Evolve
Date: March 26, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re getting firmly into the standard operation procedure around here and that includes some matches and stories being set up. Now that so many wrestlers have been introduced, we can see what happens when those wrestlers are put together. That is what we should be seeing this week, likely with a few other big (well, bigger) names included. Let’s get to it.

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

Ava is proud of Stevie Turner’s efforts recently and has her taken to the ring for a big announcement: Turner is officially the General Manager of Evolve. At least they kept this short, as the show doesn’t really need a boss. She is thrilled to get the job and is happy to have been selected over Robert Stone. Everything is up for grabs around here and someone is going to become the first face of Evolve. To get those spots, you have to impress both her and the fans, so we can start with a match. Stone: “We’re doomed.”

As the wrestlers (who were around the ring), Luca Crusifino and Keanu Carver have to be held apart.

Wolfgang vs. Sam Holloway

They fight over a lockup to start and then trade big shoulders to no avail. A headbutt off goes to Wolfgang, who hits a running splash in the corner to really take over. Holloway gets in a shot of his own to send Wolfgang to the apron, where a hard slam has Wolfgang in even more trouble. An elbow drop gets two back inside and Holloway slams him again for the same.

Holloway grabs an abdominal stretch to stay on the ribs but Wolfgang fights out and hits a middle rope elbow. For some reason Wolfgang tries a slingshot flip and hurts his back again, allowing Holloway to suplex him into the corner. Holloway drives in shoulders to the ribs but Wolfgang knocks him off the top and hits the Howling (Swanton) to the back for the pin at 7:35.

Rating: C+. Simple, to the point match here with Wolfgang fighting through an injury to win. That being said, I’m not sure why you would want Wolfgang, who has been presented as a villain in Gallus, to wrestle that way. It’s weird to cheer for him when he’s not the most likable guy, but Holloway did at least look decent in defeat.

Post match Joe Coffey says send anyone who wants some of Gallus.

Aria Bennett and Layla Diggs seem to be friends and perhaps partners.

Carlee Bright, with pom poms, is in the VIP area.

Kendal Grey vs. Zara Zakher

Zakher takes her down and they fight over waistlocks. That goes nowhere so they switch to fighting over wrist control. Zakher gets in an armdrag into an armbar, followed by a handspring elbow in the corner for two. Back up and Grey grabs Eat Defeat onto the shoulder and then sends it into the buckle a few times. Zakher fights up again and hits some shots in the corner, followed by a nice spinebuster for…one as she rolls off of Grey for no apparent reason. They trade rollups for two each but Zakher misses something off the top. Grey kicks her in the face and grabs a cross armbreaker for the tap at 6:09.

Rating: C. This is the kind of showing that makes Grey look like a bigger star as she won a fairly hard fought match against someone who has been built up at least a little bit in the first few weeks. Grey might not be a big star but she’s a bigger deal than Zakher so this isn’t a terrible way to go. Now just do something with Grey in the coming weeks.

Post match Kylie Rae comes out to check on Zakher, but the teddy bear from Wendy Choo is sitting in the corner.

Drako Knox comes to commentary and talks about liking the feeling of putting fists to faces last week. He doesn’t like Swipe Right being in the VIP section and mocking him last week though so he wants to get in the ring.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Ice Williams and Swipe Right are in the VIP section.

Layla Diggs/Aria Bennett vs. Haze Jameson/Kalyx

Diggs takes Kalyx down to start and flips over into an armdrag. Jameson is seemingly flirting with Swipe Right as Bennett comes in with a moonsault for two on Kalyx. Back up and Kalyx takes over on Bennett and hands it off to Jameson, who has to be reminded to come in. Jameson’s wristlock on Bennett doesn’t do much but she gets in another takedown and grabs a chinlock. It’s back to Kalyx for a running elbow but Jameson goes over for a drink in the VIP section. Diggs comes back in with a sitout gordbuster for the pin on Kalyx at 2:47. They packed a good deal of stuff in there.

Post match Kalyx is annoyed and the winners dance a bit.

Video on former Evolve Champion Timothy Thatcher, who is back for what appears to be one night only.

Video on Sean Legacy, who has wanted to be a wrestler for a long time and got mocked as a result. Now he is proving that he can do it.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Sean Legacy

Legacy hits a dropkick at the bell and adds a standing moonsault for two only ten seconds into the match. Thatcher is up with the uppercuts but Legacy kicks leg out and hits another dropkick for another two. They go outside with Legacy hitting a suicide dive and we take a break. Back with Thatcher knocking him out of the air and hitting a belly to back suplex for two. Thatcher grabs a surfboard before just wrenching on the fingers for some pain. Legacy fights back and is quickly belly to bellied right back down.

