NXT
Date: September 17, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We have two shows left before the big move to the CW and that means WWE is trying a bit harder than usual around here. In this case it means an appearance from CM Punk, who could get involved with a good number of people. Other than that, we should be in for a build towards Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Ava is in the ring for a contract signing to get things going. First up though we have some announcements. In three weeks in St. Louis, Sexxy Red will be making her return and Randy Orton will be having his first ever match in NXT. As for two weeks in Chicago, we have a bunch of matches, including Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz in a street fight, Roxanne Perez defending the NXT Women’s Title against Giulia and Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams.

This brings out Williams and Page to sign the contract for their title match. Before Page comes out, Trick talks about how after last week, it is clear that Pete Dunne is still a Butch. Cue Page to brag about being NXT Champion and say he’s no Pete Dunne. He’s Trick’s Kryptonite and he has the receipts to prove it, starting with the NXT Title. Trick says Page stole the title but Page says the thing he remembers the most is the shock that came with him winning the title. Page promises to keep the title on October 1 and puts Trick through the table. Neither of them signed, which commentary points out.

We look back at Hammerstone failing to beat Oba Femi last week.

After last week’s loss, Tony D’Angelo got on Hammerstone for losing to Femi after Hammerstone got paid off. D’Angelo wants Hammerstone to do it again but Hammerstone isn’t going to do that. A match between the two of them seems imminent instead.

Ava talks to Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner about a surprise she has for tonight. Je’Von Evans comes up to ask about being on the show in Chicago and Ava will get back to him.

Tatum Paxley/Lyra Valkyria vs. Wendy Choo/Rosemary

Rosemary takes Paxley down to start but Paxley backflipped over her and hands it off to Valkyria. A Paisan elbow sets up a top rope ax handle to Rosemary’s arm but she rolls Paxley into the corner. Choo comes in but gets caught in a bodyscissors, with Paxley rolling her around for two.

The villains are sent outside and we take an early break. Back with a Russian legsweep/running shove combination getting two on Paxley but she enziguris her way to a breather. Valkyria comes back in as everything breaks down but it’s right back to Paxley. A belly to belly superplex gets two with Paxley putting her foot on the ropes. Valkyria kicks Choo down and Valkyria hits a top rope ax kick to finish Rosemary at 9:52.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see the oddball team back together and having some success, but dang the results are frustrating for Rosemary. While I completely get that the TNA star taking the fall makes sense for NXT, it’s annoying to have someone as talented as Rosemary lose again and again. Couple that with the fact that it’s the terrible….whatever thing Choo is supposed to be not taking the fall and it’s all the more annoying.

Ava insists the contract is being signed tonight.

Charlie Dempsey is glad to have Tavion Heights back with the No Quarter Catch Crew. Heights and Miles Borne are tasked with getting the Tag Team Titles, while Wren Sinclair is told to make a name for herself. She gets it.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Hammerstone

The rest of the Family is here with D’Angelo. Hammerstone shrugs off some right hands in the corner and hits a running clothesline. D’Angelo’s headlock slows things down a bit and some belly to belly suplexes put Hammerstone down. Hammerstone fights up and hits some shoulders in the corner, followed by a belly to belly of his own. That’s enough for D’Angelo, who walks out for the countout at 2:53, with the Family looking confused. Hammerstone looked a lot better this week.

Zachary Wentz pops up in front of commentary and shows us a clip of Wes Lee attacking Wentz’s partner Trey Miguel in Dayton, Ohio. Back in the arena, Wentz says he doesn’t know how long Miguel is going to be out of action but the pain in Chicago is going to be even worse for Lee.

NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton tells Ava he can get the Trick Williams/Ethan Page contract signed. Sure why not.

Fatal Influence is ready for Lola Vice.

Vice is warming up in the back but isn’t a fan of Jaida Parker. Cue Parker, who says she’s fighting Fatal Influence tonight. Vice says Parker can have them after she’s finished.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Adonis jumps him before the bell and chokes him on the rope after the bell. The beating continues but Thorpe fights up and manages a kick to the face for a breather. Thorpe fights up and avoids a high crossbody (as Adonis took too long blowing a kiss to a fan), allowing Thorpe to hit his implant DDT for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. I’m not sure if this is better than fighting with Lexis King over music but at least Thorpe is starting to string together some wins. There is something to him but it might take a bit for the whole thing to come together. If nothing else, at least Adonis is losing like someone of his style should be. The ladies man deal is a classic but having him fall on his face over and over is a logical way to go.

Thea Hail and Riley Osborne are crushed after Ridge Holland turned on the school. Osborne is so upset that he was wright about Holland and promises to take out Holland once and for all.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk says he’s in a better mood than he was last night and wants to have some fun this week. While he watches NXT, he has never been in this ring surrounded by these fans. During the time he was injured, he would try to watch the show from the shadows but got caught. Punk knows he is going to have to face some of these people, like Lexis King, Carmelo Hayes, Ethan Page and Bron Breakker. He even has shirts older than Je’Von Evans.

Anyway, Shawn Michaels called him up about being in Chicago for the first CW show (Punk: “Ok I begged.”) and told him to do whatever he wanted. Cue Roxanne Perez (Punk: “You gotta be kidding me.”), saying Punk was probably going to talk about Giulia because everyone does. 13 year old Perez would be freaking out right now because Punk was her favorite wrestler and she he was her voice. Perez: “But I always did prefer your wife.”

After the AJ chant, Perez realizes she should have been a Drew McIntyre fan. Perez gets why Punk wants to be in Chicago but this is all about her. Punk: “Can I retort?” Perez: “No, I wasn’t done yet.” Punk isn’t worried about what Perez is saying because he can appreciate an overconfident champion and he used to have a her sized chip on his shoulder.

That Women’s Title might make her the best in the world, because last night he was watching Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky and thought Perez might be better than them. The thing is it doesn’t matter if Giulia takes the title in Chicago. Cue Giulia (Punk looks interested) to say the countdown is on. Giulia goes to leave so Perez swings, with Punk grabbing her arm. Glaring ensues. You could tell Perez was having some trouble keeping it together in front of Punk but some of those lines were great.

Kelani Jordan isn’t worried about Fatal Influence. She’s thinking about issuing her own open challenge so here is Wren Sinclair to slap her in the face…and run away.

Tony D’Angelo admits to the Family that he’s scared of Oba Femi.

No Quarter Catch Crew vs. Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew is here too. Evans starts fast against Borne and Alexander comes in for a basement dropkick. Heights comes in to work on Cedric’s arm but it’s back to Evans to dropkick Heights out to the floor. Alexander loads up a dive but stops from diving onto Wren Sinclair. Evans dives onto all of the Crew though and we take a break.

Back with Evans fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the wrong corner. Evans kicks his way to freedom and brings Alexander back in to take over. Another basement dropkick hits Heights and a Michinoku Driver gets two. Back up and Borne hits a clothesline for two, followed by a DDT for the same, with Evans coming off the top for the save. Cue Kelani Jordan to brawl with Sinclair, leaving Evans to hit his top rope spinning splash (headbutt in this case) for the pin at 10:27.

Rating: C+. I’m more than happy with Alexander getting to do something, even if it is just a low level tag team. The planned team with Ashante Thee Adonis didn’t work out but maybe a mentor to Evans will be better. If nothing else, it’s a fresh tam and that is always at least worth a look.

The winners celebrate and we’re told that Evans will be in action on October 8 in St. Louis. Against Randy Orton.

Ridge Holland says that’s two down and one to go in Chase U.

Brooks Jensen and Shawn Spears say they’re doing this next.

Brooks Jensen vs. Dion Lennox

Shawn Spears is here with Jensen, who throws him around to start. Lennox is back up with some tosses of his own, setting up a dropkick out to the floor. Jensen hits a spinebuster and hammers away but stops to steal Lennox’s glasses. That’s enough for Lennox to fire back and grab a rollup for two. Then Jensen DDTs him for the pin at 2:35.

Spears and Jensen shake hands post match.

Wes Lee is happy with what he did to Trey Miguel and is ready o end this with Zachary Wentz.

A-Town Down Under want and receive a Tag Team Title match next week.

Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Vice shrugs off Jayne’s kick to the face to start and strikes her out to the floor. Jayne gets in a shot of her own on the floor and hits a Cannonball for two back inside. Vice shrugs it off and kicks her down, setting up the spinning backfist for the pin at 2:10.

Post match Fatal Influence comes in for the beatdown and Jaida Parker comes in for the save. Vice and Parker have to be held apart.

Tony D’Angelo is alone when Riz comes in to talk to him about being afraid. Riz says that no matter what happens, the Family will always be there for him. They all believe in him but D’Angelo has to believe in himself. Special training is recommended and they hug.

Here is Tyrese Haliburton to get the contract signed for the NXT Title match. Trick Williams comes out and praises Haliburton before telling Page to come out here. Page does come out, with Williams signing as he comes to the ring. Page isn’t happy with what is going on and signs, but Haliburton says there is one more thing. Cue CM Punk, who says we need something special for that match. That’s why he’ll be the guest referee (Which is so special we just did it what, two and a half weeks ago?). The fight is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT is in a rough spot at the moment as they have the big CW move and the massive show coming up in two weeks, making this kind of a lame duck period. Instead they’re trying a bunch of stuff like guest stars and having Punk around, which does help, but there was very little worth seeing in the ring this week. It wasn’t a bad show, but you can definitely tell that they are stretching to get to October 1 and don’t have much before then.

Results
Lyra Valkyria/Tatum Paxley b. Wendy Choo/Rosemary – Top rope ax kick to Rosemary
Hammerstone b. Tony D’Angelo via countout
Eddy Thorpe b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Implant DDT
Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Top rope spinning splash to Borne
Brooks Jensen b. Dion Lennox – DDT
Lola Vice b. Jacy Jayne – Spinning backfist

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NXT
Date: September 10, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We are on the way to the CW and the show is already looking up. Last week saw Giulia challenging Roxanne Perez for a Women’s Title shot on October 1, with Perez accepting. Giulia is making her in-ring debut tonight against Chelsea Green, plus TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace is here for an open challenge. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazier vs. Street Profits

The Profits are challenging after the Rascalz were taken out under “conspicuous circumstances”. The fans want the smoke as Ford and Axiom start things off with Ford hitting a running shoulder. Ford flips over a clothesline and grabs a headlock on the mat before it’s off to Dawkins and Frazier. The pace picks up and Frazier hits a running shot to send Dawkins outside.

Back in and stereo basement superkicks drop Dawkins for two but he breaks out of Axiom’s chinlock. Ford fires off some clotheslines and Rock Bottoms Frazier into a People’s moonsault for two. Dawkins tosses Axiom into a German suplex from Ford for two more but Frazier is back in with a 450 for two on Ford. Everyone is knocked down until Dawkins goes up, only to get caught in the super Spanish Fly. Ford breaks up the 450 though and it’s a Doomsday Blockbuster to plant Frazier….and Tama Tonga pulls Ford out for the DQ at 7:50.

Rating: B-. This was getting going at the end but the interference is what matters the most here. The Bloodline being here is weird enough but it makes things feel that much more important. Either way, good start to a match here, and it wouldn’t shock me to see the Bloodline be the “circumstances” that took out the Rascalz.

Post match the Bloodline (Tongas and Jacob Fatu) come in and wreck both teams.

Tony D’Angelo has paid someone we can’t see to take out Oba Femi.

Video on Giulia’s debut and challenge to Roxanne Perez.

Giulia vs. Chelsea Green

Giulia knocks her down to start, followed by a middle rope dropkick to send Green flying again. Green comes back with a facebuster and a pump kick but Giulia grabs a Spider Web (something like an Octopus Hold). That’s broken up so Green chokes in the corner, setting up a German suplex.

A lifting Downward Spiral gives Green two and we hit a full nelson with the legs. Giulia flights out and sends her to the apron for a neckbreaker to the floor as Green can’t get away. Green manages to send her over the announcers’ table but a missile dropkick misses back inside. Giulia’s running knee sets up a northern lights bomb for the pin at 6:51.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a squash but it was a fairly dominant victory for Giulia, which is what it should have been. Green isn’t the most accomplished star in WWE but she’s been around long enough that beating her means something. Giulia felt like a star here and once she turned it up in the end, Green was overwhelmed. It was a good, effective debut and did what it needed to do.

