Blake Christian is returning to GCW. The former Trey Baxter’s release from WWE was just announced, but Christian will not be out of work for long.
GCW has announced Christian for their So Alive event in Dallas, Texas on December 4, plus their December 17 Blood on the Hills show in Los Angeles, California.
Christian tweeted: “See you in exactly 30 days #AllHeart” a reference to his WWE non-compete apparently expiring in 30 days.
Christian previously appeared for GCW throughout 2019, 2020 and the early part of 2021. He left the promotion after losing a GCW World title vs. career match to Ricky Shane Page on January 30.
Christian had a WWE tryout in October 2020 and his signing was announced in February 2021. His in-ring debut came on the NXT brand in June 2021, where he challenged KUSHIDA for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in a losing effort.
Christian made the semifinals of the NXT Breakout Tournament, losing to Odyssey Jones in August 2021. He continued to appear on NXT and the 205 Live brand throughout August, September and October. His final WWE appearance came in a loss to Grayson Waller on the October 8 205 Live episode.
Despite this match’s short runtime, Chen was still able to come across as sloppy in-ring.
An opening grappling sequence led to arm drags by Chen. A dropkick from Blade stopped Chen’s momentum. The match then transitioned to the mat, where Blade maintained control.
Chen regained footing in the match after an awkward takedown followed by a superkick. An even more awkward slam left Blade prone for an inside cradle guillotine drop, leaving Chen with the win.
Amari Miller defeated Valentina Feroz
For some reason, this match was performed with a heavy focus on groundwork. It was forgettable, to say the least. This was a rematch, and Miller’s win leaves the pair tied; I assume a rubber match is coming soon.
Feroz took the match to the mat as soon as it began. As soon as the pair was standing, Miller returned the favour with an arm drag, bringing the action back to the canvas. Miller was generally unable to maintain control of Feroz while on the mat, but she could fight off an armbar.
Feroz tossed Miller a few times before the pair traded pin attempts. After kicking out, Feroz stepped away, allowing Miller to catch her with a knee strike, pinning her for the win.
It’s hard to give a delimited synopsis of this match because everything in it was good.
Barthel and Baxter opened the match with a zestful back and forth. After catching Baxter with a pair of thunderous strikes, Aichner tagged into the match. Against Aichner, Baxter was able to slow Imperium’s control before tagging Jiro into the match. Jiro and Baxter together were able to secure match control for their team.
Jiro and Baxter set up for a double tope, but Imperium cut them off via sudden clotheslines. Imperium then hung Baxter in the ropes to deliver a double dropkick. From this point on, Baxter was under heavy fire from both members of Imperium. Baxter scratched and clawed to regain some momentum by tagging in his partner, and was eventually able to do so.
Jiro unloaded with strikes and dives. A moonsault led to a near fall. Baxter then tagged back into the match before trying again for the double tope; this time, it worked.
As the teams re-entered the ring, the referee became occupied with some kind of distraction. This allowed Imperium to single out Baxter, delivering the Imperium bomb that resulted in an Imperium win.
Final Thoughts:
I see no reason why anyone who isn’t covering this show would choose to watch it live; at least, that was my takeaway before the main event. The first two matches were utterly forgettable. The main event was great. That is what this show needs more of if it has any future whatsoever.
205 Live, unsurprisingly, took place from the NXT 2.0 set. The set was identical to NXT’s, except for an apron skirt and announce table top bearing 205 Live branding.
This show was second-rate. A reminder that 205 Live now runs against AEW Rampage after two hours of SmackDown. You would think that this scenario would lead to an exciting show at the very least, but instead, it’s 30 minutes of forgettable wrestling that will mean nothing come next Friday.
Valentina Feroz defeated Amari Miller
I wasn’t a fan of this match before the finish. The match was very flawed, but the finish was built to well, which I appreciate.
This match opened with an extended period of lousy grappling. Feroz worked the arm; Miller escaped with a strike. This happened multiple times.
Miller eventually began working Feroz on the mat. Feroz fought to her feet, delivering arm drags to gain control; this was short-lived as Miller stopped Feroz with a spinebuster. As Miller went in for the pin, Feroz caught Miller with an armbar. Miller tapped out soon after the hold was applied.
Boa (with Mei Ying) defeated Malik Blade
This was a squash and not a particularly enticing one—no way around it.
Boa opened the match by striking Blade down. Boa looked to Mei Ying, who sat on a throne, before continuing to brutalise Blade.
Blade fought his way back into the match before climbing to the top rope. A high crossbody seemingly left Blade in a good position, but Boa responded with a dragon sleeper into a forearm that closed the match.
Trey Baxter defeated Andre Chase
This match was fine, but it wasn’t anything that demanded attention.
After the opening sequence ended, Chase gained control with a nasty elbow. Chase began connecting with numerous strikes, cementing his lead. A belly-to-back suplex left Chase with a near fall.
Baxter fought free from ground control before connecting with a strike to the back of the head. A springboard moonsault followed but only yielded a two count. Baxter then climbed to the top rope but was interrupted by Chase, who regained advantage moments later.
Chase locked in a single leg crab before transitioning to an STF. After Baxter found the ropes, Chase tried for a tiger driver, but Baxter fought free. Baxter connected with a kick that sent Chase to the outside, allowing Baxter to land a tope.
Back in the ring, Baxter tried for a springboard but was met with a boot. Chase then hit the tiger driver, but Baxter kicked out of the pin that followed. A now frustrated Chase hoisted Baxter to the top rope, where Baxter regained control. Baxter landed a double stomp after sending Chase to the mat; this led directly to the decisive fall in favour of Baxter.