The chinlock goes on to keep Legacy down and a knee to the back does the same. Legacy fights up and sends him to the floor, followed by a suplex back inside. Legacy strikes away and grabs a German suplex to leave Thatcher shaken up. A missile dropkick gives Legacy two more as the VIP stars aren’t impressed. Legacy grabs his torture rack into a neckbreaker (that needs a name) for the win at 8:49.

Rating: B-. This is where things can get interesting, as Legacy seems to be one of the people that WWE wants to get behind on the new show. If that’s who they want to go with, they did something smart here by having him beat someone that fans likely recognize. That’s what you need to do to build someone up as Legacy is still brand new around here. Good main event, with Legacy showcasing himself well.

Post match Thatcher gives some sarcastic applause before leaving. Legacy glares at Swipe Right and Ice Williams. Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel come out to even the odds but Williams switches to the good guys, sending Swipe Right bailing to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. You really wouldn’t realize that this was the fourth week of the show, as this felt like it was a show that has been around for a good while longer. What mattered here was getting things going at a more steady pace and they made that happen fairly well. The main event was good and they advanced the stories, with quite a few things getting some time. It’s still as low level as you can get in WWE, but it’s a lot more engaging than I was expecting.

Results
Wolfgang b. Sam Holloway – Howling
Kendal Grey b. Zara Zakher – Cross armbreaker
Layla Diggs/Aria Bennett b. Haze Jameson/Kalyx – Sitout gordbuster to Kalyx
Sean Legacy b. Timothy Thatcher – Torture rack neckbreaker

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Evolve
Date: March 19, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

The beginnings of this series continue as we are at the third show. In theory last week should be a sign of where we are going, but you never can tell with a new concept. There have already been some stories set up and now we get to see how some of those are paid off. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brinley Reece is very excited to be here. She’s into fitness and is very excited.

Masyn Holiday is the valedictorian of Howard University where she was a track star.

Brinley Reece vs. Masyn Holiday

Holiday takes her down by the arm to start but Reece is back up with a takedown of her own. Back up and Holiday takes her down by the head before stomping away in the corner. A backbreaker lets Holiday grab a bodyscissors but Reece is back up with a flipping clothesline. Reece hits a TKO for the pin at 3:37.

Rating: C. This was another short match and that is only going to get them so far. It helps that Reece has been around for a good while now and isn’t an unknown so this was hardly her big introduction. Holiday is the latest on a long list of really athletic people who needs something else to make her stand out.

Post match Reece is very pleased with what she did because that’s a positive mindset.

Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont are in the VIP section. They’re chasing titles and want someone to step up to get beat down.

Jordan Oasis has been wrestling for ten years and was trained by Rikishi. And he has a backpack.

Sam Holloway is a big guy who had to deal with bullying while he grew up. Now he’s going to make everyone learn the hard way because that’s how he got here.

Gallus vs. Jordan Oasis/Sam Holloway

The rather tall Holloway headlocks Joe to start before they strike it out. Mark comes in and gets dropped by Holloway before Oasis comes in (yelling at Holloway on the way) for a headlock of his own. It’s already back to Holloway for a slam before we hit the chinlock. Back up and Oasis sends Mark throat first into the ropes, setting up a Cannonball to the back (that’s a new one).

Mark fights up and makes the tag back to Joe for the house cleaning. The double springboard spinning high crossbody gets two on Oasis with Holloway making the save. Everything breaks down and Mark gets posted but cue Wolfgang (the third member of Gallus) to yell at Holloway. Joe punches Oasis out for the TKO at 5:50.

Rating: C+. This got some more time and it made for a bit of a better showcase, though Gallus has fallen through the floor in WWE over the last few months. They might not be great but they’re good enough for a spot higher than Evolve. Oasis and Holloway got in some offense here, though they didn’t have enough time to really do much.

Post match Oasis has to be held back from going after all of Gallus.

Layla Diggs has self confidence issues but she has quite the athletic background. Now she’s going to prove herself.

Chantel Monroe is a gymnast from Auburn University and cares a lot about fashion.

Chantel Monroe vs. Layla Diggs

Monroe takes her down with a headscissors to start and stomps away. Diggs is back up with a sunset flip for two, allowing her to check her hair. Back up and Diggs hits a powerslam for two but Monroe goes after the leg. Some cartwheel knees to the ribs give Monroe two and the half crab works on the leg some more. That’s broken up as well but Monroe hits her in the leg. A dropkick to the leg has Diggs in more trouble but she goes up for a sunset flip. The leg gives out though and Monroe rolls her up for the pin at 3:27.

