NXT
Date: May 30, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Battleground and that means it is time for NXT to head back home. There is a lot of fallout to deal with here, but we also have a weaponized steel cage match. That would be for those of you who just don’t get enough out of putting two wrestlers inside a big steel box. Let’s get to it.

Here is Battleground if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne, as the two of them were part of that famed two woman team known as Toxic Attraction. They were friends and now they’re not, so let’s put them in a cage full of weapons.

Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne

In a weaponized cage, but Jayne jumps Dolin from behind during their entrances. Dolin is sent into the steps and the cage wall before Jayne throws her inside for the opening bell. Jayne whips her with a belt, only to be sent into the cage. Dolin gets in some not great belt shots of her own before putting a trashcan over Dolin’s head.

Some kicks rock Jayne and a running dropkick against the trashcan gets two. Dolin chokes with the belt some more and we take a break. Back with Dolin firing off knees and hitting an STO for two. Jayne plants her on some chairs for two and it’s time to load up a table. That’s a bit too long though and Dolin fights back on top, setting up a kind of chokeslam through the table for the pin at 12:31.

Rating: C+. It was a violent enough match (in the WWE sense that is) but I’m getting rather tired of having to put weapons in a cage. If that’s the option, why bother with the cage at all? Just do a street fight and have the weapons that way instead. Other than that, this still didn’t exactly feel like some big blood feud, but at least this should wrap it up for good.

Long recap of Battleground.

Wes Lee is happy with his win on Sunday but he’s a bit sore. The Dyad comes in to yell at him but Tyler Bate evens things up. A tag match seems likely.

Tony D’Angelo had his mugshot taken.

Gallus is happy with their win at Battleground when Stacks comes in. Stacks accuses them of turning D’Angelo in and gets beaten down as a result.

Here are Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams to brag about retaining at Battleground. Before they can get too far, here are Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson to interrupt. Dar brags about retaining his title but Williams points out the cheating that it took to keep the Heritage Cup. Hayes says the Heritage Cup is on a level, but the title is on a bigger level. They argue about whether Hayes could beat Dar once, let alone in two falls, with Hayes being accused of practicing load management (meaning he doesn’t wrestle often). Hayes gives Dar a title shot tonight.

Cora Jade brags about how unfair she was treated in the tournament but Ivy Nile comes in to tell her to shut up. They get catty with each other and a match seems likely.

Reggie comes up to Axiom in the back and thanks Axiom for opening his eyes. That’s why he helped Axiom against Dabba-Kato last week. Reggie leaves and Axiom doesn’t seem to know what to make of that.

Dyad vs. Wes Lee/Tyler Bate

Bate takes Fowler down to start and gets two off a sunset flip. Lee comes in and kicks Fowler in the head, setting up a spinning crossbody for two more. The good guys clear the ring with dropkicks but the Dyad is back in for the staredown….and Mustafa Ali is here. We take a break and come back with Ali on commentary as Bate is in trouble.

Bate knees his way out of a double suplex attempt as Ali talks about being a free agent, meaning he can show up anywhere. The tag brings in Lee to clean house, including a kick to Reid’s back in the corner. A double Cardiac Kick drops the Dyad and stereo Spiral Taps knock them silly. The Tyler Driver 97 finish Reid at 9:27.

Rating: C+. The match was good enough, but the Ali stuff is what matters here. Ali is someone who definitely needs to come up with something new and going down to NXT, where he can do more of his own style without getting crushed, might be just the ticket. For now though, I’ll setting for Bate rising up the ranks a little bit more.

Post match Ivy Nile runs out to jump Ava, drawing in Joe Gacy to go after Lee. Mustafa Ali comes in to help clear the ring and poses with Lee and Bate.

We look back at Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey mocking Thea Hail at Chase U during Battleground.

Earlier today, Gulak was running a grappling class and Hail made sure to get involved. Hail gets in with Dempsey and we cut away before we see how it goes.

Here is Tiffany Stratton for her big celebration, complete with various pictures of her in the ring. She lists off various stars who have won the title before and talks about what it means to be a champion. Tiffany calls out all of the women in the locker room, who must feel star struck. She brags about how she might just retire for life and thinks that everyone should have a chance at the Tiffy Title. Next week, it’s a battle royal to crown the new #1 contender, but it doesn’t matter who wins. Balloons and confetti go off but a bunch of women get in the ring to knock her to the floor.

Noam Dar’s goons come up to Trick Williams and they bicker a bit.

Dani Palmer is in the ring to demand that the attacker show her face. We see some clips of the attacker’s attacks and here is the attacker to attack again. And it’s Blair Davenport.

Last week, Eddy Thorpe was consoled over his loss when Damon Kemp came in to mock him. They’ll fight next week (as in a week from this show airing, not a week from them arguing).

Joe Coffey vs. Stacks

The rest of Gallus is banned from the building. Stacks starts fast with a headlock but gets sent into the corner for his efforts. A knee and elbow to the ribs give Coffey two but Stacks is able to knock him outside. We take a break and come back with Coffey hitting a release suplex for two as Stacks stays in trouble. Stacks gets in an elbow but they take it outside where Stacks is sent into the steps. The running headbutt to the chest and All The Best For The Bells finishes Stacks at 10:00.

Rating: C. Well that was a bit long, which might have something to do with the roster still being a bit thin. Joe hasn’t been in the ring much lately but he can still wrestle a competent power match. Stacks seems to be up to something with the whole D’Angelo deal and I’m curious to see where that goes. Then again there is every chance that Stacks turned on D’Angelo, and I’m not sure how interesting that feud would be. For now though, they had a decent enough match here.

