NXT LVL Up
Date: August 5, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

The Road to Clash At The Castle is on and will have absolutely no bearing on this show whatsoever. I’ve again give up on trying to figure out what is going on with this show from one week to another and that means we are probably in for random matches this week. That works to an extent, but it can get a little tiresome after awhile. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen/Guru Raaj vs. Bryson Montana/Damaris Griffin

Raaj and Montana grapple a bit until Raaj hits a dropkick to stagger him. Chen comes in for a chop but Montana is back with a clothesline. Griffin hits a chokebomb into a neck crank as we talk about Rhea Ripley hurting Dominik Mysterio. With that broken up, the double tag brings in Chen and Montana with the former cleaning house. Everything breaks down and Griffin misses a middle rope splash, allowing Chen to hit a double chop for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C. This got a bit better near the end with the pace picking up, but it was still just a random tag match between people who were only so good in the first place. I still like Montana, but he was only something of a factor here with Chen getting the focus. At least we know what his finishing move is though, if that is something that kept you up at night.

Arianna Grace reminds us that she is a former beauty pageant queen and gives something like a beauty pageant speech about inspiring girls by beating Thea Hail tonight.

Thea Hail vs. Arianna Grace

The rest of Chase U is here with Hail, who works on a wristlock to start. A headlock goes on and Hail runs around in a circle to keep Grace in trouble, setting up a headlock takeover out of the corner. Back up and Grace runs her over, setting up a pose on Hail’s chest. Hail reverses a belly to back suplex into a crossbody for two but Grace stomps her in the corner. A chinlock is broken up with a drop back onto Grace and Hail hits a running flip neckbreaker for two. Grace is right back with a rollup and a grab of the rope for the pin at 5:03. Ignore that being the same finish that Javier Bernal used last week.

Rating: C-. Maybe it’s the rather lame beauty queen deal or the lack of much else from her, but Grace still hasn’t shown me very much since she got here. That isn’t the worst thing as she is still stuck with a pretty bad gimmick, but there is nothing to suggest that she is going to break through to the next level (as low as that still may be) anytime soon.

Xyon Quinn vs. ???

Before the match, Quinn gives the unnamed opponent a chance to leave…and that’s exactly what he does. Quinn wants an opponent out here right now and that’s what he gets.

Quincy Elliott vs. Xyon Quinn

Elliott comes to the ring on a bedazzled moped for reasons of “just because”. Quinn unloads on him in the corner to start but Elliott hiptosses him down. The basement shoulder gives Elliott a breather but Quinn knocks him into the corner for the shoulders to the ribs. Elliott starts gyrating until a forearm and Death Valley Driver plant him for two. The frustration sets in for Quinn so he grabs a cobra clutch, which is broken up with ease. A running shoulder in the corner sets up the slingshot bottom rope splash to finish Quinn at 4:49.

Rating: C-. As is usually the case, I get what WWE sees in Elliott, but I hope they don’t try to go too far with him. It’s almost weird seeing him get a singles win, but it’s even odder seeing him beat someone like Quinn. It seemed that Quinn was going to be one of the upcoming big projects and he has completely collapsed. Elliott might not be the next big thing, but he’s in a better place than Quinn right now.

A lot of dancing ends the show.

Overall Rating: D+. This wasn’t one of their better efforts as there was almost nothing worth seeing and a bunch of forgettable matches. The only part that felt different whatsoever was seeing Quinn’s opponent run off and that’s not enough to carry a thirty minute show. Nothing to this one and I don’t know if there is a reason to believe that is changing.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 29, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re fresh into the non-Vince McMahon era and that gives me a bit of hope that we might be in for something different around here. Then again those changes might not take place for a good while as WWE has more than enough to take care of with, you know, the company being all over the place. Maybe we can get a little something this week though. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Javier Bernal vs. Myles Borne

They shake hands to start and it’s Borne taking him to the mat without much trouble. Borne does it again but grabs an armbar this time to mix it up a little. For some reason he lets it go so Bernal grabs a hammerlock, which is quickly tossed to the floor. Back in and Bernal goes with some shots to the face before grabbing a chinlock. Borne fights up and gets kicked in the face, setting up another chinlock. That’s broken up and Borne grabs a suplex, only to get rolled up with Bernal grabbing the rope for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C-. I know Borne is an amateur and does the basic wrestling but he just isn’t that interesting. When you have the Creed Brothers around, there is only so much room for someone as dull as Borne. Maybe they’re just trying to get his feet wet here, but that isn’t exactly working in his (still limited) appearances. Bernal isn’t exactly much better, and having him turn heel isn’t going to matter much. Was he even a good guy in the first place?