Trick Williams is ready for Pete Dunne tonight and then he’s coming for his NXT Title again.

Jordynne Grace talks about how important the TNA Knockouts Title really is, which is why she wants the best from NXT to come after it.

Lexis King is at a barber shop and shows us a highlight reel of his greatest hits. Then Oro Mensah jumps him.

Lola Vice and Jacy Jayne argue over who is going to step up to Jordynne Grace.

Heritage Cup: Je’Von Evans vs. Charlie Dempsey

Dempsey is defending. Round one begins with Dempsey taking him down into an armbar but gets caught in a wristlock. Dempsey tries to slip out but can’t shake Evans away. Instead he takes Evans into the corner and stomps away. They trade monkey flips and Evans grabs a hurricanrana as the round ends. Round two begins with Evans missing a charge into the corner but coming out with a middle rope sunset flip for two. They fight over a backslide until Dempsey gets a dragon suplex for the pin at 1:01 of the round and 4:39 overall.

We take a break and come back with Evans small packaging Dempsey for two, followed by the top rope spinning splash for the pin at 2:51 of the round and 8:51 overall to tie it up. Round four begins with Evans hitting a running forearm in the corner and knocking Dempsey outside. A neck snap over the rope cuts Evans off for two and some neckbreakers keep Evans in trouble. Evans is back out with a suplex but a butterfly suplex has him in trouble as the round ends.

Round five begins with Evans’ sunset flip getting two and a rollup gets the same. A springboard clothesline gets a delayed two, with Miles Borne putting the foot on the rope. Cedric Alexander brawls with Borne to the back so Evans knocks him to the floor for a huge dive over the top. Cue Tavion Heights to jump Evans though and Dempsey gets the pin to retain at 2:09 of the round and 15:10.

Rating: B-. Heights being back was a good way to keep Evans looking strong in defeat. Dempsey needed to win here after just getting the Cup back, making this a good enough way to go. The round system still works well as a way to set this stuff apart and it feels like its own division, even if there are only a few people involved with it at a time.

Rosemary and Wendy Choo want to destroy Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley. They have made their bed but have forgotten to look underneath it.

Ethan Page is happy to see Pete Dunne and Trick Williams beat each other up because he can pick up the scraps on October 1.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will be in Chicago on October 1.

Oba Femi vs. ???

Non-title and it’s…..HAMMERSTONE (a powerhouse from TNA) answering, apparently the person Tony D’Angelo paid off earlier. Hammerstone gets backed up against the ropes to start but pushes Femi away. Femi is knocked outside, where he hits a jumping clothesline to knock Hammerstone off the apron.

Back in and another clothesline sets up a chinlock, with Hammerstone getting up fast. A fireman’s carry toss gives Femi two but Hammerstone blocks a stomp on the mat. Hammerstone fights back and hits a running clothesline into some suplexes and a chokeslam for two. Femi is up again with a belly to back toss and a pop up powerbomb for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C+. This one is going to depend on what you know about Hammerstone. He was a force in MLW and has shown flashes of success in TNA but this was quite the disappointment. Hammerstone was beaten up for the most part and then lost clean in the end. Of course you don’t have an outside beat your unstoppable monster, but I was expecting a hoss fight and got a five minute match with Femi mostly dominating.

The D’Angelo Family is not pleased.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready but Chase U walks in, with Duke Hudson promising to hurt Ridge Holland.

Wren Sinclair isn’t sure which title she should go after and asks if Kelani Jordan has ever considered an open challenge. They both leave so Lola Vice and Jaida Parker can talk about how they want to beat up Fatal Influence. Vice sounded rather serious here.

CM Punk was impressed by Giulia’s debut and is going to call Ava with an idea.

Ridge Holland vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson starts fast and takes it outside, with Holland being sent into the steps. Back in and a suplex has Holland in more trouble but he drives Hudson back first into the barricade. A running clothesline drops Hudson for two and a crossbody against the ropes cuts off his comeback. Something like a Jackhammer puts Hudson down and the lifting DDT finishes for Holland at 4:11.

Rating: C. Hudson was fighting for his school here but it’s too early for Holland to get what is coming to him. That is going to come when Andre Chase is back, which mans Holland is going to have to run through Riley Osborne first. For now, it was short and to the point, with Hudson getting in what he could before Holland took him apart.

Post match Holland beats him up even more, including another lifting DDT onto a piece of the barricade.

Jordynne Grace runs into Giulia for a cool visual.

Pete Dunne is ready to fight Trick Williams and move on to become NXT Champion.

MizTV will be in Chicago on October 1.

We look back at the Bloodline wrecking the Street Profits and Axiom/Nathan Frazier.

Wes Lee comes in to commentary and says he took out Trey Miguel so the Rascalz couldn’t get the title shot. He wants Zachary Wentz in a street fight in Chicago.

TNA Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. ???

Grace is defending against….Sol Ruca. Grace gets taken down to start but avoids a low superkick. A gutwrench suplex drops Ruca but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. Instead Ruca pulls her outside, followed by the awesome springboard splash for two back inside. We take a break and come back with Ruca slipping out of a MuscleBuster but getting pulled down onto the turnbuckle.

Ruca is right back up with a high crossbody but Grace rolls through and tries a swinging Rock Bottom, which is reversed into a DDT to give Ruca two. Grace is back up with a World’s Strongest Slam into a Vader Bomb for two, followed by the MuscleBuster. And never mind as the lights go out and Rosemary/Wendy Choo are here to jump Grace for the DQ at 8:56.

Rating: B-. Ruca got in a few shots but this was more of Grace dominating until the DQ ending. That was a wise way to get out of having Grace beat a talented start like Ruca so this had to be done. As usual, Grace feels like she could be a major star here at the drop of a hat and odds are she will the second she is allowed to sign. Nice match here, with the ending that had to take place.

Post match Grace gets choked out.

Tatum Paxley shows Lyra Valkyria her dolls of various villains, with Valkyria telling her to be calm. A tag match against Choo and Rosemary seems set for next week.

Giulia, with Funaki, is in Ava’s office when Roxanne Perez comes in to say Giulia isn’t taking anything over. Giulia teases violence but Ava says save it for Chicago.

Dion Lennox warns Brooks Jensen about Shawn Spears (who is there too). With Lennox gone, Jensen and Spears seem to be ok.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Eddy Thorpe argue over Thorpe’s friendship with various women.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

Last Man Standing for the NXT Title shot on October 1. They slug it out to start with Williams getting the better of things. The fight heads outside with Williams being whipped into the steps and suplexed onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Williams hitting some leg lariats but Dunne rolls to the floor. The chair is brought in and a neckbreaker onto it gives Williams a six.

Dunne is back up with a German suplex and wedges the chair in the corner. They head outside again with Williams being put on the steps for a running boot to the head. The floor mats are peeled back (you don’t see that much anymore) and Dunne plants him with a DDT for nine (yes off a DDT on exposed concrete).

Back in and Williams hits a pop up right hand but the Bitter End gives Dunne another eight. Dunne gets the chair but Williams kicks it into his face for eight of his own. Williams pulls the cover off of the announcers’ table, only to get powerbombed through it. They fight out into the fans and onto the platform, with Dunne hitting a Russian legsweep down through some tables. Cue Ethan Page to mock them both until Williams bats the count to win at 14:17, backdropping Page through the table in the process.

Rating: B. The ending to this was a bit of a weak spot as Williams just popped up to win, but the rest of the match took a different path than most of these matches. Until the last few minutes, they mostly kept this basic, with just the chair being used. I like the change of pace over what you would expect from this kind of a match, with all kinds of weapons and such. Williams very well may get the title back in Chicago and this was a fine way to set it up.

Ava gets off the phone with CM Punk, who will be here next week.

Overall Rating: B. Despite a lot of the wrestling just being ok, this show was PACKED with either guest stars or important matches. I was impressed by how many things they managed to fit into the show and it was a lot of fun, even with the main event being the only match worth seeing. Sure it’s to help drum up interest before the big move in a few weeks, but it worked very well for a show that didn’t have a ton of hype.

Results
Street Profits b. Axiom/Nathan Frazier via DQ when Tama Tonga interfered
Giulia b. Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb
Charlie Dempsey b. Je’Von Evans 2-1
Oba Femi b. Hammerstone – Toss powerbomb
Ridge Holland b. Duke Hudson – Lifting DDT
Jordynne Grace b. Sol Ruca via DQ when Rosemary and Wendy Choo interfered
Trick Williams b. Pete Dunne when Dunne could not answer the ten count

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

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AND

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NXT
Date: September 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we are about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc. That should be a big enough show, but we also have the first show on the CW in about a month, which is going to have its own stacked card. The NXT Title will be on the line on that show, with Ethan Page defending after retaining on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He is out here to finish things with Pete Dunne (fans: “WHOOP THAT BUTCH!”) but here is Ethan Page to interrupt. Page says he might not be Dunne, but he is the NXT Champion, with Williams raising his hand at No Mercy. Williams says he was a man of his word and called the title match down the line but for now, he has to get rid of Dunne. Page teases violence and here is Dunne to jump Williams, with referees breaking it up.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger nearly get in a fight with Gallus.

Fatal Influence are rather mean to Jaida Parker.

Rascalz vs. Gallus vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

For a future Tag Team Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Miguel being sent into the corner but coming back with a rollup for two. Miguel hurricanranas Walker down but gets stomped by Mark Coffey as the fast start continues. Mark runs Miguel over with a clothesline, only for Wentz to come in with a Motor City Machine Guns style Dream Sequence to put Mark down. Hank and Tank come in and wreck everyone as we take an early break.

Back with Walker clotheslining Mark and Wentz, allowing the tag off to Ledger to clean house. Miguel kicks Walker in the face and makes him DDT Coffey for two but cue Je’Von Evans to jump Joe Coffey and the Good Brothers to go after Walker. Miguel’s top rope Meteora into Wentz’s Swanton finishes Ledger at 11:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time here and were flying through everything with this one, including the interference from the OC. Why Walker/Ledger vs. the OC needs to continue is beyond me but at least it isn’t near the title picture at the moment. The Rascalz should make for a good set of challengers and when the champions aren’t on the best footing at the moment, there will be just enough of a reason to believe the titles could change hands.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready for the Rascalz, who come in to say they’re ready to take the titles back to TNA next week.

Trick Williams and Pete Dunne get in another fight in the locker room.

Oro Mensah vs. Lexis King

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. The fight is on to start with Mensah knocking him into the corner and hitting a forearm to the back for two. King is sent out to the floor and slammed off the barricade for a crash. Back in and Mensah’s springboard is broken up with a shove off the top and King hammers away. A running shot to the back of the head gets two so King yells about Mensah’s father, which sends Mensah into a rage. The beating is on but King rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. King is settling into the role of guy who knows how to push buttons and get under his opponents’ skin. He still isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but it’s an improvement over where he was before. Mensah was showing some fire here but he still feels like he’s kind of going through the motions until Noam Dar gets back to bring Meta Four to full strength.

Post match Mensah chases King to the back.

The D’Angelo Family threatens Oba Femi, who doesn’t think much of Riz. Tony D’Angelo assigns Stacks to deal with this.

Gallus rants about Je’Von Evans when Wren Sinclair comes in to ask them to be quiet because Miles Borne has sensitive ears. Gallus says they’re coming for the Heritage Cup, with Charlie Dempsey asking Sinclair to calm down.

Tatum Paxley vs. Rosemary

Wendy Choo is here with Rosemary, who takes her into the ropes for an early Upside Down. The neck crank is broken up and Paxley hits a clothesline but Rosemary snaps off some suplexes for two. A quick facebuster rocks Rosemary though and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. Erg I was hoping this would be Rosemary’s chance to make up for a less than great outing last time but here she is looking like even more of a jobber. I understand that you don’t want TNA stars going over NXT names over and over but there was no one better to lose like this than one of the most successful Knockouts in recent years?

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save.

Pete Dunne and Trick Williams fight again. Ava is done with this and sends them to the ring right now.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be defending in an open challenge next week.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell with Williams taking over before they get inside for the official start. Dunne hammers away until he is sent into the corner so Williams’ jumping neckbreaker can connect for two. Williams knees him down and hits a running neckbreaker but Dunne gets in a crotching onto the ring skirt. A stomp onto the steps rocks Williams and we take a break.

