WWE NXT Level Up 10/18/2024

WWE NXT Level Up 10/18/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/10/wwe-nxt-level-up-10112024.html

We are back in the Performance Center. They have the all black ring, outside mats and rails but still have the colorful Level Up logo.

Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe vs Harlem Lewis and Niko Vance

I like the Lewis and Niko team. The two could be brothers. Niko and Igwe lock up. Niko armlocks him and hits short arm shoulders. Igwe takes a double shoulder. Niko 2nd rope knee drops Igwe's arm and bangs it off his shoulder. Lewis shoulders over Igwe then Igwe hits a nice dropkick.

Lewis takes a corner splash and Tyson shoulders him over hard. Igwe pump kicks Lewis then Lewis takes a back body drop onto Niko outside. Lewis clips Tyson from behind then elbow drops the leg. Niko hits a nice saito suplex on Tyson. Tyson takes a double team catapult into the bottom rope.

Lewis dragon screws Tyson then trips him for a Niko headbutt drop. Niko single leg crabs Tyson. Igwe gets the hot tag in and knocks over his opponents. He hits a nice dropkick. Niko is lariated over the top and Lewis rolls up Igwe for 2. Igwe hits a weird powerslam lift into a stunner then Lewis takes a backdrop + press for the loss.

Thoughts: I liked it. Igwe and Dupont were explosive here as usual. The heels worked over Igwe's arm and Dupont's leg before getting put down. I had high expectations for this as I like all 4 and they did a good job with it.

Malik Blade is interviewed. He says Tavion Heights is the real deal. He says he did amateur wrestling too and has a twin brother. He says he doesn't have a quitting bone in his body. He says Enofe is down but he's not out. 

Layla Diggs vs Lainey Reid

 

They lock up and go into the corner. LR side headlocks Diggs and shoulders her over. Diggs escapes having her knee banged off the mat. LR hammerlocks Diggs then Diggs fireman's carry takeovers her. Diggs is thrown off but cartwheels out. Diggs wristlocks her. LR rolls out but gets put back in it.

LR hits a nice punch. Diggs slingshots over her and dropkicks her for 2. LR trips Diggs into the ropes then stomps her against the bottom rope. LR double knees Diggs in the back of the neck on the ropes. LR neckbreakers Diggs here.

LR twisting suplexes her for 2. LR chinlocks her LR then hooks the leg on top of the chinlock and hooks her fingers. Diggs cradles her for 2. Diggs hits some shots and does a bad leg lariat. Diggs spinning heel kicks her then does it in the corner. LR is caught on a crossbody. Diggs slams her and hits a standing moonsault for 2.

Diggs misses a move and takes a pumping knee. LR walks up her back, butt drops it and pins her using the ropes.

Thoughts: Diggs has to work on her strikes as she totally missed a few of them here. She showed good athleticism otherwise and obviously has a lot of potential. This was one was also about average and didn't get a ton of time.

They have an ad for NXT Halloween Havoc next Sunday.

Lainey Reed is interviewed. She said she did what she had to do and said a win is a win. Layla Diggs asks her what was that and says this ain't over.

Malik Blade vs Tavion Heights

Gotta feel bad for Tav. He came back from Noah with a strong showing and he's back to not making TV most weeks. They really do need another NXT show or brand.

Myles Borne is with Tav. Blade wristlocks him and Tav rolls him up for 1. Tav waistlock takedowns him and tries a pin. Blade leapfrogs as Tav shoots in then armdrags him. Blade dropkicks him and headlock takeovers him.

Blade side headlock takeovers him. Tav knees him in the gut then Blade 2nd rope twisting crossbodies him. Blade cradles him for 2. Tav hits a high belly to belly suplex.

Tav corner lariats him then hits forearms. Tav hits a nice gutwrench suplex. Tav hits a nice suplex and chinlocks. Tav suplexes him for 2. Tav hits a stiff flying lariat for 2. Tav throws him down backwards then does a grounded full nelson. Blade crucifixes him and hits punches.

Tav loses a shoe and takes a blockbuster from Blade. Tav catches Blade off the buckles but takes a ddt. Blade then gets a 2 count. Blade step up enzugiri's him. Blade goes up top then Tav runs at him and hits a belly to belly suplex. Tav then gets the pin.

Thoughts: Tav looked good here throwing around Blade easily with only one shoe on. It's clear Tav's going to be a suplex and power type of wrestler from now on.  It wasn't quite as good as it should have been but nothing was wrong with it. 

Overall thoughts: This was one of the longer Level Up's to date as it went a little over 30 minutes but that's fine with me. The opener was my favorite here which wasn't a shock. The women's match had some sloppy moments and could have been better. The main was about average as well. I would say this one was average overall.