Quincy Elliott and Ikemen Jiro are ready to steal the show.

Fallon Henley vs. Sol Ruca

Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs are here too. Ruca walks on her hands during the entrances but gets headlocked to start things off. A headlock takeover out of the corner but Ruca counters a snapmare into a wristlock. Ruca’s sunset flip eventually gets two and a shot to the face is good for the same. The armbar goes on to keep Henley down but she’s back up with a faceplant. A running kick to the face finishes Ruca at 5:16.

Rating: C. Ruca is very athletic but that doesn’t necessarily translate into having a good match. Then again she has enough stuff that catches your eye and that might be something they can build on. Henley isn’t exactly great so far, but she’s far more well rounded and it was just a step above a squash for her.

Quincy Elliott/Ikemen Jiro vs. Edris Enofe/Malik Blade

Elliott dances out of Enofe’s waistlock to start, because that’s what Elliott does. That has Enofe doing some pushups and trying to lift Elliott, earning him a throw down. Jiro comes in for some dancing and pushups of his own but Enofe drops him for a change. It’s off to Blade to work on an armbar, plus a dropkick to cut off a comeback. Enofe works on the arm as well but misses a charge in the corner, allowing the tag off to Elliott to clean house. Everything breaks down and Elliott gets dropped with a running knee, setting up a G9 for the pin at 5:58.

Rating: C. This is a good use for someone like Elliott, who is there to pop the crowd with his charisma and dancing. What matters is that after the fun stuff was over, they didn’t have Elliott and Jiro win. Blade and Enofe are a regular team and therefore shouldn’t lose here, which thankfully NXT understood. Not much of a main event, but the fans liked it so well done.

Overall Rating: C-. Just an okish show here and that’s not much of a surprise. It depends on how much star power the show has and that wasn’t the case this week. Henley might have been the biggest name on the show and that isn’t quite enough to make this interesting. At least it was short, which isn’t exactly the best compliment, but there isn’t much else to praise about this one.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 22, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

This show has started to change a little bit in recent weeks and that is a good thing. There have been some original interviews and even a tease of some storylines. It shouldn’t be that hard to do SOMETHING with this show but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be WWE’s idea. Maybe they have a different idea this week though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Thea Hail vs. Brooklyn Barlow

Chase U is here with Hail. They fight over wrist control to start before trading some rollups for two each. A headlock takeover puts Hail down and we hit the armbar as commentary talks about how much Chase U appreciates Hail. Something like a seated abdominal stretch brings Hail back to life for a side slam. A standing moonsault into Hail Yeah (ok that’s clever) finishes Barlow at 5:37.

Rating: C-. This was a lot of Barlow dominating, or at least dominating as much as you can with a headlock. Barlow continues to be little more than another blonde with an athletic background and that isn’t exactly getting her very far. On the other hand you have Hail, who is a total ball of charisma and she is starting to get somewhere with Chase U.

Hank Walker isn’t going to let Duke Hudson disrespect him tonight.

Ru Feng vs. Bryson Montana

Feng grabs a headlock to start and takes Montana to the mat to crank away. It works so well that Feng does it again before switching to a front facelock. Montana fights up and starts with the most generic power offense you could imagine, including right hands and shoulders to the ribs in the corner. A backbreaker into a side slam mix things up a bit and there’s a Michinoku Driver for two on Feng. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Feng fights up with his variety of martial arts. Montana isn’t having that and hits a Sky High for the pin at 4:34.

Rating: D+. They tried to make beating Feng important but that has never been the case and probably won’t for most of his time around here. Montana got my attention when he debuted and maybe he can do a little something. With that kind of power and look, there might be a chance for him and that is the point of a show like this one.

Hank Walker vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson drives him into the corner to start and puts on a quickly broken headlock. Walker powers up and slams him down for two, only to get driven into the corner for some shoulders to the ribs. A reverse DDT gets two on Walker and we hit the chinlock with a knee in Walker’s back. That’s broken up and Walker pulls the hair before taking off his shirt and faceplanting him for two. Back up and Hudson slips off the shoulders, setting up a big boot for the pin on Walker at 6:04.

