WWE NXT 2/20/2024

WWE NXT 2/20/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/02/wwe-nxt-2132024.html

We see Lyra Valkyria and Shotzi arrive earlier in the day.

WWE NXT North American Title - Oba Femi (c) vs Lexis King

King hits kicks to the body then corner strikes. King does a twisting dive off the 2nd rope and is forearmed down. Oba back body drops him. King hits kicks to the body then Oba pushes him over the top by the throat. King dropkicks him off the apron then Oba lariats the post when King moves. Oba slaps King then King armlocks him. Mr. Stone and Von are on an inset screen and Stone says he's going out there.

King goes up top and Mr. Stone comes out. King top rope double stomps Oba's arm. King slides out and pushes Stone down. Oba hits a big lariat then throws him up in the air. Oba hits snake eyes on him then throws him on a blue thunder. Oba pop-up powerbombs him and wins it.

It wasn't that great or anything. It was on the shorter side and the only real note was King pushing down Stone.

Thea, Jacy and one of the new Chase U girls Jazmyn Nyx talk in the back. Thea said Riley hasn't answered her all week. Arianna Grace is behind them listening. Thea went on a Valentine's date with Riley. She said she told him not to open the door as she's a grown woman. She said she didn't want to act too available to him and Jacy said that wasn't what she meant. Grace comes in and says Thea scared him away. Grace says when a man opens the door for you, you welcome it and you engage and reciprocate with him. She said she should talk with Riley. Jacy says she can't do everything for Thea and Grace then says "and you call that your best friend?". Jacy and the other girl tell her to stay out of their business or they will make an example of her.

The Wolfdogs are headed to the ring.

Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley talk in the back. Lyra said Lola gave her a whooping last week. Tatum said everything hurts but Lyra came to her aide and that's all that matters. Lyra said you shouldn't try to be a hero and Tatum says she's her hero. Lyra said she feels bad about last week but asks her to do something for her - to stay away from ringside tonight. She said she has a special surprise for her if she does. Tatum says she will stay here.

The Wolfdogs are in the ring with the Dusty Cup. Bron said he wouldn't have believed this since they were facing each other at No Mercy. Corbin said didn't he beat him there? Bron said he wouldn't have a title if he didn't carry this team. Corbin said he set him up nicely. Bron said he hit the spear after Corbin hit the end of days and hints that it should be called the "spear of days".

Chase U comes out. Chase says they care who their next challengers are even if they don't. Duke says Chase U is at 100% and it's their time to shine. Bron tells them to take their school spirit and calendars and shove them up their @sses. Chase says what we have here is a teachable moment. Chase said the former champs promised them a shot at the title and they aren't taking no for an answer. Duke says they will get their title match and give them an Andre Chase sized @ss whooping.

Nathan Frazer and Axiom come out. NF said that agreement with the old champs is null and void. They say they deserve the shot. NF said they tried to jump them from behind and will pay for it. Duke does an English accent. He said it was good to see them but get to the back of the line. Duke says they are about to place the Chase U flag where it belongs. Corbin said it sounds like a problem between them and says they have stuff to do and places to be. Corbin says to go tell someone who cares.

Ava Raine, without the Raine part of her name on her graphic, comes out. She said coming up with challengers is her duty. She said it should be Chase U vs Frazer and Axiom in a #1 contenders match tonight. 

Roxanne Perez is interviewed. She said Wren Sinclair shows a lot of promise and is happy to be here, but says happy to be here won't cut it after a while. She said other superstars will take the opportunities away from you and will just be handed to main roster stars. Perez said you stop caring about others feelings and said the only person you start worrying about is yourself. She said she hopes Lyra and Shotzi watches her match because she will watch theirs.

We get another video with text. It says Men deny their truth, I will be a mirror to it.

Roxanne Perez vs Wren Sinclair

They lock up and get on the ropes. Perez shoves her then is shoved down. They roll on the mat to the outside. Perez hits mounted shots then Wren backslides her. Perez slaps her then Wren backdrops her. Perez throws her down by the arm and Wren forearms her outside. Perez throws her down by the arm outside.

Perez grabs her by the chin then throws her back. Perez knee drops her arm. Perez is thrown down off an armlock then Wren hits lariats. Wren dropkicks her and Perez throws her down by the arm again. Perez hits pop rocks and lets go to do a crossface. Perez then wins by submission.

It was short and the crowd didn't care. It was a very one-sided match but it made sense with Perez working the arm leading up to the finish.

Meta-Four talk in the back. Dar said the sport and tradition of wrestling belongs to him not the No Quarter Catch Crew. Dempsey said the trophy symbolizes 100 years of wrestling. Dar says he doesn't want to hear the history lesson. Kemp said when they win the cup, they aren't coming back here. Kemp says due to the Catch Clause, they will find out who he is wrestling when the match happens. If that's a title match, it's total BS. 

Josh Briggs vs Brooks Jensen

Jensen is back to his old jeans and cowboy boots after wearing other stuff on Level Up. Briggs shoulders him over then Brooks shoulders him over. Briggs shoulders him over again then bangs his head off the buckles. Brooks bulldogs and dropkicks him. Briggs uses his feet to push Brooks out.