Mr. Stone isn’t happy with Von Wagner being mad and says it’s time he sees a therapist. Stone will even pay for it! Wagner promises to think about the offer.

We get a kind of mini documentary on Ilja Dragunov getting ready for his Last Man Standing Match, followed by a look at the match itself. This, and the match, were rather good.

Cora Jade vs. Ivy Nile

Nile starts fast but gets pulled down by the hair to cut her off for two. Jade ties her in the ropes for a chop, which hits Nile HARD in the face. A running dropkick gets two but Nile fights up. Cue Ava for a distraction though, allowing Jade to hit Jaded for the pin at 4:14.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have much time to go anywhere and they had an angle in the middle to take away even more of what they had. I can see why Jade is getting the win as she is in a better place at the moment, but I still think there is something to be done with Nile. She’s a unique kind of star and if she can get better in the talking department, she has a bright future.

Tank Ledger and Hank Walker love chicken parm, honey badgers and buffalo sauce. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe come in to discuss sauces and everyone seems cool.

The Diamond Mine and Schism get in an argument backstage.

NXT Title: Noam Dar vs. Carmelo Hayes

Only Hayes is defending, this isn’t under Heritage Cup rules. Trick Williams, Jakara Jackson, Oro Mensah and Lash Legend are all here too. Dar takes over to start but Hayes picks up the pace to get a breather. A springboard spinning crossbody takes Dar to the floor and we take a break. Back with Hayes hitting the Fade Away for two and striking away as Dar can’t get much going.

A pump kick drops Dar again and Hayes plants him down for two. The seconds get in a fight on the floor, which is enough for Williams to be ejected. The distraction lets Dar elbow Hayes down for two and slap on the kneebar. With that broken up, Dar puts Hayes on top but here are Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer to cut off Mensah’s interference. Hayes hits a dive onto the villains on the floor, setting up Nothing But Net to retain the title at 11:12.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure how much drama there was to this one but Dar isn’t going to be hurt by losing to the NXT Champion. Lee and Frazer still being mad over Battleground makes sense and I liked having them run in here. Hayes can put on a good match with anyone and having him rack up another win is a smart move. He just needs a next big challenger to come after him.

Post match Baron Corbin of all people runs out and jumps Hayes. Corbin holds up the NXT Title to end the show. I’ve heard far worse ideas.

Overall Rating: C+. It wasn’t a great show, but there was enough good action and stuff moving forward to come off of the pretty great Battleground. I like having the main roster guys come down, as they feel like a big deal and very well could pick up a title here or there. For now, we’re probably getting ready for the big TV special before setting up Great American Bash and that isn’t a bad way to go after one of the bigger (and best) shows of the year.

Results
Gigi Dolin b. Jacy Jayne – Chokeslam through a table
Wes Lee/Tyler Bate b. Dyad – Tyler Driver 97 to Reid
Joe Coffey b. Stacks – All The Best For The Bells
Cora Jade b. Ivy Nile – Jaded
Carmelo Hayes b. Noam Dar – Nothing But Net

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NXT
Date: May 23, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for Battleground and that means we need to finalize the Women’s Title match. The tournament semifinals will take care of that tonight and there are a few combinations. Other than that, we’ll probably get one more hard push towards Carmelo Hayes vs. Bron Breakker. Let’s get to it.

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

Lyra Valkyria, Cora Jade, Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez all promise to win the title.

Women’s Title Tournament Semifinals: Lyra Valkyria vs. Cora Jade

Valkyria starts fast with a small package for two and a suplex is good for the same. Jade manages to tie her in the ropes or some chops, followed by a kick to the back of the head for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Valkyria is up with a bunch of strikes, only to get caught in a guillotine choke of all things. Back up and Valkyria hits a quick spinning kick to the head for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. It was nice while it lasted but it didn’t last very long. Valkyria winning is a little surprising but I can go with the idea of pushing someone new to go after the title. The ending really was as out of nowhere as it seemed, with commentary saying they barely even saw Valkyria land the kick in the first place. Not bad, but almost shockingly short.

Post match Jade hits her in the knee before adding in a kendo stick shot for a bonus.

Ilja Dragunov jumps Dijak in the back and tries to crush him with a garage door. Referees intervene but Dijak is banged up.

Axiom vs. Dabba-Kato

Axiom goes for the knee to start before scoring with an enziguri. A chokeslam is broken up and Axiom goes for the leg again. Kato powers him around but a dragon screw legwhip over the rope slows it down again. Back up and a heck of a clothesline cuts Axiom off though and a sitout chokebomb gives Kato the pin at 1:57.

Post match Kato stays on Axiom but Reggie comes in to low bridge him to the floor. Axiom isn’t sure about this.

Tony D’Angelo is being interrogated and wants to get straight to the point. The officer wants to know why D’Angelo’s name keeps coming up in various investigations. They even have a video from an informant (which we can’t see) but D’Angelo denies it’s him. Another officer comes in and says they have more information. More on this later, though D’Angelo goes to listen at the door.

Video on Bron Breakker vs. Carmelo Hayes, with Hayes taking the NXT Title at Stand & Deliver. Breakker then went full evil and has attacked Hayes/Hayes’ friend Trick Williams on the way to their rematch at Battleground. This feels like an epic showdown and that’s what it needs to be on this stage and at this level.

Here is Gallus for a chat. They aren’t happy about the other teams, such as Tony D’Angelo/Stacks and the Creed Brothers coming after the titles but here are the Creeds to interrupt. The Creeds waste no time in issuing the challenge but the match isn’t official. Instead the brawl is on, with Joe Coffey getting involved too. Stacks runs in to even things up and Gallus is cleared out.

