wrestling / TV Reports
Jeremy’s WWE NXT Review 3.4.25
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hello everyone, and welcome to our live WWE NXT coverage on 411! It’s Jeremy Thomas, and we have have one week to go until NXT Roadblock is here. Next week is going to be a major show but tonight is no slouch either as Tony D’Angelo defends the NXT North American Championship against Shawn Spears. Elsewhere, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven make their NXT returns to take on Sol Ruca and Zaria, while Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker go one-on-one amidst their lenghty feud. Plus The Hardy Boys will be here before they defend the TNA World Tag Team Championships against Fraxion next week, plus more. Should be a fun little show to do the hard-sell for next week.
Here at Thomas HQ, I had a kind of light week for me when it comes to movie watching. My Hammer watch project continued as I saw 1965’s perfectly adequate adventure film The Brigand of Khandahar. Also in my Hammer watches were the solid-enough duo of The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll from 1960 and 1961’s The Curse of the Werewolf, had a good time with The Shadow of the Cat, and enjoyed Peter Cushing and Oliver Reed in 1962’s Captain Clegg but found the rest of the film rather meh. Outside of Hammer, I just did a rewatch of one of two big John Cusack comfort watches in the wonderful High Fidelity.
On the TV side, I got fully caught up with Yellowjackets to current and am enjoying season three thus far. I also finally gave in and watched the first two episodes of Sailor Moon and you know what? Not bad at all.
Also, if you missed it last week I have started a horror podcast with my wonderful friands Holly and L.! You can check out episode one of The Final Ghouls of Horror, where we talk about our personal tastes and preferences, below. Episode two on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is in the can and should, assuming I get it edited in time, release next week and you can listen on all the usual podcast places including YouTube.
As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s kids is still active and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.
* TUDUM.
* We get a recap of the events from last Tuesday in Cincinnati with The Hardys making their NXT debuts and the TNA World Tag Team Title match being made, Moose defending the TNA X-Division Championship against Lexis King and being confronted by Oba Femi for an NXT Championship match being made for Roadblock, Ricky Saints’ NXT in-ring debut and Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer being announced, title for title.
* We’re LIVE in the Capitol Wrestling Center.
* Shawn Spears and his group WALKS backstage while Tony D and the family arrive, as do The Hardys.
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca
Chelsea and Sol start it off and Chelsea SLAPS Sol and shoves her! Sol fires back with a slap and X-Factor for two, and Green backs off to tag in Piper. So Sol tags in Zaria! Stare off and Zaria goozles Niven, but Piper breaks free. They both fail to bodyslam each other and a joint headbutt does nothing, so Piper off the ropes to run over Zaria. She showboats — Zaria is up and clotheslines her.
Tag to Sol who goes for a springboard splash, but Piper dodges and puts Sol in the corner. Green tags in and sends Sol into the ropes where she collides with Piper, thrust kick and cover gets two. Green turns it around and yanks Sol to the mat, tags in Piper who misses an elbowdrop and Zaria tags in for a pump kick. High-low by Zaria and Sol, cover but Green breaks it up. Green is sent to the outside, she yanks Zaria out but Sol DIVES onto Green! And Niven with a senton to Zaria and Sol as we go to break.
We’re back with Green in control of Sol, who is fighting to get to the tag but gets yanked to the mat. Piper tags in and goes for the leg, Sol with an enzuigiri. She goes for the tag but Piper kicks her in the gut and goes for a suplex — Sol counters with a roundhouse kick and goes for the tag, but Green yanks Zaria off the apron! Piper splashes Sol in the corner, tosses her across the ring for another splash.
Green tags in but Sol pushes them away and hits a high crossbody, then gets the hot tag to Zaria! German suplex for Chelsea, clothesline to Piper, another German to Green! Piper fights off the German but Zaria with a spear! Spear to Green! Cover gets two-plus.
Zaria picks up Green on her shoulders but Piper pulls her down. All four women in the ring, Piper hits an elbow to Zaria’s back, cover gets a nearfall. Green’s nose is busted, she goes for the Unprettier and Zaria counters! Green on her shoulders — Sol tags in and hits a moonsault! Cover, Niven in to break it up but Sol moves and Niven splashes Green! Zaria gets Piper on her shoulders, drops her on Green! Sol Snatcher gets three!
Winner: Sol Ruca & Zaria (10:12)
Rating: ** 3/4
Thoughts: Fun match. I hope Chelsea’s nose isn’t busted but all in all an enjoyable effort by all four, with Sol and Zaria getting an important win.
