NXT
Date: June 3, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Worlds collide and some of the show will feature NXT stars. That’s going to get some attention tonight, but at the same time, we have the TNA World Title on the line as Trick Williams defends against TNA’s Mike Santana. That should be a big one so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap looks at last week’s title changes and this week’s TNA World Title match being set up. The shock over Jacy Jayne winning the women’s Title is still great.

Here are Laredo Kid, Je’Von Evans and Ethan Page for a chat. Page makes it clear that Rey Fenix isn’t here tonight due to travel issues so he should be in the ring tapdancing on the memory of Ricky Saints. Now though, someone named Sean Legacy is getting a title shot but Evans and Kid both want the title. Page goes to leave but here is Legacy to cut him off. Legacy would love to face either Evans or Kid, but next week he could become a double champion. Cue the Vanity Project to say Jackson Drake is winning the Evolve Title and they have Page’s back. The brawl is on with the good guys hitting stereo dives.

El Hijo del Vikingo is here.

Chase U vs. Darkstate

Darkstate charges in to start the beating early and Connors is thrown inside for the beating. Lennox comes in and plants Connors with a backbreaker into a Boston crab. That’s broken up and it’s off to Dixon to grab a suplex. It’s already back to Connors, who sends Griffin outside for a breather. Everything breaks down and Chase U fires off some superkicks. Griffin casually suplexes both of them at once though and it’s the toss sitout powerbomb for the pin on Dixon at 3:30.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash but this one wasn’t in doubt. I’m not sure where Chase U goes after all of this as they aren’t being treated as anything serious. Hopefully they get the chance to boost the team up soon, because this hasn’t been much so far. On the other hand, Darkstate continues to feel important, which is more than I was expecting from them at this point.

Ava tells Sean Legacy, Laredo Kid and Je’Von Evans to find a partner to face Ethan Page and the Vanity Project. They don’t know anyone, but Dragon Lee comes in to say he’ll do it.

Trick Williams is ready to beat Mike Santana.

Earlier this week, Tyra Mae Steele was nervous about making her NXT debut. Arianna Grace comes in to say no one likes someone who talks too much. Steele thinks she has found her first opponent.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Myles Borne

Rounds match (as in Heritage Cup rules) and if Borne wins, he is free from the No Quarter Catch Crew. Round one begins with Dempsey working on the arm and not getting anywhere, meaning it’s an early standoff. Borne goes back to the arm but gets pulled down into a headscissors with an armbar. That’s broken up so they fight over near falls until Borne stacks him up for the pin at 2:54.

We take a break and come back with some grappling taking us to a stalemate to end round two. Borne gives a clean break but Dempsey knees him in the ribs for a cheap shot. After a stern warning from the referee, round three begins with Borne firing off uppercuts in the corner. That’s shrugged off and a Regalplex gives Dempsey the pin to tie it up at 25 seconds of the round and 7:43 total.

Round four begins with Dempsey going after the banged up ribs, including an octopus hold. That’s broken up and Borne fights back, including an Angle Slam for two. Another Regalplex is blocked and they trade near falls until Borne hits his dropkick for the winning pin at 2:47 of the round and 11:06 total.

Rating: C+. That’s how it should have gone, as you couldn’t have Borne lose again after the rather awesome performance at Battleground. Borne has completely outgrown the No Quarter Catch Crew so having him overcome some cheating to win at Dempsey’s own game is a great way to get him out of the team. Nice match here, with the absolute right result.

Izzi Dame attacks Brooks Jensen with a chair because he’s officially out of the Culling.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Arianna Grace

Steele is a former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler and the winner of the first season of LFG. Steele wastes no time in wrestling her to the mat, followed by a northern lights suplex. Grace stomps away in the corner but Steele isn’t having that and makes the comeback. A bridging German suplex gives Steele the pin at 2:24. If you want to make her look like a star, this was a good way to go about it.

We look back at Jacy Jayne winning the Women’s Title last week. Jayne’s line of “you all may be shocked, but I’m not” is pretty awesome.

Mike Santana gives a fired up speech about being ready to fight to save TNA from Trick Williams. He knows how great Williams is, but tonight he’ll be three seconds better.

Here is Fatal Influence for Jacy Jayne’s big celebration. Jayne tells the fans to stay off the bandwagon now that she’s wont he title. The looks on everyone’s faces when she won the title last week made her happy and she was never shocked at all. She has put in the work for years and gotten better. The reality is that she and Fallon Henley have been friends for years and they decided to fake the fight to give her a better chance of winning the title.

Cue Lainey Reid to interrupt, saying Jayne is the most beatable champion of all time. Lola Vice thinks she should get the title as well and here is Jordynne Grace to throw her name in the hat as well. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan join the parade, followed by Lash Legend and Thea Hail so the big fight can be on. Then the lights go out….and Mariah May is here. She wants the Women’s Title, though no name is officially given. This was a good way to set up the new reality in the division, with the May debut being the great surprise at the end.

Evolve Prime Minister Stevie Turner and Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong wants someone to step up.

Ethan Page and the Vanity Project are ready for the eight man tag.

Ethan Page/Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee

Kid takes Drake up against the ropes to start and chops away before handing it off to Lee for a running elbow. Stereo basement superkicks get two on Drake and a high crossbody gives Lee the same. Smokes comes in and it’s off to Evans to work on his arm. Legacy gets taken into the wrong corner though and the villains get to take over.

A dropkick starts the comeback though and Legacy hits a suicide dive to take out Swipe Right. Evans and Lee hit dives of their own but Page cuts off Kid’s dive. We take a break and come back with Evans in trouble as Drake stomps on his hands. A legsweep into a standing shooting star press gets two and Drake slaps on a chinlock.

That’s broken up so Page comes in, only to have the Twisted Grin broken up. Evans fires off a superkick and gets Lee back in so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Page’s powerslam gets two with Lee and Kid making the save. Kid and Evans hit a dive each, leaving Legacy to slug it out with Page. Baylor and Lee go to the top, with Lee knocking him down and hitting Operation Dragon for the pin at 13:30.

Rating: B-. For a match designed to set up the four way at Worlds Collide and get Legacy over as a possible threat, I’ve seen far worse. I’m not sure if Lee getting the pin makes sense as he isn’t involved in the match, but maybe they didn’t want to risk giving someone an advantage going into the title match. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but it went well enough.

Oba Femi and Jasper Troy have a tense showdown, where their contract is signed for a future match.

Zaria and Sol Ruca run into Tatum Paxley, who says she didn’t want to go out there earlier. Izzi Dame comes in and suggests that Paxley purge the people who aren’t her real friends.

Tony D’Angelo talks to Luca Crusifino, who has gotten them a match with High Ryze to show that they can trust each other. D’Angelo says that Crusifino didn’t get the Family’s permission, but Crusifino says they really aren’t a family anymore.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana

Santana is challenging and the winner of this defends against Elijah this Friday at Against All Odds. Williams backs him into the corner to start as the fans are all behind Santana here. A rather intimidating smile sets up Santana driving him into the corner but Williams gets in a shot to the face.

Williams’ running neckbreaker gets two but Santana glares his way up. Another knockdown sends Williams outside where Santana hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Santana knocking him into the corner for the right hands. Williams scores with the Trick Kick for two before grabbing the cravate. Back up and the chops just fire Santana up, with an exchange of kicks to the head rocking both of them.

Santana hits a Death Valley Driver for a double down and the Rolling Buck Fifty (cutter) gives Santana two. The big Cannonball gets two and a 450 connects for the same, with Williams putting a finger on the ropes. Williams bails to the floor and breaks Elijah’s guitar…and here is First Class (AJ Francis, who is formerly known as Top Dolla, and KC Navarro) from TNA to take Santana out. The Trick Shot retains the title at 12:26.

Rating: B-. The ending was a nice move and while Santana winning the title will be a great moment, it doesn’t need to happen yet. I still expect Joe Hendry to get the title back at Slammiversary for the big moment, but for now, Williams beating someone in a good first defense is a smart way to go. Santana will be fine and can go after First Class to give him some heat back.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt like the week where NXT restocked the shelves, especially in that women’s segment. The door has been revolving at a crazy pace as of late so this is something that they were going to have to do sooner or later. I like how it went, as there are some new faces around here who could make a big impact in a hurry. Good show here, but more of a needed one than anything else.

Results
Darkstate b. Chase U – Toss sitout powerbomb to Dixon
Myles Borne b. Charlie Dempsey 2-1
Tyra Mae Steele b. Arianna Grace – Bridging German suplex
Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page/Vanity Project – Operation Dragon to Baylor
Trick Williams b. Mike Santana – Trick Shot

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: May 27, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, Booker T.

We’re done with Battleground and that means it is time to start the rather long road to the Great American Bash. Assuming they don’t have a June special, that’s a long way off to get ready for something but it could be a nice positive. The big story coming out of Battleground is Trick Williams winning the TNA World Title. As for tonight, Ethan Page is challenging for the North American Title so let’s get to it.

Here is Battleground if you need a recap.

We open with a long Battleground recap.

North American Title: Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page

Page is challenging and the brawl is on before the bell, with security having to hold them back. We’re not waiting though as the match officially gets going, with Saints grabbing a headlock on the mat. Page reverses into one of his own but it’s too early for the Ego’s Edge. Instead Saints slips out to the apron and plants Saints down as the fight heads to the floor. Security comes in to break it up again so here is Ava to say….something as we take a break.

