IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: September 25, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

With less than two weeks to go before Super Show-Down, a lot of the big feuds are already in high gear. It’s almost like Smackdown has a good idea of how to set up a pay per view rather than just wasting time and having everything else going on at once. The big story is of course Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles for the World Title so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with MizTV….as hosted by R-Truth and the now brunette Carmella. This is now Truth TV so Truth wants a WHAT’S UP. Carmella is introduced as the “Andy Richards” to his Conan O’Brien and hypes up Daniel Bryan as the guest. Truth has to read through some cards for his questions and asks about how Bryan took care of Miz and the other Carmella last week. Bryan: “This show is already better than MizTV.” Actually hang on, because we need a seven second dance break.

Truth and Carmella dance, followed by Truth promising an animal segment next. Bryan says last week was cathartic and now he wants to be WWE Champion again. That’s what’s coming at Super Show-Down because Bryan wants to be WWE Champion to prove that he’s the best while Miz wants to win the title so he can say he’s the best. Cue Miz to ask what Truth is doing. Truth says that he beat Miz two weeks ago and Miz didn’t have a title, he’s taking his talk show instead. Miz: “You’re an idiot.” Truth: “I’m an idiot with a talk show!”

Miz doesn’t like Bryan but Bryan always fights fair, which is why he’ll never win. That’s why Miz won at Summerslam and why he’ll win at Super Show-Down. Miz had one idea foiled last week but he has an idea for every minute of every day. If Bryan cheats in Australia, he’ll tarnish his own name and the beliefs of these people.

Truth complains about Miz talking too long and taking away the time from his animal segment. He’ll fight for the show right now, even though Miz says this is his show. Truth: “DANCE BREAK!” Miz goes to the back and rants to Paige about the show being stolen so we’re having a match for the show right now.

The Miz vs. R-Truth

Bryan is on commentary. Truth runs him over to start and stops to dance, with Miz being sent outside for a staredown with Bryan. Miz is knocked outside again and goes after Carmella, earning a clothesline from Truth. Back in and Truth charges into a boot to the face, followed by the YES Kicks. Bryan actually critiques the kicks and says why they’re not quite the real thing.

A DDT sets up a bow and arrow as Bryan actually praises Miz’s improving wrestling skills. Truth reverses a backslide into one of his own but Miz elbows him in the face as we take a break. Back with Truth hitting some clotheslines and a Stinger Splash, followed by a jawbreaker for two. The Lie Detector gets two but Miz pokes him in the eye, stares at Bryan, and hits a running knee for the pin at 11:40.

Rating: C-. Now, again, consider the difference between Raw and Smackdown’s way of building things. In addition to the obvious Bryan vs. Miz feud, tonight Miz and Asuka are facing Truth and Carmella on Mixed Match Challenge. Last night’s Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal match beat you over the head with they Mixed Match hype. This was more subtle, basically saying “hey if you want to see more of this, check out this other show”. That’s far better and more appealing than the Raw method, as it’s not beating you over the head. In other words, much better.

Earlier today, Becky Lynch jumped Charlotte at a photo shoot and demanded that her photos were taken instead. Charlotte has been sent home due to her injuries.

Big E. vs. Sheamus

Before the match, Kofi talks about not taking people seriously sometimes. That’s why before this match, we’ll be having the Say Something Nice Challenge. We’ll start with Cesaro, who has weird nipples and looks like a Swiss Jason Statham, but it’s cool because they like Statham movies. Sheamus’ mohawk is big and weird looking, but the carpet must match the drapes. Sheamus cuts them off and promises of taking the Tag Team Titles are made.

Sheamus jumps Big E. from behind as Graves talks about areola shaming. A hiptoss brings Sheamus to the floor and we take a break. Back with Big E. throwing him with a belly to belly and some hip swiveling. The Warrior Splash hits knees though and Sheamus gets two off a powerslam. The Brogue Kick is countered into a powerbomb for two but the spear through the ropes is countered. Sheamus escapes the Big Ending as well and it’s a Brogue Kick for the pin at 6:41.

Rating: D+. Not enough time to go anywhere but it was a watchable enough power match. Both tag divisions continue to be desperately in need of some switching up though as the Usos have nothing to do and Raw has almost no tag teams of note. You could easily mix things up and get a few better matchups out of the teams but that doesn’t seem likely.

Paige tells AJ Styles not to go too crazy out there during the contract signing.

Lana comes in to see Rusev, who wants answers from Aiden English.

Here are Rusev and Lana for a chat. Rusev calls English a traitor for turning on him on Rusev Day, so English needs to explain himself right now. English comes out to say none of this is his fault. Before they met, Rusev was the super athlete but no one cared about him. We see a clip of Rusev being here a year ago and the rise of Rusev Day since that moment. At Wrestlemania, 70,000 people were chanting their names (true for the most part), but then SHE happened.

We look back at Lana joining the team and everything falling apart. Lana talks about the Wrestlemania XXXI tank (still awesome) and accuses English of riding Rusev’s coattails. English says he knows Lana’s loyalty to her husband, but is she going to tell him about that one night in Milwaukee? That’s good for a mic drop and a HOLY S*** chant from the crowd.

Clip of the Summerslam contract signing between AJ and Joe.

Asuka and Naomi warm up.

Lana tells Rusev she has no idea what English is talking about when Becky comes in to say Milwaukee is a fun town. Trash talking ensues and Becky leaves as Rusev wonders when they were in Milwaukee last. Lana walks away.

The Iiconics are in the ring before the next match but Naomi’s entrance cuts them off before anything can be said.

Asuka/Naomi vs. Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose

Instead the Iiconics are on commentary. This is the result of some bickering earlier in the day. Joined in progress with Asuka in trouble and not being able to dive over to Naomi for the tag. That lasts for all of a few seconds until the hot tag brings in Naomi, who is taken down with a forearm to the back. The illegal Asuka hip attacks Mandy to the floor and it’s a double kick to Sonya’s head for the pin at 2:28 shown. Just a warmup for Australia.

Some wrestlers went to a Denver children’s hospital earlier today.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tye Dillinger

Post match Orton wrecks Dillinger and leaves him laying. Not wanting to feel left out, Nakamura adds Kinshasa.

Rusev tells Lana he believes her saying nothing happened but Lana doesn’t seem happy.

Orton says Tye isn’t his next victim, but he doesn’t like the Perfect Ten thing.

Becky Lynch vs. Lana

Non-title. Becky knocks her down to start but Lana is right back with right hands to the head. That’s enough to send Becky outside and Lana makes the mistake of following her, earning herself a quick beating. Back in and a small package gives Lana two but it’s a Bexploder into the Disarm-Her for the tap at 2:53. Not quite a squash but close enough.

English promises video proof of what happened in Milwaukee.

Here’s Paige to run the contract signing. AJ comes out and says he’s just here to sign. There’s no Joe, which AJ says isn’t a surprise. Joe pops up on screen and he’s at AJ’s house. That must put a nauseous feeling in AJ’s stomach because there’s nothing he can do, even though Joe promised him to do all this stuff. Joe even has a doll for Annie and AJ is clearly panicking. That’s what Joe wants, and Joe wants that feeling from AJ in Australia. Joe rings the doorbell and says daddy’s home to end the show. This was awesome again, but at some point Joe needs to actually win the title to really make it mean something.

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, there’s a goal for almost everything you see here and Smackdown knows how to sprinkle in the fun/entertaining stuff to go with the important series material. I’m looking forward to Super Show-Down, but the more I watch of the build makes me worry that we’re going to be watching another show that means nothing. At least the build has been good this time around, so hopefully we get something good this time around.

Results

The Miz b. R-Truth – Skull Crushing Finale

Sheamus b. Big E. – Brogue Kick

Asuka/Naomi b. Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose – Double kick to Deville’s head

Tye Dillinger b. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ when Randy Orton interfered

Becky Lynch b. Lana – Disarm-Her

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 26, 2004
Location: Landon Arena, Topeka, Kansas
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

They don’t have to go far to beat Smackdown this week. We’re still a week away from the big Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit title match so you can probably bet on a lot of hype for that one tonight. Other than that Edge and Benoit are the new Tag Team Champions and Evolution won’t be happy. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Shawn challenging Benoit last week and Benoit and Edge winning the titles.

