Tag: guru raaj

NXT Level Up results: Myles Borne debuts

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Thea Hail defeated Arianna Grace

Thea Hail was making her debut as a full-time student of Chase U. She apparently received a full ride, whatever that means.

This match was downright awkward at times, but the focus on arm work gave Hail ample selling time. It could have been worse.

Grace started the match by taking Hail to the mat. Hail fought to her feet by gaining control of Grace’s arm, maintaining the control through multiple attempts at offense from Grace. Grace eventually retook her lead by turning her attention to Hail’s arm. From standing to the mat, Grace was in total control of Hail’s arm.

Hail launched a comeback, connecting with quick offense while selling the arm. Grace caught Hail in a standing wrist lock, seemingly looking to close, but Hail reversed into a pin to score the win.

Guru Raaj defeated Myles Borne

Myles Borne, formerly David Bostian, made his debut in this match. Borne was a successful amateur wrestler before joining WWE, and it showed. This was a great debut match, with Borne’s offense looking especially crisp.

This match opened with a slick grappling sequence. The grappling continued to escalate, with Borne landing multiple snappy arm drags. Borne’s lead was punctuated with a pair of great dropkicks and a scoop slam for a near fall.

After kicking out, Raaj landed a big boot, rocking Raaj. Raaj caught Borne with a bunch of strikes and a bulldog from the second rope before pinning Borne. This was Raaj’s first win on Level up.

Ivy Nile defeated Elektra Lopez

Built around Lopez’s strength and Nile’s technique, this quickly became a legitimately great match. Ivy Nile is an extraordinary professional wrestler.

Lopez came to the ring with Legado del Fantasma. Before she finished her entrance, the D’Angelo Family walked out and forced Legado del Fantasma to the back. The D’Angelo Family accompanied Lopez for the rest of the match.

Nile opened the match by gaining control of Lopez’s back. Lopez tried to escape, only for Nile to transition into side control on the mat. Lopez, outwrestled, was forced to slam Nile to force the break.

Lopez used strikes and slams to extend her newfound control for some time. Lopez then stretched Nile before trying for a pin.

Nile eventually launched a rally after withstanding more strikes from Lopez. Lopez tried protecting her arm, but opened the door to a dragon sleeper from nowhere. Once Nile locked in the hold, Lopez tapped out.

WWE 205 Live results: NXT Breakout Tournament qualifying matches

Posted on by Chick Fritts

2021 NXT Breakout Tournament qualifier: Andre Chase defeated Guru Raaj 

Looking back mere moments later, I can barely remember this match. It wasn’t awful, but it was utterly forgettable. 

The match opened with back and forth grappling control. Finally, Raaj connected with a monkey flip before trying for multiple quick pins, ending the opening flow. Chase knocked Raaj into the rope, connecting with numerous strikes in the following moments. Chase took the match to the mat, slowly trying to choke Raaj out.

Raaj fought to a standing position before hitting a back-body-drop. Raaj connected with significant strikes before an awkward dodge (at least I think it was a dodge) allowed Chase to steal control back rather quickly. Chase then hoisted Raaj up and dropped him with a stalling brainbuster for the win.

2021 NXT Breakout Tournament qualifier: Joe Gacy defeated Desmond Troy

If either of these men are within a stone of 205 pounds, I’d be shocked; these are some big men. Weight aside, these two put on a fantastic match filled with high-quality ring work. Troy’s amateur background shined throughout tonight’s outing, and Gacy offered a perfect contrast.

This match opened with Troy quickly dropping Gacy with a suplex, triggering a quick exchange on the mat. Troy shot with a blisteringly quick double-leg takedown as soon as Gacy was back on his feet. 

Gacy was able to interrupt a shoulder tackle, opening Troy up for offence for the first time. A variety of power moves and two big suplexes yielded a Gacy near fall. Troy collapsed after being slammed repeatedly into the turnbuckles, causing Gacy to crash into them in a very cool moment. Troy managed to make it to his feet first, leaving him with proper match control. The offence that followed was filled with beautiful suplexes. 

After receiving a gut-wrench suplex trifecta, Gacy fought free from Troy’s control, connecting with a short strike, uranage, and suplex to close the contest.

Two Breakout Tournament qualifiers set for WWE 205 Live

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of matches with NXT Breakout Tournament implications will take place on this week’s episode of 205 Live.

WWE has announced that two Breakout Tournament qualifying matches will air on 205 Live this Friday night. The qualifying matches are: Guru Raaj vs. Andre Chase (Harlem Bravado) and Desmond Troy vs. Joe Gacy.

“Just as it did during the Men’s and Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classics, 205 Live will make an exception to its typical 205-pound weight limit, and the prestigious NXT Breakout Tournament will instead take center stage,” WWE wrote.

Raaj wrestled at WWE Superstar Spectacle earlier this year and lost to Finn Balor. The event featured wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT and spotlighted WWE’s Indian talent.

Chase and Gacy both formerly wrestled for EVOLVE and are making their WWE debuts in their qualifying matches. Troy (Denzel Dejournette) joined the WWE Performance Center in 2018 after having been an All-American amateur wrestler at Appalachian State University. Last year, he made appearances where he lost matches on NXT, Raw, SmackDown, and Main Event.

It was announced on this Tuesday’s NXT that the Breakout Tournament would be making its return. It will feature eight participants, with the winner getting a shot at the NXT title of their choosing. The tournament will begin on the Tuesday, July 13 episode of NXT.

The inaugural NXT Breakout Tournament took place in 2019 and was won by Jordan Myles (ACH). Cameron Grimes, Bronson Reed, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Dexter Lumis, Joaquin Wilde, Angel Garza, and Boa also took part in the tournament.