Back with Page and Saints beating up the security, with the fans approving. Security tries to get them broken up again but Page uses the distraction to hit a Twisted Grin onto an open chair. Saints is down on the floor and the Ego’s Edge connects for two back inside. They slug it out and Saints counters a powerslam into a tornado DDT. Saints fires off some clotheslines but Page hits an even bigger one to cut him off. A neck snap across the top rope sets up the Twisted Grin to give Page the pin and the title at 12:52.

Rating: B-. This was a wild brawl to start but then it turned into a regular match, which went well too. Saints is likely moving on to something bigger, with the title being a good way to start his NXT run. Page getting the title is a nice way to boost him up again, and adding a former NXT Champion to the title lineage is a smart idea.

Fatal Influence continues to snipe at each other, even though Jacy Jayne is facing Stephanie Vaquer tonight.

Video on TNA’s Mike Santana, who is making his NXT in-ring debut tonight.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura are glad to be back together and want the Tag Team Titles.

Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights

The No Quarter Catch Crew is here with Heights. Santana grabs a headlock to start before a dropkick sends him into the corner. A springboard spinning crossbody drops heights, who is back up with something like a hiptoss. That’s fine with Santana, who sends him outside for the big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with Heights hitting some running clotheslines up against the ropes. A gutwrench suplex gives Heights two and we hit the chinlock. Santana is back up with a clothesline and enziguri into a rolling cutter for two. The fans certainly approve but are a bit more silenced with Heights hitting a Death Valley Driver. Santana is back up with a fireman’s carry faceplant into Spin The Block (discus lariat) for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Santana is one of those stars who has one of the most important things you can have in wrestling: that fire in his eyes. There is something you get when you look at him and it makes Santana feel like that much of a bigger deal. It would not surprise me at all to see him be the TNA World Champion at some point this year and coming over to WWE one day down the line. This was a heck of a debut for him and it’s a good sign for his future.

The High Ryze is ready to take over.

Andre Chase tells his students to take risks so they ask Ava for a match. She gives them a match with Darkstate next week, which isn’t what Chase means.

Tony D’Angelo yells at Luca Crusifino about what he did/didn’t do at Battleground. Crusifino says Stacks let him go and he was scared of what would happen if he reached out. D’Angelo says he doesn’t know if he can trust Crusifino, who insists D’Angelo can.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. He brags about being the first NXT star to be the TNA World Champion but doesn’t want to hear those cheers. These people here are the same people who were cheering for the Average Joe. He’s on his way to TNA to defend the title, which has been held by names such as Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre and more. Now he’s turning his back on the fans because they turned their backs on him.

Cue Mike Santana to interrupt, which Williams calls a mistake. Santana isn’t having that because TNA is on a roll and Williams isn’t ruining that. Santana calls Williams a pretend rapper and champion who has never dealt with someone like him. A fight is teased but cue TNA boss Santino Marella to make the title match for next week. Williams isn’t interested in shaking hands so Santana clears the ring and holds up the belt.

Ava tells Stephanie Vaquer that she’ll be in a tag match at Worlds Collide and needs a partner. Lola Vice comes in to say she’ll do it.

Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley drives her into the corner to start and manages a butterfly suplex for a knockdown. Parker’s Backstabber out of the corner gives her a breather and the Tear Drop connects. A double arm crank goes on but Paxley is right back up with a rollup. An enziguri has Parker in more trouble and a running flipping Fameasser drops her again. Parker is knocked to the floor, where she grabs one of Paxley’s dolls and throws it inside. The distraction allows Parker to hit the Hypnotique for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. This felt like another step in Paxley’s decline, though I’m not sure how far that is going to go. At the same time, it is nice to see Parker getting another win as she continues to look strong. What matters the most is that she is turning into a bigger star and could wind up being a player in the title picture sooner than later.

Post match Thea Hail runs in to chase Parker off.

Video on Jasper Troy.

Jasper Troy vs. Dante Chen

Troy powers him into the corner to start and tries a slam. Chen slips out but gets sent flying with a backdrop. A drop onto the top rope has Chen in more trouble and Troy hits a backbreaker. That seems to wake Chen up a bit though and he grabs a tornado DDT. Troy runs him over again though and hits a Boss Man Slam for the win at 3:39.

Rating: C+. And that is why Chen has a job. He’s out there to make someone like Troy look good and it worked well enough. Troy is already getting into things with Oba Femi so he needed a win like this to get him a nice in-ring start. Odds are he’ll be in for a bigger match next time, but at least he did well to start.

Post match Oba Femi pops up on the platform, saying that Troy’s five minutes of fame are over because he has the Ruler’s attention.

Charlie Dempsey mocks Myles Borne and Tavion Heights for their losses, saying it’s time for the team to regroup. Borne doesn’t want to take a step back and agrees to face Dempsey for his freedom from the team. We’ll make it a rounds match.

Here is Ethan Page to celebrate his title win but Je’Von Evans interrupts. Evans talks about their history together and now he is getting a title shot at Worlds Collide. Cue AAA’s Laredo Kid, who wants the title as well. That’s not all though, because here is Rey Fenix to be the other challenger in a four way match at Worlds Collide.

In her office, Ava announces that Sean Legacy gets a title shot against the winner.

Tatum Paxley freaks out over her loss but runs into Sol Ruca and Zaria. They’re here if Paxley needs someone to talk to but the Culling is shown watching behind them.

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging. Vaquer charges in and the brawl starts fast, with Jayne getting rolled up for an early two. The Devil’s Kiss is broken up and Jayne gets two off a suplex. Back up and Vaquer sends her into various buckles but here are Chik Tormenta and Dalys for a distraction. Lola Vice runs in to cut them off and Vaquer hits a 619 into a springboard missile dropkick.

We take a break and come back with Jayne hitting a running kick to the face for two. Frustration is setting in so Jayne hits a Sling Blade backbreaker. Vaquer fights up and it’s a double swinging faceplant for a double down. Back up and Jayne knocks her into the corner for a knee to the face. Jayne knees her in the face as well for two of her own but Vaquer grabs a dragon screw legwhip.

They head to the floor where Jayne is sent into the steps but Henley offers a distraction back inside. That’s fine with Vaquer, who rams them together and then dives onto both of them. Back in and the Devil’s Kiss connects but Henley gets in a cheap shot from around the post. Jayne’s discus forearm connects for the pin and the title at 13:02.

Rating: C+. Well. That happened. This feels like a way to move Vaquer up to the main roster really, really fast and that’s not a bad move. She had a quick run on the main roster and looked more than comfortable. Jayne winning something is quite the move for her and opens up the doors for a lot of potential challengers. This was quite the shock, but what matters here is Vaquer seems likely on the way to the main roster, where she belongs.

The ring announcer is so stunned that he has to be told to make the announcement.

Overall Rating: B-. That is quite the change of path forward after Battleground, as we have another TNA star getting a World Title shot, the LFG winner going after the NXT Champion, a shocking upset main event and a title change in the opener. You do not get that kind of change around here very often and dang I’m curious to see where it goes next.

Results
Ethan Page b. Ricky Saints – Twisted Grin
Mike Santana b. Tavion Heights – Spin The Block
Jaida Parker b. Tatum Paxley – Hypnotique
Jasper Troy b. Dante Chen – Boss Man Slam
Jacy Jayne b. Stephanie Vaquer – Discus forearm

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: May 20, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Battleground and that means we’re in for the final push towards the show. The card is mostly set and now we get to see what is going to be added at the last minute. Some of these shows can be hit and miss and that makes me curious about what we’re going to see. Let’s get to it.

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

Je’Von Evans vs. Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Sean Legacy

Ricky Saints is on commentary. Adonis stomps away in the corner to start and we get an exchange of rollups for two each. Evans is sent outside for a dive from Adonis and Legacy is tossed as well. Back in and Evans’ dive is cut off so he busts out another one to drop both Legacy and Adonis as we take a break.

We come back with Adonis spinebustering Legacy onto Evans but Legacy blocks the Long Kiss Goodnight. Legacy missile dropkicks Adonis to the floor and hits a running Spanish Fly for two on Evans. Back up and Evans snaps off a super hurricanrana to Legacy but Adonis tries to steal the pin.

That’s broken up as well and all three of them need a breather. Adonis hits a superkick on Evans but Legacy breaks up the cover with a springboard 450. Evans cleans house again and frog splashes Adonis, with Legacy making another save. Cue Ethan Page to go after Saints though and Evans dives onto both of them. That leaves Adonis to miss a frog splash and Legacy grabs Shambles for the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B. This was the showcase for Legacy and it worked well for him. It’s fairly clear that he’s one of the brighter prospects in Evolve and it would not surprise me to see him wind up full time in NXT sooner than later. They had an entertaining match here and while I’m not sure Legacy is going to move to the top, this is a nice start for him on the next level.

Ava sends security to deal with Ethan Page. That brings her to Tyra Mae Steele and Jasper Troy, the winners of WWE LFG Season 1. They’ll be debuting in the next few weeks but Troy promises to make an impact tonight. Ava: “Ok.”

We look at Jordynne Grace training. She signed around the same time as Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer and they all want to be at the top. Grace has been in Mexico and Japan, plus dominating TNA. On Sunday at Battleground, she’ll prove she’s the best.

Lola Vice wishes Vaquer luck but runs into Fatal Influence. They argue a bit and Fallon Henley vs. Vice is set for tonight.

Trick Williams says people break their neck to see him while Joe Hendry breaks his neck to see the people. Williams raps about not losing to an average Joe and Booker T. seems impressed. I’m not a rap fan but this seemed to be decent.

Josh Briggs dedicates his match to Yoshiki Inamura.