Wes Lee isn’t sure what is going on around here and it feels like everyone is coming for the title. Maybe he should just stop letting people get close to him. Cue Tyler Bate to say they’re still friends but he has to worry about Eddy Thorpe tonight. Lee isn’t convinced.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Tyler Bate

Wes Lee is on commentary. Bate works on the wrist to start but Thorpe is back up with a headlock of his own. The technical off continues as Bate sweeps the leg for one and slides between the legs for an early standoff. A small package gives Bate two but a kick to the back cuts him off. Thorpe grabs a seated abdominal stretch but Bate powers up for the middle rope elbow to the face. The standing shooting star press gets two and Bate runs him over again, setting up the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin at 4:58.

Rating: C+. That’s a weird way to have Thorpe lose his first match as he had been getting a nice start to his NXT career. There is no shame in losing to Bate, but I wasn’t expecting Thorpe’s first loss to be so….basic I guess you would call it. The action was good though and that’s about all you needed to have here in such a short match.

Post match Joe Gacy comes in and takes out Bate and Lee, who can’t quite make a save.

Lyra Valkyria’s knee is bruised and swollen but she’s ready or Battleground. She wants Roxanne Perez in the finals because Perez is the best in NXT.

Noam Dar vs. Nathan Frazer

Non-title. Dar works on the wrist to start and is quickly reversed into a headlock. Back up and Frazer starts dodging anything Dar throws at him to increase the frustration. Frazer kicks him out to the floor, with Dar needing to be near the Heritage Cup, as we take a break. We come back with Dar breaking up a springboard to take over and stomp down on the arm.

Frazer is able to strike away, setting up an AJ Styles springboard moonsault into a reverse DDT. Dar tries to break up the springboard but Frazer head fakes him and hits a springboard ax handle. A swinging suplex gets two but a Phoenix splash misses. Dar’s ankle lock is broken up so he settles for kicking Frazer in the head. A cross armbreaker has Frazer in trouble until he stacks Dar up for two and the break.

Frazer gets two off a superkick and they chop it out. Dar hits a heck of a spinning elbow to the face for two as Dragon Lee comes out to admire the cup. The distraction sends Dar outside to check on said cup, allowing Frazer to hit a suicide dive. Back in and the Phoenix splash finishes for Frazer at 12:55.

Rating: B. Good back and forth stuff here with Dar being much more tolerable when he isn’t talking for days on end. Frazer is someone who can wrestle an exciting style and is always close enough to a win that it isn’t a stretch to see him get a pin. Now just give him something to do already.

Frazer and Lee admire the cup as Dar freaks out.

Ilja Dragunov is ready to hurt Dijak at Battleground. Cue Dijak and the fight is on, with the locker room having to split them up.

Carmelo Hayes returned to Boston and got to do a media tour for Battleground. It’s always cool to see a wrestler getting this kind of treatment.

Hank Walker vs. Tank Ledger

They’re partners/friends/opponents so they even come out together for a unique change. They go straight with the brawling to start with Ledger sending him into the corner. Something like a cartwheel splash gets two but Walker hits him in the face. Walker hits a splash in the corner and stereo crossbodies gives Walker the pin at 2:44.

Post match Bron Breakker runs in to spear them both down.

The Creeds thank Stacks for the help earlier. He offers to help them out at Battleground, but the Creeds have this. No offense taken, and Stacks/Tony D’Angelo can even have the first shot at the Creeds. Stacks seems pleased.

Here is Gigi Dolin for a chat. Dolin talks about coming from a broken home where there was a lot of addiction. She has trouble letting people in but she did it with Jacy Jayne, who turned on her. Jayne pops up to say she can’t stand any more of this emo talk. Jayne talks about how she carried Toxic Attraction but Dolin knows she is in Jayne’s head. That doesn’t work for Jayne, who brings up Dolin’s little brother. Dolin just points out the fact that they’re 1-1 but Jayne accuses her of pandering to her social media fan base. They can end this, but let’s do it inside a weaponized cage. The match, and more catty insults, are on.

Luca Crusifino promises legal recourse against Von Wagner tonight. That’s a bold threat.

Video on the Heritage Cup rules and Dragon Lee challenging Noam Dar.

Dar tries to get Oro Mensah’s help against Lee but that’s a no. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson come in to laugh at Dar.

Luca Crusifino vs. Von Wagner

Mr. Stone is here with Wagner, who wastes no time in sending Luca outside. Back in and Luca avoids a charge in the corner and stomps away. A hiptoss neckbreaker gives Luca two and he sends Wagner outside. That lets Luca go after Stone, who has the picture of the baby in his pocket. That’s WAY too far for Wagner, who runs Luca over and hammers away in the ropes until it’s a DQ at 2:38.

Post match Wagner powerbombs Luca onto the announcers’ table, as Stone freaks out.

Tony D’Angelo is still being interrogated and this time, he gets arrested.

Women’s Title Tournament Semifinals: Tiffany Stratton vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez has to jump up to get a test of strength to start but Stratton spins around and gymnastics herself to a standoff. A sunset flip gives Perez two and she starts cranking on the arm. Stratton reverses into a wristlock of her own but gets anklescissored to the floor. Back in and Stratton pulls her off the top for a crash and we take a break.

We come back with Perez dropkicking her to the floor. Perez nails the suicide dive, followed by the suicide dive for a bonus. Back in and Stratton rolls through a high crossbody, only to miss the triple jump moonsault. Perez hammers away with right hands but Stratton hits a Sky High for two of her own. They go up top with Perez snapping off a super hurricanrana, followed by a Russian legsweep for two. We seem to pause for Stratton to adjust her top, allowing her to hit the Regal Roll. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever sends Stratton to Battleground at 9:41.

