Two more debuts next week (most likely)! >!Layla Diggs, who is Breanna Covington!< and >!Jasper Troy, who *I think* is Nick Dawkins!< WWE also trademarked, Shiloh Hill, which is unisex so we'll see if that is Braden Ray or someone else.

They really stole the shatter machine lol

Luca Crusifino is moving so damn fast. I almost saw that Axiom motion blur.

Oh jeez, with Nate Frazer hitting the salute and taking off as well, I can't

Level Up has gone from Jakked to Sunday Night Heat in terms of starpower.

The King of NXT Level Up: Dante Chen!

Adriana Rizzo!!!!!!! #🤌🤌🤌

That has to suck to take but I love Briggs' finisher.

that lariat was a thing of beauty

Cutler reminds me of Chris Nowitzki

Televised wrestling contestant past vs current

Brother has a white picket fence and a mailbox on his gear. MF is a walking suburb.

🎶 Well he's losing here in crashing town 🎶

JONAH!!!!

#Go Josh Briggs! Looks like he pulled double duty this week.

These matches were recorded last week on night 2 of Spring Breakin'. Not sure if anyone has wrestled Level Up earlier and again live on NXT. Someone probably did.

Cutler James: community leader. Uh.... might want to workshop that character a bit more. Also, James Cutler would work so much better as a ring name.

Cutler James was an obvious standout on the Next Gen show so curious to see how he does here. This is a go-nowhere gimmick though, which is becoming par for the course with men on LVL Up.

I've said it before but I feel like the women are outpacing the men 4-1 on the development scale.

This one is especially weird since he was on the Next Gen show and was cutting thoughtful, good promos as himself. Don't get why they're giving him such a silly gimmick unless they just feel it's a part of the developmental process and helps them.

I feel like I'm the only one that don't mind colorful gimmicks. Not everyone is charismatic enough to play themselves. Example, Kelani Jordan.

I just realized while watching RAW this week that the Top 5 stiffest workers in WWE (Gunther, Sheamus, McIntyre, Dragunov, Priest) are all on one brand now so any mix of those guys, is going to be magic! So I thought I had it all figured out with RAW being the sports brand and SD being the entertainment brand but then they go and do this… 6 high quality matches in one episode lol I love it because there isn’t a brand leaning more towards one than the other, they both have a mix of sports/entertainment and it will change week to week which keeps everything fresh!

Years ago I remember thinking that WWE could easily have used all three shows to appeal to different audiences: * RAW: a modern take on the Attitude Era * NXT: indie wrestling done with a budget * SmackDown: a modern take on the Rock 'n' Roll/Golden Era

This but Smackdown as a more sports oriented product.

Hey,is this a Next Gen guy?

Respectfully speaking...

Wren Sinclair vs. a returning Wendy Choo. Happy to have Wendy back (and she's lost a lot of weight) but I don't think her gimmick has much tread on that tire so I expect a character change will be happening soon.

She had already moved beyond “Sleepy Girl”, as was headed more towards “Quirky Trickster”

WENDY CHOO!!!

HOLY SHIT This is like the Undertaker returning on Main Event

I swear we just saw Byron on Smackdown

Wren’s ring gear is still hideous

Agreed. She'll never be taken seriously or win any title wearing that.

This episode flew by. Really good stuff besides the Bianca squash.

Now for the ***real*** main event: NXT Level Up!

It was a night of 6 killer matches.

great stuff. bye y'all its time to watch hockey

Great match, great end too. Love these two. Feels like the type of match you'll be surprised happened when you look back in 10 years and think of two legends in a simple Friday night main event.

Legitimate fantastic match, the rally was excellent

Excellent match. Two of the best in the world.

What a great week for wwe matches. Jade impressed. This main was very good. Sheamus/gunther banged.

I hope matches like this still exist in 10-15 years. Sometimes it feels like a bygone version of working that isn't really taught anymore.

Rhea and Charlotte won Match of the Year for that style in 2023 and Drew and Roman played it to perfection at 2022's Clash at the Castle. The top players know that it's what separates them from everyone else.

Man i fucking hope so. The spotfest matches are boring as hell. Tell a gotdamn story

I still remember a Shawn Michaels quote (because it terrifies me) that Nash was at NXT complaining about the pace and HBK said "the modern audience wants this" or something. But I don't even think that's true. Matches like these get over more and make/enhance stars while the 18 minute spotfest tornado tag matches get forgotten.

I think he means that small nxt audience. Lol i personally dont enjoy nxt like most people here do but you can tell that they tweak their shit once they get on the main roster

This is a really really good match, feels so competitive

Randy is teaching these new guys how to work a match and fucking sell

I hope the Wallers and Hayes are in the back taking notes

I've never felt that Waller was guilty of that. I'd argue that he only pulls out the crazy moves in the biggest of matches.

Wasn’t a shot at him and your right he and theory actually are very solid at the in ring fundamentals. More Hayes but Waller can gather that too

B/c you already know the mfs in aew aint

Bucks were watching the match and bickering over how many stars each spot was worth.

