Leighty’s NXT Level Up Review: 01.06.23
– Thanks for your feedback on my column ranking all PPV matches from 1997. He then suggested doing a review of 2001, stating that someone else would return and fill in the gaps in his 1996. Brian and Kent asked me to go back to his PPV in the 80’s. I’ll decide soon, but for now, level up! let’s start!
-Present Team: Sudu Shah and Byron Saxton
-Recording: WWE PC, Orlando, FL
Electra Lopez & Amari Miller vs. Sol Luca & Dani Palmer
– Miller smiles and applauds when Palmer and Luca enter. This probably won’t go well for her with Lopez. Palmer and Miller will start and vie for position. Palmer gets a rollup, but Miller is out before the referee can count. Luca enters and helps Palmer deliver a double elbow. Miller brings Luca back to her corner and tags Lopez. Facing back gives you an additional 2 counts. She hooks her arm and her chin to ground her luca. Lopez beat Luca and Miller came back untagged. Miller performs several strikes and gets two versions of his Flatliner. She goes to her arm job and tells Palmer crap. She turns the pie over to Luca. This allows Luka to jump into the mirror and retrieve her tag. Palmer goes a little out of control with her shoulder tackle and drop her kicks. Lopez gets a blind tag and hits an electric shock when Miller knocks Luca off the apron. Lopez gets a surprise pin at his 5:02.
Winner: Elektra Lopez and Amari Miller at the 5:02 pin
-It’s kind of weird to see Luka on the losing side and no Sol Snatcher this week. With Lopez being the biggest star in the game, it makes sense to get the win, and it’s great to see her back on the show after the LDF has moved up to the main roster. We showed good attack and I’m shocked that the team pulled through this game. *1/4
– Tank Ledger faces off against Theon Quinn and gets promo time.
● NXT New Year’s Eve is this Tuesday!
– WWE Live Commercial!
Tank Ledger vs. Shion Quinn
-This is a rematch since Quinn won against Ledger a few months ago. Tank grabs his arm and knuckles it into his lock. It turns into a test of strength as Ledger lifts Quinn off the mat with his one arm but gets caught with his right, slams back but misses a splash in the corner. Quinn lies in his boot in the corner and the referee pushes him back. Quinn hits two of his spinning uppercuts before returning to his starting position while raining down his forearms. As the crowd tries to collect his ledger, he buries his knees behind him while pulling his arms back. He catches fire and goes crazy with his right hand and clothesline. SOS Slam followed by Ledger Splash. A belly-to-back suplex as Ledger avoids the elbow that ended the last match between the two. Quinn gets in the eye and this time he runs for the pin with his elbow at 4:37.
Winner: Xyon Quinn via pin 4:37
– This was fine as it served its purpose and gave Quinn another win. **
・Ric Flair’s documentary commercial. Here is my review!
Malik Blade and Edris Enoff vs. Tavion Heights and Miles Bourne
– Heights is a 2018 U.S. Olympian in wrestling, and this is his second match in his level-up. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the first match. Heights started with Blade and Heights controls have an amateur background. They shake hands after the sequence, then Blade uses his speed to get a dropkick. He’s wearing a shirt in this match, so you can’t see him here. Bourne gets the tag and plants his DDT on Enophe which is nice. A sweet tag team attack is delivered when the Heights returns and attacks a modified Doomsday on his device. Heights hooks Yesrock, but Enophe is able to escape. Upon reincarnation, he gets two belly-to-back suplexes. Enophe lands on his feet after another belly-to-back attempt and makes a hot tag to the blade, he storms off at Born and like Randy Savage he’s first over the top rope covers the throat of Blade gets his two-man top rope his crossbody. Born fights back with elbows and tags on Heights. A sweeter double his team offense came as Bourne and Heights hit his 2-1 high pay his dirt. It’s great to see Fall approaching as Enophe dives into Borne and breaks the pin. The crowd begins to chant “This is Awesome.” Bourne is sent to the floor for missing a charge. Blade connects with a super kick and tags Enophe. The climax ends at 5:06.
Winner: Malik Blade and Edris Enofe at the 5:06 pin
――It was a sweet five-minute match. Lots of double team goodness and nonstop action. I like what Bourne and Heights see as a team. Enofe and Blade have been entertained for some time on this show. i enjoyed this a lot. ***
-thank you for reading!
