:29.

Rating: B-. Well Hendry wasn’t going to lose here so this was about giving him a victory on the way to his big rematch with Trick Williams at Slammiversary. The good thing is that Lee is someone who can make just about anyone look good. Hendry’s charisma and star power are more than enough to carry him but he can back it up in the ring well enough, which was on display here.

Santana and Hendry stand tall as Williams doesn’t look happy.

We look at Tatum Paxley seemingly joining the Culling, with Zaria and Sol Ruca letting her go.

Here is Luca Crusifino for a chat. He wants to talk to Tony D’Angelo, who comes out to say the tables have turned. They argue over who has done what to whom in the last few weeks but Crusifino doesn’t want to hear it. Crusifino talks about the things he has sacrificed for D’Angelo and the Family and that is loyalty. Cue Stacks to interrupt but Crusifino doesn’t want to hear it. Crusifino decks D’Angelo…and then does the same to Stacks, saying his loyalty belongs to himself. There’s your big moment, with another betrayal/surprise likely coming sooner than later.

Oba Femi wants to see if Yoshiki Inamura has the fire to come after him. Inamura, with Josh Briggs, comes in to say he’s ready, but Femi says he is the hunter rather than the hunted.

Lexis King vs. Myles Borne

They fight over wrist control to start and King steps on his back a bit for some mind games. Borne takes him down and does the Florida Gator chomp, only for King to nail a dropkick on top. A top rope superplex brings Borne down for two and a running corner dropkick gives King two. The seated abdominal stretch goes on for a bit before King hits a running slap in the corner. That’s enough for Borne to fight up, including an Angle Slam for a breather. Borne’s big dropkick sets up a Zig Zag for the pin at 4:40. Well at least it’s a finisher.

Rating: C+. Good enough match here as the idea is to turn Borne into something more important. He had his big moment against Oba Femi and now the goal is to do something to keep him at a higher level. A clean win like this is a good way to start and I could go for seeing more of him. It’s nice to see NXT trying with someone who got a nice reaction and they’re doing it again here, which has potential.

Darkstate says everything that happens around here is because they allow it. They know what they’re going to do next, but we don’t.

Thea Hail vs. Lainey Reid

Hail isn’t happy and takes her down to start for some forearms to the face. Reid drops her face first into the corner and chokes away, followed by a spinning clothesline. A double underhook shoulderbreaker gives Reid two but Hail is back with a Codebreaker to the arm. The Kimura is blocked and Reid grabs a rollup but gets caught caught with her feet on the ropes. Hail’s rollup gets two so Reid kicks her away, setting up a running knee for the pin (while grabbing the rope and with Hail’s hand under the rope) at 4:22.

Rating: C+. And that’s another loss for Hail, who doesn’t really seem to win much of note…ever really. They’ve tried a few things with her but ever since that whole ordeal of Andre Chase throwing in the towel, Hail hasn’t felt like anything important. Reid isn’t that much further ahead, but she seems to be going in a rather different direction than Hail at the moment.

Tavion Heights isn’t happy with still being in the No Quarter Catch Crew. Charlie Dempsey agrees to give him one more “win and you’re out” match but this is his last chance.

Jasper Troy says you should fear him and Oba Femi knows what is coming for him if Troy wins tonight.

Sol Ruca/Zaria vs. Tatum Paxley/Izzi Dame

The rest of the Culling is here with Paxley and Dame. Ruca tries to talk some sends into Paxley to start but Zaria and Dame come in to argue as well. Ruca and Zaria clear the ring without much trouble and it’s Ruca grabbing a waistlock on Paxley. Some arm cranking has Paxley in more trouble and it’s off to Zaria to yell at Dame. They trade forearms until Paxley breaks it up with a high crossbody for two. Back up and Ruca and Zaria clear the ring again and we take a break.

We come back with Paxley tying Zaria up in the ropes for a running dropkick from Dame. A chokeslam drops Zaria again and a running flipping ax kick gives Paxley two more. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Paxley knocks her down again and puts it on for a second go. Zaria powers out without much trouble and it’s Ruca coming in to clean house.

A quick tag brings Zaria back in to clean house and an assisted splash from Ruca gives Zaria two. Dame hits a Codebreaker but there’s no Paxley, only for her to run back in and shove Dame out of the way. That means Zaria spears Ruca by mistake and Zaria is sent outside. A Sky High finishes Ruca at 13:17.

Rating: B-. Zaria and Ruca’s issues continue and it would not stun me to see them split for good in the near future. At the same time, Paxley seems to be finding a place with the Culling, though they don’t feel like the most trustworthy team in the world. There is a good chance that Dame gets a shot at Ruca out of this, and things might change even more once we get to that one.

Ethan Page, with the Vanity Project, and Ricky Saints are in Ava’s office. Page agrees to let Saints get a title shot if he can run the Vanity Project gauntlet (which happened recently on Evolve). Saints is in, but if he wins, he gets to pick the stipulation for the title shot. Deal.

We go to Chase U where Andre Chase actually apologizes. As a result, he has gotten Kale Dixon a match for next week and they hug. Chase does his swearing pep talk, but he does it WITH Dixon rather than at him.

Joe Hendry thanks Mike Santana, who says they’re uniting to fight for TNA. They’re not friends, but they’re fighting together against High Ryze next week. Works for them.

Josh Briggs gives Yoshiki Inamura a pep talk before his #1 contenders match, though Inamura says he has this.

Tatum Paxley is happy with their win and here is Ava to say Izzi Dame gets a Women’s North American Title shot at the Great American Bash. Hank & Tank come in to accuse the Culling of attacking them last week and Paxley talks them into giving the Culling a Tag Team Title shot next week.

Jasper Troy vs. Yoshiki Inamura

For an NXT Title shot at the Great American Bash. Inamura strikes away to start but Try gives him a hard whip into the corner. The chinlock is already on but Inamura powers out and shrugs off some clotheslines. A headlock grinds away at Troy and Inamura hits him with a sumo charges but Troy is right back with a side slam. Back up and Inamura knocks him to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Troy hitting three straight splashes for two and a World’s Strongest Slam gets the same. The abdominal stretch goes on but Inamura is quickly out for a ran into the post. Inamura unloads with shots to the head but walks into a swinging Boss Man Slam (appropriate as commentary compared Troy to Abyss earlier). Inamura muscles him up for a slam and the top rope splash connects for the pin at 11:38.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised by the result but maybe they’re going with the idea of “Inamura isn’t here long, get what we can out of him”. He’s gotten a bit more interesting lately, though maybe that’s due to having him actually get in the ring rather than just talking about it most of the time. Troy is still a good monster, but that aura goes away quickly if he keeps losing.

