ESP8266 Not Working Properly

Try disconnecting ESP-01 from power by removing its ground connection, reconnecting you should see blue on board LED of ESP-01 module flash, I think twice. Then with SM set to 9600 both NL and CR issue AT+RST

Initially I was worried because a lot of online stuff about bricking esp after changing baud rate, but personally I think those folks gave up too soon

oh yeah, you may want to use hardwired serial pins for this