411’s WWE LFG Season Three Report: Episode Four

-Written: 5.17.26
-Source: A&E

-Joe Tessitore is our narrator.

-Kevin Owens, Booker T, Nattie, and Bubba Ray Dudley are our Legends. Matt Bloom is the head trainer at The PC and Shawn Michaels is in charge of NXT.

-We start at Tate Wilder’s home and meet his wife, Sammy, and their baby, Haven. Sweet! Tate was filming a show when his wife face timed him to let him know she was pregnant. He learned quick there was more at stake than his career.

-We flashback to last week where Kam Hendrix made some mistakes and was pulled from the show. He talks about WWE being able to trust you. He knows it won’t always go his way, but he doesn’t want to let these two people (wife and daughter) down. I like Tate and it’s been fun watching him on Evolve.

-Show opening!

-Round table as Terry Taylor is sitting in this week as we are missing Nattie. We get career highlights of Taylor, who says he started in the business in 79 and has been working in NXT longer than anywhere else.

-First Match: Booker T gets Bayley Humprhey and she faces Nikkita Lyons. Bloom wants Kita to be the ring general in this one.

-Match #2: Terry Taylor is working the Chris Island vs. Tate Wilder match. Island has been on this show in past seasons. They want Chris to quit worrying about changing his outfit each week. For Tate they want to make sure he doesn’t get bored with the basics.

-Match #3: Bubba is the agent for Zena Sterling vs. Chantel Monroe. Zena has also been on this show for three seasons now and she has not taken off in Evolve like I thought. She has been a jobber basically. Chantel has shown to be a good athlete.

-Kita and Bayley meet with Coach Booker. He tells Kita she has to lead the match and make sure it goes well. He says Kita has more talent than any woman back there, but gets distracted with wanting to dance and flirt. Booker tells her she has to dial back her sex appeal. He doesn’t want her to lose it, but find a balance.

-Bayley tells Booker it has been a good few months. Bayley was bounced in the first round of Season Two Playoffs. She says she has been learning to be a face, which is different. Booker wants to get Bayley to believe in herself and let herself go in the ring.

-Commercials!

Nikkita Lyons vs. Bayley Humphrey

-Jeremy Borash and Vic Joseph are on commentary as always. Kita gets a go behind and hooks a side headlock. She is shoved off and bounces off Bayley. Lockup and Bayley goes for a slam, but Kita slides out and throws punches. Goozle from Bayley, but Kita goes to the eyes and throws more kicks. Bayley catches her in the corner and tosser her across the ring. Booker is watching from the back and wants Bayley to take her time. “You can’t sit on your ass as a babyface.” Kita with a big boot and goes to the ground and pound. Split Leg Drop and she follows with body shots in the corner. Bayley stops a whip to the corner, so Kita kicks her in the stomach. Kita locks a submission and transitions to an abdominal stretch. Bayley feeds off the crown and powers her way out, but Bubba is not thrilled with the timing. Suplex from Bayley and she follows with a series of clotheslines and a pump kick. Standing moonsault gets two! Nice! Lyons slips out of a powerbomb, but misses a spinning kick. Chokeslam from Bayley gets the pin at 4:45.

Winner: Bayley Humphrey via pin at 4:45
-This was rough to start, but got better by the end. The standing moonsault was impressive. *

-Commercials!

-Booker gives feedback and Bloom goes over what he saw. He tries to explain the psychology and story behind what they do. They seem to understand what he is telling them. Bayley talks about being green, but her confidence and intensity is improving.

-WrestleMania X-8: Hogan vs. Rock: Chris Island and Tate Wilder are watching because they had never seen it. How are you in the WWE and have never seen that match? Terry has them watch as it is a great example of how you tell a story in the ring. They cover how Hogan was selling everything with his face and how the crowd was going crazy without the two of them even moving. That’s what being over does to that level does.

-Chris Island says he had to do some self reflection after the last two seasons. “Who cares about the moves. It’s about what happened before and after.” Terry’s goal is to get them to emote that the audience can believe it and not think it is play wrestling.

