411’s WWE LFG Season Three Report: Episode Three

-Written: 5.10.26
-Source: A&E
-Run Time: 1:02:42 (w/ commercials)

-Previous Episodes: One, Two

-As a reminder, Joe Tessitore is our narrator.

-Then, Now, Forever, Together!

-We start with a recap of Kendal Grey getting called up to NXT and Drake Morreaux getting sent to AAA.

-Show opening! TALK TO ‘EM! LET’S GO!

-Matt Bloom tells the Legends we have three matches. First PJ Vasa and Sirena Linton vs.Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday. Second match is Trill London vs. Braxton Cole. Bubba asks about Trill’s health and Matt says he is in the medical room more than they would like. Probably why they released him. Our Main Event is Tate Wilder (w/ Kevin Owens) vs. Kam Hendrix (former Anthony Luke) and Nattie gets him. They want Kam to tone things down and be less hokey. Matt wants KO to teach Tate he can’t get bored with the basics. Each man will get to cut a promo as well.

-We start with Bubba working with Braxton Cole. He is a former football player at Brown University. He got a DM from WWE asking him to try-out and he crushed it and was given a contract. Bubba is with Trill next and wants him to make people forget about Jeff Hardy. Trill says he was never a Jeff Hardy and just used some of his moves. He tells Bubba no problem. He goes over the story of the match for the two. Bubba wishes them both luck.

Trill London vs. Braxton Cole

-Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary. As mentioned, Trill fell victim to the post Mania releases. Cole is still part of Evolve at this time. We are in the Evolve set up but with LFG logos. Trill uses his speed early, but gets caught. He slides off a slam attempt and kicks Cole to the floor. Baseball slide, but Cole uses the ring skirt to trap him against the apron. Cole makes sure to point to his brain to get home the story Bubba wants them to tell. Hangman’s Neckbreaker gets two! Cole rips the shirt so the chops will hurt more. Trill lands his own, which annoys Cole. He hits a version of The X Plex for two. Sleeper from Cole, but London breaks with a suplex. He picks up the pace again and delivers a series of shoulders. They botch a single arm flapjack and Booker notes Trill needs to get better balance. That looked nasty as Cole feel right on his head. They both think Trill throws his body around too recklessly. Booker doesn’t think he is a flyer and gets on him for being gassed. Trill hits a Swanton for the pin at 4:17.

Winner: Trill London via pin at 4:17
-This was rough from Trill as he blew a lot of things. It also did him now favors that Bubba told him to stop being Jeff and when he hit The Swanton a fan yelled out, “Hardy.” There is something there will Trill, but he obviously wasn’t progressing the way they wanted. This match here was not good. DUD

-Commercials!

-Bubba tells Trill he needs to figure out what he is good at and get rid of what he can’t do. Trill understands, but thinks he needs to keep trying. Bloom wants him to find a move set that will keep him healthy.

-Cole says it is all about learning and getting better.

-Booker is with Masyn and Layla. Masyn ran track at Howard University and Kentuck. These two have been a team in Evolve. Booker tells the four that all they need is babyface shine, heat, and get out of there. They have Masyna and Layla working as faces, which is different for them.

-Commercials!

PJ Vasa and Sirena Linton vs. Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday

-PJ and Sirena are LFG veterans, but Sirena was also one of the post Mania releases. Sirena starts with Layla and they flex at each other. Sirena lands a kick to the gut and goes to a side headlock. Layla grabs the arm and makes the tag to Masyn. She comes off top with a shot to the arm. Hip-toss from Masyn and she controls with an armbar. Sirena punches her way out and tags PJ. She steps on Masyn’s leg and goes for a suplex, but Layla saves. Double clothesline from PJ! Booker is pleased with what he is seeing. PJ gets a splash in the corner and hits the ass splash in the corner. Linton in for a two count. Booker wanted a save made there. PJ back in and gets a slam. She misses a falling head-butt and the hot tag is made to Layla. She runs wild with kicks and strikes. Enziguiri to PJ! Pele to Sirena. Dropkick follows! A sweet double team finish gets the pin at 4:00.

Winners: Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday
-This was fine and I agree with Bubba that finishing with a double team move was smart. They did what they could and needed in the four minutes they had. *1/2

-Commercials!

-Bloom gives feedback to the four ladies. He wanted them to sell the hot tag more. He tells them to stay the course.

-Tate Wilder, who has been a big part of Evolve, gives us his story. He is a cowboy that is into extreme sports. He has been at The PC for over two years, but was injured the first 15 months.

-Kam introduces himself and jokes this is his first season of LFG. He wanted a name that was dominant and hits hard. He is going to have fun with the name. Nattie tells him that nice guys finish last and she wants to see him be the chandelier in the room. Kam knows the clock is ticking and the threat of being let go is there.

-KO wants to work on the promo with Tate. This is the good stuff and Wilder is blown away by what KO can do off the top of his head with promos. Truth!

-Commercials as Tate Wilder makes his entrance!

Tate Wilder vs. Kam Hendrix

-Tate is out first and gets to cut a promo. He talks about acting before thinking and is here to call out the baddest dude in LFG: Kam Hendrix. Kam talks about Showtime, but he is going to show him, “it’s my time.” Kam is out and cuts a promo and is rather awful. He seems to forget what he wants to say an resorts to calling Tate stupid. I expected more from here!

-Bell sounds and Wilder starts fast. Kam responds with a forearm to the small of the back. He gets a slam and chokes on the ropes. Kam with strikes in the corner and hits a backbreaker. Nice one too! He hooks a Cobra Clutch and then tosses Tate across the ring. These two are actually in a feud at the moment on Evolve. Wilder fights from underneath, but keeps getting cut off by Kam. Abdominal Stretch, but Wilder escapes. He catches Kam with a boot in the corner and another one. He runs wild with shoulders and hits a twisting suplex for two. Lion-sault gets two! Tate up to the top, but the moonsault misses. Wilder lands on his feet, but eats a boot to the face. Lights, Kam, Action finishes for the pin at 4:28.

Winner: Kam Hendrix via pin at 4:28
-Solid match as they hit everything well. **

-Kam tries to do something after the match, but gets shoved away. KO is curious how they respond to each other when they come back. He doesn’t think Tate will be happy with the ending.

-Commercials!

-Shawn tells Kam that getting lost happens to everyone. He gives him tips on how to get back on track. We see the awkward moment where he forgot his line. KO was happy with Tate’s promo and how he listened to the crowd and reacted. He wants to know what happened at the end. Tate isn’t sure as we see Steve Corino in the back.

-Tate asks about the ending and Kam says he tripped. They show the footage and sure enough, he tripped over Tate’s foot and fell on his back. Tate accepts that and jokes he better see that on the footage. Kam knows this could be his last shot and knows it wasn’t a great performance.

-Matt Bloom brings Kam into his office the next morning. He tells him to watch the match back with his coach and then by himself. He knows Kam has high expectations. He is going to pull him from LFG for a few weeks to get right. Kam admits he went home and almost crowd as he felt he is blowing it. He promises to lock in when we see him again.

-Another fun episode that rolled by thanks to the new format. The match ratings are there just because I am used to doing them, but they don’t mean anything on this show as they are given under five minutes and have things the coaches wan them to work on to get better. Tate came off well this episode while Trill and Kam struggled a bit. Everyone else did what you would expect.

-Thanks for reading!