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Episode 11
After a short recap of recent episodes, Shawn Michaels gathers everyone up. Michaels says that next week - the LFG Playoffs begin. There will be eliminations. Everyone, upon hearing the news, knows they have to lock in.
A video package airs that showcases some of the biggest stars in wrestling, past and present, and how their monikers/nicknames have helped their characters. Shawn Michaels talks to the Future Greats about being The Heartbreak Kid and how important it was to live up to that image. He then introduces “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles.
Styles talks about becoming phenomenal in WWE. He could do a whole lot of flips, but it’s not just about the moves - it’s about the character. He talks about Mr. Perfect and how great he was. The WWE expects excellence, so a wrestler has to live up to their moniker. Who will the Future Greats be?
Chris Island talks about being the “Promised Child” while Penina Tuilaepa talks about keeping her “P-Nasty” nickname. The other Future Greats talk to their coaches about their nicknames. It is then time to present them to AJ Styles with a short explanation/promo.
Dani Sekelsky presents “The Shooting Star.” Tatyanna Dumas presents “The Gold Standard.” Tyra Mae Steele isn’t impressed with Dumas. Tyra Mae Steele presents “The Real Deal.” Booker T thinks that Steele is being disrespectful to Evander Holyfield with her nickname. Dumas smack talks Steele about picking her nickname.
Bubba Ray motions to Elijah Holyfield, Evander’s son, to seize the moment. He presents “Holyfield Warrior.” The Undertaker is impressed by Holyfield seizing the moment. Bubba Ray is also impressed. Booker T tries to take credit for bringing it out of Holyfield.
Zena Sterling goes next. She doesn’t know where to put her gum, so Bubba Ray holds it for her. She presents “Oxymoron.” BJ Ray goes and takes a sip of water from the coach’s table first. BJ then presents “West Coast Gangsta.” Styles loved the character. Drake Morreaux presents “Bayou Boy.” Shiloh Hill presents “The Hellraiser.” Jasper Troy presents “The Reaper.” Chris Island presents “The Promised Child.” Island and Troy then jaw back and forth at each other.
Four tag team matches will take place to show off the monikers.
Zena Sterling and Tatyanna Dumas (Team Bubba) vs. Dani Sekelsky and Sirena Linton (Team Mickie)
Zena Sterling and Dani Sekelsky start things off with a lock up. Sterling drags Sekelsky down and then grabs a side headlock. Sterling is sent into the ropes and hits a tackle. Sterling is sent into the ropes again and hits another tackle. Sterling hits a rolling backslide for a two count. Sterling hits another tackle and a hip toss. Sterling goes for a corner attack, but Sekelsky hits a back elbow and then climbs the ropes in order to hit a crossbody. Sterling recovers and hits a slam. Sirena Linton tags in.
Sterling grabs an arm of Linton and cranks it. Tatyanna Dumas tags in and continues working over Linton’s arm. Linton works out of it and tags Sekelsky in. Linton and Sekelsky hit a double back elbow for a two count. Sekelsky works over Dumas’ arm, but Tatyanna works out of it and hits a slam. Dumas hits a tackle and then sends Sekelsky into the corner. Linton tags in and sends Sekelsky into Dumas. Linton then hits a splash on Dumas for a two count.
Linton drives Dumas into the corner and hits some shoulder attacks. Linton then hits a Bronco Buster for a two count. Sekelsky tags in and stops Dumas from tagging out. Dumas rolls up Sekelsky, but Dani kicks out. Dumas hits a backslide for a two count. Sekelsky tackles down Dumas and then tosses her to the corner. Linton tags in and misses a corner attack. Sterling tags in and comes in hot. She levels Sekelsky and then hits Linton in the corner. Sterling hits a tilt-a-whirl slam on Linton for the win!
Winners: Zena Sterling and Tatyanna Dumas
AJ Styles thinks that Zena Sterling did well. He also liked Sirena Linton. He’s not sure if the monikers were well represented in the match. Booker T likes what he sees from Sterling. He wants her to work on getting her opponents over more. Bubba Ray wants to see more from Tatyanna Dumas, but thought everyone did well. In the back, Dumas talks about not being happy with her performances.
BJ Ray and Drake Morreaux (Team Bubba) vs. Anthony Luke and Jasper Troy (Team Booker)
BJ Ray and Anthony Luke start things off with a lock up and Luke drives Ray into the corner. Ray reverses and the lock up is broken up. Luke grabs a side headlock and then slams down Ray. Luke drops an elbow, but Ray shakes it off. Ray trash talks Luke and slams him down. Ray double legs Luke and tags in Drake Morreaux. Morreaux and Ray hit a double knee strike on Luke and then Morreaux grabs Luke’s arm and cranks it. Luke reverses by using the hair and tags in Jasper Troy.
Troy hits Morreaux with a couple of big strikes and shows some aggression. Morreaux takes down Troy and rains down punches. Ray tags in and jumps into Morreaux’s arms. Morreaux uses Ray as a battering ram. Troy then catches Ray and slams him down. Luke tags in and gets a two count. Ray starts to fight back, but Luke hits a spinebuster for a two count. Troy tags back in and hits a sidewalk slam for a two count.