* Earlier today, Jordynne told Ava that she had unfinished business with Roxy. Cora walks in and interrupts, says she’s not Roxy’s friend and is there to thank Ava for her match with Masha Slamovich at TNA Sacrifice. She says an NXT star holding that title will make it more important. Grace says that the day Cora wins the title is the day she retires. Ava makes a match between them and Cora’s fine with it.
* Trick Williams is angry with Ava about Eddy Thorpe. Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon walks in to give Ava a gift for her new office and Trick says that now isn’t the time and go bug Mr. Chase. Kale says Trick is the reason Chase U isn’t around anymore and Trick slams him against the door, leading to a match being made.
Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan
They start shouting at each other to start and Jaida takes control, putting Kelani in the corner. Kelani fights back and hits shoulder thrusts to Jaida, snapmares her and hits a standing moonsault for two. Kelani works over Jaida’s shoulder and rolls into a La Magistral Cradle for two.
Jaida sends Kelani into the ropes and htis a back elbow. Back into the ropes but Kelani up and hits a BIG clothesline. She goes after the shoulder again but Jaida decks her and puts her on the apron, going for a basball slide but Kelani leaps to dodge and stomps her back. Asai Moonsault to the outside, back in the ring and a crossbody off the ropes for two.
Back into the ropes, Jaida with an elbow. She grabs Kelani’s foot off a kick in the corner but Kelani pushes her off, goes up top and Jaida catches her. She goes up top, grabs her and hits a backbreaker ONTO the turnbuckle! Kelani and Jaida to the outside as we go to break.
We’re back and Jaida goes for a pump kick but Kelani catches it and hits a modified Russian legsweep. Jaida knocks Kelani back but gets sent into the corner, Kelani chars and is put on the apron. Jaida sends Kelani to the floor with a shoulder thrust, then throws her in and hits a right hand on the apron. Kelani catches Jaida as she comes through the ropes, then hits a legdrop off the turnbuckle and gets a two-count.
Kelani and Jaida now trading punches in the center of the ring. Jaida nails Kelani and goes for a reverse suplex but Kelani escapes it and takes Jaida down. Kip up, she goes for a bodyslam, Jaida counters but Kelani counters back with a legdrop takedown for two!
Kelani goes for the split-legged moonsault but Jaida gets out of the way, roll-up by Kelani for two. Jaida fires back with a Samoan Drop and gets two herself. She goes for the Samoan drop again, Kelani slides down and locks in a crossface but gets pushed back into the corner. She sets Kelani on the middle rope — and climbs up to the top! But Kelani with a kick to the head and climbs up — superplex blocked by Jaida! They struggle and get up top — SPANISH FLY by Kelani! But Jaida rolls out of the ring!
Kelani goes for the Asai moonsault again but Jade catches her and pulls her to the floor. Drive By! She charges again but Kelani moves and Jaida hits the ringsteps! Jaida rolled in, Kelani up top but Jaida is able to cut her off. She climbs but Kelani knocks her down — 450 but Jaida moves! Hypnotic! That’s it.
Winner: Jaida Parker (12:49)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Damn good effort by both women. Hopefully we’re done with this feud for now, both these women need to move on.
Jaida says into the camera that she’ll be watching Giulia vs. Vaquer next week.
* Tony D is asked by Kelly Kincaid about Spears’ group’s attack. Tony welcomes Kelly back and says his mother told him if he has nothing good to say about a woman, say nothing. He has plenty to say but The CW wouldn’t want him to. He gets that Stacks is concerned about his back and it’s Stacks’ call when he’s not around, but he’s here. And while Spears is putting together a family, there’s only one family in NXT.
* The Hardys WALK backstage.
* We get Oba Femi from the Roadblock press conference and is asked what it’s like defending the NXT Title against someone from another company. He says he takes it seriously and Moose is talented, but he can’t allow a TNA wrestler run around with the title on his shoulder. Someone asks about their size difference and he says Moose is a big man who matches him, and he can go on top of that. He says he’s fought men smaller, the same size and even bigger but he hits first and hard, and when he gets his hands on Moose, Moose will wish he’d never left the NFL. He cuts off questions and says he’ll walk in and out of Roadblock as NXT Champion.
