WWE LFG Review – 07.06.25

Hey, folks! It’s (or, rather, it was) Sunday night, and that…….can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, actually. For me, it meant our summer concert-going officially began last night, which is why I woke up early just to watch this damn developmental wrestling show. We are fortunate enough to have a lovely outdoor venue near us and, at 50, our concert choices become more “who is playing there this summer we’d want to see” rather than “who are we travelling two hours to see.” Last night, that meant Counting Crows. Even though we knew only the hits, the band was much tighter than I’d imagined, and it made for a good time. Now, onto why you’re actually here, and that’s the men and women of LFG.

Not really a recap to start, but a teaser as to what’s to come. That may have also happened last week, which confused me at the time. Tonight is about CHARACTER WORK and EVOLVING, with matches featuring Elijah Holyfield vs. Shiloh Hill (could be very good) and Anthony Luke vs. Chris Island (likewise.)

Now we get to the recap, and who won points for their team last week.

Uncle Shawn enters the room and notices Elijah is not wearing a shirt. Bubba declares that, for the rest of the season, Elijah will NOT WEAR A SHIRT because CHARACTER WORK. Thank goodness Mideon wasn’t hired to coach. Shawn talks about wanting to see character evolution in the ring tonight, and tells us new sh*t is better than old sh*t. Shawn wants to see something new that sets the competitors apart.

Booker wants to see something new from Sirena, and suggests heel work, even though her best work was as a heel last season. Bubba wants Zena to bust out a powerslam. He could have chosen for her to go shirtless, which certainly would have been BOLD CHARACTER WORK. Bubba does some heel coaching with Sirena, and she will be facing Zena tonight. That has potential as Sirena’s shown some improvement since last season. Booker explains the psychological intricacies of the Spinarooni.

Booker coaches up Tatyanna, who will be working face against P. Nasty. Panina, who will be working heel for the 153rd time, claims Tatyanna has no new ideas. Anthony Luke suggests putting gloves on before his match, as he did on the football field. Chris Island is going to wear a vest and no singlet. Elijah Holyfield wants to bust out a new flying shoulderblock, which he thinks will be spear-like. I’m not sure what Shiloh said he was going to do which is all that different.

SIRENA LINTON VS. ZENA STERLING

Sirena looks absolutely lovely in red and does some basic heel stuff. Zena is Zena. Sirena shows ruthless aggression, slaps Zena down, and goes for the HARD lock-up. Both ladies trade armbars, before Zena gets a couple of pin combinations for two. Zena with the armbar, whith Sirena pulling the hair into a headlock. Nice basic stuff here from both. Zena goes for the leg, both ladies hit Matrix-like moves, and Zena goes BACK to the armbar. Sirena with some kicks in the corner and hits the Bronco Buster. Both women shouldn’t be wearing the miniskirt/tights combo, in your Sonic fashion tip of the night. Sirena chokes Zena with her hair, to Bubba’s delight, and goes back to working the arm. A double-clothesline brings both down. Zena with the comeback, selling the arm, and hits the charge into the corner. Zena with solid fire, and she hits a solid inverted powerslam as of sorts, as teased, for two. Nice. Some stuff happens, but Sirena seemingly holds the tights, which the camera doesn’t get, on a roll-up for three.

WINNER: SIRENA LINTON

MATCH RATING: B – Honest-to-God good work from both ladies here for the level they are at. Some wonkiness was certainly present, but each knew their character well, and there were minimal timing issues. Each also understood the assignment of what they had to go out and do.

SIRENA: A – Not “A” level ring work, but she certainly earned this for both her improvement since last season, where she was one of the least-featured, but also further honing her heel character, which is what fits her best.

ZENA: A- – Zena is more the “finished product” of the two, and that powerslam sure did look sweet. I think the character still needs to be tweaked, as “Ukranian girl in nighties” doesn’t hit as well as they think it does.

Sirena is here to make money, not friends, and apologies to Saudi Arabia…..or something.

We aren’t wasting time tonight, as we go to….

TATYANNA DUMAS VS. P. NASTY

Tat has new gear and entrance mannerisms. Bubba’s impressed, but none of it screams “face” to me. P. Nasty is P. Nasty. Honestly, with some extra ring work, she wouldn’t be out of place in Solo’s group right now. Lock up and BIG SLAM by Panina to start. Headlock and shoulderblocks by Panina. Tatyanna struggles to get a pinning combo for two, but hits the armdrag into an armbar. Another slam by Panina, but Tatyanna holds onto the arm. The coaches yell for her to get her legs in the right place, as she just kneels down while working the arm. Samoan drop by P. Nasty for two. Shoulders into the corner by Panina, as this is looking rather squashy thus far. Tatyanna giths back weakly from a chinlock, but Panina hits a big spear off the ropes for three.

WINNER: P. NASTY

MATCH RATING: C – This was all Panina, in more ways than one.

TATYANNA: C– – I’m going to be generous here, as she tried, but this was a pretty dismal failure for her tonight. She still is hella awkward in there, the face work was neither believable of sympathy-building, and there was nothing new in her ring work.

PANINA: B – The spear was impressive for someone with a larger build, and she knows how to work heel. She needs more crowd interaction to really hammer this home, and should be watching tapes of Solo’s development in the past year. For now, though, she continues to show why she’s a decent prospect.