Rating: C. Another match designed to showcase a few people but neither of them really stood out for the most part. As was the case earlier in the show, it’s another case of people with athletic backgrounds and nothing that makes them stand out. That’s going to need to change, and having so many such people on the show isn’t helping here.

Haze Jameson played college (shocking I know) volleyball and is the life of the party. She’s a big Dennis Rodman fan….and Kali Armstrong storms the announcers’ desk, demanding a match.

Kali Armstrong vs. Haze Jameson

Armstrong knocks her into the corner to start and hits a not great powerslam. The Kali Connection (a hard shoulder block) finishes Jameson at 49 seconds.

Here is Kylie Rae to talk about what was in the note Wendy Choo gave her last week. Rae doesn’t know Choo and isn’t sure if she wants to, mainly due to fear. There are a lot of talented women in the locker room and she doesn’t have time to focus on the bear or note that Choo gave her, so she throws both of them down. Cue….well Choo’s face on the video screen but Zara Zakher comes out to get Rae out of there instead. Rae was a little more heely there and…I don’t know if that’s a great move.

Drako Knox is from a small town in Georgia and is trying to get out of the same routines that his family have been stuck in for years. This is his lottery ticket out.

Tate Wilder is a cowboy and likes various violent sports. He’s a mixture of Matthew McConaghey and a famous bull rider.

Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont vs. Tate Wilder/Drako Knox

Drako takes DuPont into the corner to start but gets shouldered down for his efforts. Wilder comes in for a dropkick and celebrates with Knox, allowing the tag to Igwe. A face first drop onto the turnbuckle knocks Wilder silly but DuPont running him over knocks him even sillier. A full nelson slam gets two but here are Swipe Right and Zayda Steel (who picks up Wendy Choo’s note to Kylie Rae) to sit in the VIP area. Wilder backflips over Igwe and gets one off an O’Connor roll. Knox comes back in for some forearms but Igwe kicks Knox in the face. The Heartstopper (belly to back suplex/chokeslam combination) finishes Knox at 4:10.

Rating: C+. Wilder and Knox stood out a bit more, mainly because they had something closer to characters that gave them something different. That’s more than a lot of the people on this show can say so maybe there is something for them. Not much to the match, as Igwe and DuPont are bigger stars and mostly dominated, but at least the other two felt more unique.

Oro Mensah is now in the VIP section.

Javier Bernal vs. Luca Crusifino

Crusifino takes him down by the arm to start but Bernal sends him to the apron. That just means a slingshot shoulder but Bernal is back up with a knockdown to the floor. The baseball slide drops Crusifino, who drops him onto the apron. An apron legdrop gets two on Bernal and a kick to the head rocks him again. Bernal is back with a backdrop and a snap half nelson suplex. The tornado DDT gives Bernal two but Crusifino Codebreakers him out of the air. The Case Closed (fisherman’s suplex into a brainbuster onto the knee) finishes for Crusifino at 4:41.

Rating: B-. As has been the case with this show so far, the main event tends to go well, mainly because they have more experience and aren’t out there to establish themselves. Crusifino is a bigger name and Bernal was on his way to getting better before he got hurt. The match was good enough, with Crusifino feeling like the biggest star on the show.

Post match Keanu Carver and Harlem Lewis come out to glare at Crusifino to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The show is still in its early stages and that isn’t a bad thing. They need to get these people out there and start setting them up, which is mostly what we have been doing so far. That can continue for a few weeks, though it does seem like some of these names are starting to interact, which is here things should go from here. For now though, not a bad show at all as they’re not wasting time around here and it feels a lot more interesting than LVL Up did for years.

Results
Brinley Reece b. Masyn Holiday – TKO
Gallus b. Sam Holloway/Jordan Oasis via referee stoppage
Chantel Monroe b. Layla Diggs – Rollup
Kali Armstrong b. Haze Jameson – Kali Connection
Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe b. Tate Wilder/Drako Knox – Heartstopper to Knox

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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: October 18, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

I’m a good bit behind on this series again and hopefully I’m coming back with a good show. You can get quite the set of surprises around here and it would be nice to see the quality working here. In other words, it depends on who we get in the ring, because the talent selection goes a long way. Let’s get to it.

