Leighty’s NXT Level Up Review 8.25.23

-SmackDown was as emotional as expected and I will likely watch it again later just to take it in. Yesterday I wrote out thoughts about Bray Wyatt and covered a brief Top 10 video WWE released about his career. You can find that here! Once again, Rest in Peace Mr. Rotunda!

-Announce Team:
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL

Tank Ledger and Hank Walker vs. Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe

-Each team now has matching gear! Hank starts with Tyriek and Walker gets a take down into a waist-lock. He runs Tyriek into the corner and delivers some shoulders. Double team elbow from Hank and Tank. Walker makes the tag and sling-shots Tank in with a splash. Tag made to Tyson and he eats a a tandem shoulder followed by a tandem headbutt. Dupont lands a forearm to Hank and makes the tag to Tyriek. He catches Walker and plants him with a belly to back suplex. Running boot from Tyriek and he kinds of trips, but covers well as he just falls into the pin for two. Tyson back in and he hits a splash in the corner for two. Ledger gets decked off the apron and Tyson lays the bad mouth on Hank while delivering right hands. Walked rebounds out of the corner with a running clothesline and the race to the tag is on. Each man gets the tag and Tank runs wild as we are told he has entered Tank Mode! Suplex to Tyriek followed by a splash in the corner. Walker back in and they finish combo powerslam while Walker just throws his body at Tyriek. That gets the pin at 5:08.

Winners: Tank Ledger and Hank Walker via pin at 5:08
-Basic HOSS tag match. No rest holds and they hit each other hard at times. I want to see more of Dupont and Igwe. *1/4

-Kiyah Saint makes her debut tonight. She tells us she is educated and calculated!

-Cody Rhodes documentary commercial!

-WrestleMania XL! Philly! I am still staking out tickets to see if they drop in price.

Kiana James vs. Kiyah Saint

-Quick graphic lets us know Kiyah is a registered nurse and was a state champion in The Triple Jump. I like that they include those for the newbies making their debut. Seems she also went to Clemson University. Go Pitt! Lockup to start and James gets a snapmare and Saint gets a kip up. James with a side headlock, but Saint reverses to one of her own. Back to one from James and Saint reverses back. Saint ducks a clothesline and gets a headlock again and takes it to the mat. Back up and James gets a dropkick, but charges in the corner and gets dropped face first on the buckle. This crowd is crazy quiet right now. Saint gets a roll-up for two, but gets mowed down with a clothesline. James drops some knees to the back and plants Saint on her face again. James with a chinlock, but Saint gets a backslide for two. Saint rallies with some shoulder tackles and hits a jumping knee. Saint with a Triple Jump Knee in the corner (makes sense) and gets a suplex for two. James grabs the top rope to avoid a slam and lands a strike. She plants Saint with The 401 K and then a knee to the face finishes at 5:19.

Winner: Kiana James via pin at 5:19
-As is customary with this show, the newbie loses their first match. This was rough, but you can understand why. Everyone has to start somewhere and this was it for Saint. Let’s see how she develops. 1/2*

-WWE Shop! Go buy some Bray Wyatt merch!

-WWE Payback! Pittsburgh! I am still waiting to see if I can get someone to make the 60 mile trip North with me.

Dante Chen vs. Scrypts (w/ Bronco Nima and Lucien Price)

-It seems Scrypts turned heel on me and now has muscle with him. Scrypts grabs a single leg and then slaps Chen in the face. He lets him know the old Scrypts is over. He throws some strikes and hits a dropkick. Chen back with his own dropkick and he lands a right hand to the face. Chen gets a headlock take down and transitions to an armbar. Byron is at least acknowledging that Scrypts is a former 24/7 Champion. Chen maintains the armbar and then gets a trio of arm-drags as our announcers argue with each other. Scrypts gets sent to the floor with a clothesline and he regroups with his heavies. Back in and some more arm-drags. Chen with a sit-out arm breaker, but Scrypts bails to the apron and catches Chen coming in. Scrypts comes off the top with a cross-body and then starts with some ground and pound for a two count. The crowd starts a “Reggie” chant to entertain themselves. Scrypts works the back and slaps Chen in the back of the head. He hooks a reverse chinlock as this match is dragging way too much. Chen fights back with some strikes and hits a palm strike. Chen with an inverted atomic drop and a running boot. The heavies get involved which lets Scrypts hit the handspring into a cutter for the pin at 6:40.

Winner: Scrypts via pin at 6:40
-Not a fan of this one as it seemed a lot longer than 6:40. Not a fan of the new gimmick for Scrypts either, but we will see how it works for him. I was expecting from this match. *

-Thanks for reading!

3.5

The final score: review Bad

The 411

Not feeling the show this week, but perhaps all the events of the week just have me in a blah mood. The show is generally a breeze to watch, but things seemed to drag tonight. Better luck next week!