Post match Oba Femi comes in to stare at Inamura as Je’Von Evans comes in to drop Troy.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Here is Jordynne Grace for a chat. Getting here is the hardest thing she has ever done but last week reminded her that she thrives on pressure. Evolution is a major event for women’s wrestling and she will be making history. She’s terrified of being vulnerable though and she has been asking herself if she belongs here. She did everything to get here and became someone you can’t ignore.

Cue Fatal Influence to interrupt, with Jacy Jayne asking if Grace is done yet. Grace can bench press more than Jayne but she can’t carry as much as Jayne. Grace tells her to shut up and says it won’t be a surprise when there is a new champion at Evolution. The beatdown is on but Blake Monroe runs in for the save. Ava comes out to make the tag match for the Great American Bash. Jayne and Fallon Henley run back in and get knocked back down just as fast.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was much more about getting ready for the future with the Great American Bash, which is something that has been needed. At the same time, we’re building towards a big match at Slammiversary and likely some things at Evolution. That’s a tricky path to walk and they did it well enough here. NXT has found quite the balancing act of not having boring television while still setting things up for later. Other shows can’t make that work so well done for figuring out a nice formula.

Results
Joe Hendry b. Wes Lee – Standing Ovation
Myles Borne b. Lexis King – Zig Zag
Lainey Reid b. Thea Hail – Running knee while holding the rope
Tatum Paxley/Izzi Dame b. Sol Ruca/Zaria – Sky High to Ruca
Yoshiki Inamura b. Jasper Troy – Top rope splash

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: June 24, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

While the Great American Bash is coming up in a few weeks, tonight is about Evolution, as we have a four way match to crown a new #1 contender for the pay per view. Other than that, we should be finding out who is next in ling for Oba Femi and the NXT Title, which could go in a few different ways. Let’s get to it.

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

Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace all say they’re going to win tonight and go on to Evolution. Three out of four people lying is not a great ratio.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs

Briggs, with Yoshiki Inamura, is challenging and sends Williams into the corner a few times to start. Williams’ whip is blocked and Briggs hits a running clothesline for two. A hot shot onto the buckle cuts Briggs off and Williams takes him down with a headlock. Back up and they trade some running shots to the face until Williams is knocked outside. Briggs gets in a big boot and we take a break.

We come back with Briggs countering a side kick into a suplex and hitting a splash. Williams gets in a middle rope knee for two and flips out of a chokeslam. A powerbomb doesn’t work for Briggs, who is right back with a chokeslam for two. Briggs misses the moonsault though and the Trick Shot retains the title at 11:30.

Rating: C+. This was a case of giving the champion a fairly safe title defense where he had to work for it anyway. Briggs didn’t even get a pin to earn the title shot so he was playing with the house’s money in the first place. It’s a fine way to open the show, though I could still go for seeing more of Briggs actually winning something.

Post match Williams says he wants respect but here is Joe Hendry from behind to clear the ring as we’re told that Hendry gets the title shot at Slammiversary.

Tavion Heights (in a Ribera Steak House jacket) is ready to win tonight and escape the No Quarter Catch Crew. Charlie Dempsey doesn’t seem thrilled.

Myles Borne is talking to some football players when Lexis King interrupts. King mocks all of them and leaves.

Je’Von Evans vs. Tavion Heights

If Heights wins, he’s out of the No Quarter Catch Crew. Heights easily wrestles him down to start and gets two off an early cradle. The armbar goes on to keep Evans down but he’s back up with a springboard headscissors. Heights is sent to the floor for a big dive and we take a break. We come back with Evans getting the better of a slugout until Heights hits a Pounce for two. A German suplex gives Heights two but he charges into a superkick in the corner. The spinning top rope splash gives Evans the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C+. The result surprised me a bit, as while I wasn’t certain that Evans was going to win, I was surprised that he did it completely clean. Heights and Myles Borne both leaving the No Quarter Catch Crew in the span of a few weeks would have been a lot, but I was expecting Charlie Dempsey to get involved if nothing else. I’m sure Heights will keep trying to get out, but that was a pretty painful loss.

Post match Jasper Troy comes in to drop Evans.

We recap Tony D’Angelo vs. Stacks for the Heritage Cup. Stacks was set for the title match but Noam Dar was injured. As a result, D’Angelo was given the spot for the vacant title instead. The question is about Luca Crusifino, who is working for one of them but it isn’t clear whom.

Ricky Saints vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

They slug it out to start with Adonis fighting out of the corner. A crisscross lets Saints kick him in the face and throw Adonis outside as we take a break. We come back with Saints fighting out of the corner but getting caught with an AA for two. Saints fights back and grabs suplex like a backdrop into a tornado DDT for two of his own. Roshambo gives Saints the pin at 7:58.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here with almost half of the match taking place in the break. Saints gets a win to help reestablish himself a bit, though Ethan Page is what really matters for him. This was a fine way to get Saints back on track though and that’s what Adonis should be used for most of the time.

Post match Ethan Page pops up on screen for a distraction but here is Page to jump Saints from behind. Page hits his own Roshambo.

Darkstate says they’ll be front and center with chaos and destruction.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. He has been NXT Champion since January and since then, a variety of stars have come for his title but wound up as footnotes. Femi loves the fight and wants someone to come step up to him. Cue Yoshiki Inamura to say he’s here to chase gold. He missed Josh Briggs but he also missed NXT, with its culture and the passion of the fans. Femi admires his moxie but says it won’t go well for Inamura. That’s fine with Inamura, who is ready, only for Jasper Troy to take him out. I’d rather have Troy over Inamura, but at least we should be getting a #1 contenders match out of this whole thing.

Izzi Dame gives Tatum Paxley a doll but Zaria and Sol Ruca come in. Paxley walks off with the doll and meets up with Dame and the rest of the Culling. Dame takes Paxley with her.

High Ryze comes in to see Trick Williams and next week, it’s Wes Lee vs. Joe Hendry. Williams approves.