I’d be giving Sirena the point for the women tonight, but we shall see.

Tatyanna praises Panina, saying this should be a real fight between two women who want to win. If only that’s what you showed out there. Chris Island wants to put down that dog today, and that’s not a nice way to refer to Anthony Luke.

ANTHONY LUKE (w/ gloves on) VS. CHRIS ISLAND

Anthony says he was going to put on the gloves in the ring, but they are ALREADY ON. Anthony adds a little flair to his entrance, which former coach Booker T shits on. Chris Island doesn’t wear the vest he said he was going to wear and, in fact, is wearing the singlet. Alrighty then. They tie up. Luke with a shoulderblock and what McCool calls the “Showtime Shuffle.” Island with a side headlock, which Luke reverses into a back suplex. Small package by Island for two. Roll-up by Island for two. Island crotches himself on the second rope, and Booker T notes Island is rushing. Luke works the leg, as Booker wants more body language from him. Booker T wants lots of things. Luke works the leg, then hits a kick to the gut and big powerslam for two. Vic claims Luke never hooked the leg in season one, and I’m guessing Vic’s new twist today is pulling things out his ass. Is McKenzie OK with that? Island with the comeback, hitting a pounce, clothesline, and big elbow strike. Monkey flip out of the corner by Island. Luke PULLS THE HAIR out of a fireman’s carry attempt by Island and hits the urinage for three.

WINNER: ANTHONY LUKE

MATCH RATING: B – Both these guys are decent workers for their level of experience, so that shouldn’t be surprising. I’m not sure we saw the great step forward character-wise here from either, but it was a match which wouldn’t have been out of place on regular NXT.

LUKE: A- – The gloves and slight dance moves were a bit of switch from him, but what matters more is that the in-ring does look a bit tighter from last season. He’s still a pretty generic-looking dude, so the personality and in-ring are going to have to carry him. They just might.

ISLAND: B – I didn’t see the character work at all here, and I agree with Booker that he sometimes does rush his spots. He’s also certainly become tighter in the ring, though, and looks every bit the part.

Luke talks that trash as he walks to the back. Chris says it was a good match, but Luke talks more trash than saying he knows he did well when the other guy gets made to look good in losing. Ouch.

Bubba and Taker come out to the Blake Monroe balcony and wave at the crowd, which I’m sure is nice to the random assortment of hobos they let in for this show.

Main event time!

SHILOH HILL vs. ELIJAH HOLYFIELD

Bubba doesn’t understand why Shiloh didn’t get picked over Jasper Troy to win last season. Honestly, I like both these guys’ potential over Troy, and that’s not even a knock on Troy. Side headlock by Shiloh, which Elijah tries to power out of, but gets hit with a knee. Elijah with a hiptoss and BIG SLAM for two. Hammerlock by Elijah, nicely cinched in, eventually reversed by Shiloh, who sends Elijah into the corner. Shiloh mounts Elijah with some punches and hits a neckbreaker for two. Shiloh argues with the hot ref, and gets rolled up for two. Another neckbreaker by Shiloh gets two. Shiloh goes for head vice, reversed by Elijah, and HERE COME THE PUNCHES. Jesus. Elijah hits that big shouldertackle, slam, and big spinebuster for two. Jesus, this guy is money. Shiloh comes back with……something, and gets the anticlimatic three.

WINNER: Shiloh Hill

MATCH RATING: B+ – The flat ending takes away from what was a solid match by two legit solid prospects.

ELIJAH: A – Jesus, this dude could potentially print money one day with his pedigree, look, and budding explosiveness. The only reason he’s here is because he walked through the door as green as can be, but he is getting there and absolutely should not be here for season three. Best in show.

SHILOH: A- – Shiloh’s character work is already the best here, so there’s really not much for him to grow with there. I thought whatever he finished with didn’t look impactful but, otherwise, this guy’s as ready for NXT as he’s ever going to be.

I’d be giving Elijah the point on the men’s end.

Michele gives Panina her point on the women’s side. Booker gives his to Sirena. Taker puts over Zena, but gives his vote to Sirena. Bubba does the same, saying it must suck for Zena to be the one to beat, but watch someone else get the point, as he gives his point to Sirena. Sirena wins on the women’s side.

Taker gives Elijah his point. Booker thinks something else has to change with Chris Island, and gives his point to Elijah as well. Bubba goes with Elijah, and Michelle completes the unanimous vote. I agree with the coaches today. Both these wrestler rose from raw potential to real prospects tonight.

Sirena talks to Bubba after the show, and acknowledged that it worked for Bubba to push her buttons earlier. Bubba agreed, and said it was his job to make her better. Backstage, Shiloh loses a tooth while eating pizza. Now there’s a gimmick change – The Man Who Loses His Tooth. Someone make sure Ed Leslie didn’t do that.

NEXT TIME, Charlotte Flair will speak to the rookies about connecting with crowds and them never tiring of her. Or something.

OVERALL RATING: B+ – Much better show action-wise this week, as the focus was more on the true prospects than the newbies. Elijah and Sirena have some serious potential here which was only hinted at in season one, while Zena, Panina, and Shiloh further their cases for a call-up after this is all said and done. If you’re someone who’s never watched this show before, this would not be a bad episode to start with, as it really captures the essence of what LFG is about.

Until next time.