Rating: B-. This was the good match you would expect from two of the more talented women in NXT. Perez is probably the most decorated woman in the tournament so beating her is quite the prize in its own right for Stratton. Valkyria vs. Stratton might not be the most hyped up match, but it could go either way and that’s always a good feeling to have.

Battleground rundown.

Lyra Valkyria and Tiffany Stratton talk trash to each other….and the masked woman runs in to jump Roxanne Perez. The masked woman runs off before Valkyria can get to her.

Here is Dijak to sign the hold harmless papers for his match with Ilja Dragunov, only to be jumped by Dragunov. Dijak fights back and sends him into the barricade before signing. Dragunov fights back up and signs as well before kicking the stairs carrying Dijak down. Dragunov jumps onto him and poses on the steps to end the show.

Actually hang on as we get one more video on Battleground, complete with clips of various WWF/E shows in Lowell, Massachusetts over the years for a rather cool touch. They’re making it feel important so well done with putting together an awesome video.

Overall Rating: B. They brought the hard push towards Battleground here and that is what matters most. I’m a lot more interested in what happens at the show now than I was coming in so they have certainly done something right. There was also enough good wrestling here to make the two hours go by quickly, so now we should be in for a solid night on Sunday as NXT gets to hit the road again.

Results
Lyra Valkyria b. Cora Jade – Spinning kick to the head
Dabba-Kato b. Axiom – Sitout chokebomb
Tyler Bate b. Eddy Thorpe – Tyler Driver 97
Nathan Frazer b. Noam Dar – Phoenix splash
Hank Walker b. Tank Ledger – Crossbody
Luca Crusifino b. Von Wagner via DQ when Wagner attacked in the ropes
Tiffany Stratton b. Roxanne Perez – Prettiest Moonsault Ever

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Oro Mensah vs. Kale Dixon

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

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

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

Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice

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

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

Boa vs. Eddy Thorpe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

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

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

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

Oro Mensah vs. Damon Kemp

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: April 25, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s time for another special show with Spring Breakin, which features a pair of title matches. This time around we’ll see Indi Hartwell defend the Women’s Title against Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Stratton, plus Carmelo Hayes’ first NXT Title defense against Grayson Waller. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at the Spring Breakin picnic and yes, everyone is talking about tonight’s card instead of anything else. A good chunk of the roster is here doing picnicky things, including Javier Bernal acting like quite the moron.

Tony D’Angelo/Stacks vs. Pretty Deadly

Trunk match, meaning a casket match but with a car trunk, hence the name you see. The brawl starts on the floor with Pretty Deadly going for the weapons, as they probably should. They get inside where some knees to the face have Pretty Deadly in trouble, even going right back to the floor. The weapons don’t suit Pretty Deadly, who take the table to the back to get rid of it. The breather lets Stacks send them into a ball pit (because there’s a ball pit) as we take a break.

Back with the balls from said pit all over the floor and a football being kicked between Stacks’ legs. They get back inside with a roll of coins dropping Stacks and a chair hits D’Angelo in the back. Stacks gets dropped with Spilled Milk on the floor and taken to the back. With Stacks in the trunk, the other two go after D’Angelo, allowing Stacks to find a fire extinguisher for the big saving spray. A double slam through a table is enough for D’Angelo and Stacks to get the win at 12:40.

Rating: C+. Nice enough weapons match here and thankfully Pretty Deadly didn’t take another pin. That being said, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this was it for them in NXT as they have nothing left to accomplish and the main roster could use a new team. Oh and the match had a ball pit, making it even better.

Tiffany Stratton is ready to win the Women’s Title.

Duke Hudson fires up Andre Chase to face Bron Breakker.

Andre Chase vs. Bron Breakker

Duke Hudson is here with Chase, who has to slip out of the gorilla press to start. That’s fine with Breakker, who sends him into the corner for the shoulders to the ribs. Breakker misses a charge into the post though and Chase gets in a few spelling stomps. The clothesline cuts Chase off rather quickly and the Recliner makes him tap at 2:18. Less of a squash than I was expecting but it did what it needed to do.

Video on Carmelo Hayes.

Dijak beats up Ilja Dragunov in the back, including crushing his ribs with a garage door.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Cora Jade

Valkyria takes her into the corner to start and we take a break less than a minute in. Back with Jade cranking on both arms but Valkyria fights up with some kicks to the face. A suplex drops Jade and Valkyria kicks her out to the floor. Jade snaps her throat across the top and grabs the stick. The referee takes that away, only to have Jade get in a cheap shot. The DDT finishes Valkyria at 8:20.

Rating: C. This was the weekly “a lot of the match was in the break” match and it’s still very annoying. They had about four and a half minutes and a screwy finish, meaning their backs were quite against the wall to start. The action was good enough and Jade feels like she could be one of the next big things in the division, but she needs a better showcase than this.

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks drive Pretty Deadly….somewhere.

NXT Title: Grayson Waller vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes, with Trick Williams, is defending. They trade rollups to start, with Hayes’ Crossface attempt sending Waller over to the rope. An early Fade Away attempt misses so Hayes tries another crossface, sending Waller to the ropes again. Waller gets in a chair shot to Williams on the floor though, with the distraction allowing him to drop Hayes.