Shawn Spears vs. Josh Briggs

The rest of the Culling is here with Spears. We’re joined in progress with Briggs running him over but Spears fires off some knees to the ribs. They go outside where Spears posts him before taking it back inside for a neckbreaker. A superkick is blocked though and Briggs hits a quick splash for two. Spears’ dive to the floor is pulled out of the air and Briggs drops him onto the announcers’ table. They go to get back inside but the Culling gets in a cheap shot, allowing Spears to get a small package for the pin at 5:30.

Rating: C. Am I supposed to be sad that Inamura is gone? I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but it could be interesting to see Briggs and Brooks Jensen join forces again in some way. It’s not like either of them have done anything important else in a long time so why not see what they can do. The match was nothing all that good anyway, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Post match the beatdown is on but Hank & Tank run in for the save.

Kelani Jordan bickers with Zaria and Sol Ruca tonight, with Zaria saying she’ll take care of Jordan for Ruca later.

Thea Hail, with her eye bandaged, yells at Tatum Paxley about the attack last week. Paxley says Hail has no idea what it’s like to lose everyone, which Hail doesn’t accept. Jaida Parker then jumps Hail from behind but wants nothing to do with Paxley. That was kind of funny.

Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon vs. OTM

Andre Chase is here with Connors/Dixon. Price knocks Connors down to start and then faceplants Dixon as well, leaving Chase worried on the floor. Back in and Connors runs Price over, allowing Dixon to hit a quick DDT. Nima comes in though and gets knocked back, only to grab the assisted Alabama Slam to finish Connors fast at 3:10.

Rating: C. Just shy of a squash here, with OTM running over the new Chase U. That’s what it should have been, as Chase U has nothing going for them yet and have quite a long way to go. At the same time, OTM is a pair of powerhouses and it makes sense to have them smash through some people now that they’re back. If nothing else, they could be into the title scene sooner than later.

Here are Myles Borne and Oba Femi for their final showdown before the title match. Femi is surprised and impressed that Borne made it this far. He understands that Borne is fighting for people who believe in him and who are following their dreams. However, that dream was realized when Borne won the battle royal and it all ends when the bell rings at Battleground. Borne talks about how he has been treated differently for his entire career.

This is about making a statement and he hopes Femi underestimates him. Everyone has done that before, from the doctors and nurses to NXT coaches. He’s been overcoming battles all of his life and every ruler eventually falls. No he can’t hear well, but he’ll hear the 1-2-3 on Sunday when he wins the NXT Title. Borne leaves and here is Jasper Troy to jump Femi. Borne makes the save and holds up the title, eventually handing it back to Femi for the staredown. I don’t believe he has a chance of winning the title but man alive Borne is turning himself into one of the easiest to like stars NXT has seen in a good while.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page argue in Ava’s office and Saints is willing to give him a title shot to get his hands on him. Ava says they don’t make matches….and then she makes the match they want for the title next week.

Tony D’Angelo talks about what it means when you get betrayed. He and Stacks grew up together and have known each other for years. They made the D’Angelo Family but now Stacks wants to run everything. Stacks doesn’t get what it takes to be in charge and doesn’t see everything. On Sunday, Stacks will see how things really work. Those personal touches are making it even better and that should be a good thing at Battleground.

Lola Vice vs. Fallon Henley

Jacy Jayne is here with Henley, who gets wrestled to the mat without much trouble to start. Vice takes her down again without much trouble as Jayne doesn’t seem impressed on the floor. Back up and Vice snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor but Henley gets in a shot of her own.

We take a break and come back with Vice striking her way out of trouble. That doesn’t last long as Henley is back with some sliding forearms but Vice kicks her down. Vice’s running hip attack in the corner gets two so Henley grabs a flying faceplant. Vice fights up again so Jayne offers a distraction, only for Henley to be sent into her. The spinning backfist gives Vice the pin at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Vice continues to be in a weird place, as she smashes through various stars but never seems to get to the next level. She doesn’t quite seem ready to move up to the title picture, but there isn’t much of a point in having her beat people like this. The issues between Fatal Influence continues and I’m not sure where that is going, but it doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere good.

Stephanie Vaquer has a sitdown interview where she talks about all of the work it took to get here. She was inspired by Rey Mysterio and now she knows that she had to do everything to accomplish her goals. Jordynne Grace conquers companies but Vaquer conquers countries.

Darkstate talks about how Dion Lennox started the team and they are all ready to take NXT down. They all bring something different, and now it is time to find out who is next.

We look at Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson (NBA stars) almost getting in a fight last year on Smackdown.

Kelani Jordan vs. Zaria

Sol Ruca is here with Zaria, who sends Jordan flying with a release German suplex to start. Jordan gets in a shot to the face and hits a high crossbody for two, followed by a choke to try and slow Zaria down. They go outside where Zaria sends her head first into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Jordan escaping a belly to back suplex attempt and managing a knockdown for a double breather. The exchange of forearms goes to Zaria so Jordan gives her a running crossbody. A tornado DDT plants Zaria for two but Jordan misses a 450. Jordan tries another choke but gets flipped into a Cannonball into the corner (that was cool). Back up and Jordan is sent outside, where she goes after Ruca. This brings Ruca up onto the apron but Zaria is sent into her, allowing Jordan to grab the rollup for the pin at 10:32.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why both women’s matches had the same finish but it’s not a great sign. That aside, Jordan winning to get the next shot at Ruca isn’t a bad way to go. She’s already a former champion and that could be quite the accomplishment if Ruca can beat her. At the same time you have Zaria….and she is certainly there. Unfortunately that’s about all there is to say about her at the moment and that isn’t promising.

Battleground rundown.

Here is Joe Hendry for a concert. After praising Trick Williams for trying in his first performance, Hendry sings about how he’ll be champion after Battleground. Williams is merely the World Champion of producing tears and is only a bad sidekick to Carmelo Hayes. This gives us a clip of Williams and Hayes in a haunted house back in the day, albeit with some Hendry heads superimposed.

Hendry sings about how Williams is Melo’s b****, which brings out Williams to interrupt. Williams calls him Average Joe and the fight is on, with the Trick Shot hitting the guitar. Hendry gives him the Standing Ovation (chokeslam) and sings about winning on Sunday to end the show. That’s pretty clearly the main event, which is a rather weird thing to see but it’s the right way to go.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was about getting us ready for Battleground but thankfully they did a nice job of getting some things ready for other stories down the line. That is something that has been missing from various go home shows and it’s nice to have them get things better. I’m mostly interested in Battleground and I’m interested in where things are going, so we’ll call this a good enough one.

Results
Sean Legacy b. Je’Von Evans and Ashante Thee Adonis – Shambles to Adonis
Shawn Spears b. Josh Briggs – Small package
OTM b. Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon – Assisted Alabama Slam to Connors
Lola vice b. Fallon Henley – Spinning backfist
Kelani Jordan b. Zaria – Rollup

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: May 13, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

We’re less than two weeks away from Battleground and the big story is going to see Trick Williams challenging Joe Hendry for the TNA World Title. That means there is a good chance that Hendry will be around this week, along with some other things being set up for the show. We could be in for some big happenings so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here is the No Quarter Catch Crew, with new #1 contender Myles Borne. He talks about how he was probably not the big favorite for last week’s battle royal and let’s get around this already: yes he has a disability because he is partially deaf. It affects his hearing and his ability to speak, but that’s not what he wants to be known as. He wants to be known as the one who overcomes the odds and while he can’t hear very well, at Battleground, he’ll hear himself called the new NXT Champion.

Cue Ethan Page, who is tired of this sentimental stuff. Borne won the title shot on a fluke so he can’t beat Oba Femi. Fans: “YOU CAN’T EITHER!” Page wants the title shot on the line tonight and Charlie Dempsey thinks it’s a good idea. Ava comes out to say it’s on, but Dempsey’s match is on right now. Page is right in that Borne came out of nowhere, but this did a good job of making him feel a lot more personable. That’s a nice thing to see and it worked well here.

Oba Femi vs. Charlie Dempsey

Non-title. Femi wastes no time in powering him out to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Dempsey getting a few shots to the head and grabbing a headscissors takeover. Dempsey starts in on the arm but Femi slams his way out of an armbar. A short armscissors is countered with a dead lift and Femi starts firing off the uppercuts. The Fall From Grace finishes Dempsey at 8:13.

Rating: B-. Dempsey going after the arm and trying to do the technical stuff worked well enough, but there was only so much you can do to stop a monster like Femi. This was more about Femi overcoming a bit of adversity and winning in the end, which is what he does well. Nice opener, and a bit better than I was expecting.

Earlier today, Thea Hail and Karmen Petrovic ran into Tatum Paxley, who was losing her mind and screaming about her friends leaving her (as Gigi Dolin was released).

Ricky Saints comes up to a warming up Ethan Page and mocks him for trying to ruin everyone’s moments. Page isn’t impressed and says Saints can go back to playing second fiddle to him. Saints: “Good luck with that.”

Wes Lee vs. Tony D’Angelo

Lee has officially dubbed his team with Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont as “High Rise”. Yeah that’s not good. Lee’s headlock doesn’t get him very far so he fires off some kicks to the legs. That earns him some uppercuts from D’Angelo but DuPont grabs the foot. That offers a grand total of no impact but D’Angelo sends Lee outside, with the other two catching him. D’Angelo dives onto the three of them and we take a break.

Back with Lee yelling a lot and promising to be the next Don. That brings D’Angelo up with some headbutts to the floor and an overhead belly to belly connects back inside. The powerslam gives D’Angelo two but he gets pulled down into a hurricanrana. The Cardiac Kick is speared down…but Stacks is on the Titantron. Stacks shows up at Riz’s safe house and that’s enough of a distraction for the Cardiac Kick to finish D’Angelo at 10:15.

