411’s WWE LFG Season Three Report: Episode Sixteen

-Written: 8.16.26
-Source: A&E
-Run Time: 1 Hour (w/ commercials)

-Plug: Episode 15

-Greatest Moments seems to be done for this season, so we get two new episodes of LFG tonight. I will have the second episode posted tomorrow.

-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.

-Then! Now! Forever! Together!

-Bayley Humphrey is meeting Johnny Russo (lead NXT writer) to discuss her new name. She gave a list of names and the ones that cleared were Sage Blackwood and Myka Lockwood. They both agree Myka sounds better and he leaves it up to her to decide. She asks if she needs a last name and he tells her it’s easier to drop the last name than add one late. She understands.

-Show opening!

-Bloom is at the table with Booker T, Bubba, and KO. As usual, we have three matches this week and the first one is for Booker T. He gets Braxton Cole vs. Shady Elnahas. Bloom wants Shady to show what he can do.

-KO gets Malik Blake vs. Chris Island and Bloom notes both guys are on the bubble. We know they both ended up getting released. Bloom says Island is a stud in the gym, but something happens when the red light comes on.

-Bubba gets Myka Lockwood vs. PJ Vasa. Boom wants Myka to be physical and own the space she is in. For PJ they want her to be believable.

-Booker meets with Shady and Braxton. Shady is going to be amplify he is a judo guy and Braxton a smart guy. Booker says Shady is a bit disconnected and they are trying to help him put his judo together with what works in wrestling. Booker says he wants Braxton to look smart, but doesn’t need Shady to look stupid. That is some pretty awesome advice actually. ,

-Commercials!

Shady Elnahas vs. Braxton Cole

-Vic Joseph and Jerermy Borash are on commentary. This time Braxton brings a book on judo down to the ring with him. Nice little detail there. The crowd chants “wiener” (I think) at Cole. Shady gets a throw and immediately goes for a submission, but Cole gets to the ropes. Cole goes to his book to get some help. KO and Booker are watching backstage. Cole heads back in and lands a kick to the gut. He gets arm control but Shady counters into another arm submission. Cole escapes but rut runs into another throw and then a slam for two. Bubba is a fan of the judo style arm-drags. They head to the floor and Cole takes over by running Shady into the steps. Punt to the ribs and a boot to the head. Cole uses the ropes to choke and hits a catapult under the bottom rope. That gets two. Back in the ring, Shady ducks a clothesline and hits a Sling Blade. He heads up, but Cole knocks him off balance and gets a Hangman’s Neckbreaker for two. Sleeper from Cole. The crowd gets behind Shady and he is able to break the hold. He runs wild with clotheslines and hits a Pele Kick. Take down into a pin for two. Armbar in the middle of the ring but Cole shifts his weight to get a two count. Stun Gun from Cole and he hits a Fireman’s Carry into a Book End for the pin at 5:15.

Winner: Braxton Cole via pin at 5:15
-This was fine though neither man showed much fire. **

-Commercials!

-Booker offers his feedback and he wants aggression and urgency from Shady. I agree. He says both did what they he asked, but just wants a little more.

-Bloom tells Cole to have fun with the “wiener” chant. He also wants Shady to make sure his face is up when he is selling. He tells them both it is one of the better LFG matches.

-KO is with Island and Blade. He tells them they were waiting to see something from both guys. Island is questioned by KO about wrestling in jeans. Island says he has been asked about his singlet, karate pants, and now his jeans. KO tells them to be safe out there more than anything.

-Commercials!

Chris Island vs. Malik Blade

-Lockup and Island shoves Blade back into the corner. Another go and Island gets arm control. He uses the amateur game to get a take down. Blade with a sunset flip for two though the crowd thinks it was three. Island goes back to the mat game and works the arm. Blade counters with a head scissors and tries to get his own amateur take down, but Booker has no clue what he’s doing. KO says he is trying to match what Island did earlier in the match, but didn’t work as well. Island with a stun gun and throws forearms to the back. Back breaker by Island and he taunts Blade. The Legends note there is no energy in the building. Booker: “no real action.” Blade starts his comeback and gets a dropkick followed by a Fisherman’s Suplex. Clothesline from Island! He heads up top, but Blade meets him up there. Island shoves off, so Malik just knocks him down with a dropkick. Blade up top and hits the Frog Splash for the pin at 4:57.

Winner: Malik Blade via pin at 4:57
-Not the best as it was kind of dull and then just kind of ended. Shame as I like both guys and became a Blade fan when he was on Level Up. *

-Commercials!

-KO tells them it lacked a lot of energy. He tells Island he comes across almost timid and isn’t owning his space. He wants him to be more arrogant. Chris agrees and says it’s the same thing every time. He tells Malik to own the crowd chanting for him. It’s all about confidence. He tells them both it is there, but they have to find it.

-Bloom touches on the same points. He needs Malik to keep up the energy and bring the crowd along when they get them on the hook. Bloom was a fan of Island mocking the crowd chanting for Blade.

-Tristan Angels and his car are waiting outside for Myka. They discuss her new name and she isn’t stunned that he would have his name on his car.

-Bubba meets with PJ and Myka. Bubba can hear the fans chanting Myka’s name now. PJ is worried about how Shawn will react to the match. Myka’s fear is doubt and wondering if she could have done more. Bubba: “fuck fear.” It is the fear that will have them second guessing themselves. He wants a lot of intensity from both women tonight.

-Commercials!

PJ Vasa vs. Myka Lockwood

-This is our Main Event and gets the NXT Arean treatment with a full crowd and all the bells and whistles. These two have been part of LFG since episode 1.1. Lockup and nothing doing so they get in each other’s face. They trade slams and each woman pops right back up. PJ with a side headlock, but Myka shoves her off and gets a shoulder tackle. Chops and forearms from Myka followed by a running clothesline. What we need here! MEAT SLAPPING! They fight to the floor and PJ runs Myka back first into the apron and again. Slam on the floor! That gets a two count back in the ring. PJ back to the reverse chinlock. Myka slips out so PJ drops a series of elbows and back to the chinlock. Myka with body blows to break and hits a belly-to-back suplex. STANDING MOONSAULT gets two. Cool! Suplex attempt, but PJ blocks and lands a forearm to the face. Black Hole Slam from PJ! Spear! Myka is back on her feet and they stare each other down. Clothesline misses and Myka gets a chokeslam for two. Bubba is not happy with it as he says it was too close. PJ goes to the eyes and hits a splash in the corner. Another one misses and Myka comes off the middle ropes with a flying shoulder tackle for three at 5:13.

Winner: Myka Lockwood via pin at 5:13
-Match of the Night this week. They traded bombs and gave me the HOSS battle we expected. This was fun if a little sloppy here and there. **1/2

-Bubba goes over the chokeslam and how each was at fault for PJ landing on her ass which caused the back of her head to slap off the mat. They show it in slo-mo and you can see what he is talking about.

-Bloom is happy with how they did and wants them to be the person they were tonight every time they go out there.

-Nothing blow away this week, but another enjoyable show. The formula works and gives me what I want each week. We get real training and feedback without all the playing it up for reality TV. I will be back tomorrow with the next episode. Thanks for reading!