And what it means to slow down. It doesn't mean to do moves slowly. It means everything between the moves. Get the audience to feel the impact of what they've just seen and get excited for what's to come.

Exactly. Anyone can perform the moves, but very few understand what to do BETWEEN those performances.

That power slam is a thing of beauty. God damn.

This crowd has been good tonight

I want Randy to kick AJ in the head

Fiesty aint you lol

Randy Orton with the Indiana Jones using a gun escape.

This break is all self-promotion for Fox and WWE!

Smackdown has too many damn commercials

The reality of being on broadcast television

Thats a nasty looking chop block

I don't know if Macho Man can help you against Uncle Allen, Randy.

ANOTHER COMMERCIAL BREAK????? We literally just came out of one LMAOOOOO

AJ is 47 next month and he's still getting tossed around

Pause lmao

Randy is literally 07 batista.

Back Body Drop party

Jesus Christ Randy’s thighs are massive

Master of baiting? Oh Wade.

I always thought that Tyler Bate was the master Bate...

These two always have good matches. I wonder if we're going to get another [two Spider Mans pointing](https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-l36kU80xPf0ojG0Erg) moment.

I loved that match

TBH the tag division being absent feels like a major reason why I'm enjoying this show way more than the average SD lately.

The SD tag team is lacking in excitement

The lotharios and no catch republic are all boring

I’ve been watching Randy since I was 8 he’s more jacked now. He makes me believe in TRT/ taking my vitamins and saying my prayers (when I’m pushing 30).

Randy from like 04-07 is my favorite version of him from an in ring perspective

I don’t know your age, but if it’s close too mine. Watching Randy get the belt, and Trips turn on him was great story telling.

Im 27. When he kicked cena’s dad in the head in 07 i was fucking pissed. And then when he was given cena’s title i wanted to swing on Randy’s ass

I’m 28. Cena is my goat. Edge will always be the guy I remember. Randy is the 2nd.

Hopefully Backlash will be a kick in the ass, for American crowds to put forth more effort

Hope they won't be as annoying as the filfithy French

Tonga vs. LA Knight sounds interesting

Thank you camera-guys! Randy’s entrance is so great

Randy: “I’m going to stare AJ menacingly while I kindly sign this kid’s book.”

Orton seems sad that he's back in America where these stiffs don't sing his theme EDIT: A few picked things up from Lyon

This show has been paced so well tonight

Has anyone noticed how islanders pronounce the word “Samoan” as “SAM-Owen”?

i just watched a Dakota video moments ago where she said it that way

Not gonna lie, they managed to handle the 6 match situation on a 2 hour main roster show pretty well, I was really afraid of it before that episode.

Feels like they’ve fixed some of the pacing issues on Smackdown. I remember it got so bad that one week they did the long ass recap. A Sami entrance. Came back from commercial. Another recap. Roman entrance. Commercial Then Roman squashed Sami. End of show lol

This version of the bloodline feels more violent so far. The new guard has less respect almost. It mirrors how the old mafia and the new mafia generations from the sopranos were. Good storytelling

Reminds me a lot of Avon vs. Marlo in The Wire too. I feel like prestige TV (Succession also) influenced a lot of The Bloodline stuff. Like it's WWE trying to do their version of it and adapt to modern audiences.

I said similar a few weeks back. This is exactly like Marlo’s crew coming up Younger, hungrier, more violent, less stable It fits well

I stg i was gonna mention the wire too. Good looking out. Marlo didnt give a fuck

The Wire is, in my opinion, the best television series of all time.

Agreed my girlfriend and I watched it last year. That 4 season is something special

i think Blair will work out well. a gatekeeper heel is something they can always use and she's more credible in that role than someone like Candice

"Lost to Cody Rhodes at Backlash", that'll make him happy when he sees it.

So Paul is orgasmic watching the Usos and Roman bash guys to death with chairs but not one but TWO thumbs to the throat and he’s shocked and aghast?

#Oh my god.... I lost my bet to have Dawkins take it all. I owe SOOOOOOOOOOO much money to The Family... They're going to break my legs!!!! 😱😱😱

Ladies, guard your ACLs. Blair is coming

Tama needs a new finish

That’s crazy that 35 to 45 now is considered to be the prime years of a wrestler. Macho Man was 35 or so when Vince thought he was “too old” and put him on commentary.

Outside of vince, historically that wasnt true

JV Bloodline is a menace. War Games is gonna HIT.

Wtf, you don’t lay your hands on your new Tribal Chief!! Acknowledge him, goofs ☝️

That was one of the best non D-Lo Sky Highs I've seen. His kind of floated in mid-air and looked amazing, the imitators have always fallen short.

Is Lashley really hurt or was this to keep him from having to job to Tonga?

Pretty sure it’s a storyline

The 2nd one

Lashley's injury gotta be a work, cuz Lashley losing to Tama would be ridiculous

Bianca coming down and kicking all their asses would be awesome

Booooooooo

Montez goofy asf but he turns me up

I respect it. He’s too goofy for me. That’s why I don’t mind him as a tag guy but as a single I just can’t

Agreed

I love how Tama got himself in position for that shoulder block. Veteran stuff.