Rating: C+. Odds are that is setting up the Stacks vs. D’Angelo showdown at Battleground and Lee winning here is a nice moment for him. Giving the stable a new name isn’t going to make it much better, but the winning could help. Not exactly a great match, but it set up the bigger match down the line.

OTM is coming back.

Here is Stephanie Vaquer for a chat. She saw Jordynne Grace becoming the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title and now it’s time for them to fight at Battleground. Cue Fatal Influence to interrupt, with Jacy Jayne bringing up Fallon Henley losing the Women’s North American Title.

Henley doesn’t like that but here is Grace to interrupt. Grace is here to protect her investment, which isn’t something Vaquer likes. Jayne mocks Grace’s lack of success, which Vaquer says will continue at Battleground. Grace is going to make sure Vaquer makes it to Battleground. Given that it’s another show and a half, that’s not much of a guarantee.

Myles Borne says he has this, mainly due to Charlie Dempsey being banged up.

The Undertaker and Bubba Ray Dudley talk to the finalists of the women’s side of WWE LFG. Izzi Dame, Nikkita Lyons, Lola Vice and Lash Legend all come in to threaten anyone who comes for this division. Undertaker isn’t intimidated. Dang I can’t wait for LFG to be over so they can stop talking about it.

The D’Angelo Family races to the safe house.

Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page

For the Battleground title shot. Borne wrestles him into a front facelock to start and then armdrags him into an armbar. That’s broken up and Borne reverses Page’s suplex attempt into a successful version. Page elbow shim in the face and grabs a chinlock, which is broken up rather quickly as well. A clothesline puts Page out on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Page hitting a superplex but not being able to get a Boston crab. Borne snaps off an overhead belly to belly suplex and an Angle Slam gets two. Page blocks a dropkick for two more but it’s too early for the Ego’s Edge. Twisted Grin is countered as well and Borne hits a dropkick into a jackknife rollup for the pin at 11:09.

Rating: B-. The point of this match was to make Borne look like a more serious challenger to Oba Femi and it went just fine. At the end of the day, NXT has two shows to have Borne go from basically a nobody to challenging for the NXT Title. He got a clean win over a former NXT Champion and that’s good, but you can only get him so far that fast. Borne did look good here though and that’s all he could do.

Sean Legacy is upset about losing last week in the battle royal and wants Je’Von Evans.

Evans is interested but Ashante Thee Adonis comes up to mock the idea. Ricky Saints likes the idea too, and says maybe the winner can get a title shot after Battleground.

Tony D’Angelo arrives at the safe house and gets jumped by Stacks, who mocks everything he’s doing. The challenge is issued for Battleground.

Thea Hail vs. Tatum Paxley

Hail punches her down to start and wants to know what she did to Paxley. Some armdrags take Paxley down but she faceplants Hail down. Hail reverses a ram into the buckle as Jaida Parker is watching backstage. An enziguri connects with Hail, who is right back with a rollup for two. Paxley’s running flipping Fameasser gets two but Hail clotheslines her way out of trouble. The Kimura sends Paxley straight to the rope so Hail grabs it again. That sends Paxley to Hail’s eye, which is actually a DQ at 4:35.

Rating: C+. This was pretty much all about the ending and it only worked so well. At the end of the day, this feels like a total shift for Paxley as her short lived team with Gigi Dolin is over. It continues to astound me that the team was thrown together and then left to die without any kind of resolution, even a short term one, as it creates this kind of an issue. Paxley being insane could be a good way to go, but we’ll have to see where it goes from here.

Post match Paxley goes for the eye again and has to be held back.

Kelani Jordan comes in to yell at Sol Ruca and Zaria for taking her out last week. Jordan wants one more shot at Zaria and when she wins, she gets a title shot. Ruca accepts, with Zaria not being happy.

We get the Joe Hendry/Trick Williams contract signing. Ava talks about the prestige of the title and Williams promises to take the title. Hendry knows Williams knows what it means to break out, but now Williams is just complaining about everything. Hendry talks about how he’s making TNA bigger than ever before but Williams says everyone has his fifteen minutes of fame. Well except for Hollywood Trick that is.

Williams signs and Hendry talks about how this is Williams’ last chance, because he has no path back to the NXT Title. After Battleground, the TNA Title is gone too. Hendry signs and staring ensues. There wasn’t much new here, but both of them sold it well. I’m just not sure I can imagine Hendry actually beating him.

Hank And Tank come in to see Josh Briggs, who is a little blue. Briggs is sad to lose his friend and his partner but here is Shawn Spears to mock him for his losses. Briggs doesn’t want to hear this and implies he wants a match with Spears.

The new Chase U gets their first match set for next week against….OTM. Andre Chase: “GUYS WHAT THE F***?”

Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fatal Influence

Grace backdrops and clotheslines Henley to start but Vaquer tags herself in. A springboard high crossbody hits Henley but it’s back to Jayne for a snap suplex. Vaquer pulls her into a European Clutch for two, only for Henley to get in a cheap shot from the apron. Jayne’s superkick sets up a Codebreaker and Vaquer is in trouble. Grace gets pulled off the apron and Fatal Influence puts both of them down as we take a break.

Back with Vaquer fighting out of the corner but Jayne plants her back down for two. Jayne hits her with a pump kick but Jayne gets in a shot of her own and brings Grace back in. Grace cleans house for two and everything breaks down with Fatal Influence actually getting the better of things. Grace takes a shot for Vaquer though, only to fight out of a double team. The Juggernaut Driver finishes Jayne at 10:54.

Rating: B-. So we have a team who is starting to work well together for the sake of their upcoming match, while Fatal Influence’s issues continue. I’m not sure how a split would go between them as there isn’t much of a reason to cheer for them, but we seem to be heading in that direction. The Grace/Vaquer story isn’t exactly original, but it should go well enough to get them to Battleground.

Battleground rundown.

Grace holds up Vaquer’s arm.

Ethan Page has attacked Ricky Saints.

Vaquer and Grace look at each other some more to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was mostly the “get Battleground ready really fast” and it worked out fairly well. The problem here is that they only had so much time to make it work and they did it well enough here. There is still a lot to do next week, but this was a good way to get us closer.

Results
Oba Femi b. Charlie Dempsey – Fall From Grace
Wes Lee b. Tony D’Angelo – Cardiac Kick
Myles Borne b. Ethan Page – Dropkick
Thea Hail b. Tatum Paxley via DQ when Paxley poked the eye
Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence – Juggernaut Driver to Jayne

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: May 6, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

We’re less than a month away from Battleground and the big story continues to be TNA World Champion Joe Hendry having issues with NXT’s Trick Williams. That could open up some doors to a big time fight, but there are some other things that need to be covered on the way to the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Hank And Tank/Joe Hendry vs. Darkstate

Darkstate jumps them to start fast with Lennox spinebustering Tank for two. Hank comes in for a backsplash on James and it’s off to Hendry for a delayed suplex. It’s already back to Tank, who gets taken down by Lennox. Hendry gets the tag though and everything breaks down, with Hendry cleaning house. Hank almost gets caught in Hendry’s fall away slam but instead they pause for the three man pose.

We take a break and come back with Hank hammering away on Jones but a distraction cuts it off. Hank gets taken into the wrong corner and Griffin gets two off a backbreaker. A clothesline gives James two of his own and we hit the chinlock. Griffin’s powerslam gets two more but Hank breaks free and brings in Tank to clean house. Everything breaks down and the fall away slam sends Jones falling away. Cue Trick Williams to brawl with Hendry though, leaving the toss triplebomb to pin Tank at 11:47.

Rating: C+. I like what they’re doing with Darkstate so far as they’re being treated like a big deal. The team has debuted and turned into a threat in just a few weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them win the Tag Team Titles sooner than later and that’s a good place to start. Other than that, Williams vs. Hendry should be good when they get here, as it’s pretty clearly up next for both of them.

Karmen Petrovic and Thea Hail are talking about the women’s division when Jaida Parker comes in to talk down to them. Petrovic seems ready to fight Parker soon.

The No Quarter Catch Crew is ready to fight, even if it’s every man for themselves.

Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan

Sol Ruca is here with Zaria. Jordan gets powered out of the corner to start but comes back with a kick to the head. Some shoulders to the ribs have stagger Zaria but she’s right back with a gutbuster. Jordan is fine enough to kick her out to the floor, only for Zaria to be ready for One Of A Kind. Zaria gets knocked down on the outside again and we take a break.

Back with Zaria on the second rope and lifting Jordan up for a choke. Jordan flips out of a release German suplex though and a tornado DDT gets two on Zaria. A 450 misses though and Zaria’s spear gets two more. Jordan’s standing legdrop into a reverse DDT gets the same and she slips out of a chokeslam. Zaria gets sent outside and taken out with a dive but Jordan gets knocked into Ruca by mistake. Ruca makes a quick catch though, allowing Zaria to spear Jordan through the barricade. The F5 gives Zaria the pin at 11:24.

Rating: C+. This is more like it from Zaria, who got to smash through Jordan (and the barricade) to win in the end. She’s a powerhouse and it’s nice to see what she can do. I’m not sure what she’s going to do other than likely turn on Ruca at some point, but that’s better than nothing. Just let her be a monster and it should work well.

Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont come up to mock Tony D’Angelo, who would rather fight than talk. They’ll see each other later.

Lola Vice knows Stephanie Vaquer is ready for whomever wins the main event. Giulia comes in to say she’s waiting on Vaquer.