Brooks nails Briggs outside then does a swinging facebuster inside. Brooks sends Briggs into the rails then over them. Brooks hits mounted punches then stomps him in the stands.

We go to PiP break and return. Brooks enzugiri's him then backslides him. Briggs pounds on him in the corner and flurries him. Briggs side slams and splashes him for 2. Brooks superkicks him then hits a nice lariat. Brooks hits a nice single leg dropkick then top rope dropkicks him.  

Brooks corner lariats him then takes a face kick. Briggs south of heaven chokeslams him for 2. Briggs' mouth is bleeding. They trade shots on their knees and they trade face kicks. Brooks spinning heel kicks him then suplexes him for 2.

Brooks sunset flips him, is punched in the face then lariated. Briggs says he loves him and he's doing it for them. Briggs lariats him in the side of the head and wins it.

It was good and what it needed to be with them showing some aggression and anger here without them going too far with it. Brooks had to lose here to continue the story and they explained it further by Briggs telling him he loved him.

We see Joe Gacy in a straight jacket in an asylum. He's maybe dreaming. Dijak walks in with a night stick. He said there's no decency in him. Joe said he admires his efforts to stop him but his train is on a never ending track. Dijak says he has many instruments of peace to derail his train. Joe draws a smiley face with the steam on the window. Luca Crusifino comes in and tells him he's doing false imprisonment. He said this is illegal. Dijak said he broke his law and Luca says the world doesn't work the way he wants it to. Joe tells him this isn't over.

We see Carmelo Hayes going to the barber shop him and Trick used to hang out at. We go to break and return. Melo says this is where it all began. He said they had good memories and great moments but he's here all alone. He said he's not lonely and says let's talk about it. He says he's here with his pride and said he didn't get too big for his own boos. He said Trick played his role so well and he wanted him to experience what it's like being a top guy. He said he wanted to lift him up with him. Melo says this is how you repay me? By trying to be the #1 guy in NXT? He said he would have let him be the #5 or #1 guy. He said he let Trick put himself ahead of him in Trick-Melo game to amuse him. Melo says you have to have that killer instinct. He said he knew Trick was going to want his title and Melo said he's his biggest competition. He said he knew he would have to get Trick before he got Melo. He tells Trick to say where he's at. He said if Ilja wants to see him, get in line, but if it's not about the NXT Title, they have nothing to talk about.

Arianna Grace vs Jacy Jayne

Thea Hail and Jazmyn Nyx are out with Jacy. Grace wristlocks her then Jacy gets out. Grace snapmares her and shoulders her over. Grace tells her to kiss her hand and Jacy throws her into the ropes. Jacy wants Thea to do something but Thea doesn't know what. Grace is pushed into the buckles and back elbowed. Jacy lariats her and sentons her for 2.

Jacy puts her in a grounded sleeper then Grace slams her. Grace does an interesting looking elbow drop and armlocks her. Grace is thrown out and Jacy tries to tell Thea to hit Grace. Nyx then hits Grace. Jacy spinning forearms Grace and wins it as Thea looks confused.

It was a short match and was second to this Thea/Nyx/Jacy storyline. Grace had onbe of her better showings here and some new gear on.

Nyx moves Thea out of the way and celebrates with Jacy after.

Tony D'Angelo is at a restaurant then Rizzo and Stcks walk in. Rizzo said she gave everything she had out there last week and Tony said she had a good showing. Stacks says last week was on him and will get the titles back. Tony says they won't, not now. Tony said he has lost track of the bigger picture and said they have been playing small ball. Tony said he needs to lead the family in the right direction. He said we do things his way and if they don't like it, let him know. Tony said it's time for him to really be the Don of NXT.

Sarah Schreiber interviews Ridge Holland. She asks about updates since htey last left. Ridge said he can't get the shadow of misfortune off of him. Ridge said Gallus chaired his injured leg. He said when he gets a chair, it becomes a weapon. He said he can't defend himself without people judging him. He said this isn't the forum to do it and said he will address the WWE Universe next week. He said he will apologize for his actions. He said the man with the chair is not the man he is in everyday life.

Shotzi and Lyra warm up in the back.

#1 Contenders to the Tag Titles - Chase U (Duke Hudson and Andre Chase) vs Axiom and Nathan Frazer

Jacy and Chase have words then Thea and Riley have an awkward moment as the girls leave from their match. Chase wristlocks Ax Ax bridges and takes him down with a headscissor. Ax trips him and ankle locks him. Ax goes for a bow and arrow and Chase rolls on him. They try to dropkick eac hother at the same time and stare down.

Chase throws Ax and Ax cartwheels through it. Ax armdrags him off the ropes and dropkicks him. NF short ddt's Chase then standing ssp's him for 2. NF is double axe handled by both opponents. NF headlocks him then flying single leg dropkicks him. Duke shoulders him over. Ax uses NF to do a flying kick on Duke then Ax hits a headscissors + armdrag combo off the ropes. Ax topes Chase then NF topes Duke. They then hit the dives again.