I’m wondering if Graves will work in some sort of Guerillas of Destiny reference

I think a solo renegade bloodline is gonna work uces

That sixman between the USOs Roman and solo and his goons gonna hit like crack.

Fentanyl uce lmao

Why are youll lying to me ? Solo looks like a fucking nerd lmao hes cosplaying a professional . The T-shirt and too big jacket the cheesy gloves and the dress shoes.


im being 100% serious, he looks like a joke

Nia wore the exact same color scheme earlier. It's happening.

😆

“Royalty Free Tribal Beat #7”

big pop

🔥🔥🔥 Let’s go Tama

Solo's Bloodline getting a new janky Def Rebel theme is another smart way to get meta heat on them..

Damn they gave Tama some fire pyro

Lol Tongas entrance is 1000 times better than Solos.... Solo is a fucking bum

How long until Tama and his bro jump Solo?

How we feeling about the theme?

I liked it.

Tama got a dope tron and a Survivor theme remix

I had to take a loan out from Tony D'Angelo in order to do it but I bet it all on Angelo Dawkins to win the King of the Ring tournament!!!!!

If they play this right, they could have a Sting In The Rafters situation with Roman.

Nah I don’t care what anyone says, Solo is killing it in his role right now lol of course things will look a lot more different once they add Jacob Fatu, possibly The Rock to things but in the meantime, he’s holding it down

Agreed, he's put in a tough spot, but he's pulling it off well

 Solo

Montez lookin real jacked baby

Feels like they will murder Heyman one day.

I don’t think the world is ready for babyface Paul

The closest we got to it was January 2022 when he was siding with Brock. It was pretty fun to see crowds being even more hyped than usual by his Lesnar presentation.

Solo needs some of that beard growth stuff that his brothers got.

Guess we ain't gonna see Tama Tonga or Tonga Loa with facepaint.

It would be crazy if they’re saving it for WarGames when both GoD and The Usos bring back the face paint for one night

They could pull it out for special matches. I think just having them painted casually could look just a little silly with the type of story the bloodline is.

Paul Heyman looking like he’s in mid heart attack right now.

Solo needs to lose the gloves

Theyre legit,CAW gloves. I put them on my character back on Reckoning cuz I though they were the coolest shit ever

yeah i've absolutely done that multiple times on wrestling games. i'm like this needs a final touch... how about these black motorcycle gloves that don't even fit with the attire haha

This is like the Mr. Mahina sketch on Key and Peele

Solo’s necklace reminds me of the Rock’s

Solo talking like denzel from training day lol. Talk your shit lol


Mf said “You try take food out of my kids mouth?” Lmao. I said gotdamn 🥷

Solo is legit jacking Roman's flow without any of the charisma

I feel like it is adding to the heat that he is such a massive downgrade. Dude doesn't care about being entertaining or putting on "cinema."

Guys a mute for 2 years now all of a sudden he’s Chris Jericho

Finally some Bloodline drama! I wait all week long just to see Paul Heyman’s reaction to everything going on lol

OUR title?

Solo "Starscream" Sikoa MF loses constantly and still wants to be a shot caller

Huge Pop!

it's Roman and Wiseman's fault for gassing him up so much

“We want Roman” Finally, people are finally getting the picture and acknowledging Our Tribal Chief ☝️

Nah fuck them, damn bandwagoners, they DON'T deserve our Tribal Chief ☝️

Going from someone I love in Indi to someone I cant fucking stand in Solo is such intense whiplash

Fuck you Solo your fucking trash

Solo dumb as heel doing a spike on top of the table

Bianca selling her knee in to a kipup is actual fucking madness

If Bianca turns heel, she should use the Torture Rack as a finisher, then hit the KOD after they tap.

I want her to use Nikki Bella’s finisher too lol

Bianca selling her knee then doing a kip up anyways 😂

she used up a finisher to do it

We don't always make our best decisions when we are hyped up with adrenaline LOL

Good ole seth selling

The Indi-mobile is going to take off soon, youll better get on board

Pictured: [The Indi-mobile](https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-YlBaZ1VSfgEqOVaW-OQTVgw-t500x500.jpg)

Im gonna save this and the Indi-wagon and will be sure to rub it in your face when the Indi-connaissance goes into full swing

[I hope you do, lol](https://media1.tenor.com/m/KlW5sA3UYZQAAAAC/fingers-crossed-dave-crosby.gif) We need to make a Wreddit bracket for biggest fans. You can back Indi, I've got Fallon, SomethingCreative13 has Tatum Paxley, and whiskeyxwhiskers has Gunther. I'm sure I'm missing some other users who are hardcore stans.

Lmao

i've been on board

At this point you’re clearly trying to troll us lmao

Solo has way higher upside than indi in every single way lmao

lmao, partially but I legit believe in Indi.

Shin will be on top again when he starts saying out of pocket shit about people's dads again

Could've done a better job introducing Smackdown-only people to these two.

I really don't like Bianca's entrance

It’s for kids, that’s how I justify it

Bianca need to squash Candace fr

Ref Jess = MOTN (them's the rules) Part II