Battle Royal

Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, Brad Baylor, Timothy Thatcher, Ricky Smokes, Sean Legacy, Tavion Heights, Ethan Page, Myles Borne, Lexis King, Shawn Spears, Nick Vance, Brooks Jensen, Ashante Thee Adonis, Elijah, Wes Lee, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson DuPont, Chris Island, Charlie Dempsey, Yoshiki Inamura, Shiloh Hill, Zachary Wentz, Josh Briggs, Ridge Holland

For the NXT Title shot at Battleground and Elijah, now in TNA, is better known as Elias. After a bit of a song, the bell rings and Island (from WWE LFG) is thrown out by King. That’s the end of good things for King though, who is tossed out as well. Inamura knocks Baylor out and Adonis gets to clean house. Williams saves himself though and gets rid of Adonis as we take a break.

Back with Inamura and Briggs almost getting into a fight and Thatcher being tossed out by Page. Vance sacrifices himself to save Spears and gets eliminated as a result. Williams kicks Hill out but gets sent over the top, where he hangs on to the bottom rope. Jensen charges at DuPont and accidentally eliminates himself at the same time. Inamura accidentally knocks Briggs out and most of the people left stop for a breather. Wentz and Lee tease a fight but get broken up, with Wentz being tossed out.

We take another break and come back again with Holland and Inamura trading forearms. The exchange of clotheslines stagger both of them but Williams is back up with the double elimination. Cue Joe Hendry for a distraction though, allowing Elijah to toss Williams out. Hendry and Williams brawl to the back and Spears throws Elijah out as well. Legacy hits a kick to Evans, who springboards back to knock Legacy down. A cutter cuts Legacy off and Page’s low bridge gets rid of him.

We’re down to Page, Borne, Evans and Spears, with the fans approving of what they’re seeing. Borne starts snapping off some powerslams but gets kicked in the head by Page. Spears superkicks Borne but winds up on the apron with Evans. With Spears back inside, Evans springboards in to take down Spears and Page. A springboard cutter hits Borne but Page and Spears cut off another springboard cutter and eliminate Evans. Naturally the alliance doesn’t last as Spears is thrown over, with Borne sending Page over at the same time for the double elimination and the huge upset win at 23:00.

Rating: B-. Well ok then. I’m not sure how many people would have guessed Borne but that’s kind of the point of a battle royal. You can have someone come in and get a surprise win, which could set up something else on the way to the title match. Borne getting the title shot is quite the odd choice, though I certainly did like the surprise of going with a fresh star rather than going with someone who has been around the title scene for a good while.

Post match the No Quarter Catch Crew comes in to celebrate.

Jordynne Grace is ready to become #1 contender. Izzi Dame and Lash Legend come in to laugh at her, with Grace saying she’ll win the title and see them on the other side. Grace barely comes up to Legend’s shoulder.

Jaida Parker vs. Karmen Petrovic

Parker powers her into the corner to start but Petrovic is back with something like a basement Rough Ryder for two. Petrovic sends her outside for a dive, only to get caught with a spinning elbow to the face back inside. A Tear drop in the corner sets up a seated neck crank but Petrovic fights up again. Petrovic knocks her into the corner for a running kick to the face for two, meaning frustration is setting in. The spinning kick misses though and Parker hits Hipnotique for the pin at 4:10.

Rating: C. This was a way to have Parker go out there and get a quick win as she is likely on the way to getting to do something bigger in the near future. She’s not ready for the title picture yet but there is a good chance that she could wind up there one day. To set that up, she is going to need some more wins like this one so points for building towards the future.

Post match Parker stays on her but Thea Hail makes the save. Parker knocks Hail off the apron as well but bails when Petrovic gets back up.

Ava tells Joe Hendry that he’ll be defending the TNA Title against Trick Williams at Battleground. Next week: a contract signing.

Video on OTM, who are on the way back.

Wes Lee is on the phone and tells Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont that “everybody has a price.”

Yoshiki Inamura knows he disappointed Josh Briggs and is on his way back to Japan. Inamura gives him back his fest and they seem to part as friends. The Culling comes in and Brooks Jensen as Briggs might have always been the problem. Or maybe it’s putting him with lame partners.

Charlie Dempsey suggests that Myles Borne give him the title shot for the good of the team. Oba Femi comes in and says he’ll see Borne at Battleground. Dempsey says he’ll be getting the shot, but Borne says not so fast. Instead, how about Dempsey faces Femi? Works for Femi. Borne: “D***. He’s p*****.” Dempsey loves Borne’s selective hearing.

We go to Chase U, where the students have some new gear for Andre Chase. He tries on a shirt and then a track suit, the latter of which seems to work for him.

Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia

For the Women’s Title shot at Battleground. They forearm it out to start with Giulia knocking her into the corner and hammering away. A gutwrench faceplant has Giulia in trouble (landing on her head doesn’t help, with commentary sounding scared) and Grace strikes away. Giulia’s STO gets two and a basement dropkick has Grace down again. Giulia breaks up a middle rope suplex and hits a neckbreaker onto the floor as we take a break.

Back with Grace fighting out of a cravate and hitting a spinebuster for two. Giulia pulls her into a guillotine but Grace reverses into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Grace’s Michinoku Driver gets two and a delayed superplex into a Jackhammer gets the same. Back up and Giulia hits a northern lights driver for two, followed by a modified octopus. They forearm it out again and the Juggernaut Driver gives Grace the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. It’s weird to see Giulia taking a clean loss but this sets Grace up for the title shot at Battleground. Grace has felt like she has been gearing up for something like this since she debuted and now it’s starting to happen. At the same time, I’m not sure where this leaves Giulia, who lost clean and needs something to do.

Stephanie Vaquer comes out for the staredown with Grace to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show that started setting up a lot for Battleground, either by having the matches officially made or teasing something that will be announced soon. I liked the show well enough, but it was the show that sets things up for later. That Borne win was definitely a big surprise and kept me interested for a good while on the show, so points for trying something out of left field.

Results
Darkstate b. Hank And Tank/Joe Hendry – Toss triplebomb to Tank
Zaria b. Kelani Jordan – F5
Myles Borne won a battle royal last eliminating Ethan Page
Jaida Parker b. Karmen Petrovic – Hipnotique
Jordynne Grace b. Giulia – Juggernaut Driver

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: April 22, 2025
Location: BleauLive Theater, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

We are done with Stand & Deliver and still in Las Vegas so it is time for a pretty big show. In this case, we have the Women’s Title and Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line, which should make for a good night. Other than that, it is time for a bunch of fallout and getting ready for the next major event. Let’s get to it.

Here is Stand & Deliver if you need a recap.

We open with a long Stand & Deliver recap, which was an eventful show.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez vs. Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin

Paxley and Dolin are challenging after winning an elimination match at Stand & Deliver. Morgan knocks Paxley into the corner to start but gets pulled down by her hair. Rodriguez quickly comes in for a swinging front facelock to take over. Paxley gets in a facebuster on Morgan but Dolin can’t do much with Rodriguez. A high crossbody is countered into a powerslam to give Rodriguez two but everything breaks down. Paxley moonsaults off the apron onto both champions and we take a break.

Back with Rodriguez grabbing a chinlock on Paxley before handing it off to Morgan. Three Amigos set up the Eddie Dance for two but Paxley knees her way out of Rodriguez’s suplex. A DDT breaks up the suplex and it’s off to Dolin to pick up the pace. The Tejana Bomb is broken up and Paxley’s 450 connects with Morgan making the save. The Cemetery Driver is loaded up but Morgan comes in off a blind tag with a top rope Codebreaker to drop Paxley. That means the Tejana Bomb to Dolin sets up Oblivion to retain the titles at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Dolin and Paxley were a fine choice from NXT to go after the titles and the match wasn’t bad at all. The two title changes in the last two days made the belts feel like they could be in a bit more jeopardy here and that helped a lot. Morgan and Rodriguez are turning into the big bads of the division and that is something the titles have been needing for a long time.

Lexis King asks Penn and Teller to bring his Heritage Cup back but has to admit that magic is real and defend the Cup tonight. Deal, and he gets the Cup back.

We look at NXT starts competing at Bloodsport.

Darkstate mocks Miles Borne and the No Quarter Catch Crew. Je’Von Evans comes in and a match is made for later.

Here is Ricky Saints for a chat. Saints is happy to have retained the title and even his mother doesn’t think much of Ethan Page. Cue Lexis King to interrupt and while he’s happy to have his Cup back, he wants the North American Title. King will even put the Cup up to make it title for title. Works for Saints.

Thea Hail is happy with Hank & Tank and Sol Ruca for winning at Stand & Deliver but Jaida Parker and Fatal Influence aren’t happy with Hail’s energy. Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne tell Fallon Henley to deal with it and leave. Henley says she will since the other two never could.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. ???

King is defending against…the returning Noam Dar, with commentary not exactly giving him a hot reception. Dar takes him down for a quickly broken ankle lock before hitting a running shot in the corner. Some elbows to the face get two but King runs him down with a knee to the head for the same. Dar strikes away but gets superkicked down for two. King misses a Swanton though and a spinning elbow gives Dar the Cup back at 4:03.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but Dar beat him pretty decisively. After the Cup has had so many things going on with it recently, I’m wondering if we might be coming up on a unification match. Without the rounds, there isn’t much of a point to having the Cup as its own thing, so unless Dar is reinstating the rules (which he could), I’m not sure why it needs to exist.

Roxanne Perez is annoyed at people taking her spotlight and is ready to win the Women’s Title tonight.

