NXT
Date: January 31, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the go home show for Vengeance Day and that means it is time for the hard sell, which is one of the things NXT tends to do best. In addition to the build towards the show, we also have the long awaited Creed Brothers vs. Indus Sher match, which has been postponed at least once before. Let’s get to it.

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

Indus Sher vs. Creed Brothers

Jinder Mahal and Ivy Nile are here too. Julius and Veer slug it out to start with neither getting anywhere. Brutus comes in to slug away at Sanga in the corner but Sanga takes over with the power. It’s back to Julius, who gets dropped throat first onto the top rope to put him in trouble as well. A reverse Beverly Bomb crushes Julius again and we hit the chinlock.

Julius fights up and manages to get over to Brutus for the hot tag. Everything breaks down and Julius (eventually) muscles Veer up for a powerbomb. The sliding lariat is broken up by Mahal though, sending Nile after him. Julius accidentally knocks Nile off the apron, allowing Sanga to grab a chokeslam for the pin at 9:57.

Rating: C+. If they can get some better gear, the Creeds feel like they are ready to become stars. They work well together, they have already had some success and Julius feels like he could be a top guy one day. On the other hand you have Indus Sher, who are your latest monster foreigners team. Unfortunately that comes with a heavy dose of Mahal, so their ceiling is pretty low.

Tyler Bate and Axiom watch bate facing someone named A-Kid in NXT UK, with Bate saying A-Kid reminds him of Axiom. There’s nothing to that of course, but they’ll face each other tonight.

Zoey Stark vs. Indi Hartwell

This is over Hartwell accusing Stark of attacking Nikkita Lyons last week and Stark saying Hartwell didn’t do well in the Royal Rumble. Stark starts fast and hammers away, with a sliding lariat connecting for two. We’re off to an armbar but Hartwell fights up and slugs away to start the comeback. Some standing clotheslines set up the spinebuster for two on Stark, who is right back with a German suplex. Hartwell’s springboard is broken up and the flipping knee to the face gives Stark the pin at 6:14.

Rating: C-. Hartwell continues to exist and there just isn’t anything to her at the moment. She’s ok enough in the ring but I don’t remember the last time she showed any fire or anything resembling energy (save for Dexter Lumis’ cameo). On the other hand you have Stark, who feels like she should be a bigger deal but every promo she has brings her back down.

Schism is ready to win the Tag Team Titles at Vengeance Day, but first they have to qualify for the title match tonight.

Apollo Crews came to Charlotte early to feel the energy. He sees himself taking out Carmelo Hayes 2/3 falls and if Trick Williams gets involved, so be it.

Here is Wes Lee for a chat. He is ready to go back on the road in four days, where he has one of his biggest tests to date. That would be Dijak, who is going to give him a beating but then Lee will rise as North American Champion. Cue Dijak to say that Lee had the chance to hand the title over but wouldn’t do it. Lee promises to rise up and retain the title, but here are Mr. Stone and Von Wagner to interrupt. Stone thinks Wagner should be #1 contender and Dijak doesn’t approve. Lee wants them to fight now and that is just what happens.

Von Wagner vs. Dijak

The brawl is on fast and we take a break thirty seconds in. Back with Wes Lee on commentary and Dijak striking away. Dijak’s discus lariat is cut off with a boot to the face but Dijak flips out of a chokeslam. High Justice gets two on Wagner but he’s able to go up top. Dijak catches him, only to get caught in a swinging double underhook slam. Back up and Dijak grabs a crossface chickenwing of all things, followed by Feast Your Eyes for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: C. My goodness can we please stop with the “ring the bell, wrestle for thirty seconds, take a break” nonsense? Just have the match start after the break. Other than that, this was a good enough power match as Dijak gets some momentum going into his title shot. Granted I’m not sure how much value there is in beating Wagner, who is one of the most worthless people around here.

Dijak and Lee stare each other down.

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks are ready for something next week, with Stacks saying he took care of it. Now they’re off to take care of something else.

Nikkita Lyons has undergone surgery and is on the way to recovery.

We see a video on Nikkita Lyons being attacked in the parking lot, with about ten different women being seen in the parking lot at the same time. This was shot more like an investigation piece and that’s an interesting way to go.

Video on Grayson Waller vs. Bron Breakker for the NXT Title at Vengeance Day. Waller is inside Breakker’s head as Breakker continues to need to try to control his emotions. The build for this has worked but it feels like we’re just waiting to see what wacky idea Waller has to cheat Breakker out of the title.

Tyler Bate vs. Axiom

Bate takes him down by the arm to start but Axiom uses the referee to flip his way to freedom. Axiom sends Bate crashing out to the floor and we take a break. Back with Bate hitting his airplane spin but Axiom kicks him in the face for two. A superkick hits Bate, who is fine enough to cradle Axiom for two more. Bop and Bang sets up the rebound lariat but the Tyler Driver 97 is countered into a backdrop. Bate powers up anyway but a hurricanrana gives Axiom two. The third attempt at the Tyler Driver 97 finally connects to finish Axiom at 10:03.

Rating: C+. Best match on the show so far by a wide margin as you have two people who can go rather well in the ring. Bate continues to look good when he’s in the ring but it happens so infrequently that it’s hard to get behind him. Axiom is still a very good hand, but how far can you get with such a ridiculous gimmick?

Post match Bate leaves and Damon Kemp runs in to jump Axiom. Bate makes the save.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre seem to have joined forces.

Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are ready to beat Apollo Crews at Vengeance Day.

We get a sitdown interview between Roxanne Perez and Toxic Attraction. Perez is happy that she did well in the Royal Rumble but Toxic Attraction is sure that they’re going to beat her at Vengeance Day. Toxic Attraction says it’s 2-1 on Saturday and Perez walks out. Jayne and Dolin say they’re on the same page. Perez storms into their room and the big fight is on, with agents having to break it up. This went way longer than it needed to and makes last week’s fake Toxic Attraction split feel like a waste of time.

Dani Palmer vs. Stevie Turner

Palmer flips out of a wristlock to start but Turner shrugs it off and hits a neckbreaker. The chinlock goes on but Palmer fights up and hammers away. Back up and Turner hits a pump kick into a swinging DDT. A Side Effect finishes Palmer at 2:55.

Kiana James is on the phone and says she’ll see someone later. Fallon Henley comes in to accuse her of messing with Brooks Jensen. They argue until Katana Chance and Kayden Carter come in to accuse them of not focusing on the title match. This has been your NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS segment of the week.

Drew Gulak vs. Charlie Dempsey

Hank Walker is here with Gulak. Feeling out process to start and we take a break less than a minute in. Back with Dempsey cranking on both arms before switching to a Fujiwara armbar. Dempsey switches to a German suplex for two and cranks on the leg, only to have Gulak reverse into an armbar of his own. Dempsey switches into a crossface chickenwing but Gulak dives for the ropes, sending Dempsey into Walker by mistake. The distraction lets Gulak grab a rollup for the pin at 8:42.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of match that is always going to have a place on the card and they did it well. Sometimes you need to just have a wrestling match and the screwy finish gave Gulak an out. Both of these two can do the technical stuff very well and it was a nice change of pace from the usual stuff around here most of the time.

Von Wagner is livid but Mr. Stone says this isn’t working. Stone says he knows nothing about him other than he is big and strong. If Wagner wants to move up in the wrestling business, show who he is inside. Stone: “HELP ME HELP YOU!”

Vengeance Day rundown. The show does look good.

Edris Enofe/Malik Blade vs. Schism vs. Chase U

The winner goes to the Tag Team Title match at Vengeance Day. Blade and Chase start things off but Reid grabs Chase from the apron to take over. A spike shoulder breaker on the floor plants Chase and Fowler comes in for a belly to back slam. Chase fights up but Schism takes out Hudson, meaning there is no one for him to take.

A powerbomb into a Backstabber gets two on Chase but he gets over for the tag to Hudson to clean house. Blade tags himself in and gets to clean house with Enofe. The G9 gets two on Reid with a bunch of people making the save. Blade and Enofe hit the stereo flip dives but Chase tags himself in for a Tower of Doom. The spelling stomps hit Reid and the Fratliner sends Chase U to Vengeance Day at 10:35.

Rating: B-. Now that made sense! Chase U almost never wins any kind of a match of consequence so putting them over here makes them feel like a bigger deal. No they aren’t going to win the titles, but putting them in a four way match where they don’t have to be involved in the finish is a smart move. Let them feel important for once, as the crowd is already way into them.

Post match all of the teams in the Tag Team Title match pop up, with New Day being rather excited about Chase U winning.

A long Vengeance Day hype video wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C. This show had some quality to it but my goodness it felt long. It felt like Vengeance Day was ready to go last week and then they had to fill in another week of building towards it. There wasn’t enough to make two hours interesting here and it hurt a lot. At the same time, NXT still needs to work on its character development segments, as a lot of the talking is cringe worthy. Not a horrible show, but they really need Vengeance Day to be a hit.

