Leighty’s NXT Level Up Review: 02.25.22

-After last week’s solid opening episde of this show, it’s time to see what they can do to follow-up. Let’s get to it!

-Commentary Team: Sudu Shah and Nigel McGuiness
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL

Xyon Quinn vs. James Drake (w/ Zack Gibson)

-Lock-up to start and Quinn uses his power before Drake escapes and mocks him. Another go and Quinn gets a wristlock, but Drake flips out only to get grounder with a hammer lock. Drake fights out into a side headlock. They have a rope running sequence before Quinn powers drake down. Vertical suplex with a spin is next and Drake hits the floor thanks to Gibson. Quinn follows and fires Drake back into the ring, but keeps his attention on Gibson and pays with it as he gets caught trying to get back in the ring. Gibson makes sure to get in a cheap shot as well. Gibson throws some chops, but Quinn no sells and lands a right hand. Drake gets his boots up on a charge and jumps on Quinn with a sleeper. Quinn breaks like Hogan vs The Iron Sheik and fires away with right hands again. He connects with a headbutt and then running lariat in the corner. Drake ends up on the apron and lands a shoulder before heading up top. Quinn catches him and sends him flying off. He makes the mistake of going after Gibson again and that lets Drake gets a roll-up for the pin at 4:53.

Winner: James Drake via pin at 4:53
-Weird as Quinn dominated, but loses on a roll-up thanks to interference. Drake losing a singles match wouldn’t hurt, and I question the decision. Match was ok. **

-Quinn beats up Gibson after the match to get his heat back. Sore loser to me!

-WrestleMania Dallas commercial! I mean, you can hype Brock/Reigns all you want and I get it, but nothing will ever be bigger than Hogan/Andre at Mania III.

Elektra Lopez (w/ LDF) vs. Sarray

-So Sarray is backstage walking towards the ring in glasses and a suit and then is her gear as she walks through the smoke. I must have missed something. Lock-up to start and then Sarray tries a waist-lock, but Lopez shoves off. Sarray gets a rope assisted arm-drag, but gets caught with a back elbow. Lopez drags Sarray around the mat by her hair and breaks on the 5 count. Slam from Lopez into a face-buster. Bow and Arrow, but Sarray makes it to the ropes and forces a break. Another hair throw from Lopez, but Sarray gets a rough looking roll-up for two. Sarray off the middle rope with a shotgun dropkick and then a double stomp from the middle rope. Wilde pushes Lopez out of the way, but end up eating a kick to the face. Lopez loads Sarray up for what looks like a shoulder breaker, but instead just tosses her off onto her face for the win at 3:43.

Winner: Elektra Lopez via pin at 3:43
-Not much here as they were given less than four minutes and it was another instance where a match was won due to someone on the floor interfering. *

-Graves and Carmella have their own YouTube show!

Jacket Time vs. Joe Gacy and Harland

-KUSHIDA and Gacy start things off. KUSHIDA grabs an arm and they work off that a bit. KUSHIDA into a front face-lock as he rides Gacy amateur style. Jiro gets the tag and he has a go with Gacy. They collide center of the ring and tease hugging before Jiro snaps off an arm-drag and then a head scissors take down. Gacy calls for peace and gets suckered into a small package for two. Jacket punches follow as the crowd just loves Jiro. Tag to Harland and he no sells everything from Jiro. Harland hits a running splash in the corner and fires Jiro face first into the mat. He drives Jiro into the corner and stretches him over the top which has Gacy come over to calm him down to risk a DQ. Harland grinds his forearm over Jiro’s temple and decks KUSHIDA for good measure. He drags Jiro’s life less body to his corner and makes the tag to Gacy. Jiro shows a flash of life, but gets dropped with a DDT for two. Neck crank from Gacy, but Jiro slides off into a corner off a belly to back suplex. Tag to KUSHIDA and he hits the handspring elbow. He hooks Gacy and rolls him all over the mat with his feet and gets a cover for two. Another handspring, but it gets messed up as Harland was kind of in the way. KUSHIDA just hooks an Octopus which draws Harland into the ring, but Gacy calms him down again. Jacket Time run wild off that and hit a double dropkick om Gacy. Harland prevents Jiro from flying outside on Gacy. That lets Gacy return to hit the handspring lariat. KUSHIDA gets wiped out by Harland and he hits a splash on Jiro to get the win at 6:55.

Winners: Joe Gacy and Harland via pin at 6:55
-This was okay if a little rough in spots. They made use of the tried and true tag formula which always works. No real drama about the winners though as they are riding with Gacy and this character and Harland isn’t taking a loss yet. **

-Thanks for reading!

5.0

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

Definitely down from what we got last week, which isn't surprising. It was an easy watch as I have gotten used to the 3 match format now. Like always the crowd helps even if the matches aren't of the highest quality.