Fallon Henley vs. Thea Hail

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Henley chops away in the corner to start but gets rolled up for a fast two. It’s too early for the Kimura as Booker goes on a rant about Chase U being a horrible university. Hail throws her down but gets caught with something like a reverse exploder suplex. Nyx distracts the referee but Jayne kicks Henley by mistake. The Kimura makes Henley tap at 2:25.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. Femi gets right to the point in saying he did exactly what he promised he would do at Stand & Deliver. We pause for an OBA chant before Femi praises Je’Von Evans for being better than he expected. He can’t stand Trick Williams though, because he is just that much better than Williams. Cue Williams to say he wants the one on one title shot. And here is Joe Hendry.

He isn’t seeing the same Williams that he tagged with last year. The truth is that Williams is entitled instead of hungry and now he’s just a whiny b****. Williams wants to talk about what he believes: Hendry had his moment and got beaten up at Wrestlemania. Hendry: “I was in the ring and you were in the stands.” He’ll be defending the title at Rebellion, but he has business with Femi. Williams tries to get involved and is quickly tossed out, leaving us with a staredown. That could be interesting.

Luca Crusifino comes to meet Stacks in the desert. Crusifino yells at Stacks for turning on the D’Angelo Family and wants this to be solved. Stacks asks if Crusifino knows why he was invited out here. Crusifino: “….oh f***.”

Sol Ruca, with Zaria, is happy but Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to mock her. Ruca tells them to get out and threatens to come for the titles.

Trick Williams breaks a bunch of stuff and Ava throws him out.

Darkstate vs. Je’Von Evans/Miles Borne

It’s Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin for Darkstate with the other two on the floor. Borne works on Lennox’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Evans for a springboard hurricanrana. Griffin throws Evans into the corner though and drops him with a shoulder. Some dropkicks put Darkstate on the floor but Griffin pulls Evans’ dive out of the air. Borne’s dive works a bit better though and we take a break.

Back with Griffin pulling Evans out of the air again and sending him flying with a fall away slam. Lennox tosses Evans to Griffin for a powerslam and a waistlock has Evans in more trouble. Evans finally rolls over and brings in Borne with the diving tag so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Griffin pulls Evans out of the air again (dude never learns) for a planting. A double powerbomb finishes Borne at 9:57.

Rating: C+. Darkstate might not be anything original but what matters is they are being treated like something important. They came in, made an impact, and have racked up some wins. The people involved aren’t exactly anything special but they’re being presented as something good and that’s what’s going to make this a success.

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew is on the stage and does not approve.

Shawn Spears has been talking to Ava when Yoshiki Inamura comes in, saying it is time for him to go back to Pro Wrestling Noah. He wanted to win the Tag Team Titles so Ava gives him one more shot with Josh Briggs next week. Cue Briggs to ask how that happened. Inamura: “Old Japanese secret.”

Tony D’Angelo goes to Riz’s hotel room and they can’t believe what Stacks has done. They realize they haven’t heard from Luca Crusifino but D’Angelo says it’s going to have to come to blows with Stacks. Riz wants them to work it out but we’re beyond that point. D’Angelo wants Riz to go to a safe house and she reluctantly agrees.

Ricky Saints is happy that Noam Dar won the Heritage Cup but Lexis King is still getting his title shot. Ethan Page comes in for a distraction and King decks Saints.

Andre Chase opens a suitcase and pulls out a Chase U sweater. Chase: “WE’RE F****** BACK BABY!”

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is challenging and takes her into the corner to start but gets wrestled down. They trade rollups for two each until Perez gets two more off la majistral. That’s good for a staredown until Vaquer takes over, only for the Devil’s Kiss to be blocked. Perez gets in a shot on the bad arm and we take a break.

Back with Perez dropkicking her out to the ramp, where Vaquer hits a superkick into a 619. A springboard crossbody drops Perez on the ramp again and NOW the Devil’s Kiss can get quite the reaction. The SVB is blocked but Vaquer gets a regular backbreaker instead. Perez is right back with the crossface and she flips back into the middle of the ring. That’s reversed into some near falls but Pop Rox is blocked. A dragon screw legwhip sets up SVB to retain the title at 11:39.

Rating: B-. That very well might be it for Perez in NXT as there is a grand total of nothing left for her to do around here. She’s dominated the division before and now it is in the capable hands of the newcomers. Let Vaquer, Grace and Giulia run things for a bit while Perez sees what she can do on the main roster where she belongs.

Post match Giulia comes out for the staredown. Jordynne Grace is watching from the crowd to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a solid fallout show from Stand & Deliver as they started up some fresh stories while also dealing with everything that happened. I’m curious to see where a lot of this goes and that is always a nice feeling to have. It’s also something that was only kind of there going into Stand & Deliver so maybe things are starting to turn around in the right way.

Results
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin – Oblivion to Dolin
Noam Dar b. Lexis King – Spinning back elbow
Thea Hail b. Fallon Henley – Kimura
Darkstate b. Je’Von Evans/Miles Borne – Double powerbomb to Borne
Stephanie Vaquer b. Roxanne Perez – SVB

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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Stand & Deliver 2025
Date: April 19, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the biggest show of the year and the card is stacked enough. The show features a variety of matches and most of the titles are on the line. The main event is Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams challenging Oba Femi for the NXT Title. Since it’s Wrestlemania Weekend, there’s a ladder match in there too. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley vs. Fatal Influence vs. Meta Four vs. Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade

Elimination rules and the winners get a Women’s Tag Team Title shot on Tuesday. Perez is a bit scared to start with Legend, who knocks her into the corner for the tag off to Dolin. Legend comes in to hammer away and it’s already off to Jade as everything breaks down. Legend’s toss into Jackson’s sitout powerbomb gets two on Paxley with Dolin making the save. All eight get in to brawl and it’s time for the dives to the floor. Jade DDTs Jackson on the floor, leaving Perez to counter a powerbomb into Pop Rox to pin Jackson at 7:31.

Jade comes in for a running neckbreaker to Jayne…as Perez walks out. Dolin and Paxley get a double rollup to pin Jade at 9:33. We’re down to two and Paxley and Dolin get a double submission on Nyx, with Henley making the save. A running knee gets two on Dolin with Paxley making a save of her own. Henley is knocked outside and the Cemetery Drive finishes Jayne at 12:50.

Rating: C+. I can always go for the elimination rules to make things more interesting and they definitely helped here. Paxley and Dolin might not be likely to win the titles but they’re a fun team that the fans can get behind. The bigger story here is Perez walking out, which is likely going to see her move up to the main roster. It’s not like she has anything else to do around here.

The opening video looks at Las Vegas and how things have gone from nothing into gold. Now the thirst for that gold is as strong as ever. It’s all about winning the titles, with a look at the lineup, including the non-title match.

North American Title: Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page

Saints is defending and starts fast with a jumping enziguri. The dancing Old School drops Page again but a tornado DDT is broken up. Page powerslams him onto the apron for a nasty crash and they go back inside. Some forearms to the back have Saints in more trouble and a suplex gets two. Saints fights up and knocks Page to the floor but a dive hits the announcers’ table.

The Boston crab goes on back inside but Saints escapes and fires off the shots to the face. That earns him a ram into the turnbuckle, followed by a suplex over the top for another nasty crash. Back in and a springboard tornado DDT cuts Page off but he slams Saints out of the corner for two more. Saints manages a spinning reverse DDT and goes up, where he gets caught by Page, only to come back with a powerbomb. Page knocks him down again though and hits the Ego’s Edge for a near fall. The Twisted Grin is blocked though and Saints hits the spear. Roshambo retains the title at 12:38.

Rating: B-. Saints continues to look good when he is given the chance out there and Page is a good choice for an opponent, as he can work well enough with anyone. This was Saints’ latest showcase as it’s clear that the company thinks pretty highly of him. That’s all this needed to be and the fans certainly liked it well enough.

Tag Team Titles: Fraxiom vs. Hank & Tank

Fraxiom is defending after Hank & Tank won a gauntlet match to get the shot. Axiom and Hank start things off with Hank not quite being able to keep up with him. Frazer comes in and gets double teamed down, setting up Tank’s backsplash for two. It’s back to Axiom as everything breaks down and Axiom hits a running kick to Hank for two more. A shot to the face wakes Hank up and he blasts Axiom with a clothesline.

Frazer comes back in for a rather fast running forearm into the running shooting star press for two. Hank fights out of a sleeper and hands it back to Tank to clean house. Everything breaks down again and the Golden Ratio hits Tank. Axiom takes out Hank with a dive on the floor, setting up a frog splash into a 450 for two more (that’s a bit of a stretch). Tank comes back in and an assisted splash hits Frazer for another near fall.

Frazer is sent outside so Hank tries a big suicide dive, only to crash onto the table (which doesn’t break). Back in and a high/low gets two on Tank followed by the super Spanish Fly into the phoenix splash for two with Hank diving in for the save. Frazer Sling Blades Hank but misses a phoenix splash. Tank dives onto Axiom as Hank hits a Boss Man Slam on Frazer. The powerslam/neckbreaker combination gives us new champions at 13:57.

Rating: B. Yeah this worked, with both teams doing rather well and the title change coming in a big upset. I’m not huge on Hank & Tank but they’ve been telling a story and have come a very long way. Fraxiom is likely on the way to the main roster, as there is absolutely nothing left for them to do in NXT. Let them be added to the Raw tag division, which needs the fresh blood.

Respect is shown post match as Fraxiom leaves.

Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame) is here and talks about how some wrestlers don’t believe they can do magic. Cue Lexis King, with the Heritage Cup, who says he’s too much of an intellectual. The Cup is put in a cage and a curtain is pulled down. Then the Cup is replaced by Teller, who is yeeting.