Rating: C. Walker feels like quite the dead end gimmick, if nothing else because Brooks Jensen, Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley are already doing it and doing it better. Hudson is someone who should be able to do something of his own but for some reason it hasn’t quite started yet. He feels like a bigger star than most around here and having him around does help a bit.

Overall Rating: C-. You can add in the interview (which is a good idea) and the stories from one week to another (which seems to have already been dropped) but ultimately, the wrestling just isn’t that good. What are you supposed to do when the wrestling is pretty weak at best and you’re lucky to get an ok match? That is LVL Up in a nutshell and I have no reason to believe it is going to change.

Results
Thea Hail b. Brooklyn Barlow – Hail Yeah
Bryson Montana b. Ru Feng – Sky High
Duke Hudson b. Hank Walker – Big boot

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 15, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Sudu Shah, Matt Camp

For once I actually have some hope around here as there was something of an angle last week. Quincy Elliott cost Damaris Griffin and Bryson Montana a match last week and it might be time for some revenge. That could go a few ways, but there is also the chance that it is completely dropped. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oh come on with the three man booth. The show is 29 minutes long. We need three people talking about things on here???

Quincy Elliott vs. Ikemen Jiro

Jiro cartwheels to start so Elliott shoves him away and they exchange hand signals. A charge is pulled out of the air so Jiro elbows his way to freedom, only to collapse on a dumb slam attempt. Elliott works on a waistlock and then chops Jiro in the head to cut him off. Dancing/posing ensues but Jiro is back with the jacket punches. A superkick into the Lionsault gives Jiro two but he still can’t slam Elliott. Some hip attacks in the corner look to set up a running hip attack, which is blocked by Jiro’s raised feet. Jiro rolls him up for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C-. I get the idea with Elliott, but he still isn’t someone I need to see more than once or twice. At least he isn’t getting a major push and is mainly around for comic relief with the dancing. Jiro is rather smooth in the ring, though that jacket/goofiness is going to keep him around this level for the time being.

Chase U is back from London and Thea Hail is VERY excited. Oh and they’re in the main event again.

Kiana James vs. Sol Ruca

I believe this is Ruca’s debut and she is rather athletic, including walking on her hands in the ring and nipping up. James takes her down but another nip up lets Ruca start working on the arm. That’s too far for James, who hits a sitdown splash on the ribs before firing off the knees. Back up and Ruca slugs away, only to get caught with something like a reverse Sling Blade for the pin at 3:27.

Rating: C-. Ruca is the latest woman to be added to the roster and she doesn’t have much to set her apart so far. Granted you can only get so much out of that in the span of a match that doesn’t even reach three and a half minutes, but she is certainly athletic. Then again that applies to almost all of the division, so she is going to need something to make her stand out.

Chase U vs. Myles Borne/Javier Bernal

Borne takes Chase to the mat to start and gets in a fireman’s carry, meaning Chase needs to think about this some more. Back up and Chase gets in a fireman’s carry takeover of his own so it’s off to Hayward vs. Bernal. Hayward gets taken down this time so Borne comes back in to take over on him. The chinlock goes on but Hayward fights up and hits a powerslam, allowing the hot tag off to Chase. House is cleaned in a hurry, including the spelling stomps. Everything breaks down and Borne knocks Bernal outside by mistake, leaving Chase to hit the Fratliner for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C. I’ve said it many times but Chase U is FAR more entertaining than it has any right to be. The good thing is that NXT seems to understand what it has with the concept, because they haven’t risen up to anything more than goofy fun. Chase U is a good example of a concept with a pretty firm ceiling and as long as they don’t go beyond that, they should keep being one of the best things going today.

Overall Rating: C. Well they didn’t continue the stories or anything from last week, but I do like the interview at the first match. NXT is supposed to develop wrestlers so let some people get in front of a camera and try their luck. They are going to have to see what they can do at some point so why not throw them out here and try their hand at something? Chase doesn’t need it himself, but the people who comprise the U sure do. That’s nice to see, though I wonder how it took so long to get this going.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 8, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shaw, Nigel McGuinness

We are well on the way to Summerslam and as usual, that will have no impact on what you are about to see here. That isn’t a good thing, but it is the way this show, and its predecessor, has worked for years. The show continues to just exist and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Myles Borne

Chen goes to the arm to start and stays on it as Borne tries to take him to the mat. Back up and the arm gets cranked over Chen’s shoulder, only to get flipped down into a headlock. Chen can’t shove him off so we stay in the hold for a rather good while. To their credit, Borne is cranking on the thing and Chen is trying to fight his way out. Back up and we’re right back to the headlock…..which Chen rolls up into a cradle for the pin at 4:39???

