Tag: harlem bravado

First two participants set for NXT Breakout Tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament has its first two participants.

Andre Chase (Harlem Bravado) and Joe Gacy are set for the Breakout Tournament after winning qualifying matches on tonight’s episode of 205 Live. Chase and Gacy were both making their WWE debuts on tonight’s show.

Chase defeated Guru Raaj in his qualifying match, while Gacy defeated Desmond Troy.

Chase and Gacy both formerly wrestled for EVOLVE. Chase was part of the group of signees that joined the WWE Performance Center this February. Gacy was announced as signing with WWE last October.

Breakout Tournament qualifying matches will continue on next week’s 205 Live. The tournament will feature eight wrestlers, 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.

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

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.

WWE reportedly signs Taya Valkyrie and Harlem Bravado

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Taya Valkyrie and Harlem Bravado have reportedly signed with WWE.

PWInsider reported this afternoon that both Valkyrie and Bravado have signed with the company. Valkyrie left Impact last month following their Hard to Kill pay-per-view event. It was revealed that she was the person that shot Jon E. Bravo, framing Larry D for the crime. Tommy Dreamer and Acey Romero later figured out it was Valkyrie and had her arrested, writing her off the show.

A Lance Storm trainee, Valkyrie joined AAA in 2012 and won the Reina de Reinas championship on three occasions. She joined Impact in 2017 and won the Impact Knockouts title once, holding it for a record 377 days.

Bravado had been a regular in EVOLVE from 2013 through its closure last year. He and his brother Lance trained at the ROH Dojo under Delirious and competed in Ring of Honor from 2008 through 2012. He also did tours in Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2012 and 2013.

It was reported this week that University of Central Florida football player Parker Bordeaux and GCW regular Blake Christian have also signed with the company.