We go to break and return. Chase is german suplexed then takes a double superkick. NF trips Chase then springboards, getting caught with a side effect on the landing. Duke hits shots on both opponents and drops NF on his chest. Duke running face kicks NF then Ax superkicks him. Duke corner uranage's Ax then hits Chase U punches. Duke does a stupid move where he sentons NF and basically pulls Ax down on him at the same time.

Duke goes for a razor's edge and is hurricanrana'd into the buckles. NF springboard dropkicks Duke. Duke is on the top rope then Ax hits a top rope spanish fly for 2. Duke takes a double superkick then hits a double lariat. Chase top rope crossbodies NF then NF rolls through it. NF enzugiri's him and takes a backfist. They try pin attempts and Chase pins him.

I didn't like Duke kicking out of the spanish fly here. It wasn't great but they kept it moving and it was your usual okay Chase U match. Chase U never really seems to have classics.

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows beat up everyone including Riley Osborne after. Duke takes a magic killer.

Ilja Dragunov talks about Melo. He said he saw through him since Day 1 and saw his jealous of Trick. He calls him a coward for attacking him and Trick. He says he's the lowest form of life and a rodent. He said he will see him at Roadblock if he meets him face to face. He says to come for his title because he's coming for Melo's soul.

Thea Hail and Fallon Henley talk in the back. Fallon is upset about Briggs and Jensen fighting and Thea is upset too. Thea said the only good thing in her life is that Chase/Duke have a shot at their titles. She said she had a bad date with Riley on Valentine's Day and she brought up last year's Valentine's Day with Brooks and Kiana. They then walk off together.

Kelani Jordan vs Lash Legend

Lash throws her down and piefaces her. KJ piefaces her back. KJ rolls her up then Lash pump kicks her in mid-air. Lash bangs KJ's head off the mat. Lash shoulders her over and does a swinging side backbreaker. Lash splashes her for 2.

Lash chokes her on the ropes then forearms her. Lash does an over the back backbreaker hold. KJ gets her knees up on Lash's splash. KJ hits forearms then top rope diving hurricanrana's her. KJ hits a shotgun dropkick. KJ spinning heel kicks her. Jakara tries to hit KJ but is hit. Lash then chokeslams KJ while KJ is on the 2nd rope. Lash then wins it.

Not great but Lash is a lot better than she used to be and her offense is looking a lot better these days. I don't really know what the point of this was since KJ shouldn't really be losing and it doesn't matter much with Lash.

Kiana James and Izzi Dame come out. Izzi grabs KJ by the throat. KJ fends them off and rolls out to safety.

Gallows and Anderson are interviewed in the parking lot. Karl says they are back and will stay as long as they want. Doc says he doesn't know if Chase U is thrilled about it, but he was always a bad student. Karl said they will separate the men from the boys when it comes to the NXT tag titles. Doc says he didn't know Corbin came to NXT to be the world's largest comedian and said maybe they can be heroes to Bron. They say they will win the tag titles with the magic killer and a just too sweet. Karl says they will be over there "brothering" if they are needed.

NXT Women's Title - Lyra Valkyria (c) vs Shotzi

Lyra takes her down then Shotzi rolls her into a choke. Lyra trips her and is pushed off with Shotzi's feet. Lyra side throws her. Lyra rolls her and then Shotzi rolls her into a pin attempt. Shotzi shoulders her over then Lyra flips out of her headscissors. Lyra hip throws her. Shotzi walks up the buckles and armdrags her. Shotzi ddt's her over the 2nd rope onto the apron. Shotzi holds her knees on the landing.

We go to PiP break and return. Shotzi is limping and unable to continue.

Ava Raine comes out. She said she promised an NXT Women's Title match and that's what we will get. Ava said this is now an open challenge and whoever comes out will be her opponent. Lash Legend comes out.

NXT Women's Title - Lyra Valkyria (c) vs Lash Legend

Lyra hits kicks to the leg and is knocked down with a forearm. Lash chinlocks her. Lyra hits a kick combo. Lyra is caught coming off the 2nd rope and takes a swinging side backbreaker. Lash forearms her in the corner then hits a nice lariat.

Lash racks her over the shoulder. We go to the back and Roxanne Perez is asking what's going on. She is told then slams the TV down. Lyra hurricanrana's and enzugiri's Lash. Lash catches a spinning heel kick and is chokeslammed for 2.

Lyra top rope crossbodies her for 2. Lash pump kicks her for 2. Lyra knocks her off the ropes and hits a top rope splash to win it.

I'm not going to be too hard on this one. It was a last minute thing and it was nice of them to give the fans something instead of just ending the show. It wasn't that good or anything but it wasn't awful.

Overall thoughts: Not one of NXT's best episodes, but they started up some storylines and set up some stuff. Tony D's starting a new angle, Thea/Jacy/Nyx seem to be starting something. Perez continues what she is doing, The OC are in NXT now, Thea and Riley had a bad date and Thea/Fallon seem to have started a friendship. We also saw Shotzi get injured in the main and we saw Lexis King take a whooping from Oba Femi in a match that didn't help either guy. Izzi Dame and Kiana James also seemed to have started up a feud with Kelani Jordan.