Results
Indus Sher b. Creed Brothers – Chokeslam to Julius
Zoey Stark b. Indi Hartwell – Flipping knee to the face
Dijak b. Von Wagner – Feast Your Eyes
Tyler Bate b. Axiom – Tyler Driver 97
Stevie Turner b. Dani Palmer – Side Effect
Drew Gulak b. Charlie Dempsey – Rollup
Chase U b. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe and Schism – Fratliner to Reid

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: January 24, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We are just over a week away from Vengeance Day with Grayson Waller challenging Bron Breakker for the NXT Title. That is going to include a lot of build this week as we get ready for the title match, but there is some other stuff to do as well. The good thing is that a lot of the card is ready so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a video from Grayson Waller, showing him coming to the Performance Center and throwing a bottle of water at Bron Breakker to set off a big brawl.

Indi Hartwell vs. Tiffany Stratton

Hartwell knocks her off the apron to start fast before the bell rings. Back in and we officially start with Hartwell throwing Stratton around and getting two off a dropkick. Stratton gets sent outside but manages to snap the arm across the top. A slingshot splash gives Stratton one and we hit the armbar. That’s broken up and Hartwell hits a spinebuster for two before a boot to the face rocks Stratton again. Hold on though as Stratton claims a knee injury but it is indeed goldbricking. A Regal Roll into a triple jump moonsault finishes Hartwell at 6:01.

Rating: C. So much for Hartwell being built back up, as this was another loss to set her back. Stratton needed the win more though as she is freshly back from her hiatus. She has all kinds of potential and it is nice to see NXT doing something with her. It would be interesting to see where she can take things and a win here is a nice start.

Jacy Jayne doesn’t seem to think much of Gigi Dolin because Jayne has carried her since the beginning. Now it’s Jayne’s turn to win and it’s going to be like nothing you have ever seen before.

Drew Gulak and company are training with the Diamond Mine. Gulak doesn’t think much of Miles Borne so he shows him how it’s done against Julius Creed. Julius trips him down, which doesn’t set well with Gulak, who swears revenge.

Here is Chase U for a ceremony praising Thea Hail for winning her first match last week. Andre Chase talks about how Hail has been a success in the classroom but not so much in the ring. After almost dropping an f bomb (Fans: “THAT’S NOT PG!”), Chase presents Hail with her award. The fans think she deserves it….and here is JD McDonagh to interrupt. McDonagh doesn’t like this kind of nonsense but Chase says he isn’t having this. McDonagh finds it interesting that Chase didn’t mention Duke Hudson before we get to the point. Chase whips off his robe and has his ring gear on so let’s do this.

Chase U vs. JD McDonagh

We’re joined in progress with McDonagh sending him into the steps and grabbing the chinlock. That’s countered into a belly to back suplex as Chase U gets to do their cheerleading. The spelling stomps set up a Side Effect for one but McDonagh is back up with a clothesline. Chase hits a quick Canadian Destroyer for two with McDonagh getting a foot on the rope. Back up and the Devil Inside finishes Chase at 4:32.

Rating: C. I had forgotten McDonagh was a thing here for a bit and that is kind of telling about what has happened to him. I get that he’s a bigger star than Chase, but did they really need Chase to lose again? Chase U is consistently one of the most well received things around here but Chase never actually wins anything of note. Is it that much for him to be a midcard title contender for a bit?

Post match Duke Hudson storms off as Thea Hail checks on Chase.

Fallon Henley and Kiana James are ready to team together but have a bit of tension over strategy.

Kiana James/Fallon Henley vs. Ivy Nile/Tatum Paxley

James starts but Henley taps her on the head to start instead. Nile takes Henley down to start and it’s off to Paxley for a middle rope dropkick. James comes in to take over on Paxley in the corner and grab an abdominal stretch. With that broken up, Henley comes back in and gets shouldered down by Nile. James gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and then trips Nile down, allowing Henley to hit a Shining Wizard for the pin at 3:16.

Rating: C-. Hey look: wacky tag team partners who happen to win without getting along. I do like the question of what is going on wit Brooks Jensen and Henley FINALLY having something to do is nice, but there is only so much to be gotten from this trope. Just please don’t let them win the Women’s Tag Team Titles out of the whole thing. And why is Nile STILL not getting any kind of a shot of her own?

Post match the argument continues, with Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen playing peacekeeper.

New Day is in the back (and seemingly humming Randy Orton’s old theme) when Edris Enofe and Malik Blade come in to respectfully ask for a title shot. Before we can get to an answer, Schism comes in to say they want the shot. They’ll face off next week in the New Day Invitational and the winners are added to the Tag Team Title match at Vengeance Day.

Apollo Crews goes to the barber shop but Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams come in and aren’t happy. Crews talks about how Hayes is never going to get rid of him no matter what but Hayes says he is the younger, more athletic version of him. They both talk about being the next NXT Champion and a 2/3 falls match is set for Vengeance Day. Out of arena vignettes are always appreciated.

Hank Walker/Drew Gulak vs. Creed Brothers

Gulak can’t wrestle Julius down to start so it’s off to Walker. Julius takes him into the corner and hands it off to Brutus for a pair of fireman’s carry takeovers. It’s right back to Gulak, with Walker grabbing an airplane spin on Brutus to set up Gulak’s clothesline. We take a break and come back with Julius coming in to clean house. A t-bone suplex hits Walker and Brutus comes in for a standing moonsault.

Brutus picks Gulak up in a butterfly and holds him in place, allowing Julius to jump over Brutus’ back and drive Gulak down in a really unique double team. Everyone brawls until Walker cross armbreakers Julius but it’s back to Brutus. The double clothesline leaves Brutus and Walker down but here is Charlie Dempsey to distract Gulak. The distraction lets the Brutus Bomb finish Walker at 11:43.

Rating: C+. This was pretty good stuff with Gulak and the Creeds being the wrestling machines while Walker was there to spice things up a bit. At the same time you have the Dempsey factor, as he is the evil version of Gulak. There’s something interesting about the evil teacher vs. the good one, though Dempsey and Gulak don’t exactly have the charisma to carry much of a feud. For now though, I’ll settle for the Creeds continuing to improve.

Post match Julius apologizes to Ivy Nile for being a bit hotheaded, but that is how he has to be to be the best version of himself. Both Creeds thank Nile for sticking with them and inspiring them….and here is Indus Sher (with Jinder Mahal, because of course). The challenge is on for next week and Nile accepts for the Creeds.

Gigi Dolin doesn’t like Jacy Jayne and talks about the thorns that come with a rose.

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks go to lunch for some Italian/mafia stereotypes. Stacks wants to make an impact as the new underboss and has apparently taken care of someone already. They have a toast to Stacks and D’Angelo seems pleased.

Wendy Choo vs. Elektra Lopez

Lopez shoves her down and here is Valentina Feroz (as invited by Lopez) to watch. Choo grabs some rollups for two each but gets caught with a swinging Rock Bottom to cut her off. The bodyscissors keeps Choo in trouble but she fights up, including a middle rope crossbody. Lopez isn’t having that though and punches her down for the pin at 3:39.

Rating: C. Lopez has always felt like someone who could break out into something more, though beating Choo isn’t going to get her very far down that path. At least she didn’t lose again though and seems to be showing Feroz the way. Not much of a match due to the time, but Lopez winning and Choo toning down the zaniness helped a lot.

Brooks Jensen is so happy with Fallon Henley and Kiana James that he has gotten them a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Vengeance Day. Henley is mad because she wanted it to be a one off deal and Jensen didn’t even ask. She has to think about this.

Elektra Lopez tells Valentina Feroz to cheat more but Feroz can’t do it. Lopez doesn’t care and says enjoy losing.

Stevie Turner comes in on a live stream instead of being in person. She has her in-ring debut next week.

Here is Grayson Waller to call out Bron Breakker and he has his own NXT Title. Cue Breakker with the real title and everyone shows up to keep them apart. Breakker fights away and spears the barricade, leaving a big hole in it for a good visual.

Gallus is at a pool hall and promises to do their thing at Vengeance Day when they win the Tag Team Titles.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Alby Fyre vs. Katana Chance/Kayden Carter

Chance/Carter are defending and yes Fyre is on her own. Hold on though as here is Sol Ruca and Fyre seems to have a partner. Carter has to slip out of an early Gory Bomb attempt so Fyre beats her down without much trouble. Ruca comes in and jumps over Carter as everything breaks down. The champs get beaten up on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Chance hitting an enziguri so Carter can take over on Fyre. A top rope double stomp to the back gives Chance two and an assisted splash gets the same. Fyre gets in a shot of her own though and Ruca comes in with a pretty awesome looking springboard splash for two. Everything breaks down and Chance hurricanranas Fyre into the steps. Carter superkicks Ruca back inside though and the 450/neckbreaker combination, retains the titles at 7:57.

Rating: C+. That splash looked awesome as Ruca continues to be one of the most athletic stars in all of NXT. Other than that, I’m not sure I get the point of Fyre making such a big deal out of fighting on her own and then Ruca just showing up as her partner. Fyre seems all but destined to join forces with Isla Dawn and while I don’t like the idea, I do like it better than Fyre and Ruca. On the other hand you have the champs, who are on some record setting reign despite being pretty much utterly forgettable most of the time. Granted that might be due to how worthless their titles are most are often than not.