Back with Williams getting two off a Rock Bottom but Dunne German suplexes him right back down. They go back outside with Williams missing a big boot and the fight going onto the barricade. A crash sends them through the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 11:20.

Rating: B-. This felt like a fight as these two wanted to get to each other that badly. There is a good chance that this is designed to set up a rematch for the CW debut (perhaps in a cage) and that makes things more interesting going forward. If these two are still fighting each other, who goes after the NXT Title? Joe Hendry more than likely, but I’ll take these two in another big fight first.

Post match the brawl is on again, with security not being able to do much about it.

Ridge Holland isn’t sad about what he did to Andre Chase and talks about how Duke Hudson criticized everything he did. Holland got the gold back in Chase U but mediocrity took it away. He starts destroying Chase U next week, but this week he starts this week with Hudson’s trophy.

An injured Shawn Spears thanks Brooks Jensen for saving him. Spears thanks him for being there and leaves when Dion Lennox comes in, saying Spears is psychologically manipulating Jensen.

Joe Coffey vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Evans shrugs off some right hands to start and hits a running hurricanrana. Coffey catches a running forearm with a Regal Roll into a Vader Bomb for two. Evans is sent outside but here is Cedric Alexander to cut off the interfering Gallus. Back in and Evans’ springboard spinning splash finishes Coffey at 2:30.

Lyra Valkyria didn’t want to come back to NXT but had to help Tatum Paxley against the weird girls.

Ava makes Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing match next week, with the winner getting the NXT Title shot on the first CW show. As long as it doesn’t end in a draw, sure.

Oba Femi vs. Stacks

Non-title and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too. Stacks slugs away to start but gets driven into and thrown out of the corner. Some elbows, with a glare at Tony D’Angelo, have Stacks in trouble and his comeback attempt is easily cut off. Femi hits him in the back of the head a few times for two but Stacks strikes away, including a dropkick to put Femi down. Not that it matters as Femi is back up with the toss powerbomb for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Femi is such a force these days that it is hard to imagine him losing anytime soon (or anytime at all for that matter). He has found his groove as the unstoppable monster and the more people he runs over, the better of a monster he’s going to be. Stacks was a good designated victim here and that’s all he needed to be.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on more of the women but Eddy Thorpe breaks it up.

Je’Von Evans thinks he should get a Heritage Cup shot and Wren Sinclair grans his request. Charlie Dempsey comes in and isn’t pleased so he blames Miles Borne, who didn’t hear a thing.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Jaida Parker

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Parker shoulders her down to start but stops to favor the bad ribs. Nyx is back up with a running kick to those ribs and we hit a bodyscissors. Parker powers out and puts her on the corner for the seated senton. The running hip attack finishes Nyx at 4:40.

Rating: C. This was Parker getting her win back after a big loss on Sunday, which isn’t a bad way to go. Parker vs. the team is something that could go on or a few weeks and build her back up, though she’ll need some friends on the way there. For now though, Parker continues to feel like she is rising up the ranks and that could be quite the ride going forward.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Parker down.

Here is Roxanne Perez to brag about her success and even the women on the main roster can’t stop talking about her. People fantasize about beating her but then fantasy meets reality. It doesn’t matter if you are the hot prospect or a big star from Japan…and here is Chelsea Green to interrupt.

Green doesn’t like how the fans smell but they cheer for her anyway. She is here to interrupt the fun sized champion because she is the new #1 contender. Cue Giulia to interrupt and the fans seem impressed. Giulia wastes no time in dropping Green and then issues the challenge for the CW show. Perez seems to accept to wrap it up. You had to know that was coming and that’s not a bad choice to make.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t the strongest here but that wasn’t the point. This show was about setting up the big CW debut in about a month and that show is already feeling like the biggest thing NXT has done since Stand & Deliver. This is already feeling like a bigger deal than No Mercy, which is a great way to off to a hot start on the way to the next major change over. Nice job this week, even if it was just a preview for the important show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Swanton to Ledger
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Tatum Paxley b. Rosemary – Psycho Trap
Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams went to a double countout
Je’Von Evans b. Joe Coffey – Springboard spinning splash
Oba Femi b. Stacks – Toss powerbomb
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Running hip attack

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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No Mercy 2024
Date: September 1, 2024
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s another NXT pay per view to cap off a big holiday weekend and in this case, the big story is a TNA wrestler getting an NXT Title shot. The main event will see TNA’s Joe Hendry challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Title with former NXT Champion Trick Williams as the guest referee. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is a standard recap of most of the card.

Tag Team Titles: Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Chase U is defending in a rematch against the former champs. Axiom ties Chase up to start and grabs something like an abdominal stretch so Frazier can add a running boot. Frazier dropkicks Chase into the corner so Holland can come in to drop Frazier with a faceplant. It’s back to Chase, who is quickly taken into the corner so the double teaming can ensue.

Chase gets away again and hands it off to Holland, who grabs a Downward Spiral on Frazier. Axiom comes in and gets thrown down with a toss suplex, setting up Holland’s top rope headbutt for two with Frazier making the save. Chase is taken up top but the super Spanish Fly is broken up. Instead Chase slips out and hits the super Spanish Fly, followed by a tiger bob for two.

We settle down to Holland chopping away at Axiom, who actually strikes back and scores with a superkick. A dive takes Chase down and a frog splash hits him back inside. Frazier’s 450 gets two but Chase kicks him in the face before playing Animal in a Doomsday Device. A buckle bomb/enziguri combination gets two, setting up Holland’s Northern Grit for two more with Axiom making the save.

The brainbuster/Golden Ratio combination gets two more but another Golden Ratio hits Frazier by mistake. A powerbomb/Backstabber combination gets two more on Axiom before he and Holland go outside. Chase goes up top for some reason, only to get caught with the super Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash to give Frazier the pin and the titles a 13:31.

Rating: B. The ending came kind of out nowhere as there was no big moment before Chase just got caught in the champs’ finishing sequence for the titles. It’s not even surprising to see Chase U as they’re never able to have anything long term. We’ve kind of done Axiom and Frazier as champions though so I’m not sure what is next for them. Good opener though, which isn’t a surprise.

Post match the champs leave….and Holland wrecks Chase U, which fits his nature rather well. The lifting DDT plants Chase onto the announcers’ table to leave him laying.

Video on Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams.

We recap Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz. They used to be friends, then they split up when Wentz got fired, then Lee became a singles star, then Lee turned on him, saying Wentz abandoned him. Now Wentz is ready to get revenge.

Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz

Wentz’s TNA X-Division Title, which he won on Friday, isn’t on the line. They both miss flips to start and the shots to the face have the same result. Wentz kicks him in the face and hits a spinning middle rope crossbody for two. The threat of a superkick sends Lee outside, where Lee gets smart by going after the knee. Back in and Lee hammers away before sending Wentz face first into the middle buckle.

They lock hands and slug it out until Wentz is back with a nasty spinning knee to the face for the breather. Lee gets sent outside for a running kick to the chest, followed by a middle rope flip dive to the floor. Back in and a Swanton gives Wentz two and he grabs a Boston crab. That’s broken up so Wentz superkicks him and goes up, only to be hurricanranaed down. A middle rope Phoenix splash gives Lee two and the Cardiac Kick gets the same.

Wentz hits a running flipping DDT before knocking Lee outside for a much needed breather. Rather than waiting him out, Wentz follows him to the floor but gets sent into the steps. Lee’s running knees only hit steps though, only for him to knock Wentz onto the announcers’ table…which collapses. A top rope Meteora to the floor drops Wentz again and Lee puts him up against the post. Lee loads up a chair but their teammate Trey Miguel breaks it up, allowing Wentz to hit a Canadian Destroyer off the apron. Back in and the UFO (a springboard cutter) finishes Lee at 13:40.

Rating: B. They didn’t have much of another option here, especially after Wentz won the title. You can’t have a new champion lose so soon if you’re TNA and it gave Wentz one of the biggest wins of his career. Lee can claim an issue in the end with the interference, but at least it came off a match that had the high spots and fast pace you would expect here.

We recap Kelani Jordan defending the Women’s North American Title against Wendy Choo. Jordan is the young, plucky star who has worked hard and is an athletic marvel. Choo is weird and obsessed with sleep.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Wendy Choo

Choo is challenging and takes her down for a stomp onto the mat to start. Back up and Jordan sends her to the floor for a twisting dive, followed by a spinning moonsault back inside. Choo twists the neck around to take over and kicks her in the back but Jordan escapes the Tree Of Woe.

Jordan grabs a sitout DDT for two and a frog splash gets the same. A powerbomb gives Choo two and she grabs the Million Dollar Dream, with Jordan fighting up after two arm drops. Jordan fights up and knocks her down, setting up the One Of A Kind to retain the title at 13:20.

Rating: C. This was a case where the people involved hurt it, as you have someone who is summed up as “she’s young and athletic” defending against “she’s weird and obsessed with sleep.” How was this supposed to be interesting? Jordan is still very new but she has the potential to become something with some more molding. Choo….well it’s not her fault she’s stuck with whatever she’s supposed to be.

Post match Tatum Paxley runs in and chokes Choo out before leaving the doll next to her.

We look back at Ridge Holland turning on Andre Chase, who was taken out in an ambulance.

Holland has nothing to say.

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

D’Angelo, with his Family, is challenging and takes him down to start. Back up and D’Angelo charges at him but seems to hurt his ankle in the process. Femi grabs a suplex and sends him flying, setting up a running elbow in the corner for two. A huge shoulder breaker (with a Papa Shango name drop) gets two on D’Angelo but he comes back with a fisherman’s suplex for the same.

They slug it out until D’Angelo grabs a powerslam for a breather. An electric chair drop gives D’Angelo two more and it’s time to go outside. Femi takes a crowbar from the Family but gets sent into the steps for taking too long. Back in and Femi hits a quick toss powerbomb for two, followed by the regular powerbomb for two. D’Angelo is back with a spinebuster but can’t cover, allowing Femi to hit back to back powerbombs to retain at 13:44.

Rating: B+. This is the match I was looking forward to the most on the card and it delivered. Femi is someone who just has “it” and he has “it” in spades. He’s only been doing this a short while but his matches are turning into events, as you want to see what someone with his size can do. It also makes me wonder who can stop him, as it doesn’t seem like anyone in NXT is going to do it anytime soon. These guys beat each other up and it was exactly what I hoped it would be.

Trick Williams tells Ethan Page he’ll call the match right down the line tonight. Page threatens him, but Williams does it right back.

Zachary Wentz is done with Wes Lee and is grateful to have Trey Miguel by his side. They want the NXT Tag Team Titles.

We recap Jaida Parker challenging Roxanne Perez for the Women’s Title. Parker won a gauntlet match for the shot despite still being relatively new to wrestling. Perez brought up being a prodigy at her age so Parker slapped the taste out of her mouth.

Women’s Title: Jaida Parker vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is defending and Parker stares at her to start. A hard slap staggers Perez and a suplex sends her flying. Back up and Perez sends her to the floor, where Parker catches a dive in a fireman’s carry. Perez slips out and kicks her hard into the steps, with Parker’s ribs being banged up.

Back in and Perez hits a dropkick to send her to the apron again, with Parker being rammed into the post. An abdominal stretch has Parker in more trouble before Perez sits her on the middle rope. Perez sits on her ribs and dances a bit, only to have Parker come back with a heck of a sitout powerbomb for two.

Back up and Parker pulls her out of the air for a ram into the buckle, setting up the top rope sitdown splash with Perez laid over the ropes. Parker comes up favoring the ribs though and Perez tries the Rings of Saturn but Parker powers out. Parker’s moonsault misses but she’s able to escape Pop Rox. The running hip attack sends Perez crashing to the floor, where Parker misses a running hip attack through the barricade. Pop Rox on the floor drops Parker but they both beat the count. Back in and Pop Rox retains the title at 14:48.

Rating: B. Parker feels like a star and that is a great sign for her future. I’m curious to see what she does going forward because the potential for her to turn into something, both in NXT and on the main roster, is rather strong. For now, I can get why Perez gets the win, as she is a bigger deal and there are a lot of big names on the way in for NXT. For now though, this was a near star making performance for Parker, and that is a reason to stay interested.

Post match Perez poses….and Giulia debuts for the big staredown. Yeah that works.

Ava announces a triple threat match for a future Tag Team Title shot this week, plus that the NXT Title will be on the line during the premiere on the CW on October 1.