We take a break and come back with Williams gone and Hayes having to escape a half crab. With that broken up, Hayes is able to hit the Fade Away but Waller knocks him down again. A double knockdown gives Waller two but Hayes is right back on Waller’s knee for a change. The springboard DDT gives Hayes two, though Waller bails to the corner to avoid Nothing But Net.

Back up and Waller blocks the Codebreaker, setting up a fireman’s carry sitout powerbomb for two. Waller Stuns him out of the air but Hayes rolls away before the cover. Instead, Waller takes him outside and puts him on the announcers’ table for a big drop through it and a near fall back inside. Back in and Hayes manages a quick Codebreaker, with Waller favoring his knee. A low superkick and Nothing But Net retains the title at 11:53.

Rating: B-. This was about what should have been expected, as Waller gave Hayes some trouble but Hayes picks up his first successful title defense. Waller is someone who has long since established himself as being able to bounce back from a loss without much trouble so he’ll be fine. Hayes has to be getting ready for the Breakker rematch though and this will boost him up for another match against the new big bad.

Post match Hayes grabs the mic and issues the challenge for the rematch with Bron Breakker at Battleground. Cue Breakker from behind to spear Hayes down. The returning Williams gets Reclined for a bonus. Another spear sends Hayes through part of the set, meaning a stretcher is needed.

Roxanne Perez has wanted to be a wrestler since she was a child so tonight, she wants the Women’s Title back. She’s doing this for every little girl who wants to feel safe.

We recap Brooks Jensen/Kiana James vs. Fallon Henley/Josh Briggs in the soap opera feud. This got a lot of time and was the majority of the feud.

Schism comes up to Joe Coffey to get the Dyad a Tag Team Title match. Joe Gacy will fight Coffey next week, with the title shot on the line.

Josh Briggs/Fallon Henley vs. Brooks Jensen/Kiana James,

Jensen doesn’t like Briggs powering him around to start and gets sent to the apron for his efforts. The fans want Fallon and that is who they get as James tags herself in. Henley hits a running clothesline but has to take out an interfering Jensen. James has to be saved by Jensen, who gets dropped by Briggs as we take a break.

Back with the guys forearming it out as Booker talks about pheromones. The women come back in with James running Henley over. It’s right back to Jensen, who can’t hit Henley, allowing Briggs to make a save. Briggs beats up Jensen until a spinwheel kick gets him out of trouble. A hard lariat to the back of Briggs’ head sets up a brainbuster for two so it’s time for the loaded bag. Jensen doesn’t want to use it and accidentally knocks James down, allowing Briggs to hit a lariat for the pin at 11:41.

Rating: C. I really could go for this being the end of the story as it doesn’t seem likely to have some big game changing ending. At the same time, the idea of Briggs vs. Jensen isn’t exactly thrilling so hopefully they just make up already. Henley falling for one of them wouldn’t be the biggest shock either, but for now they need to get on to something else.

Post match James walks out on Jensen, who puts his head on Briggs’ chest for quite the development.

Dragon Lee wants Noam Dar’s Heritage Cup.

Scrypts is ready to go after Axiom next week.

Oba Femi can throw things.

Video on Indi Hartwell, who is ready to show that she isn’t just a fluke.

Sol Ruca has been attacked by an unidentified assailant.

Oba Femi vs. Oro Mensah

Femi powers him into the corner to start and then throws him right back out. A right hand knocks Mensah off the top but he strikes away back inside. The springboard kick to the chest drops Femi for two and he blasts Mensah with a clothesline. A pop up powerbomb finishes Mensah at 3:37.

Rating: C. Rather effective debut here from Femi, who is going to be all about the power and it was on display. Femi is a big monster who can throw people around with relative each so putting him in there with a smaller guy like Mensah was the right way to go. I had fun with this and Femi could be treated as a force rather quickly if that’s what they want to try.

Gigi Dolin pops in on commentary and demands a match with Jacy Jayne. They can start it up again next week.

Drew Gulak is impressed with Wes Lee but is ready to take the North American Title from him next week.

Post break Tyler Bate offers to be in Wes Lee’s corner next week. Meditation is promised.

Women’s Title: Tiffany Stratton vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Indi Hartwell

Hartwell is defending. Stratton gets forearmed back and forth to start and we take a break about thirty seconds in (and yes, it’s still annoying). Back with Perez working on Stratton’s arm but having to kick Hartwell outside. Stratton escapes a headscissors without much trouble but gets slammed by Hartwell. Perez tries a springboard double wristdrag and….oh it goes badly, as Hartwell seems to forget to fall and Stratton kind of rolls over (it was like the other two forgot what they were doing, which should have just been a simple tumble).

They’re sent outside with Perez taking them down again, setting up a high crossbody for two on Hartwell back inside. Hartwell clotheslines Perez a few times but Stratton comes back in for the near fall. Stratton knocks them both outside for a Swanton onto the pair. We pause for Hartwell’s ankle to get checked so Stratton sends Perez into the corner. Stratton rolls through Perez’s high crossbody for two but Perez grabs a super hurricanrana for two of her own.

They slug it out until Perez grabs a Russian legsweep, only to have Hartwell come back in to drop both of them for two each. A spinebuster hits Stratton with Perez having to make the save. Stratton sends Hartwell outside and moonsaults Perez for two, with Hartwell making the save. Hartwell goes back in to hit the sliding forearm for the pin to retain at 15:18.

Rating: C. They were trying here but this was rough in spots, with Stratton and Perez having to work out something with Hartwell down and some not so smooth spots. Hartwell needed the win if she is going to be a longer term champion and pinning Perez is something that she had to do. Stratton and Perez will likely get the title back (assuming they don’t go to the main roster first) so boosting Hartwell now is fine enough.