Opening sequence.

Lita/Victoria vs. Gail Kim/Molly Holly

Lita is especially smiley this week while Molly’s hair is now longer, brown and curly. Victoria and Gail start things off and it’s a very early dancing moonsault (again with the camera facing Victoria’s front) for two. Molly comes in for a quickly broken cravate so it’s off to Gail to keep beating on Victoria. An elbow knocks Lita off the apron and Gail grabs a Black Widow to take Victoria down. That’s broken up pretty quickly and the hot tag brings in Lita to clean house. A spinning belly to back suplex gets two on Gail and Molly loses the wig. Molly sends Victoria into the barricade, leaving Lita to DDT Gail for the pin.

Rating: D+. Not terrible as they take care of the issue from Backlash. It’s not like the women’s division means anything at the moment (and it hasn’t for years) so having the women trade wins don’t exactly help or hurt anything. They kept it short here and nothing was terribly botched so that’s about all you can ask for.

Post match Molly beats up Lita some more but here’s Kane of all people to interrupt. Just like last week Lita isn’t smart enough to roll under the bottom rope and get out so Kane strokes her cheek and smells her neck. She finally runs away and, after a break, runs into Matt Hardy in the back. Matt says he’s facing Kane tonight and he’ll take care of her. Kane shows up and beats Matt down as Lita wisely runs for a change.

Post break HHH goes into Bischoff’s office and yells at a plant (as in a potted plant) about wanting Tajiri tonight. Eric leaves and HHH yells at the empty room. Because he can’t see.

Rob Conway vs. Rhyno

Eugene and William Regal show up at commentary. Eugene: “French Canadians! Pat Patterson first Intercontinental Champion Rio de Janeiro 1979!” JR to Lawler: “You didn’t even know that.” The USA chants begin and Eugene joins in before heading down next to the Titantron for some cartwheels. Rhyno gets two off a belly to belly but gets thrown over the top.

Conway chokes on the ropes as Eugene has stolen some popcorn and come back to commentary. Regal: “No don’t put that in your ear!” Conway gets two off a kick to the ribs and the referee is nearly jumping as he counts the two. Eugene is over in the tech area as Conway whips Rhyno into the corner and gets two off a clothesline. Some pyro goes off thanks to Eugene pushing buttons, allowing Rhyno to hit a Gore (the only significant offense of the match) for the pin.

Rating: D. The wrestling was just a backdrop for the Eugene stuff but it feels like innocent, harmless fun. That’s the way they should be treating him and Regal as the funny straight man is the perfect foil. This was a lot of fun and I’m starting to remember why I was a big fan of the guy back in the day.

Post break La Resistance wants to fight Eugene tonight but Regal says that can’t happen. Johnny Nitro makes Eugene vs. Conway in two weeks.

Edge and Benoit are cut off by Shawn, who reminds him of their match next week. Shawn leaves and Edge wants Benoit to stay focused on tonight.

Here are Christian, Trish Stratus and Tyson Tomko for a chat before a match. Christian talks about Jericho being a problem and needing a problem solver.

Christian vs. Grandmaster Sexay

Sexay gets jumped to start as JR goes back to the 1800s for insults about Trish. A flapjack lets Sexay dance a bit and a middle rope dropkick gets two. The reverse DDT is broken up and a cactus crossbody puts them both on the floor. Back in and Tomko offers a distraction to break up the Hip Hop Drop. The Unprettier gives Christian the easy pin.

Post match Tomko kicks Sexay in the face but Jericho’s music hits. Tomko is sent into the aisle but Jericho comes in through the crowd and gets Trish in the Walls for all of two seconds.

HHH vs. Tajiri

HHH, with a somewhat green face, is still wiping his eyes and hammers away to start. Tajiri gets choked on the mat as the fans remind HHH that he tapped out. Some kicks knock HHH down and the handspring elbow gets two as the fans are already into this one. That’s enough to send HHH outside for a breather but Tajiri smacks him in the face and sends him head first into the steps. HHH gets back in at nine and the Buzzsaw kick is blocked.

Tajiri kicks away even more but walks into the spinebuster as Lawler makes more and more jokes about Tajiri’s accent. A hard whip sends Tajiri into the corner but he’s right back with a spinwheel kick. The Octopus Hold is countered by a HHH hiptoss and the Tarantula doesn’t go on full. Instead Tajiri goes with a missile dropkick that knocks HHH into the referee. The mist misses though and the Pedigree finally finishes Tajiri.

Rating: C+. This was much better than I was expecting with Tajiri working hard and HHH actually giving him a lot. You don’t see a midcarder going move for move like this with a top star very often and it makes for a very refreshing match. HHH didn’t lose anything here and Tajiri looked better than he has in a long time. Now why can’t we get something like this a little more often?

We recap the Lita/Kane/Matt Hardy stuff.

Kane vs. Matt Hardy

Matt, who always meets his deadlines, can barely walk to the ring. Kane wastes no time in beating him down and chokes on the ropes. A whip sends Matt chest first into the buckle and there’s the chokeslam. Kane chokeslams him again but Lita runs in to save Matt from the Tombstone. Lita lets him kiss her and Kane walks out. Angle instead of a match.

Victoria tried to get people to vote.

Lawler is in the ring to promote the Divas Magazine, because he’s the only one you could get to talk about the thing. We see some shots on the Titantron and here’s Stacy Keibler to help things out. What is she doing here you ask? Meeting Harley Race, sitting in the front row, of course. Therefore cue Randy Orton as JR panics. Orton says he’s the only real legend around here and has already accomplished more than Race has in his whole career. Race shaking his head is worth a chuckle and Orton goes out to spit on him. That draws Race over the barricade but Shelton Benjamin (hey he’s still here) to jump Orton for the save.

Smackdown Rebound. That show needs no more attention.

Batista and Flair want their titles back. Apparently Batista hasn’t been able to sleep since losing the titles and that will NEVER happen again. He screams everything he says here but does earn himself a WOO.

Tag Team Titles: Ric Flair/Batista vs. Edge/Chris Benoit

Benoit and Edge are defending and Edge still has a cast on his hand. Flair and Benoit hit the mat for an early standoff with Flair slicking the hair back. With the technical stuff not interesting him, Benoit chops in the corner and hits a backdrop. Flair goes for the leg (well duh) and it’s already off to Batista. Edge comes in as well and stomps the big man down in the corner until the running clothesline takes his head off.

Flair comes back in and gets taken down into a weird looking half crab (Edge is turned halfway around instead of facing backwards), followed by a Figure Four as tends to be required in Flair matches. Of course Flair knows the counter so it’s back to Benoit for more chops and a Flair Flop (earning some appreciative applause). Benoit chops him so much that it’s a second Flop but Edge walks into an atomic drop.

A knee to the back sends Edge hard into the corner and Batista sends the bad hand into the steps as we take a break. Back with Edge sending Batista face first into the buckle and the hot tag bringing in Benoit. They’re not wasting time with this one. Everything breaks down and Flair is clotheslined to the floor, leaving Batista to take the rolling German suplexes. The Swan Dive sets up the Crossface but Flair is back in for the save.

We settle back into the standard operating procedure here with Flair tossing Benoit into the corner and Batista adds a suplex. The half crab keeps Benoit in trouble and Flair gets two off a chop. You don’t chop with Benoit so Flair takes him down by the legs to bring Batista back in. An enziguri gets Benoit out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Edge. Everything breaks down again and Batista spinebusts Benoit. That allows Flair to load up the Figure Four, only to eat the spear to retain the titles.

Rating: B. Hot tag match here with a clean finish, which is a lot more than I was expecting. They’re rolling with the idea of longer wrestling matches at the moment and that makes for a very fun ending like this one. Edge and Benoit’s roll continues and Edge’s feud with Kane is forgotten more every week, thank goodness.

