Tag: Channing Lauren

Tony D’Angelo introduces new associates on WWE NXT

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Tony D’Angelo has introduced a pair of new associates in his battle against Santos Escobar and Legado Del Fantasma.

In a backstage interview on this week’s NXT 2.0 episode, D’Angelo introduced Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan and “Stacks” Channing Lorenzo as his new allies. 

While not explicitly stated, it appears as though Donovan and Lorenzo were the figures that attacked Escobar on last week’s NXT show. 

Donovan and Lorenzo began appearing on the NXT Level Up show earlier this month, with Lorenzo working under the name Channing Lauren. The two tagged in a loss against Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward on the April 8 episode, then Lorenzo accompanied Donovan to the ring in a loss against Damon Kemp the following week. 

Donovan signed with WWE in February after a run on the indies and a handful of AEW enhancement matches as Cole Karter. Lorenzo was Jake Tucker on the independent scene, and also worked as enhancement talent on AEW Dark in 2021.

A sit-down meeting between Escobar and D’Angelo has been announced for next week’s Spring Breakin’ episode of WWE NXT. 

NXT Level Up results: Three debuts

Posted on by Chick Fritts

The show opened with a new intro package that showed off NXT’s greatest successes (Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Big E, etc.). No one on the current NXT brand was included, which seems a little strange.

Javier Bernal defeated Guru Raaj

Bernal opened the match with a prolonged headlock. Bernal held on to this headlock for dear life, maintaining it on the mat and standing. Raaj eventually escaped and gained a foothold with a dropkick following a series of quick pin attempts.

Bernal fought to a standing position after a submission attempt from Raaj. Bernal led a short offensive sequence, punctuated with a double-knee facebreaker (basically a codebreaker). Bernal pinned Raaj, bringing the opening match to an end.

Ivy Nile defeated Thea Hail

This was not good.

Hale came to the ring with a long red cape. I think this was meant to be a reference to her ‘spartan’ heritage.

Nile opened the match with a drop from the fireman’s carry onto the top rope. Nile tossed Hail across the ring and scored multiple strike downs. Nile connected with a shiranui from the top and a German suplex.

Hail launched a very short-lived rally, but after awkwardly rolling around on the mat, Nile locked in an equally as awkward dragon sleeper; the hold forced Hail to submit.

Bodhi Hayward and Andre Chase defeated Channing Lauren and Troy Donovan

This was a fine little match. Lauren and Donovan looked great and were good in their role.

Lauren and Chase opened the match, trading wrist locks. Chase took the lead from the sequence, laying the boots to Lauren before tagging to Bodhi. Donovan tagged in as well, but Bodhi maintained his team’s lead with a wrist lock that he passed over to Chase.

Lauren connected with a sneaky strike while Chase was looking away. Donovan took this opportunity, taking control of the match. Lauren and Donovan then worked to isolate Chase from Bodhi.

Chase scored a hot tag after a long struggle. Bodhi knocked both opponents off their feet in a burst of energy. After a series of slams, Chase tagged back in. Chase and Hayward hit a strange double team move, leading to a pinfall in their favour. 

Three debuts set for WWE NXT Level Up

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Three recent WWE signees are set to debut on this week’s edition of NXT Level Up.

Troy Donovan (real name Cole McKinney), Channing Lauren (Mitchell Lavalley), and Thea Hail (Maddie Knisley) will debut on the Level Up episode that airs this Friday night. Donovan & Lauren will face Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward in a tag team match, while Hail will take on Ivy Nile in singles action.

Donovan, Lauren, and Hail were all independent wrestlers before signing with WWE. They were part of the group of recruits that reported to the Performance Center last month.

Donovan went by the name Cole Karter prior to signing with WWE, Lauren went by “Motherlover” Jake Tucker, and Hail went by Nikita Knight.

Donovan, Lauren, and Hall have all appeared on AEW Dark in the past.

WWE.com wrote about them when they joined the Performance Center:

Cole McKinney from Charleston, W.Va., has been honing his craft for over a year and a half already after foregoing wrestling offers from multiple DI Universities to pursue his passion for professional wrestling, going by the ring name Cole Karter on the independents.

Mitchell Lavalley has made a name for himself on the independent circuit under the moniker ‘Motherlover’ Jake Tucker. Trained by the likes of WWE Hall of Famer Kane, Natalya, Tyson Kidd, and Dr. Tom Prichard, Lavalley won the 2014 ‘WWE Show Us Your Superstar’ Contest when he was 19, making a series of videos at the WWE Performance Center before appearing on the SummerSlam Pre-Show Panel.

18-year-old Maddie Knisley is a six-time state champion in vault, having trained in competitive gymnastics for 11 years. She also competed on the independent wrestling scene as Nikita Knight.

NXT Level Up replaced 205 Live this February. The show airs on Peacock/WWE Network at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Fridays.

Here’s the full lineup for this week’s show:

  • Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward vs. Troy Donovan & Channing Lauren
  • Ivy Nile vs. Thea Hail
  • Javier Bernal vs. Guru Raaj