Rating: C-. What is there to say about something like this? The whole match was work the arm, headlock, another headlock, pin. They were trying to do some stuff with the basics and Borne was billed as an amateur, but usually that means more than working a headlock. It’s certainly different and they surprised me, but this is their best use of the show’s TV time?

We actually get a promo on this show (DO MORE OF THIS) as Malik Blade and Edris Enofe are ready to face two of the strongest guys in NXT in the main event. Super basic promo, but get these guys (or anyone for that matter) in front of a camera and talking. There is no pressure on a show like this so let them get their feet a little wet.

Yulisa Leon vs. Arianna Grace

They go with the power grappling to start with Leon getting her to the mat without much trouble to start. A headlock doesn’t work for Grace as Leon flips over and strikes a pose on the mat. Grace cranks her to the mat by the arm before working on the armbar on the mat. Leon powers out and grabs a flapjack, setting up a missile dropkick. A fall away slam, with Leon holding onto her and flipping back over into the cover, is good for the pin at 6:16.

Rating: C. It’s almost weird seeing Leon winning a match like this but Grace isn’t ready to beat just about anyone yet. What mattered here was finding something for Feroz and Leon to do and the dancing seems to be their thing. I don’t know how far that is going to get them, but it is better than having them stand around doing nothing.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade vs. Damaris Griffin/Bryson Montana

On the way to the ring, Enofe grabs a microphone and handles the team’s (somewhat risque) introductions. Blade grabs a headlock on Griffin to start but gets driven into the corner for his efforts. Montana comes in and gets caught with some quick kicks to the face. A fall away slam (with Montana not leaving his feet) sends Blade flying though and we hit the bearhug.

With Blade dropped again, the chinlock goes on for all of a few seconds before he fights back up. Enofe gets the hot tag but gets taken down….as Quincy Elliott is here for no apparent reason Dancing on the floor distracts Montana, leaving Griffin to take a running Blockbuster. Enofe drops a top rope elbow for the pin at 5:28.

Rating: C-. As annoying as Elliott can be, it is nice to see something resembling a story around here. It can’t be hard to have the slightest idea going from one week to another rather than a bunch of one off matches so I’ll take what I can get. Enofe and Blade continue to have some potential, but they are going to need to string together some wins that actually matter for ones. This wasn’t one of those, but it’s better than another loss.

Overall Rating: C. It’s not a good show, but there is the slightest bit of hope for the future and I’ll take that after so, so much of the one off matches. Blade and Enofe getting the focus is nice to see, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see it wind up being about Elliott, as NXT seems to like him a lot. Other than that there wasn’t much here, but I’ll take the slightest change over nothing at all.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: July 1, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Sudu Shah

It’s the second half of the year and odds are that is not going to make the slightest bit of difference around here. This show has gotten into another funk as of late and I wonder if that is due to the NXT house show circuit starting up again. Those shows are far more valuable than this one and WWE seems to realize that. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Stacks vs. Hank Walker

Tony D’Angelo is here with Stacks. This is Walker’s debut and he’s…a guy in jeans and a collared shirt (looks a bit like Seth Rogen). Ok then. Walker takes him down into an armbar and does it again for a bonus. Back up and a knee to the ribs cuts off Stacks as we talk about something unfortunate happening to some (unnamed) member of the D’Angelo Family. A shot to the face drops Walker and we hit the neck crank but he is right back with a backslide. Walker fights out of another neck crank and takes off his shirt, revealing a not so great physique. Stacks kicks him down and hits a running big boot to finish Walker at 4:21.

Rating: D+. Walker feels like someone who would fit in a lot better if Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen didn’t exist. They feel like people who are doing a polished version of the country boy gimmick while Walker feels like someone who was given something to do without being ready to go this far. Not impressive here, and Walker needs some work.

Amari Miller vs. Sloane Jacobs

Feeling out process to start with Jacobs taking her down for an early two. Miller does the same (to Jacobs, not herself) and we get a standoff. Jacobs works on the arm before hitting a quick crossbody for two as frustration is setting in less than three minutes into the match. The arm cranking goes on again until Miller sends her throat first into the bottom rope. Back in and Jacobs is right back with the arm cranking but Miller fights up and kicks away in the corner. The Kansas City Knockout finishes for Miller at 5:55.