Post match HHH comes in to beat the Canadians down but here’s Shawn for the save with a chair. He hits Benoit by mistake (dun dun dun) and that’s not cool with Edge. They calm down but Benoit is up with the Sharpshooter to Shawn to end the show. Good way to set up next week’s title match.

Overall Rating: B-. There’s some stuff on here that isn’t as entertaining as the rest but it’s such an easy show to watch and they’re making it a lot of fun every single week. Above all else they’re not just focusing on one or two things and leaving the rest out to dry. Build up the entire show and the good parts will look even better as a result. If you happen to get something fun like Eugene as a bonus, it’s even better. Another good show this week.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: September 20, 2018
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Corey Graves

You know, in a weird way I enjoy watching this show and seeing what they have in store. The highlight packages are often fine, but every now and then you get an actually good original match like last week with Zach Ryder vs. Apollo Crews. Oddly enough, the last good match also featured Ryder. But he doesn’t have the right look so no WWE Title run for him. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Zack Ryder vs. Mike Kanellis

Hopefully Kanellis feeling the Crews tonight. Kanellis wastes no time in stomping away in the corner because that’s the only way he’s going to get noticed around here. Some running clotheslines and a big boot get two, followed by a Side Effect for the same. Ryder is back up for a middle rope missile dropkick, only to get his neck snapped across the top rope to cut him down again.

Kanellis’ superkick gets two but Ryder throws him off the top, setting up the Rough Ryder for two. Back up and Kanellis grabs a sitout Michinoku Driver for two but makes the eternal mistake of loading up the Broski Boot. You don’t do that to Ryder, who ducks away and hits the Rough Ryder for the pin at 5:34.

Rating: C. Another perfectly watchable match here with Ryder continuing to look good. Kanellis is someone dying for a character or a gimmick, because being the whipping boy who is waiting for his wife to get back has crippled the limited impact that he could have had in WWE. Not a bad match here and hopefully this gets some attention at some point.

From Raw.

Here’s Undertaker to respond to HHH about Super Show-Down. During his very well received entrance, Cole says many consider Undertaker the best of all time. Those people would be wrong. Undertaker talks about how no one can spin a web of lies like someone with a broken soul and no one has a soul as broken as HHH. The delusion will be HHH’s downfall because his new battlefield is the board room.

HHH can no longer decipher truth and can’t see his own demise. Undertaker doesn’t care what anyone thinks and only cares about what’s coming: HHH going six feet under again and Game over. HHH can have his delusion and his best friend Shawn Michaels, but Shawn is going to be at ringside. Therefore, Undertaker will bring Kane to even things up. Undertaker already took Michaels’ career and he’s going to do the same to HHH. As a bonus, he’s going to take HHH’s soul.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Paige to introduce Becky Lynch for the Championship Celebration. Becky is glad that she’s finally getting the recognition that she deserves but wants Charlotte out here. Charlotte comes out and says Becky was the better woman on Sunday. The thing is Becky gave up a lot to become champion and Charlotte is coming back for it at Super Show-Down.

Becky: “I’m sorry, I stopped listening after you said I was the better woman.” Becky wants Charlotte to put the title around her waist but she’ll settle for being called queen. Becky: “B****.” The fight is on with Charlotte being thrown over the announcers’ table and the Disarm-Her going on. The Bexploder leaves Charlotte laying to end the show.

Apollo Crews vs. Mojo Rawley

Mojo starts with the trash talking and runs him over a few times. With the power not working, Apollo dropkicks him down and hits an armdrag to the floor. Crews follows him out and that’s just never a good idea as Rawley runs him over with a clothesline. Back in and we hit the chinlock, allowing Crews to fight up with an enziguri and the standing shooting star press. The Toss Powerbomb is broken up but so is Rawley’s sitout Alabama Slam. Another enziguri sets up an enziguri into the frog splash to finish Rawley at 6:39.

Rating: C-. While not quite as good as the opener, this was still perfectly fine and there’s nothing wrong with that. Crews is still more than good in the ring but I can’t believe that Rawley has already fallen back to the nothing that he was before his quick Raw push. He’s good enough to be a low level heel but it’s back to the dregs that is Main Event.

From Raw again.

Universal Title: Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin

Reigns is defending and is banged up after last night. Corbin goes right for the ribs to start and gets two off a rollup. They head outside with Reigns hitting the apron dropkick but getting clotheslined down as we take a break. Back with Corbin holding a chinlock, followed by a chokebreaker for two.

That’s enough non-chinlocking so we hit it again to keep Reigns in trouble. Reigns fights up for the corner clotheslines as the announcers are STUNNED that he can do this. Dude he had a 24 minute match last night where nearly ten minutes was spent laying down. Rollins and Ziggler had a 25 minute match and then FELL OFF THE CELL and wrestled for ten minutes tonight. Reigns isn’t that impressive.

The Samoan drop gives Reigns two and there’s the Superman Punch off the steps. Corbin has finally had it and throws a chair at Reigns and yeah I’m not falling for this. There’s the restart with No DQ. Back in and the Superman Punch gives Reigns two. Reigns goes for the chair but here’s Strowman to take Reigns down. Strowman misses a charge into the post but Corbin grabs Deep Six for two. Now it’s Ziggler, McIntyre, Rollins and Ambrose running in for another fight, including double suicide dives to put Ziggler and McIntyre down. The spear retains the title at 16:53.

Rating: D. Well duh. I can get behind the idea of a champion having to overcome the odds and still retain the title in an obvious finish but Corbin is one of the least threatening heels in years. When your big move is “I’LL CALL STEPHANIE!”, I’m not going to buy you winning the title. All the run-ins didn’t offer any help either and the match was just boring as we waited for the inevitable spear. Reigns can carry things, but he’s not a miracle worker yet.

Overall Rating: C. The original stuff was better than usual here but the show didn’t exactly make me interested in seeing the multiple shows that are coming up. That’s the case with almost every Monday night anymore though and that’s not exactly the best thing to be said about one of the busiest seasons of the WWE year. Watchable show, but that’s about it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re coming up on Death Before Dishonor and that means it’s time for the standard Ring of Honor crash course booking as they suddenly realize that just saying the show is coming isn’t the same thing as actually setting it up. You get used to that around here but it doesn’t make anything better. A main event would be nice if nothing else. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here’s World Champion Jay Lethal for an opening chat. He’s been asked about the matches that he’s considered his best over the years and now there’s a new one on top of his list after last week’s Iron Man match against Jonathan Gresham. That match proved to him that you don’t need gimmicks or storylines (erg) to have a great match. It also showed him that he wants to have great matches with the rest of the locker room, or any locker room for that matter. The challenge is open to anyone so here’s Will Ospreay on the screen to challenge for the title. Lethal seems game.

So Cal Uncensored is ready for Punishment Martinez and the Briscoes.

The Briscoes and Punishment Martinez are ready for So Cal Uncensored.

Tasha Steelz vs. Sumie Sakai

Non-title, Brandi Rhodes is on commentary and this is a Proving Ground match, meaning Steelz gets a title shot if she wins. Steelz poses at the champ instead of shaking hands so I don’t see this lasting long. Sumie forearms away to start and gets sent outside as Brandi accuses Caprice of hating on the women’s division. Back in and Sumie chops away, followed by a clothesline and a running knee. A missile dropkick gets two but Smash Mouth is countered into Stratusfaction. Not that it matters as Smash Mouth finishes Steelz at 3:13.

Rating: D. Another thrilling Sakai match as she continues to just not be interesting. It’s a good idea to give her a squash every now and then but really, there’s nothing to her that makes me want to watch her matches. This division has been one lackluster moment after another and I don’t see that chanting anytime soon.

The Bullet Club says they’re the top of the pile in Japan and Chaos is at the bottom. Therefore, the ten man tag at Death Before Dishonor is an easy match for the Club.

Sakai is still in the ring and is told that the Women’s Title is now the Ring of Honor Women’s World Title. Sakai says this is her home and challenges Tenille Dashwood for the title. Cue Tenille to say they can do this at Death Before Dishonor.

Kenny King is ready to beat up Adam Page next week.

