Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of the WWE LFG Season 2 Premiere on A&E!
The season premiere starts off with a look at last season’s winners - Jasper Troy and Tyra Mae Steele. They’ll be wrestling against NXT superstars tonight. Steele will take on Nikkita Lyons and Troy will wrestle Dante Chen.
At the Performance Center, Shawn Michaels gathers up the Legends. Michaels introduces Michelle McCool, who will be replacing Mickie James as a coach. Just like last season, two Future Greats will win NXT contracts and one Legend will win the LFG Championship. The Legends will draft their Future Legends with McCool getting the first pick. Bubba Ray jokes that BJ Ray will make a great addition to McCool’s team. Booker T doesn’t appreciate that McCool is getting the first pick just for being new. He calls it nepotism. Bubba Ray and The Undertaker enjoy how upset Booker T is.
Nikkita Lyons talks about how Tyra Mae Steele will be bringing her best, but it shouldn’t be an issue for Lyons. The Undertaker is shown giving Steele a pep talk.
Tyra Mae Steele vs. Nikkita Lyons
Highlights of the match are shown. Tyra Mae Steele starts off by avoiding Nikkita Lyons and then throwing her around the ring. Steele climbs to the top rope and misses a flying crossbody. Lyons grabs a waistlock, but Steele rolls through and rolls Lyons up for the win!
Winner: Tyra Mae Steele
In the back, Tyra Mae Steele is thrilled with her win. Zena Sterling talks about how she should be in Steele’s spot and to expect much more from her in Season 2 of LFG.
Jasper Troy is shown getting ready for his match. Booker T gives him a pep talk.
Jasper Troy vs. Dante Chen (from NXT)
Highlights of the match are shown. Jasper Troy hits a back body drop and clotheslines Chen over the top rope. Troy slams Chen on the apron. Troy hits a backbreaker. Dante Chen hits a DDT, but eats a big tackle later on. Troy hits a Black Hole Slam for the win!
Winner: Jasper Troy
Oba Femi calls out Jasper Troy after the match. In the back, Anthony Luke says that it’s now his time.
It’s now time to focus on the future of LFG. Shawn Michaels gathers the Legends and Future Greats. The Future Greats are going to spend some time in the ring with the Legends watching to see who they want to select in the draft. Returning Future Greats are shown getting ready, but there are some new faces - Summer Sorrell, Trill London, Haze Jameson, and Harlem Lewis. Dani Sekelsky is back and wants to be on The Undertaker’s team this season.
The Future Greats get in the ring and run some drills. Booker T wants Anthony Luke on his team again. Luke pokes fun at people saying he looks and acts like The Rock. Booker T also wants Penina Tuilaepa back on his team again. Bubba Ray watches the drills closely to see who is taking things seriously. The Undertaker tells Shiloh Hill to dog (not do his best) on the drills so that he’s still available when The Undertaker is up to pick in the draft. Hill listens to The Undertaker and the other coaches end up unimpressed with how he’s practicing.
Booker T and The Undertaker think that the Future Greats are too happy during the drills. Booker T pauses the drill and lays into them for chattering and having fun. He drills in that they must practice how they play. Elijah Holyfield is given a pep talk by Bubba Ray. Holyfield says that he’s on Season 2 to win it all. Michelle McCool likes how Harlem Lewis and Zena Sterling look in the ring. Tatyanna Dumas is shown not getting all of a hip toss on Haze Jameson. Jameson is a good sport about it, but it happens again.
The Future Greats pick the matches that they want to see - Penina Tuilaepa vs. Dani Sekelsky and Chris Island vs. Harlem Lewis.
Penina Tuilaepa vs. Dani Sekelsky
Penina Tuilaepa, P-Nasty, cuts a promo in front of the crowd and calls out anyone who thinks they can take her on. Dani Sekelsky answers the challenge. Sekelsky talks about how the odds have always been against her - but the LFG competition is wide open.
In a flashback, The Undertaker gives Sekelsky advice about the match. Sekelsky thinks she can tell a good David vs. Goliath story with Penina Tuilaepa. Tuilaepa talks about having a new aggressive attitude in Season 2 after not getting the win in Season 1.
They start the match with Sekelsky avoiding a lock up and grabbing a side headlock. Tuilaepa tries to power out of it, but Sekelsky holds on. Tuilaepa throws Sekelsky off of her, but Sekelsky lands on her feet. Tuilaepa hits a punch and a backbreaker. Tuilaepa grabs a chinlock and cranks it. Tuilaepa slams Sekelsky’s face into the mat a few times and then throws her across the ring. Tuilaepa lifts up Sekelsky, but Dani wiggles out and hits a series of strikes and a dropkick. Tuilaepa swats away another dropkick, but gets pulled into the Hell’s Gate. Tuilaepa lifts Sekelsky up in the hold and slams her down to break the submission attempt. Tuilaepa hits a Samoan Drop for the win!
Winner: Penina Tuilaepa
In the back, Penina Tuilaepa talks about not holding back anymore. She’s the #1 prospect. Dani Sekelsky talks about studying wrestling more to learn how to fight from underneath. She’s going to keep bouncing back.
Chris Island vs. Harlem Lewis
Both men are shown getting ready. Harlem Lewis says that he was brought onto LFG to beat ass. He doesn’t have to turn on the intensity - he’s Harlem Lewis all the time. Chris Island talks about feeling honored to be trusted with a new person on LFG. He’s willing to lose his smile once things get serious, though. Island gets in Lewis’ face in the back before the match to see what he’s all about.
They start the match with a lock up. Harlem Lewis drives Chris Island into the corner and then takes a shot at him on the break. Island fires back and grabs a leg. Lewis doesn’t go down and grabs the ropes. Island slaps Lewis in the face and Lewis tackles him. Lewis hits the ropes and hits a big tackle. Lewis grabs a side headlock. Island fights out of it and grabs a side headlock of his own. Lewis hits a belly-to-back suplex with the help of the ropes. Lewis stomps down on Island and then rains down punches. Lewis sends Island into the corner hard. Island pushes Lewis off of him, but Lewis sends him into the corner again. Island tries to leap over Lewis, but Harlem reads it and clotheslines Island from behind.
Lewis grabs a chinlock. Island fights out of it, but eats a slam for a two count. Lewis grabs a seated Island from behind. Island is able to stand out of it and starts to fight back with punches. Lewis is sent into the ropes and Island hits a tackle. Island hits a series of running strikes and a belly-to-belly suplex. Island charges into the corner and goes for a monkey flip, but Lewis drops Island on the top rope throat-first. Lewis hits a lariat and then the Boom Slam for the win!
Winner: Harlem Lewis
Harlem Lewis talks about how his mom cried tears of joy when she found out he was going to be on LFG. Lewis talks about his birthday parties that were WWE themed when he was a kid. His mom loves wrestling and he’s so happy to be a part of the business. Lewis talks about how he and his mom haven’t talked much recently because they aren’t on the best of terms, but he couldn’t have done all of this without her.
It’s time for the draft! Michelle McCool has the first pick and selects Penina Tuilaepa and Anthony Luke. Booker T is upset that McCool picks people he worked with in Season 1. He wants to know why McCool didn’t pick people like Elijah Holyfield or Shiloh Hill (last season’s Team Undertaker). Booker T calls the draft bull(bleep) and walks off as the episode ends.
In a preview for the season - a scuffle breaks out, many matches take place, injuries are dealt with, and Charlotte appears.
What did you think of the Season 2 Premiere of LFG? Let me know at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com and let’s talk about it! See you next time!
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