WWE NXT Level Up 7/8/2022

WWE NXT Level Up 7/8/2022

Dante Chen vs Myles Borne

Borne does a standing backflip for his entrance and takes a wqristlock to start. Dante slips out of his headlock with a hammerlock. Borne takes an armdrag but rolls it into a headlock.  They roll and Chen stays in the headlock then Borne does some rolls and side headlock takeovers him. Borne shoulders him over and Chen crossbodies and armdrags him.

Chen hits a hiptoss and Brone slaps on another headlock. He then walks up the ropes with it and takes him over then Chen pins him while still in the headlock.

This was unusual. They clearly told Borne not to do much but headlocks here and that's basically what he did. Not real sure what the deal with this one was. It's not like it was bad but it was the most basic match I've seen in some time. Borne really can move though.

Enofe and Blade are interviewed. They are asked about their match tonight. Blade said they are excited and pumped. Enofe said his opponents might be the strongest tonight, but they are the most charismatic. He said they have teamwork, unity and chemistry and said they will walk out victorious. This was the first interview ever done on this show, but they should be doing interviews here so they get better at them.

Arianna Grace vs Yulisa Leon 

They called Leon and Feroz, "The Pan American Connection" during the match graphic but I don't know if that's official. Leon dances with her partner and a fan. Grace looks disgusted by it. Leon does a side headlock on her then spinebusters her. Leon headlocks her then Leon cartwheels over her and backflips into a pose. Leon then dances and Grace hits some shots on the ropes.

Grace bangs Leon's head against the ropes and I think they cut something out. Grace hits more stomps then puts her in an armbar. Leon tries to turn it into a pin and then Leon powerbombs her out of it. Leon flapjacks her then jumping lariats her in the corner. Leon then top rope dropkicks her. Leon then hits a fallaway slam but holds on and flips into a pin on here.

This was really boring early with the headlocks but once they started doing more it wasn't as bad. Leon had a nice dropkick at the end and her finisher was neat. 

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade vs Damaris Griffin and Bryson Montana

They made it seem like Griffin/Bryson are a team and they are kind of wearing similar stuff. Enofe gets on the mic during his entrance and Blade gets a pop for his sweater. Enofe puts him over and says he is "Malik the Freak" and puts himself over with some sexual lines.

Griffin shoulders over Blade then Blade does a big leapfrog into a dropkick. Enofe double axe handles Griffin's arm then Blade jumps off his opponents back to dropkick Griffin. Enofe then sunset flips Montana. Blade back elbows Montana and Montana spins him on a fallaway slam. Montana pounds on Blade's back and we are told Griffin/Montana are best friends. Griffin bearhugs Blade then spinebusters Blade.

Montana butterfly suplexes Blade and we are told he was inspired by Lashley. Blade evades a lariat and hot tags in Enofe. Enofe ducks punches and Griffin does some weird botch in the corner. Enofe suplexes Griffin then Quincy Elliot comes out and distracts Blade. Elliot starts twerking on the post and dances at Montana. Montana and Elliot argue then Blade blockbusters Griffin and Enofe top rope elbows Griffin to win it.

There was a lot going on here in this segment. It was fine but short and the finish was messy which didn't help it.

Overall thoughts: Triple H apparently told the Performance Center was back a few weeks ago and it felt like someone else was in charge here. It was a different show than usual with an interview, a dirty finish and Enofe getting to do mic work. We'll see where it goes. As always, it's Level Up and not exactly must see TV due to the length and skill level of some of the wrestlers.