Heritage Cup: Stacks vs. Tony D’Angelo

For the vacant cup. Round one begins with D’Angelo knocking him into the corner but Stacks hammers right back. A trip to the apron and a backdrop get D’Angelo out of trouble. With the wrestling not working, they go back to straight brawling to end the round at a standoff. Round two begins with D’Angelo hitting a running clothesline and adding a spear for the pin at 37 seconds of the round and 4:07 overall.

We take a break and come back with Stacks hitting Cement Shoes for a very near fall as round three ends. Round four begins with D’Angelo slugging away but his knee (which was attacked during the break) gives out on the spinebuster attempt. Stacks gets a small package for the pin at 18 seconds of the round and 9:03 overall.

Cue Luca Crusifino to suddenly be D’Angelo’s corner man. Round five begins with Stacks tying up the leg but D’Angelo fights out and hits the spinebuster. Stacks is sent outside where D’Angelo goes after Stacks’ goons. Crusifino comes in to help but accidentally hits D’Angelo in the back with a bucket. A running knee gives Stacks the pin and the cup at 1:41 of the round and 14:21 overall.

Rating: B-. I’m rather impressed by how they’re managing to find new ways to keep up the mystery about Crusifino’s loyalties. At the end of the day, it could go either way as you could say it’s all a bunch of mistakes or he’s being subtle with his backstabbery. That’s a good way to keep the story going and they’re making it work rather well.

Post match D’Angelo lays out Crusifino.

Fatal Influence isn’t impressed with Blake Monroe and Jacy Jayne is ready for the four way tonight, as she’ll find out who loses next.

Thea Hail rants about recent issues when Lainey Reid comes in to mock her. Lash Legend comes in to say she has a match so they can’t be arguing right now.

Ava yells at Ethan Page for attacking Ricky Saints but Page just wants Saints away from him. They’ll settle it in her office next week. Hold on though as Hank & Tank have been attacked.

Joe Hendry is ready to take out Trick Williams and get the TNA World Title back at Slammiversary. He’ll be around here until then, including next week against Wes Lee.

Andre Chase tells his students that they need to toughen up. The attitude is what made the university a success….but Kale Dixon says it’s what killed it as well. Dixon and Uriah Connors leave, saying it was supposed to be different this time. Apparently they’re the ones who stopped Chase when he was closing the university in the first place (which isn’t that big of a reveal).

Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker vs. Izzi Dame vs. Jordynne Grace

Fatal Influence is watching as Legend slams Grace to start. Dame takes Grace’s place before the other two come back in. Grace and Parker are sent outside again, leaving Dame to slug it out with Legend. That doesn’t work for Legend, who sends Dame outside before missing a charge into the post.

Back in and Grace gets two off a fisherman’s suplex, followed by Dame’s flapjack getting two on Grace. Legend breaks up the Hipnotique but gets taken down by Grace, who is chokeslammed onto the apron by Dame. Cue Tatum Paxley, so Zaria and Sol Ruca grab her and take her back.

We take a break and come back with Parker hitting a Tear Drop each to Grace and Dame. A fireman’s carry to Grace is cut off by Dame’s big boot but Legend puts Dame on top. Parker cuts that off with a Backstabber to Legend and a sunset flip gets two. Since there are four people involved in the match, we get the Tower Of Doom with Parker getting the worst of things, leaving Grace to get two each. Grace misses the Vader Bomb and Legend gives Parker the over the back faceplant. Dame makes the save, leaving Grace to give Parker a spinning torture rack bomb for the pin at 12:52.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure if this earned the THIS IS AWESOME chants it was getting, but I can go with what we were getting here. If nothing else, Grace is someone who could massacre Jayne if given the chance, but that’s what was supposed to happen when Jayne got her title shot in the first place. This was pretty much Grace’s to lose, but the other three hung in there well enough to keep it interesting.

We run down next week’s card to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. They started to look towards both the Great American Bash and Evolution here and that’s something that needed to happen. There are still a few weeks to go, but what matters is that the corner is starting to be turned. As is often (but not always) the case around here, nothing on here is worth going out of your way to see, but it makes for a good overall presentation. Simple, easy to follow stuff and acceptable action tends to work well for NXT and they did it again here.

Results
Trick Williams b. Josh Briggs – Trick Shot
Je’Von Evans b. Tavion Heights – Spinning top rope splash
Ricky Saints b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Roshambo
Stacks b. Tony D’Angelo 2-1
Jordynne Grace b. Izzi Dame, Lash Legend and Jaida Parker – Torture rack powerbomb to Parker

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: June 10, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

It’s time for a hoss fight as Oba Femi is defending the NXT Title against Jasper Troy. That alone should be a heck of a fight as both of them are capable of hitting the other very hard. Other than that, we have the beginning of the build towards Great American Bash, which is about a month away. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Jasper Troy attacked Oba Femi in the parking lot and chokeslammed him through a windshield.

North American Title: Sean Legacy vs. Ethan Page

Legacy is challenging. Page takes him down with a headlock to start and then does it again without much trouble. Back up and Legacy dropkicks the leg out, with Page bailing out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Page knocking him down again. Legacy gets to the apron for a springboard missile dropkick and a German suplex drops Page again. Shambles is blocked though, leaving Legacy to hit a reverse sitout gordbuster. They go outside where Legacy escapes an Ego’s Edge and posts Page. Back in and the springboard 450 misses though and the Twisted Grin retains the title at 10:22.

Rating: C+. Legacy isn’t breaking out as a star yet but having him rub elbows with people like Page, a former NXT Champion, is a good sign for his future. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Legacy on the full NXT roster rather soon, as he hasn’t felt like he belonged in Evolve from the start. Page continues to win, which is at least a good sign for him after his mostly fluke NXT Title reign.

Post match Ricky Saints runs in to beat Page up and send him running off.

Jacy Jayne asks Ava about the next challenger but Lainey Reid comes in to slap her in the face. Reid does it again and that’s enough for Jayne to give her a title shot tonight.

Earlier today, Lash Legend got in an argument with various women and seems set for a match later.

Shawn Spears says he trusts Izzi Dame but asks why she hit Brooks Jensen with a chair. Dame says it was due to Jensen hinting at wanting a different family. He had to go, with the rest of the team understanding. She has her eyes on someone new.