Post match Fyre leaves and walks past Ruca, with Isla Dawn popping up to follow Fyre out. With that out of the way, Fallon Henley and Kiana James (Henley has thought about it and is in) pop up on the platform to say they’ll take the titles.

Wes Less comes up to see Dijak but won’t just hand over the North American Title. Lee feeds off of the fans and believes he can do anything, which Dijak has to respect. They’re on for Vengeance Day.

Cora Jade isn’t happy with Lyra Valkyria or the feature she has left in her locker.

Nikkita Lyons has been attacked in the parking lot.

Andre Chase isn’t happy with Duke Hudson, but Duke has gotten them into next week’s New Day Invitational for a possible Tag Team Title shot at Vengeance Day. Chase is happy.

And now, a summit between Jacy Jayne, Gigi Dolin and Roxanne Perez, the latter of whom gets an entrance. Jayne and Dolin argue over how much each of them carried the other as Perez can’t get in a word. Booker: “AWWW SHUCKY DUCKY QUACK QUACK!!!” Perez finally gets to talk, saying she’s enjoying watching the arguing. Dolin and Jayne get into it again before smiling at each other and double teaming Perez. The double chokeslam puts Perez through the table, leaving Toxic Attraction to hold up the title to end the show. I’m not sure I get Toxic Attraction’s logic here but we’re back to the original dynamic for the title match.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was kind of all over the place, but it did a lot of good for building up Vengeance Day, which is looking like a heck of a card. For once, the NXT Title match does feel slightly above the rest of the stories, but I’ll believe that is lasting when I see it. Other than that, there wasn’t much bad here, save for a few too many wacky tag partners. I want to see Vengeance Day a lot more than I did coming in though and that’s a major plus.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Indi Hartwell – Triple Jump moonsault
JD McDonagh b. Andre Chase – Devil Inside
Kiana James/Fallon Henley b. Ivy Nile/Tatum Paxley – Shining Wizard to Nile
Creed Brothers b. Drew Gulak/Hank Walker – Brutus Bomb to Walker
Elektra Lopez b. Wendy Choo – Right hand
Katana Chance/Kayden Carter b. Sol Ruca/Alba Fyre – Neckbreaker/450 splash combination to Ruca

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: January 17, 2023
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re done with New Year’s Evil and now all roads lead to Vengeance Day in about two and a half weeks. The show will feature Bron Breakker defending the NXT Title against Grayson Waller in a cage match but we’re going to need more than that. There is a lot of potential for the rest of the show though and we should hear more this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap, featuring all of the returns and surprises.

Trick Williams/Carmelo Hayes vs. Axiom/Apollo Crews

Williams works on Axiom’s arm to start and then runs him over for a bonus. A pop up right hand puts Axiom down again and it’s off to Hayes. An enziguri gets Axiom out of trouble though and it’s Crews coming in to clean house. Hayes gets knocked to the floor so Crews tosses Axiom onto both villains as we take a break.

Back with Axiom and Hayes clotheslining each other but it’ snot enough to get back over to Crews. Axiom get sent into the corner for the alternating beatdown before Hayes grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up and Axiom gets over for the corner, meaning Crews gets to clean house. The gorilla press into the standing moonsault gets two with Hayes making the save. Axiom and Williams go to the floor so Hayes goes up top. Nothing But Net doesn’t quite connect and it’s Crews with a cradle for the pin at 10:35.

Rating: C. Nice, fast paced match to open the show as Crews gets a win to build up some momentum. I’m surprised to see Hayes take the fall but you can only beat Williams so many times before it stops meaning anything. Hayes almost has to get into the title picture or move up to the main roster sooner than later, and I’m not sure which way he’ll be going.

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks go to the bridge where D’Angelo killed Two Dimes. D’Angelo isn’t happy with Stacks lying about the Dijak situation, so Stacks says do what you have to do. Instead of killing him, D’Angelo promotes him and makes him part of the family. He even gets a new jacket.

Tiffany Stratton isn’t happy and we see a clip from earlier in the day with Stratton not being able to get into her locker room. Indi Hartwell answered and said that it was really the women’s locker room, because she’s not better than anyone. Hartwell throws Stratton’s stuff out and tells her to dress somewhere else.

Here is Toxic Attraction to brag about their win in the battle royal last week. They had the fans in the palm of their hands and even if Jayne tried to eliminate Dolin last week, it’s all fine. The Toxic Attraction train is on the way to Vengeance Day where they will make Roxanne Perez regret ever winning the Women’s Title. Cue Lyra Valkyria, who says she is tired of all of this bragging. Jayne and Dolin tell her to get lost, but Valkyria says she isn’t here alone. Cue Roxanne Perez to help clear the ring.

The Creed Brothers are training when Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley come in. Nile yells at the Creeds for not being what they used to be, including last week against Jinder Mahal and Sanga. GET IT TOGETHER! The women leave and the Creeds think they might be on to something.

Stevie Turner narrates a video about the battle royal. Of course she would have won if she was there.

Sol Ruca vs. Alba Fyre

Ruca manages to take her down fast to start and flips away to avoid the comeback. Fyre isn’t having that though and knocks Ruca down without much effort. Some kicks to the chest have Ruca in more trouble but she slips out of the Fyre Bomb. Sol tries a Razor’s Edge but gets caught with a superkick instead. Fyre is back up but cue Isla Dawn on the platform for a distraction. That’s enough for Ruca to get the Sol Snatcher (middle rope inverted backflip cutter, which looks amazing) for the pin at 3:19.

Rating: C. This was all about getting the cool finisher on television and that is not a bad thing. If Ruca has anything in the ring to back up that finisher, she could be quite the star. Fyre losing again isn’t great to see but at least there was a distraction. I would have thought Fyre vs. Dawn was done but apparently there is more to it, for whatever reason.

Dijak is ready to win the North American Title at Vengeance Day. He would just let Wes Lee hand him the title, but Lee is too stupid to take the offer. Lee is first to receive high justice and it means Dijak leaves as champion.

We get a sitdown interview with Grayson Waller. Last week, he faced the Bron Breakker he knew he was getting. Breakker is just as big, strong and stupid as Waller knew he would be. Waller had him beaten but someone on the ring crew couldn’t do his job and fix the rope. Waller knew he won so he even has his own title with him. Now it’s time for a rematch inside a cage and Waller will leave as champion.

Gallus and Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen both say they’re ready.

Alba Fyre chokes a referee with the baseball bat until Kayden Carter/Katana Chance calms her down. They say be patience but Fyre says she’ll come for the Women’s Tag Team Titles herself.

Tyler Bate talks about how he had to find his new self. Now he’s back and not leaving.

Gallus vs. Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen

Fallon Henley is here with Jensen/Briggs and it’s a big brawl to start. We settle down to Jensen vs. Mark to officially get things going but Briggs comes in for the double clothesline. Jensen gets taken into the wrong corner though and it’s Wolfgang coming in to hammer away. A leapfrog (or most of one at least) allows the tag off to Briggs. House is cleaned but a blind tag lets Coffey pull Briggs to the floor. The floor mats are pulled back but Briggs grabs the suplex on the exposed concrete instead.

We take a break and come back with Jensen getting cut off due to his banged up back, meaning the double beatdown can continue. Some shots to the back set up the front facelock, meaning Jensen has to fight up again. After a failed attempt, Jensen gets over to Briggs so house can be cleaned for a second time.

Everything breaks down and Jensen gets backdropped on the exposed concrete. The trainers check on Jensen as Briggs splashes Coffey for two. Kiana James comes out to check on Jensen, much to Henley’s dismay. The numbers game gets the better of Briggs though and it’s the enziguri/powerslam combination for the pin at 11:57.

Rating: C+. This got some more time to make it a bit better and they told a bit of a story in there too. Jensen and Briggs are the kind of team who can take more than a few losses as they are able to bounce back rather quickly. They have a little something with the Kiana James stuff, as it isn’t so much about wondering when she is going to mess things up but why and how. Gallus seems primed for a Tag Team Title shot so giving them a win here was necessary.

Thea Hail is getting ready for her first win on NXT when Andre Chase comes in to yell at Duke Hudson. We see a clip of Hudson talking about how Hail has to win and seemingly knocking Chase’s teaching. Chase says if Hudson has something to say, say it to his face. Hudson says it was taken out of context and wants to see Hail win.

Brooks Jensen is in the trainer’s room when Fallon Henley comes in to yell at him about Kiana James. Jensen insists they like each other and what could she be after? Henley already has the bar back, so there is nothing left. Henley has to get used to this.

Thea Hail vs. Valentina Feroz

The rest of Chase U is here with Hail, who starts fast but gets taken down in a hurry. The armbar keeps Hail down as Elektra Lopez comes out to watch. Hail fights up and gets a fast two, only to get rolled up for the same. Hudson glares Lopez away, but she slips Feroz some brass knuckles. Feroz doesn’t want them and throws them away, allowing Hail to hit a faceplant for the pin at 3:25.

