WWE NXT Level Up 3/22/2024

WWE NXT Level Up 3/22/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/03/wwe-nxt-level-up-3152024.html 

Tavion Heights vs Saquon Shugars

This is Saquon Shugars WWE TV debut. I'm not a fan of the name at all as it's hard to spell. He has a half-singlet with leggings and graffiti sprayed on it.

Tav does a nice takedown on him then does another. He rolls over Shugars' back. Tav gets on all fours like amateur wrestling. Shugars tries to turn him over but can't. Tav lifts him high and slams him down. Tav then rides his back and does Oleg Boltin's throw around before a karelin's lift.

Shugars trips running the ropes and rolls out, pulling Tav into the ropes. Shugars then hits him from the side and hits mounted punches. Shugars hits mounted punches then neckbreakers him for 2. Shugars pulls Tav into the ropes then elbow drops him over the 2nd rope.

Shugars does a slingshot legdrop for 2. Shugars hooks his arm around Tav's neck then is backed up into the buckles. Shugars then hooks onto him again and is back body dropped. Tav hits punches then overhead belly to belly suplexes him. Tav hits a slingblade then spinning belly to belly suplexes him for the win.

Shugars is different as he is smaller and clearly was booked like a low card jobber. Shugars did a good job with his heeling here but it's odd that he was put in this role already. It wasn't great or anything but was an acceptable match.

Uriah Connors is interviewed. He jobbed to Shawn Spears a few weeks ago on NXT. He said it's the early days and he's here for the long haul. He said his family has been fighting for 4 generations. He said he signed up for a huge challenge in the returning Eddy Thorpe. He said they were like family in the past life but he's not here for that in this life. In case you are wondering, he was Brogan Finlay on the indies and is indeed Fit Finlay's son. 

Lainey Reed vs Jaida Parker

This is Lainey Reed's WWE TV debut. Reed has a country type of theme and they say she's a modern southern belle, straight from the heart of Dixie. They said she had a pro rodeo career.

Reed side headlocks her then is thrown off. Reed wristlocks her then Reed rolls and cartwheels out of a wristlock. Jaida hits shoulders on her. Reed is sent into the buckles but flips to the apron. Reed slingshot sunset flips her for 2. Reed arm yanks Jaida then rolls her up for 2.

Jaida hits chops then arm throws her. Jaida pulls on her hair then throws her down by it. Jaida chokes her on the ropes then hits forearms. Reed goes up and over and rolls her up. Jaida knees her in the gut. Jaida lays her on the 2nd buckle and springboard butt drops her down. Jaida rolls her up for 2.

Jaida throws her back by the hair then abdominal stretches her. Reed cradles her for 2 then hits some shots. Reed headbutts her then flying shoulders and lariats her. Reed dropkicks her then corner back splashes her. Jaida blocks a move and does a jumping leg lariat to win it.

It was a simple match for the most part. Reed didn't get to do a ton here but she didn't botch anything and did fine for her debut. She's a little thicker than some of the other girls and she's definitely doing a cowgirl gimmick. 

Eddy Thorpe vs Uriah Connors

UC is real thin and has a rap theme song. Eddy side headlocks him then headlock takeovers him. UC hits armdrags and they trade hammerlocks. UC side headlocks him then hiptosses him. UC dropkicks him then topes him.

Eddy kicks him in the back then his back elbows. Eddy clubs on him then spin kicks him. Eddy suplexes him for 2 then sleepers him. Eddy chops him then is suplexed. UC gets some shots in then flying euros him. UC hits a blue thunder for 2.

Eddy hits a kick to the face then impaler ddt's him to win it.

Eddy had a red and black line painted on his nose here. I didn't think it was anything special and just thought it was an average match.

Overall thoughts: We had 2 debuts here and Uriah Connors wrestled in his first non-squash match. Saquon Shugars was probably the best of the new debuts, though neither he or Connors are rookies like Reed. I don't really see much in Connors and Reed did okay in her debut. None of the matches were real great or must see and I wouldn't really recommend it.