Here’s Jonathan Gresham to say he wants another shot at Lethal but here’s Bully Ray to scare Riccaboni off. Ray says he sold out Madison Square Garden on his own, which Gresham never could have done. This is like the old Piper’s Pit with Frankie Williams (Ray: “He was the jobber.”) because Gresham is nowhere near as great as he thinks he is. Where was Gresham’s standing ovation when he came out here? Gresham takes the mic and says he knows he can’t win a match with Ray. He can win a match with Ray though because there’s no D-Von here to do the work. Ray says get a referee.

Bully Ray vs. Jonathan Gresham

Ray kicks him low at 14 seconds.

Post match Ray shakes his hand for being the better wrestler and whips Gresham with the chain. Flip Gordon runs in for the save but gets knocked down as well. Cue Lethal for the real save but Silas Young lays him out with Misery. Silas wants nothing to do with a hug from Ray and leaves.

Post break Lethal and Gresham set up the tag match for next week.

Video on Chris Sabin vs. Punishment Martinez.

Sabin says he’s betting on himself.

Briscoes/Punishment Martinez vs. So Cal Uncensored

Sabin is on commentary and it’s a big brawl to start with Jay getting run over in the corner. Some stomps to the back have Jay in more trouble and Mark has to come in for the save. A cheap shot from the apron lets Jay clothesline Daniels to the floor and it’s Martinez coming in to hammer away as well. All three villains take turns beating Daniels down and we take a break.

Back with Daniels slipping out of a chokeslam and bringing in Scorpio Sky to clean house. A slingshot cutter gets two but Jay hits a head of a Death Valley Driver to cut him off. Everything breaks down and Kazarian DDTs Mark for two. Daniels’ middle rope knee to the chest into a suicide dive gets two but Jay’s chair shot hits the referee by mistake. More chair shots have So Cal Uncensored knocked out but Sabin comes in to take care of Martinez. So Cal Uncensored pops up for the Best Meltzer Ever and the pin on Mark at 11:42.

Rating: C+. I do love it when the booking for multiple matches come together at once. That’s what they pulled off here and it was a good match as well. Having the Briscoes take the fall made sense as Sky doesn’t have anything to do at the pay per view and it wouldn’t have made sense for Martinez to get pinned. Nice way to end the show here as the rapid fire build for the pay per view is underway.

Overall Rating: C-. I’m not sure what to think of this one. It was a good show as far as setting up the pay per view (in rapid fashion of course because throwing in some graphics or promos onto the other shows is out of the question for whatever reason) but you also have Lethal being thrown into the feud with Ray and Young. I’d assume that’s because Ospreay wasn’t available to be at the tapings, but that’s the danger of having a World Title match thrown together like this.

I’ll give Ring of Honor this: given the amount of issues they have with their pay per views (the main one being the schedule, as always), they manage to put together some nice last minute building. There are some flaws, but given how much they’re up against, it’s not terrible a lot of the time. The ending segment here made me want to see both matches they were hyping up and that’s better than I was expecting.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s another big match tonight with Lucha Underground Champion El Dragon Azteca Jr. defending against Marty the Moth Martinez, who bought his shot at the title last week. Martinez also asked Antonio Cueto for something else, which wasn’t specified but sounded Matanza related. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at Fenix going evil and the Gift of the Gods Title match.

Fenix vs. Aerostar

Melissa Santos is understandably upset to have to introduce Fenix. Aerostar doesn’t want to fight so Fenix kicks him in the face and takes him into the corner for another one. The fans are split (because they’re odd around here) as Aerostar gets two off a sunset flip. Fenix bails to the floor so Aerostar hits a big springboard dive to take him down. That’s about it for Aerostar’s offense as Fenix sends him into the post, stares at Melissa, and sends Aerostar back inside for two off a springboard splash.

A LOUD kick to the back gets two and the fans are actually cringing. Aerostar is right back with a Canadian Destroyer and a slingshot DDT for two of his own but Fenix shrugs off some kicks to the face. Fenix puts him on top and hits a quick dropkick, followed by the Muscle Buster driver for the pin at 6:23.

Rating: C-. This was a fine way to establish Fenix as the monster and that’s the right idea. Having him shove Melissa last week was a great way to start things off and having him win a competitive match is fine. You know this is going somewhere big for Ultima Lucha and I’m curious to see where that exactly is.

Post match Fenix stays on Aerostar and Melissa says this isn’t him. Dragon Azteca Jr. comes out to get between Fenix and Melissa so Fenix gives him the Muscle Buster driver on the floor. That’s some pretty bad timing as Antonio comes out to say the title match is next, but Dragon will have to forfeit. Dragon wants to fight so let’s have the match.

Gift of the Gods Title: Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Marty Martinez

Dragon is defending and Marty runs him over without much effort. The beating is on in the corner and Dragon can barely do anything. Some kicks to the head stagger Marty for a few moments but he avoids a charge and Dragon gets caught in the corner. Dragon shoves him off the top and hits a slingshot hurricanrana though, followed by the DDTJ for two. Not that it matters as the implant double arm DDT gives Marty the pin and the title at 4:44.

Rating: D+. There wasn’t much of a way that you could have Dragon keep the title here. He wasn’t the most thrilling champion in the world and someone taking his title, especially by cheating, was the right way to go. Throw in the Fenix attack before the match and there was little reason to buy the idea that Dragon was retaining here.

Paul London finally gets to see the White Rabbit and says that having the failures of the tribe being sacrificed were to prove his loyalty. The White Rabbit wants to go to the surface along with El Bunny (a masked mini), telling London to lead the cage.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Mil Muertes vs. King Cuerno

Dark is defending. Muertes wastes no time in clotheslining both of them in the corner before throwing Cuerno into a different corner. A double dropkick puts Muertes on the floor, only to have Pentagon chop the post by mistake. Muertes is right back with a running clothesline to Pentagon as the mask is half ripped off. That’s not enough for Muertes, who throws Pentagon into the crowd before going back inside to get kicked by Cuerno.

Pentagon runs back in to break up a cover off a powerslam and kicks Muertes in the face a few times. The Sling Blade sets up a top rope double stomp for two as Cuerno is back in. A chokeslam puts him down so pentagon kicks Muertes to the floor, setting up the Fear Factor to pin Cuerno at 6:03.

Rating: C+. I could have gone for more of this as the three of them get to beat the heck out of each other, which they can do as well as anyone else on the roster. That makes for an entertaining match, which really could have gone on longer. Pentagon continues to survive as champion in one of the more entertaining stories of the season.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Marty Martinez

Marty is challenging and Pentagon is dead. An early cover is only good for two and the beating is on. Marty even ties the mask to the ropes and hammers away but Pentagon gets out and hits a quick Destroyer. With Marty on the floor, cue the debuting (and unnamed) Chelsea Green for a Destroyer of her own to Pentagon. Marty comes back in and hits a Fear Factor of his own for the pin and the title at 3:36.

Rating: D. Angle instead of a match here and the right way this needed to end. You can only have Pentagon survive as champion against so many odds and this would have been too much for him to overcome in one night. I’m sure he’ll get a rematch where he likely gets the title back and if that means more of Green, so be it.

Overall Rating: B. This was one of those shows where they hit everything in stride and the stories flowed from one match to the next. That’s the kind of booking that you don’t get very often but they pulled it off incredibly well here. It was a tight episode that didn’t miss anything and the wrestling was taking a well deserved backseat to the booking. Very fun show here and one of the strongest in a long time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 24, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

Somehow Super Show-Down is next week and that means we need to firm up the card a little bit. They’ve done a great job of setting up HHH vs. Undertaker for the Australia show, but there are still a lot of other things that need to be put together. Tonight’s show could go in a variety of directions so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

There’s a new Then, Now and Forever video, which is a rather nice improvement.

Baron Corbin opens the limo for birthday girl Stephanie McMahon and HHH. He even starts singing Happy Birthday but Stephanie gives him the look. HHH (wisely) leaves and Stephanie gets some birthday balls for giving himself a Universal Title shot last week. Stephanie makes a six man tag for tonight with Baron needing to find some partners.