Troy drives Ray into the corner and tags in Luke. Luke hits a big elbow for a two count. Troy tags back in and slaps on a bear hug. Ray tries to fight out of it, but Troy drives Ray into the corner. Troy charges Ray, but BJ moves out of the way and tags in Morreaux. Luke tags in.
Morreaux comes in hot and tackles down Luke. Morreaux hits an atomic drop and then lays in some dancing punches for a two count. Ray comes in and goes after Troy. Morreaux and Ray hit a double bulldog on Troy. Morreaux hits a chokeslam on Luke for the win!
Winners: Drake Morreaux and BJ Ray
Bubba Ray thinks that Drake Morreaux and BJ Ray worked well together, but doesn’t think he saw enough of Ray’s moniker. AJ Styles tells Ray that if he works small, he looks small. Mickie James likes the Bayou Boy. Booker T thinks Anthony Luke did well, but could have done better. The Undertaker agrees about Luke. Booker T loves what he saw from Jasper Troy and his aggression. AJ Styles enjoyed Troy, as well. The Undertaker thinks that Troy looked genuine.
Tyra Mae Steele and Bayley Humphrey vs. Leigh Laurel and Penina Tuilaepa
Leigh Laurel and Tyra Mae Steele start things off with a lock up after Steele thinks about picking a leg. Laurel grabs an arm and cranks it. She works it over for a bit until Steele reverses it and then hits a fireman’s carry. Steele tackles down Laurel from behind and then grabs a front facelock. Steele drags Laurel over for a two count. Bayley Humphrey tags in and grabs a side headlock.
Humphrey sends Laurel to the ropes, but Laurel rolls through and tags in Penina Tuilaepa. Humphrey and Tuilaepa lock up. Neither woman budges until Humphrey grabs a side headlock. Humphrey lifts up Tuilaepa, but Penina strikes out of it. Tuilaepa tries to lift up Humphrey, but Bayley strikes out of it. Humphrey clubs down on Tuilaepa, but Penina grabs an arm and tags in Laurel.
Humphrey slaps on a bear hug. Laurel wears down, but eventually fights out of it. Laurel hits a headbutt and rains down punches for a two count. Humphrey lays in some punches and tags in Steele. Steele throws some punches and kicks and then hits a gutwrench suplex. Steele charges, but Laurel gets up a boot and tags in Tuilaepa.
Tuilaepa hits some tackles. Humphrey comes in, as does Laurel. Laurel is sent to the floor, but Tuilaepa is able to slam down Steele for the win!
Winners: Penina Tuilaepa and Leigh Laurel
AJ Styles liked Leigh Laurel’s moniker work. He wanted to see more nasty from P-Nasty. The Undertaker agrees. Mickie James thinks that Laurel has things clicking now. Booker T thinks “The Real Deal” Tyra Mae Steele did well. He wants Bayley Humphrey to showcase her physique more. In the back, Humphrey and Steele show off their muscles.
Elijah Holyfield and Shiloh Hill (Team Undertaker) vs. Chris Island and Troy Yearwood (Team Mickie)
Chris Island and Elijah Holyfield start things off with a lock up. Holyfield grabs a side headlock and cranks it. Island reverses and cranks an arm. Troy Yearwood tags in and continues working over Holyfield’s arm. Holyfield needs only one punch to fight out of it and tags in Shiloh Hill. Yearwood grabs an arm from Hill and tags in Island. Island continues working over the arm.
Hill drives Island into the corner and tags in Holyfield. Holyfield lays in a punch and tags in Hill. Island eats a double suplex from Hill and Holyfield for a two count. Hill slaps on a chinlock, but Island works out of it. Hill knocks Yearwood off of the apron and hits a gutwrench suplex on Island for a two count. Holyfield tags in and punches Island in the midsection.
Holyfield slaps on a chinlock and cranks it. Island fights out of it and hits a back body drop on Holyfield. Hill tags in and cuts off Island from making the tag. Island kicks him off and tags in Yearwood. Yearwood comes in hot with a series of tackles and a powerslam. Yearwood hits a standing moonsault for the win!
Winners: Chris Island and Troy Yearwood
The Undertaker doesn’t think the monikers were showcased. He thinks Yearwood did well, but wanted more from everyone when it came to showcasing the nicknames. Bubba Ray agrees with The Undertaker. AJ Styles also expected more. In the back, Yearwood is happy to get some positive feedback.
Shawn Michaels wants to know what the Legends thought about today’s matches. Booker T thinks that a lot of the Future Greats made some progress, but others need to step it up. Mickie James liked the matches, but wanted to see more moniker work. The Undertaker agrees that everyone seems to be getting better.
It’s time for AJ Styles to award the points! He picks Jasper Troy (Team Booker) for the men and Zena Sterling (Team Bubba) for the women.
Standings
Team Undertaker - 7
Team Booker - 6
Team Bubba - 4
Team Mickie - 3
Next week - the LFG Playoffs begin!
What did you think of this week’s LFG episodes? How are you enjoying the show? Let me know at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com and let’s talk about it! See you next time!
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