We recap TNA’s Joe Hendry challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Title. Page is in over his head against the wildly popular Hendry and Trick Williams, who Page beat for the title, is guest referee.

NXT Title: Ethan Page vs. Joe Hendry

Hendry is challenging and Trick Williams is guest referee. They lock up to start and Williams breaks it up both times, being totally fair early on. Hendry takes him down by the arm and Page is frustrated. Back up and some shoulders don’t go anywhere for Page so Hendry puts him down with a suplex. A sunset flip gives Hendry two before Page just starts hammering away to put him in trouble.

Hendry gets sent into the corner and suplexed for two as Williams continues to be a mostly neutral factor so far. A super powerslam gives Page two and he goes up again but this time Hendry grabs a super fall away slam for the big crash. Page bails to the floor and gets taken out by a running dive, only to sent Hendry into the steps. The Ego’s Edge to the apron has Hendry down and Page wants the countout. That’s good for a nine, allowing Hendry to hit his own Ego’s Edge for a near fall.

There’s the fall away slam and the fans believe, with the Standing Ovation connecting…but Page’s foot is under the rope. Hendry yells so Page shoves him into Williams, with a standing Ovation to Hendry getting two from a second referee. Page brings the belt in but gets it taken away, allowing Hendry to roll him up for two. A DDT onto the belt (the referee is fine with it) gets two as Williams runs in to break up the count because he is the real referee. Page decks the second referee and kicks Hendry low, setting up the Ego’s Edge to retain at 15:07.

Rating: B-. This was ok but they were working under a firm ceiling. There is only so much you can do when you have a star from another company challenging a modern day Honky Tonk Man. They did their thing well enough, but it feels like this was just filling time before Page loses the title on the first CW show for the big moment.

Post match Williams is annoyed and it gets even worse when Pete Dunne jumps him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Yeah this was awesome, with one match out of six being less than very good and the main event being more than good enough to get by. NXT has gotten back to the point where it feels like they are exceeding expectations and that is a great thing to see. This was a very fun show which absolutely flew by so we’ll call it quite the hit.

Results
Axiom/Nathan Frazier b. Chase U – Phoenix splash to Chase
Zachary Wentz b. Wes Lee – UFO
Kelani Jordan b. Wendy Choo – One Of A Kind
Oba Femi b. Tony D’Angelo – Sitout powerbomb
Roxanne Perez b. Jaida Parker – Pop Rox
Ethan Page b. Joe Hendry – Ego’s Edge

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: August 27, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for No Mercy and that means it is time to hammer home everything on the card. In this case, most of the show is already set, including Joe Hendry getting an NXT Title shot against Ethan Page. This week will see Hendry in concert, which could go rather well. Let’s get to it.

In memory Of Sid Vicious.

Fatal Influence is ready for Meta Four.

Meta Four is ready for Fatal Influence.

Meta Four vs. Fatal Influence

Jackson dropkicks Jayne down to start so it’s off to Henley, who grabs a choke on Legend. It’s back to Jackson for a dropkick but Jayne comes back in to hurricanrana Legend down. That doesn’t work for Legend, who throws both of them down, setting up Jackson’s dive on the floor as we take a break.

Back with Legend swinging Henley into Jayne and then sending her flying with a fall away slam. Something like a top rope Hart Attack gets two on Henley but Jayne’s running neckbreaker gets the same on Jackson. Back up and a Nyx distraction lets Jayne superkick Legend out to the floor. Legend superkicks Nyx, only to walk back into a pair of running knees to give Henley the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C+. Nice opener here and it’s nice to see Fatal Influence getting a win. The team has talked a lot but they were only going to be able to get so far without winning a match or two. Beating Meta Four thanks to the numbers game is a good way to go and the match wound up working well here.

Video on Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, who were a team for a long time as MSK, only to have Wentz get released and wind up in TNA. Then he came back and reunited with Lee, who had a heck of a singles career in NXT of his own. Then Lee turned on Wentz and set off a huge brawl, leading to a showdown this Sunday at No Mercy.

Eddy Thorpe shows some women a DJing gig. Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to say if the women were there, he needs to have to start showing up. The three women leave and say goodbye to Thorpe. Adonis asks which Thorpe is dating but Thorpe says it’s just about the music. Thorpe doesn’t get how a platonic relationship can happen. Then Brooks Jensen follows and jumps….I want to say Edris Enofe with a chair.

Karmen Petrovic vs. Izzi Dame

Petrovic kicks away to start and grabs a headlock. Dame is back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two before pulling Petrovic out of the air with a sky high for two. Petrovic gets out of a torture rack and scores with a spinwheel kick, only to spin into a hard clothesline. Back up and Dame slams her down for two but Petrovic pulls her into a sunset flip for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. Petrovic continues to feel like someone NXT wants to push in a big way and it makes sense. The good thing is she is starting to do something other than just doing the martial arts stuff, which had a limited ceiling. Getting a win like this should help, even if the match was nothing noteworthy whatsoever.

Charlie Dempsey and Wren Sinclair argue over who is in charge of the team.

Tony D’Angelo wants the Family to take out the No Quarter Catch Crew.

We get a sitdown interview with Jaida Parker, who gives us a very quick recap of how she got to this point in two years. She was a bit banged up last week but Roxanne Perez is underestimating her. Perez comes in to list off some parts of a resume…but she means people like Lola Vice, who she has already beat. On Sunday, Parker is going to find out what she is up against. Parker slaps her down and leaves, though only after threatening someone we don’t see. Perez is surprised to see the same mystery person.

D’Angelo Family vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

Stacks Dempsey to start and then sends him throat first into the bottom rope. Borne comes in to strike away at Crusifino before it’s back to Stacks, who gets suplexed into the corner. It’s off to Riz for a dropkick to Sinclair as the Family clears the ring…and here are two guys in suits (who were in the back with the Family in their segment) to get Tony D’Angelo’s attention.

The three of them go to the back and we go to a break, coming back with The Family hitting stereo legdrops between the legs. Borne is up first though and goes after Stacks’ leg to take over. Dempsey cranks on the same leg and then switches to a German suplex, only to have Stacks slip over for the tag to Crusifino without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Riz dives onto Sinclair before dropping Dempsey, leaving Borne to walk into Forget About It for the pin at 11:07.

Rating: C+. This almost felt more about Riz, who was working extra hard throughout the match. The Family is getting some momentum together of its own, though I’m almost scared of what the two guys are going to do. The team has been part of some goofy stories over the years and it wouldn’t surprise me to see that continue with…whatever they’re doing here.

Pete Dunne wants the NXT Title but he’ll take out Trick Williams first.

Ethan Page thinks he should be suspended for shoving a referee last week but Ava isn’t going to do that.

We get an in-ring staredown between Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, with security provided. Wentz says Lee is willing to give up a nine year partnership because of his own ego. Lee talks about how they’re on different levels, but Wentz says he lost their time as a tag team because of his own mistakes. That doesn’t work for Lee, who still says he’s on another level. Wentz calls out Lee for being ready to quit NXT for the third time and reminds Lee of the times he was there after the back surgery. Wentz doesn’t think much of Lee, who says that he’ll show why he is the NXT star and Wentz is just the wrestler.

Joe Hendry thanks Trick Williams for last week and promises him the first NXT Title shot. Williams promises to hold him to that.

Here is Kelani Jordan for a chat. She calls Wendy Choo’s handpicked opponent…and here we go.

Kelani Jordan vs. Rosemary

Non-title and that would be former TNA Knockouts Champion Rosemary. Jordan spins her around to start but gets ties up in the Upside Down (a leg choke in the ropes with Rosemary bending backwards onto the apron). Back up and Rosemary gets two off a t-bone suplex before slapping on a rear naked choke. They forearm it out until Jordan hits a Rob Van Dam stepover spinning kick to the face. A Downward Spiral into a basement dropkick…has Rosemary rising right back up, with a spear getting two on Jordan. Back up and Jordan kicks her out of the corner, setting up One Of A Kind for the fast pin at 4:23.

Rating: C. The match was far from bad, but this could have been a much better use of someone as good as Rosemary. I get that they were working with the idea of two creepy/supernatural people but Rosemary is one of the most successful women TNA has ever had. This should have been more and hopefully she gets the chance to show what she can do again later.

Post match Wendy Choo pops in to choke Jordan out.

Oro Mensah gives the rest of Meta Four a post loss pep talk. Lexis King comes in to mock them…but Mensah mentions that King doesn’t have a father figure. King rightly punches him in the face and the brawl has to be broken up. That was rather rude.

It’s off to Chase U, where Riley Osborne and Duke Hudson apologize for their loss. Ridge Holland says it’s cool as long as they’re still champions. Axiom and Nathan Frazier come in to brag about their success and promise to win the titles back.

Malik Blade vs. Brooks Jensen

Blade jumps him on the floor to start and the fight is on, with Jensen grabbing a neckbreaker to take over. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Blade fights up and hits a running elbow before something like a Blockbuster gets two. Jensen is right back with a DDT and a top rope elbow for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C+. Jensen has cooled it way off with the insane stuff and is just moving into more of an evil wrestler, which is working a bit better for him. Let him do something that might get him noticed, because otherwise it is only going to get him so far. Jensen and Shawn Spears aren’t the most original team, but they’re fine enough for what they’re doing here.

Je’Von Evans is ready to prove himself to Joe Coffey.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are interrupted by OTM. A match is set for later.

Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Coffey

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey, who takes him down by the arm to start. A running hurricanrana sends Coffey outside and Evans annoys Wolfgang, setting up a dropkick for two on Coffey. We take a break and come back with Coffey knocking him down again, only to have Evan hit a running clothesline. A springboard spinning kick to the head sets up a springboard clothesline for two as Coffey is rocked.

Back up and Coffey hits a quick Glasgow Sendoff for two but he charges into a superkick to cut him off again. Coffey goes up again but dives into a cutter, followed by Evans’ top rope cutter for two more. Wolfgang offers a distraction though and it’s Mark Coffey coming in, only to get taken out by another Evans cutter. The distraction lets Joe hit All The Best For The Bells for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C+. It would have been a bit much for Evans to overcome the odds of all of Gallus on his own so they went with the logical conclusion instead. Evans is an athletic guy but there is something missing that is making him feel in over his head. Granted it might be that he is so crazy young and that could get better with time. For now though, I can see why WWE wants to give him a chance, as he shows a lot of potential.

Tony D’Angelo goes to the restaurant and finds Oba Femi in his spot. Femi says he doesn’t need D’Angelo’s disrespect because he is the ruler of NXT. D’Angelo says they can come in here and talk like men, or they can fight. Femi isn’t going to fight here because he’ll prove himself at No Mercy. He isn’t scared of D’Angelo. Simple and to the point here, as this isn’t personal, but rather about two different kinds of power.

No Mercy rundown.

Here is Joe Hendry for his concert. The first song is about Ethan Page being weird, not wearing clothes when he trains and loving toys. Cue Page to interrupt but the fans would rather sing the chorus. The song keeps going as Page threatens Hendry and here is a rather amused looking Ava to interrupt.

Since Page has been so disrespectful to the referees, here is the special guest referee for the title match: Trick Williams. Hendry gives Page a Standing Ovation so Williams can count the pin to….not end the show as we cut to Pete Dunne threatening Williams to really end the show. Page sold the song, but the lyrics felt like something a ten year old wrote and thought they were hilarious.

Overall Rating: C. Maybe I’m just having an off night but I am not feeling No Mercy whatsoever. The show didn’t interest me coming into this week and then this show didn’t make it any better. Nothing right now is feeling overly important, with D’Angelo vs. Femi being the only thing that has me curious about Sunday. The show should be ok, but this week’s show came and went without getting me any more interested than I was coming in. Not much to see here, and for once I’m not excited about an NXT pay per view. Maybe they’ll surprise me, but it’s not looking great coming in.

Results
Fatal Influence b. Meta Four – Stereo running knees to Legend
Karmen Petrovic b. Izzi Dame – Sunset flip
D’Angelo Family b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Forget About It to Borne
Kelani Jordan b. Rosemary – One Of A Kind
Brooks Jensen b. Malik Blade – Top rope elbow
Joe Coffey b. Je’Von Evans – All The Best For The Bells

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: August 20, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are rapidly closing in on No Mercy and the show is going to need a main event. That is what we get to find out this week, with a triple threat match to crown a new #1 contender for the NXT Title, as Joe Hendry, Wes Lee and Pete Dunne face off for a shot at Ethan Page. Let’s get to it.