Here’s the Shield to open things up. Dean says they’re the three workhorses in WWE. They may have lost some battles but they’ve never lost a war. Reigns (cue the booing) says you can read off their resumes but that would take all day. All you have to do is look at them hold up their titles because these are the keys to the kingdom. That’s why Brock Lesnar is back and it’s why Corbin did what he did last week.

As for tonight, the world’s largest substitute teacher has to find some partners so get out here right now. Cue Corbin to sound rather cocky because here are Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre with Strowman saying the Shield is about to crack. Strowman promises a 4-2 fight at “WWE Super Show” because Ziggler remembers Dean being WWE Champion on his own two years ago.

Drew and Ziggler talk about Dean being taken for granted because he’s the only one without a title. Dean is always the one sacrificing himself and making the other two champions. They make it very clear: switch sides and become Intercontinental Champion. Reigns cuts them off and wants to fight but Corbin runs out to keep anything from happening, promising to take Shield out with his still unnamed partners. The Dean stuff is interesting, but it seems too early to break up the Shield again.

Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal

Preview for next week’s Mixed Match Challenge match so Bayley and Alicia Fox are here as well. Mahal doesn’t even get an entrance here in case you needed more proof of his collapse. An early shot to the ribs takes Balor down and we hit the headlock on the mat. The fans are behind Balor, mainly because the other option is to be behind Mahal. Balor knocks him to the floor and hits the big flip dive as we take a break.

Back with Mahal in control and putting on an abdominal stretch, only to have it broken up in a hurry. Balor makes the comeback but runs into a superkick. That goes absolutely nowhere as Balor hits a Sling Blade but Singh trips him up. Bayley trips Mahal just as fast and the fight is on, including a Bayley to Belly to Sunil Singh. That’s enough of a distraction for Balor to roll Mahal up for the pin at 9:55.

Rating: D+. This was as good as Balor vs. Mahal was going to be when the match was there to set up what will likely be a match focused on the women. As usual, Raw is designed to be a big commercial for whatever else they can find, which is a big reason why the show is harder to sit through as of late. The Mixed Match Challenge match will be fine, but I could go for something a little more interesting than a ten minute commercial.

Post match Mahal and Fox berate Sunil before sitting down and shouting SHANTI.

Video on Ronda Rousey’s Open Challenge from last week and the Riott Squad answering until the Bella Twins made the save.

Riott Squad vs. Natalya/Bella Twins

Liv and Nikki start things off with Nikki running her over, because Nikki is a star or something. It’s off to Brie for the YES Kicks….and one of them hits Liv in the face, seemingly knocking her cold. Brie almost has to drag her to the corner for the tag off to Logan, because Brie is somehow managing to screw up LIFTING HER LEG INTO THE SAME PLACE OVER AND OVER.

Liv is finally good enough to come back in for a triple suplex to send the Squad out to the floor as we take a break. Back with Morgan gone to the trainer’s room and Logan catapulting Brie into a forearm from Riott. A double hair takedown takes Brie and Logan down, allowing the hot tag to Natalya. House is cleaned but Riott tags herself in to break up the Sharpshooter, setting up the Riott Kick to finish Natalya at 10:27.

Rating: D-. So aside from Brie kicking Liv in the face and knocking her silly (egads man), this was a bad match with no real flow and an ending only designed to set up the six woman tag at Super Show-Down. I’m sure glad we spent months building the Squad up so they can be used to get the oh so precious Nikki set up for her match with Rousey, which the world is just dying to see.

The roster is on the stage as HHH and Stephanie are in the ring for the Connor’s Cure segment. Some kids are brought out and presented with title belts and a big check is presented to Connor’s Cure from a Hyundai charity.

Ziggler comes up to Ambrose in the back to ask where the rest of the Shield was when Dean was out for nine months. Dean just needs to watch what happens tonight.

Chad Gable vs. Konnor

Gable thinks he should just ask what Bobby Roode would do, and that means BE GLORIOUS. Konnor promises carnage and pounds away to start as we’re in the chinlock thirty seconds after the bell. Gable’s armbar over the ropes and a dropkick to the knee have Konnor in trouble, followed by a German suplex. The moonsault misses but Gable lands on his feet. Konnor runs him over though and grabs a Dominator for the clean pin. OH COME ON ALREADY! We’ve sat through FOUR matches between these teams and now Gable loses to Konnor? To set up what better be Roode’s heel turn? This is the best they have???

Stephanie and HHH are leaving when HHH says if Undertaker is worried about HHH wearing a suit, he’s already lost the fight. For Undertaker, the end is near.

Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre vs. Revival

Revival is challenging and get a jobber entrance. Ziggler shoves Dawson into the corner to start so Dawson takes over off a wristlock. Wilder comes in but gets to deal with McIntyre, who takes him back into the corner. It’s already back to Ziggler as the fast start continues. Ziggler gets caught in the corner and Wilder adds a slingshot clothesline for two. The running DDT is countered into the Rings of Saturn but Ziggler rolls over into a cradle.

Back up and a crossbody puts both guys on the floor in a big crash. Ziggler avoids a charge to send Wilder into the steps and it’s McIntyre getting two off a suplex as we take a break. We come back with Dawson getting the hot tag and hitting a leg lariat of all things to drop Ziggler. A tiger driver gets two and a PowerPlex (sweet) is good for the same with McIntyre making the save.

The Fameasser is countered into an electric chair for a Doomsday Device (dang they’re opening the playbook this week) as the fans are way into this. Ziggler slips out of something and brings McIntyre back in for the power. A powerslam is broken up with a dropkick to the back and Wilder falls on top for two. It’s quickly back to Ziggler though and the Claymore into the Zig Zag retains the titles at 12:38.

Rating: B-. Revival was trying to get noticed out here and while that’s not likely to happen, I can certainly appreciate the effort. Ziggler and McIntyre retaining wasn’t much of a secret but at least they had some fun out there and gave us a good match. It’s so weird seeing Revival as the de facto faces but they pulled the role off quite well.

Here’s Elias in front of what looks like a talk show set. Since we’re in Denver, Elias is going to pass this off to Kevin Owens for the Kevin Owens Show. Owens is excited to team with Elias to face John Cena and Elias at Super Show-Down but there’s someone else Owens wants to address. That would be his guest this week: Lio Rush, who Owens says can just walk to the ring instead of flipping and diving. Owens pulls out a booster seat, which Rush laughs off by bringing out Lashley.

Bobby Lashley vs. Elias

Well that wasn’t much of a talk show. Lashley throws him down to start and then does it again for good measure. Elias manages a headlock to slow things down so Lashley runs him over. A crossbody and side slam give Lashley two so Elias gets smart by taking out the knee. Said leg is wrapped around the post as Rush continues the hype. A leglock keeps Lashley down and Elias is getting frustrated when it only gets two. Lashley is back up with a clothesline to the floor but Elias takes the knee out again and we take a break.

Back with Elias working on a half crab until Lashley sends him outside. A Downward Spiral gets two back inside and Lashley’s knee is fine enough for the delayed suplex. The spear puts them both on the floor as Owens chases Rush, eventually kneeing Lashley in the face for the DQ at 13:12.

Rating: D+. Not great here, and I have no idea why I’m supposed to be worried about Cena and Lashley having trouble with Elias and Owens. Rush and Lashley are a good pairing and there’s some potential for comedy with Cena and Rush. That being said, there’s potential for all of these guys and none of it has gone anywhere in a long time. Maybe Owens can quit again to get some of the spark back.

Post match Owens goes after Rush but Lashley makes a save.

Rollins comes up to McIntyre in the back and asks why McIntyre isn’t getting his own singles titles. I wonder that every day. Rollins leaves and Ziggler comes up, with McIntyre telling him not to worry about it.

Kevin Hart is in a movie about being a teacher so Alicia Fox teaches him a few things. This is really not funny.

Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox

Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss and Mickie James are all here. Fox is scared to start so Jax makes it better by throwing her to the floor. Back in and a quick neckbreaker gives Fox two and it’s off to the chinlock. That lasts as long as you would expect so Fox throws some forearms, only to charge into the Samoan drop for the pin at 2:56. The finish was almost all of Jax’s offense.