The Culling vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura

Vance and Inamura lock up to start with Inamura hitting a flying shoulder. Spears comes in for some chops, which just wake Inamura up that much more. It’s off to Briggs, who flips Spears over into a backbreaker. Briggs runs Spears over again but Dame’s distraction lets Vance get in a cheap shot. That doesn’t last long as Briggs hits Vance in the face and brings Inamura back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Briggs’ moonsault is countered into a Dominator to give Vance the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what else they could have gone here, as Briggs and Inamura don’t win much and the Culling needed a victory after seemingly throwing Brooks Jensen off the team. The Culling doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but maybe they could bring in someone else. Like Briggs, to get him away from this Inamura team.

Ava yells at Ricky Saints, whose neck is still so messed up that he can’t talk.

Oba Femi is banged up and the NXT Title match might be in jeopardy.

Andre Chase yells at Chase U for getting beaten up again and not following his instructions. They’re all the way in, so Chase says it’s time to go back to class.

We recap the former Mariah May’s debut last week and join her in a bath. She’s beauty, she’s grace and she’ll probably punch you in the face. She’s the Glamour and she is Blake Monroe. Eh, I’ve heard worse names. Apparently this is VERY inspired by singer Sabrina Carpenter. Ok then.

Lash Legend vs. Wren Sinclair

Kelani Jordan, who was involved in the argument that set this up, is on commentary. Legend powers her down to start and blocks a sunset flip attempt. Sinclair is fine enough to sweep the leg though and grabs Cattle Mutilation of all things. With that broken up, Legend kicks her in the head and drops a splash for two. The bearhug goes on but Sinclair fights out and avoids a charge in the corner. Sinclair tries to go up but gets pulled out of the air and slammed down with the behind the back faceplant for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C+. These are two people who feel like they could turn into something bigger down the line, even if Sinclair is settling nicely into her role of putting everyone else over. Legend on the other hand feels like a heck of a prospect and will likely be moving up the ladder a lot sooner than later. She has that it factor and that is absolutely worth protecting.

We get a profile on Lainey Reid, who is a southerner and a former track athlete. Tonight, she’s going to show the world that Jacy Jayne is the most beatable champion in WWE.

Jasper Troy didn’t waste his title shot because he knows Oba Femi will be out there no matter what.

Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Lainey Reid

Jayne, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. Reid gets an early rollup for two to start but Jayne kicks her down and drops a backsplash. Jayne sends her throat first across the ropes to keep Reid down and we take a break. Back with Jayne driving her into the corner but Reid gets in a kick to the chest. Reid’s middle rope…we’ll call it a clothesline….puts Jayne down again and they slap it out. Reid gets the better of things and a swinging suplex gets two. A knee to the face gets two more but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore (I think?) to retain at 10:26.

Rating: C. I like the idea of playing up Jayne as such a beatable champion, as she can pick up some wins to slowly start shaking off that moniker. At the same time, she beat a newcomer in Reid, who loses nothing by getting beaten by a much bigger name. Reid still hasn’t shown me much in the ring dating back to her LVL Up days, but NXT needs some replacements after so many people were moved off the show.

Post match Ava pops up on the platform and announces a mini tournament for the #1 contendership, with the title shot taking place at Evolution. Jayne looks nervous.

Josh Briggs is disappointed in the tag team loss but here is TNA’s First Class to mock them. Yoshiki Inamura says AJ Francis is annoying but here is Elijah to blame First Class for the TNA World Title not being in TNA.

Tony D’Angelo and Luca Crusifino don’t seem to trust each other before their tag match.

Charlie Dempsey wishes Myles Borne luck in the future and Borne thanks him for everything the No Quarter Catch Crew did for him. Je’Von Evans comes in to say that was a tough loss for Dempsey, who wants to face Evans as a result.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Mr. Iguana and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino vs. High Ryze

Wes Lee is here with High Ryze. Crusifino chops Igwe to start so it’s off to DuPont as commentary starts asking why anyone in the D’Angelo Family would care about D’Angelo. As that random attack begins, D’Angelo comes in and gets stomped down in the corner. That doesn’t last long and D’Angelo gets up and makes the tag off to Crusifino. House is quickly cleaned on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Crusifino fighting out of a chinlock so Igwe pulls him into a front facelock instead. Crusifino manages a running Codebreaker and the diving tag brings in D’Angelo for the spinebuster. Cue Stacks for a distraction but D’Angelo cuts him off. Crusifino picks up a crowbar (which Stacks may have brought in) but D’Angelo sees him before Crusifino can do anything with it (Crusifino hadn’t even raised it yet). Igwe decks D’Angelo though and the Heartstopper is good for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: C+. WWE absolutely loves that WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO style of booking and that’s because it often works. The good thing about what they set up here was you could see it going either way, which opens up some options. I’m curious to see what does happen and that’s more than I can say about a lot of what the D’Angelo Family was doing. That being said, commentary suddenly turning on D’Angelo is quite the red flag.

Trick Williams does not like the implication that he needed First Class’ help the beat Elijah and agrees to team with them against Elijah/Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Jasper Troy

Femi, who is banged up from earlier, is defending. Troy goes after the bad ribs to start and hits a backsplash but Femi manages a slam. Femi fights back until a suplex brings him right back down. They go outside where a clothesline drops Femi, who is whipped so hard into the corner that the middle rope breaks.

We take a break and come back (with the rope fixed) with Femi being dropped hard onto the apron. A splash gives Troy two but Femi makes the clothesline comeback. Femi hits a spinebuster for two but walks into a chokeslam. Jasper shrugs off being tossed and hits a Black Hole Slam for two more. They go outside where Femi sends him through the barricade, followed by the Fall From Grace for….two. Another Fall From Grace retains at 11:21.

Rating: B. Now this was more like it as you had two big guys just beating the daylights out of each other. Troy got a bit of an advantage thanks to the attack earlier in the day and that’s a smart move given how much of a favorite Femi would be here. There is something about watching Femi go into that higher mode where he just wrecks everyone in sight. That’s what we got here, though Troy was more than holding his own for at least awhile.

Overall Rating: B-. That main event bailed out an otherwise not so interesting show, which is more than a little surprising. NXT has been doing well enough lately but they were missing here a bit. Hopefully things turn around, though the TNA stuff isn’t interesting me very much at the moment. Stick with the interesting stories in the women’s division, plus Femi doing whatever he has going on, which tends to be quite good.