Rating: C. Hail winning is a good thing as she has so much charisma that there has to be something for her to do. Even a win over someone as low on the totem pole as Feroz matters as Hail has to start somewhere. They even threw in a bit of a story for Feroz and Lopez, which could go somewhere interesting.

Apollo Crews mocks Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes over the loss. Hayes calls it cheap but Crews thinks it’s time to celebrate.

Commentary announces the death of Jay Briscoe. That is a shock and seems to have been due to a car crash, which is a horrible way to go. Classy move by WWE to acknowledge it, but that’s far from what matters here.

Elektra Lopez asks Valentina Feroz why she didn’t take her help. Feroz wants to win on her own, but Lopez tells her to stop sulking about Sanga. Next week, Lopez is facing Wendy Choo and tells Feroz to pay attention.

Here is New Day for a chat. They are happy to be done with Pretty Deadly and now they are on to the winners of the gauntlet match: Gallus. Cue Pretty Deadly to say they have jumped through all of those hoops to get a title shot and now they want one. Cue Gallus, who says they won and the title match is theirs. Xavier Woods marks Gallus’ accents but New Day is ready for them. Pretty Deadly isn’t having this and the fight is on, with referees breaking it up. The triple threat seems imminent.

Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez are sure they’ll be ok as a team because they have common enemies. Last week it was Cora Jade and now it is Toxic Attraction. They’ll be ready to fight but here is Javier Bernal with his guitar. Bernal is ready for their requests but both of them give him a cold shoulder.

We get a sitdown interview with Bron Breakker, who isn’t happy with how he beat Grayson Waller last week. The knee to the face caught him and he was seeing stars for a few seconds. Now they’re going to a cage and Breakker loves the idea, because there is nowhere to run and hide. Waller is the best trash talker around but can’t back it up in the ring. Violence is coming at Vengeance Day.

Here is Javier Bernal for a concert but someone cuts him off and wants a match.

Tyler Bate vs. Javier Bernal

Bate rolls him up or a fast two and they trade headlocks. Bernal takes him down and hammers away, with the fans not being pleased. Bate fights up and hits Bernal in the face, setting up Bop And Bang. He does it again, setting up the handspring lariat. The Tyler Driver doesn’t work so bate tried it again and drops Bernal on his head for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C-. That ending really didn’t look good and pulled a lot of energy away from Bate’s big return. Bate is someone who has all of the tools but seems to slip up a few times too many. I’m not sure what doesn’t click for him, but he could use a long stretch of time without anything holding him back (even if it wasn’t his fault, like the visa situation).

Chase U celebrates Thea Hail’s win.

Fallon Henley comes up to Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs and says that because she cares about Jensen, she’s going to try to get along with James. She has even gotten a tag match next week, with James as her partner. Jensen is happy and all three are off to drink.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Lyra Valkyria/Roxanne Perez vs. Toxic Attraction

It’s a brawl to start with Toxic Attraction being sent outside. Perez dives onto Jayne and Valkyria dropkicks Dolin through the ropes. Back in and it’s time to work on Dolin’s arm, with Valkyria coming in with a top rope ax handle. Perez hits a running elbow but a blind tag lets Jayne come in to hammer away.

The forearms to the back keep Perez down and a clothesline gets two. Perez fights up with a swinging faceplant and Valkyria comes in to strike away. There’s a suplex to Jayne but here is Cora Jade to shove Valkyria off the top. Valkyria is right back up to hand it off to Perez before going after Jade, leaving Perez 2-1. Jayne kicks Dolin in the face by mistake allowing Perez to grab Pop Rox for the pin at 6:46.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have a lot of time here but it’s a bit weird to have Perez beat Toxic Attraction 2-1 here when that is the entire focal point of the upcoming title match. Jade vs. Valkyria should be a nice feud for both of them as Valkyria is certainly being thrown straight into a pretty decent sized spot on the card.

Overall Rating: C. After last week’s big show, this certainly felt like a bit of a breather, as there are only two more shows before the big one next month. There was nothing overly terrible here, but it definitely felt like a show that was more skippable than most around here. We do have more set up for Vengeance Day, but they could have used a better TV show to get there.

Results
Axiom/Apollo Crews b. Trick Williams/Carmelo Hayes – Rollup to Hayes
Sol Ruca b. Alba Fyre – Sol Snatcher
Gallus b. Brooks Jensen/Josh Briggs – Enziguri/powerslam combination to Briggs
Thea Hail b. Valentina Feroz – Bulldog driver

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NXT UK
Date: July 14, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We are in for a big time title match this week as the Heritage Cup is on the line. Noam Dar has dominated the division for such a long time that he is starting to repeat challenges, which will be the case this week as Mark Coffey gets another shot. Other than that, we have the continuing adventures of just about everyone else around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oliver Carter vs. Teoman

The rest of Die Familie is here with Teoman. They go technical to start until Teoman elbows him in the face. It’s too early for a wristlock though (if that’s possible) and Carter takes over on the arm instead. That’s broken up as well and Teoman hits a neckbreaker onto the knee for two.

We hit the chinlock for a bit, followed by some slow stomping to keep Carter down. Carter fights up and hits a quick springboard moonsault to start the comeback, including an elbow to the face. Another neckbreaker cuts Carter down for two, only to have him kick Teoman in the face for a breather of his own. That means it’s time for Carter to cut off Die Familie’s interference, setting up the springboard missile dropkick. A running spinwheel kick in the corner gives Carter the pin at 7:27.

Rating: C. Carter is someone who could do something interesting on his own but odds are that is not going to be done for whenever Ashton Smith comes back. The good thing is that NXT UK has turned Carter and Smith from little more than a jobber team to stars and a team that means something. That is something WWE and NXT have struggled to do for a long time but they pulled it off here, so well done.

Post match Die Familie comes in and beats Carter down.

Trent Seven jumped Sam Gradwell at the Performance Center.

Fallon Henley is at the Performance Center when Isla Dawn comes up to freak her out. Well at least she tries to, as Henley doesn’t seem impressed.

Dave Mastiff congratulates Josh Morrell on his win last week but says next week won’t go so well when they meet. Morrell says he’ll give it everything he has.

Wolfgang is kicking a soccer ball around and has heard that Ilja Dragunov respects him. That means something, but there is no animal more dangerous than Wolfgang. Why can’t he take the United Kingdom Title?

Stevie Turner vs. Amale

Blair Davenport is on commentary. Turner grabs a headlock to start and runs Amale over, setting up the pose as Davenport brags about her own awesomeness. Amale is back with a running neckbreaker into a running basement dropkick. That’s too early for a comeback (assuming she was in enough trouble to count it as a comeback) though and Turner kicks her down again. A running boot to the face and a running knee lift get two on Amale as Davenport doesn’t approve. Amale starts screaming a lot and hits a running bulldog for two, followed by the Hope Breaker for the pin at 4:16.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here, but the interesting thing is the fact that there are a few things going on in the women’s division. This is impressive not just because things are going well, but also because there are enough people and stories to make an actual division for a change. It might not have been a great match but I’d kind of like to see where things go, and that is an improvement.

Sha Samuels can’t accompany Noam Dar to the ring tonight.

Meiko Satomura and Sarray are happy with their win, but Satomura wants a match with her next week. Satomura doesn’t say anything but leaves with Sarray. Emilia McKenzie isn’t happy but is less thrilled with Nina Samuels coming up to ask how that makes her feel. McKenzie leaves as well, with Samuels finding this intriguing.

Mark Andrews and Wild Boar would like a Tag Team Title shot.

Sid Scala announces Ilja Dragunov vs. Wolfgang for the United Kingdom Title in two weeks.

Heritage Cup: Mark Coffey vs. Noam Dar

Dar is defending and has no Sha Samuels, who has put Coffey as a 100-1 underdog. Round One begins with a bit of a slow pace as they go for some grappling. The threat of an armbar sends Dar into the ropes, where he compliments Coffey on his intelligence. Coffey takes him to the mat before letting him back up for a running shoulder. The armbar has Dar in more trouble as the round ends, with Dar seeming to sucker Coffey into an illegal cheap shot (the referee isn’t pleased).

Round Two begins with the Nova Roller missing and Coffey grabbing the Gator Lock (kind of a Tazmission but with Coffey on the mat like he would be for a crossface) for a tap and a 1-0 lead at 16 seconds of the round and 3:56 overall. Round Three begins with Coffey going for an early rollup, followed by a quick middle rope bulldog. Dar is sent to the apron and manages to get up a kick to the face.

Another shot the face gives Dar two and it’s time to start stomping on the arm. Coffey tries to fire up but gets kicked down for two more. A suplex is blocked but Dar can’t hit the Nova Roller before the time runs out (leaving Samuels panicking even more in the back). Round Four begins with Coffey grabbing another rollup but getting kicked in the face for his efforts. The kneebar makes Coffey tap to tie it up at 40 seconds of the round and 9:01 overall.