* The Hardys are here! Matt and Jeff come down with their titles around their waist to a big reaction and a quick “DELETE” chant. They get mics and get a “WELCOME HOME” chant. Jeff says man oh man, the last few weeks have felt surreal and it feels so good to be here in NXT. And if feels so damn good to be back home in WWE!
Matt thanks fans and says they can feel the love. To come back home to WWE and appear on NXT for the first time, and delete a top tag team like the NQCC was exhilarating and amazing. They’ve been everywhere and have travelled millions of miles, but the positivity and passion in the NXT locker room is off the charts. Jeff says the presence of passion is active, the fire is in the eyes and the feeling is infections. He says he saw the same fire in Fraxiom that he saw in their own eyes —
HANK AND TANK ARE HERE! Tank says they mean no disrespect and came out here to say thank you for showing them what it means to be a tag team and wanted to ask advice. Hank says it feels like they’re missing something to take them to the next level.
Matt knows who they are and enjoy their work. They’re young, strong, big and most importantly, hungry. He says sometimes you have to break the norm and Jeff says sometimes you have to take things to the extreme.
Tank says they’re talking about tables, ladders and chairs but Jeff says it’s about getting outside your comfort zone and pushing yourself. Matt says they have the same hunger and passion that they had when they came to WWE. Matt says extreme was bout being willing to take risks and defend themselves, and take a challenge that people see as impossible.
BRIGGS AND INAMURA ARE OUT! Briggs tells Hank and Tank to take their lips from the Hardys’ asses, and Inamura says they see what they’re doing. Briggs says Matt and Jeff can give them all the advice under the sun but they’re wasting their breath. He tells then to stop playing damsels because they’re not getting a title shot; they are. Inamura says it’s their time!
Hank asks Tank if he’s thinking what he is — and they dive onto Briggs and Inamura! They all brawl their way to the back.
Matt says FRAXIOM! I KNEW YOU’D COME! And Fraxiom are behind them. Axiom says they’ll face off in seven days and Matt says to be sure to bring their best. Frazer says they will and next week they’ll find out who the best tag team in the world today is. Jeff says, “See you in New York City!”
* We get a vignette hyping Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer, title vs. title, and Shawn Michaels and Triple talks about how the match represents the future of WWE’s women’s division.
* The WWE LFG legends will be in attendance at Roadblock next week.
Jordynne Grace vs. Cora Jade
Circle and lockup to start, Grace with a headlock takedown and another. A third follows. Back up, Cora reverses and gets shot into the ropes. She hangs in, Grace catches a kick and gets Cora on her shoulders, headslams into the turnbuckle and she puts Cora in the corner. Cora into the ropes, a couple clotheslines and an inverted atomic drop. Cora into the ropes, inverted back suplex for two.
Grace with forearms to the front and back, Cora ducks one and comes off the ropes but is caught and dropped in a standing sidewalk slam. Splash on Cora in the corner but Cora with a hair pull to yank Grace neck-first into the turnbuckle. Cover gets one and Cora slams Grace’s head into the mat.
Cora goes for a gutwrench suplex but Grace blocks it and hits chops to the chest. Into the ropes, Cora follows and nails her, then hits a legsweep. She goes for a springboard stomp, Grace to the apron and Cora hits her with three knee strikes as we go to break.
We’re back and during the break, Cora suffered an apparent injury and is being tended to by medical staff in the corner. She stands up and walks off, and Grace wins.
Winner: Jordynne Grace (7:41)
Rating: ** 1/2
Thoughts: Unfortunate end to the match, which was solid but hadn’t yet picked up steam. Hoping Jade is okay.
* Up next is a vignette recapping the Shawn Spears and Tony D’Angelo rivalry leading into tonight’s main event.
* Ethan Page and Je’Von Evans had a side-by-side interview about their match at Roadblock. Page it started because he had no path back to the NXT Championship and then there’s this 20 year-old kid giving him a pep talk. He says Je’Von talking to him about being a husband and a father made him realize he’d been soft. He says it’s about jealousy and if he could break Evans’ jaw again, he’d do it in a heartbeat. He’s at this most dangerous and and NXT put them in a match with no rules.
Je’Von says exactly, there are no rules. He couldn’t talk after Page attacked him and next week there will be no running in New York. For three months he had to deal with Page, and he realized people like Page will try and hold him down but no one is taking his joy or his smile, straight like that.
Page and Evans talk over each other until the interview ends.
* We get a recap of the women’s tag match.