Results
Ethan Page b. Sean Legacy – Twisted Grin
The Culling b. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura – Dominator to Briggs
Lash Legend b. Wren Sinclair – Behind the back faceplant
Jacy Jayne b. Lainey Reid – Rolling Encore
High Ryze b. Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino – Heartstopper to D’Angelo
Oba Femi b. Jasper Troy – Fall From Grace

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: June 3, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Worlds collide and some of the show will feature NXT stars. That’s going to get some attention tonight, but at the same time, we have the TNA World Title on the line as Trick Williams defends against TNA’s Mike Santana. That should be a big one so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap looks at last week’s title changes and this week’s TNA World Title match being set up. The shock over Jacy Jayne winning the women’s Title is still great.

Here are Laredo Kid, Je’Von Evans and Ethan Page for a chat. Page makes it clear that Rey Fenix isn’t here tonight due to travel issues so he should be in the ring tapdancing on the memory of Ricky Saints. Now though, someone named Sean Legacy is getting a title shot but Evans and Kid both want the title. Page goes to leave but here is Legacy to cut him off. Legacy would love to face either Evans or Kid, but next week he could become a double champion. Cue the Vanity Project to say Jackson Drake is winning the Evolve Title and they have Page’s back. The brawl is on with the good guys hitting stereo dives.

El Hijo del Vikingo is here.

Chase U vs. Darkstate

Darkstate charges in to start the beating early and Connors is thrown inside for the beating. Lennox comes in and plants Connors with a backbreaker into a Boston crab. That’s broken up and it’s off to Dixon to grab a suplex. It’s already back to Connors, who sends Griffin outside for a breather. Everything breaks down and Chase U fires off some superkicks. Griffin casually suplexes both of them at once though and it’s the toss sitout powerbomb for the pin on Dixon at 3:30.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash but this one wasn’t in doubt. I’m not sure where Chase U goes after all of this as they aren’t being treated as anything serious. Hopefully they get the chance to boost the team up soon, because this hasn’t been much so far. On the other hand, Darkstate continues to feel important, which is more than I was expecting from them at this point.

Ava tells Sean Legacy, Laredo Kid and Je’Von Evans to find a partner to face Ethan Page and the Vanity Project. They don’t know anyone, but Dragon Lee comes in to say he’ll do it.

Trick Williams is ready to beat Mike Santana.

Earlier this week, Tyra Mae Steele was nervous about making her NXT debut. Arianna Grace comes in to say no one likes someone who talks too much. Steele thinks she has found her first opponent.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Myles Borne

Rounds match (as in Heritage Cup rules) and if Borne wins, he is free from the No Quarter Catch Crew. Round one begins with Dempsey working on the arm and not getting anywhere, meaning it’s an early standoff. Borne goes back to the arm but gets pulled down into a headscissors with an armbar. That’s broken up so they fight over near falls until Borne stacks him up for the pin at 2:54.

We take a break and come back with some grappling taking us to a stalemate to end round two. Borne gives a clean break but Dempsey knees him in the ribs for a cheap shot. After a stern warning from the referee, round three begins with Borne firing off uppercuts in the corner. That’s shrugged off and a Regalplex gives Dempsey the pin to tie it up at 25 seconds of the round and 7:43 total.

Round four begins with Dempsey going after the banged up ribs, including an octopus hold. That’s broken up and Borne fights back, including an Angle Slam for two. Another Regalplex is blocked and they trade near falls until Borne hits his dropkick for the winning pin at 2:47 of the round and 11:06 total.

Rating: C+. That’s how it should have gone, as you couldn’t have Borne lose again after the rather awesome performance at Battleground. Borne has completely outgrown the No Quarter Catch Crew so having him overcome some cheating to win at Dempsey’s own game is a great way to get him out of the team. Nice match here, with the absolute right result.

Izzi Dame attacks Brooks Jensen with a chair because he’s officially out of the Culling.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Arianna Grace

Steele is a former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler and the winner of the first season of LFG. Steele wastes no time in wrestling her to the mat, followed by a northern lights suplex. Grace stomps away in the corner but Steele isn’t having that and makes the comeback. A bridging German suplex gives Steele the pin at 2:24. If you want to make her look like a star, this was a good way to go about it.

We look back at Jacy Jayne winning the Women’s Title last week. Jayne’s line of “you all may be shocked, but I’m not” is pretty awesome.

Mike Santana gives a fired up speech about being ready to fight to save TNA from Trick Williams. He knows how great Williams is, but tonight he’ll be three seconds better.

Here is Fatal Influence for Jacy Jayne’s big celebration. Jayne tells the fans to stay off the bandwagon now that she’s wont he title. The looks on everyone’s faces when she won the title last week made her happy and she was never shocked at all. She has put in the work for years and gotten better. The reality is that she and Fallon Henley have been friends for years and they decided to fake the fight to give her a better chance of winning the title.

Cue Lainey Reid to interrupt, saying Jayne is the most beatable champion of all time. Lola Vice thinks she should get the title as well and here is Jordynne Grace to throw her name in the hat as well. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan join the parade, followed by Lash Legend and Thea Hail so the big fight can be on. Then the lights go out….and Mariah May is here. She wants the Women’s Title, though no name is officially given. This was a good way to set up the new reality in the division, with the May debut being the great surprise at the end.

Evolve Prime Minister Stevie Turner and Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong wants someone to step up.

Ethan Page and the Vanity Project are ready for the eight man tag.

Ethan Page/Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee

Kid takes Drake up against the ropes to start and chops away before handing it off to Lee for a running elbow. Stereo basement superkicks get two on Drake and a high crossbody gives Lee the same. Smokes comes in and it’s off to Evans to work on his arm. Legacy gets taken into the wrong corner though and the villains get to take over.

A dropkick starts the comeback though and Legacy hits a suicide dive to take out Swipe Right. Evans and Lee hit dives of their own but Page cuts off Kid’s dive. We take a break and come back with Evans in trouble as Drake stomps on his hands. A legsweep into a standing shooting star press gets two and Drake slaps on a chinlock.

That’s broken up so Page comes in, only to have the Twisted Grin broken up. Evans fires off a superkick and gets Lee back in so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Page’s powerslam gets two with Lee and Kid making the save. Kid and Evans hit a dive each, leaving Legacy to slug it out with Page. Baylor and Lee go to the top, with Lee knocking him down and hitting Operation Dragon for the pin at 13:30.