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

Izzi Dame jumped Karmen Petrovic in the parking lot and injured her hand in the process.

We look back at Chase U regaining the Tag Team Titles last week.

Here is Chase U for their championship celebration. Duke Hudson thanks Ridge Holland and admits he was wrong, with Andre Chase joining in the thank you. Cue Axiom and Nathan Frazier to say they’re the best team in NXT, which the fans don’t seem to like. Frazier talks about running themselves into the ground, which let Chase U get the perfect time for a title shot.

Now they want a title shot of their own but Holland cuts them off. Holland talks about how he was looking for a way to find himself. That’s what he found in Chase U and he worked that hard to become a champion. Hudson suggests himself and Riley Osborne vs. Axiom/Frazier, and if Axiom and Frazier win, they might get a title shot at No Mercy. The workout pants are ripped off and we’re ready to go. That was a little heelish from Chase U and I’m not feeling that in the slightest.

Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Osborne dropkicks Axiom to start but everything breaks down in a hurry, with Hudson putting both of them down on the floor. Osborne hits a big running lip dive and we take an early break. Back with Hudson sending Axiom flying with a German suplex and hitting a swinging Boss Man Slam for two on Frazier.

A wheelbarrow faceplant/flipping faceplant combination gets two with Frazier making the save. Frazier avoids a shooting star from Osborne and hits a springboard reverse Spanish Fly (that was cool). The Phoenix splash misses but Axiom is right there with the Golden Ratio/brainbuster combination to finish Osborne at 9:18.

Rating: C+. Pretty run of the mill idea here and that’s all it needed to be. They needed to set up a title match at No Mercy and that should get them there, though I’m a bit surprised that Axiom and Frazier’s longstanding issues seem to be just fine. For now though, there is still the chance of Chase U falling apart, which should add some drama to the title match.

Ava says Karmen Petrovic is injured and out of the gauntlet match. Izzi Dame comes in and says this is Ava’s chance to fix the mistake, but Ava isn’t going to reward bad behavior. Brinley Reece is in instead. Of note: Kelani Jordan could be seen behind them looking for something.

Brinley Reece is in the gauntlet match but Wren Sinclair comes in to say she’s winning.

Wendy Choo vs. Lola Vice

Choo jumps her to start and slowly hammers away. That’s broken up with some shots to the face and Vice sends her outside, with some dancing taking us to a break. Back with Choo choking away and shrugging off Vice’s rollup. A neckbreaker gives Choo two and we hit the neck crank, with Vice not taking long to fight back.

The rapid fire kicks set up the running hip attack in the corner for two but Choo grabs a sleeper. That’s broken up with a backpack Stunner and they’re both down. Cue Kelani Jordan…who gets inside for some reason and accidentally gets hit with Vice’s spinning backfist. The distraction lets Choo get in a pillow shot for the pin at 11:02.

Rating: C. I’m going to assume the pillow is loaded, but my goodness I cannot bring myself to care about the Choo stuff. It feels like such a try hard with making her weird or whatever and the whole sleep deal was bad enough before her injury. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her beat Jordan for the title anyway, even if Jordan feels like she could be something if given the chance (and a lot more time).

Post match Jordan challenges Choo for No Mercy and then hits her with the pillow. Said pillow contains….the Women’s North American Title, which Choo apparently stole.

Wes Lee doesn’t like Joe Hendry coming in here and trying to seal the NXT spotlight. We go split screen with Hendry not liking Lee talking down about TNA. The Rascalz were back here to help boost Lee up, but Lee says he’ll see Hendry tonight. Hendry says tonight is the biggest match of his life, because a #1 contenders match for the NXT Title is apparently bigger than headlining a TNA PPV for the TNA World Title.

Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne rant about the lack of respect for the veterans. They only have one person who listens to them, and that’s Jazmyn Nyx. They came up together in this business and they are the Fatal Influence. That’s not a bad name and it’s better than…whatever word salad they use for the new women’s group on Raw.

Gauntlet Eliminator

Six women, three minute intervals, elimination rules for the Women’s Title shot at No Mercy. Wren Sinclair is in at #1 and Sol Ruca is in at #2 and they exchange arm control to start. Ruca is back up with a full nelson but Sinclair pulls her down into a half crab. Sinclair makes it even craftier with the surfboard but Ruca is up again for a collision. Both of them are down and Adrianna Rizzo is in at #3 with a double high crossbody.

Sinclair is back up with a choke but Ruca drives her into the corner for the break. Rizzo hits something like an AA into a basement Molly Go Round, with Sinclair breaking up the cover (for some reason). Back up and Ruca plants Rizzo for the elimination at 4:58 and we take a break. Back with Brinley Reece in at #4 and hitting (kind of) a flipping double clothesline. Kendal Grey comes in at #5 and starts cleaning house, including knocking Reece silly for the elimination at 10:02.

Grey gets caught in Ruca’s electric chair for a faceplant, allowing Ruca to grab the completely logical surfboard. Sinclair is back in but gets caught in an X Factor, allowing Ruca to throw Grey onto Sinclair outside. The moonsault takes both of them down but it’s Jaida Parker in at #6 to complete the field. House is cleaned again and Parker hits her seated senton in the corner to Grey, setting up the gordbuster for the pin at 13:35.

Sinclair rolls Parker up for two, only to have Ruca grab the Sol Snatcher for the elimination at 13:58. It’s Ruca vs. Parker for the title shot with Ruca grabbing some rollups for two each. Parker’s powerbomb falls down but Ruca’s cradle doesn’t count as she’s in the ropes. A cross arm German suplex gets two on Parker but she avoids the springboard splash, setting up the running hip attack to end Ruca at 15:41.

Rating: B-. That ending sequence did NOT look good as Parker seemed to have the wind knocked out of her. Other than that, there was enough good action to make it work, but the important thing is putting someone new in the title picture. Parker has felt like a breakout star for a long time now and she might have a shot at the title here. At the same time, Ruca continues to feel like the next big thing, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her as the next challenger after No Mercy.

Post match Parker, with OTM around her, says she has next for the Women’s Title.

Ethan Page is ready for the main event, when Pete Dunne comes in to talk about how long he holds titles. Dunne is going to break Page’s fingers and ego at No Mercy.

Hank Walker/Tank Ledger vs. OC

Anderson drives Ledger into the corner to start and slowly hammers away. Walker comes in for a shot shot of his own and the double standing splash gets two on Anderson. Gallows is up with a big boot to Walker and the beating ensues on the floor. The chinlock goes on back inside but Walker fights up, allowing the tag off to Ledger…who gets booted down by Gallows. The Magic Killer is broken up and Ledger is back up with a springboard spinning clothesline. The powerslam/running shoulder combination finishes Anderson at 4:24.

Rating: C+. I’m not a fan of either of these teams but points for at least going with someone new. Walker and Ledger have been presented as a bit more important in recent weeks and giving them a win over an established team is a good move. I’m not sure if it leads anywhere (and I hope it doesn’t) but at least they’re inching in a direction.

Post match Walker (a former security guard) celebrates with security while Gallows and Anderson yell.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade say they see through Shawn Spears manipulating Brooks Jensen. Spears says they’re both lost souls but makes them mad with a reference to Brinley Reece. The brawl is on and the camera goes down, with Spears seemingly getting hit with something made of metal. Jensen runs in for the save.

Here is the No Quarter Catch Crew to celebrate getting the Heritage Cup back. Charlie Dempsey talks about how the Heritage Cup is what the team needs to live and now order has been restored. Wren Sinclair cuts him off and doesn’t know who “Lou Robinson or Billy Thesz” are, but if Dempsey likes them, they must be good. Sinclair: “Charles will defend the title against anyone, anytime.”

Cue Oba Femi (Sinclair: “I AM SO SORRY!” She’s the funniest Sinclair since Earl.) to say he’d love to face Dempsey, but cue the D’Angelo Family to interrupt. Tony D’Angelo says he has his eyes on something else, meaning he stares at Femi. A snap of the fingers has the Family beating up the Crew, and D’Angelo spinebusters Femi to stand tall. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Ashante Thee Adonis loses the women’s attention to Dion Lennox.

Wren Sinclair leaves the Heritage Cup with Je’Von Evans but Gallus comes up to say Evans knows nothing about technical wrestling. Violence is teased but Cedric Alexander comes in to even things up a bit.

Dion Lennox vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Lennox hits a dropkick to start and tosses him into the air for a big crash. Back up and Adonis sends him outside for a dive before ripping at Lennox’s ears. Lennox fights up and grabs a spinebuster for two but Adonis pulls him off the top and onto the ropes. The Long Kiss Goodnight (Sweet Chin Music) finishes Lennox at 3:41.

Rating: C. This would be in the “and moving on” section as neither of them has done anything of note around here and then they had a completely average match. Lennox is pretty much known only for his glasses while Adonis is known for standing around with the women backstage. I’m not sure how much this enhanced Adonis but it was pretty much just there.

Lexis King is getting his throne polished when the women of Meta Four come in to complain about Fatal Influence. King pops in to say that while Fatal Influence is a cool name, the Meta Two…and that doesn’t sit well with them. With King gone, Oro Mensah comes in and everything is ok.

No Mercy rundown.

Joe Hendry vs. Pete Dunne vs. Wes Lee

For a shot at Ethan Page (on commentary) at No Mercy. Lee and Dunne jump the posing Hendry to start but Lee gets knocked out to the floor. Dunne stomps on Hendry in the corner as Lee comes back in, only to be catapulted head first into a low blow on Dunne. Back up and Lee kicks Hendry in the face, only to miss a dive. Dunne misses a moonsault to the floor onto Lee and they brawl until Hendry dives onto both of them.

The grin at the camera takes us to a break and we come back with Hendry cleaning house. A double fall away slam sends the villains flying but Lee drops both of them with a springboard moonsault. Back up and Dunne cranks on both of their fingers at once but Lee is back up with some kicks to Dunne’s head. A middle rope moonsault into a tornado DDT gives Lee two and frustration is setting in. Hendry gets dropped so Lee can hit a frog splash for two more.

Dunne snaps Lee’s fingers again but walks into the Standing Ovation, only to have Page pull the referee. Lee gets planted onto the announcers’ table but Page cuts off another referee. Dunne hits the Bitter End but Trick Williams runs in with the Trick Shot (in a GREAT bit of camera work as you didn’t see him coming) to drop Dunne cold. Hendry gets the pin and the title shot at 12:19 as Page can’t make the save in time.

Rating: B-. I really liked that ending as they filmed it perfectly and went with the surprise that actually worked. Other than that, Hendry getting the title shot is certainly a choice and I’m curious to see if they pull that trigger. He’s certainly the most interesting of the three options, though if he winds up winning the NXT Title before the TNA World Title, I don’t think I could laugh much harder.

Post match Zachary Wentz runs in to brawl with Lee to end the show with the crowd being VERY appreciative.

Overall Rating: B-. The last two minutes or so were rather good and the rest of the show was solid enough. This was a show built around the idea of setting up No Mercy and most of that was taken care of in one big night. The wrestling was passable, but they packed a lot into one show and I can go with that as a way to get things rolling towards the pay per view. That’s what NXT does and they made it work again here.

Results
Axiom/Nathan Frazier b. Chase U – Golden Ratio/brainbuster combination to Osborne
Wendy Choo b. Lola Vice – Pillow shot
Jaida Parker won the Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Sol Ruca
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OC – Powerslam/running shoulder combination to Anderson
Ashante Thee Adonis b. Dion Lennox – Long Kiss Goodnight
Joe Hendry b. Pete Dunne and Wes Lee – Trick Shot to Dunne

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NXT
Date: August 13, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with the Great American Bash and on the way to No Mercy, which is going to need a card. That is going to take some time to set up and there are only three shows left before it’s off to Denver, meaning the build will likely start today. If nothing else, Ethan Page is going to need a new challenger for the NXT Title so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s second half of the Great American Bash.

Wes Lee ignores a question about why he turned on the Rascalz. With Lee gone, Ethan Page pops in to say he’s here to address the NXT Universe.