Round Five begins with Dar hitting a running corner dropkick for two. Another kneebar is countered so Coffey can boot him in the face. Dar is back up with a guillotine choke, which is countered into a suplex for a double knockdown. They fight up against the ropes until Dar kicks the knee out. Dar goes up top but gets caught, setting up a superplex as time expires.

Round Six begins with another kneebar being blocked so Dar kicks him in the face. The Gator Lock goes on again, with Dark making it over to the rope in a hurry. They head outside with Dar taking him out but Coffey just beats the count. An elbow to the face gives Dar two but Coffey is back with a running clothesline. The sliding forearm gives Coffey the pin and the title at 2:58 of the round and 18:35.

Rating: B. These two beat each other up rather well and I was wanting to see just how much one of them could take before they gave out. Coffey got the big win that he has been waiting on for a long time now and that opens up a bunch of doors going forward. If nothing else, Joe Coffey coming back could set up a heck of a showdown if that’s where they go. Good main event here, and Dar should be in line for a shot at the United Kingdom Title after a run like this one.

Post match Samuels comes out, tears up his betting slips, and cries a lot as Dar comes over to him. A lot of the locker room comes out to celebrate with Coffey….and to get their money. With everyone else gone, Joe Coffey comes to the ring and celebrates with Mark to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event carried the show and they did a nice job of not having the NXT stars take over the show again. This felt like the old school NXT UK show and it was nice to have something like that around again. At its best, NXT UK can be a lot of fun and that is what they made work here. I don’t quite believe the show will be back to where it was before, but I’ll take it for a start.

Results
Oliver Carter b. Teoman – Running spinwheel kick in the corner
Amale b. Stevie Turner – Hope Breaker
Mark Coffey b. Noam Dar 2-1

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NXT UK
Date: July 7, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

Things need to pick up a bit around here and unfortunately that has been the case for a little while now. Between the influx of NXT stars and nothing major happening for a few weeks now, it hasn’t been the most exciting place. Maybe that can be changed this week as Kenny Williams faces Tiger Turan. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kenny Williams vs. Tiger Turan

Williams charges at him before the bell but settles for a lockup once we get going. That earns him an armbar from Turan without much effort, followed by a running shoulder for the knockdown. Turan goes back to the arm before dropkicking a frustrated Williams out to the floor. Back in and Turan does a headstand in the corner to avoid another charge before kicking Williams down again.

Williams finally gets smart by taking out the leg and a boot scrape across the eyes makes it worse. The neck crank doesn’t do much for Williams as Turan is back with a sunset flip for two. A tilt-a-whirl faceplant plants Williams but the Swanton hits raised knees. That lets Williams talk a bunch of trash (Williams: “I KNOW IT’S YOU!”) but the distraction lets Turan grab a small package for the pin at 6:35.

Rating: C. This was a grudge match and the story is likely to continue. I’m not sure where it is going, though Amir Jordan being acknowledged last week has me curious. Why would you have name drop the person’s name if he is supposed to be a surprise? Anyway, this story is interesting me more than I would have bet on so well done with the success.

Post match Williams goes after Turan and takes the mask off, revealing….a second mask. Referees have to drag Williams away from the ring. Nigel mentioned Amir Jordan as Turan’s likely identity during the melee.

Video on Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen winning the Tag Team Titles and being targeted by Pretty Deadly.

Trent Seven was held back by security when Sam Gradwell came in. Even Gradwell thinks what Seven did was low, but Seven storms off anyway.

Die Familie again wants Oliver Carter to join the team but he doesn’t like Ashton Smith’s name being invoked. The result is Carter vs. Teoman at some point in the future.

Josh Morrell vs. Primate

Primate drives him into the corner for some yelling to start but Morrell gets in a shove of his own to start the frustration. The test of strength actually puts Primate down but Morrell can’t break his bridge. With that not working, Morrell goes up to the corner and gets German suplexed right back down for the big crash. A backdrop gives Primate two but Morrell low bridges him to the floor. Back in and Primate runs him over again, setting up a clothesline to the apron. That’s fine with Morrell, who grabs a sunset flip for the completely clean pin at 4:06.

Rating: C. This was an interesting way to go as Morrell got the clean win so he gets a boost, but the match felt more like Primate having trouble after dropping Eddie Dennis. That story can be advanced, but at the same time, Morrell finally gets a win that could move him up the ladder. Maybe it means nothing, but at least he is getting a start.

Blair Davenport is back and gets interrupted by Amale. Last week Davenport talked about crushing hope, which COULDN’T have been about her. Davenport laughs it off, but does threaten Amale if she ever tries anything else. With Davenport gone, Stevie Turner comes in and gets a match with Amale as a result.

Video on Ilja Dragunov and all of the people he has beaten. The big takeaway here: what happened to Rampage Brown? As for now though, Dragunov sees a lion called Wolfgang and is ready to face that lion.

Tate Mayfairs vs. Trent Seven

Seven chops him down to start and hits more chops to make it even worse. A DDT plants Mayfairs and another chop gets two. The trash talk takes a bit too long though and Mayfairs strikes away, only to get chopped back down. The Seven Star Lariat finishes Mayfairs at 4:07.

Rating: C-. I get the idea they’re going for here, but at the end of the day, it is a little hard to get behind the idea of Seven as a huge threat. He is doing things right and feels like a villain, but Seven has never felt like some top star in the ring. It’s hard to buy the idea of him being a threat to any top name other than Tyler Bate so this might be a one feud push. It still works, but I’m seeing a pretty firm ceiling.

Post match Seven grabs a leglock, drawing out Sam Gradwell for the save.

Noam Dar calls himself a victim of his own success because he has cleared out the entire Heritage Cup division. That’s why Mark Coffey is getting another shot, because Mark is a lucky lucky boy. The fact that there is a ton of money on the line doesn’t make it any harder.

Meiko Satomura/Sarray vs. Xia Brookside/Eliza Alexander

Brookside pulls Sarray’s hair to start so Sarray cranks on the arm. That’s reversed into some arm cranking from Brookside, which is reversed into some arm cranking from Sarray. Brookside has to headstand her way out of a headscissors and it’s Alexander coming in for a shot to the ribs. Sarray bridges out of a near fall and hits a basement dropkick, allowing the tag off to Satomura.

House is quickly cleaned and it’s already back to Sarray, who is clotheslined down in a hurry. Alexander hits a basement forearm for two and we hit the camel clutch. With that broken up, Sarray rolls her up and hits a double stomp to the chest for two. The real hot tag brings in Satomura to clean house, including a DDT and a frog splash for two on Alexander. Everything breaks down and Alexander pulls Brookside out of the way of a charging Sarray. Satomura is back up and Brookside gets knocked into the ropes for that SCARY running dropkick from Sarray. Scorpio Rising finishes Brookside at 9:28.

Rating: C+. The people involved alone here are going to make the match work but there is only so much that can be done when Satomura is going to come in and clean house like she did here. I’m sure we’re coming up on Blair Davenport getting the title shot soon enough, so having Brookside and Alexander get beaten up is not that interesting. Best match on the show though, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Celebrating ends the show.

Overall Rating: C. I’m not sure what to think of this show. For one thing, they did have far less of a focus on the regular NXT stars, but what we got wasn’t all that interesting. Things have cooled down a lot around here as of late, with the Turan vs. Williams stuff probably being the best story going. I’m not sure what is going on around here, but they need something to pick up the pace because this show has dropped in interest quite a bit.

Results
Tiger Turan b. Kenny Williams – Small package
Josh Morrell b. Primate – Sunset flip
Trent Seven b. Tate Mayfairs – Seven Star Lariat
Meiko Satomura/Sarray b. Xia Brookside/Eliza Alexander – Scorpio Rising to Brookside

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NXT UK
Date: June 2, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another title match as the Tag Team Titles are up for grabs, this time in a triple threat. Moustache Mountain will be defending against Die Familie and Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter, the latter of whom has been on quite the roll lately. Other than that, we could be in for a bit of anything so let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the Tag Team Title match and how the teams all want to leave with the belts.

Opening sequence.

Sam Gradwell vs. Von Wagner

Wagner gets the better of a slugout to start and some elbow drops have Gradwell breathing rather deeply. A fall away slam drops Gradwell again as commentary puts over Wagner as much as they can. The crossface chickenwing is broken up so Wagner knees him in the back to cut him off again. Gradwell fights out of a bearhug but gets put right back in it just a few seconds later. The second comeback works a bit better but Wagner plants him with a lifting Downward Spiral. Back up and Gradwell tries a sleeper, which is powered up into the fireman’s carry neckbreaker to give Wagner the pin at 6:49.

Rating: C-. The NXT UK push for the lower NXT card continues, even if Wagner still isn’t anything more than another muscle guy. Gradwell might not be a top star and him losing here isn’t the worst thing, but I haven’t cared about wagner since he debuted and that isn’t going to change. It’s a shame that WWE has remembered this place exists, because it is making things worse.

Xia Brookside arrives and Amale pops in to yell at her.

Video on Ivy Nile.

Mark Andrews seems to catch Kenny Williams trying to steal his tires and a fight breaks out in the parking lot.