Rating: B-. For a match designed to set up the four way at Worlds Collide and get Legacy over as a possible threat, I’ve seen far worse. I’m not sure if Lee getting the pin makes sense as he isn’t involved in the match, but maybe they didn’t want to risk giving someone an advantage going into the title match. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but it went well enough.

Oba Femi and Jasper Troy have a tense showdown, where their contract is signed for a future match.

Zaria and Sol Ruca run into Tatum Paxley, who says she didn’t want to go out there earlier. Izzi Dame comes in and suggests that Paxley purge the people who aren’t her real friends.

Tony D’Angelo talks to Luca Crusifino, who has gotten them a match with High Ryze to show that they can trust each other. D’Angelo says that Crusifino didn’t get the Family’s permission, but Crusifino says they really aren’t a family anymore.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana

Santana is challenging and the winner of this defends against Elijah this Friday at Against All Odds. Williams backs him into the corner to start as the fans are all behind Santana here. A rather intimidating smile sets up Santana driving him into the corner but Williams gets in a shot to the face.

Williams’ running neckbreaker gets two but Santana glares his way up. Another knockdown sends Williams outside where Santana hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Santana knocking him into the corner for the right hands. Williams scores with the Trick Kick for two before grabbing the cravate. Back up and the chops just fire Santana up, with an exchange of kicks to the head rocking both of them.

Santana hits a Death Valley Driver for a double down and the Rolling Buck Fifty (cutter) gives Santana two. The big Cannonball gets two and a 450 connects for the same, with Williams putting a finger on the ropes. Williams bails to the floor and breaks Elijah’s guitar…and here is First Class (AJ Francis, who is formerly known as Top Dolla, and KC Navarro) from TNA to take Santana out. The Trick Shot retains the title at 12:26.

Rating: B-. The ending was a nice move and while Santana winning the title will be a great moment, it doesn’t need to happen yet. I still expect Joe Hendry to get the title back at Slammiversary for the big moment, but for now, Williams beating someone in a good first defense is a smart way to go. Santana will be fine and can go after First Class to give him some heat back.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt like the week where NXT restocked the shelves, especially in that women’s segment. The door has been revolving at a crazy pace as of late so this is something that they were going to have to do sooner or later. I like how it went, as there are some new faces around here who could make a big impact in a hurry. Good show here, but more of a needed one than anything else.

Results
Darkstate b. Chase U – Toss sitout powerbomb to Dixon
Myles Borne b. Charlie Dempsey 2-1
Tyra Mae Steele b. Arianna Grace – Bridging German suplex
Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page/Vanity Project – Operation Dragon to Baylor
Trick Williams b. Mike Santana – Trick Shot

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NXT LVL Up
Date: December 27, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

So it’s the final show and for the first time in a good while, we actually have something set up coming in. While we have what is likely going to be a six woman tag, we also have Dante Chen running a gauntlet because this is his show. I’m not sure how to handle something being ready on the way to the show so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Lainey Reid/Wendy Choo/Kali Armstrong vs. Layla Diggs/Carlee Bright/Kendal Grey

Grey and Reid slug it out on the mat to start and Reid quickly hands it off to Choo. That doesn’t last long as Armstrong comes in, with Diggs slamming Bright onto her for two. Reid comes back in to punch Bright in the face, followed by one to Diggs to draw her in as well. Bright fights up and brings in Diggs to pick up the pace without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Diggs ax kicks Reid for the pin at 5:30.

Rating: C+. This is the closest thing to a blowoff to a feud as we’re going to get around here and it went well enough. Diggs doesn’t exactly stand out around here but she got her big win over Reid, who has been all over the show in recent months. If nothing else, it’s nice to have Bright and Grey get a win as things close up.

Dante Chen is ready to face anyone who wants their shot.

We look at some stars who have gone from LVL Up to the main NXT show. That’s a nice little touch.

Gauntlet Match

It’s Dante Chen facing a bunch of people, starting with Keanu Carver, who had a good performance last week. Chen runs the ropes to start but gets caught in a powerslam. Back up and Carver is sent into the corner, allowing Chen to grab a rollup for the pin at 1:32. Harlem Lewis is the second opponent and immediately grabs a suplex for two. A hard kick in the corner staggers Chen again but he’s right back with the Gentle Touch for the pin at 3:51 total.

Kale Dixon is the third opponent and hammers away, including a bit of dancing. Dixon plants him down and chops away in the corner but Chen fights up. Chen is sent to the floor and comes back in to get caught with something like a Downward Spiral. For some reason Dixon tries the Gentle Touch, only to get caught with one of his own to give Chen the pin at 7:26 total for the final win. That’s the whole gauntlet?

Rating: C. Well, that’s about as perfect of a way for Chen to wrap it up: a nondescript match where he didn’t show anything notable and you’re left saying “that’s it?”. I’m still not sure I get the appeal of Chen around here, and as his only appearance in a month and a half after this was losing in less than a minute on the main NXT show, WWE doesn’t seem to see it either.

Chen poses to end the show and the series.

Overall Rating: C. And that’s LVL Up and…I have no idea what the point was in having this most of the time. It was about half an hour a week most of the time and had very little in the way of storylines, making it as skippable of a show as you could have. At the same time, it still felt totally unimportant and like a waste of time most weeks. I get that it helps the wrestlers getting their feet wet and earning some experience for the bigger parts of their careers, but egads they could have made it more interesting. It felt like they were trying a bit more here, but that doesn’t make the last few years any better.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: December 20, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re down to two shows and that means we aren’t going to be getting much out of them. That means we are going to likely be seeing the same stars we usually get around here, but since there isn’t much in the way of stories, what else are they suppose to do? That leaves them in a weird spot so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Joe Coffey vs. Keanu Carver

Carver shrugs off a shoulder to start and grabs a front facelock before knocking Coffey outside. Back in and Carver pulls a high crossbodying Coffey out of the air to put him down again. A powerslam gives Carver two and he grabs an Argentinean backbreaker. That’s broken up and Coffey starts hammering away, setting up the big running shoulder. All The Best For The Bells is loaded up but Carver Pounces him down. Coffey goes simple with the running headbutt into the corner, setting up All The Best For The Bells for the pin at 5:23.