Here is Page in the ring for a chat. He brags about his win last week and promises that no one is taking this title from him. Not Trick Williams, not Pete Dunne and not Wes Lee. Cue Joe Hendry to interrupt, saying he is here without anyone even saying his name. It is clear that Page is the talk of NXT….or at least he was for ninety seconds, until Hendry’s name showed up and stole the show.

Page doesn’t know why Hendry is here, but Hendry says he’s here to win the NXT Title. Page knows that everyone believes in Hendry, from NXT to TNA, but Page himself doesn’t believe in him. Hendry is on the 14th minute of his fifteen minutes of fame and Page is ready to prove that Hendry is a flash in the pan. Hendry talks about the legends who believe in him, from Kurt Angle to Booker T. to Shawn Michaels before going into his theme song. Page leaves and Lee jumps Hendry from behind.

Wren Sinclair annoys Charlie Dempsey before Dempsey’s Heritage Cup shot, saying she’s not staying out of anything now that she is officially on the team.

Ava, with her assistants, announces a gauntlet eliminator next week, with only women who have never challenged Roxanne Perez eligible. We get three of the six names being drawn for the match: Wren Sinclair, Adrianna Rizzo and Sol Ruca, with three more being named later.

Heritage Cup: Tony D’Angelo vs. Charlie Dempsey

D’Angelo is defending and they both have multiple associates here too. Round one begins with D’Angelo taking him down and hammering away before hitting a running shoulder. Dempsey goes after the arm but has to counter the spinebuster. D’Angelo drives him into the corner but gets pulled into something like a triangle choke. Dempsey switches into a kneebar as the round ends. Round two begins with some grappling on the mat and neither being able to get anywhere. Back up and D’Angelo hits Forget About It for the first fall at 56 seconds of the round and 4:22 overall.

We take a break and come back with round three ending but Dempsey gets in what might have been an after the bell knee. Sinclair yells at him and gets in a few slaps between rounds, which isn’t a great way to ingratiate yourself with your new team members. Round four begins with Dempsey hammering him down in the corner until D’Angelo clotheslines his way out of trouble. Forget About It is blocked and D’Angelo is sent into the corner, allowing Dempsey to grab a rollup for the pin at 1:53 of the round and 11:02 overall to tie it up.

Round five begins with D’Angelo hitting the spinebuster for two but Dempsey pulls him into a triangle choke. That’s broken up and D’Angelo puts him on top, where the seconds get into a brawl. Sinclair trips D’Angelo down and Dempsey grabs a bridging butterfly suplex for the pin and the Cup at 2:02 of the round and 13:30 overall.

Rating: B-. That’s a good way to go as Sinclair pays instant dividends for the team and Dempsey gets the Cup back, which makes a good bit more sense. There is a good chance that this feud continues and that isn’t a bad idea. If nothing else, points for bringing Sinclair into something more important after she has just been kind of there for such a long time.

Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan think they should help Tatum Paxley, who is going a bit nuts with her dolls. Paxley yells about Vice having everything handed to her, which isn’t well received.

Video on Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King in their battle over music.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King

King jumps him in the aisle to start and the fight is on fast. Thorpe fights back but gets sent shoulder first into the post to put him in early trouble. King starts in on Thorpe’s bad hand but Thorpe backdrops his way out of trouble. The implant DDT is broken up and King goes after the arm again, setting up the Coronation for the pin at 3:08.

Rating: C. This was certainly a match that happened and it was only so good. You can only get so far out of a match with so little time and while they’re going for the culture clash between the two, it has only been so interesting. I do like King getting a win, though it wouldn’t surprise me if this feud keeps going as well.

Trick Williams wants Pete Dunne.

Dunne talks about how he’s moving forward to the NXT Title.

Meta Four argue with Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley.

Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice

Kelani Jordan is on commentary. Vice takes her down to start and dance a bit but Paxley is back up with an enziguri. Cue Wendy Choo to choke Jordan, with Paxley using the distraction to jump Vice. A Swanton misses though and Vice hits a spinning backfist for the pin at 2:18. Short and to the point, which was Choo attacking Jordan.

The other three women in the gauntlet match are Jaida Parker, Kendal Grey and Karmen Petrovic. Brinley Reece wishes Petrovic good luck but Izzi Dame comes in to say she should have gotten the shot. Dame can’t stand Reece either.

Here is Wes Lee for a chat. Lee says last week’s turn started when Zachary Wentz let him down and broke up their team for the first time. People were asking about what was next for Lee, because he was just a tag guy. Then he worked hard and became the greatest North American Champion of all time.

The rest of the Rascalz became a team in TNA and turned into a success, all while Lee broke his back becoming a singles star. Lee is done caring about what Wentz is going to say or do because he is tired of being the adult for Wentz. The only reason his friends came back was for WWE and he knows he’ll have to face Wentz one day. Like maybe at No Mercy. Then Wentz can go back to TNA and Lee will wish him the best in his future endeavors. Cue Pete Dunne to interrupt, saying he wants the NXT Title…and here is Joe Hendry to interrupt. Hendry goes after Lee but it’s quickly broken up.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready to focus on the Tag Team Titles again tonight.

Tony D’Angelo is upset about his loss…but Oba Femi walks in, saying he’s ready for battle.

Chase U is fired up for their Tag Team Title match and Duke Hudson says it doesn’t matter which part of the team wins the gold. Ridge Holland is ready to prove himself to the team.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Otis

Otis, with the rest of the Alpha Academy, is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start with Femi grabbing a headlock but not being able to take him over. A running shoulder puts Femi on the floor and we take a break. Back with Otis fighting out of a chinlock and grabbing a side slam for two.

Femi knocks him outside though and an uppercut sends him into the steps. Some elbows give Femi two more and he knocks Otis outside to cut off a comeback bid. Otis is back up with a running shoulder though and some elbows to the face rock Femi back inside. The Caterpillar gets two and a Vader Bomb gives Otis the same but Femi powerbombs him out of the corner to retain the title at 10:40.

Rating: C+. This got going near the end, even if there wasn’t much in the way of doubt over who was leaving with the title. The match was about giving Femi another win over an established name and the fans are always going to be behind Otis. The match itself was an ok enough power match, but the Caterpillar doesn’t exactly fit with the idea of two monsters slugging it out.

Brooks Jensen talks about the mistakes he has made but says there was one person always looking out for him….and it’s Shawn Spears.

Malik Blade and Edris Enofe aren’t sure about this and neither are Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. Walker and Leger are facing the OC next week.

We look at the NXT tryout over Summerslam weekend.

Izzi Dame vs. Brinley Reece

These two were both part of the 2022 Summerslam weekend tryout. Reece takes over on the arm to start and drops Dame with a hard shot for two. Dame is back with a backbreaker and drives her into the corner with a running shoulder to the ribs. A Sky High gives Dame two but Reece slips out of an over the shoulder backbreaker. Reece’s suplex gets two, only for Dame to kick her in the face. Something close to a swinging Side Effect finishes for Dame at 4:08.

Rating: C+. Again they didn’t have much time here but what mattered is getting some of the long list of women around here something to do. There are a ton of talented women in NXT but so many of them have just been kind of spinning their wheels. While I’m not sure this is going to be some breakout win for Dame, it’s better than being stuck on LVL Up or trading insults backstage.

Ava announces a triple threat between Wes Lee, Pete Dunne and Joe Hendry, with the winner getting an NXT Title shot at No Mercy. Roxanne Perez comes in to say she likes the idea of the gauntlet eliminator but no one is going to take the title from her.

Shawn Michaels announces (well, re-announces) that NXT will be on the road for October 1 and 8.

Ashante Thee Adonis continues his flirtations. With the women gone, he talks to Dion Lennox, who is more interested in reading.

Tag Team Titles: Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Chase U (Andre Chase/Ridge Holland) is challenging. Chase knees Axiom down for an early two and it’s quickly off to Frazier, who runs the ropes and rolls Chase up for two of his own. Holland comes in and the champions clear the ring, setting up the dives as we take a break. Back with Chase and Frazier hitting a double clothesline for a double knockdown. The double tag brings in Holland to flip Axiom over into a DDT for two. Holland plants Axiom so Chase can get two with Frazier making the save.

Chase is put up top but Holland makes the save, only to be sent outside. Chasing The Dragon gets two on Chase but he’s back up with a big boot to Axiom. Holland powerbombs Frazier into Chase’s Backstabber for two as the fans are going nuts on these kickouts. Axiom comes back in and hits the super Spanish Fly on Holland but Chase shoves Frazier off the top and into the announcers’ table. Holland hits his lifting DDT on Axiom for the pin and the titles at 10:07.

Rating: B. You know what I loved about this match? It could have gone in a bunch of different ways. This could have been Axiom and Frazier splitting after weeks of teasing a breakup or it could have been Hudson turning on Chase U or it could have been the clean finish that we got, which could have gone either way. That is a very nice feeling to have and that’s on top of the match being a heck of a back and forth fight, with the fans being way into the near falls. Pretty awesome main event here and I was pulled into everything they were doing.

The celebration is on with the student section joining in as the confetti falls.

Overall Rating: B+. What more could you want from this show? They set up things for the next show which will set up a lot of No Mercy, advanced stories this week and gave us two title changes, with a special moment in the main event. The show might not be perfect, but it feels like they know what they want to do and then go out and do it. Nothing on here is revolutionary or anything close to it, but it’s consistently well booked with the action to back it up. I had a great time with this show and NXT’s roll continues as they are getting closer to the CW move.

Results
Charlie Dempsey b. Tony D’Angelo 2-1
Lexis King b. Eddy Thorpe – Coronation
Lola Vice b. Tatum Paxley – Spinning backfist
Oba Femi b. Otis – Sitout powerbomb
Izzi Dame b. Brinley Reece – Swinging Side Effect
Chase U b. Axiom/Nathan Frazier – Lifting DDT to Axiom

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: August 6, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the second week of the Great American Bash and we have a title match in the main event as Ethan Page will be defending the NXT Title against Oro Mensah. Other than that, the Tag Team Titles are on the line as the Rascalz are coming after Nathan Frazier and Axiom. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week, focusing on Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, your hosts for both weeks.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

Williams chops away to start but has to suplex his way out of a Kimura. Dunne gets in a shot of his own before they strike it out, with Dunne’s chest being rather red. A neckbreaker gives Williams two and we take an early break. Back with Dunne cranking on the arm but Williams fights up with a clothesline to start the comeback.

A Rock Bottom gives Williams two but Dunne drops him again and goes up. That’s cut of with a super flapjack of all things for a nasty crash. A spinning kick to the face gives Williams two and they’re both down again. Back up and Dunne powerbombs him down and stomps away…which for some reason fires Williams up. The Trick Shot misses though and Dunne grabs the Bitter End for the pin at 13:00.

Rating: B-. That’s a surprising result as Williams has been seen as the top star in NXT for the last several months but then he loses clean here. Dunne hasn’t exactly been presented as a huge deal on the main roster yet here he is beating Williams. The match itself was pretty good, but I’m more interested in why Williams lost here, as it came out of nowhere.

Earlier today, Eddy Thorpe and Lexis King got in an argument over the music at the barbecue. Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner then got in a wing eating contest. Presumably more on this later.

Nathan Frazier and Ethan Page argued in the trainer’s room, with Frazier realizing Axiom isn’t here yet.

Women’s North American Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Kelani Jordan

Paxley is challenging and can’t get very far with a headlock to start. They trade waistlocks until Jordan takes her down by the arm. The fans are split as Jordan snaps off some more armdrags and sends Paxley outside. There’s the big slingshot dive but Jordan finds another doll of herself underneath the ring.

Paxley gets in a cheap shot off the distraction and we take a break. Back with Paxley working on the leg and grabbing a hair faceplant…as Wendy Choo comes out to watch. The Psycho Trap misses but so does the split legged moonsault, allowing Paxley to hit a 450 for two. They both go up with Jordan grabbing a super Spanish Fly. A frog splash retains the title at 10:00.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t exactly tearing the house down but it’s another win to add to the list for Jordan. That’s the best thing for her at the moment as she still needs to make herself feel more like a star worthy of being the champion. Granted that might com crashing down when she faces Wendy Choo but for now it’s becoming a good start.

Post match Choo hands Paxley the doll and then jumps her as Jordan looks on.