Kale Dixon vs. Trick Williams
Trick with a BIG KNEE right at the bell and he throws rights — Kale is out cold.
Winner: Trick Williams (00:10)
Rating: N/A
Thoughts: RIP Kale Dixon.
Trick gets on the mic and says Eddy Thorpe just saw his life flash before his eyes and to come on out. Eddy’s music plays and Eddy is up on the podium. He says Trick has been struggling with not being the man around here anymore, but he walks around her like he is. He says that should be him. He beat Trick at Vengeance Day but he has to beat it into Trick and the fans that he’s the guy. Two weeks, him and Trick — NXT Underground!
Trick says he’ll see Eddy’s punk-ass at the Underground.
* Roxy is attacking Grace backstage, having nailed her with a chair, and officials pull her off Grace.
Set For Next Week:
– NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi vs. Moose
– TNA Tag Team Championship Match: The Hardys vs. Fraxion
– Champion vs. Champion: Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer
– Street Fight: Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans
* Moose takes questions and is asked one more. Someone asks about where this match ranks in his career. He says he’s a prize fighter and fights for the biggest fight in the game. This match was what he wanted so he was patient and waited for his moment. He says nothing is bigger than this and credits Oba as a champion. He says Oba can be The Ruler but he won’t be the champion because he’s leaving with two titles and will be the face of the champion.
Ava comes in and calls it the biggest event, and announces Roxy vs. Grace for next week. Fatal Influence shows up and Fallon says she wants her rematch. Ava says they can talk about it later and walks off, to protests from Fatal Influence.
* Ricky Saints walks backstage and runs into Ridge. He introduces himself and Ridge says Ricky’s win didn’t move him. Ricky says to get used to seeing a whole lot of him. He walks off and runs into Spears and posse, and Spears says this revolution will be televised — when he wins the title.
* The Family WALKS backstage.
NXT North American Championship Match
Tony D’Angelo vs. Shawn Spears
The two stare off and Spears swings but gets blocked. Tony with punches, they go into the ropes, Spears with a Thesz Press. Back up, Spears with a chop in the corner, Tony grabs Spears and puts him in the corner for chops. Spears sends Tony across the ring and he runs out for a lariat. Spears put on the top and Tony climbs to punch away, Spears with an eye poke.
Knee from Spears and an Irish whip reversed. Tony with a clothesline, cover gets two. Punch by Tony and then a shot to the back. Spears put back in top, Tony lays in the punches and goes for a superplex but he pauses to tell his fam to back off as Spears’ family gets closer — SUPERPLEX CONNECTS! Cover gets two as we go to break.
Spears was in control during the break and went to bring a chair into the ring, but was stopped by the ref which allowed D’Angelo to clothesline him to the floor. They’re back in the ring and Spears is back in control, having hit a superkick and covering for two as we return.
Spears mocks the D’Angelo Family and stomps on Tony’s forehead. He works over the champ’s back with leaps onto it, then pulls him into a camel clutch in the center of the ring. Tony gets free and elbows Spears in the gut, but Spears hits an inverted DDT into a backbreaker. He yells that the family is done and Tony is nothing — Tony grabs Spears by the jaw! Punches back and forth between them, Tony takes over and sends Spears into the ropes for a back elbow. Belly to belly, Tony lies in wait and charges! Spears dodges, but does a 360 turn into a SPEARS! Cover gets a nearfall.
They go outside the ring and Spears slams Tony into the apron, then rolls him in and climbs up top. He leaps — and Tony with a shot to the gut! He goes for a fisherman’s hook and Spears counters, puts Tony on the mat and locks in the Sharpshooter! Tony is in pain and manages to power out of it! Tony is up, catches a superkick — FUHGEDDABOUTIT! Cover and Izzi tries to put his foot on the rope, the pin is paused and Rizzo tackles Izzi! Chaos breaks out and in it, Tony is knocked off the apron back-first into the chair! Spears says so much for family, gets him in the ring, C4! Cover for thre–NO! He kicks out at the last instant!
Spears lays in a punch to a downed Tony, and pulls him up. He gets Tony on his shoulder, Tony tries to elbow out — he flips away! He goes for a spinebuster but his back gives out! Spears pins!
Winner: Shawn Spears (12:27)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Good storytelling and solid match. Spears had to win this to get some heat on his stable, but they told a solid narrative for the match and I enjoyed how it was put together.
Spears and his family pose and the NXT Roadblock card is run down once more.
And with that, we’re done for the night!
