NXT Level Up Discussion Thread

[Y2Jayne]

Josh Briggs def. Shiloh Hill

After defeating Uriah Connors for his first career win, Shiloh Hill came out swinging in a physical clash with former NXT UK Tag Team Champion Josh Briggs. Briggs landed some nasty strikes in the early goings, much to the delight of the NXT Arena, but Hill soon recovered and fired back with a ring-rattling back suplex. Hill stayed in the fight as long as he could, but Briggs evaded his hard-charging opponent and obliterated him with a match-clinching Lariat.

Wren Sinclair def. Tyra Mae Steele

The NXT Arena was in for a treat with the debut of the energetic Tyra Mae Steele, an Olympic gold medalist in free style wrestling for her highly anticipated debut clash with the equally enthusiastic Wren Sinclair. Steele initially controlled the action with some textbook mat-grappling, but Sinclair turned the tide with a picture-perfect dropkick. Steele nearly sealed the win with a nifty rollup, but Sinclair countered into a crafty pinning combination of her own to secure the three-count. After the bell, Steele feigned attacking Sinclair but instead offered a high five that was reciprocated.

Luca Crusifino def. Uriah Connors

Backed by the entire D’Angelo Family, Luca Crusifino aimed for his sixth win in his last seven matches, though most of his prior victories have occurred in tag team competition. Connors briefly took control when he sent Crusifino face-first into the middle turnbuckle, but he made the mistake of knocking the hat off Tony D’Angelo during a ringside confrontation. Seconds later, Crusifino unleashed a barrage of strikes, tossed Connors back into the ring and hit Case Closed for the victory.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Malik Blade def. Cutler James

Though he was competing in his first singles match in more than a year, Malik Blade stayed true to form and threw caution to the wind against Cutler James. James did his best to use his size advantage to keep Blade grounded, and he landed the first big blow with a thunderous back body drop before shifting to a ground-and-pound attack. Blade, who showed some impressive mat acumen in addition to using his typical game plan of taking to the air, went sky-high for a dropkick and clinched the win with a jaw-dropping frog splash.

Tatum Paxley def. Layla Diggs

In a clash of personalities, the unsettling Tatum Paxley sought a critical win against energetic newcomer and former track and field star Layla Diggs.
Making her singles debut, Diggs refused to be intimidated by her erratic opponent, using an impressive counter to fling Paxley across the ring with a pair of arm drags and later landing a butterfly suplex followed by a standing moonsault for a two-count. Paxley, however, stunned Diggs with a vicious knee strike and landed the Psycho Trap for the hard-earned victory.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger def. Uriah Connors & Dion Lennox

Teaming together on NXT Level Up for the first time since April, the hard-hitting, fun-loving duo of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger picked up where they left off when they battled the arrogant Uriah Connors and the hard-hitting Dion Lennox. Teaming together for the first time, Lennox and Connors showed impressive chemistry, specifically during a sequence when Connors became the legal competitor via a blind tag, Lennox steamrolled Walker with a shoulder block, and Connors landed a step-up senton. Lennox, who started the match by shaking hands with Walker, refused his partner’s request to attack Walker when he wasn’t the legal man and later prevented Connors from removing a turnbuckle. Moments later, Hank and Tank teamed up for their devastating tandem maneuver, and Ledger scored the pinfall on Lennox.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Jakara Jackson def. Kendal Grey

Competing in her first singles bout since defeating Arianna Grace in April, Jakara Jackson sought her third straight NXT Level Up victory in a spirited clash with enthusiastic newcomer Kendal Grey. Jackson overcame Grey’s early onslaught by catching her airborne foe and planting her with a ring-shaking sidewalk slam. Grey answered with a nasty neckbreaker and came close to scoring the win with a nifty rollup, but Jackson quickly answered with a decisive Sugar Rush.

Adriana Rizzo def. Lainey Reid

Perhaps stronger than ever, The D’Angelo Family have been stacking wins over the last several months, and Adriana Rizzo looked to handle family business in a collision with former rodeo champion Lainey Reid. Reid showed no intimidation against Rizzo, giving her a sarcastic curtsey before grounding her with an aggressive takedown, though Rizzo soon fired back with a fierce right hand to the jaw. After a seesaw fight, Rizzo removed her hoop earrings and found another gear, overwhelming Reid with several haymakers and notching the three-count with a running somersault moonsault.