Ziggler asks Dean what’s going on and brings up Seth stabbing Dean in the back before.

Video on HHH vs. Undertaker.

Shawn Michaels will be here next week.

Shield vs. Baron Corbin/???/???

The partners are of course the AOP, because who else was it going to be? Braun, Dolph and Drew come out to watch, all with their own chairs. Ambrose and Corbin start things off with Dean actually taking it to the mat so Rollins can come in for a double suplex. Corbin hands it off to Akam so the Authors can run everyone over. Reigns gets to face Rezar, who talks a lot of trash and then gets hit in the face.

A few more shots put Rezar down but he pops back up to Reigns’ shock. The Shield clears the ring so here come Strowman and company with the chairs for a distraction. The Authors beat them down and Corbin gets two off a chokeslam as we take a break. Back with Reigns dropping Corbin in a Samoan style so Rollins can come back in to speed things up. The Blockbuster gets two on Akam but Drake Maverick offers a distraction so Corbin can low bridge Rollins to the floor.

We hit the neck crank from Rezar and an elbow runs him over for good measure. Corbin comes in and runs Reigns off the apron in a smart move but the delay lets Rollins hit a Sling Blade. Everything breaks down and Reigns takes a Last Chapter on the floor. Deep Six gets two on Rollins but he’s able to get out of the side slam/double stomp combination.

The hot tag brings in Ambrose to clean house until Akam crotches him on top. Ambrose is fine enough for a jumping neckbreaker on Corbin but Reigns has to break up the Last Chapter. The Stomp hits Corbin and Rollins hits a suicide dive, leaving Dean to hit Dirty Deeds on Corbin. Ambrose dives onto Akam, leaving Reigns to spear Corbin for the pin at 19:14.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard six man tag here though nothing too bad. Seeing Shield all together is almost always fun and that was the case here, though I could have gone for the Authors having a more dominant venture into the main event scene. At least Corbin took the fall, which was the only way this should have ended.

Post match Ambrose looks at Strowman and company before heading back inside for the fist pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. Raw is the land of feast or famine. If you’re in the main event, you have a story going, motivations and everything else you could need. Outside of that though, you’re lucky to get TV time and if you’re Gable, you’re wondering where it all went wrong. This show has gone falling off a cliff in recent weeks with the build either being focused on everything else or nothing at all and that’s a hard trick to pull off. It’s certainly not the worst it’s ever been, but there needs to be a switch back to a better path in a hurry before things get even worse.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Michael Cole, Renee Young

We’re halfway through the first round with eight names having already advanced to the second round. That means we still need eight more people to move on and we’ll be getting four of those names tonight. This week’s show features one of the bigger names that was announced for the tournament over the summer. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

All matches are first round matches.

Opening recap of the first eight winners and preview of tonight’s matches.

Opening sequence.

Kavita Devi was in the tournament last year and uh…..well she wasn’t very good.

Kaitlyn is back to prove that she can still do this.

Kavita Devi vs. Kaitlyn

Cole is a full on Kaitlyn fan here and Renee sounds like she has a crush on her. An early shot to the face puts Kaitlyn down as Cole talks about the original NXT’s women’s season and how that plays into the Women’s Evolution. Fair enough, though that’s more about the company as a whole than the women.

Kaitlyn chops away and gets two off a legdrop, only to get chokeslammed with no elevation. A running kick to the back sets up an armbar so Kaitlyn taps, which doesn’t count for whatever reason. Kaitlyn has to elbow her way out of a fireman’s carry and some forearms rock Devi. The Cannonball in the corner draws the YOU STILL GOT IT chants, followed by a spear to end Devi at 4:09.

Rating: D+. Devi was horrible last year and was upgraded to pretty bad this year, whichTy isn’t much of a step forward. She isn’t big enough to be a giant but is too big to be able to move around with most people. Kaitlyn on the other hand is being treated like a legend despite not really being a huge star in the first place. It’s nice to have her back and she has some credibility, but this wasn’t exactly a star making performance.

Jinny is a fashionista who has been signed to NXT UK.

Toni Storm was an absolute star in last year’s tournament and she has to be a big favorite this time around.

Tyler Breeze and the Iconics are watching.

Jinny vs. Toni Storm

Beth: “How does being a fashionista translate to a wrestling ring?” Well we’ve been trying to figure out the weird careers/interests in wrestling for years so she’s not alone. They take turns shoving each other around until a wristlock has Jinny in some low level trouble. A forearm to the face just fires Storm up though and it’s a running knee into the corner. Jinny is fine enough to hit a Downward Spiral into the middle buckle though and Storm’s nose may be messed up.

Some forearms to the face set up a Japanese armdrag into the corner and we hit the armbar. Toni is right back up with a rolling crucifix (and what looked like a wink to the camera) for two but Jinny reverses into something like a sitdown surfboard. That’s broken up as well before Storm’s shoulders are ripped apart and Jinny misses a charge in the corner. A hard German suplex puts Jinny down and Storm Zero (tiger driver) finishes her off at 7:09.

Rating: C. I know Jinny is a much bigger star (and different character) in Europe but I didn’t get much out of her here. All WWE told me was that she was a fashionista, which is hardly the most interesting thing in the world. Toni on the other hand continues to have more star potential than almost anyone else in the tournament and is clearly going to be a big deal in WWE as soon as she’s there full time. Not a bad match, even though Storm winning was never in doubt.

Xia Li (the woman from China with the fans) is back and ready to prove herself again.

Karen Q is ready to show what she can do, which includes speaking three languages. That’s more than I’ve learned about her in a year or so of watching her in Ring of Honor.

Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano are here, seemingly with no problems at the moment.

Karen Q vs. Xia Li

Cole is annoyed that Li didn’t bring them the promised dumplings. They bow to each other to start and take martial arts poses, which gets the loudest reaction of the night so far. Xia trips her down so Karen nips up and that’s another double bow. Back up and Li fires away in the corner but Karen pounds away and bows as well. A handspring elbow in the corner hits Li and a running kick to the face makes things even worse. Karen hits a pretty low full nelson slam and the cravate goes on. More kicks put Karen down for two and Xia hits a spinning kick to the back for the pin at 4:28.

Rating: D. They had me interested here with the martial arts stuff to start and then it was really just a match with some kicking included. Li moving on to the next round is fine, if nothing else so we can see the fan thing again. Karen continues to be one of the least interesting people I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not bad, but I still know nothing about her because she’s just someone who goes out and wrestles. That’s not exactly thrilling.

Allysin Kay (Sienna from Impact) is violent but classy, because she has her pinkies up. She was influenced by Bad News Brown, who isn’t a name you hear as inspiration all that often.

Mia Yim is aggressive and has a history with Kay, including a match where she severely broke her nose. That’s the kind of little story that can do a lot of good for these matches.

Sonya Deville is here and I didn’t recognize her with her hair down.

Shelton Benjamin is here.

Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay

They go straight to the brawling with Kay having to bail to the ropes to get out of a cross armbreaker attempt. Mia does the Andrade Cien Almas pose and avoids a charge to send Kay outside. A kick to the chest has Kay in more trouble but she’s fine enough to Pounce Yim to the floor. Yim shrugs off some chops and heads back inside for a suicide dive without much impact.

A chop hits the post with a lot more impact though and Yim gets dropped face first onto the apron. The fans are split between LET’S GO MIA/PINKIES UP as Kay kicks her in the ribs. Kay blocks another armbreaker attempt and has to do the same to get out of a kneebar. They’ve finally had it with the wrestling and just start hitting each other until Kay bicycle kicks her down.

Yim is right back with some running dropkicks and a missile version gets two. A Code Red is good for the same but Kay is back up with a discus lariat for two more. We get a double knockdown until Yim goes up top (Cole, as she climbs the buckles: “IS SHE GONNA GO UP TOP???”), only to get caught by Kay. That earns Kay a super Soul Food (Eat Defeat) for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: B-. Match of the night here by a pretty wide margin and a lot of that is due to the two of them having a story coming in. I get that you can’t do that in a tournament with a bunch of fresh names (not a criticism, just a reality) but it helps so much to have even something like this. There’s a reason for them to be fighting each other like this and that made the match a lot easier to get into. Good match, and one of the best of the tournament so far.