This match was all Chase until the closing moments. It was fine, but nothing more than that — about what one should expect for a match on 205 Live.
This match opened with back-and-forth chain wrestling that Chase emerged from with control. Waller worked Chase outside of the ring but couldn’t maintain his advantage upon reentry. What followed was an extended period of Chase favored offense.
A quick backslide followed by a crucifix pin from Waller provided him enough separation time to connect with a quick strike. Waller tried to follow up but was interrupted soon after. Chase locked in the STF that forced Waller to find refuge via rope break. Chase powered Waller into the corner but was dropped by a ready Waller, opening up an offensive opportunity for him once more. Waller climbed to the top rope to deliver an elbow drop but was cut off by the knees of Chase. Chase followed his reversal with a tiger driver that yielded a two count.
After a brief scuffle on the ring apron, Chase sent Waller to the mat; this left both men in prime position for Waller’s run-in stunner. Waller hit the stunner, an elbow drop, and a curb stomp, all in quick succession to close the match.
Ikemen Jiro defeated Trey Baxter
This was a satisfactory performance from both men but far from great.
Following the recent statements from WWE regarding independent talent, seeing Trey Baxter on Titan programming leaves a strange feeling. Baxter, formerly Blake Christian, was perhaps the most indy-style wrestler on the American independents.
Jiro opened the match with his playful energy, flaunting his mandarin-adorned jacket. Jiro’s joyful approach allowed Baxter to gain offensive control. A moonsault and tope resulted in near falls for Baxter.
Jiro gained control for the first time by hoisting Baxter into a fireman’s carry. After a brief struggle, Jiro was able to start stringing together offense. Jiro connected with a superkick and senton for a near fall of his own. The Ikemen slash that would close the match was avoided, allowing Baxter to connect with a suplex. A now bloody Baxter hit a flipping dive that a mathematician needs to analyze before trying for a pin. Jiro turned the pin around to pin Baxter, leaving him with a sudden victory.
A pre-show match has been added to the card for NXT TakeOver 36.
WWE has announced that Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter will take place on the pre-show for NXT TakeOver 36 this Sunday. It will be Holland’s second televised match since returning from injury.
Last October, Holland suffered a left ankle dislocation and fracture and a right knee patellar dislocation and patellar tendon rupture. He made his return on NXT three weeks ago, aligning with Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan and helping them defeat Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher.
Holland defeated Ikemen Jiro on NXT two weeks ago. Holland vs. Thatcher is set for next Tuesday’s NXT episode.
Baxter (formerly known as Blake Christian) was one of the entrants in the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament. He defeated Joe Gacy in the first round but lost to Odyssey Jones in the semifinals.
The TakeOver pre-show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The main card will then start at 8 p.m. Eastern. Here’s the full lineup for the show:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
The Undisputed Finale: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has to become Knight’s butler)
Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter (pre-show)
Cole vs. O’Reilly is a two-out-of-three falls match. The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match, then the second fall will be a street fight. If a third fall is necessary, it will be a steel cage match.
Jones defeated Andre Chase in the first round of the Breakout Tournament, while Baxter defeated Joe Gacy.
The winner of the Breakout Tournament will receive a future shot at the NXT title of their choosing.
It’s also been announced that tonight’s NXT will feature a special look at the feud between Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe. Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Joe at TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22.
Here’s the updated card for tonight’s NXT:
NXT general manager William Regal will mediate a face-to-face segment with Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will respond to Dakota Kai
Ilja Dragunov appears
NXT Breakout Tournament semifinal match: Odyssey Jones vs. Trey Baxter
A special look at the feud between NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe
The NXT Breakout Tournament is down to its final four wrestlers.
Trey Baxter defeated Joe Gacy on tonight’s NXT to advance to the semifinals of the Breakout Tournament. Odyssey Jones will be Baxter’s opponent in the next round.
Duke Hudson vs. Carmelo Hayes is the Breakout Tournament’s other semifinal match. The winner of that match will advance to face the winner of Jones vs. Baxter in the finals. WWE hasn’t announced when the finals will be taking place.
Jones advanced to the semifinals by defeating Andre Chase in the first round. Hudson defeated Ikemen Jiro in the first round, while Hayes defeated Josh Briggs.
The winner of the Breakout Tournament will receive a shot at the NXT title of their choosing. The tournament will continue on NXT next Tuesday.
This is the second-ever NXT Breakout Tournament. Jordan Myles (ACH) won the inaugural tournament in 2019.
Baxter (formerly known as Blake Christian) and Hayes (formerly known as Christian Casanova) both signed with WWE earlier this year. Hudson (Brendan Vink) and Jones (former Syracuse football player Omari Palmer) signed with WWE in 2019.
Hudson formerly teamed with Shane Thorne on both NXT and Raw.
Blake Christian, going under the name Trey Baxter, made his NXT debut tonight.
Baxter accepted the open challenge that Kushida held on tonight’s NXT for the Cruiserweight title. Although he put on a competitive back and forth contest, Kushida retained the title after submitting Baxter with the kimura. The two shook hands after the match.
Christian signed with WWE earlier this year. Right before signing with WWE, he had been wrestling regularly for New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of their NJPW Strong roster. He had competed in a qualifying match for this year’s 2021 New Japan Cup but lost to Chris Dickinson. He had also started to appear for Impact Wrestling, losing a triple threat revolver match that Josh Alexander ultimately won back at Impact’s No Surrender event in February.
Prior to signing with WWE, Baxter also competed in various independent promotions such as Game Changer Wrestling, Black Label Pro, and Warrior Wrestling.