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks…seem to murder Pretty Deadly by throwing them in a river. They want the Tag Team Titles to end the show. Well that’s depressing. The murder, not the title desires.

Overall Rating: C+. This was pretty all over the place but you can see a pretty firm divide between the levels of talent. People like Hayes, Breakker and Pretty Deadly (maybe one or two others) just felt more polished than the rest of the wrestlers here and there isn’t much of a way around that. The title match was good and the trunk match worked well enough, though the rest of the card was a bit weak. Nice enough show, but nothing you need to see.

Results
Tony D’Angelo/Stacks b. Pretty Deadly – Pretty Deadly was thrown into the car trunk
Bron Breakker b. Andre Chase – Recliner
Carmelo Hayes b. Grayson Waller – Nothing But Net
Josh Briggs/Fallon Henley b. Brooks Jensen/Kiana James – Lariat to Jensen
Oba Femi b. Oro Mensah – Pop up powerbomb
Indi Hartwell b. Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez – Sliding forearm to Perez

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

We’re done with Wrestlemania Weekend and the NXT double taping, meaning it is time to get back to a regular edition of this show. That means three matches instead of two and with some LVL Up names being announced for NXT proper, we could be in for some fresh faces around here. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory of Bushwhacker Butch.

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Boa

Oh yay, Boa is back. Boa kicks him down to start but gets pulled into an armbar. Back up and Chen hits a dropkick but Boa kicks him in the face. Ava comes out to watch and then leaves as Boa suplexes him into a chinlock. Back up and Chen reverses a suplex into one of his own before hitting a pump kick. The double chop finishes Boa at 5:07.

Rating: C-. Yep, that was a Dante Chen match, as he is a generic guy who has nothing to set him apart (aside from his ability to beat young up and comers). Boa continues to be someone who has nothing that makes him stand out and I’m almost scared to imagine either of these two being presented as a big deal. They’re not bad by any means, but they’re really basic and that makes for a dull match.

Oro Mensah is ready for the monster that is Joe Gacy.

Sol Ruca/Dani Palmer vs. Lash Legend/Jakara Jackson

Ruca and Legend start things off with Ruca working on the arm and it’s off to Palmer, who gets launched at Legend for two. Jackson comes in and gets headscissored down, only to come back with an Edge-O-Matic for two of her own. Palmer manages a rollup before flipping over for the hot tag to Ruca. Everything breaks down and the Sol Snatcher finishes Jackson at 4:49.

Rating: C. That Sol Snatcher is just awesome no matter what else happens in a match and it is going to get a reaction no matter what. The key here was that it came out of nowhere and made Ruca look like a killer. Palmer continues to have potential and Legend is still coming along now that she isn’t on TV every week and driving people crazy.

Oro Mensah vs. Joe Gacy

The rest of Schism is here too. Mensah cranks on a headlock to start and they fight in the corner until Mensah kicks him out. A rather spinny anklescissors sends Gacy outside but they switch places, allowing Gacy to kick him down. Back in and Gacy cranks on the neck and yells a lot. A knee to the face and scoop brainbuster drop Mensah, setting up the chinlock. Mensah fights up and starts the comeback, including a springboard kick to the face for two. A springboard moonsault misses for Mensah though and Gacy finishes with the Upside Down at 5:08.

Rating: C. If Schism is only getting five minutes in a week, things are looking up. I don’t know if they’re downgrading the team a bit or if this was just a cameo, but keeping them away from the main NXT for a bit is nice to see. Mensah continues to be little more than a jobber to the stars but at least he did his thing well enough here.

Overall Rating: C. It was nice to have some fresh faces around here, but there isn’t much more to the show than that. Gacy being around gave the show its star power for the week and since he didn’t talk, we’ll call it a positive. You never know what you’re getting with this show, though at least there are some people heading to the main NXT to give these matches a bit more importance.

Results
Dante Chen b. Boa – Double chop
Sol Ruca/Dani Palmer b. Lash Legend/Jakara Jackson – Sol Snatcher to Jackson
Joe Gacy b. Oro Mensah – Upside Down

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NXT LVL Up
Date: March 17, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

Last week’s show was a good example of how much better this show is when the bigger names are around. While you won’t be getting any major star power, it can help to have some decent sized NXT names on the show. Hopefully that is the case this week, as it can be a rough sit otherwise. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Dani Palmer

Valkyria grabs a front facelock to start but Palmer fights up for a standoff. They go to the pinfall reversal sequence for two each until Palmer’s backslide has Valkyria frustrated. Palmer rolls her down into a basement dropkick for two and Valkyria is a bit stunned. Back up and Valkyria strikes away to take over until a forearm to the face gives Palmer two more. The chinlock goes on until Valkyria drives her into the corner, setting up a spinning kick to the head for the pin at 3:56.

Rating: C+. All things considered, this was an entertaining match with Palmer continuing to show some potential. She still has a long way to go but there are some tools there and that is a good start. Then you have Valkyria, who WWE seems ready to move into the next level of the division, which could have some benefits. They had a much better match than I was expecting here though so well done.

Eddy Thorpe is happy to be 2-0 and he’s ready to be 3-0. He is ready to life up the Native American people tonight.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Xyon Quinn

Quinn powers him around to start and grinds away on a headlock. Thorpe tries to pick up the pace but gets muscled into a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up and Thorpe hits a middle rope crossbody for an early breather. Quinn knocks him into the ropes for some choking though and some right hands stagger Thorpe again. A backbreaker and splash to the back give Quinn two and we’re off to the chinlock. With that not working, Quinn pulls on both arms and puts a boot on the back of Thorpe’s head. Thorpe powers up and grabs a Saito suplex for two of his own. Quinn misses his running punch, gets German suplexed, and the suplex neckbreaker finishes Quinn at 5:38.