Overall Rating: C. Totally watchable show this week with nothing terribly bad (Kaitlyn vs. Devi was short enough to get by) and a good main event. We’ve only got a week left of the opening round and the shows being about an hour each make them easy to sit through. After next week we can move on to the better matches, which is where a lot of the fun is in a tournament. This year’s edition has been perfectly fine so far and that’s a good result for something like this, which can go in either direction.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

We’re on Wednesdays now and officially no longer live as this was taped on Tuesday night before Smackdown, therefore making the show much closer to what it should have been a long time ago. Things are getting better, though the lack of people sticking around for the show is about as bad of a sign as you can have. Hopefully things can get better this time around and a Cruiserweight Title match between champion Cedric Alexander and Drew Gulak could help that effort. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a look back at the Summerslam Kickoff Show match between Alexander and Gulak, with the latter saying Cedric won’t get lucky again in their rematch tonight. Gulak had to create some chaos to get the match made but it eventually worked.

Opening sequence.

There are still a bunch of empty seats in the lower arena. From what I’ve heard though, this was due to WWE not announcing that the show would be starting earlier. Most Smackdowns I’ve been to start at 7:30, and if this taping started at 7:00, you can’t imagine many fans were going to be there for the start of the show. Well done WWE, again.

TJP vs. Lince Dorado

Dorado takes him down to start as the cameras try to avoid the mostly empty seats opposite the hard camera. An early armbar has TJP in trouble so he armdrags Dorado and tells him to stay down. That earns TJP a slap to the face and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but TJP is right back with a guillotine choke over the ropes. A high crossbody doesn’t even warrant a cover as TJP would rather hammer away instead. You don’t see him get angry like that too often.

A Pentagon arm snap still isn’t enough for a cover as TJP dropkicks him in the back instead. The slingshot hilo sets up some rolling suplexes for two as the Eddie Guerrero tribute begins. We hit the armbar as the fans get behind Dorado (“LET’S GO LUCHA!” Close enough.), bringing him back to his feet. The comeback is cut off by a springboard spinning forearm but Dorado spinwheel kicks him right back. A single overhand chop puts TJP down again and Dorado gets two off a moonsault press. With nothing else working, TJP pulls the mask off and rolls the shocked Dorado up for the pin at 8:30.

Rating: C. I’m getting tired of the pull the mask off pin as it’s become a cliché in a luchador match anymore. TJP cheating to win makes sense but put your feet on the ropes or do something that isn’t done so often. Not a bad match and you can imagine that TJP will now face the rest of Lucha House Party, which seems to be a rite of passage on this show anymore.

TJP steals the noisemaker and Dorado chases him to the back.

Lio Rush comes in to see Drake Maverick and says he can’t wrestle tonight because he has commitments with Bobby Lashley on Monday Night Raw. That’s not cool with Drake, who says Rush has to fulfill his obligations here. Rush brings up Drake being AOP’s manager, which Drake brushes off. Rush vs. Noam Dar is set for next week and there will be consequences if Rush doesn’t wrestle.

Post break Mustafa Ali comes in to see Drake as well and wants to face Hideo Itami. Drake is worried but agrees to make the match for next week.

Cruiserweight Title: Drew Gulak vs. Cedric Alexander

Gulak is challenging and has Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick in his corner. The fans (who are now filling in the seats) are behind Cedric here, which isn’t the biggest surprise in the world. Feeling out process to start as the announcers go into a discussion of Super Show-Down as this match really doesn’t mean much. An early Kendrick distraction lets Gulak try the Gulock but Cedric dives for the ropes. A lockup doesn’t go anywhere as they’re still mostly in first gear.

Alexander starts speeding things up as commentary actually gets the idea right here by having Percy set up Nigel for some expert analysis on what it’s like to be either challenging or defending in a title match. The referee catches Kendrick cheating though and ejects both him and Gallagher to get us down to one on one. The now focused Alexander takes over with an armbar and a stomp to the arm for good measure. Alexander’s springboard DDT is countered into a high collar suplex and Gulak takes over for the first time.

Back in and Gulak gets sent into the corner for a running kick to the face, followed by the springboard clothesline for two. The Lumbar Check is countered into a small package so Alexander Neuralizes him out to the floor. Gulak is right back up and grabs the Gulock, sending Alexander to the ropes. The champ is rocked though and Gulak slams him a few times. Some trash talk sets up a running clothesline for two but Alexander flips out of a powerbomb.

A Michinoku Driver gets two and Cedric starts firing off the hard chops (the sweat flying is always a nice touch). Cedric charges into a boot in the corner though and Gulak GOES UP TOP for a clothesline and a near fall of his own. The Gulock with the bodyscissors goes on in the middle of the ring and the fans really don’t react. They clap Alexander out of the hold for a few seconds but Gulak gets it back on, only to have Cedric flip out and hit the Death Valley Driver into the corner for the real break. They chop it out again and Cedric elbows him in the jaw, setting up the Lumbar Check to retain at 20:16.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match with two guys seeing who was willing to go further to walk out as champion. That being said, this more or less ends Gulak as a threat to the title as there’s nowhere else for him to go now that Alexander got out of the Gulock three times in a single match. Alexander almost has to lose to Murphy in Australia now though as there’s no one left for him to beat at the moment. There are some people who could get there, but they’re not ready yet.

Buddy Murphy says Alexander’s winning streak is impressive but seeing the Age of Alexander crash down is going to be even better.

Overall Rating: B-. Much like this week’s NXT, the one big match is more than enough to carry the show. There’s nothing else on the show that really matters and while the idea of another person running the Lucha House Party gauntlet doesn’t do much for me, it’s nice to have TJP featured even more. The show was fine because of the main event, but that’s all there is to see here. Again though: that’s not a bad thing.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for one of those huge matches that you actually get around here with North American Champion Ricochet facing United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne in a title for title match. What more could you ask for from a show? Well given that it’s NXT, I have a feeling we’ll get a few other bonuses. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening talks about the title (Titles?) match and treat it as a major deal, which it really is.

Opening sequence.

Dakota Kai/Deonna Purrazzo vs. Lacey Evans/Aliyah

Fallout from an argument last week. Evans and Purrazzo start things off with Purrazzo taking her down off a headlock. Evans manages to slip out but Purrazzo pops to her feet with ease and offers a little bow. It’s off to Aliyah for some kicks to the ribs as Purrazzo gets taken into the corner. The villains stay on the ribs but Purrazzo spins out of a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a failed Fujiwara armbar attempt.

Aliyah forearms Purrazzo into the corner and screams a lot, which is more than most of her matches tend to have. Evans adds a slingshot Bronco Buster as the dominance continues. A kick to the arm knocks Purrazzo away from the hot tag attempt but Kai comes in to break up a cover anyway. Instead Aliyah goes with an armbar until Purrazzo kicks her away and makes the hot tag to Kai. That means kicking abounds but a blind tag brings in Evans for the Woman’s Right to knock Kai cold for the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C. Not a great match or anything but it keeps Evans strong and that’s exactly the point here. The more I see of Kai the more I believe she could be a huge star but the less likely it seems that NXT is going to push her. Still though, entertaining little match, and that’s all this needed to be.

Velveteen Dream is glad that he defeated Johnny Gargano and denies attacking Aleister Black.

The Street Profits are ready to get back at the Mighty.

We look back at the end of last week’s Nikki Cross vs. Bianca Belair match with Cross attacking her after the match.

Belair seemed shaken up by the loss but reminds herself that she’s undefeated.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Jaxson Ryker

Ryker throws him into the corner to start and stomps away as we seem to be firmly in squash territory here. The chinlock goes on early and doesn’t last long, allowing Ryker to ax handle him out of the air. A slingshot powerbomb finishes Carrillo at 2:14. Nice squash.