Angel Hayze vs. Stevie Turner

Hayze armdrags her down to start so Turner throws an armband in her face to take over. A running dropkick gives Hayze two but Turner’s running knee gets the same. Turner adds a running boot to the face and a neckbreaker drops Hayze for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Hayze is up with the comeback, including some running forearms. Back up and Turner kicks her in the face, setting up Mass Effect for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C-. Turner continues to be just kind of there and that is not a good sign for her future. I don’t think I can see her going very far around here, even if she has a unique idea of a gimmick and a pretty good look. There is nothing to suggest that she is going to be going anywhere anytime soon but at least this gives her a little something.

Emilia McKenzie apologizes to Meiko Satomura for the loss but Satomura, seeming to understand, tells her to train harder.

Sha Samuels and Noam Dar are ready to set the odds on Damon Kemp vs. Wolfgang, but talk about haggis instead.

Tag Team Titles: Die Familie vs. Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter vs. Moustache Mountain

Moustache Mountain is defending and this is one fall to a finish. Carter, Bate and Teoman start things off and it’s an exchange of rollups and various broken up offense to give us a standoff. Teoman gets sent outside, leaving Bate to take Carter into the corner for the tag to Seven. House is cleaned until Seven and Smith are tied up in the ring skirt for a beating from Familie.

Back in and a powerbomb gets two on Smith with Carter too down to make the save. A suplex gets two on Seven but he enziguris his way to freedom, allowing the hot tag off to Bate. There’s a middle rope elbow to Rajah and a t-bone suplex gets two on Smith. Bate kicks Teoman in the head but it’s Carter springboarding in with a double dropkick to the two of them. Seven is back in with a suplex but Smith clotheslines him down and is rather fired up.

Bate hits the handspring lariat to cut Smith off but Teoman pulls him into a Crossface. Back up and Seven hits a super swinging slam for two on Smith before elbowing Carter out of the air. The torture rack/top rope knee combination hits Carter for two, with Smith making the save. Die Familie tries to use a title but gets knocked outside, leaving Seven to pick up the title. Bate takes it away from him, allowing Smith to grab a rollup for the pin and the titles at 14:18.

Rating: B-. This was the longer form sprint with all six working hard the whole way. At some point you had to give Smith and Carter the big win though and that’s a good sign to see the button finally pressed. Seven and Bate can go do their thing while Smith and Carter get to be champions for a bit, likely facing Die Familie sooner rather than later.

Post match Seven yells at Bate and leaves on his own to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. That main event bailed out a pretty lackluster show otherwise so take what you can get here. I like that they did the title change they needed to do, but that was the only thing on the show worth seeing. This was one of the middle of the road star power shows and while it was a problem, the main event pulled it out, which is not the worst place to be.

Results
Von Wagner b. Sam Gradwell – Fireman’s carry neckbreaker
Stevie Turner b. Angel Hayze – Mass Effect
Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter b. Die Familie and Moustache Mountain – Rollup to Seven

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NXT UK
Date: April 21, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

It’s another title week this time around as Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter are getting a rematch against Moustache Mountain. This is a 2/3 falls match though and that should make for a pretty awesome showdown between two great teams, even though Moustache Mountain is teasing a move to the dark side. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the Tag Team Title match.

Opening sequence.

Sam Gradwell vs. Kenny Williams

Back Alley Brawl, meaning street fight and Gradwell starts the fight in the aisle before the bell. The beating is on with Gradwell grabbing a trashcan but getting it knocked away. Williams manages to knock him down but we have a masked man looking at Williams from somewhere near the entrance. They go inside with Williams pounding away but Gradwell grabs some backbreakers.

The fight heads back outside where Gradwell gets in some more trashcan shots, only to get sent into the post. A lame fire extinguisher blast gets Williams out of trouble and he puts Gradwell on the steps for some stomps onto a chair onto Gradwell. Back up and Gradwell slams him onto a trashcan, meaning a table can be loaded up.

As is almost always the case, that takes far too long and Williams chairs him down to take it back inside. Williams gets sent hard into the corner but he comes back with a shot to the leg. The belt is removed to whip Gradwell in the back but that isn’t going to work for him as he whips Williams instead. Gradwell is sent to the apron, where he catches Williams on top for an AA off the apron and through the table. Back in and Williams is done at 9:43.

Rating: C+. NXT UK doesn’t do this kind of match very often and that means it has a bit more impact when the do one. Gradwell getting a win is a nice touch and I can always go for a masked man running around. It wouldn’t shock me if it’s Williams’ old partner Amir Jordan, though you never can tell around here. That’s a good thing and I’m curious about where this is going.

Post match the masked man chases Williams to the back.

Video on Symbiosis vs. Mark Andrews/Wild Boar, with Eddie Dennis issuing the challenge for the tag match.

Stevie Turner vs. Emilia McKenzie

Turner backs her into the corner but gets shoved away as McKenzie isn’t having that. Some forearms stagger Turner but she’s right back with a bicycle kick to take over. Another running kick gets two and the chinlock keeps McKenzie down. That’s broken up without much trouble and, after ducking another kick, McKenzie hits the spear for the pin at 4:43.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one, which tends to be the case when Turner is involved. I’m not sure what has gone wrong with her but she has an interesting look and idea behind the character but nothing has ever come close to clicking. McKenzie isn’t exactly great, but a student vs. teacher showdown for the Women’s Title could work well, as it almost always does.

Isla Dawn is ready to put out Meiko Satomura’s flame and win the Women’s Title.

Some American NXT stars are coming, including Von Wagner, who Saxton Huxley refers to as STUPID MAN.

Xia Brookside is ready to batter someone next week.

In three weeks: Ilja Dragunov defends the United Kingdom Title against Jordan Devlin on the 200th episode.

Tag Team Titles: Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter vs. Moustache Mountain

Moustache Mountain is defending and this is 2/3 falls. Bate starts with Smith, who can’t shake off the early wristlock. Smith’s reversal is reversed so Bate can hit some running shoulders and armdrag him into an armbar. Seven comes in but his assisted moonsault is countered into a rollup for two so Smith can take over. It’s off to Carter to work on an armbar of his own, which doesn’t last long as Seven is back with a legdrop.

Smith saves Carter from a double suplex though and the champs are sent outside. Back in and Bate snaps off a dropkick for two on Smith and it’s Seven coming back in for a kick between the shoulders. The seated full nelson goes on but Smith ducks a clothesline and dives over to bring Carter back in. A release German suplex gets two on Bate, who grabs a victory roll for the same. Seven’s assisted powerbomb gets two on Carter as everything breaks down. Back to back kicks and clotheslines drop the champs and an assisted moonsault gives Smith the pin on Seven for the first fall at 9:57.

There is no break between falls so Carter kicks Seven in the face for two. Private Party’s Silly String into a splash connects for two more as Seven stays in trouble. Seven finally gets in a shot to the face out of the corner but a missed enziguri means no tag. Carter’s kick to the head gives Smith two but Seven grabs a DDT.

That’s enough for the tag off to Bate and the pace picks way up. Smith saves Carter from a middle rope elbow to the face so Bate suplexes Carter for two instead. It’s back to Seven and stereo Tyler Driver 97s get two on Smith and Carter. With that not working, Bate hits the running clothesline into Seven’s dragon suplex for the pin on Smith at 16:28 to tie it up.

Bate punches Smith back into the corner but Seven gets Blue Thunder Bombed for two. Another assisted moonsault is broken up with Bate pulling Seven out, only to have Carter moonsault onto the two of them outside instead. Back in and Bate has to springboard in with a knee for the save and they’re down again.

Seven and Smith strike it out until the Seven Star Lariat drops Smith for a close two. The top rope knee into the Birminghammer gets two more with Carter making the save for a good false finish. Bate is sent into Seven so Smith can grab a rollup for a VERY near fall so Seven sends Carter into Smith. Seven is evil enough to put his feet on the ropes though and that’s enough to retain the titles 2-1 at 21:39 (Bate is NOT pleased).

Rating: B+. I got way into this one and some of the near falls near the end were great. They didn’t bother doing anything cute here and went with straight action, including some cool looking double teams. In the end, Seven gets to keep cheating and driving a wedge between himself and Bate, which is starting to give me Sting/Lex Luger vibes. Granted Moustache Mountain is a better team, but it’s a good story that could get interesting in the long run.

Bate (begrudgingly) celebrates with Seven to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. That main event is more than enough to carry the show and that shouldn’t be a surprise around here. NXT UK has a tendency to be mainly in-ring focused but the stories are enough to make things feel all the more interesting. It was on display in the main event as they had me wondering how it was going to end, which is not a feeling you get on a lot of WWE shows. Good stuff this week and one of the better NXT UK shows in a bit.