Women’s North American Title: Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Thea Hail vs. Zaria

Ladder match for the vacant title. They waste no time in going for the ladders, with Jordan dropkicking one out of the ring. Dame drives Zaria into the steps with a ladder as Ruca gets one set up in the ring. Hail tornado DDTs Ruca to cut her down so Jordan comes up, with Vice pulling one leg away. That lets Jordan do the splits in the air but Zaria is back in with some spears. Dame ladders Zaria down and then suplexes her onto the ladder but Vice is back up.

Jordan takes her down and gets in some shots on the floor. One Of A Kind onto Zaria onto the ladder sends Zaria outside, leaving Jordan alone to climb the big ladder. That’s broken up and Vice starts striking away, only to have a spinning backfist hit ladder. Dame is back up to clean house, including a chokeslam to Jordan. Dame plants Ruca off the ladder and Hale plants Vice onto the ladder. Jordan is sent into a ladder and Hail goes up but Dame pulls the ladder away. A Kimura on top of the ladder has Dame in trouble and here is the Culling.

Hale is too far away from the title so Zaria tips the ladder over, sending Hale crashing onto the Culling. Ruca saves Zaria from getting crushed with the ladder (Graves: “Why?”) and a ladder is bridged into the standing one. Jordan and Ruca are shoved off the ladder so Zaria climbs, even with Vice on her back. That’s broken up and Jordan splashes Vice onto the bridged ladder.

The bridge is broken up and Ruca springboards up onto the ladder ala Shelton Benjamin. Zaria throws Jordan onto the pile at ringside and climbs up with Ruca. They slug it out on top of the ladder with Ruca getting knocked down. Then she pulls herself up to kick Zaria down, followed by something like Skinning The Cat onto the top of the ladder. Some Sol Snatchers drop various other people, allowing Ruca to get the title at 14:39.

Rating: B-. It’s a multi person ladder match so you know about what you’re going to get here. Ruca got to do all of her insane athletic stuff and wins in the end, though it still only means so much when it’s in a ladder match. As usual, it’s hard to really stand out in a match like this but they did enough big spots to keep things fun.

We look at the Kickoff Show match.

Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley are happy to get their title shot, no matter who the champions are next week.

We recap Darkstate vs. the D’Angelo Family. Darkstate has attacked various people including the Family, meaning it’s time for revenge. The video focuses on how much D’Angelo loves and needs the members of the Family. That doesn’t sound good, especially after D’Angelo and Stacks have been having issues lately.

Darkstate vs. D’Angelo Family

Cutler James is the odd Darkstater out and the brawl starts on the floor. D’Angelo winds up surrounded in the ring but he comes out fighting anyway. The rest of the Family make the save and it’s a Shatter Machine to James. We get the opening bell and it’s Lennox starting with Stacks. Crusifino comes in with a slingshot shoulder and it’s Griffin coming in to knock Crusifino outside.

A whip into the apron has Crusifino in more trouble and they go inside where Lennox can hit a faceplant for two. Crusifino gets in a shot of his own and Stacks gets the tag (which D’Angelo wanted) to clean house. Griffin knocks Stacks outside though and sends him flying into the timekeeper’s area. Back in and Lennox hits a spinebuster, setting up Shuggars’ bodyscissors, as D’Angelo is looking livid on the apron.

Stacks fights up and manages a tag to D’Angelo, who gets fired up to make the comeback. Some spinebusters ensue but the numbers game catches up with D’Angelo. Crusifino crashes out to the floor, leaving Lennox to Jackhammer D’Angelo for two. A top rope triplebomb gets two with Stacks making the save. Everything breaks down and Riz gets in a dive on the floor to help with the effort. Griffin gets planted for two but Stacks has an idea. Stacks busts out some crowbars but D’Angelo doesn’t want to do it that way.

Shuggars knees Stacks into D’Angelo but he’s back up for the save. Stacks and D’Angelo are fine enough but James gets one of the crowbars on the floor. The referee breaks that up and Stacks crowbars Shuggars. D’Angelo isn’t pleased but shoves Stacks away from a shot from behind. Stacks and D’Angelo hug….and Stacks kicks him low. The toss triplebomb finishes D’Angelo at 13:12.

Rating: B-. This was all about Stacks and that’s not a bad way to go. That’s what they have been teasing for weeks now and they finally pulled the trigger after a nice tease of not going there. I’m not sure what this means for the future of the Family, but Stacks leaving opens up some fresh doors. At the same time, Darkstate look like players around here and that’s a good opening for the next little while.

Hank & Tank are fired up over their win.

We recap the Women’s Title match, with Stephanie Vaquer defending against three challengers. Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace fought an an inconclusive result and Giulia wants the title back.

Women’s Title: Jaida Parker vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer is defending. They start fast with Parker taking over but not being able to hit a double team on Grace and Vaquer. We get the big Giulia vs Vaquer staredown, which is broken up again. Grace and Vaquer have their own staredown, with Vaquer chopping away and having her springboard broken up. Giulia is back in to unload on Parker, including a pump kick for two. Parker is back up to shoulder away at Vaquer but the top rope tear drop is broken up.

Grace comes back in and puts Giulia and Vaquer in an electric chair (geez) and a double Doomsday Blockbuster from Parker (who almost landed on her head). Vaquer’s figure four necklock faceplant (BIG pop for that) is broken up by Grace, who powers her down and then hits a Jackhammer on Giulia. Grace suplexes Parker, who suplexes Giulia and they pair off. Giulia missile dropkicks Grace and it’s time for the slugout with Vaquer.

A headbutt staggers Vaquer, who is right back with another attempt at the figure four necklock faceplants. Instead Giulia hits a stomp but Parker is back with a running Blockbuster. Parker puts all three in the corner for a triple Tear Drop, meaning we get some high stepping. The quadruple submission goes on for some near taps, only for Vaquer to send everyone into the corner for some running shots.

A dragon screw legwhip gets two on Giulia and NOW the faceplants (the Devil’s Kiss, which is a lot easier to type) connect on all three challengers as the fans are WAY into this. The SVB is broken up and Giulia knees Vaquer outside. The Juggernaut Driver hits Giulia but Parker breaks it up with the Hipnotique. Parker comes up favoring her hip and gets rolled up for two. Another Hipnotique hits Giulia but Vaquer is back in with the SVB to Parker to retain at 16:30.

Rating: B. Vaquer gets another big win to keep her title, the showdown with Giulia is still on the table, Parker’s charisma is still incredible, and Grace is still really strong. This was throwing almost all of the top of the division into one match and that’s a good way to make things feel important. I’m good with Vaquer winning as she hasn’t been champion long and she still has a lot of singles matches ready to go in the near future.

Lexis King is looking for the Heritage Cup but can’t find anything.

A limping Stacks leaves but Luca Crusifino pops up to ask what was going on. Stacks says he’ll explain later and keep your phone on so Stacks can text him. With that, Stacks drives away, leaving Crusifino confused.

We recap the main event. Oba Femi is the monster NXT Champion, Trick Williams wants his title back, and Je’Von Evans is here too, despite not really being close to their level. Evans has gotten in some good verbal jabs to Williams though and Femi is sick of hearing from both of them.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams

Femi is defending and Evans’ early attempt at a double springboard cutter is cut off. Femi runs both of them over but gets dropkicked out to the floor, with Williams offering a low bridge. Evans knocks Williams down again but Femi is back in to Samoan drop both of them at the same time. Femi knocks Williams down again, only to walk into a springboard clothesline from Evans. Williams gives Evans a Falcon Arrow for two and knocks Femi down for a bonus.

A neckbreaker puts Femi down again and Williams stares at Evans. They both jump at each other and crash with Williams getting two as commentary isn’t sure what they did. With the other two on the floor, Williams hits a big dive for the double knockdown. Evans is back up with a bottom rope moonsault to take Williams out, followed by a hurricanrana back inside. Femi is back inside too so Evans springboard flip dives onto both of them for two.

The Tower Of Doom brings everyone down and Femi is ready to get fired up. Some running shots in the corner rock Williams, who is right back with a spinning kick to the face. Evans makes the save and rolls Williams up for two, followed by a frog splash to Femi, who grabs him by the throat. The chokeslam is countered into a cutter for two and a standing Sliced Bread gives Evans two. Williams pulls Femi to the floor, where Femi drops him without much trouble.

Back in and Evans slams Femi, setting up the top rope cutter for two, with Williams being way too late trying to make a save. The referee gets bumped and Evans takes out Williams before countering the Fall From Grace. Femi is ticked off and sends Evans through the barricade, only to walk into a Rock Bottom through the announcers’ table.

Back in and the Trick Shot hits Evans but Femi holds the referee from getting back in. The referee kicks Femi away (oh that didn’t look good) but Femi dives in for the save anyway. Evans dives onto Femi but walks into the Trick Shot. Femi powerbombs Williams onto Evans and then hits a sitout powerbomb to Evans to retain at 16:48.

Rating: B+. I wasn’t wild on this match coming in but they left it all in the ring and had a heck of a showdown. Evans is an athletic freak and can do all kinds of impressive things in the ring. Williams was his usual impressive self, but there is something amazing about Femi activating Beast Mode and smashing everyone. That’s what we saw here and while I still could have gone for Williams vs. Femi, this was very good stuff.

Overall Rating: B. I would say this one exceeded expectations as I did not expect much from it coming in and they delivered rather well. The main event is very good and the rest of the show is good enough for a look. NXT needs a few more tweaks, but they had enough here to keep things going and there are stories set up for the next few weeks. Rather good show here and better than I was expecting.