Rating: C+. This was much more about Carver, who dominated most of the match against a more established star. That worked out well as Carver got to showcase himself, which is always a good thing. It was a nice showcase here, even with Coffey winning in the end, as he should at this point.

Lainey Reid is annoyed at being asked about her match tonight with Kendal Grey.

Kendal Grey is ready to beat Lainey Reid.

Lainey Reid vs. Kendal Grey

Grey grabs a fast rollup to start and Reid is looking a bit concerned. Back up and Grey knocks her into the corner, setting up a middle rope crossbody for two. The bridging hammerlock has Reid in more trouble but she manages a belly to belly suplex for a needed breather. A running crotch attack to the back hits Grey for two but Reid elbows her in the face a few times. Reid shrugs off a rollup and knees her in the face for the pin at 5:48.

Rating: C. Grey (and Carlee Bright) has kind of disappeared in recent weeks and you could see why here. They just do not have much that makes them stand out and that is going to create an issue. There are so many talented women in the NXT women’s division that just being in great shape and being athletic isn’t going to carry them very far. The match was nothing to see, but that shouldn’t be much of a shock.

Post match the beatdown is on with Carlee Bright making the save. Kali Armstrong, Wendy Choo and Layla Diggs run in for the big brawl. A six woman seems likely.

Dante Chen talks about how he is known for this show so next week on the final show, he’ll be in a gauntlet match. Who else could it be in the last show?

Overall Rating: C+. I’ll take some things being set up for the grand finale, even if there is very little to get excited about. The opener was a nice way to make Carver look like a bigger deal and the post main event stuff set up things for next week, so we’ll call this a nicely done show. Just stick the landing as well as possible next week and this will work out.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: December 6, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We have four episodes of the show left and that isn’t exactly the saddest thing in the world. The show is so hit and miss that it’s hard to get excited about the thing and that isn’t likely to change. I’m not sure what to expect here, mainly because there is little way to guess what is coming on this show. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results in case you missed it.

Opening sequence.

Dion Lennox vs. Jasper Troy

The rather large Troy shoves him around to start but gets taken down with a headlock takeover. Back up and Troy gets in a drop onto the turnbuckle, setting up something like a Boss Man Slam. There’s a backbreaker for two as Troy starts in on the back, including an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up so Lennox has to escape a chokeslam, meaning a spinebuster puts Troy down. Troy misses a charge into the post though and it’s a Jackhammer (or close enough) to give Lennox the pin at 5:21.

Rating: C. They’re trying something with Lennox here and I’m still not sure I get it. He has a nice look, but taking his glasses off as his version of taking down the straps isn’t exactly great. It doesn’t help that he’s stuck in the middle of the Ashante Thee Adonis/Karmen Petrovic deal, as that is hardly working. Troy is a big guy with a good look of his own, but he didn’t get to do much here.

Layla Diggs is ready to finish things with Lainey Reid.

Lainey Reid is ready to finish things with Layla Diggs.

Layla Diggs vs. Lainey Reid

Reid pulls her down into a headlock to start but Diggs is back up to flip over the top rope. An armbar has Reid in trouble for a change and a standing moonsault gives Diggs two. Back up and Reid starts in on the leg, including a cannonball down onto the leg. A dropkick to the knee keeps Diggs in trouble and we hit the half crab.

That’s broken up and Diggs is back with a quick butterfly suplex. Somehow Diggs manages a spinning kick in the corner before slamming Reid off the top for two. Reid is back with a spinebuster (they LOVE those in NXT) but another half crab is broken up. Reid’s rollup with ropes is caught so she goes back to the knee. A Shining Wizard gives Reid the pin at 7:21.

Rating: C+. This worked well enough for a LVL Up match as they had something with the leg, which even tied into the finish. It helps that there was a backstory to this one, as it added something despite not being much. That has been missing for pretty much the entirety of LVL Up’s existence so it’s very nice to see for a change.

Overall Rating: C+. You can only get so much out of these twenty minute versions and that was the case again here. The main event was good enough but when that’s half of the show, you’re only getting so far. Then again the show is ending in less than a month so it isn’t like what they do matters very much anyway. Nice enough though, especially with what passes for a long term feud being paid off.

Results
Dion Lennox b. Jasper Troy – Jackhammer
Lainey Reid b. Layla Diggs – Shining Wizard

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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 29, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

We’re coming up on Survivor Series and that means very little about what is going on with this show. Instead, we have the usual efforts around here, which means seeing a bunch of people who have no reason to be in any kind of a story but need ring time. That can make for some nice surprises and maybe they will again here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Drake Morreaux vs. Harlem Lewis

The much bigger Morreaux powers him up against the ropes to start before they fight over a front facelock. Lewis gets in a shot of his own and hammers away before working on the arm. A running boot to the face and clothesline give Lewis two each but Morreaux is quickly out of a chinlock. They go up to the corner, where Morreaux knocks him off the top and drops a top rope splash for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C. Morreaux is someone who is going to get a chance because he is athletic and huge, but at the same time, he hasn’t done anything that makes me interested in what he is doing. Lewis is someone who could be a nice lackey for someone, but on his own, I’m not sure I see what is going to work, at least without a new character. Not much to see here, which is kind of the point.

Lainey Reid doesn’t have a tag partner for later but she’ll find one. Kali Armstrong comes in to say she’ll do it, but they are NOT friends.

Lainey Reid/Kali Armstrong vs. Layla Diggs/Tyra Mae Steele

Diggs starts with Reid, who immediately hands it off to Armstrong, like any heel should. Diggs works on the arm as you might have expected before Steele comes in to wrestle Reid down. Armstrong comes back in for a heck of a clothesline to take over, with Reid’s double elbow getting two. The chinlock goes on but Steele fights out and hands it off to Diggs for a rather fired up comeback. Everything breaks own and Armstrong hits a powerslam on Diggs. Back up and Diggs scores with an ax kick to finish Armstrong at 5:47.

Rating: C+. This actually got cooking at the end and I’ll take that for a nice surprise. You don’t really expect much out of four stars who are rather inexperienced but they had a nice match and a good melee segment to wrap it up. Diggs vs. Reid isn’t much of a story but it’s more than most people get around here and I’ll take that for a bonus.

Cutler James and Dion Lennox are fired up over their recent win but Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon interrupt, setting up the main event.

Lainey Reid jumps Layla Diggs in the back with Tyra Mae Steele chasing her off.