Candice LeRae offers William Regal her version of what happened the night Black was attacked. She thinks it sounds like Tommaso Ciampa though. Ciampa has been cleared, so Regal asks about Gargano being the attacker. LeRae says Gargano had asked her to wait while he got cleaned up and they left together. Regal doesn’t seem convinced but lets her go for now.

We recap Ricochet vs. Dunne. They both wanted the other’s title and then Ricochet accidentally ran over Dunne in a tag match. The match was set.

Video on Keith Lee. He talks about being limitless, which is both physical and mental. Because of that, his future in NXT is limitless as well. Bask in his glory.

Clip of EC3 accusing Lars Sullivan of attacking Black and being destroyed for his efforts.

North American Title/United Kingdom Title: Ricochet vs. Pete Dunne

Both titles are on the line and the fans are split, as you had to expect. Ricochet’s armdrag just earns him a headscissors counter and we’re at an early standoff. An exchange of wristlocks has Ricochet in trouble as the fans start to get more behind Dunne. It’s time to start cranking on the wrist as is Dunne’s custom but Ricochet reverses into something like a standing Crossface. A leglock keeps Dunne in trouble and it’s off to an exchange of leg cranking on the mat.

Ricochet manages to get the shoulders down, only to have Dunne reverse into what appears to be Jamie Noble’s old Trailer Hitch (a modified Indian deathlock). A surfboard keeps Ricochet in trouble until he bends back into a cover for two. More mat grappling goes to Ricochet (I’m as surprised as you are) with Ricochet working on the arm and shoulder. Dunne has had enough of that and forearms the heck out of Ricochet, who goes right into the flipping to set up a dropkick.

That means a suicide dive to the floor as Ricochet is much more comfortable with the accelerated pace. Back in and Dunne goes for the leg, but uses it as a diversion to kick him in the hand again. Dunne stays on the arm as he continues to break Ricochet down. The wrist and fingers are bent horribly (Mauro: “Pete Dunne must have something against piano players.”) and Ricochet is in trouble in the corner.

The jumping stomp to the arm misses though and it’s a rolling clothesline to drop Dunne. A 619 in the corner sets up a springboard elbow to the jaw for two as the pace picks up again. Dunne is fine with that as well and moonsaults over him in the corner but Ricochet flips out of the X Plex. A running shooting star to the back gives Ricochet two and the fans are rather impressed.

Another flip is reversed into a cross armbreaker though and Dunne works the hand over even more. Ricochet’s knees are fine enough to smash into Dunne’s face but Dunne forearms him out of the air. The X Plex connects for two and they’re both down. Dunne gets kicked to the floor though and Ricochet tries a step up moonsault, only to get caught in an X Plex onto the apron.

Back in and the Bitter End is reversed into a reverse hurricanrana for two and Ricochet can’t believe the kickout. They trade kicks to the head until Dunne turns him inside out with a clothesline. The Bitter End is reversed again and a handspring into a tornado DDT gives Ricochet a crazy close two. Both guys go to the top and Dunne works on the arm again, only to get pulled down with a super hurricanrana.

Rating: A. It takes something special to make you forget the most obvious ending in the world and that’s exactly what they did here. You knew they weren’t going to have either guy lose the title here and that left them with a very limited path to get to that extra special level that these two could reach.

However, that’s EXACTLY what they did with an incredible chess match with Ricochet trying to wrestle with Dunne but then going with the high flying that got him to where he is today. Dunne was ready for it though and Ricochet had to gut through it, showing the heart of the champion that Dunne didn’t seem to think he had. Insanely entertaining match and a great story told throughout.

The War Raiders hit the ring to make the save and the champions give a respectful stare to end the show. I think you know where this is going.

Overall Rating: A-. It helps when a third of your show is spent on an incredible match. This was one of those shows with a dream match instead of the run of the mill episode and egads did they nail that one big match. The rest of the show wasn’t great, but really, does it matter with a main event like this?

Results

Lacey Evans/Aliyah b. Deonna Purrazzo/Dakota Kai – Woman’s Right to Kai

Jaxson Ryker b. Humberto Carrillo – Slingshot powerbomb

Pete Dunne vs. Ricochet went to a double DQ when the Undisputed Era interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: September 18, 2018
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Michael Cole, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back with season two of this shindig, which should be a lot of fun. The first season saw some rather entertaining matches and moments as it turned out that some teams had some actual chemistry together. This season is a little different though as we have a round robin format this time around as opposed to a single elimination tournament. Let’s get to it.

Since the tournament is a round robin format, the Raw and Smackdown teams won’t cross over until the finals, hence the Raw/Smackdown division names.

The announcers teach us how to use Facebook, as in the way we’re watching the show in the first place. That always makes me chuckle.

Raw Division: Braun Strowman/Ember Moon vs. Kevin Owens/Natalya

Moon is replacing the injured Alexa Bliss, who will get her spot back once she’s healthy. The men start and Owens immediately begs off from Strowman before handing it off to Moon instead. That means the women take it to the mat as Renee tries to remember the Team Pawz thing. Hang on though as Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal ARE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Back to the ring with Owens screaming that Natalya can’t let Moon tag. Moon cartwheels, with Owens praising her for being eight years old. A powerbomb sets up a Sharpshooter on Moon but Strowman makes a save and tags himself in. Panicking ensues in a hurry and the house cleaning comes just as quickly.

Owens gets knocked to the floor and Strowman does the run around the ring to knock Owens over. A second attempt runs into a superkick though and Owens throws him over the announcers’ table for a nine count. Back in and Natalya tags herself in to break up the powerslam, only to have Moon take her down in a hurry. Moon climbs onto Strowman’s shoulders for the Eclipse (dang) and the pin at 7:25.

Rating: C. Now this is the kind of thing I was hoping for from this show. It’s nothing great and was far from a mat classic, but the people were having fun and it played off the history that Owens and Strowman already have. Throw in the awesome looking finish and that’s really all you need to have. Good start to the season.

Sasha Banks and Bobby Lashley laugh off the idea of Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal. Well yeah, as they should.

Mahal tries to teach Fox about inner peace with expected results.

Smackdown Division: Jimmy Uso/Naomi vs. AJ Styles/Charlotte

The guys start with AJ wrestling in a shirt for some reason. A feeling out process goes nowhere and it’s an early standoff. They catch kicks to the ribs at the same time and shake hands, which neither is willing to release. Naomi comes in and snaps her fingers at Charlotte which means….I have no idea actually. Charlotte kicks her down and struts a lot so Naomi grabs a springboard sunset flip for two.

They also do the caught kicks and handshake (at the same time in this case) until Naomi kicks her out to the floor. Naomi’s dive is caught by AJ and that’s not cool with Jimmy. Charlotte dives onto both of them but Naomi kicks her in the head to take over. Back in and the split legged moonsault misses, allowing Charlotte to hit the moonsault for two.

It’s back to the men with AJ cleaning house but the Styles Clash is reversed into a Samoan drop. Everything breaks down and Charlotte puts Jimmy in the Figure Eight, only to have Naomi dive in for the save. AJ breaks that up but takes the Rear View, leaving Naomi to get kicked in the face. The Figure Eight makes Naomi tap at 9:43.

Rating: C-. While not as fun as the previous match (there’s no reason to believe that AJ and Charlotte are going to lose for a LONG time), there was enough to keep things going here. Naomi has more charisma than she knows what to do with and having her out there with her husband is really all you can expect her to do. It’s certainly not bad and the match was perfectly watchable, which is perfectly fine.

Post match the winners celebrate, although with AJ tripping and taking Charlotte down with him.

Miz and Asuka are ready for next week.

R-Truth is ready to beat Carmella next week, though he eventually realizes they’re partners.

Overall Rating: C. This is exactly what made the previous season work: keeping the matches short, not having any real hatred or anger between the teams and being much more lighthearted. That’s the big draw of the show. So much of WWE is deadly serious and it’s nice to see these characters in a more laid back atmosphere. That offers a little change of pace, along with the show being in and out in a hurry. Nothing great, but it was exactly what it was billed as being.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6