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

Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe vs. Harlem Lewis/Niko Vance

Igwe and Vance fight over a lockup to start before it’s off to Lewis to work on the arm. A shoulder runs Igwe over again but it’s off to DuPont to run the other two over. Igwe and DuPont clear the ring and get in a quick pose but it’s Vance taking over on DuPont back inside. A dragon screw legwhip takes DuPont back down and we hit the half crab. That’s quickly broken up and it’s off to Igwe to clean house. Everything breaks down and the Heartstopper finishes Vance at 6:19.

Rating: C+. This was better than I was expecting and that’s always a nice surprise around here. Igwe and DuPont continue to be a team who can do well if given the chance but they’re always stuck around here. Give them a few more wins and something to do on the main NXT show and it could be worth a look. Vance and Lewis did well enough, though they felt like two people being thrown out there to give Igwe and DuPont something to do.

Malik Blade is ready for his singles match against Tavion Heights.

Layla Diggs vs. Lainey Reid

This is the result of Reid not wanting Diggs’ opinion. Reid shoulders her down to start but a ram of the knee into the mat is blocked. Diggs works on a wristlock before hitting a quick dropkick for two. Reid is back up with a spinning suplex into a chinlock but Diggs fights up without much effort. Diggs hits a powerslam into a standing moonsault for two but Reid knees her in the back. That and a rollup with the ropes are enough to finish Diggs at 5:36.

Rating: C. Reid is someone who has been getting a lot of extra attention in recent months and I’m sure WWE sees something in her. What we got here was good enough as she cheats to beat another rather athletic star. Diggs hasn’t gotten to prove much about herself but I’ll take a decent showing like this one.

Post break Reid said she did what she had to do but Diggs chases her off.

Malik Blade vs. Tavion Heights

Myles Borne is here with Heights. Blade takes him down to start but Heights shows him a much better way to do so, with the riding ensuing. Back up and Blade hits a quick dropkick into a headlock takeover as Heights can’t power his way out. Heights manages to get up and power Blade into the corner, with a suplex back out of it getting two.

Blade slugs away until a hard running clothesline drops him for two more. Heights mixes it up with a seated full nelson but Blade slips out for two off a crucifix. A swinging DDT gives Blade two more but Heights is right back with the spinning belly to belly to put Blade away at 8:27.

Rating: C+. Nice back and forth match here as Blade was able to hang in there on his own without the injured Edris Enofe. Heights still feels like someone who could be a player if he was given the chance and we saw some of that here. That belly to belly looked good and the match worked well enough, especially for a main event.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had a nice mixture for around here and I’ll take that where I can get it. You’re only going to get so much out of LVL Up most weeks and this was a bit better than usual. What matters is finding the right balance around here and having something possibly continuing with Diggs and Reid is better than nothing. Nice show here, or at least as nice as it’s likely to get.

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

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we should be back to full strength around here. Granted that means going with three matches rather than two, which isn’t exactly a big upgrade but it feels better than the norm. Hopefully there are some bigger names around here this week though, as it was only so good over the last few weeks. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Izzi Dame vs. Layla Diggs

Dame powers her into the corner to start but Diggs is right back with a running hurricanrana. Diggs works on the arm but slips on the ropes, allowing Dame to drop an elbow. Commentary actually talks about Main Event, reminding us that the show actually exists. A powerbomb onto the knee keeps Diggs in trouble and a regular backbreaker gets two. Dame bents the back over her knee, setting up a Sky High for two more. Back up and Diggs gets in a few shots, only to miss a dropkick. That lets Dame kick her in the face and hit a swinging Side Effect for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C. This was little more than a squash as Diggs barely had anything going for the most part. Instead it was Dame working on her back and then going to the finish. Dame’s size alone should get her a chance, though she hasn’t exactly stood out yet. That is even more the case for Diggs, who hasn’t done anything to make her feel different.

Earlier this week, Dani Palmer came up to Lainey Reid for a rather badly recited interaction. Either way they’re having a match this week. This was at least different than the standard interview, but that doesn’t mean it was better.

Dani Palmer vs. Lainey Reid

Reid knocks her down to start but Palmer flips out of a headscissors. Palmer’s rollup sends Reid outside, which has her so angry that she grabs a dragon screw legwhip on the apron. Back in and Reid hits a belly to back faceplant for two before grabbing a half crab. That’s broken up and Palmer knocks her down, setting up a Low Down (not Sky High Byron) for two. Palmer goes back up and hits a moonsault for the pin at 5:53.