Results
Tatum Paxley/Gigi Dolin b. Meta Four, Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade and Fatal Influence – Cemetery Drive to Jayne
Ricky Saints b. Ethan Page – Roshambo
Hank & Tank b. Fraxiom – Powerslam/neckbreaker combination to Frazer
Sol Ruca b. Izzi Dame, Kelani Jordan, Lola Vice, Thea Hail and Zaria – Ruca pulled down the title
Darkstate b. D’Angelo Family – Toss triplebomb to D’Angelo
Stephanie Vaquer b. Jaida Parker, Giulia and Jordynne Grace – SVB to Parker
Oba Femi b. Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams – Sitout powerbomb to Evans

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: October 15, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re back at the home base after a few weeks on the road, meaning it’s time for something big for the home crowd. In this case that means we’ll be seeing the in-ring debut of Stephanie Vaquer as she faces Wren Sinclair. On top of that, the Wheel is back and we get to see some stipulations for next weekend’s Halloween Havoc. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The commentators are in front of the entrance to hype up the show. Nothing wrong with that.

We recap last week.

Here is new North American Champion Tony D’Angelo in the ring at a table with a glass of wine to celebrate his new title. He toasts former champion Oba Femi, who was the longest reigning champion in history, but D’Angelo used Femi’s greatest strength against him. Part of him wants to think this is over, but since it probably isn’t, to Femi, who is here to interrupt. Femi says we’re not done and next time, the Family won’t be around. As he leaves he spins the wheel, which is apparently for their rematch at Halloween Havoc, which will be Tables, Ladders And Scares. Ok then.

We go over the rules of the Gentlemen’s Duel (breaking any of these is a DQ):

• Can’t strike opponent when they have our points of contact on the ground.
• Can’t throw someone over the top and out to the floor.
• 3 count on a rope break instead of 5
• Absolutely no fighting on the floor

Oro Mensah doesn’t know what’s up with Lexis King wanting this match. King comes in and says it’s going to be fair, with Mensah not buying it.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Wren Sinclair

They go to the mat to start with Vaquer getting some early rollups for two each. Sinclair flips over for some Cattle Mutilation, which is quickly broken up. Vaquer kicks her down and hits a running legdrop for two as Sinclair can’t get much going. A dragon screw legwhip out of the corner has Sinclair down again and a double underhook backbreaker finishes her off at 4:41.

Rating: C+. They were mainly going technical here and that’s a fine way to go for the debuting Vaquer. She looked like a killer out there and ran through Sinclair, who is just good enough of a star that she has some value in defeat. Vaquer is going to be something big around here and this was a smart way to start her off.

Post match Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade run in for the beatdown but Giulia makes the save. Vaquer issues the challenge for Halloween Havoc.

Trick Williams is in the back with Kelani Jordan and they’re both ready to find out their next challenges. Fatal Influence watches from the shadows as Jordan still can’t talk.

Karmen Petrovic and Brinley Reece are in the back when Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to try and make amends. Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen don’t approve and they have to be separated. Petrovic seems interested in the torn up flower.

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

Gentlemen’s Duel. They go to the mat to start before locking up to little avail. Mensah slugs away so King drops to all fours, with Mensah having to stop to avoid the DQ. King’s middle rope spinning high crossbody gets two but Mensah is back with his own running crossbody as we take a break.

Back with King hitting a Swanton for two but Mensah sweeps the leg and starts the comeback. They trade uppercuts until Mensah hits a rolling Liger Kick. King tries to go up but gets kicked down again, setting up a springboard kick to the face for two. The running spinwheel kick in the corner misses but Mensah reverses the Coronation into a small package for another near fall. The trade rollups until King bridges back on one for the pin at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Well it was different, but this feud is still not that interesting and yet it just keeps going. King winning clean is a bit of a twist as his face turn continues to be teased, though he’s not quite there yet. I’m not sure where this is going, though I’d hope it’s in some different directions for them as this hasn’t been getting either of them very far.

Cedric Alexander and Je’Von Evans are talking to Axiom and Nathan Frazier when Wes Lee interrupts. Lee doesn’t wan Evans to think that he matters just because he’s in a #1 contenders match. Just stay out of Lee’s way tonight, but Evans doesn’t think much of that one. They argue and have to be separated.

Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend want to take out Damage CTRL and then get the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Video on Nikkita Lyons.

Lola Vice vs. Nikkita Lyons

Vice kicks her down and dances a bit before Lyons does the same. Lyons powers Vice into the corner but misses a charge into the post. Vice takes it to the mat and hammers away, setting up the running hip attack in the corner. Cue Jaida Parker for a distraction, and a running knee, allowing Lyons to hit a Vader Bomb for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C. I know she has star power and the fans seem to like her but I can’t get interested in Lyons. Maybe it’s that she keeps getting injured and disappearing but there is something about her that is a bit offputting. Parker vs. Vince continuing is fine as they can have a big showdown at Halloween Havoc, though I’m not sure what is next for Lyons.

Ava makes Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade for Halloween Havoc but Fatal Influence interrupts. They don’t like matches being handed out like that so Ava makes a tag match for next week instead.

Riley Osborne vs. Ridge Holland

Thea Hail is here with Osborne, who knocks him off the apron before the bell and hits a big running flip dive to the floor. They get inside to officially start with Holland fighting back and hitting a running knee to take over. Osborne fights off the announcers’ table though and hits a running DDT to the floor. Back in and Holland grabs a head and arms superplex to put Osborne right back down. The lifting DDT finishes or Holland at 3:43.

Rating: C+. They started fast here and it made for a good enough match, with Osborne fighting for Chase U but coming up short in the end. This is pretty clearly just Holland clearing out the rest of the team until Andre Chase is back and that’s a logical story to tell. Halloween Havoc would make for a good spot for Chase vs. Holland, and there are no more roadblocks before Chase can come back.

Post match Holland keeps up the beating but Andre Chase is back for the save. Holland is cleared out and Hail is VERY pleased as we get a MR. CHASE chant. So there’s another Havoc match.

We look at Tatum Paxley saving Sol Ruca from Wendy Choo in a dark match last week.

Paxley, with her dolls, isn’t happy with Choo for stabbing her in the back and playing with said dolls. Jaida Parker and OTM (hey they’re still here) interrupt but Paxley actually argues with them for interrupting. Parker says she doesn’t play.

Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen powers him into the corner to start but Adonis is back with a running clothesline. Adonis rakes the eyes and scores with some forearms, only for Jensen to knock him right back down. A missed charge sends Jensen outside, where Adonis takes him down again. Back in and a dropkick hits Jensen but here is Karmen Petrovic to pour out the rose petals from earlier. Oddly that fires Adonis up, at least until Jensen catches him on top and hits a hanging DDT for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Not much time for this one and it was only so much of a story in the first place. Adonis’ ladies man deal is finally starting to go somewhere but it’s still not the most interesting stuff. Jensen and Shawn Spears aren’t much ether, but this is better than Jensen being all weird and wrecking things. I think.

The unnamed woman in red is still coming.

Lexis King leaves and says hi to various wrestlers, including the D’Angelo Family. The family wants to soften up Oba Femi next week.

Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans

For the NXT Title shot at Halloween Havoc. Lee gets superkicked at the bell and Evans sunset flips Page for two. Evans kicks Lee out to the floor and hurricanranas Page in a snazzy sequence. Page drops Evans for a near fall of his own but Lee is back in to take them both down again. They go outside, where Page throws Lee over the announcers’ table, only to get taken out by Evans as we take a break.

Back with Evans missing a charge in the crowd and all three are down. Lee and Evans slug it out until Page hits a powerslam for two on Evans, with Lee making the save. We get the circle strike off and everyone is down again. Page knocks Lee off the top but Evans is right there with a running super Spanish Fly for two more. Ego’s Edge is broken up and Evans’ top rope cutter gets another near fall. Something like a Tower Of Doom is broken up so Evans hits the spinning top rope splash, only for Page to steal the pin at 15:28.

Rating: B-. Yes Page vs. Williams is continuing and I’m not sure I get why either. It’s a feud that has come and gone with Williams getting the definitive win. I guess the idea here is that Williams doesn’t have anyone else to face so they’ll do some gimmick match where Williams can get another win, but dang that’s not exactly exciting.

Post match Page calls out Trick Williams to spin the wheel and it’s….Devil’s Playground. Page drops Williams to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT hasn’t been doing much for me lately, as while it’s technically sound, it’s not exactly intriguing. As has been the case for a good while, the women’s division is far outshining their male counterparts, but even that is only taking them so far. The main event was just decent this week and there was nothing on here that you need to see. Maybe Halloween Havoc boosts it up, but this hasn’t been the most exciting run over the last few months.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Wren Sinclair – Butterfly backbreaker
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Bridging rollup
Nikkita Lyons b. Lola Vice – Vader Bomb
Ridge Holland b. Riley Osborne – Lifting DDT
Brooks Jensen b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Hanging DDT
Ethan Page b. Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee – Rollup to Evans

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tavion Heights is ready for Tony D’Angelo.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for Tavion Heights.

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

Heritage Cup: Tavion Heights vs. Tony D’Angelo

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

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

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

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

Brooks Jensen vs. Cedric Alexander

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger annoy Roxanne Perez.

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

Kendal Grey vs. Jaida Parker

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

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

Chase U fires up Thea Hail.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Thea Hail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Josh Briggs vs. Brooks Jensen

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

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

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

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

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

Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe

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

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

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

Oro Mensah vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

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

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

Post match Mensah says he wants Ethan Page.

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

Carlee Bright vs. Wren Sinclair

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

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

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger have Halloween Havoc ideas.

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

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

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

Trick Williams vs. Cedric Alexander

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meta Four vs. Sol Ruca/Karmen Petrovic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

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

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

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

Respect is shown post match.

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

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

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

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

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AND

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