Wren Sinclair things the No Quarter Catch Crew has whacked Tavion Heights, who is really in Japan. She still wants on the team, but the D’Angelo Family comes in. Tony D’Angelo says that if Sinclair wins tonight, Charlie Dempsey can have another shot at the Heritage Cup. Wren manages a bonus: she’s on the team if she wins. Oba Femi storms past them and we pan over to Axiom, who arrives as Nathan Frazier is trying to get him on the phone. Axiom has been here but was giving Frazier some space.

Trick Williams jumps Pete Dunne, making him a sore loser.

NXT Title: Ethan Page vs. Oro Mensah

Mensah, with Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, is challenging. Mensah chops away in the corner to start and snaps off an anklescissors to put Page down. Some chops in the corner send Page outside and we take an early break. Back again with Mensah fighting out of a bearhug but moonsaulting into a dropkick in a rather nice bit of timing. Page knocks him to the apron and tells the announcers to move but can’t quite hit a superplex.

Instead Mensah sends him to the floor for the suicide dive into the table, followed by a spinning kick for two back inside. They go outside and fight up the ramp, with Page hitting an Ego’s Edge through a picnic table. That’s not a DQ due to reasons that aren’t clear so Page hits a DDT for two. Mensah grabs some rollups for a DDT of his own, setting up the running spinwheel kick in the corner for two more. Page is back up with the Ego’s Edge for the pin at 13:09.

Rating: B-. They were doing everything they could here and it was far from a bad match, but Mensah’s mother wouldn’t have given him a serious chance of winning the title here. In a similar vein to Kelani Jordan, this was more about giving Page another win and that’s not a bad thing. This didn’t come off like a main event and they didn’t treat it as such, which was the right way to go.

The Rascalz are ready to get the Tag Team Titles back.

Back at the barbecue, women argue over a title shot and a man hits on them, earning a trip through a table.

Joe Hendry vs. Joe Coffey

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey, who jumps the other two before the bell. Coffey headbutts Hendry into the corner to start but gets kneed in the face. Hendry grabs a suplex and fires off some chops, followed by a clothesline to the floor as we take a break. Back with Hendry playing Eddie Guerrero by throwing a chair and faking an attack to get rid of the rest of Gallus. Hendry hits a backdrop and fall away slam as the fans sing about their beliefs. The Standing Ovation (high angle spinebuster) finishes Coffey at 8:11.

Rating: C+. This felt like a way to give Hendry a win around here, as he continues to more or less move into NXT and become the hottest thing in the promotion despite not working here. If WWE can get that kind of a result while sending midcarders over to TNA, good for them, as it’s working out well. Nice stuff here, and odds are Hendry isn’t done with NXT just yet.

Post match Hendry says he has enjoyed his time here and he might just stay for a lot longer. He’ll be here next week and you won’t even need to say his name because he will appear.

We’re off to Chase U, which has a new classroom. That’s not all either, as he has gotten Chase U a Tag Team Title shot next week. Duke Hudson perks up…but is told that it’s Holland and Andre Chase getting the shot. Hudson is disappointed while everyone else gets fired up.

Back at the barbecue, Shawn Spears wants to mentor Brooks Jensen, who seems to agree. Elsewhere, a rather messy Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner make a multi-woman match for…I think a shot at Roxanne Perez? The OC come in and get in a brawl with Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.

Wren Sinclair vs. Kendal Grey

The No Quarter Catch Crew and Carlee Bright are here too. Grey takes her down into an armbar to start but Sinclair reverses into a headscissors. Back up and Grey snaps off anther armdrag into an armbar, only to get reversed into an arm and leg stretch. Grey fights up and hits a suplex to send Sinclair out to the floor. Back in and something like an Angle Slam gives Grey two and they trade rollups for two each. Sinclair hits her in the face and grabs a bulldog driver for the clean pin at 4:17, earning herself a spot in the No Quarter Catch Crew and Charlie Dempsey a Heritage Cup shot.

Rating: C+. That’s not a long match for having so much riding on it but it certainly moved things forward in a hurry. Sinclair has gone from nothing to an interesting prospect by being in the right place at the right time and then winning a match so we’ll have to see where she goes. Other than that, Grey continues to be good enough without winning, though that is going to need to change sooner or later.

Je’Von Evans talks about wrestling at a young age and meeting Matt Bloom (Albert/Lord Tensai) when he was a kid. Now Bloom is his coach. He’s not sure where he’s going to be in ten years because he just turned twenty.

Oba Femi is defending his title next week but doesn’t know who is getting the title shot. The D’Angelo Family comes in with Tony D’Angelo saying he’ll retain the Heritage Cup next week.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Axiom and Frazier are defending. Axiom works on Lee’s arm to start and it’s off to Frazier for an armbar of his own. Lee manages to send him into the corner for an extended Bronco Buster but Frazer pulls himself up for a jumping enziguri to put Lee down. Frazer’s big running flip dive connects and Axiom adds a springboard moonsault as we take a break.

Back with Wentz superkicking a Lionsaulting Frazier out of the air, allowing the double tag to Axiom and Lee. Everything breaks down and the Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash gets two on Wentz with Lee making the save. The champs have some miscommunication and Wentz’s springboard cutter gets two. Lee goes up and gets superplex into Chasing The Dragon for two more. The Golden Ratio retains the titles at 10:31.

Rating: B. The tension continues for the champs and has to be ready for a payoff of some kind in the near future. For now though, I’ll settle for a fast paced title match between two teams who can more than work that style. The Rascalz reunion has been rather nice as an exciting trio can be a lot of fun, which is certainly true in their case.

Post match respect is shown and the champions leave. Then Lee superkicks Miguel and kicks Wentz low. Lee rants about how they left him alone and throws them to the floor, with Miguel being sent through the barricade and Wentz being sent into the steps. The fans boo Lee out of the building to end the show. I can go for that, as Lee was kind of out of things to do and his partners work for another company.

Overall Rating: B-. That’s it for the Great American Bash and after two weeks, I’ve seen worse specials. The good thing, as usual in NXT, is that they set up things for the ensuing weeks so we do have a place to go as after this show. This week was a show that didn’t have a ton of major matches but the best it could with what it had. A hot angle at the end helped too and the show wound up being another nice watch.

Results
Pete Dunne b. Trick Williams – Bitter End
Kelani Jordan b. Tatum Paxley – Frog splash
Ethan Page b. Oro Mensah – Ego’s Edge
Joe Hendry b. Joe Coffey – Standing Ovation
Wren Sinclair b. Kendal Grey – Bulldog driver
Nathan Frazier/Axiom b. MSK – Golden Ratio to Lee

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NXT
Date: July 30, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the first night of the Great American Bash and oddly enough the card isn’t exactly stacked. There are some title matches, but only one of them feels like a big time showdown. Other than that, we have a contract signing for next week’s NXT Title match and the Women’s Tag Team Champions are here for a guest spot. Oh and Joe Hendry is giving a concert. Let’s get to it.

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

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger break into the Performance Center to host the show. This involves hacking a security system, dodging lasers and crawling through a dark room.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Meta Four vs. Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre

Meta Four is challenging. It’s a brawl before the bell to start fast and Jackson is sent into the wrong corner. Fyre sends her into the buckle for two and a double suplex connects as well. Legend is back up to clean house and we take an early break. Back with Jackson hitting an enziguri, allowing the diving tag off to Legend.

A chokeslam gets two on Dawn but Fyre gets in a cheap shot from the apron to cut her off. That doesn’t last long though as it’s a wheelbarrow faceplant/cutter combination for to on Dawn with Fyre making the save. Back up and the Evil Touch to Jackson retains the titles at 7:52.

Rating: C+. The problem here is Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair are getting a title match on Smackdown, which was talked about extensively throughout this match. If I already know they’re getting the shot, it make it kind of difficult to buy a title change here. That being said, Legend’s pretty incredible transformation continues, as she is turning into a more impressive star every time she is out there.

Post match here is Ethan Page to mock Oro Mensah and promise he won’t win the NXT Title next week. Mensah pins him again.

Cedric Alexander is teaching some young wrestlers when Shawn Spears interrupts to talk about Brooks Jensen. Cue Jensen to argue but Spears holds him out.

Tavion Heights is ready for Tony D’Angelo.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for Tavion Heights.

Pete Dunne talks about Sheamus walking away from the Brawling Brutes so now he’s going to create havoc. He’ll start next week with Trick Williams.

Heritage Cup: Tavion Heights vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending and their respective associates are here too. Round One begins with some grappling with Heights, the former Olympic wrestler taking over with a fireman’s carry. D’Angelo is back up with a headlock before switching to a leglock as the round ends. Here is Wren Sinclair to watch and we take a break. Back with D’Angelo hitting a superplex but time expires.

Round Three begins with D’Angelo hitting Forget About It for the pin at 28 seconds of the round and 8:13 overall. Round Four begins with Sinclair yelling at Heights, which is enough for Heights to grab the belly to belly and tie it up at 23 seconds of the round and 9:04 overall. Round Five begins with Heights getting two off a gutwrench suplex. Heights misses a charge into the ropes though and D’Angelo hits back to back spinebusters to retain at 1:39 of the round and 11:09 overall.

Rating: C+. You kind of know what you’re getting with these things and that was the case again here. Heights was a fine choice for a one off challenger but D’Angelo is going to be on to bigger and better opponents. They didn’t spend too long on this and what we got was good enough for a title defense.

Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx don’t like the new generation so the tag match is set for tonight.

Brooks Jensen vs. Cedric Alexander

Joined in progress Jensen charging into a boot in the corner and being knocked outside. Alexander hits a big dive but Jensen kicks him in the face to take over. A running shoulder in the Tree Of Woe gives Jensen two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Alexander snaps off a suplex into a Michinoku river for two. Jensen knocks him off the top and a guillotine legdrop gets two. They head outside with Jensen dropping him onto the announcers’ table. The dive misses though and Alexander grabs the Lumbar Check to win at 4:47 shown.

Rating: C. As has been the case, the problem with Jensen boils down to him only being so interesting in the first place. It’s one thing if he starts winning matches like he did against Josh Briggs, but seeing him lose more often than not is taking away what little status he has. The match wasn’t anything noteworthy either, which isn’t helping Jensen’s case in the slightest.

Je’Von Evans talks about growing up watching wrestling and knowing he needed to do this.

Joe Hendry flirts with some women before his concert but then has to leave. Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to take care of the women.

The Rascalz re confused by being on a Tuesday but want the Tag Team Titles back.

Here is Joe Hendry for his concert, with the fans singing his theme song. Hendry’s song is about how he makes things better, how Booker T is a big fan, and how Gallus has bad facial hair. Hendry is ready for an encore but here is Gallus to interrupt. They didn’t like the song and Hendry is quickly beaten down. It continues to amuse me that Hendry is more or less a full on character around here despite still being a part of TNA (which was barely mentioned here, if at all).

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger annoy Roxanne Perez.

Ava is overseeing the contract signing between Ethan Page and Oro Mensah for next week. They bicker and both sign, with Mensah promising to win the title. Very short and to the point here.

Kendal Grey vs. Jaida Parker

OTM is here with Parker. Grey takes her down by the arm to start and is back up with a middle rope crossbody for two. Parker sends her into the corner though and drops her ribs first across the top rope. The seated abdominal stretch doesn’t last long as Grey fights up…and here are Miles Borne and Wren Sinclair. Grey takes Borne down and grabs an Angle Slam for two on Parker. Back up and another distraction lets Parker get in a gordbuster into a running hip attack for the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. Grey was trying here and they’re giving her something with the Borne stuff, but she still needs something more than “here’s another pretty rookie with an athletic background.” There are a lot of them on the roster and Grey isn’t standing out just yet. Parker on the other hand still feels like a star in the making and I could go for seeing her get a chance to show what she can do.

Chase U fires up Thea Hail.

Axiom is talking to the LWO about Speed when Ava comes in with a contract for a title match with the Rascalz. Axiom signs but Nathan Frazier isn’t happy with not being asked about it. Oh well.

Jacy Jayne/Jazmyn Nyx/Fallon Henley vs. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice

Henley takes Ruca down to start and surfs on her back, only for Ruca to come back with an X Factor and surfing of her own. Petrovic comes in to knock Nyx down, setting up a running basement Blockbuster. Vice comes in and gets rolled up to give Jayne two, only to come back with a spinebuster for two.