Eddy Thorpe def. Shiloh Hill

After making his spellbinding entrance and receiving a loud ovation from the NXT Universe, Eddy Thorpe was forced to contend with the menacing Shiloh Hill inside the ring and the conniving Lexis King at the commentary table. King, who entered the arena just prior to the opening bell, began barking back and forth with Thorpe during his entrance, though Thorpe remained focused on his opponent and caught him with several stinging, rapid-fire kicks. Despite being staggered by several massive right hands from Hill, Thorpe locked eyes with King while planting his opponent with the Impaler for the win.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Interesting way to do a kip-up from Rizzo

 

[Y2Jayne]

Jaida Parker def. Layla Diggs

In a foul mood after her associates in OTM were defeated by The O.C. on NXT, Jaida Parker attempted to take out her frustrations on rookie Layla Diggs, who was seeking her first singles win. A former gymnast and track and field standout, Diggs endured a few early strikes and some trash talk before escaping her opponent’s clutches with an impressive split into an arm-drag takedown and a standing moonsault for a two-count. Parker, however, got back on track by elevating off the top rope to land the devastating Tear Drop and soon earned the victory with a wicked knee strike to the face.

Dion Lennox def. Uriah Connors

Following a heated dispute during their loss to Hank Walker and Tank Ledger as tag team partners, Dion Lennox and Uriah Connors seemingly severed their short-lived alliance with a hard-hitting singles clash. As was the case when they were partners, Lennox looked to rely on brute strength and ring acumen, while Connors attempted to bend and outright break the rules at every turn. Lennox turned the tide with a debilitating lariat and ring-shaking spinebuster, and even though Connors rolled up Lennox and grabbed the ropes for leverage during a pin attempt, he was caught red-handed by the ref. Seconds later, Lennox secured the win with a clutch rollup of his own.

Dante Chen def. Cutler James

By his own admission, Dante Chen had never been challenged to a match as respectfully as he was when Cutler James approached him in the backstage area. Nevertheless, Chen was still prepared for a fight, blistering James with rapid-fire fists and kicks. James, who wanted to test himself against The Gatekeeper of NXT, claimed the upper hand with a scoop slam and a picture-perfect back suplex, though Chen lived up to his moniker when he unloaded on his foe with an electric Chentle Touch for the three-count.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Tatum Paxley def. Tyra Mae Steele

From wearing an unsettling smile to eerily crawling across the ring to freaking out announcers Byron Saxton and Blake Howard, Tatum Paxley made a strong impression before her opponent even entered the NXT Arena. She was just as impactful once the bell rang for her bout with 2020 freestyle Olympic gold medalist Tyra Mae Steele, who got off to a good start by out-grappling Paxley but fell victim to her opponent’s merciless knee strikes.
Primed for a North American Title Match at Great American Bash, Paxley kicked out of a sit-out powerbomb before sealing the win with the Psycho Trap.

Riley Osborne def. Shiloh Hill

Chase University has experienced many peaks and valleys over the past few months, but Riley Osborne did his school proud by edging the hard-hitting Shiloh Hill for a well-deserved win. Osborne had to dig deep, as his bigger opponent turned him inside-out with a debilitating clothesline and almost scored the win with a modified underhook suplex.
Osborne got back on track by going sky-high for several draft picks and secured the three-count with a breathtaking Shooting Star Press.

Malik Blade def. Bronco Nima

A pair of tag team specialists locked horns and dazzled the WWE Universe one-on-one when the death-defying Malik Blade clashed with the menacing Bronco Nima. Trash-talking was at a premium from the onset, and the mask-clad Nima backed up his bluster when he effortlessly hurled Blade across the ring and later drove his boot square into the jaw of his downed opponent. Perhaps fueled by the raucous WWE Universe, Blade somehow shook off Nima’s onslaught and clobbered him with a blockbuster, crossbody and a crafty rollup for the pinfall. ​

 

[Chris]

I like this guy so far

 

[Y2Jayne]

Dante Chen def. Keanu Carver

Dante Chen prides himself on being The Gatekeeper of NXT, and the popular veteran striker had another chance to put another newcomer to the test in his seesaw battle with Keanu Carver. Carver enjoyed a solid start to his WWE career, impressing against Riley Osborne in a narrow loss during the first round of the NXT Breakout Tournament, but he missed the last six months with an injury and was hungry to jumpstart his career with a return victory.
Carver nearly accomplished the feat when he landed an impressive release suplex and a ring-rattling spinebuster for a two-count, but Chen got back on track with several menacing right hands and sealed the win by bouncing off the ropes and tattooing his foe with the Chentle Touch.