Rating: C. Miller is coming along rather nicely around here. She isn’t ready for a big spot but she has become a regular on this show and is looking more and more confident in the ring every time. The bubbly personality helps too and she could be something one day. Not a great or even good match, but it did well under the circumstances.

Javier Bernal vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson powers him down to start and looks annoyed that he has to deal with Bernal. With Bernal ready, Hudson drops to his knees to negate some of the size difference. Bernal’s headlock doesn’t get him very far but some strikes do, including a step up enziguri. Hudson runs him over though and a slam gets two.

Back up and Bernal reverses a suplex into a small package for two, only to get dropped for a neck crank. Another slam is countered into a swinging Downward Spiral and Hudson is staggered for a change. A sliding lariat into a high crossbody gets two on Hudson but he crotches Bernal on top. The Razor’s Edge finishes for Hudson at 6:56.

Rating: C+. I was getting into this one by the end and that is the best thing that can be said about a match like this. There was no reason to believe that Bernal was going to pull off an upset but he got in enough offense to stagger Hudson a bit. Pretty nice showing from both of them here, as Hudson can make the matches work well enough to go with his charisma.

Hudson talks a lot of trash to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a better show, though I don’t have much of a reason to believe that it is going to be a game changer. What matters here is that they had some fresh faces in Hudson and Walker and that is what the show can use from time to time. Some stories would do wonders around here as well, but I have long since given up on that being a thing. For now, I’ll take what I can get around here.

Results
Stacks b. Hank Walker – Big boot
Amari Miller b. Sloane Jacobs – Kansas City Knockout
Duke Hudson b. Javier Bernal – Razor’s Edge

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 24, 2022
Location: Capitol Sports Studios, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Sudu Shah

So we continue around here, as NXT stars continue to take over WWE. They now have three shows, as the NXT undercard has invaded NXT UK, because we haven’t seen enough of these people just yet. That isn’t necessarily a good thing, but when has that ever stopped WWE before? Let us know in the comments below.

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

Opening sequence.

Bryson Montana vs. Quincy Elliott

The much bigger Elliott powers him into the corner to start but misses a charge and gets knocked own. Back up and Montana starts driving in shoulders to the shoulder before grabbing a reverse chinlock. A forearm to the back cuts off Elliott’s comeback and some heavy forearms set up the chinlock sequence. The slam attempt collapses though and Elliott runs him over, only to get caught with a dropkick. Back up and Elliott elbows him out of the corner, setting up a kind of reverse Vader Bomb (lifts himself up on the ropes and drops forward) to pin Montana at 5:07.

Rating: C. Elliott is the kind of guy that WWE always finds a place for, as he has the size and enough charisma to make up for his lack of mobility. It’s not my kind of thing, but I get what they’re trying for with him. Montana has a great look but needs time in the ring and some coaching, which is where (hopefully) the NXT house show loop can do him some good.

Kiana James vs. Brooklyn Barlow

James cranks on the arms to start but gets reversed into a headscissors. Back up and Barlow gets to work on the arm for a change, only to get snapmared down into an armbar from James. The exchange of arm cranking continues until Barlow rolls her up for two. A kick to the knee gives James the same and it’s off to a seated abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Barlow strikes away but gets knocked into the corner. A belly to back gutbuster finishes for James at 5:17.

Rating: C-. This was an exchange of grappling until the bigger name won. James isn’t a big star yet but she has something that sets her apart enough. Barlow looks like Tiffany Stratton without the gymnastics background and the rich girl stuff, which doesn’t leave much. Then again, how far can you get when you’re presented as nothing but the next generic blonde?

Ikemen Jiro vs. Ru Feng

During his entrance, a fan high fives Jiro and then gives him a thumbs down behind his back. Feng takes him down without much effort to start but Jiro grabs a headlock. That’s broken up so Jiro takes him down and hits a slingshot splash to the back. Feng goes after the knee until a small package gets Jiro out of trouble. More shots to the knee put Jiro down and we hit the half crab. Jiro gets out and hits a monkey flip, setting up the Ikemen Slice for the pin at 5:28.

Rating: C. I’m not that into Jiro’s deal with the wacky jackets, but he is very smooth in the ring and that is more than enough to keep him around at least for the time being. Feng is someone who has been around for a bit and I still don’t know what I’m supposed to see in him. They had a nice enough match here with the leg thing and Jiro coming from behind to win, but it was a LVL Up main event so it isn’t worth much.