-Commercials!

Tate Wilder vs. Chris Island

-I forgot to mention, Island was one of the post Mania cuts, so I don’t expect them to do much with him this season. Booker and Bubba aren’t impressed with Chris’ look. This week he is in jeans and shoes. Chris gets a take down and screams “I do this,” a lot. We get some mat wrestling as Wilder rolls Chris around the ring. Wilder talks some crap and eats a cheap shot from Island. Wilder back with a dropkick and an armdrag into a wrist-lock. Island keeps talking and Wilder flips off the ropes and gets another arm-drag. Island sends him into the corner and again. Backbreaker and it was a soild one for two. Island throws right hands as this one is starting to drag a little. Belly-to-back suplex gets two. Taylor doesn’t seem happy with all the screaming from Chris and his over exaggerated facial reactions. The crowd starts laughing at Island’s constant screaming. Wilder starts his comeback and gets a twisting suplex. Wild Ride moonsault finishes at 4:38.

Winner: Tate Wilder via pin at 4:38
-This was okay. The screaming was a bit of a distraction. Wilder has potential and that’s why he is getting some run in Evolve. Island took what Taylor was telling them a bit too far. He has some ring skills with his background, but hasn’t gotten the connection with the crowd or character figured out. **

-Commercials!

-Taylor talks about going for the win and Island takes in all the criticism. Wilder much the same. He agrees with Taylor that he needs to turn it up with his comeback. He tells both they didn’t hit the emotion side he wanted.

-Bloom wants to know who Island was tonight and questions the screaming. Intensity and screaming aren’t the same thing. Yep! Island says it was the first time he went too far. Bloom tells them they were crisp in the but they aren’t stuntmen. Island says he has been getting the same feedback for two years and it is getting frustrated. He believes what he has, they can’t find anywhere else.

-We meet Chantel Monroe, who went to Auburn and has a gymnast background. Bubba tells her she is going to be the heel in this match as they want to see her switch and get nasty when needed. Bubba tells her the heel wants to hurt, embarrass and control the face.

-Zena Sterling and Bubba have worked together the two previous seasons. She says she feels comfortable with him more than other coaches.

-Bubba tells both women he thinks they will get each other over in this match. He wants Chantel to show she can be that heel and Zena to show she has that fire inside her.

Zena Sterling vs. Chantel Monroe

-Since this is our Main Event they get the full crowd and NXT Arena treatment. Lockup and they jockey for position around the ring. Chantel throws a chop and mocks Zena. Zena gets a front facelock, but breaks as they get in the ropes. Chantel punches on the break, but Zena fires up. Bubba isn’t happy with it as her hands are staying in place at her side. Chantel lands a kick and hits a Meteora in the corner. The crowd starts a dueling chant and that pleases Bubba. Chantel goes to the hair and hooks a head scissors. Zena bridges back for a two count. A second Meteora misses. Chantel calls Zena a “Barbie Bitch” and slaps her in the face (they discussed the spot earlier with Bubba). That fires up Zena and she starts rolling. She gets a butterfly suplex and lands a splash in the corner. Chantel goes to the eyes behind the ref’s back and hits a Code Breaker for the pin at 3:48.

Winner: Chantel Monroe via pin at 3:48
-Short but well worked. I think they did the best as far as giving the coaches what they wanted. *1/2

-Bubba tells them he felt they did really well. He was happy with Chantel’s heel work as he could feel her swagger. He reminds Zena she needs to be bigger with her hands when firing up and she understands. He tells her she needs to step up her game and hit that gear better.

-Zena says she is not happy with what she showed tonight and gets emotional. Matt says something is missing with her and they aren’t sure what it is. Bubba says Zena has to earn the right to move forward and he won’t blame Shawn or Bloom. We end there without Shawn making any roster moves.

-I am loving the change with this season. They matches are what you would expect from this show, but I love the format. The coaches are coaches but also agents and we don’t have silly challenges. It’s all about doing what’s asked and showing they can handle things in the ring. Not sure where this is all leading, but I am happy to watch. Thanks for reading! 111111111111111