Results
Sam Gradwell b. Kenny Williams – AA through a table
Emilia McKenzie b. Stevie Turner – Spear
Moustache Mountain b. Oliver Carter/Ashton Smith 2-1

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NXT UK
Date: April 14, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We’re in an interesting place here as this is one of the few shows without a title match over the next few weeks. Instead we have A-Kid vs. Teoman in a match that should be worth a look and some other stuff that should work out as well. This kind of show tends to work well for NXT UK so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Coffey Brothers vs. Dave Mastiff/Jack Starz

Joe and Mastiff collide to start but the shoulders don’t send either of them anywhere. Mastiff tries it again to some more success before bringing in Starz. This doesn’t go as well as Joe takes him into the corner for the tag to Mark and some arm cranking. A double atomic drop sets up a backbreaker for two but Starz manages a dropkick. Joe gets driven into the corner for a change and the tag brings in Mastiff.

That actually doesn’t go well at first as Joe tries a slam, only to have Starz hit a dropkick to the back to knock Mastiff onto him. A slingshot splash gives Starz two, with Nigel wondering how Joe isn’t spitting up Irn Bru. Joe finally gets up and sends Starz at Mastiff, which is enough for a tag and another splash crushes Joe again. With the power not working, Joe gets in a shot to the face and hits a middle rope missile dropkick for the needed breather.

The hot tag brings in Mark to clean house and a middle rope bulldog gets two on Starz. A half nelson suplex is broken up though and Starz gets in a much needed backdrop. Mastiff comes back in but gets enziguried, only to have Joe tag himself in. Joe tries to get the pin himself but the delay lets Mastiff knock him silly. Starz’s powerbomb finishes Joe at 8:32.

Rating: C+. This got a bit of time and the story continues to be the issues between Gallus. They can’t win a match at the moment and I’m curious to see if it leads to a heel turn, a split or both. Starz has come a LONG way since he was the designated victim and this big guy/little guy team with Mastiff is working. The result was a bit predictable but I liked the match.

Post match the winners are happy and the losers aren’t. Wolfgang comes out to calm things down but Joe yells about how Mark and Wolfgang are the team and walks off.

Video on Ilja Dragunov retaining the United Kingdom Title last week over Roderick Strong.

After the match, the two of them met up in the back, with Strong saying Dragunov is special but they’ll see each other again. They shake hands but Jordan Devlin comes in to say he’s the Irish Ace. Dragunov sneers a bit.

Video on Kenny Williams vs. Sam Gradwell, as Williams keeps pushing Gradwell, who seems ready to push back. They’ll be having a back alley brawl, which Williams says is a mistake for Gradwell. This gets some time and they make it look a good bit bigger than it had been coming in.

Here is Meiko Satomura for a chat about wanting her title back. Satomura wants Isla Dawn out here with the title right now so here is a laughing Dawn to respond. The lights dim and the camera gets a bit weird as Dawn talks about getting attached to the title. They have a future together, but she is willing to hand it back over on one condition: a rematch, under Dawn’s own chaotic rules. Dawn throws the title down and stares at her as the rematch is accepted. That works for Dawn, who mists Satomura and says she’ll get the title back in a world of darkness.

Amale will be watching Eliza Alexander’s match and says she is still full of rage. It is a matter of time before she gets her hands on Eliza and Xia Brookside.

Gallus argued during the break and Joe Coffey left.

Mark Andrews says he and Wild Boar have been friends for fifteen years. The only time that hasn’t been the case was when Eddie Dennis got involved. Boar promises to hurt Dennis as soon as he gets the chance. Andrews holds up a chair and Boar says Symbiosis is the hunted.

Eliza Alexander vs. Angel Hayze

This is Alexander’s in-ring debut and Xia Brookside is in her corner. Alexander grabs a headlock to start as we hear about Brookside’s father training Alexander when she was 13. Hayze grabs a rollup for two but gets taken down with a clothesline to the back of the head. There’s a kick to the back and the fans aren’t pleased with Alexander. The slow beating continues with Alexander dragging her around by the wrist but Hayze gets in some shots of her own. A Sling Blade gives Hayze two but Alexander cuts her off with another clothesline. One heck of a running knee knocks Hayze silly for the pin at 3:09.

Rating: C. That knee alone is going to get Alexander noticed as she blasted Hayze with that thing. Other than that, you had little more than a squash here, as Alexander toyed with her for a few minutes before getting serious to finish it off. Good debut here, though there is only so much to get out of something like this.

Emilia McKenzie talks about training hard and being successful thanks to coaching from Meiko Satomura. Stevie Turner pops in to say Satomura is helping McKenzie because Satomura doesn’t see her as a threat. McKenzie seems to think about it.

Moustache Mountain is ready for their 2/3 falls Tag Team Title defense against Oliver Carter/Ashton Smith. This includes Trent Seven being a good bit more nefarious lately as he has to keep the titles.

Teoman vs. A-Kid

The rest of Die Familie is here with Teoman. Feeling out process to start with A-Kid taking him to the mat. That doesn’t last long so let’s have a standoff. Teoman gets in a kick to the chest out of the corner but A-Kid seems pleased that things are picking up. A headlock takeover puts Teoman down but he switches into a headscissors. That’s reversed into a bow and arrow but Teoman slips out to land on top for a quick two.

A-Kid starts cranking on the ankle, which is reversed into a crossarm choke. With that not working either, A-Kid pops up for a dropkick to stagger Teoman again. Charlie Dempsey offers a distraction though and Teoman hits a dropkick down to the floor. Back in and the chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a forearm to the back of A-Kid’s neck. A slam cuts off a comeback attempt but Teoman hurts his own knee to slow things back down.

The delay lets A-Kid fight up and chop away and a loud kick to the chest gets two. There’s a fisherman’s suplex for the same but Teoman is back with a kind of brainbuster onto the knee, setting up a sliding forearm for two of his own. A cross armbreaker is blocked as Teoman rolls over to the ropes, sending both of them to the apron. Teoman misses a sliding forearm and goes into the steps so A-Kid moonsaults onto the rest of Die Familie. The distraction lets Teoman hit a reverse flipping DDT for the pin at 11:12.

Rating: B. I keep going back and forth on both of these guys as they both seem ready to move up to the next level but it never seem to happen. Teoman does seem like the leader of the team, though Charlie Dempsey gets my attention every time he’s in there. As for A-Kid, he seems to be falling further and further down each week, even after that random NXT cameo. At least they had a good match here though, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Teoman yells about the Eye seeing everything to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. They had a series of good matches this week, though it is kind of interesting that we seem to be getting back to Jordan Devlin as the challenger for the United Kingdom Title. I have long since thought that Devlin would be getting the title, though I’m not sure if Dragunov is anywhere close to being ready to lose the belt. Other than that, this was a show about moving stories forward and as usual, NXT did it fairly well.

Results
Jack Starz/Dave Mastiff b. Coffey Brothers – Powerbomb to Joe
Eliza Alexander b. Angel Hayze – Running knee
Teoman b. A-Kid – Flipping reverse DDT

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NXT UK
Date: March 17, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We have a guest start this week as Roderick Strong is coming over from NXT. That isn’t something that happens very often and I’m curious to see where it leaves. It very well may be a one off match, but it’s a little weird to see WWE suddenly caring about this show after years of indifference. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory Of Scott Hall.

Opening sequence.

Oliver Carter vs. Tyler Bate

Ashton Smith and Trent Seven are here too. Bate works on a wristlock to start but Carter slips out and grabs one of his own. They go to a quick pinfall reversal sequence and it’s off to an early standoff. Carter takes him down with an armbar and then does it again to show off. Back up and Bate hits a running dropkick out to the floor for a crash.

Bate starts in on the ribs but gets taken down by a quick crossbody. That doesn’t see to bother Bate, as he is right back with the airplane spin into a gutbuster for two. An abdominal stretch with an elbow in the ribs has Carter in trouble and Bate turns it into an octopus to make it worse.

Carter falls down for the escape so Bate small packages him for two. A half nelson backbreaker gives Carter two of his own and they trade strikes to the head. The Tyler Driver 97 is countered into a hurricanrana for a VERY close two and the seconds get in a fight on the floor. The distraction is enough for Carter to backslide bate for the huge upset at 10:11.

Rating: B-. Now that is an upset and they actually surprised me with the clean (enough) finish. Beating Bate means a lot more than beating Seven so this is the way to go if you want to make Carter and Smith feel like a threat. If nothing else, Seven has been paranoid about keeping the titles and the loss might have Bate doing the same, which could get interesting.

A-Kid asks a raving Saxon Huxley to be his tag partner against Die Familie and gets a shouting yes.

Wild Boar looks at a mask and says he blames Eddie Dennis for everything that happened to him last year. Vengeance is sworn.

Nina Samuels vs. Emilia McKenzie

Samuels slips out of a headlock to start and they trade wristlocks. Some armdrags put Samuels down and McKenzie goes up for a middle rope hurricanrana. A slam cuts McKenzie off though and things slow down. Samuels kicks her into the corner to set up the chinlock, which is broken up as per expected.

McKenzie hits some clotheslines and a belly to back suplex and Samuels is sent outside. That means a big suicide dive to knock Samuels into the barricade for the crash and they’re right back in. McKenzie goes up but gets pulled off the top (by the hair, to make it even worse) for two and Samuels is frustrated. Samuels misses a moonsault though and McKenzie hits a quick spear for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: C+. McKenzie continues to be good for some nice performances and beating Samuels is a solid win for her. I don’t know if she goes anywhere with Meiko Satomura as champion but building for the future is a wise move. Samuels continues to be herself: a character that is easy to dislike who has been in the same place on the card for years now.