Rating: C+. Well, they did stand out a bit more, though I’m not sure how well they pulled it off. Palmer is suddenly a daredevil and I’m not sure if just using a moonsault makes that accurate. On the other hand, Reid is the southern belle who snaps when slightly pushed. That is something that could go somewhere, but Palmer is further along right now, despite having a more generic persona.

Drake Morreaux is ready to climb to the top.

Drake Morreaux vs. Dante Chen

They fight over wrist control to start until the much bigger Morreaux grabs a front facelock. A gator roll has Chen in more trouble and his takedown attempt is easily cut off. Morreaux hits a nice dropkick and we hit the seated full nelson. Chen fights up but gets pulled right back down into the same hold. Another comeback works a bit better as Chen hits an enziguri before knocking Morreaux outside for a dive. Back in and Morreaux gets kicked down again, setting up the double chop to finish for Chen at 7:40.

Rating: B-. Bruno Sammartino in his prime would go down to that double chop if it was on this show. Anyway, this was far better than I was expecting as Chen had to deal with the monster but could only get so far against someone that size. At the same time, they have something with Morreaux, but he needs a lot more polishing and experience to really get there. For now though, surprisingly good match and I’ll always take that.

Overall Rating: C+. This show got better as it sent on and that is not a bad way to go. What matters is making this show feel like it is different enough week to week, which is a rather difficult task given how it is set up. For a thirty minute show featuring the lowest people on the NXT roster, this was an entertaining way to go and I liked what I got out of it, so call this one a win.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 26, 2024
Location: Capital Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Blake Howard

Everything changed last week as we had what resembled a more traditional wrestling show, with stories being advanced, feuds being st up and wrestlers talking about what is on their minds. It was so nice to see for once and I could definitely go for that being the new norm around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jaida Parker vs. Layla Diggs

OTM is here with Parker, who runs her over with a shoulder to start and grabs a headlock. Diggs reverses into a chinlock before cranking on the arm a bit. Diggs sweeps the leg and hits a standing moonsault for two but Parker pulls her down by the hair. A running seated senton in the corner looks to set up a suplex but Diggs reverses into a small package for two. Parker isn’t having that and cranks on the leg (Diggs clearly taps, which doesn’t count as it doesn’t seem to be what she was suppose to do), before sending her neck first into the ropes. The running hip attack finishes for Parker at 4:54.

Rating: C. Parker continues to improve in the ring and is starting to put together a signature style. That could take her a long way if she is given the chance, but she is still going to need a signature win. For now, she’s doing well enough around here, even making Diggs give up when she wasn’t supposed to.

A very polite Cutler James requests and receives a match with Dante Chen.

Uriah Connors vs. Dion Lennox

This is fallout from a brawl last week, as we’re actually getting something in the way of continuity around here. Lennox shoves him down to start and then grinds away on a headlock. Back up and Connors snaps the neck over the top to take over before slowly slapping away. A hard clothesline gets Lennox out of trouble and they trade rollups, with Connors’ grab of the rope being caught. Lennox rolls him up for the pin at 4:37.

Rating: C. Not much here but these two are still pretty new around here, meaning the expectations aren’t exactly high. Giving Lennox a win is fine, but it isn’t going to matter if he’s just trading victories with everyone else at his level. You don’t necessarily need to give him a push, but if he’s just going to trade wins, I’m not sure how much good it is to have him around here.

Layla Diggs hates losing when Riz comes in to say she needs confidence. Riz is keeping an eye on her.

Dante Chen vs. Cutler James

James powers him away to start and then grabs a front facelock to start the grappling exchange. Chen gets in a running shoulder and grabs the armbar to slow things down. A slam puts Chen down for a change and a belly to back suplex gives Chen two. They trade shots to the face for two each until James grabs a reverse chinlock. The regular chinlock makes Chen fight up and jawbreak his way to freedom. Chen chops away but gets caught in a Samoan drop for two. Back up and Chen boots him in the face, setting up the double chop for the pin at 6:18.

Rating: C. Yeah it’s still Dante Chen and he’s still as uninteresting as you can imagine. There’s just nothing there to make me care about him being in the ring and that was on full display here. James has some size to him and looked good enough, but as usual, there is only so much you can get out of a generic match without that much time.

Overall Rating: C. It’s nice to have some interviews and week to week story building, but the wrestling wasn’t here to back it up. That’s kind of an important part and it was missing this week. As usual, consistency is this show’s biggest issue, but I do like that they’re actually doing more than just three straight matches week to week. That’s a very helpful change and might actually aide the wrestlers in getting used to how WWE TV works rather than having glorified in-ring training sessions.

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