Leighty’s WWE NXT Level Up Review: 04.14.23

-I am still battling whatever stomach bug I’ve had for the last 36 hours and it pretty much sucks. I am in a decent enough spot this AM to get off the couch and check this show. God Bless my wife for handling everything with our two boys while she had me secluded in our basement. Let’s get to it for this week’s WWE NXT Level Up!

-Announce Team: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton, and Mr. Stone
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL

Hank Walker vs. Kale Dixon

-Saxton puts Walker over as a good dude that will help the homeless and feed the hungry. He powers Dixon into the corner and lands a heavy chop and repeats in another corner. He whips Dixon across the ring and catches him with a backdrop on the way out. He hooks an armbar and then into a hammerlock. Dixon escapes and tries a hiptoss, but that gets blocked and Walker gets one of his own and back to the armbar. Dixon gets a neckbreaker and unloads with some right hands. Heavy lariat gets two. Swinging neckbreaker gets two as Stone and Byron argue with each other on commentary. Walker explodes out of the corner with a running shoulder and gets a Thesz Press. Running splash in the corner and another followed by a running elbow gets the pin at 4:55. According to commentary that is called The Flying Fridge. Okay then!

Winner: Hank Walker via pin at 4:55
-This was fine. The crowd likes Walker and Dixon continues to look for his first win. *1/2

-Elektra Lopez and Lolo Vice cut a promo backstage discussing their reasons for coming together as a team.

-Hulu commercials!

Xyon Quinn vs. Tavion Heights

-Heights backs Quinn into the corner, but offers a clean break. Another go and Heights gets a side headlock. Quinn goes to the hair and then rakes the eyes. He gets a takedown into a pin, but Heights counters into his own pin attempt for one. Suplex from Quinn and he stomps away in the corner. Heights gets another roll-up, but Quinn gets a big boot followed by a running clothesline in the corner. Double stomp and sidewalk slam gets two. Quinn works a submission as he tries to make Height’s arms bend back and tough each other. Heights fights out and starts firing off right hands. Clothesline from Heights and the Fireman’s Carry Slam for two. Quinn blocks a charge with a double thrust to the throat. Quinn with a flying forearm for the win at 5:11.

Winner: Xyon Quinn via pin at 5:11
-I was hoping for a little more here. The crowd really wasn’t into this one and it kind of dragged on for only being 5 minutes. *1/4

-Hulu commercials!

-The entire Kevin Owens/Solo match from RAW is included since this is the Hulu version.

-Hulu commercials!

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Elektra Lopez and Lolo Vice

-Carter and Vice start us off and Vice does some dancing which excites Mr. Stone. Carter does some dancing of her own. Carter gets a dropkick so Vice bails and tags in Lopez. Carter and Chance hit some double-team offense and Chance gets a two-count count. Dropkick from Chance, but Lopez catches her and plants her face first on the mat. She stomps Chance and gets a two-count. Lolo gets the tag and gets a two-count. She lands a spinning kick in the corner and another kick to the ribs. Tag to Lopez who holds Chance so Vice can land another kick to the ribs and that gets another two count. Torture Rack from Lopez which is cool to see. Chance escapes, but can’t make the tag and gets dropped with a belly-to-back suplex for two. Vice with the tag, but Chance flips out of a double suplex attempt and makes the hot tag. Carter runs wild and gets a running boot to the face of Vice for two. Vice returns with some strikes, but Carter knocks her back down again. Nice double-team offense from Carter and Chance as Chance lands a springboard moonsault while Carter gets a springboard legdrop. Double team sit-out Facebuster from Vice and Lopez, but Carter makes the save. Everyone starts hitting everyone and it settles down to Chance and Lopez. Codebreaker from Chance leads to the neckbreaker/450 combo for the pin at 6:33.

Winners: Kayden Carter and Katana Chance via pin at 6:33
-I really like the Carter/Chance team and they should have won here as they are former Tag Champs against a first-time team. I enjoyed this match. **1/4

-Thanks for reading. I am heading back to the couch!

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

The Main Event turned this into an average episode of this show, which is what I expect every week. As always, an easy show to digest and the fun is seeing how these kids develop and who happens to pop up on the main NXT show or even Main Event next.