Overall Rating: C-. The star power wasn’t around here and that isn’t exactly the best thing to watch. LVL Up isn’t exactly a great show most of time but they can get some people out there to do some good stuff. This wasn’t one of those weeks though as it just came and went without much going on, as tends to be the case here more often than not.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 17, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

Things are starting to take form around here and it makes for some more interesting shows. You can tell which names are going to put on a good match and which ones are going to be there as either cannon fodder or to get in some reps. That can make the show easier to predict, but not necessarily good, as tends to be the case. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Thea Hail vs. Arianna Grace

Hail has the rest of Chase U with her and Grace now wears a feather boa to the ring. Grace powers her around to start before they fight over a wristlock. Hail’s arm is snapped across the top to cut her off though and it’s time to kick away in the corner. A DDT on the arm gives Grace two and we hit the hammerlock, with Grace slamming Hail into the mat for a bonus. That’s broken up as Hail fights up and hits a running flip neckbreaker, followed by an arm trap cradle for the pin at 5:29.

Rating: C-. Grace continues to do very little for me, though it does seem like she is starting to put together a persona. Hail on the other hand playing the college student with a bunch of energy could be worse. Neither is great, but at least they went with the one who is doing better at the moment.

Guru Raaj vs. Miles Borne

This is Borne’s debut and they trade flips away from each other for a fast start. Borne takes him down with an armdrag into an armbar to slow things up though, which isn’t surprising as he’s clearly a technical guy due to wearing a singlet. That’s countered into a northern lights suplex and Raaj kicks away, setting up a double arm crank on the mat. Back up and Borne hits some dropkicks into a slam for two as this is rather riveting offense. Raaj fights back and strikes away before a middle rope bulldog finishes Borne at 4:56.

Rating: D+. This was a match between two people who have nothing that sets them apart and had little redeeming value. It wasn’t a bad match, but it was about as boring as you can get without falling off a cliff. Just two guys having a match and that isn’t going to make me care much about either of them.

Respect is shown post match.

Ivy Nile vs. Elektra Lopez

Lopez has Stacks and Two Dimes with her. Nile easily takes her to the mat to start for a headlock. A snap suplex gives Nile two but a gutbuster cuts her down. What looked to be a running spinning chop in the corner is just a run, a stop, and then the spinning chop to Nile, followed by some forearms to the back. The abdominal stretch goes on, with Lopez lifting the leg for a bonus. Lopez takes it to the mat for a bonus but Nile fights up and hits an enziguri. The dragon sleeper finishes for Nile at 5:48.

Rating: C. Nile is at the point where she doesn’t belong on this show. She has mowed down everyone in front of her and was this close to winning the NXT UK Women’s Title. There is no reason to keep her here but she does add some star power. Lopez on the other hand has more natural charisma than she needs, but I don’t remember the last time she won anything important. That’s a weird mixture, especially for part of a stable that gets so much TV time.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a rough going for the show as there wasn’t much to see this time around. The main event was ok at best and that was because Nile is one of the best things going in NXT. LVL Up is only so good from time to time and this wasn’t one of their better weeks, with people just getting in the ring rather than doing anything of note.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: June 3, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Sudu Shah

The normal trend of this show is likely to continue this week as we have three more matches between people who aren’t usually going to make it to NXT proper. That can make for some acceptable background noise but rarely much more than that unfortunately. You get used to the concept though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Fallon Henley vs. Brooklyn Barlow

They go to the mat to start and it’s a pair of standoffs before Henley grabs the armbar. An exchange of rollups get two each and Barlow wants her to bring it. Back up and they fight over a lockup until Barlow starts working on the arm instead. She cranks on the neck as well but Henley fights out with a faceplant. A running knee finishes for Henley 4:22.

Rating: C-. Henley continues to look like a star and I could see her being on the main roster someday. She has a gimmick and the charisma to make it work so with some more ring time, she could wind up going somewhere. Barlow has a good look but she is still in the very early stages so you can’t tell much about her just yet.

Tatum Paxley vs. Sloane Jacobs

They grapple around to start with neither being able to get the better of things. Paxley slams her down (while throwing in a squat) and it’s time to crank on the arms. Another slam is countered into a headlock takeover though and Jacobs hits a running boot for two. The chinlock keeps Paxley down but she is back up with a butterfly suplex. Jacobs gets caught in an electric chair, with Paxley spinning her around into a powerbomb and floating over for the pin at 5:52.