Cutler James/Dion Lennox vs. Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon

Dixon whips James into the corner to start and that doesn’t work well, with James sending him into another corner with a bit more force. Lennox comes in with a fall away slam to Connors but Dixon sneaks in with a hot shot to take over. An assisted elbow in the corner gets two on Lennox but it’s a double knockdown for a needed breather. Everything breaks down again and Connors kicks Lenox into a rollup to give Dixon the pin at 4:38.

Rating: C. Well that was short and they didn’t have time to go anywhere. That’s a bit surprising as these four have been around a bit longer than most of the other people on this show and should be able to have something of a better match. The match wasn’t bad but there is only so much you can do with that little time.

Dixon and Connors are very happy with their first win to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: C+. Who would have thought that the women’s tag match in the middle of the show would have been the best part? The Diggs vs. Reid feud isn’t anything great but at least it is something that they are setting up for a payoff down the road. It’s still not a show you need to watch, but what we got here was good enough for another week.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 22, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

I’m getting more curious about what this show is going to be doing as they’ve been making some nice adjustments over the last few months. The show is still nothing exactly worth seeing but I’ll take a bit more effort over the same stuff week after week. Hopefully they can keep something going this time so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Joe Coffey vs. Harlem Lewis

Coffey grabs a headlock to start and takes Lewis down for some grinding. That’s broken up and Lewis runs him over but Coffey is back up with some whips into the corner. Some kicks to the chest have Lewis in more trouble and we hit something like a seated abdominal stretch. Lewis fights out and pulls Coffey out of the air (dang) for a Jackhammer and a near fall. That’s enough for Coffey, who hits the Glasgow Sendoff into All The Best For The Bells and the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Lewis pulling Coffey out of the air like that was worth at least something of an upgrade as that is impressive for anyone. Coffey actually needed the win after losing that six man a few weeks ago and this got him back on track. Odds are this story isn’t over though and for once, I can go for something like that.

Lainey Reid isn’t happy with being asked if she can beat Tyra Mae Steele. She also seems a bit nervous about Layla Diggs.

Lainey Reid vs. Tyra Mae Steele

Reid spins out of a foot grab to start but Steele takes her down by the leg without much effort. An armbar keeps Reid down but she sends Steele into the corner for a running elbow. A seated abdominal stretch is broken up in a hurry and Reid misses a charge into the post. Steele’s bridging German suplex gets two and she pulls Reid out of the air. After pausing for a second (that was weir), Steele rolls backwards into a Snake Eyes attempt but gets sent into the buckle. Reid rolls her up and grabs the trunks for the pin at 4:25.

Rating: C. Steel’s very early learning curve continues as there is only so much you can get out of these four minute matches. That being said, she’s getting her feet wet at this point and that should do her some good, though putting her in there with someone with some more experience might help. This wasn’t a particularly impressive match, but Steele is certainly a long term project.

Post match Layla Diggs chases Reid back into the ring for a Pounce from Steele.

Post break Diggs says she is tired of playing Reid’s games and revenge is coming.

Shiloh Hill vs. Dante Chen

They fight over wrist control to start as commentary talks about Chen’s desire to help rookies because people helped him when he got here. Hill’s cravate has Chen in some trouble but he avoids a charge to send Hill into the post. Chen stays on the arm with a DDT into an armbar, followed by an armdrag into another armbar. Hill fights up and they trade near falls until the Gentle Touch finishes Hill off at 6:03.

Rating: C. As usual, Chen is treated as nothing short of a superhero around here and it’s still a weird thing to see. I still don’t known if I get the appeal, but the fans around here seem to like him enough. Other than that, Hill goes from a promising star to losing to Chen, which tends to be the opposite of how things work. Kind of a weird way to go, but who am I to question Chen?

Overall Rating: C. The interesting thing here is the Reid/Diggs story, which is getting some time and actually building. It’s not exactly something I want to see, but I’ll take an attempt at something around here rather than just doing the same thing over and over. We’ll call this show a fairly boring step in the right direction, but a step nonetheless.

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

We’re done with Halloween Havoc and the main roster is on the way to Saudi Arabia so this is another short form edition. Last week’s show featured something of a change in style with some stories being added to spice the matches up a bit. The change wasn’t much but I’ll take what I can get. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Carlee Bright vs. Lainey Reid

They fight over a lockup to start until Reid shoulders her down. Back up and Bright cranks away on the arm before hitting a quick dropkick. A monkey flip out of the corner puts Reid down but she’s right back with the forearms in another corner. Reid chokes on the ropes and hits a gutbuster into the chinlock. That’s broken up and Bright grabs a middle rope hurricanrana for two as the fans are split. A Backstabber rocks Reid but she pulls the hair and grabs a rolling cutter for the pin at 6:34.

Rating: C+. Bright was definitely starting to show some more in the ring here and that’s a good sign for her future. What’s not a good sign is that she still doesn’t have anything that makes her stand out. She’s rather athletic and that’s about the extent of anything that she has going right now. Reid is someone who isn’t exactly great in the ring, but NXT sees something in her and that’s what matters right now.

Post break Reid it’s worried about Layla Diggs.

Oro Mensah vs. Niko Vance

The rather strong Vance powers him into the corner to start and then runs Mensah over with a shoulder. An anklescissors sends Vance to the apron and a flipping kick to the head drops him again. Vance gets smart by going after the leg, though the fans don’t approve. Back in and Vance works on the leg, including slamming it onto the apron.

A shinbreaker into a suplex gives Vance two and he steps on the face for a half crab. Mensah slips out of a powerbomb though and chops away before ramming Vance into the corner a few times. The leg is fine enough for a springboard shot to Vance’s head but Vance sends him into the corner. Vance goes up but Mensah kicks him down, setting up the running spinwheel kick in the corner for the pin at 7:43.

Rating: C-. Well that happened. I have no idea what the point is in having Vance work on the leg for the majority of the match if Mensah is going to come right back with a bunch of jumping and kicking. Vance was wrestling a nice match as a bully here, but what he does doesn’t matter if Mensah isn’t going to do his part.

Overall Rating: C. Not much to this one, but again there is only so much that can be done with about twenty minutes on the whole show. Reid and Vance did well but I would have expected more from Mensah, who has been on the regular NXT show long enough to not do the Mike Bailey Special. Other than that, they are at least building to something with Diggs and Reid, which could be…well it’ll exist.

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