It’s back To Petrovic for a double shoulder and the villains are knocked to the floor. The series of dives take them down again and we take a break. Back with Vice getting the tag to clean house and Ruca hitting a springboard flipping double clothesline. Henley is left alone with Ruca, who hits a fireman’s carry into a powerbomb for two.

Jayne is back in with a cutter out of the corner and Nyx’s PerfectPlex gets two to leave everyone down. Nyx kicks away at Ruca but it’s back to Petrovic for the clothesline comeback. A Pele kick gets Nyx out of trouble though and Henley comes in with something like a belly to back suplex flipped into a cutter for the pin on Petrovic at 12:55.

Rating: B. Where the heck did that come from? This felt like it was going to be just another six person tag and they gave it everything they had and put on a pretty rocking match. This was FAR better than I would have expected with hard work from everyone and some great action. Good stuff here and the feud is likely going to continue for a bit.

Kelani Jordan doesn’t want to play with Tatum Paxley and her dolls. And she doesn’t know why Wendy Choo is behind them.

Joe Hendry is sick of Gallus’ jealousy so he’s going to take out Joe Coffey next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Thea Hail

Hail, with Chase U, is challenging and goes for some early rollups to start. The threat of the Kimura sends Perez to the ropes before she has to flip out of an anklescissors. Perez bails to the floor and Hail hits a middle rope moonsault as we take a break. Back with Hail hitting a DDT to leave both of them down.

The World’s Smallest Slam sets up a missed backsplash so Perez grabs the crossface. Hail bails out to the floor but Perez argues with Chase U, allowing Hail to get in a dive. A Michinoku Driver gives Hail two but Perez goes after the arm. Pop Rox is countered into a backslide for two and the Kimura goes on, with Perez reversing into the crossface. That’s powered into a Samoan drop and the springboard backsplash gets two for an awesome sequence.

Perez goes for the eye but gets sent shoulder first into the post. The Kimura goes on again, with Perez getting to the ropes and out to the floor. Hail gets rammed into the steps and the crossface goes on again, only to be reversed back into the Kimura. That’s reversed into the crossface again so Hail goes for the ropes, leaving Perez to switch to Pop Rox to retain at 11:21.

Rating: B+. When an awesome sequence takes up almost half of the match, it stops being a sequence and turns into a good portion of what you’re seeing. This was the best thing on the show as they were showing some great chemistry together and had me wondering if Hail was going to get the miracle upset. Perez was more than carrying her side here too and it made for a great main event. Giulia and/or Stephanie Vaquer are probably waiting on Perez, but this made her feel more ready for either of them.

Overall Rating: B. This started slowly and felt like it was an only slightly bigger than normal show before the last two matches blew away all of my expectations. Those matches carried the show and the concert was a funny enough moment as well. I’m not sure this needed to be a two week special, but I wasn’t overly excited about this one and they really surprised me with how good it wound up being. Solid show this week, with the women carrying things.

Results
Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre b. Meta Four – Evil Touch to Jackson
Tony D’Angelo b. Tavion Heights 2-1
Cedric Alexander b. Brooke Jensen – Lumbar Check
Jaida Parker b. Kendal Grey – Running hip attack
Fallon Henley/Jazmyn Nyx/Jacy Jayne b. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice – Flipping cutter to Petrovic
Roxanne Perez b. Thea Hail – Pop Rox

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NXT
Date: July 23, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are a week away from the first half of the Great American Bash and we don’t have much on the card thus far. The good thing is that the show has two nights so we can get something set up and still have a week to get it ready for night two. Hopefully this week works as well though so let’s get to it.

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

Here is Trick Williams, coming from the parking lot and passing by Cedric Alexander and Ashante Thee Adonis to talk about how he wants his NXT Title back. Cue Alexander to say Williams is being blinded by his passion, so here is Adonis to say he is here to pick up the ball Williams dropped. Williams says Adonis couldn’t pick up the ball even if he had a whole group. Williams: “HIT ROW!” Alexander tries to calm things down but Williams doesn’t want to hear it. A match is set but Adonis isn’t impressed, earning himself a quick beating.

Ethan Page doesn’t like Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont suggesting he almost lost last week. They aren’t worth his time.

Josh Briggs vs. Brooks Jensen

No DQ and Jensen jumps him in the back to start this fast. They fight into the arena with Briggs knocking him over the top. Briggs sends him through the announcers’ table and we take an early break. Back with a bunch of weapons in the ring and Jensen catapulting him face first into the top of the announcers’ table draped over the ropes.

A piledriver onto the steps is blocked and Briggs suplexes him onto the same steps. They slug it out for a double knockdown until Briggs knocks a chair away from him. Cue Shawn Spears for a distraction so Jensen can unload with a chair (on Briggs’ back, which has some NASTY welts). A DDT onto the chair finishes Briggs at 10:10.

Rating: B-. This was what Jensen has been needing, as you can only be so interesting, even as a wild recluse, if you keep losing. Beating his former partner has a personal touch to it and maybe this can give him a good step forward. If nothing else, those welts on Briggs’ back made Jensen look all the more violent as those things looked terrible.

The Rascalz interrupt Nathan Frazier and Axiom, with the former saying they never lost the Tag Team Titles. A match seems to be made, but we’ll make it a six man instead. Axiom mentions being in the next Speed tournament and Frazier isn’t happy. Or maybe he’s kidding.

Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic/Lola Vice and the women of Meta Four have one of those arguments in the back that is only designed to set up a match later to set up a match later.

Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe

Thorpe strikes away to start and fires off chops in various corners. A backbreaker into a running kick to the chest has King in more trouble but he’s back up with a superkick. The Coronation is countered into an implant DDT to give Thorpe the pin at 2:30.

Post match King jumps him, including a stomping of Thorpe’s hand on the steps. So this isn’t done.

Trick Williams says he’ll fight anyone to get his title back. Pete Dunne asks if that is so.

Oro Mensah vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

The rest of Meta Four is here too. Mensah starts fast and hammers away in the corner but gets draped over the top rope. Mensah’s comeback is cut off by an elbow to the face for two but Mensah strikes away. An ax kick connects, only for Adonis to grab a spinebuster for two more. Back up and the running spinwheel kick finishes for Mensah at 4:34.

Rating: C. Not much time here but this felt like a way to get Mensah ready for what might be a title shot against Ethan Page. Adonis isn’t much of a main roster star but it’s better than beating up another low level NXT name. Mensah is probably not going much higher on the car than this, but he’ll work in a quick spot.

Post match Mensah says he wants Ethan Page.

Wren Sinclair threatens to tell what she saw if the No Quarter Catch Crew doesn’t help her win tonight. The D’Angelo Family approves.

Carlee Bright vs. Wren Sinclair

The No Quarter Catch Crew, the D’Angelo Family and Kendal Grey are all here too. They trade headlocks to start until Sinclair takes her down. A bow and arrow is broken up and Sinclair hits a running shoulder, only to get dropkicked for two. Myles Borne’s interference doesn’t work so Sinclair tries a rollup, with Charlie Dempsey helping out for the pin on Bright at 3:29.

Rating: C. Another short one here but again it was all about the Catch Crew trying to make Sinclair happy. This would work so much better if there was some kind of mystery to it, but there is no reason that we shouldn’t know what she saw. Otherwise, it’s just making the Crew look like they’re wrapped around her finger, which seems to be the point.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger have Halloween Havoc ideas.

Je’Von Evans will be Axiom and Nathan Frazier’s partner tonight.

Chase U is regrouping and Ridge Holland even has new shirts for them.

We get a sitdown interview with Thea Hail, who is ready to get the NXT Women’s Title. She praises Ridge Holland for helping her get here and wants to win the title for all of Chase U and her fans.

Trick Williams vs. Cedric Alexander

Williams powers him into the corner to start but gets taken into an armbar for his efforts. Back up and Williams slams his way out of trouble before elbowing Alexander in the face. A nice dropkick staggers Alexander again but he knocks Williams to the apron for a clothesline.

We take a break and come back with an exchange of kicks to the face leaving them both down. They strike it out again until a flapjack puts Alexander down. The Michinoku Driver gives Alexander two but he can’t get a cross armbreaker. Instead Williams escapes and hits the Trick Shot for the pin at 10:43.

Rating: B-. The more matches that Williams can have like this, the better he is going to get. Wrestling for ten minutes with an established name like Alexander, who can work well with anyone, is going to be a good thing for him. Williams still isn’t the most polished worker, but if he can keep improving, his natural charisma will be enough to carry him the rest of the way.

Post match, respect is shown but Pete Dunne runs in to jump Williams.

Ethan Page talks to the under bosses and is told to go deal with Oro Mensah.

Wendy Choo stalks Kelani Jordan and Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to ask some of the women for medical help. Then he smiles.

Meta Four vs. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic

Petrovic kicks Jackson into the corner to start and hands it off to Ruca, who gets taken down with a reverse X Factor. Legend comes in and gets caught with a quick hurricanrana for two. Ruca’s slingshot X Factor gets two but Legend kicks her down to take over. Everything breaks down and stereo superkicks get two on Legend. Jackson gets kicked to the floor but Legend punches Petrovic in the face. An over the back faceplant finishes Petrovic at 4:39.

Rating: C+. It’s kind of amazing to see how far Legend has come in the last few months. She went from one of the worst things in NXT to someone who knows how to use her size and athleticism to make it work. This was another nice match and Meta Four looked good enough in there, even over a bigger star like Ruca.

Post match Meta Four issues a challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Trick Williams asks Shawn Michaels for an NXT Title shot. Shawn will work on it. Roxanne Perez comes in to yell about not getting an interview like Thea Hail, with Shawn trying to calm her down.

Video on Joe Hendry’s rise to prominence and the work he has put in. Next week, he’ll be having a concert. Can WWE just buy his contract out from TNA already?

Gallus wants Hendry next week and then freaks out when they find fliers for his concert.

Ethan Page says Oro Mensah pinning him last week doesn’t count and a referee agrees, which is what he wanted to here.

Here is Page, with the referee, in the ring to say that while this does NOT bother him, he wants the referee to reiterate that it doesn’t matter. Then Oro Mensah comes in and rolls him up for another pin.

The D’Angelo Family mocks the No Quarter Catch Crew, but in honor of the Olympics, Olympian Tavion Heights can have a Heritage Cup shot next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Je’Von Evans/Axiom/Nathan Frazier vs. Rascalz

Axiom and Miguel start things off by going to the mat until Axiom snaps off a dropkick. Frazier is in for a fast shot of his own, only to have Miguel kick him in the face. The Rascalz come in for a triple team on Frazier but it’s off to Evans for a dropkick. Evans and Lee slug it out and everything breaks down and the Rascalz hit some dives as we take a break.

Back with Frazier hitting a running shooting star press for two on Wentz, allowing Axiom to grab a chinlock. A triple superkick gets two on Wentz and Evans puts on the cross arm choke. Wentz fights out and knees Frazier out of the air, allowing the tag to Lee to pick up the pace.

The alternating kicks put Axiom down and a triple dropkick gets two on Frazier. Evans is back in with his top rope cutter to Miguel and the super Spanish Fly into the frog splash gets two, with the rest of the Rascalz making the save. A backbreaker/double stomp combination hits Axiom and Hot Fire Flame (an assisted standing moonsault) gives Wentz the pin at 15:24.

Rating: B+. This was six guys being told to go out there and go nuts with flips and athleticism and it worked as expected. The Rascalz work so well together and the other three can more than mesh with that style. I had a blast with this and they knew exactly what they were trying to do.

Respect is shown post match.

Ethan Page comes up to Ava and wants to get rid of Oro Mensah. He’ll even make it a title match. Ava says the contract signing can be next week and the title match can be the week after. Works for Page.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event is by far the best part and they set up some stuff for the Bash, but the show isn’t feeling that special. Granted it’s only a TV thing, but they’ve hyped it up as big and I don’t know that the card is backing that up. Maybe they’ll surprise me, but the main event and a few other things were enough to carry this week.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Josh Briggs – DDT onto a chair
Eddy Thorpe b. Lexis King – Implant DDT
Oro Mensah b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Running spinwheel kick
Wren Sinclair b. Carlee Bright – Rollup with assist from Charlie Dempsey
Trick Williams b. Cedric Alexander – Trick Shot
Meta Four b. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic – Over the back faceplant to Petrovic
Rascalz b. Je’Von Evans/Axiom/Nathan Frazier – Hot Fire Flame to Axiom

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

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AND

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