Rating: C. Paxley is another someone who could go somewhere with some more time but, much like Jacobs, it is way too early to know what they have with her. This and some house show matches are the kind of things that could do both of them a world of good. That ist he case with a lot of people on NXT so those live events coming up are great ideas.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade vs. Dante Chen/Javier Bernal

This is about as LVL Up of a match as you can get. Blade works on Chen’s arm to start before a dropkick gets two. Enofe comes in for a basement 619 for two before we hit the headlock. It’s off to Bernal for a splash in the corner but Enofe powers him into the other corner. That means Blade can come in to miss a charge in the corner, allowing Chen to grab a chinlock.

Bernal adds an atomic drop for two and the chinlock goes on again. Blade finally rolls underneath a clothesline and brings Enofe back in to clean house. A top rope elbow gets two on Chen and Enofe can’t believe it. He’s so stunned that he hits a reverse Sling Blade setting up an assisted elevated Stunner to finish Bernal at 7:03.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a great match but it was better than just about anything else we have seen around here in a long time. Enofe and Blade could hang as a young and plucky team on the main NXT roster and that is the kind of team they could use. Chen and Bernal were two heels (I think?) thrown together here as opponents and they did just fine, even in a short match.

Respect is shown post match.

Overall Rating: C. This show might not have been much on its own but it was a great illustration of why NXT needs live events. There was about seventeen minutes of wrestling on this show between eight wrestlers. How much can you really get out of that little amount of time? Give these people eight to ten minutes each for three shows a week and they can actually get somewhere. Like wrestling has worked for, like, ever.

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NXT LVL Up
Date: May 27, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

I’m not sure what to think of the show these days and there isn’t anything coming out of last week to set this up. They had something going for a few weeks with something leading to a possible story for the next week but that hasn’t bee the case in a long time now. Maybe we can get a little something here so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Andre Chase/Bodhi Hayward vs. Bryson Montana/Demaris Griffin

Hayward grabs a headlock on Griffin to start but Griffin reverses into one of his own. Back up and a hiptoss has Griffin in the corner but it’s off to Montana. A sunset flip gives Chase two before it’s time for the spelling stomps. Montana doesn’t care for that and sends him face first into the mat. Chase isn’t having any of this and fights up, getting over for the tag to Hayward. House is quickly cleaned and the Fratliner finishes Montana at 3:49.

Rating: C. Chase and Hayward continue to be two of the most entertaining people in all of NXT and that is something worth having around. I still see something from Montana and I wouldn’t have him taking falls, but at least he is getting some ring time. Now just find something else for him to do and maybe they have a little something with him.

Arianna Grace vs. Amari Miller

Miller wins an exchange of forearms and grabs an armbar. Some more forearms set up a Regal cutter for two on Grace, who drives her into the corner to even things up. A bow and arrow hold has Miller in more trouble and we hit the chinlock. Miller fights up and kicks away but gets caught in a sunset flip. That’s broken up though and Miller grabs a cradle for the pin at 5:13.

Rating: C-. Grace has some size and power though she is in need of something to make her stand out. For the sake of her career, hopefully it doesn’t involve talking about her father, who is kind of a pest. Miller on the other hand has all the charisma that she needs and could be a bigger deal if given the chance. Now just give her some better competition to learn from and you might have something.

Dante Chen vs. Trick Williams

Carmelo Hayes is here with Williams. Some running shoulders set up an armbar on Williams and it’s an armdrag into another armbar. Back up and Williams him down before cranking on a wristlock. Chen gets caught in an armbar and can’t quite power out. The second attempt works a bit better but Williams knocks him down again. An elbow misses for Williams though and Chen gets to strike away. A belly to back suplex gives Chen two but Williams hits the Trick Kick for the pin at 6:06.

Rating: C. Just a match here as there is only so much that you can get out of these two. Neither of them is overly interesting, though at least Williams has some charisma when he is getting the chance to talk. Granted it doesn’t mean all that much when you have him with Carmelo Hayes, who is far better than Williams in any given way.

Williams and Hayes celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Another ho and may I add hum show this week and that shouldn’t be the biggest surprise. You can only get so far with a show with this level of talent and nothing in the world of storytelling, so this was only going to be ok at best. The matches were fine enough, though I’m not entirely sure I’ll remember them tomorrow. In other words: this was Level Up.

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