Rating: C. You can tell that WWE sees something in Thorpe and is protecting him well enough around here. Let him get out there and get his feet wet in WWE before he moves on to something more important on the regular NXT. WWE needs some fresh blood and if Thorpe can offer that, good for him.

Oro Mensah vs. Charlie Dempsey

Drew Gulak is here with Dempsey, who grabs the cravate to start things off. Mensah fights out and uses a headlock takeover to get to the mat. Back up and Mensah kicks him out of the corner, only to get his arm wrenched for his efforts. A back suplex plants Mensah and Dempsey is right back on the arm. Mensah fights up and his springboard missile dropkick connects for two. Dempsey isn’t having this though and grabs the leg, only to switch into a cross armbreaker, followed by an ankle lock and then that nasty neck and leg crank (that needs a name) to make Mensah tap at 6:36.

Rating: C. There is something fun about watching Dempsey rip people apart and he does it very well, especially against someone like Mensah. This was a fine showcase for him and he destroyed Mensah here. Mensah got in a few shots here and there, but there was only so much he could do when Dempsey was picking him apart limb by limb.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had more of a variety than most episodes of the series so this could have been a lot worse. Thorpe continues to feel like someone who could become a star and it is good to see him taking people down. Valkyria also comes off as having potential and Dempsey as the wrestler who hurts people worked well too. Solid show from LVL Up, mainly due to the featured stars.

Results
Lyra Valkyria b. Dani Palmer – Spinning kick to the head
Eddy Thorpe b. Xyon Quinn – Suplex neckbreaker
Charlie Dempsey b. Oro Mensah – Neck and leg crank

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NXT LVL Up
Date: March 3, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Blake Howard

I’m starting to enjoy having no idea what to expect from this show. It’s such a guessing game of what you are going to get to see and that makes for some entertaining sub half hours. You never know what NXT is going to throw out there on this show and that offers some fun. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Tatum Paxley

They fight over a lockup to start with Valkyria taking her down for a rollup. Back up and Valkyria works on an armbar, leaving Paxley frustrated. Valkyria can’t keep the arms down with a test of strength so Paxley catapults her into the corner. The chinlock goes on for a bit before an elbow gives Paxley two. Back up and Valkyria sends her hard into the corner, setting up the high crossbody for two. Valkyria has had it with Paxley and kicks her in the head for the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. Paxley is getting better and better in the ring so this was a decent enough match. What matters here is making Valkyria look stronger, as she could become something around here. That’s the kind of buildup this show can do well, but for some reason they don’t do it very often.

Newcomer Luca Crusifino is a rather smiley lawyer who is ready to make his debut. Will he be great? “Abso-luca-lutely.” I think I like this guy.

Luca Crusifino vs. Dante Chen

They go technical to start with Luca grabbing a headlock but getting reversed into a headscissors on the mat. Some armdrags into an armbar have Luca down but he’s right back with a neckbreaker for two. Another neckbreaker is countered but Chen walks into a Samoan drop for two more. Chen makes the comeback with a clothesline and some rapid fire shots to the ribs, setting up the double chop to finish Luca at 4:47.

Rating: C-. Commentary made mention of new wrestlers facing Chen, but WHY DO ALL OF THEM HAVE TO LOSE TO HIM??? Chen has never been anything in NXT but he beats just about every new wrestler that comes around here for whatever reason. This is one of the few running traditions around here and it makes such little sense when you think about it for that long.

Oro Mensah vs. Eddy Thorpe

Feeling out to process to start with Mensah’s armbar not getting him very far. Back up and Thorpe chops away before a fisherman’s neckbreaker gets two. Mensah fights back and snaps off a suplex, only to miss a kick to the head. Thorpe kicks him in the head and gets two off a Saito suplex. The seated abdominal stretch doesn’t last long as Mensah comes back with a springboard standing moonsault. A springboard kick to the chest drops Thorpe for two but the Lionsault misses. Thorpe nails the implant DDT for the pin at 6:52.

Rating: C+. So Oro Mensah, who has been on at least a few important NXT shows and is even a former NXT UK Tag Team Champion, can’t win a match but Dante Chen goes on a winning streak against newcomers? I know neither of them mean anything, but I do not get the logic here at all. Thorpe is still looking good in his first few matches, but it is just a small step on a long path.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The Dante Chen Experiment continues and that made up a third of this week’s show. Other than that, Valkyria and Thorpe got some nice wins and should be boosted up a bit, which is where this show can be valuable. If NXT ever acknowledged that this show existed, it might matter even more. It won’t happen, but it might help. Not as much as facing Chen though of course, because no one can survive that.

Results
Lyra Valkyria b. Tatum Paxley – Spinning kick to the head
Dante Chen b. Luca Crusifino – Double chop
Eddy Thorpe b. Oro Mensah – Implant DDT

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NXT LVL Up
Date: January 27, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Vic Joseph

Over in the main NXT continuity, we are coming up on Vengeance Day, which should be a nice change of pace from all of the regular NXT shows. That has very little to do with LVL Up though, which doesn’t ever really have a special show. The best we can hope for is a midcard name from NXT so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Kale Dixon

Yes, Kale. They grapple against the ropes to start and some slaps to the face get under Kale’s skin. Some armbars have Kale in trouble but he grabs a belly to back suplex. Kale sits on Chen’s back and grabs a bodyscissors, which is broken up without much trouble. Chen fights up, kicks him in the head, and hits the double chop for the pin at 5:53.