Wendy Choo def. Lainey Reid via Submission

Wendy Choo has undergone one of the most shocking transformations of any WWE Superstar in recent history, morphing from the happy-go-lucky Sleepy Superstar into an almost zombified competitor who sports a mask that reads “dead inside” across her forehead. Whatever her reasons may be, the approach paid dividends against the bubbly Lainey Reid, who seemed hesitant in the early goings against the unsettling Choo and was soon on the receiving end of a slingshot into the top turnbuckle and a modified flatliner. Reid struck back with several left hands and a nasty neckbreaker, but Choo rolled through a standing crossbody and forced the tapout by catching her opponent in an airtight Sleeper.

Edris Enofé def. Kale Dixon

After watching his tag team partner Malik “The Freak” Blade notch a pair of impressive singles victories in recent weeks, the charismatic Edris Enofé wanted to follow suit against the returning Kale Dixon. The WWE Universe would be hard-pressed not to at least slightly empathize with the arrogant Dixon, who missed seven months due to a debilitating injury and once again found himself out of commission for almost three months after receiving a bone-rattling Spear from Bron Breakker on the May 20 edition of Raw. Dixon drew the ire of the NXT Arena when he wiggled his hips, landed a disrespectful chop to the back of Enofé and took time to showboat, but “The EOE” caught fire in the second half of the bout and scored the three-count after a nasty DDT and a breathtaking top-rope elbow.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Mark Coffey def. Cutler James

Cutler James has made no secret about his desire to be tested early in his NXT career, and he got his wish against the callous Mark Coffey, a former NXT Heritage Cup Champion, NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT UK Tag Team Champion. The bout was personal for Coffey, who took issue with James quickly making his way to NXT after Coffey himself required 15 years, and he took out his anger in the form of a hangman over the top rope and a savage reverse elbow to the jaw. James nearly scored the upset after landing a jaw-dropping suplex from the apron to the center of the ring, but Coffey landed a gruesome knee to the face and secured the three-count with a bull hammer.

Adriana Rizzo def. Izzi Dame

A pair of no-nonsense competitors collided in NXT Level Up’s main event, as Adriana Rizzo and Izzi Dame each brought a mean streak, trash talk and plenty of fisticuffs to the fight. “The Rizz” targeted Dame’s arm throughout the bout, bending it in an unforgiving direction and slinging it across the top rope, though “The Great Dame” answered with a nasty tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Despite having her back brutalized by Dame, Rizzo fought through the pain and earned the three-count by connecting with a standing summersault splash into a unique pinning combination.


​

Rizzo is welcome to practice her finisher on me.

 

[Y2Jayne]

Jazmyn Nyx def. Dani Palmer

Though it may be fair to question their tactics and their attitude, Jazmyn Nyx, Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley have greatly benefited from joining forces. Backed by each of her partners, Nyx showed disdain to the enthusiastic Palmer, who flipped and bounded her way to the ring en route to competing in her first match since getting injured seven months ago. Palmer nearly secured the feel-good moment when she landed a nasty neckbreaker for a two-count, but after dealing with nearly constant interference from Nyx’s comrades, she was finally put down for the 1-2-3 when Nyx landed a nasty kick to the face.