Mark Coffey leaves Sid Scala’s office and has gotten himself a Heritage Cup Title shot. Joe Coffey seems happy for him.

Someone, possibly Sam Gradwell, has left Kenny Williams a note saying he has made a lot of enemies. Williams isn’t too worried, but does seem a bit nervous when someone shuts the locker behind him.

Symbiosis comes in to see Sid Scala, as Wild Boar wants a match with Eddie Dennis. That’s not going to work for Dennis, who suggests Primate instead and then leaves before Scala can make a decision. Scala has to make a call as I try to get my mind around the idea of someone named Wild Boar making a formal request.

Aleah James vs. Stevie Turner

They fight over wrist control to start until Turner shoulders her down and glares a lot. A running headscissors gives James two but Turner hits a boot to the head. Another running kick to the head and a forearm get two more and we hit the chinlock with a knee in James’ back. James finally fights back but a Side Effect gives Turner two more. Back up and James grabs an O’Connor roll and bridges back for the pin at 4:11 for the clean pin.

Rating: C. I’m still not sure what they’re doing with Turner, who seems like she should be a bigger deal than she is and just never gets there. James is hardly a star and she beat Turner clean without as much as a fluke mishap. Maybe James is on her way up, but Turner seems to be falling lower and lower with every match.

Sha Samuels is now taking bets on Mark Coffey vs. Noam Dar. Someone calls in and Coffey takes a bet on Coffey…..at nearly 1700-1. Oh this isn’t going to end well.

Video on Meiko Satomura vs. Isla Dawn, who meet for Satomura’s Women’s Title next week. Dawn looking more and more insane makes her feel extra evil.

Roderick Strong vs. Wolfgang

Strong gets a nice reaction and there are no seconds here. Wolfgang powers him to the apron to start so Strong goes for the leg. That just makes him have to bail back to the floor as they’re firmly in first gear to start. Back in again and Strong goes after the arm but gets reversed into a headlock. Wolfgang lifts him up by the arm but Strong gets it back to the mat and grabs a chinlock.

That’s broken up and Strong is sent outside, where Strong drops him onto the barricade. Strong takes it into the corner back inside and strikes away, only to stop to yell at some chanting fans. Wolfgang gets taken down into a reverse chinlock but fights up and drives in some shoulders to the back in the corner. A powerslam gives Wolfgang two and the Caber Toss sends Strong flying again. The spear only hits buckle though and Strong scores with a jumping knee for the pin at 9:51.

Rating: C. I wasn’t feeling this one as it wasn’t exactly a barn burner. Strong is a much bigger star and there wasn’t much drama, which left Wolfgang feeling like he was just there to take a fall. Odds are Strong has a big match before heading back stateside and that is a good use for someone who has more star power than most of the NXT UK roster.

Post match Strong, who is bleeding from the eye, challenges Ilja Dragunov to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The slightly disappointing Strong match aside, I had a good time with this show as the other matches were entertaining. It continues to be a positive sign that NXT UK can put on engaging shows without a lot of its top stars around. I’m curious as to why Strong was brought over though, as NXT UK has been almost completely isolated for the better part of ever and now, here’s a guest star. Just please don’t let the people with authority remember this show exists. I can’t take another loss.

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NXT UK
Date: March 10, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another title match as Noam Dar will be defending the Heritage Cup against Joe Coffey in the main event. The other big match will see A-Kid facing Charlie Dempsey in what could be a spectacle of technical wrestling. This show is such a breath of air compared to the main roster stuff so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at the Heritage Cup Title match.

Opening sequence.

Charlie Dempsey vs. A-Kid

During his entrance, Dempsey says he’s doing this himself, without Die Familie. Dempsey’s early cravate is escaped with a cartwheel and they stare at each other a bit. A-Kid gets taken down by the arm but reverses into a headlock. That is countered into a headscissors as they stay with the technical stuff to start. They go to the test of strength and flip around a bunch, with Dempsey bridging up on his neck.

A-Kid can’t break it down no matter what and gives up, looking a bit disturbed as a result. With that not working, it’s time to slug it out until an Octopus sends Dempsey to the ropes for the break. A-Kid starts twisting on the ankle instead but has to fight out of a kneebar, instead kneeing Dempsey in the head. Back up and Dempsey goes right back to the knee before switching things up with Cattle Mutilation. Dempsey switches to an armbar but A-Kid slips out so Dempsey grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two.

A-Kid is back with his own suplex for his own two but can’t get an arm crank. Instead he settles for an enziguri to drop Dempsey, which draws out Rohan Raja for a distraction. That’s enough for Dempsey to grab Checkmate (Where he ties up the head and leg so that A-Kid is almost kicking himself in the back of the head. It’s almost like he is covering and hooking the leg backwards.) for the tap at 12:34.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of technical exchange that is always going to be entertaining. Dempsey is quite the savage on the mat and knows how to make it look like he is destroying people. A-Kid is awesome, and now he might be on his way to the regular NXT, which should be quite good for everyone.

Sid Scala announces that an American is on his way here…but Wolfgang interrupts. That’s perfect for Scala, who gives Wolfgang a match with Roderick Strong next week.

We look back at Isla Dawn attacking Meiko Satomura last week to interrupt her special ceremony. The title match is in two weeks.

Aleah James is asked about the Women’s Title match but Stevie Turner interrupts to ask why we should care what James thinks. James walks away from her chattering.

Danny Jones/Josh Morrell vs. Symbiosis

Primate hiptosses Morrell over to start but gets caught with a pop up dropkick. T-Bone comes in so Jones does as well, setting up an exchange of shoulders. Jones takes over on the arm and it’s Morrell coming in with a top rope stomp to the arm. T-Bone pulls Morrell into the corner though and the beating is on, including Primate coming in off the middle rope with an ax handle to the back.

Morrell shrugs it off though and the hot tag brings in Jones to start cleaning house. T-Bone gets knocked down and Morrell climbs on top of Jones’ shoulders, setting up a Spiral Tap for two. That’s enough for T-Bone though, who is back with a powerslam and brings in Primate for a top rope headbutt and the pin at 6:04.

Rating: C. Jones and Morrell continue to be some of the more promising guys around here and it is nice to see them getting their chance here, even if they lose to a bigger team like Symbiosis. I don’t know if Symbiosis is going to the title scene, but they could make for some good challengers for Moustache Mountain. Not a showcase for either of them, but it did well enough.

Post match Symbiosis celebrates but Wild Boar runs in for his return and clears them out with a chair.

Nina Samuels mocks Emilia McKenzie, who steals the mic and asks how Samuels must feel to be this desperate for attention.

Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter think Moustache Mountain is trying to get out of the Tag Team Title rematch but Trent Seven tells them to earn it in a pair of singles matches. We’ll start next week.

Heritage Cup: Noam Dar vs. Joe Coffey

Coffey is challenging and has Mark Coffey to cancel out Sha Samuels. Round one begins with Dar circling around him before his leg dive attempt is thrown away. Coffey cranks on a wristlock before taking him to the mat. A Boston crab is escaped so Coffey goes after the leg again, only to have Dar grab the ropes as the first round ends.

Round two begins with Coffey grabbing a headlock takeover and grinds away for the first minute. Dar slips out and kicks away at the ribs but Coffey snaps off a hard German suplex. A running shoulder in the corner gives Coffey the pin at 2:25 of the first round and 6:11 overall.

Round three begins with Dar having to pull himself up so Coffey knocks him right back down. A top rope spinning crossbody gives Coffey two but Dar is back with a kick to the head. The kneebar doesn’t work for Dar so he rolls Coffey up to tie the score at 1:49 of the round and 8:35 total.

Round four begins with Dar going to the arm to cut off the slugout but stops to yell at the camera. Dar kicks him down and stays on the arm but Coffey gets to the apron for a hard slingshot shoulder. They’re both down for a bit until Coffey gets the Boston crab, sending Dar straight to the rope as the round ends. They fight to the floor between rounds though and Dar gets in a cheap shot.

Round five begins with Dar running over a staggered Coffey in the corner. The Nova Roller is cut off by a flying headbutt/shoulder though and they’re both down again. Coffey hits a clothesline for a knockdown but Dar is back up to badly lose a slugout. All The Best For The Bells knocks Dar silly but Samuels puts the foot on the rope. The distraction lets Dar hit the Nova Roller for the pin at 2:54 of the round and 15:45 total to retain.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a bad match but it was the kind that came and went. Dar might have felt like he was in a bit of danger but it was nothing serious, even if Coffey winning the title could have been interesting. They seem to see something in Dar holding the Cup for a long time and I could go with that, but this was only a pretty good match.

Overall Rating: C+. In something I’ve said before about other promotions, they’re going to be fine if this is one of their bad ones. The star power wasn’t really around this time and they focused on the midcard guys, which worked out fairly well. You can’t have the big names on every week so it isn’t some horrible idea. Good enough show, though they have had better ones.

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