Rating: D+. I still don’t get the appeal of Chen and the other guy’s name is Kale, so what else were you expecting? They did a bunch of armbars before Chen shrugged off whatever Kale threw at him and won. Yes it’s the build up new stars show, but Chen has been around for a bit and hasn’t grown in any meaningful way, yet here he is again. Beating Kale, because yes, his name is Kale.

Lola Vice (former MMA fighter Valerie Loureda) is ready to be the first Cuban American WWE star.

Lola Vice vs. Dani Palmer

Palmer headscissors her down to start but Vice reverses into a headlock. Back up and Vice kicks her down for two and we hit the double arm crank. Palmer fights up and drops her as well, setting up a standing moonsault for two. What looks to be a corkscrew moonsault misses for Palmer though and Vice kicks her in the head for two. Vice loads up what looks like a powerbomb but gets reversed into a jackknife rollup to give Palmer the pin at 3:59.

Rating: C-. Palmer continues to get in some reps and they might have a little something with her if she keeps it up at this pace. The interesting part here is Vice though, as she is getting the chance to be the next MMA star to become something in WWE. There is enough of a track record to give her a chance, but this was a tiny first step and nothing to go on for her future.

Scrypts vs. Oro Mensah

Scrypts flips around to start and grabs a headlock. Mensah spins out of a wristlock and puts on his own headlock before clotheslining him to the floor. Of course that means a dive but Scrypts takes him down by the hair back inside. A flipping kick gives Scrypts two and we hit the chinlock.

The comeback is blocked and Scrypts hits a dropkick before sending him hard to the floor. Back in and we hit another chinlock until Mensah fights up with some forearms. A choke in the ropes keeps Scrypts in trouble but he rolls outside for a wise breather. Back in and Mensah is ready for the Molly Go Round but Scrypts rolls him into a sunset flip for the pin at 6:37.

Rating: C. NXT certainly seems to have given up on Scrypts, who hasn’t been on NXT TV in a long time and is now relegated to LVL Up. At the end of the day, I can’t say I blame them, as there is no mystery as to who he is and the character never made a ton of sense in the first place. Mensah losing is a weird thing to see too, as he has at least been around for a little bit recently.

Overall Rating: D+. Bleck, what a nothing show this was. When your best match is one of the bigger jokes of NXT against a former tag team guy trying to find his way, it isn’t much of a show. LVL Up rarely has big names on the card but this was bottom of the barrel even by its limited standards. They can do better and hopefully that is the situation next week.

Results
Dante Chen b. Kale Dixon – Double chop
Dani Palmer b. Lola Vice – Jackknife rollup
Scrypts b. Oro Mensah – Sunset flip

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NXT LVL Up
Date: December 30, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Byron Saxton

It’s time for the final WWE show of the year and I have no idea what to expect around here. The good thing is that the show has been a little more focused in recent weeks but there is no reason to believe that it is going to continue for any length of time. Maybe they have something planned, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Thea Hail vs. Amari Miller

The rest of Chase U is here with Hail, who gets armbarred to start. That’s reversed into a headlock takeover and some armdrags have Miller in more trouble. A middle rope spinning splash misses for Hail though and we hit the chinlock. Hail fights up and hits a springboard backsplash, setting up the neckbreaker spun into a faceplant for the pin at 5:54.

Rating: C. Hail is such a ball of energy that it is almost impossible to not like her at least a bit. She is so all in on this Chase U stuff that she is going to be something if she can back it up even the slightest bit in the ring. Miler has that great personality and smile but she feels like she is in the same place she was a year ago, which is rarely a good sign.

Oro Mensah is ready to show Javier Bernal what he is all about.

Bronco Nima/Lucien Price vs. Bryson Montana/Oba Femi

Now this is interesting as you don’t have any star power involved. Nima and Montana fight over a lockup to start with neither being able to get very far. Price comes in to kick Montana in the face for two, meaning it’s off to Femi. A big spinebuster drops Price and we hit the chinlock. It’s already back to Montana to forearm away but a charge misses in the corner. The tag brings in Nima as everything breaks down, leaving Montana to get Codebreakered into a German suplex for the pin at 4:20.

Rating: C. This is the kind of match that this show needs to do more often, as they let one of the new teams actually win something. Nima and Price might not be the next stars called up but at least they did something different here and that is long overdue. There’s something to be said about having four big guys hit each other and that’s what you got here.

Oro Mensah vs. Javier Bernal

Mensah wrestles him to the mat to start as commentary compares Bernal to Conor McGregor and Zoolander. An armdrag into an armbar has Bernal in trouble but he drops Mensah ribs first onto the top rope to take over. We hit the seated abdominal stretch, followed by an over the shoulder backbreaker to stay on the ribs. With that broken up, Mensah makes the comeback and starts striking away, setting up a springboard missile dropkick. The running spinwheel kick in the corner finishes for Mensah at 6:20.

Rating: C. These are two guys who are in weird places. Mensah hasn’t done anything since he came over here and has dropped rather hard since being in that #1 contenders match. Then you have Bernal, who is doing his comedy stuff well on NXT but loses to someone like Mensah. That’s a strange way to go and it didn’t work well here.

Overall Rating: C-. Egads this was a pretty worthless show, though I did like Nima and Price getting a win. Hail beating Miller doesn’t feel like much but the energy picking up was nice. The problem here was the show feeling so boring and there isn’t much that could be done to fix it this week. Maybe it was due to the holiday season but there wasn’t much here in the way of effort in the matchmaking and it showed badly.

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