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino def. Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe

With a chance to make The Don proud, force their way into NXT Tag Team Title contention, and improve to 4-0 on NXT Level Up, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Luca Crusifino came out swinging against their equally hard-hitting opponents, Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. After controlling much of the match by isolating Stacks, Dupont and Igwe nearly scored the win with the Heart Stopper on Crusifino, but Stacks broke up the three-count just in the nick of time. Battling through a seemingly injured knee, Stacks made a critical tag to Crusifino, and the two linked up for a double team facebreaker on Dupont for the win.​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Wolfgang def. Cutler James

Despite giving up an experience advantage to nearly everyone he faces, newcomer Cutler James hasn’t been hesitant to step to some of NXT’s most battle-tested veterans, including the menacing Wolfgang. After coming up short against Gallus’ Mark Coffey in a hard-fought clash, James once again impressed by going toe-to-toe with the vicious former NXT Tag Team Champion. Though he was seemingly surprised by how much of a fight James put forth, Wolfgang nevertheless secured the win by clobbering James with a modified spinebuster and a jaw-dropping swanton bomb across the back of his opponent for the three-count.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger def. Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon

Uriah Connors has been cycling through tag team partners at a somewhat alarming rate, but Kale Dixon may be the one Superstar that can match his arrogance. Though they gave up a size advantage to the fun-loving tandem of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, Connors and Dixon made up for it in trash talk, as neither landed a move without letting their opponents know about it. They were silenced, however, when Walker received a much-needed tag late in the match, steamrolled each of his foes and linked up with Ledger to wreck Dixon with the decisive Collision Course.​

 

[Tyler2]

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger def. Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon​

You suck Dixon *clap clap clap clap clap* You suck Dixon

 

[Y2Jayne]

WWE DOT COM POSTED NO TEMPLATE FOR THIS MATCH FOR SOME REASON

Izzi Dame def. Layla Diggs

After exchanging choice words with each other on social media, Izzi Dame tangled with up-and-comer Layla Diggs on NXT Level Up. Diggs tried utilizing her gymnastics background to take control, but Dame was able to quell her effort, grounding down the athletic Superstar. Dame equipped her strength, hitting Diggs with an immense powerbomb, but Diggs was able to keep the fight going. In the end, the onslaught of offense from Dame was too much for Diggs, who succumbed to a spinning side slam as The Great Dame stood tall.

Dani Palmer def. Lainey Reid

Dani Palmer looked for her first win after a double hip injury that sidelined her for a lengthy absence. Her opponent, Lainey Reid, would prove to be a worthy challenger. Palmer had to dig deep when Reid effectively targeted her hips, locking in a one-legged Boston Crab, making Palmer writhe in pain. Palmer was able to withstand the punishment, nailing a corkscrew moonsault to ensure the first win of her comeback.

Dante Chen def. Drake Morreaux

Drake Morreaux looked to prove himself once more as he contended with Dante Chen, a Superstar who defeated him a few months ago. Since then, Morreaux has been steadily improving, but Chen has continued to climb the ranks as "The Gatekeeper of NXT Level Up," even getting an opportunity against NXT Champion Ethan Page. Chen's fiery offense had Morreaux on wobbly legs, but "The Bayou Boy" nearly scored the upset win after an enormous chokeslam had Chen kicking out of the pinfall at the last second. Chen successfully rallied the WWE Universe as he landed the double palm strike to go 2-0 against Morreaux.​

 

[Dale]

A new face emerges. Seems to be from the same class as Tamyra (the olympic woman) from what I can tell
​

 

[Y2Jayne]

Cutler James and Shiloh Hill def. Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon

The pairing of Cutler James and Shiloh Hill proved to be a successful one as the duo scored a tag team victory over Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon. Dixon and Connors used classic tag team wrestling to isolate Hill and keep him away from James, but the tide turned once the tag was made. James took control for his team and after a flurry of action, he caught Connors in mid-air and planted him with a huge match-ending Spinebuster.

Kendal Grey def. Tyra Mae Steele

Two of NXT’s best and brightest faced off, but only Kendal Grey stood tall when the dust settled. Former Olympic gold medalist wrestler Tyra Mae Steele challenged former NCAA women’s wrestling national champion Grey, but the squared circle bout belonged to Grey. Steele showcased her incredible power but a remarkable counter from Grey led to a roll up that delivered her the victory.

Luca Crusifino def. Niko Vance

Luca Crusifino represented The D’Angelo Family with pride, but he had to overcome the dangerous Niko Vance to do it. Vance, a former football star, brings a unique blend of size and aggression to the ring where he bludgeoned The Consigliere at every turn. Crusifino slammed the door on Vance in an impressive way by countering Vance into a huge Codebreaker to score the win and celebrate with Adrianna Rizzo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.​