WWE NXT Level Up Review - September 1, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Riley Osborne def. Javier Bernal

Osborne is the latest person to debut on Level Up, but the biggest difference is that he's levels above (pun intended) most newcomers on this show. I don't know what his experience is and if he's just athletic, but he had a hell of a showing and Bernal sold really well for his offense like a champ. The crowd got behind him and I didn't think he would win (most debuting stars lose), so that was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully he appears again soon. Having him disappear for a few weeks would be the worst way to follow up on this.

Stevie Turner def. Valentina Feroz

It's been a while since we last saw Turner in an NXT ring. I assume she had visa issues because I don't know she'd be gone for so long otherwise, especially since she was making consistent appearances on NXT TV at one point. I've been a fan of her work dating back to NXT UK and would like to see her get a real chance to shine, though the "streaming" gimmick is admittedly lame. This was decent and existed to get Turner back on track with a win.

Duke Hudson def. Akira Tozawa in an NXT Global Heritage Invitational Match

I had no idea the NXT Global Heritage Invitational would be playing out on Level Up in addition to NXT TV. That's pretty cool, though it makes sense since Hudson vs. Tozawa feels more fitting for Level Up than NXT TV. Regardless, this was fun stuff and one of the better bouts we've gotten on this show in some time. Tozawa being back in the NXT arena was a treat and he worked well with Hudson here. I already forgot that Tozawa beat The Miz on Raw a week or two ago, but since Hudson beat Tozawa, that has to mean something, right?

Overall Show

Well, this was easily the best edition of Level Up all year, if not ever. If you watch the show consistently as I do, you'll know that's not an exaggeration. Level Up took a break from being developmental this week and felt like an extension of NXT TV (in a good way). Osborne's debut exceeded expectations as he made a strong first impression, Turner returned, and Tozawa vs. Hudson was above average by Level Up standards. I'm sure this show was a one-off, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

SEE MORE: NXT Level Up Reviews